'm'm''4'y,<\ 
 

 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Lawrence and Jeanne 
 Pumpelly 
 
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
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Cornell University 
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iOHN'S CLASSICAL LIBRARY. 
 
 HOMBE'S ILIAD. 
 
GEORGE BELL & SONS 
 
 LONDON: YOKK ST. COVENT GARDEN 
 AND NEW YORK : 66 FIFTH AVBNUB 
 BOMBAY : 53 ESPLANADE ROAD 
 CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON BELL & COw 
 
(ir6>7;'2^i/p. 
 
ILIAD OF HOMER, 
 
 WITH EXPLANATOEY NOTEsT^^ 
 
 THEODORE ALOIS BUCKLEY, B.A. 
 
 OF CHRIST CHURCiC OXPORD. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 GEORGE BELL & SONS 
 
 1896 
 
Reprinted from Stereotype Plates. 
 
 LOWDON : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, 
 eiXAUFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The present translation of the JQiad mQ, it is hoped be, 
 found to convey, more accurately than any -which has pre- 
 ceded it, the "words and thoughts of the original It is based 
 upon a carefdl examination of whatever has been contributed 
 by scholars of every age towards the elucidation of the text, 
 including the ancient scholiasts and lexicographers, the ex&- 
 getical labours of Barnes and Clarke, and the elaborate criti- 
 cisms of Heyne, Wolf, and their successors. 
 
 The necessary brevity of the notes has prevented the fall 
 discussion of many passages where there is great room for 
 difference of opinion, and hence several interpretations are 
 adopted without question, which, had the editor's object been 
 to write a critical commentary, would have undergone a more 
 lengthened examination. The same reason has compelled 
 him, in many instances, to substitute references for extracts, 
 indicating rather than quoting those storehouses of informa- 
 tion, from whose abundant contents he would gladly have 
 drawn more copious supplies. Among the numerous works 
 to which he has had recourse, the following deserve parti- 
 cular mention: — Alberti's invaluable edition of Hesychius, 
 the Commentary of Eustathius, and Buttmann's Lexilogus. 
 
 In the succeeding volume, the Odyssey, Hymns, and minor 
 poems wDl be produced in a similar manner. 
 
 Theodore Ax>ois Bucilley, 
 Oh. CK Oiiford. 
 
THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 
 
 BOOK THE FIRST. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Apollo, enraged at the insult offered to his priest, Chryses, sends a pes- 
 tilence upon the Greeks. A council is called, and Agamemnon, being 
 compelled to restore the daughter of Chryses, whom he had taken from 
 him, in revenge deprives Achilles of Hippodameia. Achilles lesigns 
 her, but refuses to aid the Greeks in battle, and at his request, his 
 mother, Thetis, petitions Jove to honour her offended son at the expense 
 of the Greeks. Jupiter, despite the opposition of Juno, grants her 
 request. 
 
 Sing, O goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of 
 Peleus, -which brought countless woes upon the Greeks,' and 
 hurled many valiant souls of heroes down to Hades, and made 
 themselves- a prey to dogs and to all birds [but the will of Jove 
 was being accomplished], from the time when Atrides, king of 
 men, and noble Achilles, first contending, were disunited. 
 
 Which, then, of the gods engaged these two iu strife, so 
 that they should fight ? * The son of Latona and Jove ; for 
 he, enraged with the king, stirred up an evU pestilence 
 
 ' Although, as Ernesti observes, the verb irpotaipiv does not necessa- 
 rily contain the idea of a premature death, yet the ancient interpreters are 
 almost unanimous in understanding it so. Thus Eustathins, p. 13, ed. 
 Bas. : /lerA /SXafiije Eig"AiSr]v irpo row Ssovtoq ivtjii^itv, dig rrje irpoBiatius 
 («. e. irpo) Kaipiicoj' 7-1 SijXovcrrie, ri dirXwe STreinpsv, i)C jrXtovaZovaiig 
 Trjg vpoBktrtoig. Hesych. t. ii. p. 1029, s. v. : Trpoia-^tv — SriXoX Sk 
 Sid TTJg X's^eoig rriv fiiT oSvvtiQ avTwv aviiXeiav. Cf. Virg. JEn. xii. 
 952 : " Vitaque cum gemitufugit indignata sub umbras," where Servius 
 well observes, " quia discedebat a juvene : nam volunt philosophi, 
 invitam animam discedere a corpore, cum quo adhuc habitare legibus 
 naturae poterat." I have, however, followed Ernesti, with the later com- 
 mentators. 
 
 • I. e. their bodies. Cf. JE,. i. 44, vi. 362, where there is a simiiu 
 Dse of the pronoun. 
 
 3 But see Anthon. 
 
 B 
 
2 ILIAD. I. 10-38. 
 
 through the army [and the people kept perishing] * : because 
 the son of Atreus had dishonoiired the priest Chryses : for he 
 came to the swift ships of the Greeks to ransom his daugh- 
 ter, and bringing invaluable ransoms, having in his hands the 
 fiUets of far-darting Apollo on his golden sceptre. And he 
 suppKcated all the Greeks, but chiefly the two sons of Atreus, 
 the ■leadei's of the people : 
 
 " Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other -well-greaved Greeks, to 
 you indeed may the gods, possessing the heavenly dwellings, 
 grant to destroy the city of Piiam, and to return home safely : 
 but for me, liberate my beloved daughter, and accept the 
 ransoms, reverencing the son of Jove, far-darting ApoUo." 
 
 Upon tliis, all the other Greeks shouted assent, that the 
 priest should be reverenced, and the splendid ransoms ac- 
 cepted ; yet was it not pleasing in his mind to Agamemnon, 
 son of Atreus j but he dismissed him evilly, and added a harsh 
 mandate : 
 
 " Let me not find thee, old man, at' the hollow barks, 
 either now loitering, or hereafter returning, lest the staff 
 and fillet of the god avail thee not.^ For her I wiU not 
 set free ; sooner shall old age come upon her, at home in 
 Argos, far away from her native land, employed in offices 
 of the loom, and preparing ^ my bed. But away ! irritate 
 me not, that thou mayest return the safer." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but the old man was afraid, and obeyed 
 the command. And he went in silence along the shore of 
 the loud-resounding sea ; but then, going apart, the aged 
 man prayed much to king Apollo, whom fair-haired Latona 
 bore : 
 
 " Rear me, god of the silver bow, who art wont to protect '' 
 Olirj-sa and divine CiUa, and who mightily nilest over Tene- 
 
 ' Observe the fall force of the imperfect tense. 
 
 ' Of xpaiafieiv, Buttmann, Le.xil. p. 546, observes that " it is never 
 found in a positive sense, but remained in ancient usage in negative sen- 
 tences only; as, ' it is of no use to thee,' or, ' it helps thee not,' and similar 
 expressions." 
 
 ' The old mistake of construing avTwwaav " sharing," which still 
 clings to the translations, is exiiloded by Buttm. Lex. p. 144. Eust. and 
 Heysoh. both give firpeiriZovaav as one of the interpretations ; and that 
 such i? the right one is evident from the collateral phrase vropavveiv Xivoc 
 in Od. iii. 403. 
 
 Auiii?iSn<ca.s is the perfect tense, but with the force of the present. 
 
39—64. ILIAD. I. 3 
 
 « 
 
 dos : Sminthius,' if ever I have roofed^ thy graceful temple, 
 or if, moreover, at any time I have biirued to thee the fat 
 thighs of buUs or of goats, accomplish this entreaty for me. 
 Let the Greeks pay for my tears, by thy arrows." 
 
 Thus he spoke praying ; but to hiTn Phoebus Apollo 
 hearkened. And he descended from the summits of Olym- 
 pus, enraged in heart, having upon his shoulders his haw 
 and quiver covered on all sides. But as he moved, the 
 shafts rattled forthwith ^ upon the shoulders of hitn enraged; 
 but he went along like unto the night. Then he sat down 
 apart from the ships, and sent among them an arrow, and 
 terrible arose the clang of the silver bow. First he attacked 
 the mules, and the swift ■* dogs ; but afterwards despatching 
 a pointed arrow against [the Greeks] themselves, he smote 
 them, and frequent funeral-piles of the dead were continu- 
 ally burning. Nine days through the army went the arrows 
 of the god ; but on the tenth, Achilles called the people 
 to an assembly; for to his mind the white-armed goddess 
 Juno had suggested it ; for she was anxious concerning the 
 Greeks, because she saw them perishing. But when they 
 accordingly were assembled, and were met together, swift- 
 footed Achilles, rising up amidst them, [thus] spoke : 
 
 " O son of Atreus ! now do I think that we would con- 
 sent to return, having been defeated in our purpose, if we 
 shoidd but escape death, since at the same time* war and 
 pestUence subdue the Greeka. But come now, let us con- 
 sult some prophet, or priest, or even one who is informed 
 by dreams (for dream also is from Jove),*" who would tell us 
 on what account Phoebus ApoUo is so much enraged with 
 
 ' An epithet derived from cf^IvOoq, the Phrygian name for a mouse; 
 either because Apollo had put an end to a plague of mice among that people, 
 or because a mouse was thought emblematical of augury. — Grote, Hist, of 
 Greece, vol. i. p. 68, observes that this "worship of Sminthian Apollo,, 
 in various parts of the Troad and its neighbouring territory, dates before 
 the earliest period of j£olic colonization. On the Homeric description of 
 Apollo, see Miiller, Dorians, vol. i. p. 315. 
 
 ' Not " crowned," as Heyne says ; for this was a later custom. — See 
 Anthon and Arnold. 
 
 * The force of dpa is noticed by Nagelsbach. 
 
 * Or " white." Hesych. raxeic, XevKovg. 
 
 ' Ammonius, p. 14, foolishly supposes that ofiou here denotes place, 
 iv Tpoitjf.. Valckenaer justly supports the ordinary interpretation.' 
 ' Cf, Plin. Ep, i. 18, and Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 3, sq. 
 
 b2 
 
4 ILIAD. T. 65—91. 
 
 tts : wliether he blames us on account of a vow [unperformed], 
 or a hecatomb [unoffered] ; and whether haply he may be 
 ■willing, having partaken of the savour of lambs and unble- 
 mished goats, to avert from us the pestilence." 
 
 He indeed, thus having spoken, sat down ; but to them 
 there arose by far the best of augurs, Calchas, son of Thestor, 
 who knew the present, the future, and the past,' and who 
 guided the ships of the Greeks to Dium, by his prophetic 
 art, which Phoebus Apollo gave him, who, being well dis- 
 posed,2 addressed them, and said : 
 
 " O Achilles, dear to Jove; thou biddest mc to declare the 
 wrath of ApoUo, the far-darting king. Therefore wiU I de- 
 clare it ; but do thou on thy part covenant, and swear to 
 me, that thou wilt promptly assist me in word and hand. 
 For methinks I shall irritate a mam who widely rules over 
 all the Argives, and whom the Greeks obey. For a king 
 is more powerful ^ when he is enraged with an inferior man ; 
 •for though he may repress his wrath* for that same day, 
 yet he afterwards retains his anger in his heart, until he 
 accomplishes it ; but do thou consider whether thou wilt 
 protect me." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed : 
 ' ' Taking full confidence, declare the divine oracle, whatsoever 
 thou knowest. For, by Apollo, dear to Jove, to whom thou, 
 praying, O Calchas, dost disclose predictions to the Greeks, 
 no one of all the Greeks, while I am alive and have sight 
 upon the earth, shall lay heavy hands upon thee at the hol- 
 low ships ; not even if thou wast to name Agamemnon, who 
 now boasts himself to be much the most powerful of the 
 Greeks." » 
 
 ' A common formula in the ancient poets to express the eternity of 
 things. Empedocles apud Pseud. Arist. de Mundo : JIav9' oaa r' ijv, 
 cGa 7-' kari, Kat oatra re irrrai hiTiaaia. Virg. Georg. iv. 392 : " Novit 
 namque omnia vates, Quae sint, quse fuerint, quae mox Ventura trahantur." 
 
 " See Abresch. on .Sschyl. p. 2S7. Ernesti. 
 
 ' ayavaKTOvai yap Sia rrlv VTrepoxvv. — Arist. Rhet. ii. 2, quoting this 
 Terse. 
 
 ^ Lit. " digest his bile." Homer's distinction between xo^ofi and 
 icoroe is observed by Nemesius, de Nat. Hom. § 21. 
 
 ' I have used " Greeks " wherever the whole army is evidently meant- 
 In other instances I have retained *he specific names of the different con- 
 federate nations. 
 
92—120. ILIAD. I. 5 
 
 And upon this, the blameless f rophet then took confi- 
 dence, and spoke : " Neither is he enraged on account of a 
 vow [unperformed], nor of a hecatomb [unoffered], but on 
 account of his priest, whom Agamemnon dishonoured; neither 
 did he liberate his daughter, nor did he receive her ransom. 
 Wherefore has the Ear-darter given woes, and still will he 
 give them ; nor will he withhold his heavy hands from the 
 pestilence, before that [Agamemnon] restore to her dear 
 father the bright-eyed' maid, unpurchased, unransomed, and 
 conduct a sacred hecatomb to Chrysa j then, perhaps, having 
 appeased, we might persuade him." 
 
 He indeed, having thus spoken, sat down. But to them 
 arose the hero, the son of Atreus, wide-mliag Agamemnon,^ 
 a^gitated ; and his all-gloomy heart was greatly filled with 
 wrath, and his eyes were like unto gleaming fire. Sternly 
 regarding Calchas most of all, he addressed [him] : 
 
 " Prophet of ills, not at any time hast thou spoken any- 
 thing good for me ; but evils are always gratifying to thy 
 soul to prophesy,^ and never yet hast thou ofiered one good 
 word, nor accomplished [one]. And now, prophesying 
 amongst the Greeks, thou haranguest that forsooth the Far- 
 darter works griefs to them upon this account, because I was 
 Unwilling to accept the splendid ransom of the virgin 
 daughter of Chiyses, since I much prefer to have her at 
 home ; and my reason is, I prefer her even to Clytemnestra, 
 my lawful wife j for she is not inferior to her, either in per- 
 son, or in figure, or in mind, or by any means in accomplish- 
 ments. But even thus I am willing to restore her, if it be 
 better ; for I wish the people to be safe rather than to 
 '■ perish. But do thou immediately prepare a prize for me, 
 that I may not alone, of the Argives, be without a prize ; 
 since it is not fitting. For ye all see this, that my prize is 
 going elsewhere." 
 
 ' See Arnold. 
 
 ' " In the assembly of the people, as in the courts of justice, the nobles 
 alone speak, advise, and decide, whilst the people merely listen to their 
 ordinances and decisions, in order to regulate their own conduct ac- 
 cordingly ; being suffered, indeed, to follow the natural impulse of 
 evincing, to a certain extent, their approbation or disapprobation of their 
 superiors, but without any legal means of giving validity to their opinion." 
 — MuUer, Gk. Lit. p. 30. 
 
 ' But we must not join uavrsitaQai. with uaicd. — Nagekbach. 
 
6 ILIAD. I. 121—154 
 
 But Tiim 8-wift-footed godlike Achilles then answered : 
 " Most noble son of Atrens, most avaricious of all ! for how 
 shall the magnanimous Greeks assign thee a prize ? Nor do 
 ■we know of many common stores laid up anywhere. B(it 
 what we plundered' from the cities, these have been divided, 
 and it is not fitting that the troops should collect these 
 brought together again. But do thou now let her go to tlie 
 God, and we Greeks will compensate thee thrice, or fourfold, 
 ■ if haply Jove grant to us to sack the weU-fortified city of 
 Troy." 
 
 But him answering, king Agajnemnon addressed : ' " Do 
 not thus, excellent though thou be, godlike AchiDes, practise 
 deceit in thy mind ; since thou shalt not overreafh, nor yet 
 persuade me. Dost thou wish that thou thyself mayest have 
 a prize, whilst I sit down idly,^ wanting one 1 And dost 
 thou bid me to restore her 1 If, however, the magnanimous 
 Greeks will give me a prize, having suited it to my mind, so 
 that it shall be an equivalent, [it is well]. But if they will 
 not give it, then I myself coming, will seize your prize, or 
 that of Ajax,^ or Ulysses,^ and will bear it away ; and he to 
 whom I may come shall have cause for anger. On these 
 things, however, we will consult afterwards. But now come, 
 let us launch a sable ship into the boundless sea, and let us 
 collect into it rowers in sufficient number, and place on board 
 a hecatomb ; and let us make the fair-cheeked daughter of 
 Chryses to embark, and let some one noble man be comman- 
 der, Ajax or Idomeneus, or divine TJlysses ; or thyself, son 
 of Peleus, most terrible of all men, that thou mayest appease 
 for us the Far-darter, having offered sacrificas." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles sternly regarding, addressed : 
 " Ha!* thou clad in impudence, thou bent on gain, how can 
 any of the Greeks willingly obey thy orders, either to un- 
 dertake a mission, or to fight bravely with men 1 For 1 
 did not come hither to fight on account of the warlike Tro- 
 jans, seeing that they are blameless as respects me. Since 
 they have never driven away my oxen, nor my horses either 
 
 ' More closely, " took from the cities, when we destroyed them." 
 
 * Buttmann would take avrwc as=fruscra. 
 ^ Tecmessa. 
 
 * Laodice, daughter of Cycnus. 
 
 ' See my note on Od. i. p. 2, n. 11, ed. Baha. 
 
155—190. ILIAD. I. 7 
 
 nor ever injured my crops in fertile and populous Phtbia; 
 for very many shadowy mountains, and the resounding sea, 
 are between us. But thee, most shameless man, we follow, 
 that thou mayest rejoice ; seeking satisfaction from the Tro- 
 jans for Menelaus, and for thy pleasure, shameless one ! for 
 which things thou bast neither respect nor care. And now 
 ihou hast threatened that thou wilt in person wrest from me 
 my prize, for which I have toiled much, and which the sons of 
 the Greeks have given me. Whenever the Greeks sacked a 
 well-inhabited city of the Trojans, I never have had a prize 
 equal to tliine ; although my hands perform the greater por- 
 tion of the tumultuous conflict, yet when the division [of 
 spoU] may come, a much greater prize is given to thee, while 
 I come to my sliips, when I am fatigued with fighting, 
 having one small and agreeable. But now I will go to Phthia, 
 for it is much better to return home with our curved ships ; 
 for I do not think that thou shalt amass wealth and treasures 
 while I am dishonoured here." 
 
 But him, the king of men, Agamemnon, then answered : 
 -' Fly, by all means, if thy mind urges thee ; nor will I en- 
 treat thee to remain on my account : there are others with 
 •KIP who wiU honour me, but chiefly the all-wise Jove. For 
 to me ihou art the most odious of the Jove-nourished princes, 
 for ever is contention agreeable to thee, and wars and battles. 
 If thou be very bold, why doubtless a deity has given this to 
 thee. Going home with thy ships and thy companions, ru'e 
 over the Myrmidons ; for I do not regard thee, nor care for 
 thee in thy wrath; but thus will I threaten thee : Since 
 Phoebus Apollo is depriving me of the daughter of Chryses,' 
 her indeed I wiU send, with my own ship, and with my own 
 friends; but I myself, going to thy tent, wiU lead away the 
 fair-cheeked daughter of Biises,^ thy prize ; that thou mayest 
 well know how much more po'vyerfol I am than thou, and 
 that another may dread to pronounce himself equal to me. 
 and to liken, himself openly [to me]." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and grief arose to the son of Peleus, and 
 ihe heart within, in his hairy breast, was pondej'uig upon 
 two courses; whether, drawing his sharp sword from hie 
 
 ' Astynome. Cf. Eustath. fol. 58 
 ' Hippodameia. 
 
8 ILIAD. I. 191—223. 
 
 tliigh, lie should dismiss them,' and should kill the son of 
 Atreus, or should put a stop to his wrath, and restrain his 
 passion. 'While he was thus pondering in his heart and soul, 
 and was drawing his mighty sword from the scabbard, came 
 Minerva from heaven; for her the white-armed goddess 
 Juno had sent forward, equally loviag and regarding both 
 from her soul. And she stood behind, and caught the son of 
 Peleus by his yellow hair, appearing to him alone ; but none of 
 the others beheld her. But Achilles was amazed, and turned 
 himself round, and immediately recognized PaUas Minerva; 
 and awe-iaspiring her eyes appeared to him. And addressing 
 her, he spoke winged words : 
 
 " Why, O offspring of asgis-bearing Jove, hast thou come 
 hither ? Is it that thou mayest witness the insolence of Aga- 
 memnon, the son of Atreus 1 But I teU thee, what I think 
 will be accomplished, that he will probably soon lose his life 
 by his haughtiness." 
 
 But him iu turn the azure-eyed goddess Minerva ad- 
 dressed : " I came from heaven to assuage thy wrath, if thou 
 wilt obey me ; for the white-armed goddess Juno sent me 
 forward, equally loving and regarding both from her soul. 
 But come, cease from strife, nor draw the sword with thine 
 hand. But reproach by words, as the occasion may suggest ; 
 for thus I declare, and it shall be accomplished, that thrice 
 as many splendid gifts shall be presented to thee, because of 
 this iasolent act ; only restrain thyself, and obey us." 
 
 But her answering,^ swift-footed Achilles addressed : " It 
 behoves me to observe the command of you both, O goddess, 
 although much enraged in my soul ; for so it is better. Who- 
 soever obeys the gods, to him they hearken propitiously." 
 
 He spoke, and held still his heavy hand upon the alvery 
 hilt, and thrust back the great sword into the scabbard, nor 
 did he disobey the mandate of Minerva ; but she had gone 
 to Olympus, to the mansions of segis-bearing Jove, amongst 
 the other deities. But the son of Peleus agaia addressed 
 
 ' The princes assembled. 
 
 ' Columna on Ennius, p. 17, ed. Hesse!., compares " Ollei respondet 
 Rex Alba'i longai," and '• Ollei respondet suavis sonus Egeriai," observ- 
 ing that this formula was probably as common in the heroic auuais of 
 Ennius as tov S' dvanntiftfvot is in Homer. 
 
«24— 254. ILIAD. I. 9 
 
 A.trides ■witli injurious' words, nor as yet cesased from 
 anger : 
 
 " Wine-bibber, having tlie countenance of a dog, but the 
 heart of a stag, never hast thou at any time dared in soul to 
 arm thyself with the people for war, nor to go to ambuscade 
 with the chiefs of the Greeks ; for this always appears to 
 thee to be death. Certainly it is much better through the 
 wide army of the Achseans, to take away the rewards of 
 whoever may speak against- thee. A people-devouring king 
 [art thou], since thou rulest over fellows of no account ; for 
 assuredly, son of Atreus, thou [otherwise] woiddst have in- 
 sulted now for the last time. But I will tell thee, and I will 
 further swear a great oath : yea, by this sceptre, which will 
 never bear leaves and branches, nor will bud again, after it 
 has once left its trunk on the mountains ; for the axe has 
 lopped it aU around of its leaves and bark ; but now the sons 
 of the Greeks, the judges, they who protect the laws [re- 
 ceived] from Jove, bear it ia their hands ; and this wiLt be a 
 great oath to thee ; surely will a longing desire for Achilles 
 come upon all the sons of the Achseans at some future day, 
 and thou, althougji much grieved, wilt be unable to assist 
 them, when many djring shall fall by the hand of man-slaying 
 Hector. Then enraged, wilt thou inwardly fret thy soul, 
 that thou didst in no way honour the bravest of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus spoke the son of Peleus ; and he cast upon the earth 
 his sceptre studded with golden nails, and sat down. But on 
 the other hand, the son of Atreus was enraged ; therefore to 
 them arose the sweet-voiced Nestor,^ the harmonious" orator 
 of the Pylians, from whose tongue flowed language sweeter 
 than honey. During his life two generations of articulately- 
 speaking men had become extinct, who, formerly, were reared 
 and lived with him- in divine Pylus, but he was now ruling 
 over the third ; who, wisely counselling, addressed them, and 
 gaid: 
 
 " gods ! surely a great sorrow comes upon the Grecian 
 
 ' Epimerism. Horn, in Cramer's Anecdott. rol. i. p. 24. aTapTtjpn^, 
 rj Trapd rrjv arriv, 6 arijiaivti Trjv PKdtrjv, arripoe. — Hesych. /3Xa£cp6c, 
 ciTt]p6g. 
 
 ' I must refer the reader to 3 most happy sketch of Nestor'i exploits 
 and character in Grote's Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 153. 
 
10 ILIAD. I. 255—291, 
 
 laud. Verily, Priam womd exult, and the sons of Priam, 
 and the other Trojans, -would greatly rejoice in their soids, if 
 they were to hear these things of you twain contending : you 
 ■who in councU and in fighting surpass the Greeks. But be per- 
 suaded; for ye are both younger than I am. For already, in 
 fonner tim.es, I have associated with men braver than you, and 
 they never disdained me. I never saw, nor shall I see, such 
 men as Pirithous, and Dryas, shepherd of the people, and Cse- 
 neus, and Exadius, and god-like Polyphemus,' and Theseus, the 
 son of JEgeus, like unto the immortals. Bravest indeed were 
 they trained up of earthly men ; bravest they were, and they 
 fought with the bravest Centaurs of the mountain caves, and 
 terribly slew them. With these was I conversant, coming 
 from Pylus, far from the Apian land ; for they invited me, 
 and I fought to the best of my power ; but with them none 
 of these who now are mortals upon the earth could fight. 
 And even they heard my counsels, and obeyed my words. 
 But do ye also obey, since it is better to be obedient ; nor do 
 thou, although being powerful, take away the maid from him, 
 but leave it so, seeing that the sons of the Greeks first gave 
 [her as] a prize on him. Nor do thou, O son of Peleus, feel 
 inclined to contend against the king; since never yet has any 
 sceptre-bearing king, to whom Jove has given gloiy, been 
 allotted an equal share of dignity. But though thou be of 
 superior strength, and a goddess mother has given thea birth, 
 yet he is superior in power, inasmuch as he rules more people. 
 Do thou, son of Atreus, repress thine anger ; for it is I that^ 
 entreafr thee to forego thy resentment on behalf of Achilles, 
 who is the great bulwark of destructive war to all /the 
 Achseans." 
 
 But him king Agamemnon answering addressed : " Of a 
 tmth thou hast said aU these things, old man, according 
 to what is right. But this man is desirous to be above all 
 other men ; he wishes to have the mastery, and lord it over 
 all, and to prescribe to all; with which his desires I think 
 some one will not comply. But if the ever-existing gods 
 have made him a warrior, do they therefore give him the 
 right to utter insults J" 
 
 ' A prince of tjxe Lapithse, not the Cyclops. 
 
 ' See Anthon, who has well remarked the force of the particles. 
 
292-320. li.IAD. I. U 
 
 But hiin noble Achilles interruptingly answered : " Yea, 
 forsootli,' I may be called a coward and a mail of no worth, 
 if now I yield to thee in everything, whatever then mayest 
 say. Enjoia these things to other men; for dictate not to 
 me, for I think that I shall no longer obey thee. But 
 another thing will I Leii thee, and do thon store it in thy 
 mind : I will not contend with my hands, neither with thee, nor 
 with others, on account of this maid, since ye, the donors, 
 take her away. But of the other effects, which I have at my 
 swift black ship, of those thou shalt not remove one, taking 
 them away, I being unwilling. But if [thou wUt], come, 
 make trial, that these also may know : quickly shall thy black 
 blood flow around my lance." 
 
 Thus these twain, striving with contrary words, arose, and 
 they broke up the assembly at the ships of the Greeks. The 
 son of Peleus on bis part repaired to his tents and well-pro- 
 portioned 2 ships, with the son of Menoetjus,^ and his com- 
 panions. But the son of Atreus^ launched his swift ship into 
 the sea, and selected and put into it twenty rowers, and em- 
 barked a hecatomb for the god. And he led the fair daughter 
 of Chryses and placed her on board, and the very wise Ulysses 
 embarked as conductor. They then embarking, sailed over 
 the watery paths. But the son of Atreus ordered the armies 
 to piuify themselves ; '" and they were purified, and cast forth 
 the ablutions into the sea. And they sacrificed to Apollo 
 perfect hecatombs of buUs and goats, along the shore of the 
 barren sea; and the savour involved in^ smoke ascended to 
 heaven. Thus were they employed in these things through 
 the army. Nor did Agamemnon cease from the contention 
 v/hich at first he threatened against Achillea But he thus 
 
 ' Properly elliptical — / have done right : for, &c. — Crusius. 
 
 ' Equal on both sides, so as to preserve a balance. But Blomfield, 
 Obs. on Matth. Gr. § 124, prefers to render it " ships of due size," as 
 iaXz itirr), ver. 468, " an equalized meal." 
 
 ' Patroclus. 
 
 * So Anthon, comparing ver. 142, 
 
 ° Not a mere medicinal measure, but a symbolical putting away of the 
 guilt, which, through Agamemnon's transgression, was brought upon the 
 army also. — Waif. 
 
 * Not abouf the smoks, bjjt i^ thp smoke ; for irtpi denotes also the 
 staying within the coajpass of an object. — Niigelsbaclj. 
 
12 ILIAD. I. 321—348. 
 
 addressed Talfchybius and Euiybates, who were Lis heralds 
 and zealous attendants : ' 
 
 "Going to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus, 
 lead away fair Briseis, having taken her by the hand ; but 
 if he will not give her, then I myself, coming with great 
 numbers, will take her, and this will be more grievous ^ to 
 him." 
 
 Thus speaking, be despatched them, having added ^ a harsh 
 command. But they reluctantly went along the shore of 
 the barren sea, and came to the tents and ships of the 
 Myrmidons. And they found him sitting at his tent and 
 his black ship : nor did Achilles, seeing them, rejoice. But 
 they, confused, and reverencing the king, stood still, nor 
 addressed him at all. nor spoke [their bidding]. But he 
 perceived [it] in his mind, and said : 
 
 " HaU, heralds, messengers of Jove,^ and also of men, 
 come near, for ye are not blamable to me in the least, 
 but Agamemnon, who has sent you on account of the maid 
 Briseis. However, come, noble Patroclus, lead forth the 
 maid, and give her to them to conduct; but let these be 
 witnesses [of the insult offered me], both before the blessed 
 gods, and before mortal men, and before the merciless king. 
 But if ever again there shall be need of me to avert un- 
 seemly destruction from the rest, [appeal to me shall be in 
 vain],* for surely he rages with an infatuated mind, nor 
 knows at all how to view the fiiture and the past, in order 
 that the Greeks may fight in safety at their ships." 
 
 Thus he spoke. And Patroclus obeyed his dear compa- 
 nion, and led forth fair-cheeked Briseis from the tent, and 
 gave her to them to conduct ; and they returned along by 
 the ships of the Greeks. But the woman went with them 
 reluctantly, whilst Achilles, weeping,* immediately sat down, 
 
 ' espajriavis a voluntary servant, as opposed to SovXoq. — See Arnold. 
 ' Hesych. piyiov, foSipdrfpov. xaXfrwrfpov. 
 ' " Misit eos, minaci jusso date." — Heyne. 
 
 ♦ So called from their inviolability ,—d(7uXow yiip Kai ^rtoi/ to ylvoc rUr 
 
 KripvKMV. — Schol. Kai eKrjv avrole Travraxotrt aSede ikvai. Pollux 
 
 viii. They were properly sacred to Mercury (id. iv. 9. Cf. Feith, Antiq! 
 Homer, iv. 1), but are called the messengers of Jove, as bemg under his 
 •pecial protection, with a reference to the supporting of regal authority. 
 
 ' Observe the aposiopesis. ' ' 
 
 • Not for the loss of Briseis, but on account of the affront. 
 
349-381. ILIAD. I. 
 
 13 
 
 removed apart Horn his companions, upon the shore of the 
 hoary sea, gazing on the darkling main ; and much he be 
 sought his dear mother, stretchiag forth his hands : 
 
 " O mother, since thou hast borne me, to be but short- 
 lived, at least then ought high-thundering Olympian Jove 
 to have vouchsafed honour to me ; but now he has not 
 honoured me ever so little ; for the son of Atreus, wide- 
 ruliag Agamemnon, has dishonoured me ; for he, taking 
 away my prize, possesses it, himself having wrested it [from 
 me]." 
 
 Thus he spoke, weeping. But to him his venerable mother 
 hearkened, sitting in the depths of the ocean beside her 
 aged sire. And immediately she rose up from the hoary 
 deep, Kke a mist. And then she sat before biTn weeping, 
 and soothed him with her hand, and addressed him, and 
 spoke aloud : 
 
 " Son, why weepest thou — on account of what has grief 
 come upon thy mind 1 Declare it, nor hide it in thy soul, 
 that we both may know it." 
 
 But her, sighing deeply, swift-footed Achilles addressed : 
 " Thou knowest ; why should I tell all these things to thee, 
 already knowing [them] 1 "We went against Thebe,' the 
 sacred city of Eetion ; and this we plundered, and brought 
 hither aU [the spoU]. And these things indeed the sons 
 of the Greeks fairly divided among themselves, and selected 
 for Agamemnon the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses. But 
 Chryses, priest of the far-darting Apollo, came afterwards 
 to the fleet ships of the brazen-mailed Greeks, about to ran- 
 som his daughter, ,and bringing invaluable ransoms, having 
 in his hand the fillets of far-darting Apollo, on his golden 
 sceptre. And he supplicated all the Greeks, but chiefly 
 the two sons of Atreus, the leaders of the people. Upon 
 this all the other Greeks shouted assent, that the priest 
 should be reverenced, and the splendid ransoms accepUed : 
 yet it was not pleasing to Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in 
 his mind ; but he dismissed him evUly, and added a harsh 
 mandate. The old man therefore went back enraged; but 
 ApoUo hearkened to him praying, for he was very dear to 
 
 ' Thebe was situated on the border of Mysia, on the mountain Placus, 
 in the district afterwards called Adramyttium. The inhabitants wars 
 Cilicians. — See Heyne, and De Pinedo on Steph. Byz. s. v, p. 307, u. 58. 
 
14 ILIAD. I. 382-414. 
 
 him. And he sent a destructive arrow against the Greeks; 
 and the forces were now dying one npon another, and 
 the shafts of the god went on all sides through the wide 
 army of the Greeks. But to us the skilful seer unfolded 
 the divine will of the Far-darter. Straightway I fii-st ex- 
 horted that we should appease the god ; but then rage seized 
 upon the son of Atreus, and instantly ri,sing, he uttered a 
 threatening speech, which is now accomplished ; for the roll- 
 ing-eyed Greeks attend her to Ohiysa with a swift bark, 
 and bring presents to the king ; but the heralds have just 
 now gone from my tent, conducting the virgin daughter 
 of Briseis, whom the sons of the Greeks gave to me. But 
 do thou, if tho.u art able, aid thy son. Groing to Olympus, 
 supplicate Jove, if ever thou didst delight the heart of Jove 
 as to anything, by word or deed; for I frequently heard 
 thee boasting in. the palaces of my sire, when thou saidest 
 that thou alone, amongst the immortals, didst avert unworthy 
 destruction from the cloud-collecting son of Saturn, when 
 the other Olympian inhabitants, Juno, and Neptune, and 
 Pallas Minerva, wished to bind him. But thou, O goddess, 
 having approached, freed bim from his chains, having quickly 
 summoned to lofty Olympus, the hundred-handed, whom the 
 gods call Briareus, and all men ..^geon, because he was su- 
 perior to his father in strength,' who then sat by the son 
 of Saturn, exulting iu renown. Him then the blessed gods 
 dreaded, nor did they bind [Jove]. Of these things now 
 reminding him, sit beside him, and embrace his knees, if 
 in anywise he may consent to aid the Trojans, and hem 
 in 2 at their ships, and along the sea, the Greeks [while 
 they get] slaughtered, that all may enjoy their, king, and 
 that the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, may know 
 his baleful foUy,* when he in no wise honoured the bravest of 
 the Greeks." 
 
 But him Thetis then answered, shedding down a tear : 
 " Alas ! my son, wherefoi-e have I reared thee, having 
 
 ' There is some doubt whether Homer considered Briareus as the son 
 of Neptune or of Uranus and Terra. — See Arnold. The fable is ridiculed 
 by Minucius Felix, § 22. 
 
 " See Buttm. Lexil. pp. 257, 261, Fishlakp's translation. 
 
 ' The idea of infatuation is not, however, necessarily implied in drij. 
 See Buttm. Lex. p. 5, sq. 
 
«5— 447, ILIAD. I. 15 
 
 hrought thee forth .in an eyil hour. Would that thou wert 
 Beated at the ships tearless and miinjiired ; for thy destined 
 life is but for a very short period, nor very long ; but now 
 arx thou both swift-fated and wretched above aU mortals : 
 therefore have I brought thee forth in my palace under an 
 evil fate. However, to teU thy words to thunder-delighting 
 Jove, I myself will go to snow-clad Olympus, if by chance 
 he will be persuaded. But do thou, now sitting at the swift 
 ships, wage resentment against the Greeks, and totally 
 abstain from war. For yesterday Jove went to Oceanus,' to 
 the blameless jSEthiopians, to a banquet, and with him went 
 all the gods. But on the twelfth day he will return to 
 Olympus ; and then will I go to the brazen-Jfloored palace of 
 Jove, and supphantly embrace his knees, and I thinlc that he 
 will be persuaded." 
 
 Thus having said, she departed, and left him there wrath- 
 ful in his soul for his well-girded maid, whom they had taken 
 from him against his will. But Ulysses, meantime, came to 
 Chrysa, bringing the sacred hecatomb. But they, when they 
 had entered the deep haven, first fiirled their sails, and 
 stowed them in the sable' bark ; they next brought the 
 mast to its receptacle, lowering it quickly by its stays, ana 
 they rowed the vessel forwards with oars into its moorage ; 
 they heaved out the sleepers, and tied the hawsers. They 
 themselves then went forth on the breakers of the sea, 
 and disembarked the hecatomb to far-darting ApoUo, and 
 then they made the daughter of Chryses descend ft'om the 
 sea-traversing bark. Then wise Ulysses, leading her to the 
 altar, placed her in the hands of her de&,r father, and ad- 
 dressed him : 
 
 " O Chryses, Agamemnon, king of men, sent me forth to 
 conduct to thee thy daughter, and to sacrifice a sacred heca- 
 tomb to Phoebus for the Greeks, that we may appease the 
 king, who now has sent evils fraught with groanings upon 
 the Argives." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he placed her in his hands ; but he 
 rejoicing received his beloved daughter. Then they imme- 
 diately placed in order the splendid hecatomb for the god 
 
 ' According to Homer, the earth is a circular plane, and Oceanus is 
 an immense stream encircfling it, &oib which the different rivers run 
 inward. 
 
:e ILIAD. X. 448—474. 
 
 around the well-built altar. After that they washed their 
 hands, and held up the pounded barley.' But for them, 
 Cbryses, uplifting his hands, prayed with loud voice : 
 
 " Hear me, O thou of the silver bow, who art wont to pro- 
 tect Chrysa and divine CiUa, and who mightily rulest over 
 Tenedos ! already indeed at a former time di(it thou hear 
 me praying, and didst honour me, and didst very much affict 
 the people of the Greeks, now also accomplish for me this 
 further request : even now avert from the Greeks this un- 
 seemly pestilence." 
 
 Thus he spoke praying, and him Phoebus Apollo heard. 
 But after they had prayed, and sprinkled the pounded barley, 
 they first bent back [the neck of the victims], killed them, 
 and flayed them, and cut out the thighs, and wrapped them 
 round with the fat, having arranged it in double folds ; then 
 laid the raw flesh upon them. Tlien the old man burned 
 them on billets, and poured sparkling wine upon them ; and 
 near Tiim the youths held five-pronged spits in their hands. 
 But after the thighs were roasted, and they had tasted the 
 entrails, they then cut the rest of them into small pieces, and 
 fixed them on spits, and roasted -them skilfully, and drew all 
 the viands [ofi'the spits]. 
 
 But when they had ceased from their labour, and had pre- 
 pared the banquet, they feasted ; nor did their soul in any- 
 wise lack a due allowance of the feast : but when they had 
 dismissed the desire of drink and food, the youths on the one 
 hand, filled the goblets with wine to the brim,^ and handed 
 round the wine to all, having poured the first of the wine 
 into the cups.^ But the Grecian youths throughout the day 
 were appeasing the god by song, chanting the joyous Psean,* 
 hymning the Ear-darter, and he was delighted in his mind as 
 
 ' " Salted barley meal, "—Anthon i " whole barley, " — ^Voss ; but 
 Buttunann, Lexil. p. 454, in a highly amusing note, observes, •• no suppo- 
 sition of a regular and constant distinction between the Greeks and Ro- 
 mans, the one using barley whole and the other coarsely ground, possible 
 as the thing may be in Itself, is to be entertained without the express tes- 
 timony of the anaients." 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 291, sqq. The custom of crowning the goblets 
 with flowers was of later origin. 
 
 * See Buttm. p. 168. The customary libation is meant. 
 
 • On the Ptean, see Miiller, Gk. Lit. iii. § 4. snd Dorians, vol. L 
 p. 370. 
 
475-508. ILIAD. I 17 
 
 .he listened. But when the sun had set, and darkness came 
 / on, then they slept near the hawsers of their ships. But 
 ■^ when the mother of dawn,i rosy-fingered morniag, appeared, 
 straightway then they set sail for the spacious camp of the 
 Achseans, and to them far-darting Apollo sent a favour- 
 able gale. But they erected the mast and expanded the 
 white sails. The wind streamed ^ into the bosom of the sail; 
 and as the vessel briskly ran, the dark wave roared loudly 
 around the keel ; but she scudded through the wave, holding 
 on her way. But when they reached the wide armament of 
 the Greeks, they drew up the black ship on the continent, 
 far upon the sand, and stretched long props under it ; but 
 they dispersed themselves through their tents and ships. 
 
 But the Jove-sprung son of Peleus, swift-footed AchOIes, 
 continued his wrath, sitting at his swift ships, nor ever did 
 he frequent the assembly of noble heroes, nor the fight, but 
 he pined away his dear heart, remaining there, although he 
 longed for the din and the battle. 
 
 Now when the twelfth morning from that time arose,^ then 
 indeed all the gods who are for ever went together to Olym- 
 pus, but Jupiter preceded. But Thetis was not forgefcM of 
 the charges of her son, but she emerged from the wave of the 
 sea, and at dawn ascended lofty heaven and Olympus;^ and 
 she found the far-seeing son of Satijrn sitting apart from the 
 others, on the highest summit of many-peaked Olympus, and 
 then she sat down before him, and embraced his knees with 
 her left hand, but with the right taking binn by the chin, 
 imploring, she thus addressed king Jove, the son of Satiwn : 
 
 " O fe,ther Jove, if ever I have aided thee among the im- 
 mortals, either in word or deed, accomplish for me this de- 
 sire : honour my son, who is the most short-lived of others ; 
 for now indeed Agamemnon, the king of men, has disgraced 
 him J for he possesses his prize, he himself having borne it 
 away. Do thou at least, Olympian Jove all counselling, 
 
 ' See Loewe on Odyss. ii. 1, and my translation. Kennedy renders it 
 " ushering in the dawn." 
 
 ' See Buttm. p. 484. I am partly indebted to Anthon in rendering 
 this expression. 
 » Cf. ver. 425. 
 Oipavog is here the upper clear region of air,— the ether, into which 
 Olympus soared x>p—Voas. 
 
 C 
 
18 ILIAD. X. 50i>— 54*. 
 
 honour Tiim : knd so long grant victory to the Trojans, until 
 the Greeks shall reverence my son, and shall advance him in 
 honour." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but cloud-oompeUing Jove answered her 
 nothing, but sat silent for a long time. And as Thetis seized 
 his knees, fast cliQging she held them, and thus again en- 
 treated : " Do but now promise to me explicitly, and grant 
 or refuse, (for in thee there is no dread,) that. I may well 
 Know how far I am the most dishonoured goddess amongst 
 all." 
 
 But her cloud-compelling Jove, deeply moved, addressed: 
 " Truly now this [will be] a grievous matter, since thou wilt 
 cause me to give offence to Juno, when she shall irritate me 
 with reproachful words. For, even without reason, she ia 
 perpetually chiding me amongst the immortal gods, and also 
 says that I aid the Trojans in battle. But do thou on thy 
 part now depart, lest Juno behold thee : but these things 
 shall be my care, until I perform them. But if [thou wilt 
 have it thus], so be it ; I will nod to thee with my head, that 
 thou mayest feel confidence. For this from me is the greatest 
 pledge among the immortals : for my pledge, even whatsoever 
 I shall sanction by nod, is not to be retracted, neither falla- 
 cious nor iinfulfilled." 
 
 The son of Saturn spoke, and nodded thereupon with hia 
 dark eyebrows. And then the ambrosial locks of the king 
 were shaken over him from his immortal head; and he made 
 mighty Olympus tremble. Thus having conferred, they se- 
 parated. She at once plunged from splendid Olympus into 
 the profound sea. But Jove on the other hand [returned] to 
 his palace. But all the gods rose up together from their seats 
 to meet their sire ; nor did any dare to await' hiin approach- 
 ing, but all rose in his presence. Thus indeed he sat there 
 on his throne ; nor was Juno unconscious, having seen that 
 silver-footed Thetis, the daughter of the mariae old man, had 
 joiaed in deliberation with him. Forthwith with reproaches 
 she accosted Satumian Jove : 
 
 " WMch of the gods agsiin, deceitftil one, has been con- 
 oerting measures with thee 1 Ever is it agreeable to thee, 
 being ap; rt from me, plotting secret things, to decide thereon; 
 
 ' Heyne supplies " sedendo." 
 
MS— 577. ILIAD. I. 19 
 
 nor liast thou ever yet deigned mllingly to tell me one word 
 of what thou dost meditate." 
 
 To her then replied the father of men and gods : "0 Jimo, 
 build up no hopes of kno-wing all my counsels ; difficult 
 would they be for thee, although thou axt my consort. But 
 whatever it may be fit for thee to hear, none then either of 
 gods or men shall know it before thee : but whatever I wish 
 to consider apart from the gods, do thou neither inquire into 
 any of these things, nor investigate them." 
 
 But him the large-eyed, venerable Juno then answered : 
 " Most dread son of Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken ! 
 Heretofore have I ever questioned thee much, nor pryed 
 [into thy secrets] ; but thou mayest very quietly deliberate 
 on those things which thou desirest. But at present I greatly 
 fear in my so\il, lest silver-footed Thetis, the daughter of the 
 marine old man, may have influenced thee : for at dawn she 
 sat by thee and embraced thy knees : to her I suspect thou 
 didst plainly promise that thou wouldest honour Achilles, 
 and destroy many at the ships of the Greeks." 
 
 But her answering, cloud-compeUing Jove addressed : "Per- 
 verse one ! thou art always suspecting, nor do I escape thee. 
 JS'evertheless thou shalt produce no efiect at all, but thou shal'-- 
 be farther from my heart : and this will be more bitter to thee. 
 But granted this be so, it appears to be my pleasure.' But 
 sit down in peace, and obey my mandate, lest as many deities 
 as are in Olympus avail thee not against me, I drawing near,' 
 when I shall lay my resistless hands upon thee." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but venerable, large-eyed Juno feared, and 
 sat down silent, having bent her heart to submission. But 
 the heavenly gods murmured throughout the palace of Jove. 
 And the renowned artificer, Vulcan, began to harangue them, 
 doing kind offices to his beloved mother, white-armed Juno ; 
 
 " Truly now these wiU be grievous matters, and no longer 
 tolerable, if ye twain contend thus on account of mortals, and 
 excite uproar among the deities. Nor will there be any en- 
 joyment in the delightfuj banquet, since the worse tldngs 
 prevail* But to my mother I advise, she herself being iii- 
 
 ' /. e., Bay thatwhat you suspect is correct; well then, such is my will. 
 ' I prefer taking lOi^G' for tovra, not for lopri, as Buttmannv/ished, — 
 See Anthon. 
 = Cf. Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 9. The saying is almost proverbial. 
 
 c2 
 
20 IWAD. I. 578—601. 
 
 fcelligeiit, to gratify my dear father Jove, lest my sire may 
 again reprove her, and distiirb our banquet. For if the 
 Olympian Thimderer wishes to hurl [us] from our seats' — 
 for he is much the most powerfiU. But do thou soothe him 
 with gentle words ; then will the Olympian ting straight- 
 way be propitious to us." 
 
 Thus then he spoke, and rising, he placed the double cup^ 
 in the hand of his dear mother, and addressed her : 
 
 " Be patient, my mother, and restrain thyself, although 
 grieved, lest with my own eyes I behold thee beaten, being 
 very dear to me ; nor then indeed should I be able, though 
 fuU of grief, to assist thee ; for Olympinn Jove is difficult to 
 be opposed. For heretofore, having seized me by the foot, 
 he cast me, desiring at one time to assist you, down from the 
 heavenly threshold. All day was I carried down through 
 the air, and I feU on Lenmos^ with the setting sun : and but 
 little life was in me by that time. There the Sintian* men 
 forthwith received and tended* me, having fallen." 
 
 Thus he spoke: but the white-armed goddess Jim.o smiled; 
 and smiling she received the cup from the hand of her son. 
 But he, beginning from left to right,^ kept pouring out for 
 all the other gods, drawing nectar from the goblet. And 
 then inextinguishable laughter arose among the immortal 
 gods, when they saw Vulcan bustling about' through the 
 mansion. 
 
 Thus, then, they feasted^ She entire day tUl the setting 
 
 ' An aposiopesis ; understand, " he can easily do so." 
 ^ See my note on Od. iii. p. 30, n. 13, ed. Bohn. It was " a double 
 cup witli a common bottom in the middle." — Crusius. 
 
 * Hercules having sacked Troy, was, on his return, driven to Cos by a 
 storm raised by Juno, who was hostile to him, and who had contrived to 
 cast Jupiter iuto a sleep, that he might not interrupt her purpose. Jupiter 
 awaking, in resentment of the artifice practised upon him, bound her feet 
 to iron anvils, which Vulcan attempting to loose, was cast headlong down 
 to Lcmnos by his enraged sire. 
 
 ' A race of robbers, of Tyrrhenian origin (according to Muller), and 
 the ancient inhabitants of Lemnos. This island was ever after sacred to 
 Vulcan. Cf. Lactant. i. 15 j Milton, P. L. i. 740, sqq. 
 
 ' See Arnold. 
 
 * This meaning of ivfe^ia is due to Buttmann. 
 ' See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 481. 
 
 ' " The gods formed a sort of political community of their ovm, which 
 bad its hierarchy, its distribution of ranks and duties, its contentions for 
 power and occasional revolutions, its public meetings in the agora irf 
 
602—611. ILIAD. I, 21 
 
 sun ; nor did the soul -want anything of the equal feast, nor 
 of the beautiful harp, which Apollo held, nor of the Muses, 
 who accompanied hun, responding in turn, with delicious 
 voice. 
 
 But when the splendid light of the sun was sunk, they 
 retired to repose, each one to his home, where renowned 
 Vulcan, lame of both legs, with cunning skiLL had built a 
 house for each. But the Olympian thunderer Jove went to 
 his couch, where he lay before, when sweet sleep came upon 
 him. There, having ascended, ho lay down to rest, and be- 
 side him golden-throned Juno. 
 
 Olympus, and its multitudinoms banquets or festivals." — Qrote, vol. i. 
 p. 463. Cf. MiUler, Gk. Lit. u. $ 2. 
 
22 ILIAD. II. 
 
 BOOK THE SECOND. 
 
 AKOUMENT. 
 
 Jove sends a dream to Agamemnon, in consequence of which he re> 
 assembles the army. Thersites is punished for his insolent speech, and 
 the troops are restrained from seeking a return homewards. The 
 catalogue of the ships and the forces of the esnfederates follows. 
 
 The rest, then, both gods and horse-arraying men,' slept 
 all the night : but Jove s-weet sleep possessed not ; but he 
 was pondering in his mind how he might honour Achilles, 
 and destroy many at the ships of the Greeks. But this 
 device appeared best to him ia his mind, to send a fatal 
 dream 2 to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. And address- 
 ing him, he spoke winged words : 
 
 " Haste away, pernicious dream, to the swift ships of the 
 Greeks. Going into the tent of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, 
 utter very acctirately eveiything as I shall command thee. 
 Bid him arm the long-haired Achseans * with aU their array ; 
 for now perhaps he may * take the wide-wayed city of the 
 Trojans ; for the immortals who possess the Olympian mansions 
 no longer think dividedly, for Juno, supplicating, hath bent all 
 [to her wUl]. And woes are impending over the Trojans." 
 
 Thus he spake : and the dream * accordingly departed, as 
 
 ' See Anthori, who observes that " fighting from on horseback was not 
 practised in the Homeric times." 
 
 ' Some would personify Oneirus, as god of dreams. 
 
 " Observe the distinction, for the Abantes, ver. 542, and the Thracians, 
 iv. 533, wore their hair differently. 
 
 * KM/ limits the assertion to probability, so that Jupiter does not utter 
 a direct falsehood. 
 
 * In defence of this cheating conduct of Jove, at which Plato was much 
 scandalized, Coleridge, p. 154, observes : " The oiJXoe ojiipos was a lying 
 spirit, which the fatner of gods and men had a supreme right to com.. 
 mijuoa for the purpose of working out his ultimate will." 
 
17—51. ILIAD. II. 23 
 
 soon as it heard the mandate. And quickly it came to the 
 swift ships of the Greeks, and went unto Agamemnon, the 
 son of Atreus. But him it found sleeping in his tent, and 
 ambrosial slumber was diffused around. And he stood over 
 his head, like im^to Nestor, the son of Neleus, him, to wit, 
 whom Agamemnon honoured most of the old men. To him 
 assimilating himself, the divine dream addressed him : 
 
 " Sleepest thou, son of the warrior, horse-taming Atreus ? 
 It becomes not a counsel-giving man, to whom the people 
 have been intrusted, and to whom so many things are a 
 care, to sleep all the night. But now qtdckly attend to me ; 
 for I am a messenger to thee from Jove, who, although far 
 distant, greatly regards and pities thee. He orders thee to 
 arm the long-haired Greeks with all their array, for now 
 mayest thou take the wide-wayed city of the Trojans, since 
 the immortals, who possess the Olympian mansions, no longer 
 think dividedly ; for Juno, supplicating, hath bent all [to 
 her will], and woes from Jove are impending over the Tro- 
 jans. But do thou preserve this in thy recollection, nor let 
 tbrgetfulness possess thee, when sweet sleep shall desert thee." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, he departed, and left him there 
 pondering these things in his mind, which were not des- 
 tined to be accomplished. For he, foolish, thought that he 
 would take the city of Priam on that day ; nor knew he 
 the deeds which Jupiter was really devising ; for even he 
 was about yet to impose additional hardships and sorrows 
 upon both Trojans and Greeks, through mighty conflicts. 
 But he awoke from his sleep, and the heavenly voice was 
 diflfiised around him. He sat up erect, and put on his soft 
 tunic, beautiftd, new ; and around him he threw his large 
 cloak. And he bound his beautiful sandals on his shining 
 feet, and slung from his shoulders the silver-studded sword. 
 He also took his paternal sceptre, ever imperishable, with 
 which he went to the ships of the brazen-mailed Greeks. 
 
 The goddess Aurora now ' ascended wide Olympus, an- 
 nouncing the dawn to Jove and the other immortals. But 
 he ^ on his part ordered the clear-voiced heralds to summon 
 the long-haired Achseans " to an assembly. They thereforr 
 
 ' pa appears to mark the regular transition from one event to anntb 
 ' Agamemnon. ^ See on Ter> 11. 
 
44 ILIAD. II. 5?— 87. 
 
 summoned them, and the people were very speedily assem- 
 bled. First the assembly of magnanimous elders sat at the 
 ship of Nestor, the Pylus-bom king. Having called them 
 together, he propounded a prudent counsel : 
 
 " Hear me, my friends : a divine dream came to me in 
 sleep, during the ambrosial night, very like unto the noble 
 Nestor, in form, ia stature, and in mien. And it stood 
 above my head, and addressed me : Sleepest thou, son of 
 the warrior, horse-tamiug Atreus 1 It becomes not a coun- 
 sellor, to whom the people have been intrusted, and to 
 whom so many things are a care, to sleep all the night. 
 But now quickly attend to me ; for I am a messenger to 
 thee from Jove, who, although far distant, greatly regards 
 and pities thee. He orders thee to arm the long-haired 
 Greeks with aU. their array, for now mayest thou take the 
 wide-wayed city of the Trojans ; for the immortals, who pos- 
 sess the Olympian mansions, no longer think dividedly, for 
 Juno, supplicating, has bent all [to her will], and woes from 
 Jove are unpending over the Trojans ; but do thou pre- 
 serve this in thy thoughts.' Thus having spoken, flying 
 away, it departed ; but sweet sleep resigned me. But come, 
 pet us try] if by any means we can arm the sons of the 
 Greeks. But first with words will I sound their inclina- 
 tions, as is right, and I will command them to fly with 
 then- many-benched ships; but do you restrain them with 
 words, one in one place, another ia another." 
 
 He indeed having thus spoken, sat down ; but Nestor, 
 who was king of sandy Pylus, rose up, who wisely counsel- 
 ling, harangued them, and said : 
 
 " O friends, generals and counsellors of the Axgives, if any 
 other of the Greeks had told this dream, we should have 
 pronounced it a fabrication, and withdrawn ourselves [from 
 ihe reciter]. But now he has seen it, who boasts hiiaself 
 [to be] by far the greatest man in the army. But come 
 on, if by any means we can arm the sons of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, he began to depart from the 
 assembly ; and they, the sceptre-bearing princes, arose, and 
 obeyed the shepherd of the tribes, and the hosts rushed for- 
 ward. Even as the swarms of clustering bees,^ issuing ever 
 
 ' The dative here implies direction, sjri increasing its force, according 
 
88—115. ILIAD. II. 25 
 
 anew from the hollow rock, go forth, and fly in troops over 
 the vernal ' flowers, and some have flitted ia bodies here, 
 and some there ; thus of these [Greeks] many nations from 
 the ships and tents kept marching ia troo])s in front of the 
 steep shore to the assembly. And in the midst of them 
 blazed Rumour, messenger of Jove, lu'giijg them to pro 
 ceed; and they kept collecting together. The assembly was 
 tumultuous, and the earth groaned beneath, as the people 
 seated themselves, and there was a clamour ; but nine he- 
 ralds vociferating restrained them, if by any means they 
 would cease from clamour, and hear the Jove-nurtured 
 princes. With difficulty at length the people sat down, and 
 were kept to their respective ^ seats, having desisted from 
 their clamour, when king Agamemnon arose, holding the 
 sceptre, which Vulcan had laboriously wrought. Vulcan in 
 the first place gave it to king Jove, the son of Saturn, and 
 Jove in turn gave it to his messenger, the slayer of Argus.-' 
 But king Mercury gave it to steed-taming Pelops, and Pe- 
 lops again gave it to Atreus, shepherd of the people. But 
 Atreus, dying, left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks ; but Thy- 
 estes again left it to Agamemnon to be borne, that he 
 might rule over many islands,'* and all Argos.* Leaning 
 upon this, he spoke words amongst the Greeks : 
 
 " O friends, Grecian heroes, servant* of Mars, Jove, the 
 son of Saturn, has entangled me in a heavy misfortune. 
 Cruel, who before indeed promised to me, and vouchsafed 
 by his nod, that I should return home, having destroyed 
 weU-foriified Ilium. But now he has devised an evil de- 
 ception, and commands me to return to Argos, inglorious. 
 
 to Stadelmann and Kuhner. who are followed by Anthon. I have restored 
 the old interpretation, which is much less far-fetched, and is placed 
 beyond doubt by Virgil's imitations.— -" //ct" florea rura," ^n. i. 430; 
 "floribus insidunt variis." JEn. vi. 708. "Among fresh dews and 
 flowers, Fly to and fro."— Milton. P. L. i. 771. 
 
 ' 1. e. over the flowers in the spring-time, when bees first appear. See 
 Virg. 1. c. Eurip. Hipp. 77, /jeXtffffa XsifiSv ripivbv oupxcTai. — Nicias, 
 Anthol. i. 31, lap ipaivovaa jitKiaaa, — Longus, i. 4. 
 
 ' Observe the distributive use of Kara. Cf. Od. iii. 7. 
 
 » Mercury. Cf. Ovid. Met. i. 624. sqq. 
 
 * On the extended power of Agamemnon, see Thucyd. i. 9. 
 
 ' On this Boeptre, the type of the wealth and influence of the house of 
 tjie Atrides. see Grote. vol. i. p. 212. 
 
26 ILIAll. IT. 115-146. 
 
 after 1 1 ve lost many of my people. So forsooth it ap- 
 jiears tc be agreeable to all-powerful Jove, who has already 
 overthrtOTi the citadels of many cities, yea, and will even 
 yet overthrow them, for transcendent is his power. For 
 this were disgraceful even for posterity to hear, that so 
 brave and so numerous a people of the Greeks warred an 
 ineffectual war, and fought with fewer men ; but as yet 
 no end has appeared. For if we, Greeks and IVojans, hav- 
 ing struck a faithful league,' wished that both should be 
 numbered, and [wished] to select the Trojans, on the one 
 hand, as many as are townsmen ; and if we Greeks, on the 
 other hand, were to be divided into decades, and to choose 
 a single man of the Trojans to pour out -wine [for each 
 decade], many decades would be without a cupbearer.^ So 
 much more numerous, I say, the sons of the Greeks are than 
 the Trojans who dwell in the city. But there are spear- 
 wielding auxiliaries from many cities, who greatly stand in 
 my way, and do not permit me wishing to destroy the well- 
 inhabited city. Already have nine years of mighty Jove 
 passed away, and now the timbers of our ships have rotted, 
 and the ropes have become untwisted.'' Our wives and in- 
 fant children sit in our dwellings exjiecting us; but to us 
 the work for which we came hither remains imaccomplished, 
 oonti'ary to expectation. But come, as I shall recommend, 
 let us all obey ; let us fly with the ships to our dear native 
 land, for at no future time shall we take wide-wayed Troy." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and to them he aroused the heart in theii 
 breasts, to all throughout the multitude, whoever had not 
 heard his scheme.'* And the assembly was moved, as the 
 great waves of the Icarian Sea, which, indeed, both the south- 
 cast wind and the south are wont to raise,' rushing from the 
 
 ' "OpKia is probably used as an adjective, understanding Itptia, the vic- 
 tims that were slain in order to ratify the oath. See however Buttm. 
 Lexil. p. 439. 
 
 ' The Greeks doubled the Trojans in number. See Anthon. 
 
 ' Observe the change of construction in \k\vvTai. with the neuter plural. 
 ApoUon. de Syntaxi, iii. 11. Td aTrapra XaKyvrai KaraXXijXortpoK 
 roC Sovpa ait!t)Tn. 
 
 * I. e. his real object. Cf. vs. 75, sqq. 
 
 ' Spitzner and the later editors unite in reading xtvijay for Kifqira 
 from the Venice MS. See Arnold, 
 
147—181. ILIAD, n. 27 
 
 clouds of father Jove. And as when the west wind' agitates 
 the thick-standing corn, rushing down upon it impetuous, 
 and it [the crop] bends with its ears ; so was all the assemblv 
 agitated. Some with shouting rushed to the ships, but from 
 beneath their feet the dust stood suspended aloft ; and some 
 exhorted one another to seize the vessels, and drag them to 
 the great ocean ; and they began to clear the channels. The 
 «hout of them, eager [to return] home, vose to the sky, and 
 they withdrew the stays from beneath the vessels. Then 
 truly a return had happened to the Argives, contrary to 
 destiny, had not Juno addressed herself to Minerva : 
 
 " Alas ! iudomitable daughter of segis-bearing Jove, thus 
 now shall the Argives fly home to their dear native land, 
 as er the broad back of the deep, and leave to Priam glory, 
 and to the Trojans Argive Helen, on whose account many 
 Greeks have perished at Troy, far from their dear native 
 land ? But go now to the peoj)le of the brazen-mailed 
 Greeks, and restrain each man with thy own flattering 
 words, nor suffer them to launch to the sea their evenly- 
 plied ^ barks." Thus she spoke, nor did the azure-eyed god- 
 dess Minerva refuse compliance. But she, hastening, de- 
 scended down from the summits of Olympus, and quickly 
 reached the swift ships of the Achseans. Then she found 
 Ulysses, of equal weight with Jove in counsel, standing still ; 
 nor was he touching liis well-benched, sable bark, since regret 
 affected him in heart and. mind. But standing near him, 
 azure-eyed Minerva said : 
 
 " Jove-sprung son of Laertes, Ulysses of many wiles, thus 
 then will ye fly home to your dear native land, embax-king 
 in your many-benched ships t And will ye then leave to 
 Priam glory, and to the Trojans Argive Helen, on whose 
 account many Greeks have fallen at Troy, far from their 
 dear native land ? But go now to the people of the Greeks, 
 delay not ; and restrain each man by thy own flattering 
 words, nor suffer them to launch to the sea their evenly- 
 pUed barks." 
 
 ' " As thick as when a field 
 
 Of Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends 
 
 Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind 
 
 Sways them." — Paradise Lost, iv. 980. 
 
 ' /. e. rowed on both sides. But Host and Liddell (s. v.) prefer 
 
 swaying, rocking on both sides." 
 
28 
 
 ILIAD. II. 182—211 
 
 Thus she spoke, but he knew the voice of the goddess 
 Bpeaking. Then he hastened to run, and cast away his cloak, 
 but the herald Burybates, the Ithacensian, who followed him, 
 took it up. But he, meeting Agamemnon, son of Atrens, re- 
 ceived from Viim 1 the ever-imperishable paternal sceptre, with 
 which he went through the ships of the brazen-mailed 
 Greeks. 
 
 "Whatsoever Mng, indeed, or distinguished man he chanced 
 to find standing beside him, he checked him with gentle 
 words : 
 
 " Strange man ! it ill becomes thee, coward-like, to be in 
 trepidation ; but both sit down thyself, and make the other 
 people sit down, for thou hast not as yet clearly ascertained 
 what the intention of Atrides is. He is now making trial of, 
 and win quickly punish the sons of the Greeks. "We have not 
 aU heard what he said in coimcU. Take care lest he, being 
 incensed, do some mischief to the sons of the Greeks. For 
 the anger of a Jove-nurtured king is great ; his honoiir too 
 is from Jove, and great-counselling Jove loves him." 
 
 But on the other hand, whatever man of the common 
 people he chanced to see, or find shouting out, him would he 
 strike with the sceptre, and reprove with words : 
 
 " Fellow, sit quietly, and listen to the voice of others, who 
 are better than thou ; for thou art imwarlike and weak, nor 
 ever of any account either m war or in council. "We Greeks 
 cannot all by any means govern here, for a government of 
 many is not a good thing j^ let there be but one chief, one 
 king,^ to whom the son of wily Saturn haa given a sceptre, 
 and laws, that he may govern among them." 
 
 Thus he, acting as chief, was arranging the army. But 
 they again rushed with tumult from the sliips and tents to 
 an assembly, as when the waves of the much-resoundmg sea 
 roar against the lofty beach, and the deep resounds. 
 
 The others indeed sat down, and were kept to their re- 
 
 ' This is an instance of the "x^/iot SikeXikov, as in H. 0, 88, yivirai 
 Si TrapdKafitavoiikvtiQ JoriK^g imhatwe avri ytviKrjg xai Kard jrapa- 
 XfHf/if rov vapd irpoSlffewj. — Lesbonax, iripi axvi^- P- 181, ed. Valck. 
 
 ' See Aristot. Polit. iv. 4, and Cicer. de Off. i. 8. This true maxim 
 has been often abused by tyrants, as by Dion (Corn. Nepos, Dion. 
 § 6, 4), Caligula (Sueton. Cal. 22), and Domitian (id. 12). 
 
 ' On the aristocratic character of Homer's poetry, see MfiUer, Git 
 Lit. iv. § 2. 
 
212—242. ILIAD. TI. 29 
 
 spective scats. But Thersites alone, immediate in words, 
 was wrangling ; who, to wit, knew in his mind expressions 
 both unseemly and numerous, so as idly, and not according 
 to discipline, to wrangle with the princes, but [to blurt out] 
 whatever seemed to him to be matter of laughter to the 
 Greeks. And he was the ughest man who came to Ilium. 
 He was bandy-legged,' and lame of one foot ; his shoulders 
 were crooked, and contracted towards his breast ; and his 
 head was peaked ^ towards the top, and thin woolly hair was 
 scattered over it. To Achilles and Ulysses he was particu- 
 larly hostile, for these two he used to revile. But on this 
 occasion, shouting out shrilly, he uttered bitter taunts against 
 noble Agamemnon ; but the Greeks were greatly irritated 
 against him, and were indignant in their minds. But voci- 
 ferating aloud, he reviled Agamemnon with words : 
 
 " Son of Atreus, of what dost thou now complain, or what 
 dost thou want ? Thy tents are fall of brass, and many 
 chosen women are in thy tents, whom we Greeks bestow 
 on thee the first of all, whenever we capture a city. Dost 
 thou still require gold, which some one of the horse-taming 
 Trojans shall bring from Troy, as a ransom for his sot^ 
 whom I, or some other of the Greeks, having bound, may 
 lead away ? Or a yoimg maid, that thou mayest be mingled 
 in dalliance, and whom thou for thyself mayest retain apart^ 
 [from the rest] ? Indeed it becomes not a man who is chief 
 in command, to lead the sons of the Greeks into evU. O 
 ye soft ones, vile disgraces, Grecian dames, no longer Gre- 
 cian men,'* let us return home, home ! ' with our ships, and 
 let us leave him here to digest his honours at Troy, that 
 he may know whether we really aid hiTn in anything or 
 not. He, who but just now has dishonoured Achilles, a 
 man much more vaHaJat than himself; for, taking away, he 
 retains his prize, he himsolf having seized it. But assuredly 
 there is not much anger in the heart of Achilles ; but he 
 is forbearing ; for truly, were it not so, son of Atreu«, 
 thou wouldest have insulted now for the last time." 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 540, § fi. 
 
 ' See Buttm. p. 537, who derives 0o5toj from (jiayHV, to diy, as if 
 fia^oe, warped hy heat. 
 
 ' Not being compelled to restore her, like the daughter of Chryses. 
 * Virg. .^n. ix. 617 : " O vere Phrygiae, neque enim JPhryges ! " 
 ' This is Nagelsbach's spirited rendering of oiKat'i T£p. 
 
30 ILIAD. II. 243—278. 
 
 Thus spoke Thersites, reviling Agamemnon, the shepherd 
 of the people. But godlike Ulysses immediately stood be- 
 side him, and eyeiag him with scowUng brow, reproached 
 hiTin with harsh language : 
 
 " Thersites, reckless babbler ! noisy declaimer though thou 
 be, refrain, nor be forward singly to strive with princes ; 
 for I affirm that there is not another mortal more base 
 than thou, as many as came with the son of Atreus to 
 Ilium. Wherefore do not harangue, having kings in thy 
 mouth, nor cast reproaches against them, nor be on the 
 watch for a return. Not as yet indeed do we certainly 
 know how these matters will turn out, whether we sons 
 of the Greeks shall return to our advantage or disadvan- 
 tage. Wherefore, now thou sittest reviling Agamemnon, 
 son of Atreus, the leader of the people, because the Grecian 
 heroes give him very many gifts, whilst thou, insulting, dost 
 harangue. But I declare to thee, which shall also be ac- 
 complished : if ever again I catch thee raving, as now thou 
 art, no longer may the head of Ulysses rest upon his shoul- 
 ders, and no longer may I be called the father of Telema- 
 chus, unless I seizing thee divest thee of thy very garments, 
 thy coat, thy cloak, and those which cover thy loins ; and 
 send thyself weeping to the swift ships, having beaten thee 
 out of the assembly with severe blows." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and smote him with the sceptre upon the 
 back and the shoulders ; but he writhed, and plenteous tears 
 fell from him, and a bloody weal arose under the sceptre 
 upon his back. But he sat down and trembled ; and griev- 
 ing, looking foolish, lie wiped away the tears. They, al- 
 though chagrined, laughed heartily at him, and thus one 
 would say, looking towards the person next bim : 
 
 " O strange ! surely ten thousand good deeds has Ulysses 
 already performed, both originating good counsels, and arous- 
 ing the war. But now has he done this by far the best, 
 deed amongst the Greeks, in that he has restrained this 
 foul-mouthed revUer from his harangues. Surely his petu- 
 lant mind will not again urge him to chide the kings with 
 scunilous language." 
 
 Thus spake the multitude ; but Ulysses, the sacker of 
 cities, arose, holding the sceptre, and beside him azure-eved 
 Minerva, likened unto a herald, ordered the people to' be 
 
879—312. ILlAD. II. 31 
 
 silent, that at tlie same time the sons of the Greeks, both 
 first and last, might hear his speech, and weigh his counseL 
 He wisely coimseUiag, addressed them, and said : 
 
 " O son of Atreus, the Greeks wish to render thee now, 
 O king, the meanest amongst articulately-speaking men ; 
 nor perform their promise to thee,' which they held forth, 
 coming hither from steed-nourishing Argos, that thou 
 shouldest return home, having destroyed well-fortified Ilium. 
 For, like tender boys, or widowed women, they bewail unto 
 one another to return home. And truly it is a hard- 
 ship to return [so], having been grieved. For he is im- 
 patient who is absent even for a single month from his 
 wife, remaining with his many-benched ship,^ though wintry 
 storms and the boisterous sea may be hemming in j ^ but to 
 us it is [now] the ninth revolving year since we have been 
 lingering here. Wherefore I am not indignant that the 
 Greeks are growing impatient by their curved ships ; but 
 still it won] 1 1 be disgracefiil both to remain here so long, 
 and to relui n iiiefiectually. Endure, my friends, and re- 
 main yet awhile, that we may know whether Calchas pro- 
 phesies truly or not. For this we well know, and ye are 
 all witnesses, whom the Fates of death carried not off yes- 
 terday and the day before, when the ships of the Greeks 
 were collected at Aulis, bearing evils to Priam and the 
 Trojans, and we round about the fountain, at the sacred 
 altars, offered perfect hecatombs to the immortals, beneath 
 a beauteous plane-tree, whence flowed limpid water.* There 
 A great prodigy appeared ; a serpent, spotted on the back, 
 horrible, which the Olympian himself had sent forth into 
 the light, liaving glided out from beneath the altar, pro- 
 ceeded forthwith to the plane-tree. And there were the 
 young of a spanow, an infant offspring, on a topmost branch, 
 
 ' See Grote, voL i. p. 392, n. 2. 
 
 ' I have followed Wolf, taking aiiv vtfi iroXvZvy<{> in connection with 
 Aviov. Others moat awltwardly make avv=7rapd. 
 
 ' Cf. Buttm. Lexil. s. v. dXiiv. 
 
 * Pausanias, ix. 20, says that both the spring and the remains of the 
 tree were shown in his time. The whole of this fable has been translated 
 into verse by Cicero, de Div. ii. 30. Compare the following passage of 
 Apuleius de Deo Socr. p. 52, ed. Elm. " Calchas longe praestabilis 
 ariolari, simul alites et arborem contemplatus est, actutum sua divinitat* 
 et tempestates flexit, et olassem deduxit, et decennium prsedixit." 
 
32 ILIAD. II. 312—344, 
 
 cowering atnorgst the foliage, eight in number ; but the 
 mother, which had bi-)ught forth the yoxmg ones, was the 
 ninth. Thereupon he devoured them, t-wittering piteously, 
 while the mother kept fluttering about, lamenting her dear 
 young ; but then, having turned himself about, he seized 
 her by the wing, screaming around. But after he htA de- 
 voured the young of the sparrow, and herself, the god who 
 had displayed him rendered him very portentous, for the 
 son of wUy Saturn changed him into a stone ; but we, 
 standing by, were astonished at what happened. Thus, 
 therefore, the dreadful portents of the gods approached the 
 hecatombs. Calcha.s, then, immediately addressed us, reveal- 
 ing from the gods : ' Why are ye become silent, ye waving- 
 crested Greeks 1 For us, indeed, provident Jove has shown 
 a great sign, late, of late accomplishment, the renown of 
 which shall never perish. As this [serpent] has devoured 
 the young of the sparrow, eight in number, and herself, 
 the mother which brought out the brood, was the ninth, 
 so must we for as many years ' wage war here, but in the 
 tenth we shall take the wide-wayed city.' He indeed thus 
 harangued : and all these things are now in course of ac- 
 complishment. But come, ye weU-greaved Greeks, remain 
 all here, untU we shaU take the great city of Priam." 
 
 Thus he [Ulysses] spoke, and the Greeks loudly shouted, 
 applauding the speech of divine Ulysses; but all around 
 the ships echoed fearfully, by reason of the Greeks shouting. 
 Then the Gerenian ^ knight Nestor addressed them : 
 
 " O strange ! assuredly now ye are talking like infant chil- 
 dren, with whom warlike achievements are of no account. 
 Whither then will your compacts and oaths depart ? Into 
 the fire now must the counsels and thoughts of men have 
 sunk, and the unmixed libations, and the right hands in 
 which we trusted ; for in vain do we dispute with words, 
 nor can we discover any resource, although we have been 
 here for a long time. But do thou, O son of Atreus, main- 
 
 ' I. e. for nine. It is remarkable that so little notice has been taken 
 of this story by the later poets. But the sacrifice of Iphigenia was a 
 more attractive subject for tragedy or episode, and took the place of the 
 Homejrlc legend. 
 
 ' Nestor took this name from a city of Messena ( Gerenium, a, or ia. 
 See Arnold, and Pinedo on Steph, Byz. s. v. repjivia), where he was 
 brought up, probably after Pylos had been destroyed by Hercules. 
 
M4— 376. ILIAD. U. 33 
 
 taioing, as before, thy purpose firm, command the Greeks 
 in the hard-fought conflicts ; and abandon those to perisji, 
 one qnd both,' who, separated from the Greeks, are medi- 
 tasting [but success shall not attend them] to return back 
 to Ajgos, before they know whether the promise of aegis- 
 bearing Jove be false or not. For I say that the powerful 
 son of Saturn assented on that day, when the Argives em- 
 harked in their swift ships, bearing death and fate to the • 
 Trojans, flashing ^ his Ughtning on the right, and showing 
 propitious signs. Let not any one, therefore, hasten to re- 
 turn home before each has fdept with a Trojan wife, and 
 has avenged the cares ■'' and griefs of Helen. But if any 
 one is extravagantly eager to return home, let him lay hands 
 upon his well-benched black ship, that he may draw on death 
 and fate before others. But do thou thyself deliberate well, 
 
 king, and attend to another j nor shall the advice which 
 
 1 am about to utter be discarded. Separate the troops, 
 Agamemnon, according to their tribes and clans, that kin- 
 dred may support kindred, and clan clan. If thou wilt 
 thus act, and the Greeks obey, thou wilt then ascertain 
 which of the generals and which of the soldiers is a dastard, 
 and which of them may be brave, for they will fight their 
 beat,'' and thou wilt likewise learn whether it is by the 
 divine interposition that thou art destined not to dismantle 
 the city, or by the cowardice of the troops, and their un- 
 sldlfulness in war." 
 
 But him answering, king Agamemnon addressed : " Old 
 man, now indeed, as at other times, dost thou excel the 
 sons of the Greeks in councU. For, would, O father Jove, 
 Minerva, and Apollo, that I were possessed of ten such 
 fellow-oounseUors among the Greeks ! So should the 
 city of Priam quickly fall, captured and destroyed by our 
 hands. But upon me hath segis-bearing Jove, the son of 
 Saturn, sent sorrow, who casts me into unavailing sflrifes and 
 
 ' Proverbially meaning a few, but probably referring to Achilles and 
 Thersites. See the Scholiast. 
 
 ' Observe this bold change of construction, and compare Valck. on 
 Lesbinax, at the end or his edition of Ammonius, p. 188, 
 
 ' Hesych. opitJi/iaTa, liepifivai,. Etym. M. Mvjii)iiaTa, tppovr'Jic, 
 See Buttm. Lexil. p. 440, sqq. Helen certainly shows some veijeuianct 
 iu iii. 176. 
 
 « " Pro viriU parte," Wolf. Cf. i. 271. 
 D 
 
3* ILIAD. II. 377—408. 
 
 contentiuns. For I and AchiUes have quarrelleci on account 
 of a maid with opposing words : but I began quarrelling. 
 But if ever we shall consult in common, no longer then 
 shall there be a respite from evil to the Trojans, no, not 
 for ever so short a time. 2fow go to your repast, that we 
 may join battle. Let each one well sharpen his spear, and 
 well prepare ' his shield. Let him give fodder to his swift- 
 footed steeds, and let each one, looking well to liis chariot, 
 get ready for war ; that we may contend all day in the 
 dreadful battle. Nor shall there be a cessation, not for 
 ever so short a while, until night coming on shall part the 
 ^vrath of the heroes. The belt of the man-protecting ^ shield 
 shall be moist with sweat around the breasts of each one, 
 and he shall weaiy his hand rotind his spear ; and each one's 
 horse shall sweat, dragging the well-polished chariot. But 
 whomsoever I shall perceive desirous to remain at the beaked 
 ships, apart from the battle, it will not be possible for him 
 afterwards to escape the dogs and the birds." 
 
 Thus he spoke, but the Argives shouted aloud, as when 
 a wave [roars] against the steep shore, when the south v/ind 
 urges it, coming against an out-jutting rock ; for this the 
 billows from all kinds of winds never forsake, when they 
 may be here or there. And rising up, the people hastened 
 forth, scattered from ship to ship, aiid raised up smoke 
 among the tents, and took repast. Aud one sacrificed to 
 some one of the immortal gods, and [another to another,] 
 praying to escape death and the slaughter of war. But 
 king Agamemnon ofiered up a fat ox, of five years old, to 
 the powerfid son of Saturn, and summoned the elder chiefs 
 of all the Greeks, Nestor first of all, and king Idomeneus, 
 but next the two Ajaxes,^ and the son of Tydeus, and sixth 
 Ulysses, of equal weight with Jove in council. But Me- 
 nelaus, valiant in the din'* of war, came of his own accord,* 
 
 ' Schol. ivTpSTnaaroj. 
 
 ' These shields were so large, that they covered nearly the whole person. 
 
 ' One the son of Telamon, the other the sou of Oileas. 
 
 ' This translation is, 1 think, far bolder ttan "loud-voiced," or 
 ' good in the battle-shout." Bo^ contains the whole idea of the tumul- 
 tuous noise heard in the heat of battle, and thence the battle itself. Thus 
 the Schol. 6 kv Tif iroXkiiij) yivvaloQ ; and Hesych. Kara Tijv fiaxi" 
 avSpdoQ. 
 
 ' Opposed to KXriToi;, as in Oppian, Hal. iii. 360, kX^toi t' auri- 
 
409—443. ILIAD. II. 3.«, 
 
 for he knew his brother in hi« heart, how he was oppressed. 
 Then they stood around the ox, and raised up the pounded 
 barley cakes : and king Agamemnon, prajnng amidst them, 
 said : 
 
 " O Jove, most glorious, most great dark-cloud-coUector, 
 dwelling in the air, may not the sun set, nor darkness come 
 on, before I have laid prostrate Priam's hall, blazing, and 
 consumed its gates with the hostile fire ; and cut away 
 Hector's coat of mail around his breast, split asunder with 
 the brass ; and around him may many comrades, prone in 
 the dust, seize the earth with their teeth." 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor as yet did the son of Saturn assent, 
 but he accepted the ofiering, and increased abundant toil. 
 But after they had prayed, and thrown forward the bruised 
 barley, they first drew back [the neck of the victim,] slew 
 it, and flayed it, then cut out the thighs, and covered them 
 in the fat, having arranged it in a double fold, and then laid 
 the raw flesh upon them. And they roasted them upon 
 leafless bUlets. Next, having pierced the entrails with spits, 
 they held them over the fire. But then, after the thighs 
 were roasted, and they had tasted the entrails, they out 
 the rest of them into small pieces, and fixed them on 
 spits, and roasted them skilfoUy, and drew them all ofi" [the 
 spits]. But when they had ceased from laboiir, and had 
 prepared the banquet, they feasted ; nor di^ their soul in 
 anywise lack a due allowance of the feast. But when they 
 had dismissed the desire of drink and food, them the Gere- 
 nian knight Nestor began to address : 
 
 " Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, 
 let us now no longer sit prating ' here, nor let us long defer 
 the work which the deity now delivers into our hands. 
 But come, let the heralds of the brazen-maUed Greeks, sum- 
 moning the people, assemble them at the sliips, and let us 
 thus in a body pass through the wide army of the Greeks, 
 that we may the sooner awaken keen warfare." 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor did Agamemnon, king of men, refuse 
 compliance. Immediately he ordered the clear-voiced heralds 
 to summon the waving-crested Greeks to battle. These 
 
 uoXot re. See Plato Sympos. p. 315, G. Lsem. Why Menelaus did so, 
 M no matter to us, and probably was no mystery to his biother. 
 ' SeeButtm. Lexil. p. 398, Anthon, and Arnold. 
 
 d2 
 
36 ILIAD. II. 444—480. 
 
 iheu gave the sunmions, and they were hastily assembled, 
 and the Jove-nurtured kings, who were with the son of 
 Atreus, kept hvinying about arranging them. But amongst 
 them was azure-eyed Minerva, holding the inestimable aegis, 
 which grows not old, and is immortal : from which one 
 hundred golden fringes were suspended, aU well woven, and 
 each worth a hundred oxen in price. With this she, look- 
 ing fiercely about,' traversed the host of the Greeks, incit- 
 ing them to advance, and kindled strength in the breast of 
 each to fight and contend unceasingly. Thus war became 
 instantly sweeter to them than to return in the hollow ships 
 to their dear native land. 
 
 As when a destructive ^ fire consumes an immense forest 
 upon the tops of a mountain, and the gleam is seen from 
 afar : so, as they advanced, the radiance from the beaming 
 brass glittering on all sides reached heaven through the air. 
 
 And of these — ^Uke as the numerous nations of winged fowl, 
 of geese, or cranes, or long-necked swans, on the Asian mead, 
 by the waters of Cayster, fly on this side and on that, dis- 
 porting with their wings, alighting beside each other cla- 
 morously, and the meadow resounds — so the numerous 
 nations of these [the Greeks] from the ships and tents 
 poured themselves forth into the plain of Scamander, count- 
 less as the flowers and leaves are produced in spring. 
 
 As the numerous swarms of clustering flies which congre- 
 gate round the shepherd's pen in the spring season, when 
 too the milk overflows the pails ; so numerous stood the 
 head-crested Greeks upon the plain against the Trojans, eager 
 to break [their lines]. 
 
 And these,^ as goat-herds easily separate the broad flocks 
 of the goats, when they are mingled in the pasture, so 
 did the generaJs here and there marshal them to go to battle ; 
 and among them commander Agamemnon, resembling, as 
 to his eyes and head, the thunder-delighting Jove, as to hia 
 middle, Mars, and as to his breast, Neptune. 
 
 As a bull in the herd is greatly eminent above all, for he 
 suipasses the collected cattle, such on that day did Jova 
 
 ■ See Liddell and Scott. 
 
 ' Literally " invisible. " Hence "making invisible, destructive." Cf. 
 BmIIui. Lex. 8. V. (iffij/Ain'. 
 ' lu Tove Si there is an anaculuthoii similai' to the oue in rs. 459. 
 
481—513. ILIAD. II. 37 
 
 render Agamemnon, distinguislied amongst many, and con- 
 spicuous amongst heroes. 
 
 Tell me now, ye Muses, wtio possess the Olympian man- 
 sions (for ye are goddesses, and are [ever] present, and ken 
 all things, whilst we hear but a rumour, nor know any- 
 thing '), who were the leaders and chiefs of the Greeks. For 1 
 could not recount nor tell the multitude, not even if ten 
 tongues, and ten mouths were mine, [not though] a voice 
 unwearied,^ and a brazen heart were within me ; unless the 
 Olympic Muses, daughters of segis-bearing Jove, reminded 
 me of how many came to IHum. However, I will rehearse 
 the commanders of the ships, and all the ships. 
 
 THE CATALOGUE OP THE SHIPS. 
 
 Peneleus, and Le'itus, and ArcesUaus, and Prothoenor, 
 and Clonius, commanded the Boeotians ; both those who 
 tilled Hyrie, and rocky Auhs, and Schoenos, and Scholos, and 
 hilly Eteonus, Thespia, Grsea, and the ample plain of Myca- 
 lessus ; and those who dwelt about Harma, and Ilesius, and 
 Erythrse ; and those who possessed Elion, Hyle, Peteon, 
 Ocalea, and the well-built city Medeon, Copje, Eutressis, and 
 Thisbe abounding in doves ; and those who possessed Ooro- 
 niea, and grassy Haliartus, and Platsea ; and those who inha- 
 bited Ghssa, and those who dwelt in Hypothebse, the well- 
 built city, and in sacred Onchestus, the beauteous grove of 
 Neptune ; and those who inhabited grape-clustered Arne, 
 and those [who inhabited] Midea, and divine Nissa, and re- 
 mote Anthedon : fifty ships of these went to Troy, and in 
 each embaxked a hundred and twenty Boeotian youths. 
 
 Those who inhabited Aspledon, and Minyean Orchome- 
 uus, these Ascalaphus and lalmenus, the sons of Mars, led, 
 whom Astyoche bore to powerful Mars in the house of Actor, 
 
 ' Cf. TEn. vii. 644 :— 
 
 " Et meministis enim, Divse, et memorare potestis : 
 Ad noB vix tenuis famse perlabitur aura." 
 Milton, Par. Lost, i. 27 :— 
 
 " Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view, 
 
 Nor the deep cract of Hell " 
 
 ■ Cf. Mn. vi. 625 sqq. ; Georg. ii. 42 ; Valer. Flacc. vi. 36 ; Silius, 
 iv. 527 ; Claudian, 6 Cons. Hon. 43b. This hyperbolical mode of ex- 
 cusing poetic powers is ridiculed by Persius, &a. vi. J- 
 
38 IIJAU. II. 514—651. 
 
 son of Azis : a modest virgin, whfen she ascended the upper 
 part of her father's house ; biit the god secretly embraced 
 her. Of these thirty hollow ships went in order. 
 
 Moreover, Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of magnanimous 
 Iphitus, the son of Naubolus, led the Phoceans, who pos- 
 sessed Cyparissus, and rocky Pjrthon, and divine Crissa, and 
 Daulis, and Panopea ; and those who dwelt round Anemoria 
 and Hyampolis, and near the sacred river Cephissus, and 
 those who possessed LUaea, at the sources of Cephissus ; with 
 these forty dark ships followed. They indeed,' going round, 
 arranged the lines of the Phoceans ; and they were drawn 
 up in array near the Boeotians, and towards the left wing. 
 
 Swift-footed Ajax, the son of OUeuis, was leader of the 
 Locrians ; less in stature than, and not so tall as Ajax, the 
 son of Telamon, but much less. He was small indeed, wear- 
 ing a Unen corslet, but in [the use of] the spear he surpassed 
 aU the Hellenes and Achseans, who inhabited Cynus, Opus, 
 CaUiarus, Bessa, Scarpha, and pleasant Angela, and Tar- 
 pha, and Thronium, around the streams of Boagrius. But 
 with him forty dark ships of the Locrians followed, who 
 dweU beyond sacred Eubcea. 
 
 The Abantes, breathing strength, who possessed Euboea, 
 and Chalcis, and Eretria, and grape-clustered Histisea, and 
 maritime Cerinthus, and the towering city of Dium, and 
 those who inhabited Caiystus and Styra ; the leader of these 
 was Elephenor, of the hne of Mars, the son of Chalcodon, the 
 magnanimous prince of the Abantes. With him the swift 
 Abantes followed, with flowing locks behind, warriors skilled 
 with protended spears of ash, to break the corslets on the 
 breasts of their enemies. With him forty dark ships followed. 
 
 Those besides who possessed Athens, the well-built city, 
 the state of magnanimous Erechtheus, whom Minerva, the 
 daughter of Jove, formerly iiursed (but him the bounteous 
 earth brought forth), and settled at Athens in her own rich 
 temple : there the sons of the Athenians, in revolving years, 
 appease her with [sacrifices of] buUs and lambs ^ — ^them Me- 
 
 ' Schedius and Epistrophus. 
 
 ' Grote, Hist, of Greece, vol. 1. p. 75, ohserves, " Athene is locally 
 identified with the soil and people of Athens, even in the Iliad : Erech- 
 theus, the Athenian, is born of the earth, but Athene brings him up, 
 nourishes him, and lodges him in her own temple, where the Athenians 
 annually worship him with sacrifice and solemnities. It was altogether 
 
552—580. ILIAD. II. 35 
 
 nestlieus, son of Peteus, commanded. No man upon the 
 earth was equal to him in marshalling steeds and shielded 
 warriors in battle ; Nestor alone vied with him, for he was 
 eider. With him fifty dark ships followed. 
 
 But Ajax' led twelve ships from Salamis, and leading ar- 
 ranged them where the phalanxes of the Athenians were 
 dra'vvn up. 
 
 Those who possessed Argos, and well-fortified Tiryns, Her- 
 mione, and which* encircle the Asine deep bay, Troezene, and 
 Ei'once, and vine-planted Epidaurus, and those who possessed 
 ^gina, and Mases, Achsean youths. Their leader then was 
 Diomede, brave in war, and Sthenelus, the dear son of much- 
 renowned Capaneus ; and with these went Euryalus the third, 
 god-like man, the son of king Mecisteus, Talaus' son ; and all 
 these Diomede brave in war commanded. With these eighty 
 dark ships followed. 
 
 Those who possessed Mycenae, the weU-built city, and 
 wealthy Corinth,^ and weU-built Cleonse, and those who in- 
 habited Omia, and pleasant Araethyrea, and Sicyon, where 
 A.drastus first reigned : and those who possessed Hyperesia, 
 and lofty Gonoessa, and PeUene, and those who [inhabited] 
 ^gium, and all along the sea-coast,^ and about spacious 
 Helice. Of these, king Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, com- 
 manded a hundred ships : and with him by far the most 
 and bravest troops followed j and he had clothed himself in 
 dazzling brass, exulting in his glory, that he shone conspi- 
 cuous amongst all heroes ; for he was the most eminent, and 
 led by £ir the most numerous troops.* 
 
 impossible to make Erechtheus son of Athene, — the type of the goddess 
 forbade it ; but the Athenian myth-creators, though they found this 
 barrier impassable, strove to approach to it as near as they could." 
 Compare also p. 262, where he considers Erechtheus " as a divine or 
 heroic, certainly a superhuman person, and as identified with the primitive 
 germination of Attic man." 
 
 ' The son of Telamon. 
 
 ' An anachronism, as Corinth, before its capture by the Dorians, was 
 called Ephyra (as in II. vi. 152). " Neque est, quod miremur ab 
 Homero nominari Corinthum, nam ex persona poetse et hancurbem, et 
 quasdam lonum colonias lis nominibus appellat, quibus vocabantur setato 
 ejus, multo post Ilium captum conditse. "— Veil, Paterc. i. 3. 
 
 ^ /. e. the later Achaia. — Arnold. 
 
 * On the superior power of Agamemnon, see Grote, vol. i. p. 211 
 tad compare II. iz. 69. 
 
40 - ILIAD. II. 581—618- 
 
 But those who possessed great Lacedsemon, full of cleftS; 
 and Pharis and Sparta, and dove-abounding Messa, and Biy- 
 siae, and pleasant Augeise ; and those who possessed Amyclse, 
 and Helos, a maritime city; and those who possessed Laas, 
 and dwelt round CEtylus. Of these his brother Menelaus, 
 brave in battle, commanded sixty ships, but they were armed 
 apart [from Agamemnon's forces]. Amidst them he himself 
 went, confidiLg in his valour, inciting them to war; but 
 especially he desired in his soul to avenge the remorse of 
 Helen and her groans. 
 
 Those who inhabited Pylos and pleasant Arene, and Thryos, 
 by the fords of Alphceus, and well-built .^Epy, and Cypares- 
 seis, and Amphigenia, and Pteleum, and Helos, and Dorium: 
 and there it was the Mxises, meeting the Thracian Thamyris, 
 as he was coming from CEchaUa, from CEchalian Eurytus, 
 caused him to cease his song ; for he averred, boasting, that 
 he could obtain the victory,-* even though the Muses them- 
 selves, the daughters of segis-bearing Jove, should sing. But 
 they, enraged, made him blind, and moreover deprived him 
 of his power of singing, and caused him to forget the minstrel- 
 art. These the Gerenian horf<!maii Nestor commanded : and 
 with him ninety hollow ships ])rooeeded in order. 
 
 Those who possessed Arcadia, under the breezy* mountain 
 of Cyllene, near the tomb of .iS^pytus, where are close-fighting 
 heroes ; those who inhabited J-'heneus, and sheep-abounding 
 Orchomenus, and Eipe and Stratie, and wind-swept Enispe, 
 and who possessed Tegea and pleasant Mantinea ; and those 
 who held Stymphalus, and dwelt in Parrhasie ; of these Mng 
 Agapeuor, the son of Ancseiis, commanded sixty ships; but 
 aboard each ship went many Arcadian heroes skiUed in war. 
 But the son of Atreus, Agamemnon himself, the king of 
 heroes, gave them the well-benched ships, to pass over the 
 dark sea ; since they had no care of naval works. 
 
 Those who inhabited Buprasiuin and noble Elis, as much 
 as Hyrmine, and distant Myrsinus, and the Olenian rock, and 
 AHsium, contain within; of these the leaders were four; but 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p, 382. 
 
 ' Respecting the connection of this story with the early poetic contests, 
 see MiiUer, Gk. Lit. iv. 2, whose interesting rsmarks are, uufortitnately, 
 too long for a note. 
 f. #. lofty. 
 
S18— 648. ILIAD. II. . 41 
 
 ten swift ships followed each hero, and many Epeans went 
 aboard them. Amphimachus and Thalpius, sons, the one of 
 Cteatus, the other of Euiytus, Actor's son, commanded some : 
 brave Diores, son of Amarynceus, commanded others : and 
 god-Hke Polyxenus, son of Agasthenes, the son of king 
 Augeas, commanded the fourth division. 
 
 Those from Dulichium, and the Echinades, sacred islands, 
 which lie beyond the sea, facing Elis.' Over these presided 
 Meges, son of Phyleus, equal to Mars, whom the knight 
 Phyleus, beloved by Jove, begat, who, enraged against his 
 father, once on a time removed to Dulichium. With him 
 forty dark ships followed. 
 
 Moreover Ulysses led the magnanimous Cephallenians, 
 those who possessed Ithaca and leaf-quivering Neritos, and 
 who dwelt in Crocylea and rugged .lEgilips, and those who 
 possessed Zacynthus, and those who inhabited Samos, and 
 those who possessed the continent, and dwelt in the places 
 lying opposite; these Ulysses commanded, equal to Jove -in 
 counciL With him followed twelve red-sided ships. 
 
 Thoas, son of Andrsemon, led the .(Etolians, those who 
 inhabited Pleuron, and Olenus, and Pylene, and maritime 
 Chalcis, and rocky Calydqn. For the sons of magnanimous 
 CEneus were no more, nor was he himself surviving ; more- 
 over, fair-haired Meleager was dead.^ To hiin [Thoas,] there- 
 fore, was intrusted the chief command, to rule the .(Etolians, 
 and with him forty dark ships followed. 
 
 Spear-renowned Idomeneus commanded the Cretans, those 
 who possessed Gnossus and weU-walled Gortyna and Lyctos, 
 and MUetus, and white Lycastus and Phsestus, and Rhytium, 
 
 ' ' ' This description of the Echinades has something equivocal in it, which 
 Is cleared up, if we suppose it addressed to the inhabitants of the Asiatic 
 side of the Archipelago. But if, with Pope, we understand the words 
 ' beyond the sea ' to relate to Elis, I think we adopt an unnatural con- 
 struction to come at a forced meaning ; for the old Greel: historians tell 
 us, that those islands are so close upon the coast of Elis, that in their time 
 many of them had been joined to it by means of the Achelous." — ^Wood 
 on Homer, p. 8, sq. 
 
 ' Grote, Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 197, after referring to the Homeric 
 legend respectmg Meleager in II. xi. 525, sqq., remarks that " though his 
 death is here indicated only indirectly, there seems little doubt that Homer 
 must have conceived the death of the hero as brought about by the mater- 
 nal curse : the unrelenting Erinnys executed to the letter the invocations 
 3f Altbeea, though she herself must have been willing to retract them." 
 
42 ILIAD. 11. 649—683. 
 
 well-inhabited cities ; aud others who inhabited the hundred- 
 towned Crete. These spear-famed Idomeneus commanded, 
 and Meriones, equal to mau-slaying Mars : with these fol- 
 lowed eighty dark shjps. 
 
 But Tlepolemus, the brave and great descendant of Her- 
 cules, led from Rhodes nine ships of the haughty Rhodians, 
 those who ialiabited Rhodes, arranged in three bands, Lindus, 
 and lalyssus, and white Camirus. These spear-famed Tlepo- 
 lemus led, he whom Astyochea brought forth to the might of 
 Hercules,' whom [Astyochea] he [Hercules] carried out of 
 Ephyre, from the river Selleis, after having laid waste many 
 cities of nobly-descended youths. Now Tlepolemus, after he 
 had been trained up in the well-built paJaces, straightway 
 slew the beloved uncle of his father, Licymnius, now grown 
 old, a branch of Mars ; and instantly he built a fleet ; and 
 having collected many troops, he departed,^ flying over the 
 ocean ; for him the sons and grandsons of the might of Her- 
 cules had threatened. And he indeed came wandering to 
 Rhodes, suffering woes. And they, divided into three parts, 
 dwelt in tribes, and were beloved of Jove, who rules over 
 gods and men : and on them the son of Saturn poured down 
 immense wealth. 
 
 Nireus moreover led three equal ships from Syme, Nireus 
 son of Aglaea, and king Charopus, Nireus, the fairest of men 
 that came to lUum, of all the other Greeks, next to the 
 unblemished son of Peleus. But he was feeble, and few 
 troops followed hira. 
 
 But those who possessed Nisyrus, and Crapathus, and 
 Casus, and Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnse 
 isles, Phidippus and Antiphus, both sons of the Thessalian 
 king, the son of Hercules, commanded. Thirty hollow ships 
 of these went in order. 
 
 But now, [0 muse, recount] those, as many as inhabited 
 Pelasgian Argos, both those who dwelt in Alos and Alope, 
 and Trechin, and those who possessed Phthia, and Hellas 
 
 ■ As in the Odyssey, 1 prefer preserving the quaint simplicity of these 
 aniiquated periphrases. 
 
 -* Grote, History of Greece, vol. i. p. 33, has collected the Homeric 
 instances of exile " for private or involuntary homicide," observing, how- 
 sver, from the Schol. on II. xi. 690, " that Homer never once describes 
 any of them to have either received or required paritication for the crime.' 
 
683—725. ILIAD. II. 
 
 43 
 
 famous for fair dames. But they are called Myrmidons, 
 and Hellenes, and A.cliseans : of fifty ships of these was 
 AcliiUes chief. But they remembered not dire-sounding 
 war, for there was no one who might lead them to their 
 ranks. Eor swift-footed Achilles lay at the ships, enraged 
 on account of the fair-haired maid Briseis, whom he car- 
 ried away from Lymessus, after having suffered many la- 
 bours, and having laid waste Lymessus and the walls of 
 Thebes ; and he killed Mynetes and spear-skUled Epistro- 
 phus, sons of king Evemis, the son of Selepius. On her 
 account he lay grieving, but speedily was he about to be 
 roused. 
 
 Those who possessed Phylace and flowery PyiThasus, the 
 consecrated groudd of Ceres, and Iton the mother of sheep, 
 maritime Antron, and grassy Ptelon. These warhke Pro- 
 tesUaus, whilst he lived, conmianded ; but him the black 
 earth then possessed. His wife, lacerated all around, had 
 been left at Phylace, and his palace half finished. For a 
 Trojan man slew him, as he leaped ashore from his ship 
 much the first of the Greeks. Nor were they, however, 
 without a leader, although they longed for their own leader ; 
 for gallant Podarces marshalled them, Podarces, son of sheep- 
 abounding Iphiclus, the son of Phylacis, own brother of 
 magnanimous ProtesUaus, younger by birth ; but the war- 
 like hero ProtesUaus was older and braver. His troops 
 wanted not a leader, but lamented him, being brave ; with 
 him forty dark ships followed. 
 
 Those who inhabited Phsere by the lake Boebeis, Bcebe, 
 and Glaphyrse, and weU-built laolcus ; these Eumeles, the 
 beloved son of Admetus, commanded in eleven ships, whom 
 Alcestis, divine amongst women, most beautiful id form of 
 the daughters of PeHas, brought forth by Admetus. 
 
 Those who inhabited Methone and Thaumacia, and pos- 
 sessed Meliboea, and rugged Olizon ; these PhUocletes, well 
 ddlled in archery, commanded in seven ships. Fifty sailors, 
 well skilled in archery, went on board each to fight va- 
 liantly. But he lay in an island enduring bitter pangs, in 
 divine Lemnos, where the sons of the Greeks had left him 
 Buffering with the evil sting of a deadly serpent. There 
 he lay grieving ; but soon were the Argives at the sliips 
 destined to remember their king Philootetes. Not wero 
 
44 ILIAD. II. 726—759 
 
 they however without a leader, though they longerl for their 
 own leader ; but Medon, the bastard son of O'lleus, whom 
 Rhina brought forth by city-wasting Oileus, marshalled them. 
 
 Those who possessed Tricca, and hilly Ithome, and those 
 who possessed CEchaKa, the city of (Echalian Eurytus ; 
 Podalirius and Machaon, two excellent physicians,' both 
 sons of ^sculapius, led these. With them thirty hoUow 
 ships went in order. 
 
 Those who possessed Ormeniiim, and the fountain Hy- 
 peria, and those who possessed Asterium and the white 
 tops of Titanus ; these Eurypylus, the brave son of Evsemon, 
 commanded. With him forty dark ships followed. 
 
 Those who possessed Argissa, and inhabited Gyrtone, and 
 Orthe, and Elone, and the white city Ol'oosson : these the 
 stout warrior Polypoetes, son of Pirithous, whom immortal 
 Jove begat, commanded. Him renowned Hippodamia brought 
 forth by Pirithous, on the day when he took vengeance on 
 the shaggy Centaurs, and drove them from Mount Pelion, 
 and chased them to the ^thiceans. He was not the only 
 leader ; with him commanded warlike Leonteus, son of mag- 
 nanimous Coronus, the son of Coeneus. With these forty 
 dark ships followed. 
 
 But Gyneus led two-and-twenty ships from Cyphus. Him 
 the Enienes followed, and the Peraebi, stout warriors, who 
 placed their habitations by chilly Dodona, and those who 
 tUled the fields about delightfiil Titaresius, which pours 
 its fair-flowing stream into the Peneus ; nor is it mingled 
 with sUver-eddied Peneus, but flows on the surface of it like 
 oil. For it is a streamlet of the Stygian wave, the dreadful 
 [pledge of] oath. 
 
 Prothoiis, son of Tenthredon, commanded the Magnetes, 
 who dwell about the Peneus, and leaf-quivering Pelion : 
 these swift Prothoiis led ; and with him forty dark ships 
 followed. 
 
 Grote, vol. i. p. 348, irgmarks that the "renown of Podalirius and 
 Machaon was further prolonged in the subsequent poem of Arotinus, the 
 Iliu-Persis, wherein the one was represented as unrivalled in surgical 
 operations, the other as sagacious in detecting and appreciating morbid 
 symptoms. It was Podalirius who first noticed the glaring eyes and dis- 
 tal bed deportment which preceded the suicide of Ajax." 
 
760—792. ILIAD. II. 4i 
 
 These tten were the leaders and chieftains of the Greeks. 
 Do thou, then, O muse, tell me who was the most excel- 
 lent of these, of the kings and their steeds, who followed 
 the son of Atreus to Troy. The steeds of the descendant 
 of Pheres were indeed by far the most excellent, whibh 
 Eumelus drove, swift as birds, like in hair, like in age, 
 and level in [height of] back by the phimb-line. ' These, 
 bearing with them the terror of Mars, both mares, silver- 
 bowed ApoUo fed in Pieria.^ Of the heroes Telamonian 
 Ajax was by far the best, whilst Achilles continued wrathful, 
 for he was by fax the bravest ; and the steeds which bore 
 the irreproachable son of Pelens surpassed those of Eumelus. 
 But he on his part lay in his dark sea-traversing ships, 
 breathing wrath against the son of Atreus, Agamemnon, 
 the shepherd of the people. But his forces meantime amused 
 themselves with quoits and javelins, hurling [them,] and 
 with their bows ; and their steeds stood, each near his 
 chariot, feeding on lotus and lake-fed parsley. And the 
 well-fastened chariots lay in the tents of their lords. But 
 they, longing for their warlike chief, wandered hither and 
 thither through the camp, and did not fight. 
 
 But they went along, as if the whole earth was being 
 fed upon by fire,^ and the earth groaned beneath, as in honour 
 of thunder-rejoicing Jove when angry, '' when he strikes the 
 earth around Typhoeus in Arimse,* where they say is the 
 tomb of Typhoeus ; thus indeed beneath their feet the earth 
 groaned mightily, as they went, and very swift they passed 
 over the plain. 
 
 But swift-footed Iris came from aegis-bearing Jove, a 
 messenger to the Trojans, with a woful announcement. 
 They all, collected together, both young and old, were hold- 
 ing councUs at the gates of Priam. But swift-footed Iria 
 standing near, accosted them : and she likened herself in 
 voice to Polites, son of Priam, who, trusting to the swift- 
 
 ' /. e. exact)y equal in height, as if they had been measured. 
 * This degradation of Apollo used to be commemorated -n the tbeoria 
 in honour of the god. See MuUer Dor. vol. i. p. 233. 
 ^ Such was the glitter of their arms. 
 ' See Arnold. 
 ' A volcanic district of JMysia. 
 
46 ILIAD. II. 793—823. 
 
 neas of his feet, sat at watch for the Trojans on the top 
 of the tomb ' of old ^Slsyetus, -watching when the Greeks 
 should set forth from the ships. To him having likened her- 
 self, swift-footed Iris addressed them : 
 
 " Old man, ever are injudicious words pleasing to thee, 
 as formerly in time of peace : but now has an inevitable 
 war arisen. Truly I have already very often been present 
 at. the conflicts of heroes, but never have I beheld such 
 brave and numerous forces. For very like unto the leaves 
 or the sand proceed they through the plain, about to fight 
 for the city. Hector, for it is to thee in particular I give 
 advice : and do thou act thus ; for many ai'e the aUies 
 through the great city of Priam ; and different are the 
 languages '■* of the vpidely-spread men. Let then each hero 
 command those of whom he is the chief : but do thou, mar- 
 shalling the citizens, be leader of them." 
 
 Thus she said. But Hector was not ignorant of the voice 
 of the goddess ; and he instantly dismissed the council, and 
 they rushed to arms. And the portals were opened, and 
 the troops rushed out, both foot and horse j and much tumult 
 arose. 
 
 Now there is a certain lofty mound before the city, far 
 in the plain, that may be run round,^ which men indeed 
 call Batiea, but the immortals, the tomb of nimbly-springing 
 Myrinna. There the Trojans and their allies were then mar- 
 shalled separately. 
 
 The Trojans, in the first place, great helmet-nodding Hec- 
 tor, son of Priam, commanded. With him far the mosr 
 numerous and the bravest troops were anned, ardent witjj 
 their spears. 
 
 The Dardanians, in the next place, ^neas, the gallant son 
 of Anchises, commanded (him to Anchises the divine goddess 
 Venus bore, couched with him a mortal on the tops of Ida) : 
 not alone, but with him the two sons of Antenor, Arche- 
 lochus and Acamas, skilled in every kind of fight. 
 
 ' On the height of the ancient tombs, see my note on Odyss. ii. p. 21, 
 D. 35, ed. Bohn. 
 
 ' Cf. It. 437, where this variety of dialects is again mentioned, and 
 MuUer, Gieelc Lit. i. 5 4. 
 
 " /. e. standing clear on all sides. 
 
824— 8S7. ILIAD. 11. 4 
 
 But the Trojans who inhabited Zeleia,' beneath the loves' 
 foot of Ida, wealthy and drinking the dark water of ^sepus, 
 these Pandarus, the valiant son of Lycaon, commanded, to 
 whom even Apollo himself gave his bow. 
 
 Those who possessed Adrestae, and the city of Apsesus, 
 and possessed Pityea, and the lofty mountain Tereia ; these 
 Adrastus and Unen-mailed Amphius commanded, the two 
 sons of Percosian Merops, who was skilled in prophecy above 
 all others ; nor was he willing to suffer his sons to go into the 
 man-destroying fight. But they did not obey him, for the 
 fe,tes of sable death impelled them. 
 
 Those who dwelt around Percote and Practius, and pos- 
 sessed Sestos and Abydos, and divine Arisbe ; these Asius, 
 son of Hyrtacus, prince of heroes, commanded : Asius, son oi 
 Hyi"tacus, whom large and fiery steeds bore from Aiisbe, 
 from the river Selle'is. 
 
 Hippothoiis led the tribes of the spear -skilled Pelasgians, 
 of those who inhabited fertile Larissa ; Hij)pothoiis and 
 PylsBus of the line of Mars, the two sons of Pelasgian Lethus, 
 son of Teutamus, commanded these. 
 
 But Acamus and the hero Piroiis led the Thracians, all 
 tliat the rapidly flowing Hellespont confines within. 
 
 Euphemus, son of heaven-descended Troezenus, son of Ceas, 
 was commander of the warlike Cicones. 
 
 But Pyrsechmes led the Pseonians, who use darts fastened 
 by a thong, far from Amydon, from wide-flowing Axius, 
 from Axius, whose stream is diffused the fairest over the 
 ejirth. 
 
 But the sturdy heart of Pylasmenes from the Eneti, 
 whence is the race of wild mules, led the Paphlagonians, 
 tliose who possessed Cytorus, and dwelt around Sesamus, and 
 inhabited the famous dwellings around the river Parthenius, 
 and Cromna, ^gialus, and the lofty Erythine hiUs. 
 
 But Hodius and Epistrophus, far from Alybe, whence is a 
 rich product of silver, commanded the Halizonians. 
 
 ' Cf. iv. 119. "The inhabitants of Zeleia worshipped Apollo, and 
 Zeleia was also called Lycia ; facts which show that there was a real con- 
 nection between the name of Lycia and the worship of Apollo, and that it 
 was the worship of Apollo which gave the name to this district of Troy, 
 as it had done to the country of the Solymi."— Muller, Dor. toI. k 
 y. 248. 
 
48 ii,IAD. II, 858—877. 
 
 Chromis aud the augwr Ennomus comimanded the ISlysaiits, 
 but he avoided not sable death through his skill ia augury, 
 for he was laid low by the hands of Aclulles iu the river, 
 where he made havoc of the other Trojans also. 
 
 Phorcys and godlike Ascanius far from Ascania, led the 
 Phrygians, and they eagerly desired to engage Lq battle. 
 
 But Mesthles and Antiphus led the Mseonians, both sons 
 of Talsemeneus, whom the lake Gygaea bore ; these led the 
 Mseonians, bom beneath Momit Tmolus. 
 
 Nastes commanded the barbarous-voiced Carians, who 
 possessed Miletus, and the leaf-topped mountain of Pethiri, 
 and the streams of Mseander, and the lofty tops of Mycale. 
 These indeed Amphimaohus and Nastes commanded, Nastes 
 and Amphimachus the famous sons of Nomion, who foolish 
 went to battle decked with gold like a yoxmg girl ;' nor did 
 this by any means ward off bitter death ; but he was laid 
 low by the hands of the swift-footed son of ^acus at the 
 river, and warlike Achilles took away the gold. 
 
 But Sarpedon and gallant Glaucus from Lycia afar, from 
 the eddying Xanthus, led the Lycians. 
 
 ' It was customary for virgins to wear golden omamentf in great pro- 
 fusion. See Porson on Eur. Hec. ] 53. 
 
1—17. ILIAD. 111. 19 
 
 BOOK THE THIRD. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 lust as the armies are on the point of engaging, Paris proposes a single 
 combat, but, on Menelaus advancing, retires in affright. Being re- 
 buked by Hector, he consents to engage Menelaus, and a treaty is 
 arranged. Paris is vanquished, but is brought back safe to Ilium by 
 Venus, who appeases the anger of Helen. Menelaus, as conqueror, 
 calls upon the Trojans to fulfil the conditions of the qhallenge. 
 
 But after they had each been marshalled along with their 
 leaders, the Trojans, on the one hand, moved along with both 
 clamour and battle-shout, like birds ; just as is the noise of 
 cranes forth under heaven, which, after they have escaped 
 the winter and immeasurable' shower, with a clamour do 
 these wing their way towards the streams of the ocean, 
 bearing slaughter and fate to the Pygmaean men ; and they 
 then at early dawn bring fatal strife. But the Greeks, on 
 the other hand, breathing might,^ advanced in silence, anxious 
 in mind to aid one another. 
 
 As when the south wind sheds a mist over the top of a 
 mountain, by no means friendly to the shepherds, but more 
 serviceable even than night to the robber, and one can see 
 [only] so far as he hurls a stone. So under the feet of them 
 proceeding an eddying dust kept rising : and very speedily 
 they traversed the plain. 
 
 But when they now were near, approaching each other, 
 godlike Alexander advanced in front of the Trojans, having 
 a panther's skiu on his shoulders, and his crooked bow, and a 
 
 ' See Albert! on Hesycb. s. v., t. i. p. 126; lit. " whpt even » god 
 woijld not say." — Buttm. Lexil. p. 359. 
 ' tot. Lost, i. 559 :— 
 
 " thus they, 
 
 TlTeatliing united force with fixed thought, 
 r Moved 00 in silence." 
 E 
 
50 ILIAD, in. le— 51 
 
 sword ; but lie brandishing two spears tipped with brass, 
 challenged all the bravest of the Greeks to fight against him 
 in grievous conflict. 
 
 But when Mars-beloved Menelaus perceived him advancing 
 before the host, taking long strides, as a hungering Hon 
 exults, when happening on a carcase of large size, having 
 found either a homed stag or a wild goat. For he greedily 
 devours it, although swift hounds and vigorous youths pursue 
 him. Thus Menelaus rejoiced, having beheld with his eyes 
 godlike Alexander. For he thought he would be revenged 
 upon the guilty wretch : forthwith, therefore, with his am^s 
 he leaped from his chariot to the earth. 
 
 But when, therefore, godlike Alexander perceived him 
 appearing among the foremost warriors, he was smitten in 
 his heart, and gave way back into the band of his companions, 
 avoiding death. And as when any one having seen a ser- 
 pent in the thickets of a mountain, has started back, and 
 tremor has seized his limbs under him, and he has retired 
 backwards,, and paleness seizes his cheeks : thus godlike 
 Alexander shrank back into the band of the haughty Trojans, 
 dreading the son of Atreus, 
 
 But Hector having seen him, upbraided him with oppro- 
 brious words : " Cursed Paris,-' most excellent in form, thou 
 woman-raving seducer, would that thou hadst either not been 
 born, or that thou hadst perished unmarried. This, indeed, 
 I would wish, and indeed it would be much better, than that 
 thou shouldst thus be a disgrace and scandal to others. 
 In truth the long-haired Achseans may laugh, having sus- 
 pected that thou wast a noble champion, because a fine 
 person belongs [to thee] ; but there is not strength in thy 
 soul, nor any nerve. Didst thou, being such a one, having 
 sailed over the ocean in sea-traversing ships, having, collected 
 congenial associates, and mingled with foreigners, take away 
 a beauteous lady, from- the Apian land, the spouse of martial 
 men, a great detriment to thy father, to the city, and to aU 
 the people ; a joy indeed to our enemies, but a disgrace to 
 
 ' Aiis here denotes the evils which fatally resulted te Paris and his 
 friends (so Suo-cAeVos, " baleful Helen," Eur. Or. 13S8. Of. Msch. Ag. 
 689, sqq.) in oonBeq,uence of his having been preserved, despite the 
 omens attending his birth. See Hygln. Fab. xci. Hence the Schol. 
 on, II. xii. 93, derive his name of Paris, 3ti rhi/ ii.6vov imprjxBiy, 
 
52-81. ILIAD. III. 61 
 
 thyself ? douldst ttou not have awaited warlike Menelaus ? 
 Then shonldst thou have known of how brave a man thou 
 dost possess the blooming spouse. Nor will thy harp, and 
 the gifts of Venus, and thy hair, and thy figure avail thee, 
 when thou shalt be mingled with the dust.i But the Trojans 
 are very pusillanimous ; else wouldst thou have been arrayed 
 in a garment of stone, on account of the evils which thou 
 hast done." 2 
 
 Him then godlike Alexander in turn addressed : " Hector, 
 since thou hast reproached me justly, and not unjustly, [I 
 will submit]. Ever is thy spirit unwearied, like an axe, 
 which penetrates the wood, [driven] by the man who with 
 axt cuts out the naval plank, and it increases the force of the 
 man : so in thy breast is there an intrepid heart. Eeproach 
 me not with the lovely gifts of golden Yenus : the distin- 
 guished gifts of the gods are by no means to be rejected, 
 whatever indeed they give ; for no one can choose them at 
 nis own pleasure. Now, however, if thou desirest me to wage 
 war and to fight, cause the other Trojans and all the Greeks 
 to sit down, but match me and Mars-beloved Menelaus to 
 contend in the midst for Helen and all the treasures. '^And 
 whichever of us shall conquer, and shall be superior, having 
 received aU the treasures without reserve, and the woman, 
 let him conduct them home. But let the rest of you, striking 
 a friendship and faithful league, inhabit fertile Troy ; and 
 let them return to the steed-nourishing Argos, and fair- 
 damed Achaia." 
 
 Thus he spoke, but Hector on the other hand rejoiced 
 greatly, having heard his speech ; and having advanced into 
 the centre, holding his spear by the middle, he restrained the 
 phalanxes of the Trojans, and they all sat down. Against 
 him the waving-hai^ed Achseans were directing their bows, 
 and taking aim, were going to hurl with shafts and with stones. 
 But Agamemnon, he,^ the king of men, exclaimed aloud : 
 
 ' Of. Hor. Od. i. 15, 13:— 
 
 " Nequicquam, Veneris prsesidio ferox, 
 
 Pectes CKsariem, grataque feminis 
 
 Imbelli cithara carmina divides : . . , 
 
 . . . tamen, heu ! serus adulteios 
 
 Crines pulvere oollines. 
 ' I. e. thou wouldst have been stoned to death, 
 * Mark the force of the pronoun. 
 
 £ 2 
 
52 ILIAD, m. 82—117. 
 
 " Witlihold, Argives ! cast not, ye sons of the Achseans ; 
 for helm-nodding Hector stands as if intending to propose 
 something." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they abstained from battle, and in- 
 stantly became silent. But Hector between both [armies] 
 spoke thus : 
 
 " Hear from me, ye Trojans, and weU-greaved Greeks, the 
 proposal of Alexander, on whose account this strife has arisen. 
 He advises that the other Trojans and all the Greeks should 
 lay down their beauteous arms upon the bounteous earth ; 
 but that he and Mars-beloved Menelaus alone should fight in 
 the midst for Helen and all the treasures ; and whichever 
 «hall conquer, and shall be superior, having received aU ihp 
 treasures without reserve, and the woman, let him conduct 
 them home : but let the rest of us strike a friendship and 
 faithful league." 
 
 Thus he said, and all became mute in silence. But amidst 
 them Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, thus spoke : 
 
 " Now hear me also ; for anguish has invaded my soul 
 most : but I purpose that the Greeks and Trojans should 
 pow be separated, since ye have suffered many evils on ac- 
 count of my quarrel and the beginning of [this strife through] 
 Alexander. And to whichever of us death and fate has been 
 ordained, let him die ; but do the rest of you be very speedily 
 separated. And bring lambs — one white, the other black: — 
 to the Earth and to the Sun ; and we vrill bring another to 
 Jove. Moreover ye shall bring the might of Priam, that he 
 may strike the league himself, for his sons are overbearing 
 and faithless ; lest any one, by transgression, violate the co- 
 venant of Jove. For the minds of younger men are ever 
 fluctuating; but for those among whom a senior is present, 
 he looks at the same time both backward and forward, in 
 order that the best results may accrue to both parties." 
 
 Thus he spoke. But both Greeks and Trojans rejoiced, 
 hoping to have respite from grievous war. And they accordr 
 ingly reined back their horses to the ranks [of the foot], but 
 dismounted themselves, and put off their arms, and laid 
 them down on the ground near each other ; apd around [each 
 pile of arms] there was a little space. 
 
 Hut Ilectiir despatched two heralds to the city with speed, 
 to bring the lambs, and to call Priam. While, on the other 
 
118—152. ILIAD, in. 53 
 
 hand, king Agiimemnoii sent Talthybius to go to the hollow 
 ships, and ordered him to bring a lamb. And he did not 
 disobey noble Agamenmou. 
 
 And meantime came Iris a messenger to white-armed 
 Helen, likening herself to her husband's sister, the wife of 
 Antenor's son, most excelling in beauty of the daughters of 
 Priam, Laodice, whom the son of Antenor, king Helicaou, 
 possessed. But she found her in her palace, and she was 
 weaving an ample web, a double [mantle],^ resplendent, and 
 on it was working many labours both of the horse-taming 
 Trojans and the brazen-mailed Greeks, which on her account 
 they suffered at the hands of Mars. Standing near, the swift- 
 footed Iris accosted her thus : 
 
 " Gome hither, dear lady,^ that thou mayest view the won- 
 drous deeds of the horse-taming Trojans, and of the brazen- 
 maUed Greeks, who formerly against each other waged tear- 
 ful war in the plain, eager for destructive battle. Now, how- 
 ever, they sit in silence (and the war has ceased), leaning on 
 their shields, and near them their long spears are fixed. But 
 Alexander and Mars-beloved Menelaus are about to fight for 
 thy sake with their long spears, and thou shalt be called the 
 dear wife of him who conquers." 
 
 Thus having spoken, the goddess infused a tender desire 
 into her mind both of her former husband, and of her city, 
 and her parents. And instantly veiling herself in white 
 linen robes," she rushed from her chamber, shedding a tender 
 tear : not alone, for two domestics accompanied her, CEthra, 
 daughter of Pittheus, and large-eyed Olymene. Then they 
 qmckly came to where the Scsean gates were. But Priam 
 and Panthous, and Thymoetes, Lampus, Clytius, Hicetaon, an 
 offshoot of Mars, XJcalegon, and Antenor, both prudent, elders 
 of the people, sat at the Scsean gates, long since desisting 
 from war, through old age : but good orators, like unto the 
 Cicadas,'' which, in the woods, sitting on a tree, send forth -a 
 
 ' By y(Xai.vav is understood a mantle which could be worn doubled. 
 Others suppose it means cloth of double tissue. 
 
 * An affectionate use of the word viji^a, which properly means a bridd 
 or youn^ wife. 
 
 ^ The plural is used to denote a long, flowing robe. 
 
 * By some the cicada or rirrt?, this is to be considered to be the balm- 
 ciicket. 
 
54 ILIAD. III. 153— 1S5. 
 
 delicate voice ; such leaders of the Trojans at that time were 
 sitting on the tower. But when they saw Helen coming to 
 the tower, in low tone they addressed to each other winged 
 words : 
 
 " It is not a subject for iadignation, that Trojans and well- 
 greaved Greeks endure hardships for a long time on account 
 of such a woman. In countenance she is wondrous like unto 
 the immortal goddaises, but even so, although being such, let 
 her return in the ships, nor be left a destruction to vis and to 
 our children hereafter." 
 
 Thus they spoke. But Priam called Helen, — "Coming 
 hither before us, dear daughter, sit by me, that thou mayest 
 see thy former husband, thy kindred, and thy fiiends — (thou 
 art not at all iu fault towards me ; the gods, in truth, are in 
 fault towards me, who have sent against me the lamentable 
 ^•ar of the Greeks) — ^that thou mayest name for me this 
 mighty man, who is this gallant and tail Grecian hero. Cer- 
 tainly there are others taller in height ; but so graceful a 
 man have I never yet beheld with my eyes, nor so venerable ; 
 for he is like unto a kingly man." 
 
 But him Helen, one of the divine women, answered ii 
 [these] words : " Revered art thou and feared by me, dear 
 father-in-law ; would that an evil death had pleased me, 
 when I followed thy son hither, having left my marriage-bed. 
 my brothers, my (Whng' daughter, and the congenial com- 
 pany of my equals. But these things were not done : there- 
 fore I pine away with weeping. But this will I tell thee, 
 which thou seekest of me and inquirest. This is wide-ruling 
 Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in both characters,* a good king 
 and a brave warrior. He was the brother-in-law, moreover,^ 
 of shameless me, if ever indeed he was." * 
 
 Thus she spoke. But him the old man admired, and said 
 " O blessed son of Atreus, happy-born, fortunate, truly indeeo 
 were many Achaean youths made subject to thee. Before 
 now I entered vine-bearing Phiygia, where I beheld many 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. s. v. and Arnold. 
 
 • Observe the force of the neuter. 
 ' Cf. Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 18. 
 
 * " Si unquamfuit, quod nunc non est amplmt, i. e. si recte dici potest 
 fuisse, quod ita sui factum est dissimile, ut fuisss unquam vix credas." — 
 Herm. on Vig. p. 946, quoted bv Anthon. 
 
185—215. ILIAD. III. 65 
 
 Phrygians, heroes on fleet horses, the forces of Otreus and 
 godlike Mygdon, who encamped there near the banks of the 
 Sangaiius. For I also, being an ally, was numbered with 
 them on that day, when the man-opposing Amazons came. 
 But not even these were so numerous as the black-eyed 
 Greeks." 
 
 But next percei-vdng' Ulysses, the old man asked her: 
 " Come, tell me of this one also, dear daughter, who he is ? he 
 is less indeed in height^ than Agameninon, the son of Atreus, 
 but is broader to behold in shoulders and breast. His arms 
 lie up on the fertile earth, but he himself, Kke a ram, goes 
 round the ranks of the men. I for my part compare h'Tm to 
 a thick-fleeced ram, which wanders through a great flock of 
 snowy sheep." 
 
 But him Helen, sprung from Jove, answered : " Now, this 
 one again is the son of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, who 
 was bred in the country of Ithaca, rugged though it be, 
 skilled in all kinds of stratagems and prudent counsels." 
 
 Her then the sage Antenor addressed in reply : " lady, 
 assuredly hast thou spoken this word very tnily : for al- 
 ready in former times divine Ulysses came hither, also, on 
 an embassy concerning thee, with Mars-beloved Menelaus. 
 I received them £is guests, and entertained tliem in my pa- 
 lace, and became acquainted with the genius of both, and 
 their prudent counsels ; but when they were mingled with 
 the assembled Trojans, Menelaus indeed overtopped him, as 
 they stood by his broad shoulders ; but when both were 
 sitting, Ulysses was more majestic.^ But when they began 
 to weave words and coimsels for all, Menelaus, on his part, 
 would harangue very fluently ; a few [words] indeed, but 
 very sweetly, since he was not loquacious, nor a random 
 talker, though he was younger in age. But when much- 
 
 ' This whole passage may be compared with the similar enumeration 
 and description of the seven Argive chieftains in Eurip. Phoen. 119, sqq. 
 
 ' Not "ahead less" in height; for line 169 would then mean that 
 Agamemnon was a head less than others, and consequently Ulysses would 
 be two heads under the ordinary size. Anthbu has adopted this common 
 mistake, although Wolf had pointed it out. 
 
 ^ Observe the Attic construction, where the genitive would have been 
 Expected. So Od. M. 73. II. ii. 317. Compared by Lesbonax, inpt 
 "XVI^- P- 183, sq. ed. Valck. See, also, my note on ^sch. Prom, p 8, 
 ed. Bohn ; intpp. on Theocrit. i. 4B 
 
68 ILIAD. III. 216—252. 
 
 counselling Ulysses arose, lie stood and looked down, fixing 
 his eyes on the earth, but he neither moved his sceptre 
 backwards nor forwards, but held it unmoved like an un- 
 skilful man : you would say indeed that he was a very ir- 
 ritable man, as well as devoid of reason. But when he did 
 send forth the mighty voice from his breast, and words like 
 unto wintry flakes of snow, no longer then would another 
 mortal contend with Ulysses. And beholdiag, we then mar- 
 velled not so much at the aspect of Ulysses, [as at his words]." 
 
 Then in the third place, having beheld Ajax, the old man 
 asked : " Who is that other Achaean hero, valiant and great, 
 out-topping the Argives by his head and broad shoulders 1 " 
 
 But him long-robed Helen answered, divine of women : 
 " This indeed is mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the AchsRans : 
 on the other side, amongst the Cretans, stands Idomeneus 
 like unto a god : but around him the leaders of the Cretans 
 are collected. Often did Mars-beloved Menelaus entertain 
 him in our palace, when he would come from Crete. But 
 now I behold all the other rolling-eyed Greeks, whom I 
 could easily recognize, and pronounce their names ; but two 
 leaders of the people I cannot see : horse-taming Castor, 
 and Pollux skilled in boxing, twin brothers, whom the same 
 mother brought forth with me. Either they have not fol- 
 lowed from pleasant Lacedeemon, or they indeed have fol- 
 lowed hither in the sea-traversiag ships, but now are re- 
 luctant to enter the fight of the heroes, fearing the dis- 
 grace, and the many reproaches which are mine." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but them the life-bestowing earth already 
 possessed : there in Lacedasmon, in their dear native land.' 
 
 But heralds through the city were bearing the firm pledges 
 of the gods, two lambs and joyous wine, the fruit of the 
 earth, in a goat-skin flagon. But the herald Idseus also 
 brought a splendid goblet, and golden cups; and standing 
 by him, incited the old man in these words : 
 
 " Arise, son of Laomedon ; the chiefs of the horse-breaking 
 Trojans, and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, call thee to de- 
 scend into the plain, that thou mayest ratify a faithful 
 
 They had fallen in combat with Lynceus and Idas, whilst besieging 
 Sparta.— Hygin. Poet. Ast. ii. 22. According, however, to other mytho. 
 logists, they shared immortality in turns. See Od. xi. 302 ; Virg. ^a. 
 vi. 121 ; with Servius, and Apollodor. iii. 11, 2. 
 
253—291. ILIAD. III. 57 
 
 league. For Alexander and Mars-beloved Menelaus are 
 about to figbt with long spears for the woman. But lot 
 the -woman and the effects attend the conqueror ; but let 
 the rest of us, having struck a Mendship and faithful league, 
 inhabit fiTiitful Troy, and they shall return to horse-feeding 
 Axgos, and to Achaia, fejned for feir dames." 
 
 Thus he said, but the old man shuddered, and ordered 
 his attendants to yoke his horses ; and they briskly obeyed. 
 Priam then mounted his chariot, and drew back the reins : 
 and beside him Antenor mounted the beautiful chariot. So 
 they guided their fleet steeds through the Scaean gates, to- 
 wards the plain. 
 
 But when they had now come between the Trojans and 
 the Greeks, descending from their steeds to the fruitful 
 earth, they advanced into the midst of the Trojans and 
 Greeks. Then Agamemnon, king of heroes, immediately 
 arose, and much-counselling Ulysses arose. But the illus- 
 trious heralds collected together the faithful pledges of the 
 gods, and mixed wine in a bowl, and poured water upon 
 the hands of the kings. And the son of Atreus, drawing 
 with his hands his dagger, which was always suspended at 
 the huge sheath of his sword, cut off hairs from the heads 
 of the lambs : and then the heralds distributed them to the 
 chiefs of the Trojans and the Greeks. Amongst them the 
 son of Atreus prayed earnestly, having stretched forth his 
 hands : 
 
 " O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most 
 mighty, — and thou, O sun, who beholdest all things, and 
 dearest all things — and ye rivers, and thou earth, and ye 
 below who punish men deceased, whosoever swears with per- 
 jury, be ye witnesses and preserve the faithful league. If, 
 on the one hand, Alexander should slay Menelaus, let him 
 thenceforth retain Helen and all her possessions ; but let 
 us return in our sea-traversing ships. But if, on the con- 
 trary, yeUow-haired Menelaus slay Alexander, let the Tro- 
 jans then restore Helen and all her treasures, and pay a 
 fine to the Argives such as is just, and which may be [re- 
 corded] amongst posterity. But if Priam and the sons of 
 Priam will not pay me the fine, on Alexander falling, then 
 will I afterwards fight on accourt of the fine, remaining 
 here till I find an end of the war.'' 
 
58 ILIAD. III. 292—330. 
 
 He spoke, and cut the throats of the lambs with the 
 cruel steel, and he laid them on the earth panting, wanting 
 life ; for the brass had taken away their [vital] strength. 
 Then having drawn wine from the goblet, they poured it 
 into the cups, and prayed to the immortal gods. But thus 
 some one of the Greeks and Trojans said : 
 
 " O Jove, most glorious, most mighty, and ye other im- 
 mortal gods, whoever first shall offend against the leagues, 
 so let the brain of themselves and of their children stream 
 upon the grohnd like this wine, and let their wives be min- 
 gled with other men." 
 
 Thus they (fiaid, lior yet did the son of Satm-n ratify [their 
 vowsl Then Priam, the son of Dardanus, addressed them : 
 
 " Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye weU-greaved Greeks : 1, 
 indeed, return again to wind-swept Ilion, since I can by no 
 means endure to behold with these eyes my dear son fighting 
 with Mars-beloved Menelaus. Jove, certainly, knows this, 
 and the other immortal gods, to which of them the event 
 of death is destined." 
 
 He spoke, and the godlike man placed the lambs in the 
 chariot, and ascended himself, and drew back the reins ; 
 and beside him Antenor mounted the very beautiful cha- 
 riot. They on their part returning went back towards Ilion, 
 
 But Hector on the other hand, the son of Priam, and 
 divine TJlysses, first measured the ground ; then taking the 
 lots, they shook them in the brazen helmet, [to decide] which 
 should hurl the brazen spear first. But the people meantime 
 supplicated, and stretched forth their hands to the gods ; and 
 thus some one of the Greeks and Trojans said : 
 
 " O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most 
 mighty, whichever has caused these evil works to both sides, 
 grant that he, being slain, may enter the house of Pluto, but 
 that to us, on the other hand, there may be friendship and a 
 feithfol league." 
 
 Thus then they spoke, and now mighty helm-quivering 
 Hector shook the lots, looking backward ; and quickly the 
 lot of Paris leaped forth. They then sat down in their 
 ranks, where the fleet steeds of each stood, and their varied 
 arms lay. But divine Alexander, the husband of fair-haired 
 Helen, put on his beauteous armour around his shotddersi 
 In the first place, aroimd his legs he placed his beautiful 
 
131—367. ILIAD. Ill* 59 
 
 greaves fitted with silver clasps ; then again he put ou Ids 
 breast the corslet ' of his brother Eycaon, for it fitted him ; 
 but around his shoulders he slung his brazen, sUver-studded 
 sword and then his huge and solid shield. But on his 
 valiant head he placed a well-wrought helmet, crested with 
 horse-hair, and the crest nodded dreadfully from above ; and 
 he grasped his doughty spear, which fitted to his hands. In 
 this same manner the martial Menelaus put on his arms. 
 
 But they, when they were armed from each side of the 
 throne, advanced to the middle between the Trojans and 
 Greeks, looking dreadfully ; and amazement seized the be- 
 holders, both the horse-breaking Trojans and the well-greaved 
 Greeks. They then Stood near in the measured-out space, 
 brandishing their spears, incensed against each other. Alex- 
 ander first hurled his long-shaxiowed spear, and emote the 
 shield of the son of Atreus, equal on all sides, nor did the 
 baass break, for the point was bent upon the strong shield ; 
 but next Menelaus, son of Atreus, commenced the attack 
 with his brazen spear, praying to father Jove : 
 
 " O king Jove, grant [me] to avenge myself [on him] who 
 first injured me, and subdue impious AJexander under my 
 hands, that every one, even of future men, may shudder to 
 ofier injury to a guest who may have afibrded [him] an hos- 
 pitable reception." 
 
 He spoke ; and brandishing, he hurled his long-shadowed 
 spear, and smote the shield of the son of Priam, equal on all 
 sides ; and through the glittering shield went the impetuous 
 spear, and was stuck firmly into the deftly-wrought corslet : 
 and the spear pierced right through his soft tunic beside the 
 flank : but he bent sideways, and evaded black death. Next 
 the son of Atreus having drawn his sUver-studded sword, 
 raising it, struck the cone^ of his helmet, but it fell from his 
 hand shivered round about into three or four pieces. And 
 the son of Atreus groaned aloud, looking towards the wide 
 heaven : 
 
 " O father Jove, none other of the gods is more baleful 
 than thou. Certainly I hoped to be revenged upon Alex- 
 andei for his wickedness : but now my sword has been 
 
 ' Buttmann, Lexil. p. 521, makes 0aXoj to be the same as Kuivoe, » 
 metal ridge in which the plume was fixed. 
 
60 ILIAD. III. 367—404. 
 
 bioken in my hands, and my spear has been tmled from my 
 hand in vaia, nor have I smote him." 
 
 He spoke ; and rushing on, he seized him by the horse- 
 hair tufted helmet, and turning, began to drag him to the 
 well-greaved Greeks : but the richly-embroidered band under 
 his tender thro*t was choking him, which was drawn imder his 
 chin as the strap of his helmet. And now he had dragged 
 him away, and obtained infinite glory, had not Venus, the 
 daughter of Jove, quickly perceived it, who broke for him^ the 
 thong, [made] from the hide of an ox slaughtered by violence : 
 and thereupon the empty helmet followed with his strong 
 hand. It, then, the hero whirling round, cast to the well- 
 greaved Greeks, and his dear companions took it up. And 
 he [Menelaus] again rushed on, desiring to slay him with his 
 brazen spear : but him [Paris] Venus very easily, as being a 
 goddess, rescued, and covered him in a thick mist ; then 
 placed him down in his fragrant chamber, exhaling perfumes. 
 
 But she herself, on the other hand, went to call Helen, 
 and she foimd her on the lofty tower, and many Trojan 
 dames around her. Then mth her hand catching her by the 
 fragrant mantle, she shook her : and likening herself to an 
 ancient dame, a spumer of wool, who used to comb fair wool 
 for her when dwelling at Lacedsemon, and she loved her 
 much :- to her having likened herself, divine Venus accosted 
 [Helen] : 
 
 " Come hither, Alexander calls thee to return home. He 
 liimself is in his chamber and turned bed, shining both in 
 beauty and attire ; nor wouldst thou say that he had returned 
 after having fought with a hero, but that he was going to 
 the dance, or that just ceasing from the dance, he sat down." 
 
 Thus she said, and agitated the heart in her breast : and 
 when she beheld the all-beauteous neck of the goddess, and 
 her lovely bosom, and her flashing eyes, she was awe-stmck, 
 and spoke a word, and said : 
 
 " Strange one ! why dost thou desire to deceive me in 
 these things ? Wilt thou lead me anywhere farther on to 
 one of the weU-inhabited cities, either of Phrygia or pleasant 
 Mseonia, if there be any of articulately-speaking men dear to 
 thee there ? Is it because Menelaus, having now conquered 
 noble Alexander, wishes to bring hated me home, that there- 
 ' I. e. Menelaus,^ to his confusioni 
 
405-t443. ILIAD. III. 61 
 
 fore with artful purpose thou now standest near me i 
 Going, sit with him thyself, and renounce the path of the 
 gods. And mayest thou no more return on thy feet to 
 Olympus : but always grieve beside him, and watch him, 
 until he either make thee his consort, or he indeed [make 
 thee] his handmaid. But there I will not go to adorn his 
 couch, for it would be reprehensible : all the Trojan ladies 
 henceforth will reproach me. But I shall have woes without 
 measure in my soul." 
 
 But her, divine Venus, incensed, thus addressed : " Wretch, 
 provoke me not, lest in my wrath I abandon thee, and detest 
 thee as much as heretofore I have wonderfiiUy loved thee, 
 and lest I scatter destructive hate in the midst of the Tro- 
 jans and Greeks, and thou perish by an evil fate." 
 
 Thus she spoke : but Helen, sprung from Jove, dreaded, 
 and she went covered with a white transparent robe, in 
 silence ; and escaped the notice , of all the Trojan dames, for 
 the goddess led the way. 
 
 But when they reached the very beautiful palace of Alex- 
 eader, then the maids, on their part, turned themselves 
 speedily to their tasks ; but she, divine of women, ascended 
 into her lolty-roofed chamber : and then latighter-loving 
 Venus, carrying, placed a seat for her opposite Alexander : 
 there Helen, daughter of the segis-bearing Jove, sat, averting 
 her eyes, and reproached her husband with these words : 
 
 " Thou hast come from the war : would that thou hadst 
 perished there, slaiu by that brave hero, who was my former 
 husband. Certainly, thon didst formerly boast, that thou 
 wast superior to Mars-beloved Menelaus, in might, in hands, 
 and at the spear. But go now, chaUenge Mars-beloved 
 Menelaus to fight once more against thee ! But I advise 
 thee to refrain, nor unadvisedly wage war and fight against 
 fair-haired Menelaus, lest perchance thou mayest be subdued 
 beneath his spear." 
 
 But her Paris answering addressed in words : " Woman t 
 a,ssail me not in soul with reproachful taunts ; for now 
 mdeed has Menelaus conquered by Minerva's aid ; but I in 
 turn wiU vanquish liim, for gods are with us also. But 
 come, let as delight in dalliance, reclining together, for nevei 
 before did love so foD'".y enwrap my soul, not even when for- 
 merly, ha-\'ing borne thee away from pleasant Lacedsemon, I 
 
62 ILIAD. III. 444—461. 
 
 sailed in the sea-traversing ships, and was united with thee 
 in love and in the couch in the island Cranae ; so now am T 
 enamoured of thee, and sweet desire possesses me." 
 
 He spoke, and led the way, ascending the couch ; hut his 
 wife followed with him : they therefore rested upon their 
 perforated couch. 
 
 Meanwhile the son of Atreus was wandering through the 
 crowd like to a savage beast, if anywhere he could perceive 
 godlike Alexander. But none of the Trojans or thfeir Ulus- 
 trious allies could then point out Alexander to Mars-beloved 
 Menelaus ; for neither through friendship would they liave 
 concealed him, if any one did see hiTn ; for he was hateful to 
 them all, like sable death. But amongst them spoke Aga- 
 memnon, king of heroes : 
 
 " Hear me, ye Trojans, Greeks, and allies : the victory 
 indeed appears [to belong to] Mars-beloved Menelaus. Do 
 ye therefore restore Argive Helen and her treasures with 
 her, and pay the fine which is fitting, and which shall be 
 remembered by fiiture men." 
 
 Thus spoke the son of Atreus, and the other Gieek 
 approved. 
 
1—15. ILIAD. IV. 63 
 
 BOOK THE FOUETH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Paris not being slain, the combat left it doubtful whether Helen should be 
 returned or not ; but Juno extorts a promise from Jove of the final 
 destruction of Troy. Minerva then persuades Fandarus to break the 
 truce by aiming an arrow at Menelaus. The wound is, however, cured 
 by Machaon. The Trojans proceed to the battle, while Agamemnon 
 exhorts the chieftains of the Greeks. The iight then commences'. Mars 
 and Apollo encouraging the Trojans, Minerva and the other deities the 
 Greeks. 
 
 Now they, tte gods, sitting on the golden floor ^ with Jove, 
 were engaged in consultation, and amidst them venerable 
 Hebe poured out the nectar : but they pledged^ one another 
 with golden cups, looking towards the city of the Trojans. 
 Forthwith the son of Saturn attempted to irritate Juno, 
 speaking with a covert allusion, with reproachful words :^ 
 
 "Two goddesses, indeed, are auxiliaries to Menelaus, Argive') 
 Juno and Minerva of Alalcomenae ■? and yet these, forsooth, 
 sitting apart, amuse themselves with looking on ; but to tho 
 other, on the contrary [Paris], laughter-loving Yenus is evei 
 present,* and averts fate from him. Even now has she saved 
 him, thinking that he was about to die. But the victory, 
 indeed, belongs to Mars-beloved Menelaus : let us therefore 
 consult how these things shall be, whether we shall again 
 excite the destructive war, and dreadful battle-din, or pro- 
 
 ' " On the golden floor of Jove's abode." — Cowper. 
 
 ' Athenseus, i. 11, ioi^wvvro, vpoTtivovTtQ eavToiQ, raXg St^ial^. 
 Cf. xi. 14. Hesych. SiiSiKro, iSt^iovTo, did ipiXiag riairaZiTo Kai 
 Xdywv. 
 
 ' I am indebted to Arnold for this version. 
 
 ■■ So called from her temple at Argos. See Pausan. ii. l7 ; ApuL 
 Met. vi. p. 458 ; Servius on Mn. i. 28. 
 
 ^ She had a temple at Alalcomense, in Bceotia. Cf Pausan. ix. 33 : 
 Steph. Byz. v. aXaXxofisvLov • 
 
 ' On the affinity of ^Xwaiceiv and ^oXCiv, see Buttm. Lexil, p. 84. 
 
(!4 ILIAD. IV. 16-62 
 
 mote fiiendship between both parties. And if, moreover, 
 this shall perchance^ be gratefiil and pleasing to all, the city 
 of king Piiam, indeed, may be inhabited, but let Menelaiis 
 lead back again Argive Helen." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but Minerva and Juno murmured with 
 closed lips, for they were sitting near, and were devisins; evils 
 for the Trojans. Minerva, indeed, was silent, nor said any- 
 thing, indignant with her father Jove, for dreadful rage pos- 
 sessed her. But Juno could not retain her fiiry in hei 
 breast, but addressed him : 
 
 " Most baleful son of Saturn ! what a sentence hast thou 
 uttered ! How dost thou wish to render my labour vain, 
 and my sweat fruitless, which I have sweated through with 
 toil 1 For the steeds are tired to me assembling the host, 
 evils to Priam and to his sons. Do so : but all we the. other 
 gods do not approve." 
 
 But her cloud-compelling Jove, in great wrath, answered,: 
 " Strange one ! how now do Priam and the sons of Priam 
 work so many wrongs against thee, that thou desirest im- 
 placably to overturn the weU-built city of Ihon ? But if 
 thou, entering the gates and the lofty walls, couldst devour 
 alive ^ Priam and the sons of Priam, and the other Trojans, 
 then perhaps thou mightst satiate thy fury. Do as thou 
 wHt, lest this contention be in future a great strife between 
 thee and me. But another thing I tell thee, and do thou 
 lay it up in thy soul : whenever haply I, anxiously desiring, 
 shall wish to destroy some city, where men dear to thee are 
 bom, retard not my rage, but suffer me ; for I have given 
 thee this of free will, though with unwilling mind. For 
 of those cities of earthly men, which are situated under the 
 sun and the starry heaven, sacred Ilion was most honoured 
 by me in my heart, and Priam and the people of Priam 
 skilled in the ashen spear. For there my altars never lacked 
 a due banquet and libation, and savour j for this honour were 
 we allotted." 
 
 Him tlien the venerable full-eyed Jimo answered : " There 
 are tliree cities, indeed, most dear to me : Argos, and Spayta, 
 
 ' Read av Trwf for owtmj, with Aristarchus, Wolf, Spitzner. 
 ' Literally, "eat raw." Cf. Xenoph. Anab. iv. 8, 14. Toiroi/c 
 »)»' 7rii>i dvviini9a, xai i)noii hi Kara^ayiiv. — Clarke. 
 
SZ— 84. ILIAD. IV. 6i 
 
 and wide-wayed Mycense ; '■ destroy ttese whenever they be- 
 come hateful to thy soul. In behalf of these I neither 
 stand forth, nor do I grudge them to thee : for even were 
 I to grudge them, and not suffer thee to destroy them, by 
 grudging I avail nothing, since thou art much more power- 
 ful. And yet it becomes [thee] to render my labour not 
 fruitless ; for I am a goddess, and thence my raoe, whence 
 tliine ; and wily Saturn begat me, very venerable on two 
 e.ocounts, both by my parentage, and because I have been 
 called thy spouse. Moreover, thou rulest amongst all the 
 immortals. But truly let us make these concessions to each 
 other : I, on my part, to thee, and thou to me ; and the 
 other immortal gods will follow. Do thou without delay 
 bid Minerva go to the dreadful battle-din of the Trojans 
 and Greeks, and contrive that the Trojans may first begin 
 to injure the most renowned Greeks, contrary to the leagues." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; nor did the father of gods and men dis- 
 obey. Instantly he addressed Minerva in winged words : 
 
 " Go very quickly to the army, among the Trojans and 
 Greeks, and contrive that the Trojans may first begin to 
 injure the most renowned Greeks, contrary to the league." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he xu-ged on Minerva already in- 
 clined j she hastening descended the heights of Olympus; 
 such as the star which the son of wily Saturn sends, a sign 
 either to mariners, or to a wide host of nations, and from 
 it many sparks are emitted. like imto this Pallas Minerva 
 hastened to the earth, and leaped into the midst [of the 
 army] ; and astonishment seized the horse-breaking Trojans 
 and the weU-greaved Greeks, looking on. And thus would 
 one say, looking at some other near him : 
 
 " Doubtless evU war and dreadful battle-din wUl take place 
 again, or Jove is establishing friendship between both sides, 
 he who has been ordained the arbiter of war amongst men."' 
 
 ' " It certainly seems to me, theit, in a reference so distinct to the three 
 e:reat Peloponnesian cities which the Dorians invaded and possessed. 
 Homer makes as broad an allusion to the conquests of the Heraclidse, not 
 only as would be consistert with the pride pf an Ionic Greek in attesting 
 the triumphs of the national Dorian foe, but as the nature of a theme cast in 
 a distant period, and remarkably removed, in its general conduct, from the 
 historical detail of subsequent events, would warrant to the poet." — 
 Bulwer, Athens, i. 8. The correctness of this view, however, deyenda 
 upon the true date of Homer's existence. 
 
 " Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 20, compares the words of Belisarius in 
 
66 ILIAD. IV. 85—118 
 
 Thus then did some one of the Greeks and Trojans say ; 
 but she like a hero entered the host of the Trojans, the 
 brave warrior Laodocus, son of Antenor, seeking godlike 
 Pandams, if anywhere she might find him. She found the 
 blameless and valiant son of Lycaon standing, and around 
 him the brave ranks of shielded warriors, who had followed 
 him from the streams of ^sepus ; and standing near, she 
 thus to TiiTTi spoke winged words : 
 
 " "Wouldst thou now hearken to me in anything, O war- 
 like son of Lycaon t Thou wouldst ventiu-e then to aim a 
 swifb arrow at Menelaus. Doubtless thou wouldst bear away 
 both thaiiks and gloiy from aU the Trojans, but of all, chiefly 
 from the prince Alexander, from whom, indeed, first of all, 
 thou wouldst receive splendid gifts, if he should see martial 
 Menelaus, the son of Atreus, subdued by this weapon, as- 
 cending the sad pile. But come, aim an arrow at renowned 
 Menelaus ; and vow to Lycian-bom' Apollo, the renowned' 
 archer, that thou wilt sacrifice a splendid hecatomb of first- 
 ling lambs, having returned home to the city of sacred Zeleia." 
 
 I'hus spoke Minerva, and she persuaded his mind for him, 
 anthinking one. Straightway he uncased his well-polished 
 bow, made from [the horn of ] a wild, bounding goat, which he 
 indeed surprising once on a time in ambush, as it was coming 
 out of a cavern, struck, aiming at it beneath the bpeast ; 
 but it fell supiae on the rock. Its horns had grown six- 
 teen pahns from its head ; and these the hom-poUshing 
 artist, having duly prepared, fitted together, and when he 
 had well smoothed all, added a golden tip. And having 
 bent the bow, he aptly lowered it, having inclined it against 
 the ground ; but his excellent companions held their shields 
 before him, lest the martial sons of the Greeks should rise 
 against him, before warKke Menelaus, the chief of the Greeks, 
 was wounded. Then he drew off the cover of his quiver, 
 and took out an arrow, fresh, winged, a cause of gloomy 
 ills. Forthwith he fitted the bitter arrow to the string, 
 
 Procop. Vandal, i. Ma%ovrai fihv avBpmvoi, jSpattvu Si o 9ibs oirag 
 •jroTk avTifi SoKiif Kal r6 roO iroXkfiov SiSbjffi Kparog. 
 
 ' This is probably the true interpretation, and is given by the Scholiast, 
 Hesychius, and others. But Heraclides, Alleg. § 6, says that Apollo is 
 so called kireiSi) rov kutA. rriv &p9piov &pav XvKavyove iariv mriot, ^ 
 'in XvKatavTa yevva, rourlori tov iviavTov, Cf. Macrob. Sat. i. 17 ; 
 Seiv. on Mu. iv. 377 
 
119—149. ILIAD. IV. e? 
 
 and vowed to Lycian-born ApoUo, the renowned archer, 
 that he would sacrifice a splendid hecatomb of firstling 
 lambs, ha^ving returned home to the city of sacred Zeleia. 
 Haviug seized thefn, he drew together the notch [of the 
 arrow] and the ox-hide string ; the string, indeed, he brought 
 near to his breast, and the barb to the bow. But after he 
 had bent the great bow into a circle, the bow twanged, 
 ■the bowstring rang loudly, and the sharp-pointed shaft 
 bounded forth, impatient to wing its flight through tbe host. 
 
 Nor did the blessed immortal gods forget thee, Mene- 
 laus ; 1 but chiefly the spoU-hunting daughter of Jove, who, 
 standing before thee, averted the deadly weapon. She as 
 much repelled it from thy body, as a mother repels a fly 
 from her infant, when it shall have laid itself down in sweet 
 sleep. But she herself guided it to that part where the 
 golden clasps of the girdle bound it, and the double-formed 
 corslet met.^ The bitter arrow fell on his well-fitted belt, 
 and through the deftly-wrought belt was it driven, and it 
 stuck in the variegated corslet and the brazen-plated belt 
 which, he wore, the main defence of his body, a guard against 
 weapons, which, protect him most ; through even this did 
 it pass onwards, and the arrow grazed the siuface of the 
 hero's skin, and straightway black gore flowed from the 
 wound. And as when some Mseonian^ or Carian woman 
 tinges ivoiy with purple colour, to be a cheek-trapping for 
 steeds ; in her chamber it Hes, and many charioteers desire 
 to bear it, but it lies by as an ornament for the king, both 
 as a decoration to the steed, and a glory to the rider : so, 
 Menelaus, were thy well-proportioned thighs, and legs, and 
 fair feet below, stained with gore. 
 
 Then Agamemnon, the king of men, shuddered, as he be- 
 held the black gore flowing from the wound, and Mar&- 
 
 • It is elegantly obrarved by Coleridge, p. 160, that " it is principally 
 owing to our sense of the dramatic probability of the action of the divini- 
 ties in the Iliad that the heroes do not seem dwarfed by their protectors ; 
 on the contrary, the manifest favourite of the gods stands out in a dilated 
 and more awfal shape before our imagination, and seems, by the associa- 
 tion, to be lifted up into the demigod." 
 
 ^ " Occurrebat sagittse, obvius erat ei penetrant!. " — Heyne. But itia 
 better to understand, " where the plates of the cuirass meet and overlap 
 the Z&jia." — Arnold. 
 
 * /. e. Lydian. 
 
 y2 
 
68 ILIAD. IV. 150—185. 
 
 beloved Menelaus himself shuddered. But when he saw 
 the string ' and the barbs still outside, his courage was 
 once more collected in his breast. But Agamemnon, deeply 
 sighing, and holding Menelaus with his hand, spoke thus 
 amidst them, and aU his companions kept groaning with him : 
 
 " O dear brother, now have I ratified a treaty which will 
 prove thy death, exposing thee alone to fight with the Tro- 
 jans for the Greeks ; since the Trojans have thus wounded 
 thee, and trampled on the faithful league. But by no means 
 shall the league and the blood of the lambs be in vain, and 
 the pure libations, and the right hands in which we con- 
 fided. For even although Olympian Jove has not imme- 
 diately brought them to pass, he will however bring them 
 to pass at last ; and at a great price have they paid the 
 penalty,^ to wit, with their own heads, and their wives and 
 children. For this I know well in mind and soul. A day 
 win be, when sacred Hium shall perish, and Priam, and the 
 people of ashen-speared Priam ; and when Satumian Jove, 
 lofty-throned, dweUing in the sether, will himself shake his 
 gloomy segis over all, wrathful on account of this treachery. 
 These things, indeed, shall not be unaccomplished ; but to 
 me there wiU be grief on thy accoimt, O Menelaus, if thou 
 shalt die and fulfil the fate of life ; then, indeed, branded 
 with shame, shall 1 return to much longed-for Argos. For 
 quickly the Greeks wiU bethink themselves of their father- 
 land, and we shall leave Argive Helen a boast to Priam 
 and to the Trojans, and the earth will rot thy bones lying 
 in Troy, near to an unfinished work. And thus will some 
 one of the haughty Trojans exclaim, leaping upon the tomb 
 of glorious Menelaus : 'Would that Agamemnon thus wreaked 
 his vengeance against all, as even now he has led hither 
 an army of the Greeks in vain, and has now returned home 
 into his dear native land, with empty ships, having left be- 
 hind him brave Menelaus.' Thus wiU some one hereafter 
 say : then may the wide earth yawn for me." 
 
 But him faii'-haired Menelaus accosted, cheering liim : 
 " Have courage, nor in anywise frighten the people of the 
 Achseans. The sharp arrow has not stuck in a vital part, 
 
 ' With which the iron head was fastened to the shaft. 
 - The past tense for the future : implying that the hour of retribation 
 is so certain, that it may be considered Eilready arrived. 
 
186—219. ILIAD. IV. 69 
 
 but before [it reached a vital part], the variegated belt, and 
 the girdle beneath, and the plate which brass-working men 
 forged, warded it off." 
 
 King Agamemnon answering him replied : " Would that 
 it were so, beloved Menelaus ; but the physician shall 
 probe the wound, and apply remedies, which may ease thee 
 of thy acute pains." 
 
 He spoke ; and thus accosted Talthybius, the divine 
 herald : " Talthybius, summon hither with all speed the hero 
 Machaon, son of the blameless physician jS)sculapius, that he 
 may see martial Menelaus, the chief of the Greeks, whom 
 some skilful archer of the Trojans, or of the Lycians, has 
 wounded with a shaft ; a glory, indeed, to him, but a grief 
 to us." 
 
 He spoke ; nor did the herald disobey when he had heard. 
 But he proceeded to go through the forces of the brazen- 
 mailed Greeks, looking around for the hero Machaon : him 
 he saw standing, and round him the brave ranks of the 
 shield-bearing hosts, who followed him from steed-nourishing 
 Tricca. Standing near, he spoke winged words : 
 
 " Come, son of .^sculapius, Agamemnon, king of men, 
 calls thee, that thou mayest see martial Menelaus, the son of 
 Atreus, whom some skilful archer of the Trojans or of the 
 Lycians has wounded with a dart ; a glory indeed to him, 
 but a grief to us." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and incited his soul within his breast. 
 And they proceeded to go through the host, through the 
 wide army of the Greeks ; but when they had now arrived 
 where fair-haired Menelaus had been wounded (but around 
 him were collected as many as were bravest, in a circle, while 
 the godlike hero stood in the midst), instantly thereupon he 
 extracted the arrow from the well-fitted belt. But while it 
 was beiag extracted, the sharp barbs were broken. Then 
 ho loosed the variegated belt, and the girdle beneath, and the 
 plated belt which brass-workers had forged. But when he 
 perceived the wound, where the bitter shaft had fallen- 
 having sucked out the blood, he skUfuUy sprinkled on it 
 soothing remedies,! which benevolent Chiron had formerly 
 given to his father. 
 
 ' Celsus, Pref. " Podalirius et Machaon, bello Trajano ducem Aga. 
 memnoaem secuti, non mediocrem opem commilitonibus sais attulenui' 
 
70 ILIAD. IV. 220—253, 
 
 Whilst they were thus occupied around -warlike Menelaus, 
 meantime the ranks of the shielded Trojans advanced ; and 
 these again put on their arms, and 'were mindful of battle. 
 Then -would you not see di-pine Agamemnon slumbering, 
 nor trembling nor refusing to fight ; but hastening quickly 
 to the glorious fight. He left his steeds, indeed, and his 
 brass-variegated chariot ; and these his servant Etirymedon, 
 son of Ptolymseus, the son of Pirais, held apart panting. 
 Him he strictly enjoined to keep them near him, against the 
 time -when -weariness should seize his limbs, commanding over 
 many. But he on foot traversed the ranks of the heroes, and 
 -whichever of the swift-horsed Greeks he saw hastening, them 
 Standing beside, he encouraged -with words : 
 
 " Argives ! remit nought of your fierce ardour, for father 
 Jove mU not be an abettor to falsehoods, but certainly -vul- 
 tures -will devour the tender bodies of those very persons, 
 who first ofiered injury, contrary to the league ; and we, 
 after we shall have taken the city, -will carry off in our ships 
 their dear -wives, and their infant children." 
 
 But whomsoever on the other hand he saw declining hate- 
 ful battle, them he much rebuked -with angry words : 
 
 "Argives, ye arrow-fighters,' subjects for disgrace, are ye 
 not ashamed ? Why stand ye here astounded, like fe,wns, 
 which, when they are wearied, running through the extensive 
 plain, stand, and have no strength in their hearts t Thus do 
 ye stand amazed, nor fight. Do ye await the Trojans until 
 they come near, where your fair-prowed galleys are moored 
 on the shore of the hoary sea, that ye may know whether 
 the son of Saturn -wOl stretch forth his hand over you." 
 
 Thus he, acting as commander, kept going through the 
 ranks of heroes, and he came to the Cretans, going through 
 the throng of men. But they were armed around warlike 
 Idomeneus. Idomeneus, on his part, [commanded] in the 
 
 Quos tamen Homerus noa in pestilentia neque in variis generibus mor- 
 borum aliquid attulisse auzilii, sed vulneribus tantummodo ferro et medi- 
 camentis mederi solitos esse proposuit. Ex quo apparet, has partes 
 medicinse solas ab bis esse tentatas, easque esse Tetustissimas." 
 
 ' If it be remembered tbat archery, in comparison with fighting close- 
 handed, was much despised (of. Soph. Aj. 1120, sqq. ; Eur. Here. Fur. 
 160), the term iofiiopoi (ol irspl Toig iovg fiSfioprj^svoi, Apoll. Lex. and 
 Hesych } need not be forced into any of the out-of-the-way meanings 
 which Anthon and others have assigned to it. 
 
253—289. ILIAD. IV. 71 
 
 van, like a boax in strength j but Meriones urged on the 
 hindmost phalanxes for him. Seeing these, Agamemnon, 
 the king of men, rejoiced, and instantly accosted Idomeneus, 
 in bland words : 
 
 " O Idomeneus, I honour thee, indeed, above the swift- 
 horsed Greeks, as well in. war, as in any other work, and at 
 the banquet, when the nobles of the AJrgives mix in theii 
 cups the dark-red honourable^ wine : for though the other 
 crested Greeks drink by certain measures, thy cup always 
 stands fuU, as [mine] to me, that thou mayest drmk when 
 thy mind desires it. But hasten into war, such as formerly 
 thou didst boast to be." 
 
 But him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn 
 answered : " Son of Atreus, a very congenial ally will I be 
 to thee, as first I promised and assented. But exhort the 
 other crested Greeks that we may fight with all haste, since 
 the Trojans have confounded the league : death and griefs 
 shall be theirs hereafter, since they first ofiered injury, con- 
 trary to the league." 
 
 Thus he spoke : and the son of Atreus passed on, joyous 
 at heart, and he came to the Ajaces, going through the 
 troops of the heroes. But they were armed, and with them 
 followed a cloud of infantry. As when a goat-herd from a 
 hiU-top perceives a cloud traversing the deep, beneath the 
 north-western blast ; and to him, standing at a distance, it 
 appears while coming over the ocean, darker than pitch, and 
 brings with it a mighty whirlwind;^ he both shudders on 
 seeing it, and drives his flock into a cave. Such, with the 
 Ajaces, moved into hostile battle the dense dark phalanxes 
 of Jove-nurtured youths, bristling with shields and spears. 
 And kin g Agamemnon seeing them, rejoiced, and accosting 
 them, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Ye Ajaces, leaders of the brazen-mailed Argives, ye two, 
 indeed, for it becomes me not, I in no respect desire to incite; 
 for ye yourselves mightily instigate the people to fight 
 valiantly. Would that, O father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, 
 such courage were in the breasts of all j soon then would tho 
 
 ' See my note on Od. 
 
 ' The waterspout, which is often followed by hurricanesi is meant. 
 Seu Arnold. 
 
72 ILIAD. IV. 290—324. 
 
 city of king Priam bend to its fall, taken and destroyed by 
 our hands." 
 
 Thus having said, he left them there and went to the 
 others ; there he foimd Nestor, the harmonions orator of the 
 Pylians, marshalling his associates, and exhorting them to 
 battle, mighty Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, and prince Hse- 
 mon, and Bias the shepherd of the people. In front, indeed, 
 he placed the cavalry^ with their horses and chariots, but the 
 foot, both numerous and brave, in the rear, to be the stay of 
 the battle ; but the cowards he drove into the middle, that 
 every man, even imwilling, might fight from necessity. At 
 first, indeed, he gave orders to the horsemen ; these he com- 
 manded to rein in their horses, nor to be confused with the 
 crowd. "And let no person, relying on his skill in horseman- 
 ship, and on his strength, desire alone, before the rest, to 
 fight with the Trojans, nor let him retreat : for [if so], ye 
 will be weaker. And whatever man, from his own chariot, 
 can reach that of another, let him stretch out with his spear -^ 
 for so it is much better : for thus the ancients overturned 
 cities and walls, keeping this purpose and resolution in then- 
 breasts." 
 
 Thus the old man, long since well skilled in wars, exhorted 
 them, and king Agamemnon rejoiced when he saw him; and 
 accosting him, spoke winged words : 
 
 " O old man, would that thy knees cotdd so foUow thee, 
 aad thy strength were firm as is the courage in thy breast. 
 But old age, common alike to all, wearies thee. Would that 
 some other man had thy age, and that thou wert amongst the 
 more youthful." 
 
 Him then the Gerenian knight Nestor answered : " Sor 
 of Atreus, I myself wo\ild much wish to be so, as when I 
 killed Enithalion. But the gods never give all things at the 
 same time to men. If I were a young man then, now in 
 turn old age invades me. Yet even so, I will be with the 
 horse, and wiU exhort them with counsel and words : for this 
 is the office of old men. But let the youths, who are younger 
 
 ' 7. e. those who fought from chariots. 
 
 ' With Arnold and Anthon, I follow Koppen's interpretation. The 
 meaning is, whoever, without leaping from his own chariot, can reach that 
 of another, should commence the attack. This was less dangerous than 
 dismounting. 
 
525—363. ILIAD. IV. 73 
 
 than I am, aad coiLfide in their strength, brandish their 
 spears." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and the son of Atreus passed him by, re- 
 joicing at heart. Next he found the horseman Menestheus. 
 son of Peteus, standing, and around him the Athenians 
 skilled in the war-shout : but crafty Ulysses stood near ; and 
 rotuid him stood the ranks of the Cephallenians not feeble ; 
 for not yet had the troops of these heard the shout, since 
 lately the roused phalanxes of the horse-subduing Trojans 
 and of the Greeks moved along ; but they stood -waiting til] 
 another di\ision of the Greeks, coming on, should charge the 
 Trojans and begin the battle. Having seen these, therefore, 
 Agamemnon, the king of men, reproved them, and, accosting 
 them, spoke -winged -w-ords : 
 
 "0 son of Peteus, Jove-nurtured king, and thou, accom- 
 plished in evil -wiles, crafty-minded [Ulysses], -why trembling 
 do ye refrain from battle, and -wait for others ? It became 
 you, indeed, being amongst the first, to stand and meet the 
 ardent battle. Por ye are the first in-vited by me to the 
 feast -when -we Greeks prepare a banquet for the chiefs. Then 
 it is pleasant to you to eat the roasted meats, and to quaff 
 cups of sweet wine, as long as ye please. But now would ye 
 in preference be spectators, though ten divisions of the Greeks 
 should fight in your presence with the ruthless brass." 
 
 But him sternly regarding, crafty Ulysses answered thus : 
 " Son of Atreus, what a word has escaped the barrier of thy 
 teeth ! How canst thou say that we are remiss in fighting 1 
 Whenever we Greeks stir up fierce conflict against the horse- 
 taming Trojans, thou shalt see, if thou desirest, and if these 
 things are a care to thee, the beloved father of Telemachus 
 mingled -with the foremost of the horse-taming Trojans. But 
 thou sayest these things rashly." 
 
 But him king Agamemnon, when he perceived that he was 
 angry, smiling, addressed, and he retracted his words : 
 
 " Noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, I neither 
 chide thee in terms above measure, nor exhort thee. For I 
 am aware that thy mind in thy breast kens friendly counsels : 
 for thou thinkest the same that I do. But come, we shall 
 settle these disputes at a future time, shotdd anything e-vil 
 have now been uttered. But may the gods render all these 
 things vain." 
 
74 ITJAD. rv, 364—369 
 
 Thus having spoken, he left them there, and went to 
 others ; he found magnanimous Diomede, son of Tydeus, 
 standing by his horses and brass-mounted ^ chariot. Near 
 him stood Sthenelus, son of Oapaneus. And having seen 
 him too, king Agamemnon reproved him, and accosting him 
 thus, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Alas ! O son of warlike horse-breaMng Tydeus, why dost 
 thou tremble ? Why dost thou explore the intervals of the 
 ranks J^ It was not with Tydeus thus customary to tremble, 
 but to fight vidth the enemy fer before his dear companions. 
 So they have said, who beheld bim toiling : for I never met^ 
 nor hare I beheld him : but they say that he excelled all 
 others. For certainly with godlike Polynices he entered 
 Mycenae without warlike array, a guest, collecting forces : 
 they^ were then preparing an expedition against the sacred 
 walls of Thebes, and supplicated much that they would give 
 renowned auxiliaries. But they [the Mycenasans] were will- 
 ing to give them, and approved of it, as they urged ; but 
 Jove changed [their design], showing unpropitious omens. 
 But, after they departed, and proceeded on their way, they 
 came to rushy, grassy Asopus. Then the Achaeans sent Ty- 
 deus upon an embassy.* Accordingly he went, and found 
 many Cadmeans feasting in the palace of brave Eteocles. 
 Then the knight Tydeus, though being a stranger, feared not, 
 being alone amongst many Cadmeans : but challenged them 
 to contend [in games], and easily conquered in all, so mighty 
 a second was Minerva to him. But the Cadmeans, goaders of 
 steeds, being enraged, leading fifty youths, laid a crafty am- 
 buscade for him returning : but there were two leaders, 
 Mseon, son of Hsemon, like unto the immorftds, and Lyco- 
 phontes, persevering in fight, the son of Autophonasi. Tydeus, 
 however, brought cruel death upon them. He killed them 
 all, but sent one only to return home : for he dismissed 
 Mseon, obeying the portents of the gods. Such was .<3Etolian 
 
 ' Properly, "fastened, soldered." 
 
 ' Lit. " the bridges of the war." He was looking to see where thera 
 was a chance of escape by running between the ranks. 
 
 ^ Polynices and Adrastus. The reader will do well to compare Groto- 
 vol. i. p. 371. 
 
 » To Thebes. 
 
399-432. ILIAD. 75 
 
 Tydeus. But lie begat a son, inferior to himself in battle, 
 but superior in council." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but brave Diomede answered nothing, re- 
 verencing the rebuke of the venerable king. 
 
 But him the son of renowned Capaneui answered : " Son 
 of Atreus, lie not, knowing how to teU truth. We, indeed, 
 boast to be far better than our fathers. "We too have taken 
 the citadel of seven-gated Thebes, leading fewer troops xmder 
 the wall sacred to Mars, confiding in the portents of the gods, 
 and in the aid of Jove : but they perished through their own 
 infatuation. "Wherefore, never place my ancestors in the same 
 rank with me." 
 
 Him sternly regarding, brave Diomede accosted thus : "My 
 friend ' Sthenelus, sit in silence, and obey my words ; for I 
 blame not Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, for thus 
 exhorting the weU-greaved Greeks to fight. Glory shall at- 
 tend him, if, indeed, the Greeks shall conquer the Trojans, 
 and take sacred lUimi ; but great grief shall be his, on the 
 other hand, the Greeks being cut ofi! But come now, and 
 let us be mindful of impetuous valour." 
 
 He spoke, and from his chariot leaped with his arms upon 
 the earth, and dreadfully sounded the brass on the breast 
 of the prince, as he moved rapidly along : then truly would 
 fear have seized even a brave spirit. 
 
 As when on the loud-resounding shore a wave of the sea 
 is impelled in continuous succession beneath the north-west 
 wind which has set it in motion ; at first indeed it raises 
 itself aloft in the deep, but then dashed against the land, 
 it roars mightily ; and being swollen it rises high around 
 the projecting points, and spits from it the foam of the sea : 
 thus then the thick phalanxes of the Greeks moved races- 
 santly on to battle. Each leader commanded his own troops. 
 The re^t went in silence (nor would you have said that so 
 numerous an army followed, having the power of speech in 
 their breasts), silently reverencing their leaders. And around 
 them all their arms of various workmanship shone brightly ; 
 clad with which, they proceeded in order. But the Tro- 
 
 ' Terra is sn affectionate phrase applied to an elder, like papa. Com- 
 pare Alberti on Hesycb. v. air^ia, t. i. p. 505, and on lirra, p. 606 ; 
 Heliadius, Cbrestom. p. 9, ed. Meurs. 
 
78 ILIAD. IV. 433-468. 
 
 jans, as the islieep of a ricli man stand countless in the fold, 
 whilst they are milked of their white milk, continually 
 hleating, having heard the voice of their lambs — thns was 
 the clamour of the Trojans excited through the wide army. 
 For there was not the same shout of all, nor the same voice, 
 but their language was mixed, for the men were called fiom 
 many cUmes. These Mars urged on, but those blue-eyed 
 Minerva,^ and Terror, and Rout, and Strife, insatiably raging, 
 the sister and attendant of homicide Mars, she raises her 
 head, small indeed at first, but afterwards she has fixed her 
 head in heaven, and stalks along the earth. Then also she, 
 going through the crowd, increasing the groaning of the 
 men, cast into the midst upon them contention alike destruc- 
 tive to all. 
 
 But they, when now meeting, they had reached the same 
 place, at once joined their ox-hide shields, and their spears, 
 and the might of brazen-maUed warriors ; and the bossy 
 shields met one another, and much battle-din arose. Ther 
 at the same time were heard both the groans and shouts 
 of men slaying and being slain ; and the earth flowed with 
 blood. As when wintry torrents flowing down from the 
 mountains, mix in a basin the impetuous water from their 
 great springs in a hollow ravine, and the shepherd in the 
 mountains hears the distant roar — so arose the shouting and 
 panic of them, mixed together. 
 
 Antilochus first killed a Trojan warrior, Eohepolus, son 
 of Thalysias, valiant in the van. TTim he first struck on 
 the cone of his horse-plumed helmet, and the brazen point 
 fixed itself in his forehead, then pierced the bone, and dark- 
 ness veiled his eyes ; and he fell, Kke a tower, in fierce con- 
 fiict. Him fallen, king Elephenor, the ofispring of Chal- 
 codon, chief of the magnanimous Abantes, seized by the feet, 
 and was drawing him beyond the reach of darts in haste, 
 that with all haste he might despoil him of his armour : 
 but that attempt was short ; for magnanimous Agenor 
 having descried him dragging the body, wounded hiTn with a 
 brazen spear in the side, which, as he stooped, appeared from 
 
 ' *' On th' other side, Satan alarm'd 
 Collecting all his might dilated stood. 
 Like TenerifF or Atlas unremoved : 
 His stature reach'd the skj." — Paradise Lost, iv, 99f>. 
 
t69— 506. ILIAD. IV. 77 
 
 beneath, the covert of his shield, and he relaxed his limbs 
 [in death]. His soul therefore left him. J3ut over hiin 
 arose a fierce conflict of Trojans and of Greeks. But they 
 like wolves rushed on each other, and man bore down man. 
 Then Telamonian Ajax smote the blooming youth SimoJ- 
 sius, son of Anthemion, whom formerly his mother, descend- 
 ing from Ida, brought forth on the banks of Simois, when, 
 to wit, she followed her parents to view the flocks ; where- 
 fore they called him Simoi'sius. Nor did he repay to his 
 dear parents the price of his early nurture, for his life was 
 rfiort, he being slain with a spear by magnanimous Ajax. 
 For him advancing first, he [Ajax] struck on the breast, 
 near the right pap : and the brazen spear passed out through 
 his shoulder on the opposite side. He fell on the ground in 
 the dust, like a poplar, which has sprung up in the moist 
 grass-land of an extensive marsh, — ^branches grow smooth, 
 yet upon the very top, which the chariot-maker lops with 
 the shining steel, that he might bend [it as] a felloe for a 
 beauteous chariot. Drying, it lies indeed on the banks of 
 the river. So did the high-born Ajax spoil Simoi'sius, the 
 descendant of Anthemion. But at him Antiphus, of the 
 varied corslet, the son of Priam, took aim through the crowd 
 with a sharp spear. From whom, indeed, it erred : but he 
 struck Leucus, the faithful companion of TJIysses, in the groin, 
 as he was drawing the body aside ; but he fell near it, and 
 the body dropped firom his hand. For him slain, Ulysse."i 
 was much enraged in mind ; and he rushed through the 
 van, armed in shining brass ; and advancing very near, he 
 stood, and casting his eyes all around him, hurled with his 
 gUtteiing spear. But the Trojans retired in confusion, as 
 the hero hurled ; he did not, however, hurl the spear in 
 vain, but struck Democoon, the spurious son of Priam, who 
 came from Abydos, from [tending] the swift mares. ^ Him 
 Ulysses, enraged for his companion, struck with his spear 
 in the temple, and the brazen point penetrated through the 
 other temple, and darkness veiled his eyes. Falling he made 
 a crash, and his arms resounded upon him. Both the fore- 
 most bands and illustrious Hector fell back. The Argives 
 sliouted aloud, and dragged the bodies away : then they 
 
 ' Priam had a stud at Abydos, on the Asiatic coast of the Hellespont. 
 — Scholiast. 
 
78 ILIAD. IV. 507—540 
 
 rushed ferther forward; and Apollo was enraged, looking 
 down from Pergamus; and, stouting out, exhorted the 
 Trojams : 
 
 "Arouse ye, ye horse-breaking Trojans, nor yield the 
 battle to the Greeks ; since their flesh is not of stone, nor of 
 iron, that when they are struck, it should withstand the 
 flesh-rending brass ; neither does Achilles, the son of feir- 
 haired Thetis, flght, but at the ships he nourishes his vex- 
 atious spleen." 
 
 Thus spoke the dreadful god from the city. But most 
 glorious Tritonian Pallas, the dau^ter of Jove, going through 
 the host, roused the Greeks wherever she saw them relaxing. 
 
 Then fate ensnared Diores, son of Amarynceus ; for he 
 was struck with a jagged hand-stone, at the ankle, on the 
 right leg ; but Pirus, son of Imbrasus, who came from jEnos, 
 the leader of the Thracian warriors, struck him. The reck- , 
 less stone entirely crushed both tendons and bones j supine 
 in the dust he fell, stretching forth both hands to his dear 
 companions, and breathing forth his soul. But Pirus, he 
 who struck him, ran up, and pierced him in the navel with 
 his spear ; and thereupon all his entrails poured forth upwi 
 the ground, and darkness veiled his eyes. 
 
 But biTn 1 .iEtohan Thoas struck, rushing on with his 
 spear, in the breast over the pap, and the brass was fast- 
 ened in his lungs : Thoas came near to biTHj and drew the 
 mighty spear out of his breast; then he imsheathed his 
 shai^p sword, and with it smote him in the midst of the 
 belly, and took away his life. But he did not spoil him 
 of his armour, for his companions stood round him, the 
 hair-tufted Thracians, holding long spears in their hands, 
 who drove him from them, though being mighty, and va- 
 Uant, and glorious ; but he, retreating, was repulsed with 
 force. Thus these two were stretched in the dust near to 
 each other ; Pirus, indeed, the leader of the Thracians, and 
 Diores, the leader of the brazen-mailed Epeans ; and many 
 others also were slain arotmd. 
 
 Then no longer could any man, having come into the field, 
 find fault with the action, who, even as yet neither wounded 
 from distant blows,^ nor pierced close at hand with the sharp 
 
 ' Pirus. 
 
 ' Observe the distinction between dSXijroe snd dicouraroc. See 
 
541—544. ILUD. Vl. 79 
 
 brass, miglit be busied in the midst, and whom spear-bran- 
 dishing Minerva might lead, taking Viim by the hand, and 
 might avert from hii-n the violence of the darts ; for many 
 of the Trojans and of the Greeks on that day were stretched 
 prone in the dust beside one another. 
 
 Anthon ; Ammonius, p. 29 ; Valet. Bi^rjaBai uev iari to Ik /3oXi)i' 
 TiTfiiiaSai, jcat tx tuv kvavriuv ovraaBai Si, rb eic x^'P^S riTpHaOm. 
 
80 
 
 ILIAD. V. X— 18. 
 
 BOOK THE FIFTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The exploits of Diomedes, who, irritated by a wound from Pandarni, 
 fights with unremitted fury, and even wounds Venus and Mars, who 
 were aiding the Trojans. 
 
 Then, moreover, Pallas Minerva gave strength and daring 
 to Diomede, tte son of Tydeus, that he might become con- 
 spicuous amongst all the Argives, and might bear off for 
 liimself excellent renown. And she kindled from his helmet 
 and his shield an unwearied fire, like unto the summer' star, 
 which shines^ verf brightly, having been bathed in the ocean. 
 Such a fire she kindled from his head and shoulders, and she 
 urged binn into the midst, where the greatest numbers were 
 in commotion. 
 
 Now there was amongst the Trojans one Dares, rich, 
 blameless, the priest of Vulcan ; and he had two sons, Phe- 
 geus and Idseus, well skilled in all kinds of battle : these 
 twain, apart [from their companions], rushed to meet [Dio- 
 mede] ; they on their part, from their two-horse chariot, 
 but he, fi'om the ground, made the attack on foot. When 
 these, therefore, advancing against each other, were now near, 
 Phegeus first hurled forth his long-shadowed spear, and the 
 point of the spear went over the left shoulder of the son of 
 Tydeus, nor did it strike him. But the son of Tydeus next 
 rushed on with his brazen javelin ; nor did the weapon fly in 
 
 /. e. the dog star, Sirius, whose rising marked the beginning of the 
 ivdipa, or season extending from the middle of July to the middle of 
 Sejjtember. It is said to be most brilliant at its time of rising. Cf. 
 Apoll. iii. 956 : "Oj Sri roi koXos /liv dpiZriXoe r' iaiSiaBai 'AvtsWh, 
 
 ' This nse of the subjunctive mood is called the uxvjia 'IGvkuov by 
 Vsbonax, p. 179, ed. Valck. 
 
I-'— -M. ILIAD. V. 81 
 
 vain from Lis hand, but struck his [Phegeus's] breast be- 
 tween the paps, and forced, him from his chariot. Then 
 Idseus leaped down, having left the very beautiful chariot, 
 nor ventui-ed to protect his slain brother. [In vain,] for not 
 even he would have escaped gloomy fate, but Vulcan snatched 
 hini away, and saved him, having enveloped him in darkness, 
 that the old man might not be altogether sad. But the son 
 of magnanimous Tydeus having taken the horses, gave them 
 to his companions to lead to the hollow ships. When the 
 magnanimous Trojans beheld the sons of Dares, the one^ 
 flying, the other slain at the chariot, the hearts of all were 
 discomfited. But aziire-eyed Minerva, seizing him by the 
 hand, thus addressed impetuous Mars : " Mars, Mars, man- 
 slayer, gore-stained, stoiTaer of walls, should we not suffer the 
 Trojans and the Greeks to fight, to which side soever father 
 Jove may give glory ; but let us retire, and avoid the wrath 
 of Jove?" 
 
 • Thus having said, she led impetuous Mars from the battle, 
 and afterwards seated him on grassy^ Scamander. Then the 
 Greeks turned the Trojans to flight, and each of the leaders 
 slew his man. First Agamemnon, king of men, hurled from 
 his chariot huge Hodius, chief of the Halizonians. For in 
 the back of him first turned [in flight], between his shoulders 
 he fixed the spear, and drove it through his breast ; and 
 faUing, he made a crash, and his arms resounded upon him. 
 
 But next Idomeneus killed Phsestus, the son of Mseonian 
 Boms, who had come from fertile Tame. Him, just as he 
 was mounting his chariot,^ spear-famed Idomeneus, with his 
 long lance, woimded in the right shoulder : he fell from his 
 chariot, and hateful darkness seized him. Then the attend- 
 ants of Idomeneus despoiled him of his arms. 
 
 Menelaus, the son of Atreus, slew with his sharp ^ spear 
 
 ' Observe the construction by apposition, Soph. Ant. 21 : T(i Koscri- 
 yvrjTb), Toi' ^£v TrportVa^, tov 8* CLTiftaffag fxet. — 561 : Tw iraiSi fprj^i 
 Tb}Se TTjv }ihv apTiwQ" Avow 7r€(pdv9atf rrjv 8' df' ou ra irpSir' iipv. 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 324, sqq. 
 
 " I shall generally adopt this translation of Wirot, with Anthou. 
 
 ' ApoU. Lex. Horn. p. 604, ed. Villois: o^voevri. 'O /liv 'Aviuv, 
 iitX £7X"> o^voivTi Si, oi,vtvif). With Anthon, I prefer Apion's interpre- 
 tation. Others explain it " beechen," or "thorn-wood." Cf. Alberti 
 on Hesych. p. 766. 
 
 a 
 
sa ILIAD. V. 50— 8r. 
 
 Scamandrius, son of Strophius, clever in tHe chase, an excellent 
 huntsman ; for Diana herself taught him to shoot all kinds 
 of beascs, which the wood ia the mountains nurtures. But 
 then at least arrow-rejoicing Diana availed him not, nor his 
 p kill in distant shooting, in which he had been formerly 
 instructed. But spear-renowned Menelaus, son of Atreus, 
 wounded him, flying before him, with a spear in the back, 
 between the shoulders, and drove [the spear] through hia 
 breast. ■ Prone he fell, and his arms resounded upon him. 
 
 Meriones slew Phereclus, son of the artist Harmon, who 
 knew how to form with his hands all ingenious things (for 
 Pallas Miaerva loved him exceedingly) ; who also for Alex-i 
 ander had built the equal ships, source of woes, which were 
 a baiie to all the Trojans and to himself sioice he did not 
 understand the oracles of the gods.' Meriones, indeed, when 
 following he overtook him, struck him in the right hip ; but 
 the point went right through beneath the bone, near the 
 bladder ; and on his knees he fell lamenting, and death over- 
 shadowed him. 
 
 But Meges next slew Pedaeus, son of Antenor, who, indeed, 
 was a spurious son, yet noble Theano brought biTn up with 
 care, equally with her own dear children, gratifying her 
 husband. Him the spear-famed son of Phyleus, on his part, 
 poming near, smote on the back of the head with his sharp 
 spear j the steel cut through his teeth under his tongue. In 
 the dust he fell, and caught the cold steel in his teeth. 
 
 But Eurypylus, son of Evsemon, slew noble Hypsenor, son 
 of magnanimous Dolopion, who was priest of Scamander, and 
 was honoured as a god by the people ; him, as he was flying 
 before him, Eiirjrpylus, then, the illustrious son of Evsemon, 
 struck in the shoulder in his flight, rushing on with his 
 sword, and cut off his heavy hand : then the gory hand fell 
 in the field ; but blood-red death and stem fate seized his eyes. 
 
 Thus they on their part laboiu-ed in the violent fight. But 
 you would not have known the son of Tydeus, to which side 
 he belonged, whether he was mixed with the Trojans or with 
 the Greeks. For he rushed through the plain, like unto a 
 
 'A doubtful line, but probably referring to an oracle by which the 
 Trojans were recommended to avoid maritime affairs. Cf. Procl. 
 Chrestom. p. 472, ed. Gaisf. 
 
tl8— 123. ILIAD. V. 83 
 
 river swollen by mountain-streams, whicli flowing rapidly 
 throws down bridges : and this, neither the fortified dams 
 can restrain, nor the fences of the richly-blooming fields 
 check, as it comes suddenly, when the rain-storm of Jove 
 bears down heavily : many hopeful works of vigorous youths 
 are wont to fall by it. Thus by the son of Tydeus were the 
 close phalanxes of the Trojans thrown into confusion ; nor did 
 they withstand him, although being numerous. 
 
 When, therefore, Pandarus, the illustrious son of Lycaon, 
 saw binri rushing through the field, discomfiting the phalanxes 
 before him, he drew his crooked bow, and smote him rushing 
 on, striking him upon the right shoulder [on] the cavity of 
 the corslet : the bitter shaft flew on and broke through to 
 the other side ; and the corslet was stained with blood. 
 Whereupon the illustrious son of Lycaon exclaimed aloud : 
 
 " Rush on, ye magnanimous Trojans, spurrers of steeds , 
 for the bravest of the Greeks is wounded ; nor do T think 
 that he will long endure the violent arrow, if king Apollo, 
 the son of Jove, really urged me proceeding from Lycia." 
 
 Thus he spoke, vaunting ; but him [Diomede] the swift 
 arrow did not subdue : but having retreated, he stood before 
 liis horses and chariot, and thus accosted Sthenelus, son of 
 Capaneus : 
 
 " Haste, dear son of Oapaneus, descend from thy chariot, 
 that thou mayest draw from my shoulder the bitter shaft." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and Sthenelus leaped from his chariot to 
 the ground, and, standing by him, drew the swift, deeply- 
 piercing arrow forth from his shoulder, and the blood spurted 
 out through the twisted mail. Then Diomede, brave in 
 battle, prayed : 
 
 " Hear me, daughter of segis-bearing Jove, unwearied, 
 if ever favouring thou stoodest by me and my sire in the 
 hostile fight, now in turn befriend me, Miiierva. And 
 grant me to slay this man, and that he may approach within 
 the aim of my spear, who being beforehand has struck me, 
 and boasts, and says that I shall not long behold the brilliant 
 light of the sim." 
 
 Thus he spoko, praying, and Pallas Minerva heard him, 
 aud made light Lis limbs, his feet, and his hands above, and 
 standing near him, spoke winged words : 
 
 G 2 
 
81 ILIAD, V. 124—158. 
 
 "With, confidence, now, O Diomede, fight against the 
 Trojaus ; for into thy soul have I sent that intrepid ances- 
 tral might, such as the shield-brandishing knight Tydeus 
 was wont to possess : and moreover I have taken away the 
 darkness from thine eyes, which before was upon them, that 
 thou mayest discern a god and also a man. Wterefore now, 
 if any divinity come hither, making trial of thee, do thou by 
 no means fight against any other immortal gods ; but if 
 Venus, daughter of Jove, should come into battle, wound her 
 at all events with the sharp brass." 
 
 Thus on her part having spoken, azure-eyed Minerva de- 
 parted : but the son of Tydeus, returning again, was mixed 
 with the van ; and ardent as he before was in spirit to fight 
 against the Trojans, then, indeed, thrice as much courage 
 possessed him. Like as a Hon, whom the shepherd in the 
 country, by his fleecy sheep, has grazed indeed, while over- 
 leaping the court-yard, but has not killed ; he [the shepherd] 
 has merely roused his ardour ; but afterwards he ventures no 
 farther aid, but on the contrary retires within the fold, while 
 the sheep, deserted, fly in consternation. These, indeed, are 
 huddled in masses one upon another, but he [the Hon] leaps 
 jojrfully from the lofty fold.' So was brave Diomede joyfully 
 mixed with the Trojans. 
 
 Then he slew Astjmous, and Hypenor the shepherd of the 
 people : having smote the one above the pap with the brazen 
 lance, but the other he smote with his huge sword on the 
 coUar-bone at the shoulder, and separated the shoulder fi-om 
 the neck and back. These, indeed, he left, but rushed on 
 Abas and Polyidus, the sons of Euiydamas, the aged inter- 
 preter of dreams ; to whom going to the war, the old man 
 did not interpret their dreams ; but brave Diomede spoiled 
 them when slain. Then he went against Xanthus and Thoon, 
 the sons of Phsenops, both dearly cherished ;^ but he was 
 worn by sad old age, and did not beget another son to leave 
 over his possessions. These, then, Diomede slew, and took 
 their life from both, but to their father left grief and mournful 
 cares, since he did not receive them returning alive from battle ; 
 but his next of kin^ divided the inheritance amongst them. 
 
 ' A very doubtful line. 
 
 ' Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. .'ill. 
 
 » Schol. : Xripuarai, oi tov x^po" oIkov Siavinofitvoi icAi/povo/iM, 
 
159—193. ILIAD. V. 85 
 
 Then he seized Echemon and Chromms, two sons o.f Dar- 
 danian Priam, being ia one chariot. As when a lion, leaping 
 amidst the herd, has broken the neck of a heifer or of an ox 
 pasturing in a thicket ; so did the son of Tydeus forcibly dis- 
 lodge them both from the chariot against their wills, and 
 then spoiled them of their arms. But the steeds he gave to 
 his companions, to drive to the ships. 
 
 But him ^neas beheld devastating the ranks of men, and 
 he hastened to go both through the battle and the din of 
 spears, seeking godlike Pandarus, if anjrwhere he might find 
 him. He found the blameless and valiant son of Lycaon, 
 and stood before him, and spoke [this] word to him : 
 
 " O Pandarus, where are thy bow and thy winged shafts, 
 and thy renown, with which no man here at least contends 
 with thee, nor does any person in Lycia boast to be braver 
 than thou 1 But come, having raised thy hands to Jove, aim 
 an arrow against this man, (whoever he be, who is thus pre- 
 vailing, and who has already wrought many ills against the 
 Trojans, since he has relaxed the knees of many and of brave), 
 imless he be some god, wrathful against the Trojans, angry 
 on account of sacrifices [not ofiered] : and unless the severe 
 wrath of a deity be upon us." 
 
 Him the illustrious son of Lycaon answered in turn : 
 "^neas, counsellor of the brazen-mailed Trojans, I assimilate 
 him in all respects to the warlike son of Tydeus, recognizing 
 him by his shield and oblong helmet, and looking on his 
 steeds : but I do not know certainly whether he be a god. 
 But if this man, whom I speak of, be the warlike son of 
 Tydeus, he does not perform these frantic deeds without 
 divine aid, but some one of the immortals stands near, 
 wrapped round as to his shoulders' in a cloud, who has 
 turned into another course the swift shaft just about to hit 
 him. For but just now I aimed an arrow at him, and struck 
 hi'Tn on the right shoulder, entirely through the cavity of his 
 corslet ; and I thought I should hurl him down to Pluto ; 
 yet did I not altogether subdue him ; some god, of a truth, 
 is wrathful. And steeds and chariots are not present, v/Mcli 
 I might ascend : but somewhere in the palaces of Lycaou 
 
 ApoU. Lex. p. 854 : Oi /laKpoBtv irpoariKovTiQ Kard, yivoQ, Kai x^pa 
 ovTa Tiov avveyyvg ra xprijiaTa KXijpovofiovvrec. 
 ' Cf. Hor. Od. i. 2, 31 : " Nube candentes humeros amictus." 
 
86 ILIAD. V. 194—234. 
 
 [are] eleven chariots, beautiful, newly-built, lately made : 
 coverings are spread axound tbem : and beside each of tliem 
 stand steeds yoked in pairs, eating white barley and wheat; 
 Of a truth the aged warrior Lycaon gave me, on setting out, 
 very many commands in his well-built palaces : he ordered 
 me, having ascended my steeds and my chariot, to command 
 the Trojans in the fierce conflicts ; but I heeded him not 
 (and truly it would have been much better), sparing my 
 steeds, lest they, accustomed to feed largely, shotdd want 
 food, to my cost,^ the men being shut up [in the city]. Thus 
 I left them ; but I have come on foot to Troy, relying on my 
 bow and arrows, but these were not destined to profit me. 
 For lately I aimed [a shaft] at two chiefs, at the son of 
 Tydeus and the son of Atreus ; and having struck, I drew 
 blood manifestly from both ; but I roused them the more. 
 Therefore, with evil fate I took down my curved bow from 
 the peg, on that day when I led the Trojans to pleasant 
 Ilium, doing a favour to divine Hector. But if I shall re- 
 turn, and shall with these eyes behold my country, and my 
 wife, and my lofty-ropfed great palace, immediately may 
 some hostile man cut off my head, if I do not put this bow 
 into the shining fire, having broken it with my hands ; for it 
 attends on me to no purpose." 
 
 Hittt then jEneas, the leader of the Trojans, addressed in 
 turn : " Speak not so : but it -will not be otherwise, before 
 that we twain, with horses and chariot, going against this 
 man, make trial of him with arms. But come, ascend my 
 chariot ; that thou mayest see of what kind are the steeds of 
 Tros, skilful in the plain to pursue rapidly here and there, 
 and to retreat ; they also shall bring us safe again to the city, 
 if Jove will a second time afford glory to Diomede, the son of 
 Tydeus. But come, take the whip now, and the shining 
 reins, and I will descend from the chariot, that I may fight ; 
 or do thou await this man, and the steeds shall be my care." 
 
 Him then the illustrious son of Lycaon answered in turn : 
 " ./Eneas, do thou thyself hold the reins and thy own steeds : 
 the better will they bear along the curved chariot under their 
 accustomed chaiioteer, if we shall fiy back from the son of 
 Tydeus ; lest they, taking fright, shotdd become restive, and 
 be unwilling to bear us away from the war, missing thy voice, 
 ' Observe the force of /joi. 
 
235—271. ILIAD. V. 87 
 
 and the son of magnanimous Tydeus, rushing on us, should 
 slay ourselves, and drive away thy solid-hoofed steeds. But 
 do thou thyself drive the chariot and thy own steeds, but 
 with my sharp spear will I receive him advancing." 
 
 Thus having said, ascending the variegated chariot, they 
 directed the swift steeds impetuously against the son of 
 Tydeus. But Sthenelus, the illustrious son of Capaneus, 
 perceived them, and immediately to the son of Tydeus he 
 spoke winged words : 
 
 " Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, I perceive 
 two valiant men eager to fight against thee, possessing im- 
 mense might ; one, indeed, well-skilled in the bow,^ Pandarus, 
 and moreover he boasts to be the son of Lycaon, and JEneas, 
 [who] boasts to be bom the son of magnanimous Anchises; 
 but Venus is his mother. But come, let us now retire, having 
 ascended our horses, nor thus, I pray thee, run furiously 
 through the van, lest thou shouldst lose thy dear life." 
 
 But him sternly regarding, brave Diomede thus addressed : 
 " Talk not to me of retreat,^ since I think thou wilt not per- 
 suade me. It becomes not my nature to fight in a skulking 
 manner, nor to tremble ; as yet my strength is unimpaii-ed. I 
 am averse to mount the chariot, but even as I am will I ad- 
 vance to meet them : spear-brandishing Minerva does not 
 suffer me to tremble. Never shall the swift horses bear these 
 twain both back again from us, supposing even one of them 
 shall escape. But another thing I tell thee, and do thou lay 
 it up in thy soul, if most prudent Minerva should grant me 
 the glory to loll both, then do thou detain here these swift 
 steeds, stretching forth the reins from the rim, and, mindful, 
 rush upon the horses of ./Eneas, and drive them from the 
 Trojans to the weU-greaved Greek?, For they are of that 
 breed which far-seeing Jove gave as a price to Tros for his 
 son Ganymede ; wherefore they are the best of steeds, as 
 many as are under the east and the sun. From this breed 
 Anchises, king of men, stole them, having supplied mares 
 without the knowledge of Laomedon : of the breed of these 
 six were foaled in his courts. Reserving four himself, he 
 
 ' This bold change of construction, where one would have expected tov 
 fi'tv, riv Si, has been noticed by Lesbonax, p. 186. 
 
 ' But Anthon, I think, with more spvit, renders this, " Speak not at 
 adl fearward." 
 
g8 ILIAD, V. 271—303- 
 
 nourished ttem at the manger, and two, skilled in rousing 
 terror, he gave to ^neas. If we can take these, we shall 
 have borne away excellent glory." 
 
 Thus they were speaking such things to each other ; but 
 the others soon drew near, urgiug onward their swift steeds. 
 The illustrious son of Lycaon first accosted Diomede : 
 
 " Stout-hearted, warlike-minded, son of illustrious Tydeus, 
 certainly my swift shaft, my bitter arrow has not slain thee. 
 Now again will I try with my spear, whether I can hit my 
 mark." ' 
 
 He said, and brandishing [it], he sent forth his long- 
 shadowed spear, and struck the shield of Tydides : but the 
 brazen spear flying straight through, ajjproached the corslet. 
 Then the son of Lycaon shouted loudly over him : 
 
 "Thou art wounded in the flank, through and through, 
 nor do I think thou wilt endure it much longer ; but to 
 me hast thou given great glory." 
 
 But Viim the valiant son of Tydeus, undisturbed, ad- 
 dressed : " Thou hast erred, nor hast thou reached thine 
 aim; 2 but I certainly think thou wilt not cease, till one 
 of you at least, having fellen, shall satiate Mars, the wai-rior 
 of the bull's-hide shield, with his blood." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he hurled forth [his lance], and Mi- 
 nerva directed the weapon to his nose, near the eye ; and 
 it passed quite through his white teeth : and then unwea- 
 ried, the brass cut the root of his tongue, and the point 
 came out at the bottom of his chin. From his chariot he 
 fell, and his variegated, shining ^ arms resounded upon tiiTm ; 
 but his swift-footed steeds started aside through finght, and 
 there were his soul and strength dissolved. .^Eneas then 
 bounded down with his shield and long spear, feasing lest 
 the Greeks by any means should take the body away fi-om 
 him. He walked round it, therefore, like a Hon, confiding 
 in his strength ; and before him he stretched out his lance, 
 and his shield equal on all sides, shouting dreadfully, eager 
 to slay Mm, whoever might come against him. But the 
 son of Tydeus seized in his grasp a hand-stone, a huge 
 affair, such as no two men could carry, such at least as 
 
 ' This is the best manner of e.xpressing the full meaning of tvx<i>iu. 
 
 * /. e. given a mortal wound. 
 
 ' ButButtm. Lexil. p. fia prefers "agile," i. e. easily-wielded. 
 
304—334. ILIAD. V. 80 
 
 mortals are now ; biit he even alone easily wielded it. With 
 it he struck ^neas on the hip, where the thigh is turned 
 in the hip ; — they call it the socket ; — the socket he smote 
 violently, and broke besides both tendons, and the rugged 
 stone tore off the skin. But the hero having fallen on his 
 knees, remaiued so, and supported himself with liis strong 
 hand upon the ground, and dark night veiled his eyes. 
 
 And there, of a truth, .^Eneas, the king of men, had pe- 
 rished, unless Vemis, the daughter of Jove, had quickly i)er- 
 ceived him, his mother, who brought him forth to An- 
 cliises as he fed his oxen j ^ but around her own dear son 
 she spread her white arms, and before him she extended 
 the folds of her shining robe, as a fence against arrows, 
 lest any of the swifl-horsed Greeks having cast the steel 
 into his breast, should take away his life. She, indeed, 
 stealthily bore off her beloved son from the battle. Nor 
 was the son of Capaneus forgetful of those commands wliich 
 warlike Diomede gave him : but he detained his own solid- 
 hoofed steeds apart from the tumult, having stretched forth 
 the reins from the rim ; and rushing forward, drove from 
 the Trojans to the well-greaved Greeks the beautiful-maned 
 steeds of .^Eneas, and gave them to Deipylus, his beloved 
 companion (whom he honoured above {lU his coevals, because 
 he possessed in his mind sentiments congenial with himself), 
 to drive them to the hollow ships : but the hero himselif, 
 having ascended his chariot, took the splendid reins ; and 
 instantly drove his solid-hoofed steeds after the son of Tydeus 
 with ardour ; but Diomede pursued Venus with the cruel 
 steel,^ knowing that she was an un warlike goddess, nor [one] 
 of those goddesses who administer the war of men, neither 
 Miaerva, .nor city-destroying Bellona. But when he had 
 now overtaken her, having pursued her through a great 
 
 ' Cf. Theocrit. i. 105 : Ov Xsytrai rdv Kiirpiv o povKoXog, 'ipirt ttot' 
 'iSav, "Epire ttot' 'Ayxinav- See Hymn, in Vener. 54, sqq. ; and 
 Grote, Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 73. 
 
 ' It is well known that these battles and woundings of tne gods gave so 
 much scandal to Plato, that he wished to cast Homer out of his republic, 
 much to the indignation of Heraclides Ponticus, Alleg. Hom. p. 511. 
 The fathers of the early church made no small use of Plato's opinion on 
 this head. Cf. Euseb. P. E. ii. 10; TertuU. Apol. § xiv. ; Augustin, 
 C. D. ii. 14 ; Minucius Felbt, 22 ; who all make use of his testimony as 
 an argument against Paganism. See Coleridge, Classic Poets, p. 64. 
 
90 ILIAD. V. 335—370. 
 
 crowd, tten the son of magnanimous Tydeus, ha^-ing stretched 
 forward, wounded the feeble [goddess] in the extremity of the 
 hand, bounding on with the sharp brass. Instantly the spear 
 pierced through the skin, through her ambrosial robe (which 
 the Graces themselves had wrought), at the extremity [of 
 the hand] above the palm. Immortal blood flowed from 
 the goddess, ichor, such, to wit, as flows from the blessed 
 gods. For they eat not bread, nor drink dark wine ; there- 
 fore are they bloodless, and are called immortaL But she 
 screaming aloud, cast her son from her : and him Phoebus 
 ApoUo rescued in his hands in a sable cloud, lest any of 
 the swift-horsed Greeks, casting the steel iato his breast, 
 should take away his hie. But warhke Diomede shouted 
 loudly after her : 
 
 " Withdraw, daughter of Jove, from war and battle. Is 
 it not sufficient that thou dost practise deception upon 
 feeble women ? But if thou wUt go to the war, I certainly 
 think thou wilt hereafter dread battle, even though thou 
 but hearest of it elsewhere." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but she departed, distracted [with pain], 
 for she was grievously exhausted. But swift-footed Iris 
 having taken her, led her outside the crowd, oppressed with 
 griefs ; but she began to turn hvid as to her beauteous skin. 
 Then she found impetuous Mars sitting at the left of the 
 battle ; and his spear and swift horses had been enveloped 
 in darkness. But she, falling on her knees, with many en- 
 treaties besought from her dear brother liis golden-frontleted 
 steeds : 
 
 "Dear brother, render me a service, and give me thy 
 steeds, that I may go to Olympus, where is the seat of the 
 ijnmortals. I am grievously oppressed with a "Wjund which 
 a mortal man, the son of 'l^deus, inflicted on me, who now 
 would fight even with father Jove." 
 
 Thus she spoke : but Mars gave her the golden-frontleted 
 iteeds. But she mounted the chariot, grieving in her heart ; 
 and Iris mounted beside her, and took the reins in her 
 hands, and scourged them to go on, and they flew not im- 
 willingly. And immediately then they reached the seat 
 of the gods, the lofty Olympus. There nimble, swift- 
 footed Iris stayed the steeds, having loosed them from the 
 chariot, and set before them ambrosisi] fodder. But the god- 
 
370-405. ILIAD. V. i\ 
 
 dess Venus fell at the knees of ber mother Dione ; and sho 
 embraced her daughter in her arms, and soothed her with 
 her hand, and addressed her, and said : 
 
 " Which of the heavenly gods, beloved daughter, has wan- 
 tonly done such things to thee, as if thou hadst openly 
 wrought some evil ? " 
 
 But her laughter-loving Venus answered : " The son of 
 Tydeus, haughty Diomede, has wounded me, because I was 
 withdrawing from battle my beloved son ^neas, who is by 
 far most dear to me of aU. For it is no longer the destruc- 
 tive contest of Trojans and of Greeks ; but now the Greeks 
 fight even with the immortals.'' 
 
 But her Dione, divine one of goddesses, answered ; " En- 
 dure, my daughter, and bear up, although grieved ; for 
 many of us, possessing Olympian habitations, have in times 
 past endm'ed pains at the hand of men,' imposing heavy 
 griefs on one another. Mars, in the first placs, endured it, 
 when Otus and valiant Ephialtes, the sons of Aloeus, bound 
 bim in a strong chain. He was chained in a brazen prison 
 for thirteen months : and perhaps Mars, insatiate of war, 
 had perished there, had not his stepmother, aU-fair Eeribsea, 
 told it to Mercury ; but he stole Mars away, already ex- 
 hausted, for the cruel chain subdued him. Jimo also suf- 
 fered, when the brave son of Amphitryon smote her in the 
 right breast with a three-pronged shaft. Then most irre- 
 mediable pain seized her. Amongst these Pluto also en- 
 dured a swift shaft, when the same hero, the son of aegis- 
 bearing Jove, afflicted him with pains at Pylos amongst the 
 dead, having wounded him. But he went to the palace of 
 Jove, and the lofty Olympus, grieving in. his heart, and 
 transfixed with pains ; for the shaft had pierced into his 
 huge shoulder, and tortured his sonl. But Paeon healed 
 him, sprinkling pain-assuaging remedies, for he was not at 
 all mortal. Audacious, regardless one ! who felt no com- 
 punction in doing lawless deeds, — who with his bow vio- 
 lated the gods that dwell in Olympus. But against thee 
 
 ' Speaking of tliese humiliations of the gods, Grote, Hist. t. i. p. 78, 
 well observes : " The god who serves is for a time degraded ; but tlie 
 supreme god who commands the servitude is in the like proportion exalted, 
 whilst the idea of some sort of order and government among these super- 
 human beings was never lost sight of." 
 
92 ILIAD. V. 405—443. 
 
 azure-eyed goddess Minerva has excited this man. Infatuate! 
 nor does the son of Tydeus know this in his mind, that 
 he is by no means long-lived who fights with the immor- 
 tals, nor ever at his knees will sons lisp a fathers name, 
 as he returns from war and dreadful battle. Therefore, let 
 the son of Tydeus now, though he be very brave, have 
 a care, lest a better than thou fight with him : lest at a 
 fixture time .^Egialea, the very prudent daughter of Adrastus, 
 the noble spouse of horse-taming Diomede, grieving, should 
 rouse her servants from sleep, longing for the husband of 
 her youth, the bravest of the Greeks." 
 
 She spoke, and with her palms wiped off the ichor fi-om 
 her hand : the hand wais healed, and the severe pains miti- 
 gated. But then Minerva and Juno looking on, provoked 
 Satumian Jove with heart-cutting words ; but amidst them 
 azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus began speaking : 
 
 " Father Jove, wilt thou indeed be angry with me on ac- 
 count of what I shall say 1 Surely it must be that Venus, 
 inspiring some one of the Grecian women with a desire of 
 accompanying the Trojans, whom now she exceedingly loves, 
 while caressing one of those fair-robed Grecian women, has 
 torn her delicate hand against a golden buckle." 
 
 Thus she spoke : but the father of men and gods smiled, 
 and having called, he thus accosted golden Venus : 
 
 " Not to thee, daughter mine, are intrusted warlike 
 works ; but do thou confine thyself to the desirable offices of 
 marriage, and all these things shall be a care to swift Mars 
 and to Minerva." 
 
 Thus they, indeed, were speaking such things to each 
 other. But Diomede, doughty in the din of battle, rushed 
 upon JEneas, conscious that Apollo himself held over him his 
 hands. But he revered not the mighty god, for he always 
 longed to slay ^neas, and despoil him of his glorious armour. 
 Thrice then, immediately, he rushed on, eager to slay him, 
 and thrice Apollo repelled his shield with violence ; but 
 when at length the fourth time he rushed on, like a god, the 
 far-darting Apollo menacing terribly, addressed him : " Con- 
 sider, son of Tydeus, and retire, nor wish to think things 
 equal with the gods ; for the race of the immortal gods and 
 of men walking on the earth is in nowise similar." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but the son of Tydeus retired a Uttle^ 
 
444—481. ILIAD. V. 93 
 
 avoiding the wratii of far-dartiiig Apollo. But ApoUo placed 
 ^neas apart from the crowd, in sacred Pergamus, where his 
 temple was.' Latona and shaft-rejoicing Diana healed him 
 in the mighty shrine, and adorned him with glory. But 
 silver-bowed Apollo formed a phantom like unto j32neas him- 
 self, and such in arms. Around the phantom the Trojans 
 and the noble Greeks smote on each others' breasts the weU- 
 orbed ox-hide shields, and the light bucklers. Then at length 
 Phoebus Apollo addressed impetuous Mars : 
 
 " Mars ! Mars ! man-slaughterer, gore-tainted, wall-batter- 
 ing ' wouldst not thou now, meeting this man, the son of 
 Tydeus, withdraw him from the battle, who would even now 
 fight with father Jove ? First, indeed, in close combat, he 
 wounded Venus in the hand, at the wrist ; but then he 
 rushed on me, like unto a god." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he sat down on lofty Pergamus ; but 
 destructive Mars aroused the ranks of the Trojans, going 
 through them, assimilating himself to Acamus, the swift 
 leader of the Thracians, and thus he harangued the Jove- 
 nourished sons of Priam : 
 
 " Ye sons of Priam, Jove-nourished king, how long wiD. ye 
 yet suffer the people to be slain by the Greeks ? Is it until 
 they fight around the well-made gates ? A hero lies pros- 
 trate, whom we honoured equally with noble Hector, the son 
 of magnanimous Anchises. But come, let us rescue from the 
 tumult our excellent companion." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he excited the might and courage ot 
 each. Then Sarpedon much rebuked noble Hector : 
 
 " Hector, where now "las that strength gone, which thou 
 didst foimerly possess ? Thou saidst, I ween, that thou 
 alone, with thy kindred and thy brothers, couldst defend the 
 city without the forces and allies. Now I can neither see 
 nor perceive any of these j but they crouch down, like dogs 
 about a Hon : we, on the contrary, who are here mere allies, 
 bear the brunt of the fight. Even I, being thine ally, have 
 come from a very great distance ; for far off is Lycia, at 
 eddjdng Xanthus, where I left my beloved wife and my 
 infant son, and many possessions, which he who is pool 
 
 ' " On the Trojan citadel of Pergamus itself was a temple of Apollo, 
 with Diana and Latona ; and hence Homer represents these three deities 
 »s protecting the falling city." — Miiller, Dorians, vol. i. p. 248. 
 
91 ILIAD. V. 482—518. 
 
 covets : but I, nevertheless, exhort the Lycians, and I aui 
 ready myself to fight with that hero ; and yet there is not 
 here to me such store as the Greeks can carry or lead off 
 But thou standest still, and dost not exhort even the other 
 forces to stand and to defend their wives. [Beware], lest 
 perchance, as though ensnared in the meshes of an all-cap- 
 turing net, thou become a prey and a spoil to hostile men : 
 for quickly will they destroy thy weU-inhabited city. But 
 it behoves thee, both night and day, to interest thyself in all 
 these matters, beseeching the chiefs of thy far-summoned allies 
 to persevere with ardour, and forego their violent strife." 
 
 Thus spoke Sarpedon, but his speech gnawed the soid of 
 Hector, and immediately he leaped from his chariot with his 
 armour to the ground, and brandishing his sharp spears, he 
 went in aU directions through the army, exhorting them to 
 battle ; and he stirred up a grievous conflict. They then 
 raUied and stood against the Greeks ; but the Greeks, in 
 close array, withstood them, nor fled. 
 
 And as the wind scatters the chaff about the sacred 
 threshing-floors, when men are winnowing [it], and when 
 yellow Ceres is separating both the grain and the chaff, as 
 the winds rush along ; and the chaff-heaps > grow white from 
 beneath ; thus then the Greeks became white with the dust 
 from above, which indeed through them, as they again were 
 mingled in the combat, the feet of the steeds struck up [from 
 the ground] to the brazen heaven ; for the charioteers were 
 turning back. But they directed the strength of their hands 
 straight forward ; and fierce Mars spread a vapour over the 
 battle, aiding the Trojans, going about everywhere, execut- 
 ing the commands of golden-sworded Phoebus Apollo, who 
 ordered him to excite the courage of the Trojans, whenever he 
 should see Pallas Minerva departing; for she was an ally to the 
 G reeks. But he sent forth ^neas from his very rich shrine, and 
 infused strength into the breast of the shepherd of the people. 
 
 Then jSlneas placed himself amidst his companions ; but 
 they rejoiced when they saw him approaching alive and 
 unhurt and having excellent strength. They did not, how- 
 ever, ask any questions ; for a different labour did not permit, 
 which the silver-bowed god and man-slaughtering Mars, 
 anrl Strife insatiably raging, had excited. But them the 
 ' But cf. Schol. oi rojroi lig ovg to. dxvpa eKTriVrsi 
 
519—552. ILIAD. V. 9S 
 
 Greeks, the Wo Ajaces, and Ulysses anu Diomede, urged 
 on to fight. But they, even by themselves, feared neither 
 the violent attacks ^ of the Trojans, nor their shouts : but 
 remained firm, like imto clouds, wldch the son of Saturn, 
 during a calm, has placed upon the lofty mountains, at rest, 
 when the might of Boreas sleeps,^ and of the other impetuous 
 winds, wliich, blowing with sknll blasts, disperse the siiadowj 
 clouds. Thus the Greeks awaited the Trojans, standing firm, 
 nor fled. But the son of Atreus kept hurrying through the 
 host, exhorting them much : 
 
 " O fiiends, be men, and assume a valiant heart, and feel 
 shame** towards each other through the fierce engagements : 
 for more of those men who dread shame are safe, than are 
 slain ; but from fugitives neither does any glory arise, nor 
 any assistance." 
 
 He spoke, and darted with his spear quickly, and struck 
 Deicoon, son of Pergasis, a warrior chief, the companion of 
 magnanimous .^neas, whom the Trojans honoured equally 
 with the soils of Priam ; since he was prompt to fight amidst 
 the van. TTiTn then king Agamemnon struck in the shield 
 with his spear, but it [the shield] did not repel the spear, for 
 even through this it passed onwards, and pierced him. through 
 the belt, at the lower part of the stomach. And he made a 
 crash as he fell, and his arms rattled over him. 
 
 Here then ^neas slew some brave heroes of the Greeks, — 
 Crethon and Orsilochus, the sons of Diodes : their father, 
 indeed, rich in sustinence,'' dwelt in well-built Pherae ; but 
 his origin was from the river Alpheus, which flows widely 
 through the land of the Pylians. Alpheus begat OrsUoohus, 
 a prince over many men ; but Orsilochus begat magnanimous 
 Diodes ; and of Diodes were bom two sons, Crethon and 
 Orsilochus, well skilled in all kinds of battle. These, indeed, 
 in the bloom of youth, in their sable ships followed with the 
 Argives to Ilium famed for noble steeds, seeking honour for 
 
 ' Such seems to be the force of the plural jitag. 
 
 ' " Ascending, while the north wind sleeps." — Milton, P. L. ii. 489. 
 
 ' /. e. be ashamed to fly or give way. Compare Plato, Sympos. p. 31 7, 
 F. G. ed. Laem., where he dwells upon the advantages of friends fighting 
 together, as rendering men ashamed of any cowardly action. 
 
 * This construction with the genitive is very common in Latin. Virg. 
 Georg. ii. 468 : " dives opum." .(En. i. 18; Hor. Ep.ii. 2, 31 ; Od. iv. 
 8, 5 i Silius, i. 393. 
 
96 ILIAD. V, 553—588. 
 
 the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus : but there 
 the end of death overshadowed them. 
 
 ITiey two,' just as two lions have been reared under their 
 dam, amid the thickets of a deep wood, on a mountain's 
 heights ; they in process of time seizing oxen and fat sheep, 
 lay waste the stalls of men, tUl at length they are themselves 
 kUled by the hands of men with the sharp brass ; such these 
 two, subdued by the hands of ^neas, fell like lofty firs. 
 Then Menelaus, brave in the din of war, pitied them fallen, 
 and went through the van, eqmpped in shining brass, bran- 
 dishing his spear ; for Mars kindled his strength, with the 
 design that he should be subdued by the hands of .^Eneas. 
 
 But him AntUochus, son of magnanimous Nestor, beheld, 
 and proceeded through the van, for he feared much for the 
 shepherd of the people, lest he should suffer anything, and 
 greatly disappoint them of [the fruits of] their labour. And 
 now they were stretching forth their hands and sharp spears 
 against each other, eager to fight ; but AntUochus stood very 
 near the shepherd ^ of the people. But .iEneas, though a brisk 
 warrior, remained not, when he beheld the two heroes 
 standing near each other. When, therefore, they had drawn 
 the dead bodies^ to the people of the Greeks, they gave the 
 miserable pair into the hands of their companions ; and they 
 themselves, returning back, fought in the van. 
 
 Then they slew Pylsemenes, equal to Mars, general of the 
 magnanimous shielded Paphlagonians. Him indeed the son 
 of Atreus, spear-renowned Menelaus, wounded with a spear, 
 as he stood, having smote him on the collar-bone. But An- 
 tUochus on his part smote the charioteer Mydon, his brave 
 attendant, the son of Atymnias (now he was in the act of 
 turning his solid-hoofed steeds), having struck him with a 
 hand-stone on the elbow ; immediately the reins, white with 
 ivory, fell from his hands on the ground in the dust. But 
 AntUochus, rushing on, smote liim with his sword in the 
 temple, and panting he fell from the well-made chariot, head- 
 long in the dust, on his head and his shoulders. Very long 
 he stood (for he fell on deep sand), till the two horses, striking 
 
 ' The order is, riiyi, o'lu Xiovrc Svio. Anthon refers to Kiihuer 
 1.443, 4, p. 97, Jelf's Translation. 
 
 * See note on ver. 60. 
 
 * Of the sons of Diodes 
 
588—623. ILIAD. V, 97 
 
 liim, cast him to the ground in the dust : but Antilochuii 
 lashed them on, and drove them to the army of the Greeks. 
 
 But them Hectoi* discerned through the ranks, and rushed 
 on them, vociferating, and -with him followed the brave pha- 
 lanxes of the Trojans. Mars and venerable Bellona led 
 them ; she, on the one hand, bearing with her tumultuous 
 Din, but Mars, on the other, brandished a huge spear in his 
 hands. At one time, indeed, he paced before Hector, at 
 another after him. 
 
 But him Diomede, brave in fight, seeing, trembled. As 
 when a man, uncertain of his course, passing over a great 
 plain, has stopped at a switt-flowing river, running iato the 
 sea, beholding it boiling with foam, and retreats back in 
 haste : so then did the son of Tydeus retire, and he said to 
 the host : 
 
 " O friends, how do we all admire noble Hector, that he is 
 both a spearman and a daring warrior ! But with him one 
 at least of the gods is ever present, who wards off death ; 
 even now Mars in person stands by him Hke unto a mortal 
 man. But retreat back, [with your faces] turned always to 
 the Trojans, nor desire to fight valiantly against the gods." 
 
 Thus then he said : but the Trojans advanced very near 
 them. There Hector slew two heroes skilled in battle, Me- 
 nesthes and Anchialus, being in one chariot. But mighty 
 Telamonian Ajax pitied them falling ; and advancing he 
 stood very near them, and launched with his shining spear, 
 and smote Amphius, son of Selagus, who, exceedingly rich in 
 property and crops, dwelt in Psesug. But fate had led him as 
 an ally to Priam and his sons. Him Telamonian Ajax smote 
 on the belt, and the long-shadowed spear was fixed ia the pit 
 of his stomach. Falling, he made a crash, and iUustrious 
 Ajax ran up to him, about to spoil [him of] his armour ; but 
 the Trojans poured upon him sharp spears, shining all around, 
 and his shield received many. But he, pressing on him with 
 his heel, drew from the body his brazen spear ; however, he 
 was not able to take off from his shoulders any other beauti- 
 ful armour, for he was pressed upon with weapons. He also 
 dreaded the stout defence of haughty Trojans,^ who, both 
 
 ■ Of. Lex. Seg. 6, p. 336. Bekk. : ayepoixog, csfivos,- inriiyoirrrie, 
 &oa(TV(. On the different and doubtful etymologies of this word, sec 
 AJberti on Hesych. t. i. p, 44, and Buttm. Lexil. p. 19, sq. 
 
 H 
 
9B ILIAD. V. 624—659. 
 
 numerous and doughty, stood around, stretching forth their 
 spears, and who drove him away from them, although being 
 mighty, and valiant, and renowned. But he, retiring, was 
 repelled by force. 
 
 Thus they, on the one hand, toiled through the violent 
 conflict. But violent fate urged on Tlepolemus, the brave 
 and great son of Hercules, against godliie Sarpedon. But 
 when they, the son and grandson of cloud-coUecting Jove, 
 were now rushing against one another, Tlepolemus first ad- 
 dressed him [Sarpedon] : 
 
 " Sarpedon, chief of the Lycians, what necessity is there 
 for thee, being a man unskilled ia war, to tremble here? 
 Falsely do they say that thou art the ofispring of segis- 
 beaxing Jove, since thou art far inferior to those heroes, 
 who were of Jove, in the time of ancient men. But what 
 sort do they say that Hercules was, my bold-minded, Uon- 
 hearted father ? who formerly coming hither, on account of 
 the steeds of Laomedon, with six ships only, and with a 
 few men, laid waste the city of Ihum, and widowed its 
 streets. But thou hast an ignoble mind, and thy forces are 
 perishing away; nor do I think that thou wilt be an as- 
 sistance to the Trojans, having come from Lycia, not even 
 if thou be exceedingly valiant ; but that, slain by m«, thaa 
 wilt pass through the gates of Hades." 
 
 But him Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, in return ac- 
 costed : " Tlepolemus, he indeed overturned sacred Ihum, 
 through the foUy of the hero, famous Laomedon, who re- 
 proved with harsh language him who had deserved weD, 
 nor did he give back the steeds, on account of which he came 
 from afar. But I teU thee that here slaughter and gloomy 
 death will befall thee at my hands ; and that, subdued by 
 my spear, thou wilt give glory to me, and a spirit to steed- 
 famed' Pluto." 
 
 Thus spoke Sarpedon : but Tlepolemus raised his asheu 
 spear, and from their hands, at the same moment, flew the 
 long spears. Sarpedon, on his part, struck the centre of [his 
 adversary's] neck, and the grievous weapon passed right 
 through ; and gloomy night overspread his eyes. But Tle- 
 
 ' An epithet probably derived from the steeds (" inferni raptoris eqttos,'' 
 Claudiari, de R. P. i. 1) employed in the abduction of Proserpine. 
 
660—696. ILIAD. V. 9y 
 
 polemus in the meantime tad struck Sarpedon in the left 
 thigh with his long spear ; and the spear, rushing with vio- 
 lence, passed through, grazing the bone : but his father as yet 
 averted death. 
 
 His noble companions bore godlike Sarpedon from the 
 battle ; but the long spear, trailed along with him, pain''^ 
 him; but this no one of them hastening noticed, nor thougu^ 
 of extraditing from his thigh the ashen spear, that he might 
 ascend the chariot ; for such anxiety did his attendants 
 entertain for him. But on the other side the well-greaved 
 Greeks carried Tlepolemus from the fight; and divine 
 Ulysses, possessing an enduring heart, perceived them, and 
 his soul was stirred within him. And then he anxiously 
 pondered in his mind and sold, whether he should pursue 
 farther the son of loud-thimdering Jove, or should take 
 away the Hves of many more Lycians. But it was not fated 
 for magnanimous Ulysses to slay the brave son of Jove with 
 the sharp spear. Therefore Minerva turned his thoughts 
 towards the multitude of the Lycians. Then he slew Cce- 
 ranus, and Alastor, and Chromius, and Alcander, and Ha- 
 hus, and Noemon, and Prytanis. And yet more Lycians 
 would noble Ulysses have slain, had not mighty crest- 
 tossing Hector quickly perceived him. He therefore went 
 through the van, armed in shining brass, bearing terror to 
 the Greeks ; then Sarpedon, the son of Jove, rejoiced at 
 him approaching, and spoke [this] moTirnful address : 
 
 " son of Priam, I pray thee, suffer me not to lie a 
 prey to the Greeks, but aid me. Even then > let life for- 
 sake me in thy city ; since I was not destined to gladden 
 my dear wife and infant son, retximing home to my dear 
 fatherland." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but him plume-waving Hector answered 
 nought, but flew past him, in order that he might repel 
 the Greeks with all haste, and take away the lives of many. 
 His noble companions meantime placed godlike Sarpedon 
 imder a very beautiful beech of aegis-bearing Jove. Stout 
 Pelagon then, who was his beloved companion, forced out 
 the ashen spear from his thigh. Thereupon animation left 
 him, an^ darkness was poured over his eyes ; but he again 
 
 ■ /. e. when you have rescued my body from the foe, I will die content 
 kn Troy. — Anthon. 
 
100 ILIAD. V. 697— 73S, 
 
 revived, for the breeze of Boreas, breathing upon him aroimcL 
 refreshed in spirit him panting -with difficulty. 
 
 But the Greeks, on account of Mars and brazen-helmed 
 Hector, neither -were driven at any time back to their sable 
 Bhips, nor did they advance forward to battle ; but always 
 kept giving ground, since they had heard that Mars waai 
 with the Trojans. 
 
 Then whom first, whom last did Hector, the son of Priam, 
 and brazen Mars slay? The godlike Teuthras, and more- 
 over the knight Orestes, the ^toHan spear-man Trechus, 
 and CEnomaus, and Helenus of the race of (Enops, and 
 Oresbius of flexible ' belt, who dwelt in Hyla, near the lake 
 Cephissus, very intent on wealth : and near him dwelt other 
 Boeotians, having a very rich territory. 
 
 When therefore the white-armed goddess Jimo perceived 
 these Greeks perishing in the violent engagement, straight- 
 way to Minerva she addressed winged words : 
 
 " Strange ! daughter of asgis-bearing Jove, unwearied 
 one, certiainly we have made a vain promise to Menelaus, 
 that he should return after having destroyed weU-walled 
 Ilium, if we suifer destructive Mars thus to rage. But 
 eome, let us too bethink ourselves of some powerful aid." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; nor did the azure-eyed goddess Minerva 
 disobey her. Juno, on her part, venerable goddess, daughter 
 of mighty Saturn, quickly moving, harnessed her gold-ca- 
 parisoned steeds ; but Hebe speedily applied to the chariot, 
 to the iron axle-tree on both sides, the curved wheels, golden, 
 with eight spokes. Of these, indeed, the felloe is of gold, 
 imperishable : but above [are] brazen tu-es fastened on them, 
 wonderful to be seen ; but the circular naves on both sides 
 are of silver ; and the body ^ was stretched on with gold and 
 silver thongs (there was a double circular rim) ; from this 
 projected a silver pole ; at its extremity she bound the 
 golden, beauteous yoke, and to it attached the beautiful 
 golden poitrels. But Juno, longing for conquest and battle, 
 led the swift-footed steeds \mder the yoke. 
 
 Minerva, on the other hand, the daughter of segis-bearing 
 
 ' Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 66. " I. e. a belt which he could easily move, 
 a^d which, from its suppleness and flexibility, yielded to the pressure of 
 hi8 person." — Anthon. 
 
 li^poQ is properly the seat, but is here put for the whole chariot. 
 
»34~764. ILIAD. V 101 
 
 Jove, let flow down on her father's floor lier dainty robe 
 of variegated hue, which she herself had wrought and worked . 
 with her own hands : then she, having put on her tunic, 
 equipped hei-self for the tearful war in the armour of cloud- 
 compeUing Jove, and around her shQjilders she then threw 
 the fringed segis, dreadfid, around which on all sides Terror 
 appears plumed. Thereon was Strife, thereon Fortitude, and 
 thereon was chilling Pursuit ji on it was the Gorgonian 
 head of the dreadftJ. monster, dire, horrible, a portent of 
 segis-bearing Jove. On her head she placed her four-crested 
 helmet, with a spreading metal ridge,^ golden, sufficient for 
 the heavy-armed of a hundred cities. She then stepped into 
 her shining chariot with her feet ; and took her spear, 
 heavy, huge, and sturdy, with which she, sprung from a 
 dread sire, subdues the ranks of heroic men, with whom- 
 soever she is wroth. But Juno with the lash quickly urged 
 on the steeds. The gates of heaven creaked spontaneously, 
 the gates which the Hours guarded, to whom are intrusted 
 che mighty heaven and Olympus, as weU to open the dense 
 cloud as to close it. In this way, indeed, through these 
 gates, they drove their steeds, uiged on with the goad ; 
 and they found the son of Saturn sitting apart from the 
 other gods on the highest summit of many-peaked Olympus. 
 There staying her steeds, the white-armed goddess Juno 
 interrogated supreme Satumian Jove, and thus addressed 
 Iiim : 
 
 " O father Jove, art thou not indignant at Mars for these 
 bold deeds, — ^how numerous and how choice a multitude of 
 Greeks he has destroyed rashly, nor as became him : a grief 
 indeed to me ; but Yenus and silver-bowed Apollo in quiet 
 are delighted, having let sUp this frantic [god], who knows 
 no rights. Father Jove, wilt thou be angry with me if I 
 drive Mars from the battle, having dreadfully wounded 
 him 1 " 
 
 But her answering, cloud-compeUing Jove addressed ; 
 
 ' Compare Up'otuiKig and IlaXiwJic, similarly personified, in Hesiod, 
 buut. Here. 134, and Virg. jEn. viii. 701 : 
 
 " tristesqne ex sethere Dirse, 
 
 Et scissa gaudens vadit Discordia palla ; 
 Quam cum sanguineo sequitur Bellona flagello.'' 
 ' See note on iii. 362. 
 
102 
 
 ILIAD. V. 765—797. 
 
 " Come, incite the pillaging Minerva against him, who is 
 very wont to cause him to approach grievous woes." 
 
 Thus he spoke : nor did the white-armed goddess Juno 
 Jisohey,, hut she lashed on her steeds. They flew, not un- 
 willingly, midway between the earth and the starry heaven. 
 Now, as much haze ' as a man sees with his eyes, sitting 
 upon some lofty point, and looking over the darkling ocean, 
 so far do the high-sounding steeds of the gods clear at one 
 bound. But when they now reached Troy, and the two 
 flowing rivers, where Simois and Scamander unite their 
 streams, there the white-armed goddess Juno stayed her 
 steeds, having loosed them from the chariot, and shed a 
 dense mist around them. But to them Simois afibrded am- 
 brosial food to feed on. 
 
 But they went on, Kke unto timid doves in their pace, 
 hastening to assist the Grecian heroes. But when they had 
 now arrived where the most numerous ^ and the bravest stood 
 collected in dense array round horse-breaking Diomede, hko 
 raw-devouring lions or wild boars, whose strength is not 
 feeble, there standing, the white-armed goddess Juno shouted 
 aloud, having likened herself to great-hearted, brazen-voiced 
 Stentor, who was accustomed to shout as loud as fifty other 
 men : 
 
 " Shame ! ye Greeks ! foul subjects of disgrace ! admirable 
 in form [alone]. As long, indeed, as divine Achilles was 
 wont to be engaged in the war, the Trojans were not in 
 the habit of advancing beyond the Dardan gates ; foi^they 
 dreaded his mighty spear ; but now they fight at the hollow 
 ships, far away from the city." 
 
 Thus saying, she aroused the strength and courage of each. 
 The azure-eyed goddess Minerva rushed towards the son of 
 Tydeus ; but she found that prince by his steeds and cha- 
 riot, cooling the wound which Pandarus had inflicted on 
 him with a shaft. For perspiration had afflicted him be- 
 neath the broad belt of his well-orbed shield : with this was 
 he afflicted, and he was fatigued as to his hand ; and raising 
 
 ' Opposed to the pure air of tether. See Buttm. Lexil. p. 37, sqq. 
 
 ' Observe the elegant position of the plural verb between two singular 
 pnbstantives, according to the Schema Alcmanicum. Compare Od. K, 
 513, and II. Y, 138, which have been nointed out by Lesbonax, p. 179, 
 ;il. Valck. 
 
798—837. ILIAD. V. 133 
 
 the beltj lie wiped away the blact gore. Then the goddess 
 touched the yoke of the horses, and said : 
 
 " Little Ulce himself has Tydeus begotten a son. Tydeus 
 was certainly small in body, but a warrior. And even when 
 I suffered him not to fight, nor to rush furiously to battle, 
 when he came far from the Greeks, an ambassador to Thebes 
 to the numerous Cadmeans, I commanded him to feast 
 quietly in the palaces ; but he, retaining his doughty spirit, 
 as before, challenged the youths, the Cadmeans, and easily 
 conquered them in everything ; so great an auxiliary was 
 I to him. But thee, indeed, I stand by and preserve, and 
 I exhort thee freely to fight against the Trojans. But 
 either weariness, from great toil, has entered thy hmbs, or 
 at least disheartening fear in some manner possesses thee, 
 Thou art not henceforth to be deemed at least the son of 
 Tydeus, the gallant son of jSlneus." 
 
 But her valiant Diomede answering addressed : " I know 
 thee, O goddess, daughter of segis-bearing Jove ; therefore 
 will I willingly tell this word to thee, nor will I conceal it. 
 Neither does any disheartening fear possess me, nor any 
 sloth : but as yet I am mindful of thy mandates, which thou 
 didst enjoin. Thou didst not suffer me to fight with the 
 other happy gods ; but if Venus, the daughter of Jovo, should 
 come into the battle, to wound her at least with the sharp 
 steel. Wherefore now I myself retire, and have ordered all 
 the other Greeks to be collected here : for I perceive Mars 
 dispensing the battle." 
 
 But hun the azure-eyed goddess Minerva then answered : 
 " Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, neither fear 
 tliis Mars at all, nor any other of the immortals ; such an 
 auxiliary am I to thee. But come, first direct thy solid- 
 hoofed steeds against Mars, strike him in close combat, no i- 
 regard impetuous Mars, this frenzied and unnatural pest, shifter 
 from one to another ; who lately haranguing promised me 
 and Juno, that he would fight against the Trojans, and aid 
 the Greeks ; but now he mixes with the Trojans, and has 
 forgotten these." 
 
 Thus having said, she forced Sthenelus from his horses to 
 the ground, dragging him back with her hand; but ho 
 ]iromptly leaped down. Then the goddess herself, iufuriatc, 
 aacended the chariot beside noble Diomede, and greatly did 
 
IM ILIAD. V. 838-874. 
 
 the beechen axle groan under the weight ; foi it bore a 
 dreadful goddess and a very brave hero. Then Pallas Mi- 
 nerva seized the scourge and the reins. Straightway she 
 drove the solid-hoofed steeds against Mars first. He, indeed, 
 had just slain huge Periphas, the illustrious son of Ochesius, 
 by far the bravest of the ^toUans. Him indeed gore- 
 stained Mars slew ; but Minerva put on the helmet of Pluto, 
 that impetuous Mars might not see her. 
 
 But when man-slaughtering Mars saw noble Diomede, he 
 suffered huge Periphas to lie there, where first slaying him 
 he had taken away his Hfe, but he went straight against 
 horse-breaking Diomede. And when these came near, ad- 
 vancing against each other, Mars first, over the yoke and 
 the reins of the steeds, stretched himself forward with his 
 brazen spear, eager to take away his Hfe. It then the azure- 
 eyed goddess Minerva having caught in her hand, turned 
 from the chariot, so as to be borne away in vain. But next 
 Diomede, valiant in the din of war, made the attack with his 
 brazen spear ; and Pallas Minerva firmly fastened it ra his 
 lowest fiank, where he was girt with his belt. In that very 
 part striking, she wounded him, and tore his beautiful skin, 
 and drew out the spear agiiin. Then roared brazen Mars, as 
 loud as nine or ten thousand men roar in war, joining the 
 strife of battle. And then fear seized the terrified Greeks 
 and Trojans, so loud bellowed Mars, insatiate of war. 
 
 And as when from the clouds, a gloomy haze appears, a 
 heavy-blowing wind arising from heat ; such did brazen 
 Mars appear to Diomede, son of Tydeus, going amid the 
 clouds into the broad heaven. Quickly he reached lofty 
 Olympus, the seat of the gods, and sat near Saturnian Jove, 
 grieving in his heart, and showed the immortal blood flowing 
 down from the wound, and complaining, he spoke winged 
 words : 
 
 "Father Jove, art thou not incensed beholding these 
 violent deeds 1 Ever, of a truth, are we deities suffering 
 most grievous woes from the machinations of each other, and 
 [whilst] conferring favour upon men. We all are indignant 
 with thee ;' for thou hast begotten a mad, pemiciou'' 
 
 ' Or, " through thee we are all at variance," taking o-oi as put for ha 
 ffs with Lesbonax, Trepi axiM- P- 186; Hesychius, t. ii. p. 1234, and 
 tbi* Scholiast, 
 
873—908. ILIAD. V. 135 
 
 daughter, +0 -whom evil works are ever a care. Foi all the 
 other gods, as many as are in Olympus, obey thee, and unto 
 thee each of us is subject. But her thou restrainest not by 
 words, nor by any act, but dost indulge her, since thou thy- 
 self didst beget this destructive daughter. Who now has 
 urged on Diomede, the overbearing son of Tydeus, to rage 
 against the immortal gods. Venus he first wounded, ia close 
 fight, in the hand at the wrist ; and, equal to a god, he after- 
 wards rushed on myself ; but my swift feet withdrew me ; 
 [otherwise] I should certainly for a long time have endured 
 woes there amidst the dreadful heaps of slain, or Kving should 
 have been exhausted by the strokes of the brass." 
 
 Him sternly regarding, cloud-compeUing Jove addressed : 
 " Complaia not to me, inconstant one, sitting by me : for 
 thou art most hateful to me, of all the gods that possess 
 Olympus : for to thee discord is ever grateful, and wars and 
 battles : thou hast thy mother Juno's insufferable and un- 
 bending disposition, which I myself can scarcely repress with 
 words. Wherefore I think thou sufferest these things by 
 her instigation. Yet no longer can I endure thy suffering 
 pain, for thou art my offspring, and to me thy mother 
 brought thee forth. But hadst thou, destructive as thou art, 
 been born of any other of the gods, even long since hadst 
 thou been far lower than the sons of Uranus." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and ordered Paeon to heal him : and Paeon 
 healed him, spreading [on his wound] pain-assuaging medi- 
 cines ; for he was not by any means mortal. As when fig- 
 tree juice,^ on being stirred about, curdles the white milk, 
 fluid before, and it very rapidly coagulates, while one is 
 mixing it ; thus at that time did he speedily heal impetuous 
 Mars. Hebe then washed him, and put on him beautiful 
 garments. Then, exulting in glory, near Saturniaji Jove he 
 sat down. 
 
 And now again Argive Juno and the powerful assistant 
 Miners'a returned to the palace of mighty Jove, after having 
 stayed man-slaying Mars from his deeds of slaughter. 
 
 ' Used as rennet. 
 
106 lUAD. VI. I— i: 
 
 BOOK THE SIXTH 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The gods having left the field, victory now inclines to the side of tho 
 ' Greeks, and Helenus counsels Hector to order a public supplication to 
 Minerva in the citadel. While Hector is gone to the city for that pur- 
 pose, Diomedes and Glaucus recognize the friendship which had for- 
 merly existed between their fathers, and exchange armour in token of 
 amity. Hecuba and the Trojan matrons present a robe to Minerva, 
 and offer up prayers for their country. Hector reproves Paris, and 
 brings him back to the field, having first taken an affecting farewell of 
 his wife and child. 
 
 And now the dreadful battle of tie Trojans and the 
 Greeks was abandoned. Often here and there the battle 
 raged through the plain, [the combatants] directing against 
 each other their brass-tipped spears, between the rivers of 
 Simois and Xanthus. 
 
 First Telamonian Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks, broke 
 through the phalanx of the Trojans, and gave Hght^ to his 
 Qompanions, smiting the good and mighty hero Acamas, son 
 of Eyssorus, who was the bravest amongst the Tliracians. 
 First he struck him on the ridge of the horse-haired helmet ; 
 and the brazen spear fixed itself in his forehead, and passed 
 on within the bone ; but darkness veiled his eyes. 
 
 But Diomede, brave in the din of war, slew Axylus, the 
 son of Teuthras, who dwelt in well-buUt Arisba, rich in 
 wealth, and he was beloved by men, for dwelling in a house 
 near the public way, he was wont to afford entertainment to 
 all. But none of them [his guests] coming up before him, 
 warded off sad death ; but [Diomede] deprived both of life, 
 
 ' /. e. the light of hope. Cf. Virg. Mn. ii. 281 : O lux Dardania, 
 i/!es 6 fidissima Teucriim." Quiutus Calab. iii. 561. 'EttiI av uoi itpov 
 ^^apf Kal ^dos rjtXioto TrsXcc. 
 
18—57. ILIAD. Vr. 107 
 
 himself and liis attendant Calesius, who then was the chari- 
 oteer of his steeds, and both these entered the earth. 
 
 And Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius ; and afterwards 
 went against j51sepus and Pedasus, whom formerly the Naiad 
 nymph Abarbarea brought forth to blameless BucoUon. 
 Bucolion was the son of illustrious Laomedon, eldest by birth, 
 but him his mother brought forth secretly. While [Buco- 
 lion] was a shepherd, he was mingled in love and nuptials 
 with her amongst the sheep ; but she becoming pregnant, 
 brought forth twin sons. And truly the son of Medsteus^ 
 relaxed their strength and their illustrious limbs, and tore 
 the armour from their shoulders. And next warlike Poly- 
 poetes slew Astyalus. Ulysses killed Percosian Pidytes with 
 his brazen spear ; and Agamemnon, king of men, slew Elatus. 
 He dwelt at lofty Pedasus, on the banks of fair-flowing 
 Satniois. The hero Leitus slew Phylacus flying ; and Eury- 
 pylus killed and spoUed Melanthius. 
 
 In the next place Menelaus, valiant in. the din of war, 
 took Adrastus alive ; for his two steeds, flying bewildered 
 over the plain, coming in violent contact with a branch of 
 tamarisk, and having broken the curved chariot at the ex- 
 tremity of the pole, themselves flew towards the city, whither 
 others also fled terrified. But he was rolled from his chariot 
 near the wheel, prone in the dust on his mouth : but near 
 Tiirr) stood Menelaus, the son of Atreus, holding his long- 
 shadowed spear. Adrastus then embracing his knees suppli- 
 cated Mm : 
 
 " Take me aUve, O son of Atreus, and receive a worthy 
 ransom ; in my wealthy father's [house]^ lie abundant stores, 
 brass and gold, and well-wrought steel ; out of which my 
 aire wiU bestow on thee countless ransom-gifts, if he shall 
 hear that I am alive at the ships of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and persuaded his mind in his breast, and 
 already he was on the point of consigning him to the care of 
 his attendant to conduct binn to the ships of the Greeks : 
 but Agamemnon running up, met him, and shouting in a 
 chiding tone, spoke : 
 
 " soft one, Menelaus, why art thou thus so much con- 
 cerned for these men 1 In sooth very kind offices were done 
 to thee in thy family by the Trojans.^ Of whom let none 
 
 ' Euryalus, ' Supply olK<f> or SofKft " Ironically spokeu. 
 
108 ILIAD. VI. 58—93. 
 
 escape utter destruction, and our hands ; not even Mm. whom 
 the mother carries, being an infent in her womb, let not even 
 him escape ; but let all the inhabitants of IHum perish 
 totally, without burial-rites, and obscure." 
 
 Thus having said, the hero changed his brother's mind, 
 having advised right things : but he, with his hand, 
 thrust back the hero Adrastus from him ; and him king 
 Agamemnon smote in the belly, and he was cast supine. 
 But the son of Atreus planting his heel upon his breast, 
 drew out the ashen spear. 
 
 Then Nestor exhorted the Greeks, exclaiming aloud : " 
 friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, let no one now, 
 desirous of spoU, linger behind, that he may return bringing 
 abundance to the ships ; but let us slay the men, and after- 
 wards at your leisure, shall ye spoU. the dead bodies through 
 the plain." 
 
 Thus having said, he aroused the might and courage of 
 each. And then truly had the Trojans retreated into Eium, 
 under the influence of the Mars-beloved Greeks, conquered 
 through their own cowardice, had not Helenus, son of Priam, 
 by far the best of augurs, standing near, spoken these words to 
 ^neas and to Hector : 
 
 " j3Eneas smd Hector, since upon you chiefly of the Trojans 
 and Lydians the labour devolves, because ye are the bra.vest 
 for every purpose, both to fight and to take counsel, stand 
 here, and stay the forces before the gates, running in all 
 directions, before that, on the contrary, flying they fall into 
 the arms of their wives, and become a triumph to the ene- 
 mies. But after ye have exhorted all the phalanxes, we 
 remaining here wiU fight against the Greeks, though much 
 pressed, for necessity urges us. But Hector, do thou go to 
 the city, and then speak to thy mother and mine ; and let 
 her, collecting together the matrons of distinction i into the 
 temple of azure-eyed Minerva, on the lofty citadel, [and] 
 having opened the doors of the sacred house with the key, 
 let her place on the knees of fair-haired Minerva the robe 
 which seems to her the most beautiful, and the largest in her 
 palace, and which is much the most dear to her. And let 
 her promise to sacrifice to that goddess in her temple twelve 
 
 ' Hesych. Tc^iatag ivrijiovc yvvwKas, rag yepaj ri ixoiuas. 
 
W— 133 ILIAD. VI. 103 
 
 yearling heifers, as yet ungoaded, if she will take compassion 
 on the cityandonthe ■wives and infant children of the Trojans : 
 if iadeed she will avert from sacred lUum the son of Tydeus, 
 that ferocious warrior, the dire contriver of flight : whom I 
 declare to be the bravest of the Greeks ; nor have we ever 
 to such a degree dreaded Achilles, chiefest of men, whom 
 they say is from a goddess : but this man rages excessively, 
 nor can any equal him ia might." 
 
 Thus he said, but Hector was by no means disobedient to 
 his brother ; and instantly from his chariot he leaped to 
 the ground with his arms, and brandishing his sharp spears, 
 he went in all directions through the army, inciting them to 
 fight : and he stirred up dreadtul battle. But they rallied 
 round, and stood opposite the Greeks. But the Greeks 
 retreated, and desisted from slaughter ; for they thought 
 that some of the immortals, from the starry heaven, had 
 descended to aid the Trojans, in such a way did they rally. 
 But Hector exhorted the Trojans, exclaiming aloud : 
 
 "Courageous Trojans and far-sTimmoned^ aUies, be men, 
 my friends, and recall to tnind your daring valour, whilst I 
 go to Ilium, and tell to the aged counsellors, and to our 
 wives, to pray to the gods, and to vow them hecatombs." 
 
 Thus having spoken, crest-tossing Hector departed ; but 
 about biTTi the black hide, the border which surrounded his 
 bossy shield, kept striking his ankles and his neck. 
 
 But Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, and the son of Tydeus 
 met in the midst of both armies, eager to fight. But when 
 now they were near, going against each other, Diomede, brave 
 in the din of war, first addressed him : 
 
 " Who of mort£ii men art thou, O most brave ? For never 
 yet have I beheld thee in the glorious fight : but now indeed 
 thou hast far surpassed all in thy confidence, since thou ha.st 
 awaited my long-shadowed spear. Certainly they are sons 
 of the hapless who meet my strength. But, if one of the 
 immortals, thou art come from heaven, I would not fight 
 with the celestial gods. For valiant Lycurgus, the son of 
 Dryas, did not live long, who contended with the heavenly 
 pods ; he who once jjursued the nurses of raving Bacchus 
 through sacred Nyssa ; but they all at once cast their sacred 
 
 ' Or rqXcKXf irot, far-famed. See Anthon on t. 491 . 
 
no ILIAD. VI. 134~1G:'. 
 
 implements' on the ground, smitten by man-slaying Lycurgus 
 with an ox-goad ; but Bacchus, too, terrified, sunk under the 
 wave of the sea, and Thetis received him affrighted ia her 
 bosom ; for dreadful trembling had seized him, on account of 
 the threat of the man. With him the peaceful-living gods 
 were afterwards enraged, and the son of Saturn rendered hitn 
 blind, nor did he live much longer, for he became an object 
 of aversion to all the immortal gods. Wherefore I should 
 not wish to fight with the blessed gods. But if thou art any 
 one of mortals, who eat the fruit of the earth, come hither, 
 that thou mayest speedily reach the goal of death." 
 
 Him then the renowned son of Hippolochus addressed 
 ia turn : " Magnanimous son of Tydeus, why dost thou in- 
 quire of my race 1 As is the race of leaves, even such is 
 the race of men.^ Some leaves the wind sheds upon the 
 ground, but the fructifying wood produces others, and these 
 grow up in the season of spring. Such is the generation 
 of men ; one produces, another ceases [to do so]. But if 
 thou wouldst learn even these things, that thou mayest 
 well know my haeage (for many know it), there is a city, 
 Ephyra, ia a nook of horse-pasturing Argos ; there dwelt 
 Sisyphus, who was tkb most cunning of mortals, Sisyphus, 
 son of ^olus ; and he begat a son, Glaucus. But Glaucus 
 begat blameless BeUerophon ; to whom the gods gave beauty 
 and agreeable manliness. But against him Proetus devised 
 evils in his soul : who accordingly banished him from the 
 state (since he was far the best of the Greeks ; for Jove 
 had subjected them to his sceptre). With him the wife of 
 Proetus, noble Antea,^ passionately longed to be united in 
 secret love ; but by no means could she persuade jnst- 
 niinded, wise-reflecting BeUerophon. She, therefore, telling 
 a falsehood, thus addressed king Prcetus : ' Mayest thou be 
 dead, O Proetus ! or do thou slay BeUerophon, who desired 
 to be united in love ■vfith me against my will.' Thus she 
 said : but rage possessed the king at Avhat he heard. He 
 was unwilling, indeed, to slay him, for he scrupled this in 
 
 ' Not merely the thyrsi. See Anthon. 
 
 ' On this popular Homeric proverb, see Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 31, sq. 
 
 ^ She is more frequently called Sthenobcea, or Stheneboea, as by 
 .\poUodor. ii. 3, 1 ; Serv. on ^n. v. 118. Fulgentius, iii. prsef., agrees with 
 Homer, giving a ridiculously philosophical explanation of the while stirj. 
 
108—199. lUAD. VI. Ill 
 
 Ms mind ; but he sent him into Lycia, and gave to him 
 fatal characters, -writing many things of deadly purport on 
 a sealed tablet ; and ordered him to show it to his father- 
 ki-law, to the end that he might perish. He therefore went 
 into Lycia, under the blameless escort of the gods ; but 
 when now he had arrived at Lycia and at the river Xan- 
 thiis, the king of wide Lycia honoured him with a wiUing 
 mind. Nine days did he entertain him hospitably, and sa- 
 crificed nine oxen ; but when the tenth rosy-fingered morn 
 appeared, then indeed he interrogated him, and desired to 
 see the token, ^ whatever it was, that he brought from hii 
 son-in-law Prcetus. But after he had received the fatal 
 token of his son-in-law, first he commanded him to slay 
 the invincible Chimsera ; but she was of divine race, not 
 of men, in front a lion, behind a dragon, in the middle a 
 goat,^ breathing forth the dreadful might of gleaming fire. 
 And her indeed he slew, relying on the signs of the gods. 
 Next he fought with the illustrious Solymi : and he said 
 that he entered on this as the fiercest fight among men. 
 Thirdly, he slew the man-opposing Amazons. But for him 
 returning the king wove another wUy plot. Selecting the 
 bravest men from wide Lycia, he placed an ambuscade ; but 
 they never returned home again, for blameless Bellerophon 
 slew them all. But when [lobates] knew that he was the 
 ofispring of a god, he detained him there, and gave him 
 his daiighter : ^ he also gave him half of all his regal ho- 
 nour. The Lycians also separated for him an enclosure of 
 land, excelling all others, pleasant, vine-bearing, and arable, 
 • that he might cultivate it. But this woman brought forth 
 three children to warlike Bellerophon, Isandrus, Hippo- 
 lochus, and Laodamia. Provident Jove, indeed, had clan- 
 destine intercourse with Laodamia, and she brought forth 
 
 ' Although Apollodorus, 1. e. says, tSuiKtv iiriaToXag avT(f ""poi- 
 'lotaTTiv KOjiianv, and Hygin. Fab. Ivii. " Scripsit tabellas, et mittit euir. 
 ad lobaten regem," there is no reason to believe that letters, properly so 
 called, were yet invented. See Knight, Prolegg. p. kxiv. Ixzxii. ; Wood, 
 un the original genius of Homer, p. 249, sqq. ; Miiller, Lit. of Greece, 
 iv. 5 (Bulwer, Athens, i. 8, boldly advocates the contrary opinion) ; and 
 Anthon's note. Compare the similar story of Phaedra and Hippolytus. 
 
 ' For the different descriptions of the Chimsera, the mythological student ' 
 may compare Mnncker on Hygin. Fab. Ivii. p. 104. 
 
 ' Philonoe, the sister of Antea. 
 
112 IL1A.D. ^^. 199—228. 
 
 godliie, brazen-helmed Sarpedon. But when now even he 
 [Bellerophon] was become odious to all the gods, he, on 
 his part, wandered alone > through the Aleiian plaia,^ pining 
 in his soul, and shunning the path of men. But Mars, in- 
 satiable of war, slew his son Isandrus, fighting against the 
 illustrious SolymL And golden-reined Diana, being enraged, 
 slew his daughter. But Hippolochus begat me, and from 
 him I say that I am born ; me he sent to Troy, and gave 
 me very many commands, always to fight bravely, and to 
 be superior to others ; and not to disgrace the race of my 
 fathers, who were by far the bravest in Ephyra, and ample 
 Lycia. From this race and blood do I boast to be." 
 
 Thus he said : and Diomede, valiant in the din of war, 
 rejoiced. His spear indeed he fixed in the all-nurturing 
 earth, and next addressed the shepherd of the people in 
 courteous words : 
 
 " Certainly thou art my father's anciept guest ; for in his 
 halls noble (Eneus once entertained blameless Bellerophon, 
 having detained him for twenty days ; and they bestowed 
 valuable gifts of hospitality on each other. (Eneus on his 
 part gave a belt shining with purple ; and Bellerophon in 
 turn a golden double cup ; and this I left in my halls when 
 I was coming hither. But Tydeus I remember not, for he 
 left me whilst I was yet yoimg, when the people of the 
 Gi'eeks perished at Thebes. Wlerefore I am a guest friend 
 to thee in the midst of Argos, and thou art the same to 
 me in Lycia, whenever I shall visit their state. But let 
 us also in the crowd avoid even each other's spears. For 
 there are many Trojans and illustrious aUies for me to slay, 
 whomsoever the deity shall present, and I shall overtake 
 
 ' This "melancholy madness " of Bellerophon has been well illustrated 
 by Duport, p. 31. Burton, Anatomy, p. 259, observes, " They delight in 
 floods and waters, desert places, to wallc alone in orchards, gardens, pri- 
 vate walks, back lanes, averse from company, as Diogenes in his tub, or 
 Timon Misanthropus ; they abhor all companions at last, even their nearest 
 acquaintances and most familiar friends ; confining themselves therefore to 
 their private houses or chambers, they will diet themselves, feed and live 
 »lone." Hence melancholy was called the "morbus Bellerophonteus." 
 See Bourdelot on Heliodor. p. 25. 
 
 ' Properly, "the Plain of Wandering." It lay between the rivers 
 Pyramus and Pinarus, in Cilicia. Cf. Dionys. Perieg. 872. KtiOi li icni 
 •nt^if^v ro 'AXjjVov, ov Kara vStra ' AvOptoiruv awdvivdev dXwfUvoi 
 iifetda.aKi. 
 
229— 2C5. ILIAD. VI. 113 
 
 ■witb. my feet. And there are many Greeks in turn for 
 thee lo slay, whomsoever thou canst. But let us exchange 
 arms with each other, that even these may know that we 
 profess to be friends by our ancestors." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, leaping down from their steeds, 
 they took each other's hand, and plighted faith. Then Satiu'- 
 nian Jove took away prudence from Glaucus, who exchanged 
 armour with Diomede, the son of Tydeus, [giving] golden 
 [arms] for brazen; the value of a hundred beeves' for the 
 value of nine. 
 
 But when Hector arrived at the Scsean gates and the 
 beech-tree, around him ran the Trojan wives and daughters 
 inquiring for their sons, their brothers, their friends, and 
 husbands. But he then ordered all in order to supplicate 
 the gods, for evils were impending over many. 
 
 But when now he had arrived at the very beautiftil dwell- 
 ing of Priam, built with well-polished porticoes ; but in it 
 were fifty chambefs^ of polished marble, built near one 
 another, where lay the sons of Priam with their lawful 
 wiv€s ; and opposite, on the other side, within the hall, were 
 the twelve roofed (iiambers of his daughters, of polished 
 marble, built near to one another, where the sons-in-law of 
 Priam slept with their chaste wives. There his fond mo- 
 ther met him, as she was going to Laodice, the most ex- 
 cellent in form of her daughters ; and she hung upon his 
 hand, and addressed him, and spoke : 
 
 " My son, why hast thou come, having left the bold fight 1 
 Certainly the abominable sons of the Greeks harass thee 
 much, fighting around thy city : thy mind hath urged thee 
 to come hither, to uplift thy hands to Jove from the lofty 
 citadel. But wait tUl I bring thee genia,l wine, that first 
 thou mayest make a libation to Jove, and to the other im- 
 mortal gods, and then thou shalt refresh thyself, if thou 
 wilt drink. For to a wearied man wme greatly increases 
 strength ; since thou art wearied aiding thy kinsmen." 
 
 But her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered : 
 " Bring me not genial wine, venerable mother, lest thou 
 enervate me, and I forget my might and valour. But I 
 
 ' See Gellius, ii. 23. It must be remembered that in the ancient times, 
 wiien there was no money, cattle formed the standard of barter. 
 » Cf. Virg, jEn. ii. 503 ; Eur. Hec. 421. 
 
 I 
 
\U ILI4.D. VI. 266—305 
 
 dread to pour out dark-red wine to Jove with unwashed 
 haads : nor is it by any raeans lawful for me, defiled witJi 
 .blood and gore, to offer tows to the cloud-compeUing son 
 of Saturn. But go thou to the temple of Minerva the pil- 
 lager, -with victims, having assembled the matrons of dis- 
 tinction. And the robe which is the most beautiful and 
 the largest in the palace, and by far the most esteemed by 
 thyself, that place on the knees of the fair-haired goddess, 
 and vow that thou wilt saciifice to her, in her temple, 
 twelve heifers, yearlings, ungoaded, if she will take com- 
 passion on the city, and the wives and infant children of 
 the Trojans ; if she will avert from sacred lUum the son 
 of Tydeus, that fierce warrior, the valiant author of terror. 
 Do thou, on thy part, go to the temple of the pillager Mi- 
 nerva ; but I wUl go after Paris, that I may call him, if he 
 is willing to hear me speaking. Would that the earth might 
 there open for him, for him. hath Olympian Jove reared 
 as a great bane to the Trojans, to magnanimous Priam, and 
 to his sons. Could I but behold him descending to Hades, I 
 might say that my soul had forgotten its joyless woe." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but she, going to her palace, gave orders 
 to her maids : and they assembled through the city the mst- 
 trons of distinction. But she descended into her fragrant 
 chamber, where were her variously-embroidered robes, the 
 works of Sidonian females, which godlike Alexander himself 
 had brought from Sidon, sailing over the broad ocean, in that 
 voyage in which he carried off Helen, sprung from a noble 
 sire. Hecuba, taking one of these which was most beauteoiis 
 with various hues, and largest, brought it as a gift to IMinerva j 
 and it gUttered like a star, and lay the undermost of all. 
 But she hastened to set out, and many venerable matrons 
 hurr'ied along with her. 
 
 But when they arrived at the temple of Minerva, in the 
 lofty citadel, fair-cheeked Theano, the daughter of Cisseus, 
 wife of horse-breaking Antenor, opened to them the gates ; 
 for the Trojans had made her priestess of Minerva. They all, 
 with a loud wailing, upraised their hands to Minerva. But 
 fair-cheeked Theano having received the garment, placed it 
 on the knees of fair-haired Minerva, and making vows, thus 
 prayed to the daughter of mighty Jove : 
 
 "Venerable Minei-va, guardiwi of the city, divine one of 
 
306—343. ILIAD. VI. 115 
 
 goddesses, break now tlip spear of Dibmede, and grant that 
 he may fall prostrate before the Scseaji gate.s, that we may 
 forthwith sacrifice to thee in thy temple twelve yearling un- 
 tamed heifers, if thou wilt pity the city, and the wives of the 
 Trojans, and their infant children." 
 
 So she spake in prayer, but Pallas Minerva refused. 
 Thus they, on their part, ofiered vows to the da^ighter of 
 mighty Jove. 
 
 But Hector had gone to the beautiful halls of Alexander, 
 which he himself had built with the aid of men, who then 
 were the most skilful artificers in fruitful Troy : who made 
 for him a chamber, a dwelling-room, and hall, in the lofty 
 citadel, near the palaces of Priam and Hector. There Jove- 
 beloved Hector entered, and in his hand he held a spear of 
 eleven cubits ; the brazen point of the spear shone in front, 
 and a golden ring encircled it. But him he found ia his 
 chamber preparing his very beauteous armour, his shield and 
 corslet, and fitting his curved bow. Argive Helen sat 
 amongst her female servants, and assigned their tasks to her 
 maids of renowned work. But Hector, seeing, reproached 
 him with foul words : 
 
 " Infatuate ; not befittingly hast thou conceived this rage 
 in thy mind : the people are perishing, fighting around the 
 city and the lofty wall : and on thy account the battle and 
 war are blazing around the city. Truly thou wouldst thy- 
 self reprove another, if ever thou sawest any person remiss 
 in the hatefiil battle. But arise, lest perchance the city should 
 quickly blaze with hostile fire." 
 
 But him godlike Alexander then addressed : " Hector, 
 since thou hast with reason reproved me, and not without 
 reason, therefore wiU I teU thee ; but do thou attend and 
 hear me. I was sitting in my chamber, neither so much 
 from anger nor indignation against the Trojans, but [because] 
 I wished to give way to grief. But now my wife, advising 
 me with soothing words, hath urged me to the battle, and to 
 myself also it seems to be better : for victory alternates to 
 men. But come now, wait, let me put on my martial arms ; 
 or go on, and I vidll foUow, and I think that I shall overtake 
 thee." 
 
 Thus he said, but crest- tossing Hector did not answer him. 
 But Helen addressed him [Hector] with soothing words : 
 
 i2 
 
116 IIJAD. VI. 344—376. 
 
 " Brotlier-in-law of me, shameless authoress of mischief 
 devising, fearful -wretch, would that, on the day when first 
 my mother brought me forth, a destructive tempest of wind 
 had seized and borne me to a mountain, or into the waves of 
 the much-resounding ocean, where the billow would have 
 riwept me away before these doings had occurred. But since 
 the gods have thus decreed these evils, I ought at least to 
 have been the wife of a braver man, who understood both 
 the indignation and the many reproaches of men. But this 
 man's sentiments are neither constant now, nor will they be 
 hereafter ; wherefore I think he will reap the fruits [of them]. 
 But come now, enter, and sit on this seat, brother-in-law, 
 since toils have greatly emcompassed thy mind, on account of 
 shameless me, and of the guilt of Alexander ; on whom Jove 
 hath imposed an unhappy lot, that, even in time to come, we 
 should be a subject of song to future men." 
 
 But her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered : " Do 
 not bid me sit, Helen, though courteous, for thou wilt not 
 persuade me. For now is my mind urged on, that I may 
 aid the Trojans, who have great regret for me absent. But 
 do thou ai'ouse him [Paris], and let him hasten, that he may 
 overtake me being within the city. For I wUl go home, that 
 I may see my domestics, my beloved wife, and my infant son. 
 For I know not whether I shall ever again return to them, 
 or whether the gods will now subdue me under the hands of 
 the Greeks." 
 
 Thus having said, crest-tossing Hector departed ; and im- 
 mediately he then arrived at his well-situated palace, nor did 
 he find white-armed Andromache in the haUs ; but she stood 
 laiiventiiig and weeping on the tower, with her son and her 
 well-robed maid. But Hector, when he found not his blame- 
 less wife within, went and stood at the threshold, and said to 
 the female servants : 
 
 " I pray you, maids, tell me truly whither went white- 
 armed Andromache from the palace 1 Has slie gone any- 
 where [to the dwellings] of her husband's sisters, or [to those] 
 of any of her weU-robed brother-in-laws' wives, or to the 
 temple of Minerva, where the other feir-haired Trojan ma- 
 trons are appeasing the dreadfol goddess ? " 
 
 Him then the active housewife in turn addressed : " Hec- 
 tor, since thou biddest me to tell the truth, she has not gone 
 
377—424. ILIAD. VI. 117 
 
 to any of her husband's sisters, nor to any of lier well-robed 
 brother-in-laws' wives, nor to the temple of Minerva, where 
 the other fair-haired Trojan matrons are appealing the dread- 
 ful goddess. But she went to the lofty tower of Ihum, when 
 she heard that the Trojans were worn out, and that the 
 valour of the Greeks was great. She is now on her way, 
 hastening to the wall, like unto one frenzied, and the nurse, 
 along with her, bears the child." 
 
 Thus spoke the housewife, but Hector hastened away from 
 the palace, back the same way through the well-built streets. 
 "When he had arrived at the Scsean gates, after passing 
 through the great city (for by this way he was about to pass 
 out into the plain), there met him his richly-dowered spouse 
 running, Andromache, daughter of magnanimous Eetion : 
 Eetion, who dwelt in woody Hjfpoplacus, in Hypoplacian 
 Thebes, reigning over Cihcian men. His daughter then was 
 possessed by brazen-helmed Hector. She then met Mm ; 
 and with her came a maid, carrying in her bosom the tender 
 child, an infant quite, the only son of Hector, like unto a 
 beauteous star. Him Hector had named Scamandrius, but 
 others Astysnax ; for Hector alone protected Ilium. He 
 indeed, gazing in silence upon his son, smiled. But Andro- 
 mache stood near to him, weeping, and she hung upon his 
 hand, and addressed liim, and spoke : 
 
 " Strange man ! this thy valour will destroy thee ; lior 
 dost thou pity thy infant cluld and unhappy me, who very 
 soon will be bereft of thee, for presently the Greeks will slay 
 thee, all attacking thee at once. For me much better it were 
 to sink into the earth, when bereft of thee ; for there will no 
 longer be any other comfort for me when thou shalt draw on 
 thy destruction ; but sorrows only. Nor have I fether or vene- 
 rable mother. For divine Achilles slew my fether, and laid 
 waste the well-inhabited city of the Cilicians, lofty-gated 
 Thebes. He slew Eetion, but spoiled him not, he scrupled 
 in his mind [to do] that ; but he burned him together with 
 his well- wrought arms, and heaped a tomb over him, and 
 around [him] the mountain nymphs, daughters of segis- 
 bearing Jove, planted elms. Moreover, the se-ven brothers 
 besides, whom I had at home, all these indeed departed to 
 Hades in one day. For divine, swift-footed Achilles slew 
 them all, amidst their crooked hoofed oxen and their snowy 
 
118 ILIAD. Vli 425—463 
 
 sheep. And my motlier, who niled in woody Hypoplacus, 
 after that he had led her hither with other treasures, he sent 
 hack at liberty, having received countless ransom-gifts. But 
 her the shaft-rejoicing Diana slew in my father's hall. But, 
 O Hector, to me thou art both father and venerable mother 
 ^nd brother ; thou art also my blooming consort. But come 
 now, pity me, and abide here in the tower, nor make thy 
 child an orphan and thy wife a widow. And place a com» 
 pany at the wild fig-tree, where the city is chiefly easy oi 
 ascent, and the wall can be scaled. For going to this very 
 quarter, the bravest [of the Greeks] have thiice assaulted, the 
 two Ajaces, and most renowned Idomeneus, and the sons of 
 Atreus, and the brave son of Tydeus. Certainly some per- 
 son well skilled in prophecy mentioned it to them, or their 
 own mind impels and orders them." 
 
 But her then in turn the mighty crest-tossing Hector ad- 
 dressed : " Assuredly to me also are all these things a subject 
 of' anxiety, dear wife, but I am exceedingly ashamed of the 
 Trojans and the long-robed Trojan dames, if I, like a dastard, 
 [keeping] aloof, should avoid the battle : nor does my nund 
 inchne me thus, for I have learned to be always brave, and to 
 fight in the foremost among the Trojans, seeking to gain both 
 my father's great glory and mine own. For well I know this 
 in my mind and soul ; a day will arrive when sacred IHum 
 shall perish, and Priam, and the people of Priam skilled in the 
 ashen spear. But to me the grief that is to come will not be 
 so great on account of the Trojans, neither for Hecuba her- 
 self, nor for king Priam, nor for my brothers, who, many and 
 excellent, are destined to fall in the dust beneath hostile men, 
 as for thee, when some one of the brazen-mailed Greeks shall 
 lead thee away weeping, having deprived thee of the day of 
 freedom. And, perchance, being in Argos, thou mayest weave 
 the web at the command of some other dame, and bear water 
 from the fountain of Messeis, or Hyperia, very unwillingly ; 
 and hard necessity will oppress thee ; whilst some one, hores- 
 after beholding thee pouring forth tears, will say, ' This was 
 the wife of Hector, who was the bravest in battle of the 
 horse-breaking Trojans, when they fought round Ihum.' Thus 
 will some one hereafter say ; but fresh anguish will be thine, 
 from the want of such a husband, to avert the dav of servitude 
 
464—508. ILIAD. VI. 119 
 
 But may tlie heaped earth cover me dead, before I hear of this 
 lamentation and abduction." 
 
 Thus having said, illustrious Hector stretched out [his 
 arms] for his son ; but the child, screaming, shrunk back to 
 the bosom of the weU-zoned nurse, afirighted at the aspect 
 of his dear sire, fearing the brass and the horse-haired crest, 
 seeing it nodding dreadfully from the top of the hehnet : 
 gently his loving father smiled, and his revered mother. In- 
 stantly illustrious Hector took the helmet from his head, and 
 laid it all-glittering on the ground ; and having kissed his 
 beloved child, and fondled him in his hands, thus spoke, pray- 
 ing to Jove and to the other gods : 
 
 " Jove, and ye other gods, grant that this my son also may 
 become, even as I am, distinguished amongst the Trojans, so 
 powerful in might, and bravely to rule over Ilium. And may 
 some one hereafter say [concerning him], returning from the 
 fi^t, ' He indeed is much braver than his sire.' And let him 
 bear away the bloody spoils, having slain the foe, and let his 
 mother rejoice in her soul." 
 
 Thus having said, he placed the boy in the hands of his 
 beloved spouse ; but she smiling tearfully received him in 
 her fragrant bosom. Her husband regarding her, pitied her, 
 and soothed her with his hand, and addressed her, and said ; 
 
 " Beloved, be not at all too sad in thine heart on my 
 account. For no man shall send me prematurely to the 
 shades. But I think there is no one of men who has escaped 
 fate, neither the coward nor the brave man, after he has 
 once been bom. But do thou, going home, take care of thy 
 own works, thy web and distaff, and command thy maids to 
 perform their task ; but war shall be a care to all the men 
 who are bom Ln Ilium, and particularly to me." 
 
 Thus having spoken, illustrious Hector took up the horse- 
 haired helmet, and his beloved wife departed home, looking 
 back from time to time, and shedding copious tears. Then 
 immediately she jeached the very commodious palace ot 
 man-slaying Hector, and within she found many maids, and 
 in all of them she excited grief They, indeed, bewailed in 
 his own palace Hector still alive, for they thought that he 
 would never return back again from battle, escaping the 
 Biighi and the linuds of the Greeks. 
 
120 fLlAD. VI. 503—529. 
 
 Nor did Paris delay in his lofty halls ; but he, after he 
 had put on his famous arms, variegated with brass, then 
 hastened through the city, relying on his swift feet. And 
 as' when a stabled courser, fed with barley at the stall, 
 having broken his cord, runs prancing over the plain, elate 
 with joy, being accustomed to bathe in some fair-flowing 
 river. He bears aloft his head, and his mane is tossed about 
 on his shoulders : but he, relying on his beauty, ^ his knees 
 easUy bear him to the accustomed pastures^ of the mares. 
 Thus Paris, the son of Priam, shining in arms like the sun, 
 exulting descended down from the citadel of Pergamus, 
 but his swift feet bore him, and immediately after he found 
 his noble brother Hector, when he was now aoout to depart 
 from the place where he was conversing with his spouse. 
 
 Him godlike Alexander first addressed : " Honoured 
 brother, assuredly now I am altogether detaining thee, 
 although hastening, nor have I come in due time as thou 
 didst order." 
 
 Him then crest-tossing Hector answering addressed : 
 " Strange man ! not any man indeed, who is just, could dis- 
 praise thy deeds of war, for thou art brave. But willingly 
 art thou remiss, and dost not wish [to fight] ; and my heart 
 is saddened in my breast, when I hear dishonourable things 
 of thee from the Trojans, who have much toil on thy account. 
 But let us away, these things we shall arrange hereafter, if 
 ever Jove shall grant us to place a free goblet in our halla 
 to the heavenly everlasting gods, when we shall have i^e- 
 pulsed the weH-greaved Greeks from Troy." 
 
 ' Cf. EnDius apud Macrob. iv. 3 : 
 
 *' Et tunc sicut equus, qui de prsesepibus actus, 
 Vincla sueis magneis animeis abrumpit, et inde 
 Fert sese campi per cserula, Isetaque pcata, 
 Celso pectore, ssepe jubam quassat simul altaai : 
 Spiritus ex anima calida spumas agit albna." 
 
 ' Observe the aiiacoluthon. 
 
 * An iuiitaace of hendiadys. 
 
1—15- ILIAD. VII. 121 
 
 BOOK THE SEVENTH. 
 
 iVBGUMENT. 
 
 Hector challenges the bravest of the Greeks to single combat, and nine of 
 the chiefs having cast lots, Ajax is appointed to meet him. Having 
 protracted the contest till night, the, combatants exchange gifts, and 
 separate. A truce is then made for the purpose of burying the dead, 
 and the GreeliS fortify their camp. 
 
 Thus having said, illustrious Hector rushed forth from the 
 gates, and with him went Ms brother Alexander, for both 
 were eager in soul to wage war and to fight. As when the 
 deity hath given a prosperous wind to expecting mariners, 
 after they have become weary, agitating the deep with well- 
 pohshed p» <■?, and their limbs are relaxed with toil ; thus 
 then did those two appear to the expecting Trojans. Then 
 they slew, the one,^ indeed, Menesthius, son of king Arei- 
 thoiis, who dwelt in Ame, whom the club-bearer Areithoiis 
 and large-eyed Philomedusa brought forth ; but Hector 
 smote Eioneus with his sharp spear upon the neck, under liis 
 weU-wrought brazen helmet, ^ and relaxed his limbs. And 
 Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian heroes, in 
 fierce engagement smote Iphinous, son of Dexias, up&n the 
 shoulder with his spear, as he vaulted on his swift maresi 
 
 ' I. e. Paris. The eonstruction is an instance of the axfiiia Ka9' '6\ov 
 Kal iiipoQ. See Jelf, Git. Gr. § 478, and my note on .iEsch. Prom. p. 8, 
 ed. Bohn. 
 
 ' Apolloniu«, Lex. p. 734, seems to regard the artipavm as a distinct 
 kind of helmet, or cap. So, also, the Schol. and Hesych. t. ii. p. 186, 
 and p. 1266. Others understand the rim of the helmet. Paschal, de 
 Coronis, i. 2 : " Eam galese partem quam Hesychius dicit habere t^oxu-e, 
 id quod in galea eminentissimum est. Et vero apud Plutarchum distin- 
 guitur ro KpavoQ galea djri r% are^avrj^, ab ejus parte quae est in ipsius 
 Eummitate." 
 
122 ILIAD. VII. ]6— 50. 
 
 But he fell from his mares on the ground, and his limbs were 
 relaxed. 
 
 But when the azure-eyed goddess Minerva saw them de- 
 stroying the Greeks, in fierce engagement, she descended 
 straightway, rushing down from the tops of Olympus to 
 sacred Ilium. Then Apollo hastened, to meet her, having 
 perceived her from Pergamus, for he wished victory to the 
 Trojans. And they met each other at the beech-tree. Her 
 first king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed : 
 
 " Why again dost thou, daughter of mighty Jove, come 
 ardently from Olympus, and why has thy mighty soul im- 
 ]3elled thee 1 It is that thou mightst give to the Greeks 
 the doubtful victory of battle, for thou dost not pity the 
 Trojans perishing. But if thou obeyest me in aught, which 
 indeed would be much better, Let us now make the war and 
 conflict to cease this day, afterwards shall they fight until 
 they find an end of Ilium ; since it is pleasing to the mind 
 of you goddesses to overthrow this city." ' 
 
 But him in turn the azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus ad- 
 dressed : " Be it so. Far-darter ; for I myself, meditating the 
 same things, came down from Olympus to the Trojans and 
 the Greeks. But come, how dost thou intend to make the 
 battle of nu;n to cease 1 " 
 
 Her then in turn king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed : 
 " Let us arouse the valiant spirit of horse-breaking Hector, 
 if perchance he wiU challenge some one of the Greeks to 
 fight against him singly opposed in grievous combat. And 
 the well-greaved Greeks enraged will urge on some single 
 man to tight with noble Hector." 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor did the azure-eyed goddess disobey. 
 But Helenue, the dear son- of Priam, perceived in his mind 
 the counsel, wliich seemed good to the gods deliberating. 
 He therefore went and stood near Hector, and thus accosted 
 him 
 
 " Hector, son of Priam, equal to Jove in wisdom, wilt thou 
 obey me in aught 1 for I am thy brother. Cause all the rest 
 of the Trojans and the Greeks to sit down, but do thou thy- 
 
 ' On the partisan deities for and against Troy, cf. Dionys. 817. 
 ^IXtov, »iv tTToXiaai noaiiS&aiv Kdi 'AttoXXojv, 
 "IXiov, i)v aXaira^av 'A.6t)vain r£ Kai"Hpfl. 
 See Grote's Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 68. 
 
50—90. ILIAD. VII. 123 
 
 self challenge whoever is the bravest of the Greeks to fight 
 against thee in grievous combat. For it is not yet thy fate 
 to die, and draw on fate ; for to this effect have I heard the 
 voice of the immortal gods." 
 
 Thus he spoke. But Hector in turn rejoiced exceedingly, 
 having heard his advice, and accordingly advancing into the 
 midst, grasping his spear in the middle, he restrained the 
 phalanxes of the Trojans ; and they all sat down. Agamem- 
 non also caused the well-greaved Greeks to sit down ; and 
 Minerva also, and silver-bowed Apollo, sat like unto vulture 
 birds, on a lofty beech-tree of their sire, the segis-bearing Jove, 
 deUght-ed with the heroes ; of these the ranks sat thick, hor- 
 ribly bristling with shields, and helmets, and spears. And as 
 the ripple of the west wind, just risen, is poured over the 
 ocean, and the sea begins to darken under it, such sat the 
 ranks of the Greeks and Trojans in the plain : but Hector 
 thus spoke in the midst of both armies : 
 
 " Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greaved Greeks, whilst 
 I speak what the mind in my breast commands me. Satur- 
 nian Jove, indeed, sitting aloft, has not ratified the leagues, 
 but devising evils against both sides, ordains them, till either 
 ye take well-turreted Troy, or yourselves fall at your sea- 
 traversing ships. Amongst you, indeed, there are the bravest 
 of all the Greeks, of whom whomsoever his mind orders to 
 fight with me, let him come hither from amongst all, to be a 
 champion against noble Hector. This then do I propose, 
 but let Jove be our witness ; if, on the one hand, he shall 
 slay me with his long-pointed spear, having stripped off my 
 armour, let him bear it to the hollow ships, but send my body 
 home, that the Trojans and the wives of the Trojans may 
 make me, deceased, a partaker of the funeral pyre. But if, 
 on the other . hand, I shall slay him, and Apollo shall give 
 me glory, having stripped oiF his armotir, I will bear it to 
 sacred Ilium, and I will hang it up on the temple of far- 
 darting Apollo : but his body I will send back to the well- 
 benched ships, that the long-haired Greeks may perform his 
 exsequies, and pile up for him a tomb on the wide Helles- 
 pont. And hereafter will some one of future men say, as he 
 eaUs over the sea in his many-benched ship : ' This, indeed, 
 is the t.onib of 3, hero long since deceased, whom once, bear- 
 ing himself doughtUj, illustrious Hector slew.' Thus hero- 
 
124 ILIAD. VII. 91—123. 
 
 after ■will some one say ; but this my glory shall never 
 perish." 
 
 Thus he said, but all became mute in silence. Ashamed 
 indeed they were to refuse, and yet they dreaded to accept 
 [the challenge]. At length, however, Menelaus stood up, 
 and spoke amongst them, rebuking them with reproaches, and 
 he groaned greatly in spirit : 
 
 " Alas ! ye boasters ! Greek dames ! no longer Grecian 
 men ! certainly will these thiags be a disgrace, most griev- 
 ously grievous, if none of the Greeks will now go against 
 Hector. But may ye all become water and earth, sitting 
 there each of you, faint-hearted ; utterly inglorious : but I 
 myself will be armed against him. But the issues of victory 
 are rested in the immortal gods." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he put on his beautiful arms. Then, 
 indeed, O Menelaus, would the end of life have befallen the© 
 at the hands of Hector, since he was much the better man, 
 had not the princes of the Greeks, starting up suddenly, 
 restrained thee, and the son of Atreus himself, wide-ruling 
 Agamemnon, seized thee by the right hand, and addressed 
 thee, and spoke : 
 
 " Thou art mad, O Menelaus ! offspring of Jove, nor hast 
 thou any need of such madness : restrain thyself, although 
 grieved, nor wish for the sake of contention to fight with a 
 braver man than thyself, Hector, the son of Priam, whom 
 others also dread. Nay, even Achilles, who is much braver 
 than thou, dreads to meet him* in the glorious fight. But 
 now, going to the troop of thy companions, sit down. Against 
 him the Greeks will set up some other champion. Although 
 he be intrepid and insatiable of battle, I tlunk that he will 
 gladly bend his knee,^ if he shall escape from the hostile 
 battle and the grievous fight." 
 
 Thus speaking, the hero dissuaded his brother's mind, 
 advising him rightly ; and he obeyed. His joyful attend- 
 ants then stripped the ai-mour from his shoulders. Then 
 Nestor arose amidst the Greeks, and said : 
 
 ' Lesbonax, ircpi (7x))^. p. 182, reads tovtov ye — diriSoX^o-fM, whieb 
 Valckenaer, and with reason, thinks a more recherche and genuine read- 
 ing than Tovrifi. Lesbonax compares the Attic phrase apkaicn fit ioTfioi, 
 Cf. Aristoph, Ran. 103, with the Scholiast. 
 
 ^ /. e. sit down through fatigue, " de Us cjui longo labore sen oursu 
 fessi quiescunt et vires recipiunt." — Heyne. 
 
124—165, ILIAD. VIl. 125 
 
 " O gods, surely great grief comes upon the Grecian land. 
 Certainly the aged knight Peleus, the excellent counsellor 
 and adviser of the Myrmidons, will greatly lament, who for- 
 merly interrogated me, greatly rejoiced in Ins palace, inquiring 
 the race and offspring of all the Greeks. If he now heard ot 
 them all crouching down under Hectoi, often indeed would 
 he uphffc his hands to the immortals, [praying] that his soul, 
 [separated] from hisHmhs, might depart into the house of Pluto. 
 For would, O father Jove, and Minerva, and Apollo, I were 
 young, as when the assembled Pyhans and the spear-sldlled 
 Arcadians fought by the rapid Celadon, at the walls of Phsea, 
 about the streams of Jardan. "With them Ek^euthalion, god- 
 like hero, stood in the van, bearing on his shoulders the 
 armour of king Are'ithous, of noble Ai-eithous, whom men 
 and beauteous-girt women called by surname Corynetes, since 
 he fought not with a bow, nor with a long spear, but used to 
 break the phalanxes with an iron club. Him Lycurgus slew 
 by stratagem, not by strength, in a narrow defile, where his 
 iron club did not ward off destruction from him ; for Lycur- 
 gus, anticipating, pierced him right through the waist with 
 his spear, and he was dashed to the ground on his back ; and 
 he spoiled him of the armour which brazen Mars had given 
 him, and he indeed afterwards bore them himself in the 
 battle of Mars. But when Lycurgus had grown old in his 
 palaces, he gave them to his beloved attendant Ereuthalion, 
 to be borne : and he, having his armour, challenged all the 
 bravest : but these trembled and feared very much : nor did 
 any one dare [to withstand him]. But my bold mind, by its 
 confidence, urged me on to fight him : now I was the youngest 
 of them all ; and I fought with him, and Minerva gave me 
 glory. And I slew this most mighty and valiant hero, for 
 vast he lay stretched out on this side and on that. Would 
 that [now] I were thus yoimg, and my strength entire — so 
 quickly should crest-tossing Hector meet with a contest. 
 But those of you who are the bravest of all the Greeks, not 
 even you promptly desire to go against Hector." 
 
 Thus did the old man upbraid them ; and nine heroes in 
 all arose. Much the first arose Agamemnon, the king of 
 men ; after him arose brave Diomede, son of Tydeus, and 
 after theni the Ajaces, clad in impetuous valour : after them 
 Idnmeneus, and Meriones, the armour-bearer of Idomeneus, 
 
126 ILIAD. VTT. 166—203 
 
 equal to man-slaughtering Mars. After them Eurypylus, the 
 gallant son of Evsemon. And there [also arose] Thoas, son 
 of Andrsemon, and divine Ulysses. AJl these wished to fight 
 ■with noble Hector. But these again the Gerenian knight 
 Nestor addi-essed : 
 
 " Decide now, exclusively by lot, who shall obtain [the 
 accepting of the challenge] ; for he indeed will aid the weU- 
 greaved Greeks ; and he will also.dehght his own soul, if he 
 shall escape safe from the hostUe war and the grievous 
 fight." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and they marked each his own lot, and 
 they cast them into the helmet of Agamemnon, the son of 
 Atreus. The people supplicated, and raised their hands to 
 the gods, and thus would one of them say, looking towards 
 the wide heaven : 
 
 " father Jove, grant that Ajax obtain the lot, or the son 
 of Tydeus, or the king himself of rich Mycenae." 
 
 Thus they spake, and the Gerenian knight Nestor shook 
 [the lots], and the lot of Ajax, which indeed they wished for, 
 leaped forth from the helmet. Then a herald bearing it 
 around through the multitude, beginning at the right, 
 showed it to all the cliiefs of the Greeks. But they, not 
 recognizing it, disclaimed it severally. But, when at last the 
 herald, carrying it round through the multitude, came to 
 him, illustrious Ajax, who had inscribed and cast it into the 
 helmet, he [Ajax] stretched forth his hand, and the herald 
 standing near, placed it in it. Having inspected it, he knew 
 his own mark, and rejoiced in his soul. He cast it on the 
 ground at his feet, and said : 
 
 " friends, surely the lot is mine, and I myself rejoice in 
 my soul, since I think that I shall conquer noble Hector. 
 But come, while I put on my warlike arms, do ye meantime 
 pray to Jove, the Saturnian king, silently within yourselves, 
 that the Trojans may not hear ; or even openly, since we 
 fear no one at all. For no one -wdllingly shall, by force, 
 overcome me against my ^vill, nor through my inexperience ; 
 since I hope I have not been so ignorantly' bom and bred 
 at Salamis." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but they prayed to Jove, the Satiirnian 
 # 
 
 ' /. e. ignorant of arms. 
 
201—238. ILIAD. \n. 12J 
 
 femg ; and thus would one of them say, looking towards the 
 wide heaven : 
 
 "O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most 
 i^iiiglityi grant to Ajax to bear away victory, and illustrious 
 glory. But if thou lovest Hector also, and carest for liim, 
 grant equal might and glory to both." 
 
 Thus they spake, and Ajax was arming himself in splendid 
 brass. But when he had put on all his armour around liis 
 body, then he rushed forward : as moves mighty Mars, who 
 goes to war amidst men, whom the son of Saturn has engaged 
 to fight with the strength of soul-gnawing strife, such mighty 
 Ajax advanced, the bulwark of the Greeks, smUing with 
 grim countenance ; but he advanced, taking long strides with 
 his feet beneath, brandishing his long-shadowed spear. The 
 Greeks, on their part, rejoiced much on beholding him, but 
 dire dismay seized the Trojans, each one as to his limbs, and 
 the soul panted ia the breast of Hector himself. But now 
 he could not in anywise retract through fear, nor retire back 
 into the crowd of the people, since he had challenged to the 
 fight. But Ajax drew near, bearing a shield, Hke a tower, 
 "brazen, covered with seven ox-hides, which for him the artist 
 Tychius labouring had wrought, dwelling at his home in 
 Hyla, by far the most excellent of leather-cutters, who for 
 him had made a moveable shield, of seven hides of very fat 
 bulls, and drawn ovei it an eighth [layer] of brass. Carrying 
 this before his breast, Telamonian Ajax stood very near 
 Hector, and menacing addressed him : 
 
 " O Hector, now thou, alone with me alone, shalt plainly 
 know, what kind of chiefs are present with the Greeks, even 
 besides AchiUes, the breaker of ranks, the lion-hearted. But 
 he, indeed, abides at liis high-beaked sea-traversing ships, en- 
 raged against Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people. Yet 
 we are such, even many of us, who can go against thee ; but 
 begin the battle and the strife." 
 
 Him then in turn the mighty crest-tossing Hector ad- 
 dressed : " Thou Jove-sprung Ajax, son of Telamon, ruler of 
 forces, tamper not with me as with a weak boy, or a woman, 
 who knows not warlike deeds. But I well know both battles 
 and man-slaughterings. I know how to shift my dry sliield 
 to the right and to the left ; wherefore to me it belongs to 
 tight unwearied. I am also skilled to, rush to the battle of 
 
128 ILIAD. VTI. 239—281. 
 
 swift steeds, i know too, how, in hostile array, to move 
 skilfully in honour of glowing Mars. But I do not desire to 
 wound thee, being such, watching stealthily, but openly, if 
 haply I may strike thee." 
 
 He spoke, and brandishing hurled forth his long-shadowed 
 spear, and smote the mighty seven-hided shield of Ajax on 
 the outside brass, which was the eighth [layer] thereon. And 
 the unwearied brass cutting through, penetrated six folds, 
 and was stuck fast in the seventh hide. Next, Jove-sprung 
 Ajax in turn sent forth his very long spear, and struck the 
 all-equal shield of Priam's son. Through the shining shield 
 passed the impetuous spear, and was fastened in his very in- 
 geniously-wrought corslet, and from the opposite side the 
 spear cut his tunic near the flank. But he inclined himself, 
 and avoided black death. Then they both, having drawn out 
 their long spears with their hands, joined battle, Kke unto 
 raw-devouring lions, or wild boars, whose strength is not 
 feeble. Then indeed the son of Priam struck the midst of 
 his [Ajax's] shield with his spear ; it broke not through the 
 brass, but the point of it was bent. But Ajax, bounding 
 forward, pierced his shield : and the spear went right through, 
 and repelled him as he rushed on : it glanced over his neck, 
 cutting it, and black gore gushed forth. But not even thus 
 did crest-tossing Hector cease from the battle : but retiring 
 back, he seized in his hand, a black, rough, huge stone, lying 
 in the plain. With it he struck the mighty seven-hided 
 shield of Ajax, in the midst of the boss, and the brass rang 
 around. Ajax next taking up a much larger stone, whirling, 
 discharged it, and applied immense strength. And he broke 
 through the shield, having struck with a rock like unto a 
 nullstone, and he woimded him in the knee ; and he was 
 stretched supine, having come into violent contact with his 
 shield ; but Apollo quickly raised him. And now in close 
 combat hand to hand, they would have wounded each other 
 with their swords, had not the heralds, the messengers of 
 gods and men, arrived, one of the Trojans, the other of the 
 brazen-mailed Greeks, Talthybius and Idseus, both prudent 
 men. And between both armies they held their sceptres, 
 but the herald Idseus, skilled in prudent counsels, said : 
 
 "No longer, my dear sons, war or fight, for cloud-col- 
 lecting Jove loves you both : ye both are warriors, and 
 
282—315. ILIAD. VII. 129 
 
 this we all know. Night is now approaching, and it is good 
 io obey night." ' 
 
 But him Telanionia,n Ajax answering addressed : " Idseus, 
 order Hector to speak these words, for he challenged all the 
 bravest [of our side] to battle. Let him begin, and I wUl 
 entirely obey, if indeed he does so." 
 
 But him crest-tossing Hector addressed in turn : " Ajax, 
 .eince some god has given thee size, and might, and prudence, 
 and thou art the most excellent of the Greeks at the spear, 
 let us now cease from battle and contest for this day ; here- 
 after will we fight again, tiU the Deity shall separate us, and 
 give the victory to either. Now night is approaching, and 
 it is good to obey night, that thou mayest gladden all the 
 Greeks at the ships, and chiefly those friends and companions 
 which are thine ; but I will gladden the Trojans and 'the 
 train-bearing Trojan matrons, through the great city of king 
 Priam, the dames who, praying for me, are entering the 
 deities' temple.^ But come, let us both mutually give very 
 glorious gifts, that some one of the Greeks and Trojans may 
 say thus : ' They certainly fought in a soul-gnawing strife, 
 but then again being reconciled, they parted in friendship.' " 
 
 Thus then having spoken, he gave him a sUver-studded 
 sword, presenting it with the sheath and the well-wrought 
 belt. But Ajax gave [to him] a belt, splendid with purple. 
 Then they twain being separated, the one went to the people 
 of the Greeks, and the other to the crowd of the Trojans : 
 and they rejoiced when they saw him coming alive and safe, 
 having escaped the strength and the invincible hands oi 
 Ajax ; and led Mm to the city, not having had any hopes 
 that he was safe. But the weU-greaved Greeks, on the other 
 hand, led away Ajax, rejoicing in victory, to divine Agamem- 
 non. When now they were in the tents of the son of Atreus, 
 then Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed for them an ox, a 
 male, five years old, to the most powerful son of Saturn. This 
 
 1 Cf. JEn. ii. 8 :— 
 
 " et jam nox huraida coelo 
 
 Praecipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos." 
 " 'Ayiiivis defined by ApoUonius, p. 26, 6 tottoq tig 'ov oxnidyovroi. 
 Hesycbius, p. 79, makes it equivalent to aQpOLafia, and also calls it tba 
 place where combatants fight. Porphyry, Qusest. Horn. p. cvii. oJ. 
 Barnes, tov vaov' r/Toi ^e7ov Toirov ovTa, ^ ^eXov dOpottrfia Trtptf x^^'^Q. 
 Sq. also, the Scholiast. 
 
 K 
 
ISO ILIAD. VII. 316—352. 
 
 they fldyed, and dressed It ; made divisions of the whole of it, 
 and skilfully divided these into smaller portions, and fixed 
 them on apits, and roasted them very cleverly, and drew off 
 all. But when they had ceased from labour, and had pre- 
 pared the banquet, they feasted, nor did their soul in any- 
 wise lack a due proportion of the feast. The valiant son of 
 Atreus, far-ruUng Agamemnon, honoured Ajax with an en- 
 tire chine.' But when they had dismissed the desire of drink 
 and of food, for them the aged man Nestor first of all began 
 to frame advice, whose counsel before also had appeared the 
 best, who, wisely counselling, harangued them, and said : 
 
 "Son of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of aU the Greeks, 
 many of the long-haired Achseans have perished, whose black 
 blood fierce Mars has now shed near fair-flowing Scamander, 
 and their souls have descended to the shades ! Therefore it 
 behoves you to cause the battle of the Greeks to cease with 
 the dawn, and let us, collected together, cany the bodie.» 
 hither on chariots, with oxen and miiles, and bum them at a 
 little distance from the ships, that each may carry home the 
 bones [of the deceased] to their children, when we return 
 again to our father-land. And let us, going out, heap up in 
 the plain one common tomb for all, round the pyre, and be- 
 side it let us speedily erect lofty towers, as a bidwark of our 
 ships and of ourselves ; and in it let us make a weE-fitted 
 gate, that through it there may be a passage for the chariots. 
 But outside let us sink, near at hand, a deep trench, which, 
 being circular, may serve as a defence to both steeds and 
 men, lest at any time the war of the haughty Trojans should 
 press sorely." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and all the princes approved of his counsel. 
 But of the Trojans also was a panic-struck and turbulent 
 council held in the lofty citadel of Ilium, at the gates of 
 Priam ; and to them wise Antenor thus began to harangue : 
 
 " Hear me, ye Trojans and Dardanians and aUies, that 1 
 may tell you what the soul in my breast commands me. 
 Come then, let us restore Argive Helen, and her treasures 
 with her to the sons of Atreus to lead away ; for now we 
 are fightiag after having violated the faithful leagues. 
 
 » The same honour is paid to .Sneas in Virg. Ma. viii. 181. CI 
 Xenoph. Rep. Lac. xv. 4. 
 
S;.2— 368. ILIAD. VII. 131 
 
 Wherefore I thmk that notliing better -will be brouglit to 
 pass by us, unless we act thus." 
 
 He, having thus said, sat down; but to them arose divine 
 Alexander, the husband of fair-haired Helen, who answering 
 him spoke winged words : 
 
 " Antenor, thou no longer speakest these things grateful 
 to me. Thou knowest how to devise another counsel better 
 than this ; but if, iu truth, thou speakest this seriously, the 
 gods themselves have now deprived thee of thy senses. But 
 I will declare my opinion amidst the horse-subduing Trojans; 
 I openly declare I will not give up my wife : but the trea- 
 sures, whatever I have brought home from Argos, all these 
 I am vidlling to give, and even to add others from my own 
 Home." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he sat down ; but to them arose 
 Priam, son of Dardanus, a counsellor equal to the gods ;. who 
 thus wisely harangued them, and said : 
 
 " Hear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies, that I 
 may tell you what the soul in my breast commands. Now 
 take repast through the army, as heretofore, and be attentive 
 to the watch, and let each be mindful of guard. But in the 
 morning let Idseus proceed to the hollow ships, to announce 
 to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the reso- 
 lution of Alexander, on whose account the contention has 
 arisen ; and let bim add this prudent request also, whether 
 they wish to desist from horrid-sounding war, imtU we burn 
 the dead ; afterwards will we fight again till fate separate us, 
 and give the victory to one or other of us." 
 
 Thus he said : but they heard him very attentively, and 
 obeyed. Then they took their repast throughout the city, 
 by companies. In the momitig Ideeus went to the hollow 
 ships. He found the Greeks, the servants of Mars, in council, 
 at the stem of Agamemnon's ship : and the clear-voiced 
 herald, standing in the midst of them, spoke thus : 
 
 " Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of all the Greeks, 
 Priam and the other illustrious Trojans command me to tell 
 you, if it be agreeable and pleasing to you, the determinatioB 
 of Alexander, on whose account this contention has arisen. 
 
 ' Dative for genitive, by the Schema Colophonium. See L»sbonai, 
 p. 181, ed. Valck. 
 
 e2 
 
132 ILIAD. VII. 339—426. 
 
 Whatever treMures Alexander brought in the hollo-w ships 
 to Troy, (would that he first had perished,) all these is he 
 w illin g to give up, and even to add others from his own 
 home : but he says that he will not restore the wedded 
 spouse of glorious Menelaus : certainly the Trojans, at least, 
 advise him. They also order me to mate this proposal, to 
 wit, whether ye are wilhng to desist from dreadM-sounding 
 war, until we shall bum the dead : afterwards we shall fight 
 again, till fate separate us, and give the victory to one of us." 
 
 Thus he said, but they all became mute in silence. At 
 length Diomede, brave in the diu of war, spoke thus amongst 
 them : 
 
 " Let none now receive the treasures of Alexander, nor 
 Helen : for it is plain, even [to him] who is a mere infant, 
 that the issues of destruction impend over the Trojans." 
 
 Thus he said, and all the sons of the Greeks shouted, 
 admiring the words of horse-breaking Diomede : and then 
 Agamemnon, king of men, thus addressed Ida;us : 
 
 "Idseus, thou thyself hearest, indeed, the sentiments of the 
 Greeks, how they answer thee ; and such also pleases me. 
 But concerning the dead, I grudge not that [you] should 
 bum them ; for there is no grudge towards the dead bodies, 
 when they are dead, hastily to perform their obsequies with 
 fire :' but let loud-resounding Jove, the husband of Juno, be 
 witness of the treaties." 
 
 Thus having said, he raised his sceptre to all the gods. 
 But Idseus retumsd to sacred Ilium. And the Trojans and 
 Dardanians all sat assembled in council, expecting when 
 Idseus might return. He came, and declared his message, 
 standing in the midst of them. But they prepared theu.- 
 selves very speedily for both purposes, some to carry away 
 the bodies, and others to gather wood. The Greeks also on 
 the other side hastened from their well-benched ships, some 
 to carry away the bodies, and others to collect wood. 
 
 Then, indeed, the sun freshly struck the fields [with its 
 rays], ascending heaven from the cahnly-flowing, deep-moving 
 ocean. But they met one another. Then was it difficult to 
 distinguish each man [amongst the slain] ; but washing off 
 with water the bloody gore, aud pouring over them warm 
 
 ' Literjlly, "to apprass [tbc lieail]." 
 
426—460, ILIAD. VII. 133 
 
 teaiii, tbey placed them upon the chariots j nor did mighty 
 Priam suffer them to give way to grief. In silence, there- 
 fore, they heaped the bodies on the pile, grieving at heart. 
 But when they had burned them in the fire, they returned 
 to sacred lUum. In like manner also, on the other side, the 
 well-greaved Greeks heaped the bodies on the pile, grieving 
 in their heart; and having burned them with fire, they 
 returned to the hollow ships. And when it was not yet 
 morning, but stUl twilight, then a chosen band of Greeks 
 arose about the pile ; and going out from the plain, they 
 made around it one common tomb, and near it they buUt a 
 wall and lofty towers, a bvilwark of their ships and of them- 
 selves. In them they made weU-fitted gates, that through 
 them there might be a passage for the chariots. Without 
 they dug a deep ditch, near it, broad and large, and in it 
 fixed palisades. Thus the long-haired Greeks on their part 
 laboured. 
 
 But the gods on the contrary sitting beside the thundering 
 Jove, were admiring the mighty work of the brazen-mailed 
 Greeks ; but to them Neptune, the earth-shaker, thus began 
 to speak : 
 
 "O father Jove, is there any mortal on the boundless 
 earth, who will any more disclose his mind and counsel to 
 the immortals ? Dost thou not perceive how the long-haired 
 Greeks have built a wall before their shippiag, and have 
 drawn a ditch aU round, nor have they given splendid heca- 
 tombs to the gods ? The fame of this [work] will certainly 
 be wherever light is diffused : but they will forget that 
 [wall] which I and Phoebus Apollo, toiling, built round the 
 city for the hero Laomedon."' 
 
 Him, greatly enraged, the cloud-compelling Jove addressed : 
 " Ha ! thou far-ruling earth-shaker, what hast thou said ? 
 Another of the gods, who is much weaker than thou in 
 hands and in might might have dreaded this idea ; but thy 
 glory shall assuredly extend as far as light is diffused. How- 
 beit, when the crest-waving Greeks shall have departed with 
 their ships into their dear fatherland, do thou, overthrowing 
 
 ' Grote, Hist. p. 78, well observes that the " subsequent animosity of 
 Neptune against Troy was greatly determined by the sentiment of the 
 injustice of Laomedon." On the discrepancy between tjhis passage and 
 lii. 442, see Miiller, Dor. vol. i. p. 249 
 
134 
 
 ILIAD. VII. 461—482. 
 
 this wall, sink it all in the deep, and again cover the great 
 shore with sand. Thus may this mighty rampart of the 
 Greeks be wholly efiaced." 
 
 Thus were they conversing on such matters among them- 
 selves. But the sun had set, and the work of the Greeks 
 was finished. They slaughtered oxen through the tents, and 
 took their repast. Many ships (which Euneds, son of Jason, 
 whom Hypsipyle bore to Jason, shepherd of the people, 
 sent,) arrived from Lemnos, bringing wine. The son of 
 Jason gave of wine a thousand measures, to be brought separ 
 rately, as a gift to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and 
 Menelaus. Thence the long-haired Greeks bought i wiue, 
 some for brass, some for shining iron, others for hides, some 
 for the oxen themselves, and some for slaves ; and they pre- 
 pared an abundant feast. Through the whole night, indeed, 
 the long-haired Greeks feasted j and the Trojans too, and 
 their allies, through the city. And aU night thimdering 
 fearfully, provident Jove was devising evils for both parties ; 
 but pale fear seized them. And they poured wine from their 
 cups on the earth, nor did any one dare to drink before he 
 had made a hbation to the supreme son of Saturn. They 
 then lay down, and enjoyed the boon of sleep. 
 
 ' Theophilus Jctus. iii. tit. xxiii. § 1. Kai tovto sari to kv rif irXiiBu 
 S'pwWoujLtfvo)/ Ty Ttav TTjoayudrwi/ kvaWayy irpciffiv Kai dyopaffiav 
 ffwitrrafrOai, Kai tovto to slooq TrpatjuoQ dp\ui6Tarov elvai. Hethei] 
 alleges these lines of Homer as the earliest known instance of barter. 
 
1--21 ILIAD. VIII. 135 
 
 BOOK THE EIGHTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Jove assembles the gods, and forbids them to interfere between the Greeks 
 and Trojans. He then repairs to Ida, where, having consulted th« 
 scales of destiny, he directs his lightning against the Greeks. Nestor, 
 in the chariot of Diomede, goes against Hector, whose charioteer is 
 slain by Diomede. Jove again interposes his thunders, and the Greeks 
 seek refuge within the rampart. Upon a favourable omen accompanying 
 the prayer of Agamemnon, Diomede and the rest set out, and Teucer 
 performs great exploits, but is disabled by Hector. Juno and Minerva 
 are prevented interfering by Jove, and Hector takes measures to insure 
 the safety of Troy during the night. 
 
 Now did saflfron-mantled mom diffuse herself over all the 
 earth, and thunder-rejoicing Jove made an assembly of the 
 gods on the highest peak of many-topped Olympus. And he 
 himself harangued them, and all the other deities hearkened 
 [to his command] : ^ 
 
 " Hear me, all ye gods and all ye goddesses, that I may 
 tell you what the soul in my breast prompts me. Let no 
 female deity, therefore, nor any male, attempt to infringe 
 this my injunction ; but do ye all at once assent, that I may 
 ■^ery speedily bring these matters to their issue. Whomso- 
 ever of the gods I shall discover, having gone apart from [the 
 rest], wishing to aid either the Trojans or the Greeks, dis- 
 gracefully smitten shall he return to Olympus : or seizing, I 
 will hurl him into gloomy Tartarus, very far hence, where 
 there is a very deep gulf beneath the earth, and iron portals, 
 and a brazen threshold, as far below Hades as heaven is from 
 earth f then shall he . know by how much I am the most 
 powerful of all the gods. But come, ye gods, and try me, 
 that ye may aU know. Having suspended a golden chain 
 from heaven, do all ye gods and goddesses suspend yourselves 
 therefrom ; yet would ye not draw down from heaven to 
 
 ' /. e. dii obsequtii sunt, ut convooati convenirent. — Heyne, 
 ' See the notes of Newton on Parad. Lost, i. 74. 
 
136 ILIAD. VIII. a-- 54. 
 
 earth your supreme counsellor Jove, not even if ye labour 
 ever so much • but -whenever I, desiring, should wish to pull 
 it, I could draw it up together, earth, and ocean, and aU : 
 then, indeed, would 1 bind the chain around the top ot 
 Olympus, and all these should hang aloft. By so much do 1 
 surpass both gods and men." i 
 
 Thus he said. But they aU became mute in silence, won- 
 dering at his speech ; for he spoke very menacingly. But at 
 length the azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus spoke in the 
 midst : 
 
 " O sire of ours ! son of Saturn ! most supreme of kings ! 
 well do we all know that thy strength is irresistible : yet do 
 we truly mourn for the warlike Greeks, who are now perish- 
 ing, fulfilling their evil fate. But nevertheless, we will re- 
 frain from war, since thus thou commandest. Yet will we 
 suggest counsel to the Greeks, which will avail them, that 
 they may not all perish because thou art wrathful." 
 
 But her the cloud-itnpelling Jove smiling addressed : " Be 
 of good cheer, Tritonia, my dear daughter — I speak not with 
 a serious intent ; but I am willing to be lenient towards 
 thee." 
 
 Thus having said, imder his chariot -he yoked his brazen- 
 footed, swift-flying steeds, adorned with golden manes. He 
 himself put on gold about his person, and took his golden 
 well-made whip, and ascended the chariot ; and lashed them 
 on to proceed, and they, not unwilling, flew midway between 
 the ea,ith and starry heaven. He came to spring-fed Ida, the 
 mother of wild beasts, to Gargarus, where he had a conse- 
 crated enclosure, and a fragrant altar. There the father ot 
 gods and men stopped his steeds, having loosed them from 
 the chariot, and poured a thick haze around. But he sat upon 
 the summits, exulting in glory, looking upon the city of the 
 Trojans and the ships of the Greeks. 
 
 Meanwhile the long-haired Greeks were taking their repast 
 in a hurried manner through the tents, and after that they 
 
 ' Referring to this address of Jove, Coleridge remarks : "Although the 
 supremacy of Jove comes far short of the true conception of almighty 
 power, the cliaracteristic point which seems to be fairly established is, that 
 he is the active and ruling power of the popular mythology, the supreme 
 and despotic chief of an aristocracy of weaker divinities, accustomed to 
 ronsult with them and liable to their opposition and even violence, yet, 
 upon the whole, substantially aristocratic, and independent of any recog" 
 a'ued permanent superior," — Classic Poets, p. 159, 
 
55—92. ILIAD. VIII. 137 
 
 put on their armoiir. But the Trojans, on the other side, 
 were arming themselves through the city, fewer in number ; 
 yet even thus, they were eager to fight in battle, compelled 
 by necessity, in defence of their children and their wives. 
 And the gates were opened wide, and the forces rushed out, 
 both chariot warriors and foot, and much tumult arose. But 
 when these collecting together came into one place, they 
 clashed together shields and spears, and the might of brazen- 
 mailed men ; but the bossy shields approached one another, 
 and much tumult arose. There at the same time were both 
 lamentation and boasting of men destroying and destroyed, 
 and the earth flowed with blood. As long as the forenoon 
 lasted, and the sacred day was in progress, so long did the 
 weapons touch both, and the people fell. But when the sun 
 had ascended the middle heaven, then at length did Father 
 Jove raise the golden scales, and placed in them two destinies 
 of long-reposing death, [the destinies] both of the horse- 
 breaking Trojans and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and hold- 
 ing them in the middle, he poised them ; but the fatal day of 
 the Greeks inclined low. The destinies of the Greeks, in- 
 deed, rested on the bounteous earth, but those of the Trojans 
 on the contrary were elevated to the wide heaven. 
 
 But he himself mightily thundered from Ida, and sent his 
 burning Ughtning against the army of the Greeks : they 
 having seen it, were amazed, and pale fear seized them all. 
 Then neither Idomeneus, nor Agamemnon, nor the two Aj aces, 
 the servants of Mars, dared to remain. Gerenian Nestor 
 alone, the guardian of the Greeks, remained, not willingly, but 
 one of his horses was disabled, which noble Alexander, hus- 
 band of fair-haired Helen, had pierced with an arrow in the 
 top of the forehead, where the forelocks of horses grow out 
 of the head, and is most fatal.^ In torture he reared, for the 
 arrow had entered the brain ; and he disordered the [other] 
 horses, writhing round the brazen barb. Whilst the old man 
 hastening, was cutting away the side reins of the horse with 
 .his sword, then were the swift steeds of Hector coming 
 through the crowd, bearing the bold charioteer Hector. 
 And then the old man would certainly have lost his life, if 
 Diomede, brave in the din of battle, had not quickly observed 
 it; and he shouted, dreadfully exhorting Ulysses, [thus] : 
 
 ' Or " opportune," viz for inflicting a fatal wound. — Kennedy. 
 
138 ILIAD. VIII. 93—131. 
 
 " Jove-bom son of Laertes, much-contriving TJlysses, wlii- 
 ther dost thou fly, turning tliy back in the throng, like a 
 coward ] [Beware], lest some man with a spear transpierce 
 thee in the back, flying. But stay, that we may repel the 
 fierce hero from the aged man." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but much-enduring, noble Ulysses heard 
 him not, but passed by to the hollow ships of the Greeks. 
 But the son of Tydeus, though being alone, was mixed with 
 the van, and stood before the steeds of the aged son of 
 Neleus, and addressing him, spoke winged words : 
 
 " old man, certainly the youthfud warriors greatly op- 
 press thee : but thy strength is relaxed, and tiresome old 
 age attends thee : thy servant is exhausted, and thy steeds 
 are slow. But come, ascend my chariot, that thou mayest 
 see what kind are the steeds of Tros, sldlled to fly and to 
 pursue very rapidly, here and there, through the plain; which 
 lately I took from .^Eneas, authors of flight. Let the attend- 
 ants take care of those steeds [of thine], but let us direct 
 these against the horse-breaking Trojans, that even Hectoi 
 may know whether my spear also rages madly in my hands." 
 
 Thus he said : but the Geroiiian knight Nestor disobeyed 
 him not. Accordingly, at once their attendants, brave Sthe- 
 nelus and valorous Eurymedon, took care of Nestor's steeds: 
 and the two chiefs ascended the chariot of Diomede. Nestor 
 took the shining reins in his hands, and lashed the steeds, 
 and soon they came near Hector. At him rushing impetu- 
 ously forward, the son of Tydeus launched a spear ; but the 
 weapon missed him, and struck his attendant charioteer in 
 the breast, near the pap, who was holding the reins of the 
 steeds, Eniopeus, the son of magnanimous Thebseus : but he 
 fell from the chariot, and the swift steeds started back, and 
 there his soul and his strength were dissolved. But exces- 
 sive grief overshadowed Hector in his mind, on account of 
 [the loss of] his charioteer. There, though grieving for his 
 companion, he let him lie, and sought a bold charioteer : nor 
 did his steeds long want a guide ; for soon he found cou- 
 rageous Archeptolemus, the son of Ipliitus, whom then ho 
 made to mount the swift-footed steeds, and gave the reina 
 into his hands. 
 
 Then, indeed, had slaughter arisen, and dreadful deeds had 
 been done, and [the Trojans] had been pent up in Ilium like 
 
132-169. ILIAD. VIII. 139 
 
 lambs, had not the father of both men and gods quickly per- 
 ceived it. Therefore, dreadfully thundering he sent forth 
 his glowing thunderbolt, and cast it iuto the earth before the 
 steeds of Diomede : but there arose a terrible flame of burn- 
 ing sulphur, and the two frightened steeds crouched trembling 
 beneath the chariot. Moreover, the beautiful reins fell from 
 the hands of Nestor, and he feared in his soul, and addressed 
 Diomede : , 
 
 " Son of Tydeus, come now, turn thy solid-hoofed steeds to 
 flight. Dost thou not perceive that victory from Jove does 
 not attend thee ? For now, this very day, of a truth, Satur- 
 nian Jove awards him glory; afterwards again will he give it 
 to ns, if he shall be willing. By no means can a man impede 
 the will of Jove, not even a very mighty one ; since he is by 
 far the most powerful." 
 
 But him Diomede, brave in the din of war, then answered : 
 '" Old man, certainly thou hast said aU this rightly : but this 
 grievous sorrow invades my heart and my soul : for Hector 
 at some time will say, haranguing amongst the Trojans, ' The 
 son of Tydeus, routed by me, fled to his ships.' Thus at some 
 time will he boast : but then may the earth yawn wide 
 for me." 
 
 But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered 
 " Alas ! warlike son of Tydeus, what hast thou said 1 Even 
 though Hector call thee coward and unwarlike, yet the Tro- 
 jans and Dardardans, and the wives of the stout-hearted 
 shield-bearing Trojans, whose vigorous husbands thou hast 
 ^Drostrated in the dust, wiU not beheve him." 
 
 Thus having said, he turned the solid-hoofed steeds to 
 flight, back into the crowd. But the Trojans and Hector, 
 with a mighty shout, poured destructive missiles upon them. 
 And then after him loud roared mighty crest-tossing Hector. 
 
 " Son of Tydeus, the swift-horsed Greeks honoured thee, 
 indeed, above [others] with a seat, with meat, and full cHps ; 
 but now wiU they dishonour thee ; for thou hast become 
 like a woman. Away ! timorous girl ! since thou shalt never 
 climb our towers, I giving way, nor bear away our women in 
 thy ships ; first shall I give thee thy doom." 
 
 Thus he said ; but the son of Tydeus debated whether to 
 turn his steeds, and to fight against him. Thrice, indeed, he 
 thought in mind and soul, but thrice, on the other hand, th« 
 
no ILIAD. VIII. 170—209. 
 
 provideni Jore thundered from the Idsean mountaiiis, giving 
 a signal to the Trojans, the alternating success of battle. 
 But Hector exhorted the Trojans, vociferating aloud : 
 
 " Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, 
 be men, my friends, and be mindful of impetuous might ! I 
 know the son of Saturn hath willingly accorded me victory 
 and great renown, but to the Greeks destruction. Fools, 
 who indeed built those weak, worthless walls, which shall 
 not check my strength ; but our steeds will easily overleap 
 the dug trench. But when, indeed, I come to their hoUow 
 sliips, then let there be some memory of burning fire, that I 
 may consume their fleet with the flame, and slay the Argives 
 themselves at the ships, bewildered by the smoke." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he cheered on his steeds, and said : 
 " Xanthus, and thou Podargus, and .^thon, and noble Lam- 
 pus, now repay to me the attention, with which, in great 
 abundance, Andromache, the daughter of magnanimous 
 Eetion, gave to you the sweet barley, mixing wine also [for 
 you] to drink, whenever your mind ordered it, even before 
 me, who boast to be her vigorous husband. But foUow and 
 hasten, that we may take the shield of Nestor, the fame of 
 which has now reached the heaven, that it is entirely golden, 
 the handles and itself : but, from the shoulders of 'horse- 
 breaking Diomede, the well-made corslet, which the artist 
 Vulcan wrought. If we can take these, I expect that the 
 Greeks this very night will ascend their swift ships." 
 
 Thus he said boasting ; but venerable Juno was indignant, 
 and shook herself on her throne, and made great Olympus 
 tremble ; and openly accosted the mighty deity, Neptune : 
 
 " Alas ! far-ruling Earth-shaker, dost thou not in thy soul 
 pity the perishing Greeks ? But they bring thee many and 
 grateful gifts to HeUce and ^gm. Do thou, therefore, will 
 to them the victory. For if we were w illin g, as many of us 
 as are assistants to the Greeks, to repulse the Trojans and 
 restrain far-sounding Jove, then might he grieve sitting alone 
 there on Ida." 
 
 But her king Neptune, greatly excited, thus addressed : 
 " Juno, petulant' in speech, what hast thou said 1 I would 
 
 ' Compare the phrase KaOa-irTtaOai l-rrhaaiv. — Od. ii. 240. Suidas : 
 A7rroe7ri7e' d^rcijjroelw riji Xsyetj'. ApoUon. Lex. p. 188: 'AjrTwre, i) 
 aTrrdijrE rotf Xoyotc, V KaQairrofxEvr] dioi tSiv Xoywv. 
 
210—243. ILIAD. VIII. 141 
 
 not wish, indeed, that we, the other gods, should fight with 
 Satnrnian Jove, since he is by far most powerful." 
 
 Thus indeed were they holding such converse with each 
 other. But whatever space befoie the ships the trench 
 belonging to the tower enclosed, was fiUed with horses and 
 shielded men crowded together.' But Hector, the son oJ 
 Priam, equal to swift Mars, had crowded them thus, when 
 Jupiter awarded him glory. And now would he have burned 
 the equal ships with blazing fire, had not venerable Juno 
 put it into the soul of Agamemnon, himself actively engaged, 
 briskly to urge on the Greeks. He therefore hastened to go 
 along the tents and ships of the Greeks, holding in his stout 
 hand his great purple robe. But in the huge black ship of 
 Ulysses he stood, which was in the midst, that he might 
 shout audibly to either side, as well to the tent of Telamonian 
 Ajax, as to that of Achilles, for they had drawn up th(>ir 
 equal ships at the extremities of the line, relying on their 
 valour and the strength of their hands. Then he shouted 
 distinctly, calling upon the Greeks : 
 
 " Shame ! ye Greeks, foul subjects of disgrace ! gallant in 
 form [alone] ! Where are those boastings gone, when we 
 professed ourselves the bravest ; those which, once in Lem- 
 nos, vain braggarts ! ye did utter, eating much flesh of 
 homed oxen, and drihking-goblets crowned with wine,^ that 
 each would in battle be equivalent to a hundred and even 
 two hundred of the Trojans ? But now, indeed, we are not 
 equal to Hector alone, who shortly will burn our ships with 
 flaming fire. father Jove, hast thou indeed ever yet 
 affhcted with such destruction any one of mighty kings, and 
 so deprived him of liigh renown ? And yet I say that I 
 never passed by thy fair altar in my many-benched shij), 
 coming here with iU luck."* But on all I burned the fat of 
 oxen and the thighs, desiring to sack well-waUed Troy. But, 
 O Jove, accojnplish for me this vow, at least permit us to 
 
 ^ Observe that TStv belongs to 'i-kttiov and avdpwv, and that oaov Ik 
 VTjiov aTTo TTvpyov T'a^pog tipy^t means that ** the space between the rarr 
 part and the sea was enclosed." 'Airo does not govern jrupyou, but is 
 compounded with eepyc. 
 
 ■' Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 292, sqq. who has, however, been long sinpe 
 anticipated by Paschal, de Coron. i. 4. 
 
 ' Schol. "Eppwv, STTi fOopg. iraoaytvojiivoq. See Alberti on Hesyrh 
 t, T. t. 1. p. 1445. So, also, Apolion. p. 3G4 : 'Etti fBopqi Troptvofitrue. 
 
142 ILIAD. VIII. 243-27S. 
 
 escape and get away j nor suffer the Greeks to be thus siibdue.'l 
 by the Trojans." 
 
 Thus he said : and the Sire^ pitied him weeping, and 
 granted to Tiitti that the army should be safe, and not perish. 
 And forthwith he sent an eagle, the most perfect ^ of birds, 
 holding a fawn in his talons, the offipring of a swift deer : 
 and near the very beauteous altar of Jove he cast down the 
 fawn, where the Greeks were sacrificing to Panomphaean* 
 Jove. 
 
 When, therefore, they saw that the bird had come from 
 Jove, they rushed the more against the Trojans, and were 
 mindful of battle. Then none of the Greeks, numerous as 
 they were, could have boasted that he had driven his swift 
 steeds before Diomede, and urged them beyond the ditch, 
 and fought against [the enemy] ; for far the first he slew a 
 helmeted Trojan hero, Agelaus, son of Phradmon. He, 
 indeed, was turning his horses for flight ; but as he was 
 turning, Diomede fixed his spear in his back, between his 
 shoulders, and drove it through his breast. He fell from his 
 chariot, and his arms rattled upon him. After him the sons 
 of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus ; after them the 
 Ajaces, clad in impetuous valour ; after them, Idomeneus 
 and Meriones, the armour-bearer of Idomeneus, equal to 
 man-slaughtering Mars , and after them Eurypylus, the illus- 
 trious son of Evaemon. Teucer came tb« ninth, stretching 
 his bent"* bow, and stood under the shield of Telamonian 
 Ajax. Then Ajax, indeed, kept moving the shield aside, 
 and the hero looking around, when shooting, he had hit any 
 one in the crowd, the one* falling there, lost his life. But 
 he" retiring like a child to his mother, sheltered himself 
 beneath Ajax, and he covered him with his splendid shield. 
 Then what Trojan first did blameless Teucer slay ? Orsi- 
 lochus first, and Ormenus, and Ophelestes, Eind Itetor, and 
 
 ' See my note on JBsch. Prom. p. 3, n. 3, ed. Bohn. 
 
 ' /. e. with reference to augury. Hesych. p. 1360, explains it by 
 hirLTiKiunKtiiTaTov (see Alberti). The eagle is said to have foretold 
 Jove's own sovereignty, and hence to have been placed among the con- 
 stellations. Cf. Hygin. Poet. Astr. ii. 16 j Eratosthen. Catast. 30 ; Senr. 
 on Mn. \x. 564. 
 
 ' So called, as being the author of all augury. 
 
 ■• /. e. prepared for action. 
 
 ' /. e. the wounded man. • Teucer. 
 
27?.— 314. ILIAD. VIII. 113 
 
 Chromi-us, and godlike Lycophontes, and Amopaon, son of 
 Polysemon, and Melanippus — all, one after the other, lie 
 stretched upon the bounteous earth. But Agamemnon, king 
 of men, rejoiced at seeiag him destroying the phalanxes of 
 the Trojans with his stout bow. And advancing near him 
 he stood, and thus addressed him : 
 
 "Teucer, beloved one, son of Telamon, ruler of forces, 
 shoot thus, if perchance thou mayest become a light ' to the 
 Greeks, and to thy father Telamon, who brought thee up 
 carefully, being a little one, and treated thee with care ia his 
 oalace, though being a spurious son. Him, though far away, 
 do thou exalt with glory. But I will declare to thee, as it 
 shall be brought to pass, if segis-bearing .Tove and Minerva 
 shall grant me to sack the well-built city of lUum, next to 
 myself I will place an honourable reward in thy hands, either 
 a tripod, or two steeds with their chariot, or some fair one, 
 who may ascend the same couch with thee." 
 
 But him blameless Teucer answering, addressed : " Most 
 glorious son of Atreus, why dost thou urge on me hastening ; 
 nor, as far as I have any strength, do I loiter : but from the 
 time we have driven the Trojans towards Ilium, since that 
 period have I slain men, intercepting them with my shafts. 
 Already have I discharged eight long-bearded arrows, and 
 they have all been fixed in the bodies of warHke youths ; 
 but I cannot strike this raging dog." 
 
 He said ; and another arrow from the string he shot right 
 against Hector, for his mind was eager to strike him ; and 
 him indeed he missed : but in the breast he struck blameless 
 Gorgythion with an arrow, the brave son of Priam. Him 
 his fair mother Castianira, like unto a goddess in person, 
 brought forth, being wedded from ^syma. And as a 
 poppy, which in the garden is weighed down with fruit and 
 vernal showers, droops its head to one side, so did his head 
 incline aside, depressed by the helmet. But Teucer dis 
 • charged another aiTOw from the string against Hector, for 
 his mind longed to strike him. Yet even then he missed, 
 for Apollo warded off the shaft : but he struck in the breast, 
 near the pap, Aroheptolemus, the bold charioteer of Hector, 
 ruflhing to battle : and he fell from his chariot, and his swift 
 
 ' See on vi. 6. 
 
Ul ILIAD. VIII. 315—350. 
 
 steeds sprang back. There his soul and strength were dis- 
 solved. But sad grief darkened the mind of Hector, on 
 account of his charioteer. Then indeed he left him, although 
 grieved for his companion, and ordered his brother Cebriones, 
 being near, to take the reins of the steeds ; but he was not 
 <lisobedient, having heard him. Then [Hector] himself 
 leaped from his aU-shining chariot to the ground, roaring 
 dreadfully : and he seized a large stone in his hand, and went 
 straight against Teucer, for his mind encouraged him to 
 strike him. He on his part took out a bitter arrow from hia 
 quiver, and applied it to the string : but him, on the other 
 hand, near the shoulder, where the coUar-bone separates the 
 neck and breast, and it is a particularly fatal spot, there, as 
 he was drawing back [the bow], the active warrior Hector* 
 with a rugged stone struck birri earnestly mishing against 
 him. He broke his bowstring, and his hand was numbed 
 at the wrist-joint. Falling on his knees he stood, and the 
 bow dropped from his hands. But Ajax did not neglect his 
 fallen brother j for running up, he protected him, and 
 stretched his shield before him. Afterwards his two dear 
 companions, Mecistheus, son of Echius, and noble Alastor, 
 coming up, carried him, groaning heavily, to the hollow 
 ships. 
 
 But again did Olympian Jove rou^se the strength of the 
 Trojans ; and they drove back the Greeks straight to the 
 deep foss. But Hector went in the van, looking grim 
 through ferocity ; as when some dog, relying on his swift 
 feet, seizes from the rear a wild boar or lion on the haunch 
 and buttocks, and marks him as he turns : so Hector hung 
 on the rear of the long-haired Greeks, always slaying the 
 hindmost : and they fled. But when they flying had passed 
 through the stakes and the foss, and many were subdued 
 beneath the hands of the Trojans, they, on the one hand, 
 remaining at the ships were restrained, and having exhorted 
 one another, and raised their hands to all the gods, they 
 prayed each with a loud voice. But, on the other band, 
 Hector, having the eyes of a Gorgon, or of man-slaughtering 
 Mars, drove round his beauteous-maned steeds in all ili- 
 rections. 
 
 But them [the Greeks] white-armed goddess Juno havi'n' 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 64. 
 
351—385. ILIAD. VIII. US 
 
 beheld, pitied them, and thus straightway to Miiicn-a ad- 
 dressed winged words : 
 
 " Alas ! daughter of segis-bearing Jove, shall we no longer 
 be anxious about the perishing Greets, although in extre- 
 mity ; — ^who now, indeed, fuMlling evil fate, are perishing 
 by the violence of one man 1 for Hector, the son of Priam, 
 rages, no longer to be endured, and already has he done 
 many evils." 
 
 But her the azure-eyed goddess Minerva in turn addressed : 
 " And beyond doubt this warrior would have lost his vigour 
 and his life, destroyed by the hands of the Greeks in his 
 fatherland, were it not that this my su;e rages with no 
 sound mind ; cruel, ever unjust, a counteractor of my efforts. 
 Nor does he remember aught of my services, that I have 
 very often preserved his son, when oppressed by the labours 
 of Eurystheus. He truly wept to heaven ; but me Jove sent 
 down from heaven to aid him. But had I known this in 
 my prudent ^ mind, when he sent me to [the dwelling] of the 
 gaoler Pluto to drag from Erebus the dog of hateful Pluto, 
 he had not escaped the profound stream of the Stygian wave. 
 But now, indeed, he hates me, and prefers the wish of 
 Thetis, who kissed his knees, and took his beard in her 
 hand, beseeching him to honour city-destroying Achilles. 
 The time will be when he will again call me his dear 
 Minerva. But do thou now harness for us thy solid-hoofed 
 steeds, while I, having entered the palace of segis-bearing 
 Jove, equip myself with arms for war, that I may see whe- 
 ther crest-tossing Hector, the son of Priam, will, rejoice at 
 us, as I appear in the walks ^ of war. Certainly also some 
 one of the Trojans will satiate the dogs and birds with his 
 fat and flesh, having fallen at the ships of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus she said : nor did the white-armed goddess Juno 
 disobey her. Juno, on her part, venerable goddess, daughter 
 of mighty Saturn, running in haste, caparisoned the golden- 
 bridled steeds. But Minerva, the daughter of segis-bearing 
 Jove, let fall upon the pavement of her father her beau- 
 
 ' The Scholiast, and ApoUon. Lex. p. 658, fnterpret jrfurnXi/iptri, 
 viKpaXg Kai Swirate. Perhaps "sharp devising" would be the best 
 translation. 
 
 " Literally, " bridges," i, e, tne open spaces between the different bat- 
 talions. 
 
 L 
 
116 ILIAD. VIII. 386—421. 
 
 teous variegated robe, which she had wrought and laboured 
 with her own hands. But she, having put on the coat of 
 mail of cloud-compelUng Jove, was equipped in armour for 
 the tearful war. She mounted her flaming chariot on her 
 feet, and took her heavy, huge, sturdy spear, with which 
 she is wont to subdue the ranks of heroic men, with whom- 
 soever she, sprung from a powerful sire, is enraged. But 
 Juno with the lash speedily urged on the steeds. The portals 
 of heaven opened spontaneously, which the Hours ' guarded, 
 to whom are intrusted the great heaven and Olympus, 
 • either to open the dense cloud, or to close it. Then through 
 these they guided their goaded steeds. 
 
 But father Jove, when he beheld them from Ida, was griev- 
 ously enraged, and roused golden-winged Iris to bear this 
 message : 
 
 " Away, depart, swift Iris, turn them back, nor suffer them 
 to come against me ; for we shall not advantageously engage 
 in battle. For thus I speak, and it shall moreover be accom- 
 plished, I will lame their swift steeds imder their chariot, 
 dislodge them from the chariot, and break the chariot ; nor 
 for ten revolving years shall ye be healed of the wounds 
 which the thunderbolt shall inflict : that Minerva may 
 know when she may be fighting with her sire. But with 
 Juno I am neither so indignant nor so angry ; for she is ever 
 accustomed to counteract me, in whatever I intend." 
 
 Thus h.e said : but Iris, swift as the storm, hastened to 
 
 bear the message. Down from the Idsean mountains she 
 
 went to great Olympus : meeting them in the foremost gates 
 
 of many-vall6yed Olympus, she restrained them, and pro- 
 
 ^nounced to them the message of Jove : 
 
 " Where do ye go ? Why does your soul rage in your 
 , breasts 'i The sun of Saturn does not suffer you to aid the 
 Greeks. For thus has the son of Saturn threatened, and he 
 will assuredly perform it, to lame your swift steeds under 
 your chariot, and dislodge yourselves from the chariot, and 
 break the chariot ; nor for ten revolving years shall ye be 
 healed of the wounds which his thunderbolt shall inflict : 
 that thou, O Azure-eyed, mayest know when thou art fighting 
 with thy sire. But with Juno he is neither so indignant nor 
 
 ' Hence the Hours also possess the office of tending and harnessing 
 the horses of the sun, as ie abown by Dausq. on Quint. Calab. i. p. ,9. 
 
422—458. ILIAD. VIII. 147 
 
 BO angiy ; for she is alvrays accustomed to coumljeract 'hiTn in 
 whatever he devises. But thou, most insolent and audacious 
 hound ! if thou in reality shalt dare to raise thy mighty 
 spear against Jove — " ^ 
 
 Thus indeed having said, swift-footed Iris ,dej)arted. Then 
 Juno addressed these words to Minerva : 
 
 " Alas ! daughter of segis-bearing Jove, I cannot any 
 longer suffer that we ourselves shall fight against Jove, on 
 account of mortals. Of whom let one perish, and let another 
 live, whoever may chance. But let Mm, meditating Ms own 
 afiairs in Ms mind, adjudicate to the Trojans and the Greeks 
 as is fair." 
 
 Thus then having said, she turned back the solid-hqofed 
 steeds. The Hours unyoked for them the fair-maned steeds, 
 and bound them to the ambrosial mangers ; but they tilted 
 the chariots against the splendid walls. But they themselves 
 sat, mingled with the other deities, on their golden couches, 
 sad at heart. 
 
 Then father Jove drove his beauteous-wheeled chariot 
 and steeds from Ida to Olympus, and came to the seats of 
 the gods. His horses, indeed, the illustrious Earth-shaker 
 loosed, but he laid the chariot on its support, spreading a 
 linen coverlet [over it]. But loud-sounding Jove liimself sat 
 on Ms golden throne, and mighty Olympus was shaken under 
 Ms feet. But Minerva and Juno by themselves sat apart 
 from Jove, nor did they at all address Mm, nor question him. 
 But he knew in Ms mind, and said : 
 
 " Why are ye so sad, Minerva and Juno 1 Indeed, ye 
 have not laboured long in glorious battle to destroy the Tro- 
 jans, against whom ye have taken grievous hatred. Not all 
 the gods in Olympus could altogether turn me to flight, such 
 are my strength and my invincible hands. But ti^embling 
 seized the shining limbs of both of you, before ye saw battle, 
 and the destructive deeds of war. For so I tell you, wMch 
 would also have been performed : no more should ye, stricken 
 with my thunder, have returned in your chariots to Olympus, 
 where are the seats of the immortals." 
 
 Thus he said : but Minerva and Juno murmured. They 
 sat near each other, and were devising evils for the Trojans 
 
 ' Observe the aposioijesis. 
 L 2 
 
148 ILIAD. VIII. 459—495. 
 
 Minerva, indeed, was silent, nor said anything, angry with 
 fether Jove, for wild rage possessed her. But Juno con- 
 tained not her wrath in her breast, but addressed Mm : 
 
 " Most terrible son of Saturn, what hast .thou said 1 Well 
 do we know that thy might is invincible : yet do we lament 
 the warlike Greeks, who will now perish, fulfilling their evil 
 destiny. But nevertheless, we wiU desist from war, if thou 
 desirest it. But we will suggest counsel to the Greeks, 
 which will avail them, that they may not all perish, thou 
 being wrathful." 
 
 But her cloud-compelling Jove answering, addressed : "To- 
 morrow, if thou wilt, O venerable, large-eyed Juno, thou 
 shalt behold the very powerful son of Saturn even with 
 greater havoc destroying the mighty army of the warlike 
 Greeks. For warKke Hector will not cease from battle 
 before that he arouse the swift-footed son of Peleus at the 
 ships. On that day, when they indeed are fighting at the 
 ships, in a very narrow pass, for Patroclus fallen. For thus is it 
 fated. But I do not make account of thee enraged, not if thou 
 shonldst go to the furthest limits of land and ocean, where 
 lapetus and Saturn sitting, are delighted neither with the 
 splendour of the sun that journeys on high, nor with the 
 winds ; but profound Tartarus [is] all around — ^not even 
 if wandering, thou shouldst go there, have I regard for 
 thee enraged, since there is nothing more impudent than 
 thou." 
 
 Thus he said : but white-armed Juno answered nought. 
 And the bright light of the siin fell into the ocean, drawing 
 dark night over the fruitful earth.* The light set to the 
 Trojans indeed unwilling ; but gloomy and much-desired 
 night came on, grateful to the Greeks. 
 
 'But illustrious Hector then formed a council of the Tro- 
 jans, having led them apart from the ships, at the eddying" 
 river, in a clear space, where the place appeared free from 
 (lead bodies. But alighting to the ground from their horses, 
 they listened to the speech which Hector, beloved of Jove, 
 uttered. In his hand he held a spear of eleven cubits : 
 «nd before him shone the golden point of the spear, and a 
 
 '' Beautifully expressed by Ennius apud Macrob. Sat. vi. 4 : " Intcrep 
 f»i Occidit, Oceanumque rubra tractim obruit sethra." See Columna ou 
 £nn. p. 113, ed. Hessel. 
 
495-533. ILIAD. VIII. 143 
 
 golden ring surrounded it. Leaning on this, he spoke -winged 
 ■words : 
 
 " Hear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies : J 
 lately thought that having destroyed the ships and all the 
 Greeks, I should I'eturn back to wind-swept Ilium. But 
 darkness has come on first, which has now been the chief 
 means of preserving the Greeks and their ships on the shore 
 of the sea. But, however, let us now obey dark night, and 
 make ready our repasts ; and do ye loose from your chariots 
 your beautiful-maned steeds, and set fodder before them : 
 and quickly bring from the city oxen and fat sheep ; bring 
 sweet wine and bread from your homes ; and besides collect 
 many fagots, that all night till Aurora, mother of dawn, 
 we may kindle many fires, and the splendour may ascend 
 to heaven : lest haply in the night the long-haired Greeks 
 attempt to fly over the broad ridge of the ocean. That they 
 may not at all events without toil and without harm ascend 
 their ships ; but [let us] take care that each of them may 
 have to heal a wound ^ at home, being stricken either with 
 an arrow, or with a sharp spear, bounding into his ship; 
 that every other too may dread to wage tearful war against 
 the horse-breaking Trojans. Let the heralds, dear to Jove, pro- 
 claim tlirough the city, that the youths at the age of puberty, 
 and the hoary-templed sages, keep watch around the city, 
 in the god-built turrets ; and let the females also, the feebler 
 sex, in their halls each kindle a mighty fire : and let there 
 be some strong guard, lest a secret band enter the 6ity, 
 the people being absent. Thus let it be, magnanimous Tro- 
 jans, as I say : and let the speech, which is now most salu- 
 tary, be thus sjxiken. But for that wliich will be [most 
 expedient] in the morning, I will [then] speak amongst the 
 horse-breaking Trojans. Making vows both to Jove and to 
 the other gods, I hope to banish hence those dogs borne 
 hither by the fates, whom the fates bear in their black ships.^ 
 But let us keep watch during the night, and in the morning, 
 at da,wn, equipped with arms, let us stir up sharp conflict at 
 the hollow ships. I will see whether valiant Diomede, the 
 son of Tydeus, will force me back from the ships to our 
 
 ' Literally, " digest a weapon," t. e. have a wound to attend to. So 
 ielum and vulmis are used for each other in Latin. 
 ' Surely this line is a gloss upon Kjjoeoji^opr/roi/f. 
 
150 ILIAD. VIII. 534—561. 
 
 walls, or whether I shall bear away his bloody spoils, having 
 slain him with my brazen spear. To-morrow shall he make 
 manifest his valour, if he shall withstand my assaulting spear. 
 But I think that he will lie wounded amongst the first at 
 sunrise to-morrow, and many companions around him. Would 
 that I were so certainly immortal, and free from old age all 
 my davs, and honoured, as Miaerva and ApoUo are honoured, 
 as [I am certain] that this day wUl bring evil upon the 
 Greeks." 
 
 Thus Hector harangued them ; but the Trojans applauded 
 aloud. And they loosed from the yoke their sweating steeds, 
 and bound them with halters, each to his own chariot. 
 Quickly they brought from the city oxen and fat sheep : and 
 they brought sweet wine, and bread from their homes, and 
 also collected many fagots. But the winds raised the savour 
 from the plain to heaven. 
 
 But they, greatly elated, sat all night in the ranks of war, 
 and many fires blazed for them. As when in heaven the 
 stars appear very conspicuous ^ aroimd the lucid moon, when 
 the aether is wont to be without a breeze, and all the pointed 
 rocks and lofty summits and groves appear, but in heaven 
 the immense aether is disclosed, and all the stars are seen, 
 and the shepherd rejoices in his soul. Thus did many fires 
 of the Trojans kindling them appear before Ilium, between 
 the ships and the streams of Xanthus. A thousand fires 
 blazed in the plain, and by each sat fifty men, at the light of 
 the blazing fire. But their steeds eating white barley and 
 oats, standing by the chariots, awaited beautiful-thioned 
 Aurora. 
 
 ' Cf. Msctu Ag. 6 : AafiirpoVf; lvva(TTas, i/iTrplTrovrof ai0ipi. 
 
1-17. ILIAD. IX. ISl 
 
 BOOK THE NINTH 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 By advice of Nestor, Agamemnon sends Ulysses, Phoenix, and Ajax, to 
 the tent of Achilles to sue for a reconciliation. Notwithstanding the 
 earnest appeal of Fhoenix, their errand proves fruitless. 
 
 Thus tlie Trojans indeed kept guard : but a mighty ' Flight, 
 the companion of chill Fear, seized upon the Greeks ; and all 
 the chiefs were afflicted with intolerable grief. And as two 
 winds, the north and south, which both blow from Thrace,^ 
 rouse the fishy deep, coming suddenly, [upon it] ; but the 
 black billows are elevated together ; and they dash much 
 sea-weed out of the ocean ; so was the mind of the Greeks 
 distracted within their bosoms. 
 
 But Atrides, wounded to the heart with great sorrow, kept 
 going round, giving orders to the clear-voiced heralds, to 
 summon each man by name to an assembly, but not to call 
 aloud ; and he himself toiled among the first. And they sat 
 in council, grieved, and Agam«mnon arose, shedding tears, 
 like a black-water fountain, wliich pours its gloomy stream 
 from a lofty rock. Thus he, deeply sighing, spoke words tc 
 the Greeks : 
 
 " O friends, leaders and chieftains over the Greeks, Jove, 
 
 ' " In II. 1, 2, the SitaTiait] 4>a?a of the Achseans is not to be explained 
 as a supernatural flight, occasioned by the gods. It is a great and general 
 flight, caused by Hector and the Trojans. For although this was approved 
 of and encouraged by Jupiter, yet his was only that mediate influence oi 
 the deity without which in general nothing took place in the Homeria 
 battles."— Buttm. Lexil. p. 358. Cf. Coleridge, p. 160. 
 
 ^ Wood, p. 46, explains this from the situation of Ionia. Heyne, 
 however, observes, "comj^aratio e mente poetae inctituitur, non ex Ai;a- 
 memaonis persona." 
 
162 ILIAD. IX. 18—55. 
 
 the son of Saturn, has greatly entangled me in a grievous 
 calamity : cruel, who once promised me, and assented, that I 
 should return, having destroyed well-built Ilium. But now 
 has he plotted an evil fraud, and orders me to return inglo- 
 rious to Argos, after I have lost much people. Thus, doubt- 
 less, will it be agreeable to almighty Jove, who has already 
 overthrown the heights of many cities, and wiU stiU over- 
 throw them, for his power is greatest. But come, let us all 
 obey as I advise : let us fly with the ships to our dear father- 
 land, for now we shall not take wide-wayed Troy." 
 
 Thtis he spoke ; but they were all still in silence, and the 
 sons of the Greeks being sad, kept silent long : at length 
 Diomede, brave in the din of battle, spoke : 
 
 " Son of Atreus, thee will I first oppose, speaking incon- 
 siderately, as is lawful, in the assembly; but be not thou the 
 least oifended. First among the Greeks didst thou disparage 
 my valour, saying that I was imwarKke and weak ; ^ and all 
 this, as well the yotmg as the old of the Greeks know. One 
 of two things hath the son of crafty Saturn given thee : he 
 has granted that thou shouldst be honoured by the scepti-e 
 above all ; but valour hath he not given thee, which is the 
 greatest strength. Strange man, dost thou then certainly 
 think that the sons of the Greeks are unwarhke and weak, 
 as thou sayest ? If indeed thy mind impels thee, that thou 
 shouldst return, go : the way lies open to thee, and thy 
 ships stand near the sea, which very many followed thee from 
 Mycense. But the other long-haired Greeks will remain 
 imtil we overthrow Troy : but if they also [choose], let them 
 fly with their ships to theii- dear fatherland. But we twain, 
 I and Sthenelus,^ will fight, until we find an end of Troy; 
 for under the auspices of the deity we came." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but all the sons of the Greeks applauded, 
 admiring the speech of steed-breaking Diomede. But them 
 the knight Nestor, rising up, addressed : 
 
 " Son of Tydeus, pre-eminently indeed art thou brave in 
 battle, and the best in council amongst all thine equals. No 
 one has censured thy discourse, nor contradicts it, as many as 
 
 • Cf. iv. 370, sqq. 
 
 ' Heyne compares Julius Csesnr, Com. B. G. i. 40. " Si prseterea 
 nemo sequatur (contra Ariovistum), tamen se cum sola decima legioue 
 iturum dioit," 
 
56—96. ILIAD. IX. 153 
 
 are the Greeks; but thou comest not to an end of discussion. ^ 
 Assuredly thou art youthful, and mightst be my youngest 
 son for age, yet thou speakest prudent words to the kings of 
 the Greeks, for thou hast said aright. But come, I who 
 boast to be older than thou, will speak out, and discuss every- 
 thing : nor will any one, not even king Agamemnon, disre- 
 gard my speech. Tribeless, lawless, homeless is he, who loves 
 horrid civil war. But now, however, let us obey dark night, 
 and make ready suppers. But let the respective guards lie 
 down beside the trench, dug without the wall. To the youth, 
 indeed, I enjoin these things ; but next, Atrides, do thou 
 begin, for thou art supreme. Give a banquet to the elders ; it 
 becomes thee, and is not unseemly. Full are thy tents of 
 wine, which the ships of the Greeks daily bring over the 
 wide sea from Thrace. Thou hast every accommodation, and 
 rulest over many people. But when many are assembled, do 
 thou obey biTn who shall give the best advice ; for there is 
 great need of good and prudent [advice] to all the Greeks, 
 since the enemy are burning many fires near the ships ; and 
 who can rejoice at these things 1 But tliis night will either 
 ruin the army or preserve it." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and they heard him very attentively, and 
 obeyed. But the guards rushed forth with their arms, [those 
 around] Thras3rmedes, the son of Nestor, the shepherd of the 
 people, Ascalaphus and lalmenus, sons of Mars, Meriones, 
 Aphareus, and De'ipyrus, as well as the son of Creon, noble 
 Lycomedes. There were seven leaders of the guards, and a 
 hundred youths marched along with each, holding long spears 
 in their hands. Proceeding to the space between the trench 
 and the wall, there they sat down, and there kindled a fire, 
 and prepared each his supper. 
 
 But Atrides conducted the assembled elders of the Greeks 
 to his tent, and set before them % strength-recruiting ban- 
 quet ; and they laid their hands upon the viands placed 
 before them. But when they had dismissed the desire of 
 eating and drinking, to them first of all did aged Nestor, 
 whose advice had previously appeared best, begin to inter- 
 weave advice ; who wisely counselling, addressed them, and 
 said : 
 
 " Most glorious Atrides, king of men, Agamemnon, with 
 
 ' /. e. thou hsst not said all that might have been said on the subject. 
 
154 II.TA.D. IX. 97-133. 
 
 thee shall 1 end, and with thee shall I commence. Smce 
 thou art a king of many nations, and Jove hath placed in 
 thine hands both a sceptre and laws, that thou mayest con- 
 sult for their advantage. Therefore is it necessary that thou 
 in particular shouldst deliver and hear an opinion, and also 
 accomplish that of another, when his mind urges any one 
 to sp^ak for the [public] good ; but on thee will depend 
 whatever takes the lead. Yet will I speak as appears 
 to me to be best. For no other person will propound a 
 better opinion than that which I meditate, both of old and 
 also now, from that period when thou, O nobly bom, didst 
 depart, carrying off the maid Briseiis from the tent of the 
 enraged Achilles ; by no means according to my judgment ; 
 for I very strenuously dissuaded thee from it : but haviag 
 yielded to thy haughty temper, thou didst dishonour the 
 bravest hero, whom even the immortals have honoured ; for, 
 taking away his reward, thou still retainest it. Yet even 
 now let us deliberate how we may succeed in persuading him, 
 appeasing him with agreeable gifts and soothing words." 
 
 But him the king of men, Agamemnon, again addressed : 
 " Old man, thou hast not falsely enumerated my errors. I 
 have erred, nor do I myself deny it. That man indeed is 
 equivalent to many troops, whom Jove loves in his heart, as 
 now he hath honoured this man, and subdued the people of 
 the Greeks. But since I erred, having yielded to my way- 
 ward disposition, I desire again to appease him, and to give 
 him invaluable presents. Before you all will I enumerate 
 the distinguished gifts : seven tripods untouched by fire,^ and 
 ten talents of gold, and twenty shining caldrons, and twelve 
 stout steeds, victorious in the race, which have borne off 
 prizes by their feet. No pauper would the man be, nor in 
 want of precious gold, to whom as many prizes belong as 
 [these] solid-hoofed steedi have brought to me. I will like- 
 wise give seven beautiful Lesbian women, skilful in favdtless 
 works; whom I selected when he himself took well-inhabited 
 Lesbos, who excel the race of women in beauty. These will 
 I give him, and amongst them will be her whom then I took 
 away, the daughter of Brisei's ; and I will swear moreover a 
 mighty oath, that I never ascended her bed, nor embraced 
 
 ' /. e. not yet brought into common use. 
 
134—172. ILIAD. IX. 155 
 
 her, as is tlie custom of human bemgs — of men and women. 
 All these shall immediately be ready ; and if, moreover, the 
 gods grant that we destroy the great city of Priam, let him 
 fill his ships abundantly with gold and brass, entering in 
 when we the Greeks divide the spoU. Let him also choose 
 twenty Trojan women, who may be fairest next to Argive 
 Helen. But if we reach Achaean Argos, the udder of the 
 land,i he may become my son-in-law ; and I will honour hiin 
 equally with Orestes, who is nurtured as my darling son, in 
 great affluence. Now, I have three daughters in my well- 
 built palace, — Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa. Of 
 these let him lead the beloved one, whichsoever he may 
 choose, without marriage-dower, to the house of Peleus ; but 
 I wiU give very many dowries, so many as no man ever yet 
 gave to his daughter. I wUl, moreover, give him seven weU- 
 inhabited cities, — Cardamyle, Enope, and grassy Ira, glorious 
 Pherse, with deep-pastured Anthea, fair ^peia, and vine- 
 bearing Pedasus; which are all near the sea, the last towards 
 sandy Pylus. But in them dwell men rich in flocks and 
 herds, who will honour him like a god with gifts, and be- 
 neath his sceptre will pay rich tributes. These will I bestow 
 upon him, ceasing from his anger. Let him be prevailed 
 upon. Pluto indeed is implacable and inexorable, wherefore 
 he is the most hateful of all the gods to men. Let him like- 
 wise yield to me, inasmuch as I am more kingly, and because 
 I boast to be older [than he]." 
 
 But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered : 
 " Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, 
 thou indeed offercst gifts by no means despicable to king 
 Achilles. But come, let us urge chosen men, who may go 
 with all speed to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus. 
 Come then, these will I select, but let them obey. First of 
 all indeed let Phoenix, dear to Jove, be the leader ; next 
 then mighty Ajax and divine Ulysses : and of the heralds, 
 let Hodius and Eurybates follow with them. But bring 
 water for the hands, and command to observe well-omened 
 words,2 that we may supplicate Saturnian Jove, if perchance 
 be will take pity." 
 
 ' A beautiful expression, denoting the fertility of the land. Cf. Albert. 
 on Hfesych. t. ii. p. 806. So vqaoio /laTTog in Callim. H. in Del. 48. 
 ' The translation, " favour us with their voices," is nonsense, while 
 
158 ILIAD. IX. ira— 201, 
 
 Thus lie spoke, and delivered an opinion agreeable to them 
 all. Immediately indeed the heralds poured water upon 
 their hands, and the youths crowned the goblets with wine ; 
 then they distributed them to aU, having poured the first of 
 the wine into the cups. But when they had made libations, 
 and drunk as much as their mind desired, they hastened 
 from the tent of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. To 
 them the Gerenian knight Nestor gave many charges, 
 looking wistfully upon each, particularly upon Ulysses, 
 that they should endeavour to persuade the blameless son of 
 Peleus. 
 
 They twain then went along the shore of the loud-sounding 
 sea, praying earnestly to earth-shakjng [Neptune], who en- 
 compasses the earth, that they might easily persuade the 
 great mind of the grandson of .^acus. But they came to 
 the tents and ships of the Myrmidons, and they found him 
 delighting his soul with his clear-toned harp, beautiful, 
 curiously wrought, and upon it was a silver comb. This he 
 had taken from amongst the spoils, having destroyed the city 
 of Eetion, and with it he was delighting his soul, and singing 
 the glorious deeds' of heroes. Patroclus alone sat opposite to 
 him in silence, waiting upon the descendant of ^acus when 
 he should cease to sing. Then they advanced farther, and 
 divine "Ulysses preceded ; and they stood before him ; whilst 
 Achilles, astonished, leaped up, with his lyre, quitting the 
 seat where he had been sitting. In like manner Patroclus, 
 when he beheld the heroes, arose, and swift-footed AchiUes 
 taking them by the hand, addressed them : 
 
 " Hail, warriors, ye indeed have come as friends. Surely 
 [there is] some great necessity [when ye come], who are to 
 me, although enraged, dearest of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus having spoken, divine Achilles led them forward, 
 and seated them upon couches and purple coverlets ; then 
 straightway he addressed Patroclus, who was near : 
 
 " keep silence " is by no means the meaning of iv^rfjifiaai. Kennedy 
 rightly explains it, " abstain from expressions unsuitable to the solemnity 
 of the occasion, which, by offending the god, might defeat the object of 
 their supplications." See Servius on Virg. ^n. v. 7) ; Lamb, on Hor. 
 Od. iii. 1, 2 ; Broukhus. on TibuU. 11. 1, 1. 
 
 ' Or the renown of heroes. So ApoUon. i, 1 : IloXaiyci'tau/ kXii 
 
202-234 ILIAD. IX. 157 
 
 "Place a larger goblet, O son of MencBtiiis, mix pui'er 
 ■wiiie,^ and prepare a cup for each, for men most dear [to me] 
 are beneath my roof." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and Patroclus obeyed his dear companion. 
 But he [Achilles] placed in the flame of the fire a large 
 dressing-block, and upon it he laid the chine of a sheep and 
 of a fat goat, with the back of a fatted sow, abounding in 
 fat. Aiitomedon then held them for him, and noble Achilles 
 cut them up ; and divided them skilfully into small pieces, 
 and transfixed them with spits ; whilst the son of Menoetius, 
 a godlike hero, kindled a large fire. But when the fire had 
 burned away, and the flame grew languid, strewing the em- 
 bers, he extended the spits over them, and sprinkled them 
 with sacred salt, raising them up from the racks. But when 
 he had dressed them, and had thrown them upon kitchen 
 tables, Patroclus, taking bread, served it out upon the board 
 in beautiful baskets : but Achilles distributed the flesh. But 
 he himself sat opposite to noble Ulysses, against the other 
 wall, and ordered Patroclus, his companion, to sacrifice to 
 the gods ; and he accordingly cast the first morsels ^ into the 
 fire. And they stretched forth their hands to the prepared 
 viands which lay before them. But when they had dismissed 
 the desire of eating and drinking, Ajax nodded to Phoenix, 
 • but noble Ulysses observed it, and having filled his goblet 
 with wine, he pledged Achilles : 
 
 " Health, AchUles. We are not wanting of a complete 
 feast, either in the tent of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, or 
 even here also, for many strength-recruiting dainties are 
 here ; but the business of an agreeable feast is not our care. 
 We, thou Jove-nurtured one, contemplating it, rather 
 dread a very great disaster, as it is matter of doubt whether 
 the well-benched ships be saved or destroyed, unless thou 
 puttest on thy might. For near the ships and the wall the 
 high-minded Trojans and their far-summoned allies have 
 pitched their camp, kindling many fires throughout the host; 
 and thev say that they will no longer restrain themselves, 
 
 ' I. e. less diluted than usual. On this quaint picture of ancient man- 
 ners, compared with the customs of the Hebrew fathers, compare Cole- 
 ridge, p. 151. 
 
 " Hesych. and Phrynicus (for their glosses should probably be joined), 
 &V7j\afi" cnrapx^S tuiv TtlivftiviDV, 
 
158 ILIAD. IX. 235—272. 
 
 but that they will fall upon our black vessels. • And Sa- 
 tumian Jove exhibiting to them propitious signs, darts hia 
 lightning ; and Hector, looking fiercely round in valour, 
 rages terribly, trusting in Jove, nor reverences at all either 
 n:ien or gods, but great madness hath come upon him. He 
 prays tl^t divine mom may speedily come. For he declares 
 that he wiU cut off the poop-ends^ of the ships, and bum [the 
 ships] themselves with ravaging fire, and slaughter the 
 Greeks beside them, discomforted by the smoke. Wherefore 
 do I greatly fear in my mind lest the gods may fulfil his 
 threats, and it be destined for us to perish in Troy, far from 
 steed-nourishing Argos. Rise then, if thou hast the inten- 
 tion, although late, to defend the harassed sons of the Greeks 
 from the violent onslaught of the Trojans. To thyself it 
 will hereafter be a cause of sorrow, nor is it possible in any 
 manner to discover a remedy for a disaster when received ; 
 wherefore reflect much beforehand, how thou mayest avert 
 the evil day from the Greeks. O my friend, surely thy 
 father Peleus charged thee, on that day when he sent thee 
 from Phthia to Agamemnon, ' My son, Minerva and Juno 
 will bestow valour, if they choose ; but restrain thy great- 
 hearted soul within thy breast, because humanity is better ; 
 and abstain, from injurious contention, that both the youth 
 and elders of the Greeks may honour thee the more.' Thus 
 did the old man give charge, but thou art forgetftd. Yet 
 even now desist, and lay aside thy mind-corroding wrath. 
 To thee Agamemnon gives worthy gifts, ceasing from indig- 
 nation. But if [thou wilt] hear from me, and I will repeat 
 to thee how many presents Agamemnon in his tents hath 
 promised thee : seven tripods, untouched by the fire, and ten 
 talents of gold, twenty shining caldrons, and twelve stout 
 steeds, victorious in the race, which have borne off prizes by 
 their feet. No pauper, nor in want of precious gold, would 
 that man be to whom so many prizes belonged as the steeds 
 of Agamemnon have borne off by their fleetness. He will 
 likewise give seven beautiful women, skilful in faultless 
 works, Lesbians, whom he selected when thou thyself didst 
 take well-inhabited Lesbos, who then excelled the race of 
 
 ' But Heyne, " non locum tuituros [nos], sed in naves fugituros et 
 discessuros." 
 
 '' Tliis interpretation is substantiated by Heyne, from II. 0, 717. The 
 (l/fpo("-oXi(i, OT figure-heads, are uov meant here. 
 
273—313. ILIAD. IX. 159 
 
 women in beauty. These will ' be give ttee, and amongst 
 them will be her whom once he took away, the daughter of 
 Briseis ; and he will moreover swear a mighty oath, that he 
 never ascended her bed, nor embraced her. as is the custom, 
 O king, both of men and women. AU these shall imme- 
 diately be in waiting ; and if, moreover, the gods grant that 
 ■we pillage the vast city of Priam, entering, thou mayest fill 
 thy ships abundantly with gold and brass, when we, the 
 Greeks, • divide the spoil. Thou shalt also choose twenty 
 Trojan women, who may be fairest next to Argive Helen. 
 But if we reach Achoean Argos, the udder of the land, thou 
 mayest become his son-in-law, and he will honour thee 
 equally with Orestes, who is nurtured as his darling son, in 
 great aflBuence. But he has three daughters in his well- 
 built palace, — Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa. Of 
 these thou shalt conduct the most beloved whomsoever thou 
 mayest choose, without marriage-gifts, to the house of Peleus; 
 but he will give very many dowries, such as no man yet gave 
 his daughter. He will moreover give thee seven well- 
 inhabited cities, — Cardamyle, Enope, and grassy Ira, glorious 
 Pherse, with deep-pastured Anthea, fair ^peia, and vine- 
 bearing Pedasus ; which are all near the sea, the last 
 towards sandy Pylus. But in them dwell men abounding in 
 flocks and herds, who will honour thee with gifts hke a god, 
 and under thy sceptre pay rich tributes. These will he fulfil 
 to thee ceasing from thy wrath. But if indeed the son of 
 Atreus himself and his gifts be more hateful to thee from 
 thine heart, at least have pity upon all the other Gi'eeks, 
 harassed throughout the army, who will honour thee as a 
 god ; for surely thou wilt obtain veiy great honour among 
 them. Por now mayest thou slay Hector, since he hath 
 ah'eady cotne very near thee, possessing destructive fury ; 
 since he declares that no one of the Greeks whom the ships 
 have conveyed hither is his equal." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: 
 "Most noble son of Laertes, much -scheming Ulysses, it be- 
 hoves me indeed to speak my opinion without reserve, even 
 as I think, and as will be accomplished, that ye may not, 
 sitting beside me, keep whining ' one after another. Hatefid 
 to me as the gates of Hades is he who conceals one thing in 
 
 ' This word is etymologically connected with rpvydiv. It properly 
 signifies the moaning of the dove. 
 
160 ILIAD. IX. 313—349. 
 
 his mind and utters another. But I will speak as appears 
 to me to be best ; and I think that neither Agamemnon, th< 
 son of Atreus, nor the other Greeks will persuade me; sinc( 
 there is no gratitude to him who fights ever ceaselessly with 
 hostile men. An equal portion [falls] to him who loiters, as 
 if one continually fight; and the coward is in equal honour 
 with the brave. The man of no deeds, and the man of many, 
 are wont equally to die ; nor does anything lie by me as a 
 store,' because I have sufiered sorrows in my soul, ever 
 risking my life to fight. And as the bird brings food to her 
 unfledged young when she hath found it, although she fares 
 badly herself; so have I too spent many sleepless nights, 
 and gone through bloody days in combat, fighting with heroes 
 for their wives' sakes. Twelve cities indeed of men have I 
 wasted with my ships, and on foot T say eleven throughout 
 the fertUe Troad.^ From all these have I carried oflf many 
 and precious spoils, and bearing them, have given all to 
 Agamemnon, the son of Atreus ; whilst he, remaining behind 
 at the swift ships, receiving them, hath distributed but few, 
 but retained many. To the chiefe and kings hath he given 
 other prizes ; to whom indeed they remain entire : but from 
 me alone of the Greeks hath he taken it away, and he pos- 
 sesses my spouse, dear to my soul, with whom reclining, let 
 him delight himself. But why is it necessary that the Greeks 
 wage war with the Trojans ? Or from what necessity did 
 the son of Atreus, assembhng an army, lead it hither ? Was 
 it not on account of fair-haired Helen ? Do the sons of 
 Atreus alone, of articulate-speaking men, love their wives ? 
 [Surely not], since whatever man is good and prudent loves 
 and cherishes his spouse; thus I too loved her from my soul, 
 though the captive of my spear. And now since he hath 
 snatched my reward from my hands, and deceived me, let 
 him not make trial of me, already well informed, for he will 
 not persuade me ; but let him consider with thee, O Ulysses, 
 and the other kings, how he may repel the hostile fire from 
 the ships. Assuredly he has already accomplished many 
 labours without me. He has already built a rampart, and 
 
 ' Sohol. iTEpcTffow ri Ian, Kennedy explains it: "nor have all the 
 toils which I have undergone been productive of any superior advantage 
 to me." 
 
 ' See a list of these cities in Heyne's note. 
 
8*9—380. ILIAD. IX. 16i 
 
 drawn a trench broad [and] large beside it ; and planted in • 
 it palisades; but not even thus can he restrain the might of 
 man-slaughtering Hector; Whilst I indeed tbught amongst 
 the Greeks, Hector chose not to arouse the battle at a dis- 
 tance from the wall, but he came [only] as far as the Scsean 
 gates, and the beech-tree. There once he awaited me alone, 
 and with difficulty escaped my attack. But since I choose 
 not to wax with noble Hector, to-morrow,i having performed 
 sacrifices to Jove and all the gods, [and] having well laden 
 my ships, when I shall have drawn them down to the sea, 
 thou shalt behold, if thou wilt, and if such things be a care 
 to thee, my ships early in the mom sailing upon the fishy 
 Hellespont, and men within them, eager for rowing ; and 
 if glorious Neptune grant but a prosperous voyage, on the 
 third day I shall surely reach fertile Phthia.^ Now there I 
 have very many possessions, which I left, coming hither, to 
 my loss.^ And I will carry hence other gold and ruddy 
 brass, well-girdled women, and hoary iron, which I have 
 obtained by lot. But the reward wliich he gave, king Aga- 
 memnon, the son of Atreus, hath himself insultingly taken 
 from me : to whom do thou tell all things as I charge thee, 
 openly, that the other Greeks also may be indignant, if he, 
 ever clad in impudence, stiU hope to deceive any of the 
 Greeks ; nor let him dare, dog-like as he is, to look in my 
 face. I will neither join in counsels nor in any action with 
 him; for he hath already deceived and ofiended me, nor shall 
 he again overreach me with words. It is enough for him [to 
 do so once] : but in quiet ^ let him perish, for provident Jove 
 hath deprived him of reason. Hatefiil to me are his gifts, and 
 himself I value not a hair.^ Not if he were to give me ten 
 and twenty times as many gifts as he now has, and if othert 
 
 ' Observe the broken construction, well suited to the irritability of the 
 speaker. 
 
 • Cf. Cicero de Div. i. 25. 
 
 • 'Eppuiv, Itti fdop^ (ita etym. magn.) Trapayfi/d/ievoc, Cf. Alberti 
 on Hesych. t. i. p. 1445. 
 
 • ""EicijXof forcibly expresses the condition of one who is advancing 
 imperceptibly, though surely, to final ruin." — Kennedy. 
 
 ^ See Kennedy, and Dupnrt, Gnom. p. 52, who compare the phraFPs 
 ' pilo minus amare," " pili facere." There is, however, much uncer- 
 taintT respecting the origin and meaning of the proverb, Cf. Albarti on 
 Uesych. t. i. p. 1246. 
 
 M 
 
162 ILIAD. IX. 380—413, 
 
 were to be added from any other quarter; nor as many as 
 arrive at Orchomenos, or Egyptian Thebes,^ wbere numerous 
 possessions are laid up in the mansions, and where are one 
 hundred gates,^ from each of which rush out two hundred 
 men with horses and chariots. Nor if he were to give me 
 as many as are the sands and dust, not even thus shall Aga- 
 memnon now persuade my mind, until he indemnify me for 
 all his mind-grieving insult. But I wiU not wed the 
 daughter of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, not if she were 
 tit to contend in beauty with golden Venus, or were equal 
 in accomplishments to azure-eyed Minerva; not even thus 
 will I wed her. Let him then select another of the Greeks 
 who may suit liim, and who is more the king ; for if the gods 
 preserve me, and I reach home, then will Peleus himseK 
 hereafter bestow upon me a lady in marriage. There are 
 many Grecian women throughout HeUas and Phthia, daugh- 
 ters of chieftains who defend the cities. Whomsoever of 
 these I may choose, I will make my beloved wife; and there 
 ray generous soul very much desires that I, wedding a be- 
 trothed spouse, a fit partner of my bed, should enjoy the 
 possessions which aged Peleus hath acquired. For not worth 
 my Ufe are all the [treasures] which they say the well- 
 inhabited city Ihum possessed, whilst formerly at peace, 
 before the sons of the Greeks arrived; nor aU which the stony 
 threshold of the archer Phoebus Apollo contains within it, in 
 rocky Pytho.^ By plunder, oxen and fat sheep are to be pro- 
 cured, tripods are to be procured, and the yellow heads of 
 steeds ; but the hfe of man cannot be obtained nor seized, so as 
 to return again, when once it has passed the enclosure of the 
 teeth. For my goddess mother, silver-footed Thetis, declares 
 that double destinies lead me on to the end of death. If, on the 
 one hand, remaining here, I wage war around the city of the 
 Trojans, return is lost to me, but my glory will be immortal; 
 
 ' " Thebes was the centre of Egyptian power and commerce, probably 
 lon^ before Memphis grew into impoitance, or before the Delta was made 
 suitable to the purposes of husbandry by the cutting of canals and the 
 raising of embankments." — Egyptian Antiquities, vol. i. p. 66. 
 
 ' Although Denon (see Egypt. Antt. p. 62) regards this as an unmean- 
 ing expression, Heyne well observes : " Humerus centenarius ponitur pro 
 magno : et portis semel memoratis, multitude hominum declaratur per 
 numerum exeuntium." 
 
 ' Cf. Miiller, Dorians, vol. i. pp. 26, 268. 
 
4H— 452. ILIAD. IX. 
 
 163 
 
 but if, on the other hand, I return home to my dear father- 
 land, my excellent glory is lost, but my life will be lasting, 
 nor will the end of death speedily seize upon me. And to 
 others alsb would I give advice to sail home, for ye will not 
 find an end of lofty Ilium; for far-sounding Jove hath 
 stretched over it his hand, and the people have taken coTirag \ 
 But do ye, departing, bear back this message to the chiefs it 
 the Greeks, for such is the office of ambassadors, that they 
 devise within their minds some other better plan, which for 
 them may preserve their ships, and the army of the Greeks 
 in the hollow barks; since this, which they have now devised, 
 is not expedient for them, while I cherish my wrath. But 
 let Phoenix, remaining here, recline beside us, that to-morrow, 
 if he will, he may follow me in the ships to my dear father- 
 land, although I will by no means lead him away by com- 
 pulsion." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they all became mute in silence, 
 marvelling at his speech, for he answered with much vehe- 
 mence. At length, however, the aged knight. Phoenix, ad- 
 dressed him, shedding tears, for he greatly feared for the 
 ships of the Greeks : 
 
 " If indeed, O illustrious Achilles, thou dost now meditate 
 a return within thy mind, nor art at all willin g to repel the 
 destructive fire from the swift ships, because indignation hath 
 fallea upon thy soul j how then can I, my dear child, be left 
 here alone by thee ? for aged Peleus, the breaker of steeds, 
 sent me forth with thee on that day, when he despatched 
 thee from Phthia to Agamemnon, a boy, not yet skilled 
 either in equally-destroying war, nor in counsels where men 
 also become illustrious. On which account he sent me forth 
 to teach thee all these things, that thou mightest become 
 both an orator in words and a performer in deeds. Thus 
 then, my dear child, I wish not at length to be left by thee, 
 not even if a god himself, having divested me of old age, 
 should promise that he would render me a blooming youth. 
 Such as I was when first I quitted fair-damed Hellas, flpng 
 the contentions of my father Amyntor, son of Oimenus ; 
 who was enraged with me on account of a fair-haired concu- 
 bine whom he himself loved, but dishonoured his wife, my 
 mother. But she continually would embrace my knees iii 
 supi>lication, that I should first have connection with the cou- 
 
 m2 
 
161 ILIAD. IX. 452—488. 
 
 cubine, tliat she niight loathe the old man. Her I obeyed, 
 and did so ; but my father immediately perceiving it, uttered 
 many execrations, and invoked the hateful Erinnys, that no 
 dear son, sprung from me, should ever be placed upon hia 
 knees ; and the gods ratified his execrations, both infernal 
 Jove and dread Proserpine. Then my soul within my miud 
 could no longer endure that I should sojourn in the palace 
 whilst my father was enraged. My friends, indeed, and 
 relations, being much about me, detained me there within 
 the halls, entreating [me to stay]. Many fat sheep and 
 stamping-footed, crooked-homed oxen they slaughtered; many 
 swine abounding in fat were stretched out to be roasted in 
 the flame of Vulcan, and much of the old man's wine was 
 drunk out of earthen vessels. Nine nights did they sleep 
 around me : whilst, taking it in turns, they kept watch ; nor 
 was the fire ever extinguished, one in the portico of the well- 
 fenced hall, and another in the vestibule, before the chamber- 
 doors. But when at length the tenth shady night had come 
 upon me, then indeed I rushed forth, having burst the skU- 
 fully-joined doors of the apartment, and I easily overleaped 
 the fence of the hall, escaping the notice of the watchmen 
 and the female domestics. Afterwards I fled thence through 
 apacious HeUas, and came to fertile Phthia, the mother of 
 sheep, to king Peleus ; who kindly received me, and loved 
 me even as a father loves his only son, bom in his old age ' 
 to ample possessions. He made me opulent, and bestowed 
 upon me much people, and I inhabited the extreme shores 
 of Phthia, ruling over the Dolopians. Thee too, godlike 
 Achilles, have I rendered what thou aj:^;,^ loving thee from 
 my soul ; since thou wouldst not go with another to the 
 feast, nor take food in the mansion, until I, placing thee 
 upon my knees, satisfled thee with viands, previously carving 
 them, and supplied thee with wine. Often hast thou wetted 
 the tunic upon my breast, ejecting the wine in infant peevish- 
 ness.^ Thus have I borne very many things from thee, and 
 
 ' See, however, Buttm. Lexil. p. 510, sqq., who considers that ri/X«- 
 ytrof simply means " tenderly beloved: only that it is a more forcible 
 expression for this idea, as is evident from the bad sense in which the 
 word is used at II. v, 470, where the meaning of a child tpoiled by the 
 Rive of its parents is evident." 
 * r. e. I reared thee to thy present age. Lit. " I made thee so great." 
 ' if any one should despise these natural details as tritling and beneath 
 
488—520. ILIAD. IX. 165 
 
 mucli have I laboured, thinking this, tliat since the godn 
 have not granted an offspring to me from myself, I should at 
 least make thee my son, O Achilles, like unto the gods, that 
 thou mightst yet repel from me unworthy destiny. But 
 Achilles, subdue thy mighty rage ; it is by no means 
 necessary for thee to have a merciless heart. Flexible are 
 even the gods themselves, whose virtue, honour, and might 
 are greater [than thine]. Even these, when any one trans- 
 gresses and errs, do men divert [from their wrath] by sacrifices 
 and appeasing vows, and frankincense and savour. For 
 Prayers also are the daughters of supreme Jove,' both halt, 
 and wrinkled, and squint-eyed ; which following on Ate from 
 behind, are full of care. But Ate is robust and sound in 
 limb, wherefore she far outstrips all, and arrives first at every 
 land, doing injury to men ; whilst these afterwards cure 
 them.^ Whosoever will reverence the daughters of Jove 
 approaching, him they are wont greatly to aid, and hear 
 when praying. But whosoever will deny and obstinately 
 refuse them, then indeed, drawing near, they entreat Satur- 
 nian Jove, that Ate may follow along with him, that being 
 injured [in turn], he may pay the penalty. But O Achilles, 
 do thou too yield honour to accompany the daughters of 
 Jove, which bends the minds of other brave men ; for if 
 Atrides brought not gifbs, and did not mention others in 
 futurity, but would ever rage vehemently, I for my part 
 would not advise that, casting away wrath, thou shouldst 
 deiend the Greeks, although greatly in need. But now he 
 at once gives both many immediately, and promises others 
 hereafter ; moreover, he hath despatched the best men to 
 supplicate thee, having selected throughout the Grecian army 
 those who are dearest to thyself; whose, entreaty do not 
 thou despise, nor their mission, although formerly fault was 
 not to be foimd with thee, because thou wert enraged. Thus 
 also have we heard the renown of heroes of former days, 
 
 the dignity of poetry, I can only recommend a comparison with jEsch, 
 Choeph. 750, sqq., and Shakspeare's nurse in " Romeo and Juliet." 
 In such passages, the age of the supposed speaker is the best apology for 
 the poet. 
 
 ' See Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 57. 
 
 ' Perhaps it was from this passage that Sterne took his sublime idea of 
 the Recording Angel blotting out the oath which the Accusing Spirit had 
 carried up to heaven. 
 
IB6 ILIAD. IX. 521—551. 
 
 when vehement wrath camo upon any, [that] they were 
 both appeasable by gifts, and to be reconciled by words. I 
 remember this ancient and by no means modem deed, of 
 •what sort it was ; and I will repeat it among you all, being 
 friends. The Curetes and ^tolians, obstinate in battle, 
 fought around the city of Calydon, and slaughtered each 
 other; the .^tolians, in defence of lofty Calydon, tlie 
 Curetes, eager to lay it waste in war ; for between them 
 had golden-throned Diana excited mischief, indignant be- 
 cause CEneus had not offered the firs-t-finiits in sacrifice in 
 the fertile spot of ground : ^ whilst the other gods feasted 
 on hecatombs, but to the daughter of mighty Jove alone 
 he sacrificed not. Either he forgot,^ or did not think 
 of it, but he did greatly err in mind. But she, the 
 daughter of Jove, delighting in arrows, enraged, sent against 
 [him] a sylvan wild boar, with white tusks, which did much 
 detriment, as is the wont [of boars], to the land of CEneus 
 And many tall trees, one after another, did he prostrate on 
 the ground, with their very roots and the blossom of their 
 fruit. But him Meleager, son of CEneus, slew, assembling 
 huntsmen and dogs from many cities ; for he would not 
 have been subdued by a few mortals : so mighty was he, and 
 he caused many to ascend the sad funeral-pile. Still she 
 (Diana) excited aroimd him ^ a great tiunult " and war 
 between the Curetes and magnanimous .^tolians, for the 
 head and bristly skin of the boar.'* Whilst warlike Meleager 
 fought, so long were the Curetes unsuccessful ; nor were 
 they able, although numerous, to remain without the wall. 
 But when wrath, which swells the minds of others, though 
 very prudent, within their breasts, came upon Meleager, for, 
 enraged at heart with his dear mother Althaea, he remained 
 
 ' Cf. Hesiod, Theog. 54. Mvtinoaivt], yovvolaiv i\tvSi)fioQ fitSiovaa. 
 Like ovBap apovprjs, in ver. 141, it is an expression denoting excessive 
 fertilily. 
 
 ' So Xenoph. de Venat. § 1. Olviws S" iv yr/ptf iiriXaOoiiivov rijc 
 &tov. See an excellent sketch of the story in Grote, vol. i. p. 195, sqq. 
 Cf. Hygin. Fab. clzxii. ; Lactant. Arg. fab. Ovid. viii. 4 ; Antonin. Lib. 
 Met. § 2. 
 
 ' 7. e. the boar. 
 
 * On the legend of this war, see ApoUodor. i. 8, 2 ; Callimach. in 
 Dian. 216 ; Ovid, Met. viii. 260. A catalogue of the heroes who accom- 
 panied Meleager is given by Hyginus, Fab. clxxiii. 
 
552—587. ILIAD. IX. IC7 
 
 Inactive beside his wedded wife, fair Cleopatra, dauglifcer of 
 Marpessa, the handsome-footed child of Evenus and Idas, 
 who was then the bravest of earthly men, and even lifted a 
 bow against king Phcebns Apollo, for the sake of his fair- 
 ankled spouse. Her [Cleopatra] then her father and vene- 
 rable mother in the palace were accustomed to call by the 
 surname of Alcyone, because her mother, having the plain 
 tive note of sad Alcyone,* lamented when far-darting Phoebus 
 Apollo stole her away. Beside her he [Meleager] remained 
 inactive, brooding ^ over his sad anger, enraged because of 
 the curses of his mother, who, much grieving, prayed to the 
 gods on account of the murder of her brethren.^ Often with 
 her hands did she strike the fruitful earth, calling uj'on 
 Pluto and dread Proserpine, reclining upon her knees, whilst 
 lier bosom was bedewed with tears, to give death to her sou : 
 but her the Erinnys, wandering in gloom, possessing an 
 implacable heart, heard from Erebus. Then immediately 
 was there noise and tumult of these* excited round the 
 gates, the towers being battered. Then did the elders of 
 the ^tohans entreat him, and sent chosen priests to the 
 gods, that he would come forth and defend them, promising 
 a great gifb. Where the soil of fertile Calydon was richest, 
 there they ordered him to choose a beautiful enclosure of 
 fifty acres ; the one half, of land fit for vines, to cut off the 
 other half of plain land, free from wood, for tillage. Much 
 did aged CEneus, breaker of steeds, beseech him, having 
 ascended to the threshold of his lofty-roofed chamber, shaking 
 the well-glued door-post, supplicating his son. And much 
 also his sisters and venerable mother entreated him, but he 
 the more refused ; and much [prayed] the companions who 
 were dearest and most friendly of all ; but not even thus 
 did they persuade the soul within his breast, until liis 
 chamber was violently assailed, and the Curetes were in the 
 act of scaling the ramparts, and firing the great city. Then 
 indeed at length his fair-girdled spouse, weeping, supplicated 
 
 ' See Antonin. Liberal. Met. § 2. who fallows Homer rather closely. 
 
 " Literally, "digesting." 
 
 ' See n. 2, p. 41, and on the death of Meleager, by his mother burning 
 a fatal brand, Apollodor. 1. c. ; Zenobius Cent. Adag. v. 33; Antuu. 
 Lib. Met. § 2. 
 
 '■ /. e. the Calydonians. 
 
168 IM.Vn. IX. 587—316. 
 
 Meleager, and recounted all the disasters, as many as happen 
 10 men whose city may be taken. In the first place, they 
 "slay the men,^ whilst fire reduces the city to ashes ; and 
 pthers carry off the children and deep-zoned women. Then 
 was his soul disturbed when he heard of evU deeds, and he 
 hasted to go and gird the aU-gUttering armour around his 
 body. Thus he repelled the evil day from the .^Etolians, 
 yielding to his own inclination ; but they did not make good 
 to him the many and pleasing gifts ; but he nevertheless 
 warded ofi" evil. But revolve not such things within thy 
 mind, O my friend, nor let the deity ^ thus turn thee, since 
 it would be more dishonourable to assist the ships [when 
 already] set on fire. Rather come for the ^fbs, for the 
 Greeks will honour thee equally with a god. If again 
 without gifts thou enter the man-destroying battle, thou 
 wilt not receive equal honour, although warding off the war." 
 But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed : 
 " Phoenix, respected father, old man, Jove-nurtured, to me 
 there is no need of this honour, for I conceive that I have 
 been honoured by the behest of Jove, which will detain me 
 at the crooked sliips whilst breath remains in my bosom, and 
 my knees have the power of motion. But I will tell thee 
 something else, and do thou revolve it in thy mind. Disturl 
 not my soul, weeping and lamenting, gratifying the hero 
 Atrides ; it is not at all necessaiy that thou love him, that 
 thou mayest not be hated by me, who love thee. It is proper 
 for thee with me to give annoyance to him who hath an- 
 noyed me. Rule equally with me, and receive my honour in 
 half.^ These wiU bear back my message; but do thou, re- 
 maining here, recline upon a soft bed, and with mom appear- 
 ing let us consult whether we shall return to our native land 
 or remain." 
 
 He said, and in silence nodded to Patroclus from beneath 
 
 ' This catalogue of the horrors of war seems to have been in the minds 
 of Sallust, Cat. § 51, and Cicero, Or. iv. in Catil. 
 
 • Rudolf on Ocellus Lucan. p. 266, well observes, " Antiquissimis 
 temporibus, quorum repetere memoriam possumus, SaifUDv nihil aliud 
 erat, quam deus. Horn. Od. y, 165, 160 j II. y, 420; II. X, 791. 
 Neque in eo vocabuli discrimen est, si aut prosnnt hominibus, aut lis 
 nocent ; utroque enim modo Sai/ioves diountur." Kennedy and some of 
 the translators have erred on this point. 
 
 • /. e. Ka9' jj/iim). See Heyne. 
 
617—656. ILIAD. IX. lOS 
 
 his brows, that he should strew a thick bed for Phoenix, 
 wlulst they were meditating to withdraw as qiiickly as pos- 
 sible from the tent. But them godlike Telamonian Ajax 
 addressed : 
 
 " O Jove-bom son of Laertes, crafty Ulysses, let us go, for 
 the object of our address appears not to me to be attainable, 
 in this way at least, and we must report the message to the 
 Greeks with all haste, although it be not good. They now 
 sit expecting us ; but Achilles stores up within his breast a 
 fierce and haughty soul, unyielding ; nor does he regard the 
 friendship of his companions, with which we have honoured 
 him at the ships beyond others. Merciless one ! and truly 
 some one hath accepted compensation even for a brother's 
 death, or Ms own son slain, whilst [the murderer] remains at 
 home among his people, having paid many expiations : and 
 the mind and noble soul of the other is appeased upon his 
 having received compensation. But in thy breast the gods 
 have put an unyielding and evil mind, for the sake of a maid 
 only; whereas we now offer thee seven far excelling, and 
 many other gifts beside them. Do thou then assume a pro- 
 pitious disposition ; and have respect to thy house, for we are 
 guests beneath thy roof from the multitude of the Greeks, 
 and desire to be most dear and friendly to thee beyond all 
 the Achseans, as many as they are." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed : 
 " Most noble Ajax, son of Telamon, chief of the people, thou 
 appearest to me to have said aU this from thy soul, yet does 
 my heart swell with indignation as often as I recollect those 
 things, how the son of Atreus hath rendered me dishonoured 
 am.ong the Greeks, as if it were some contemptible stranger. 
 But go ye, and carry back my message, for I shall not think 
 of bloody war, before the son of warlike Priam, noble Hector, 
 slaughtering the Greeks, shall reach the ships of the Myrmi- 
 dons, and burn the ships with fire. But about my tent and 
 black ship, however, I think that Hector, although eager, 
 wiU desist from combat." 
 
 Thus he spake; but they, each having seized a double 
 goblet, having made libations, went back by the side of the 
 fleet, and Ulysses led the way. But Patroclus gave orders 
 to his companions and female domestics to strew, with all 
 baste, a thick couch for Phoenix; and they, obedient, spread 
 
170 TLIAD. IX. 657—695. 
 
 a bed as he desired, — sheep-skins, coverlets, and the fine fabric 
 of flax : there lay the old man, and awaited heavenly Morn. 
 But Achilles slept in the recess of his well-made tent; and 
 beside him lay a lady, fair-cheeked Diomede, daughter of 
 Phorbas, whom he had brought from Lesbos. And Patroclus 
 on the other side reclined : and by him also lay fair-waisted 
 Iphis, whom noble Achilles gave him, having taken lofty 
 Scyros, a city of Enyeus. 
 
 But when they were within the tents of Atrides, the sons 
 of the Greeks, rising one after another, received them with 
 golden cups, and interrogated thus. And first the king of 
 men, Agamemnon, inquired : 
 
 " Come, teU me, O Ulysses, much praised, great glory of 
 the Greeks, whether does he wish to ward ofiF the hostile fire 
 from the ships, or has he refused, and does wrath stiU posses? 
 liis haughty soul?" 
 
 But him much-enduring, noble Ulysses then addressed : 
 " Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, 
 he wills not to extinguish his wrath, but is the more filled 
 with anger, and despises thee as well as thy gifts. He bids 
 thee thyself consult with the Greeks, in what manner thou 
 mayest preserve both the ships and the army of the Greeks, 
 but has himself threatened, that with the lisiag dawn he wil' 
 launch into the main his well-benched, equaUy-pHed vessels. 
 And he has declared that he would advise others also to sail 
 home, since ye will not now effect the destruction of lofty 
 Ilium ; for far-resounding Jove hath greatly stretched forth 
 his hand [over it], and the people have taken courage. 
 Thus he spoke; and here are these who followed me, Ajax, 
 and the two heralds, both prudent men, to tell these things. 
 But aged Phoenix hath lain down there, for thus he ordered, 
 that in the morning, if he chose, he might follow him in the 
 ships to his dear father-land; but he will by no means cany 
 liim off against his will." 
 
 Thus he spake; and they all became mute in silence, mai- 
 velling at his speech, for he harangued with great vehemence. 
 Long were the sorrowing sons of the Greeks mute, till at 
 length Diomede, valiant in the din of battle, addressed them : 
 
 " Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, 
 would that thou hadst not supplicated the illustrious son of 
 Peleus, offering countless gifts, for he is haughty even other- 
 
696— 708.J, ILIAD. IX. 171 
 
 v^rise : * now again hast thou excited him much more to inso- 
 lence. Let us, however, leave him alone, whether he go or 
 remain, for he will fight again at that time when his mind 
 within his breast urges, and the Deity incites him. But 
 come, let lis all obey as I shall advise : go now to rest, having 
 satisfied your hearts with food and wine, for this is force and 
 vigour. But when fair rosy-fingered mom has shone forth, 
 draw up the infantry and cavalry with all haste before the 
 ships, cheering them : and do thou thyself likewise fight in 
 the foremost ranks." 
 
 Thus he spake, but all the kings approved, admiring the 
 speech of Diomede, the breaker of steeds. Having then 
 ofiered libations, they departed each to his tent ; there they 
 lay down to rest, and enjoyed the boon of sleep.' 
 
 ' I am indebted tc Miltau. 
 
172 ILIAD. X. 1—23 
 
 BOOK THE TENTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Diomede and Ulysses, as spies, penetrate the camp of lie Trojans by 
 night, and first entrap and slay Dolon, who had set out on the same 
 errand for the Trojans. Having obtained from him the desired infor- 
 mation, they then attack the Thracians, and slay their king. Rhesus, 
 while asleep. At the suggestion of Minerva, they then return to the 
 camp. 
 
 The other chiefs, indeed, of all the Greeks were sleeping the 
 ■whole night at the ships, overcome by soft slumber ; but 
 sweet sleep possessed not Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, 
 shepherd of the people, revolving many things in his mind. 
 As -when the husband of fair-haired Juno thunders, preparing 
 either an abundant, immense shower, or hail or snow, when 
 the snow whitens the fields ; or somewhere [preparing] the 
 wide mouth 1 of bitter war ; so frequently groaned Agamemnon 
 in his breast from the bottom of his heart, and his mind was 
 troubled within him. As often indeed as he looked towards 
 the Trojan plain, he wondered at the many fires which were 
 burning before Ilium, the sound of flutes and pipes, and the 
 tumult of men. But when he looked towards the ships and 
 army of the Greeks, he tore up many hairs from his head by 
 the roots,^ [enraged at] Jove who dwells aloft, and deeply he 
 groaned in his noble heart. But this plan appeared best to 
 him in his judgment; to repair first to Neleian Nestor, [and 
 see] whether with him he might contrive some blameless 
 counsel, which might be an averter of evil. Rising, therefore, 
 he wrapped his coat around his breast, and beneath his smooth 
 feet bound the beautifiil sandals ; next he threw around hiia 
 
 ' Cicero pro Arch. § 5, " Totius belli ore ac faucibus." 
 ' Or " one after another." Schol. : eir' aWijXove, ri irpoppiJovE. 
 See Merrick on Tryphiodor. 388 j Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 1029. 
 
23-57. ILIAD. X. 173 
 
 the blood-stained skin of a huge, tawny' lion, stretching to 
 his ankles, and grasped his spear. In like manner, a tremor 
 possessed Menelaus, for neither did sleep rest upon his eye- 
 lids, [through fear] lest the Greeks should suffer aught, who 
 on his account had come over the wide sea to Troy, waging 
 daring war. First with a spotted leopard's skin he covered 
 his broad back; and next, lifting his brazen helmet, placed it 
 upon his head, and grasped a spear in his stout hand. But 
 he went to awaken his brother, who had the chief command 
 of all the Greeks, and was honoured by the people like a god. 
 Hini he found by the prow of his ship, putting his bright 
 armour around his shoulders; and airiving, he was welcome 
 to him. Him first Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, ad- 
 dressed : " Why arm thus, my respected brother 1 Or whom 
 dost thou urge of thy companions to go as a spy amongst the 
 Trojans? In truth I very much fear that no one will un- 
 dertake this deed, going alone through the dead of night 
 to reconnoitre the enemy. Any one [who does so] will be 
 bold-hearted indeed." 
 
 But him king Agamemnon, answering, addressed : " O 
 Jove-nurtured Menelaus, need of prudent counsel [comes 
 upon] both thee and me, which will protect and preserve the 
 Greeks and their ships, since the mind of Jove is altered. 
 Surely he has rather given his attention to the Hectorean 
 sacrifices ; for never have I belield, nor heard a person who 
 related, that one man has devised so many arduous deeds in 
 one day as Hector, dear to Jove, hath performed upon the 
 sons of the Greeks in such a manner, [although] the dear 
 bhild neither of a goddess nor of a god. But such deeds 
 hath he done as J conceive will long and for many a day be a 
 cause of care to the Greeks; so many evils hath he wrouglit 
 against the Greeks. But go now, call Ajax and Idomeneus, 
 running quickly to their ships, but I wiU go to noble Nestor, 
 and exhort him to arise, if he be willing to go to the sacred 
 company 2 of guards and give orders; for to him will they 
 
 ' Or, " active, raging." The other interpretation is, however, farourwl 
 by Virg. Mn. ii. 721 : " Fulvique instemor pelle leonis." 
 
 ' Some picked troop chosen for the especial purpose of keeping watch. 
 Hejrne compares 2, 504 : itpbg kvkXos ; Q, 681 : \aQd}v hpoiq 7ri;Xft- 
 tipove. Compare, also, the Upbc }i6xog of the Thebans, Plutarch, io 
 Peiop. t. i. p. 285 ; E. Athen. xiii. p. 561. 
 
174 ILIAD. X. 57- ^i>. 
 
 most attentively listen, because his son commands tlie guards, 
 along with Meriones, the armour-bearer of Idomeneus ; for to 
 them we intrusted the chief charge." 
 
 But ViiTTi Menelaus, vahant in the din of war, then an- 
 swered : " In what manner dost thou command and exhort 
 me in thy speech 1 Shall I remain there with them, waiting 
 till thou come, or shall I run back again to thee, after I have 
 duly given them orders 1 " 
 
 But him, in turn, Agamemnon, king of men, addressed : 
 "Wait there, lest, as we come, we miss' one another; for there 
 are many ways through the camp. But shout aloud whither- 
 soever thou goest, and enjoin them to be watchfiil, accosting 
 each man by a name from his paternal race,^ honourably ad- 
 dressing all ; nor be thou haughty in thy miild. Nay, let 
 even us ourselves labour, whatever be our station, so heavy a 
 calamity hath Jove laid upon us at our birth." 
 
 Thus saying, he dismissed his brother, having duly charged 
 him. But he hastened to go to Nestor, the shepherd of the 
 people. Him he found on his soft couch beside his tent and 
 black ship, and by him lay his variegated arms, a shield, two 
 spears, and a glittering helmet : beside him also lay a flexible 
 belt, with which the old man girded himself, when he was 
 arming for man-destrojring war, leading on his peoplt ; since 
 he by no means yielded to sad old age. Being supported 
 on his elbow,^ and lifting up his head, he addressed the son 
 of Atreus, and questioned him in [these] words : 
 
 " Who art thou who comest thus alone by the ships, along 
 the army, during the gloomy night, when other mortals are 
 asleep ? Whether seeking any of the guards, or any of thy 
 companions 1 Speak, nor approach me in silence; of what is 
 there need to thee 1" 
 
 But him Agamemnon, king of men, then answered : " O 
 Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Greeks, thou wilt 
 recognize Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, whom beyond all 
 J eve hath plunged into toils oontinuallv, whilst breath re- 
 
 ' Buttmann, Lexil. p. 85, comes to the conclusion that " we most 
 include aSpord'iiiv among the forms of a/iaprdvia, whose etymological 
 connections, as long as we are ignorant of them, we can easily do without." 
 
 '^ Instances of this complimentary style of address occur in ver. 144. 
 ^inyevsQ AaepriaSr]. 86 ; Nldrop N?jXjjid5i;. 
 
 ' Cf. Propert. i. 3, 34. " Sic ait in molli fixa toro cubitum." 
 
90—120. ILIAD. X. 175 
 
 mains in my breast, or my knees have the power of motion, 
 I wai>deri thus, because sweet sleep sits not on loine eyes, 
 but war and the calamities of the Greeks are my care. For 
 I greatly fear for the Greeks, neither is my heart firm, but I 
 am confounded.^ My heart leaps without my breast, and my 
 fair limbs tremble beneath. But if thou canst do aught 
 (sLQce neither doth sleep come upon thee), come, let us go 
 down to the guards, that we may see whether, worn out by 
 toil and [overpowered]^ by sleep, they slumber, and are alto- 
 gether forgetful of the watch. And hostile men are encamped 
 near, nor do we at all know but that they perhaps meditate 
 in their minds to engage even during the night."'' 
 
 But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered : 
 " Agamemnon, most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, 
 assuredly provident Jove will not accomplish to Hector all 
 those devices, which now, perhaps, he expects ; but I think 
 that he will labour under even more cares if Achilles shall 
 but turn away his heart from heavy wrath. Yet will I wil- 
 lingly foUow thee ; and let us moreover incite others, both 
 spear-renowned Diomede, and Ulysses, swift Ajax, and the 
 valiant son of Phyleus. But if any one going, would call 
 godlike Ajax, and king Idomeneus ; for their ships are the 
 farthest off,* and by no means near at hand. But I will 
 chide Menelaus, dear and respected though he be, nor will I 
 conceal, even if thou shouldst be displeased with me, since 
 thus he sleeps, and has permitted thee alone to labour. For 
 now ought he to labour, supplicating among all the chiefs, for 
 a necessity, no longer tolerable, invades us." 
 
 But him Agamemnon, king of men, in turn addressed: 
 " Old man, at other times I would even bid thee blame him, 
 
 ' JEsch. Ag. 12: Eiir' dv Si vvKTiirXayKTov ivSpovov t' I^w 
 Elivriv ovtipoiQ oiiK imaKOirovfiivTjv "Ejiriv, (poSog yap oj/6' 'Sinoi- 
 TrapaBTaTtl. ' 
 
 ' Cicero ad Attic, ix. 6 : " Non angor, sed ardeo dolore ; ovSk fioi 
 ijTop ijiiriiov, aXX aXaXvKTriixai.. Non sum, inquam, milii crede, 
 mentis compos." 
 
 " Observe the zeugma, which has been imitated by Hor. Od. iii. 4, II : 
 " Ludo fatigatumque somno." Compare the learned dissertation on this 
 subject by D'Orville on Chariton, W. 4, p. 440, sqq. ed. Lips. 
 
 * ./Esch. Sept. c. Th. 28 : Alyti niylartiv TpoaioXqv 'Axa.Ua Nuicri/- 
 yopiiaOai KaviSovXtveiv iroXtt. 
 
 ' Soph. Aj. 3 : Kai vvv iiri axrivdig at vavTiKaXg opS) A'lavTOQ, tvda 
 raXiv iaxarriv ex*'- 
 
176 ILIAD. X. 121-154 
 
 for he is frequently remiss, and is not willing to labour, 
 yielding neither to sloth, nor thoughtlessness of mind, but 
 looking to me, and awaiting my commencement. But now 
 he arose long before me, and stood beside me; Mm I have 
 sent before to call those whom thou seekest. But let us go, 
 and we shall find them before the gates among the guards ; 
 for there I bade them be assembled." 
 
 Bui Iiim the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: "It 
 so, none of the Greeks will be angry, nor disobey when he 
 may exhort or give orders to any." 
 
 Thus saying, he put on his tunic around his breast, and 
 beneath his shining feet he placed the beautiful sandals, and 
 fastened about him his purple cloak with a clasp, double, 
 ample ;i and the shaggy pile was thick u])on it: and he 
 seized a doughty spear, pointed with sharp brass. He pro- 
 ceeded first to the ships of the brazen-mailed Achieatis; then 
 the Gerenian knight Nestor, vociferating, aroused from his 
 sleep Ulysses, equal to Jove in coimsel. But the voice 
 immediately penetrated his mind, and he came out from the 
 tent, and addressed them : 
 
 "Why, I pray, wander ye thus alone through the am- 
 brosial night, near the ships, through the armyj what so 
 great necessity now comes upon you 1 " 
 
 But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: 
 " Jove-sprung son of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, be not 
 indignant, for so great a sorrow hath oppressed the Greeks. 
 But follow, that we may arouse even another, whomsoever it 
 is fit, to deliberate whether to fly or fight." 
 
 Thus he spake, and much-counselling Ulysses returning 
 into his tent, flung aroimd his shoulders his variegated shield, 
 and followed them. But they proceeded to Diomede, the 
 sou of Tydeus, and him they found without, before his tent, 
 with his arms; and his companions slept around him. Be- 
 neath their heads they had their shields, and their spears 
 were fixed erect upon the nether point;* and afer ofFglit- 
 
 ' Schol. : T}jv fisyaXriv, ttxm Kai 5i7rXp avry xp&fitvov ex*'*' 'f^** 
 TUfikvriv. The epithet foiviKoiiraa denotes that it was the garb of royalty. 
 
 ^ ^avptarrjpffi' rotf arvpa^iv rSiv birlaio rwv SopaTiDv, Hesychius, 
 who also, with reference to the present passage, has SaupwTJjpof roi 
 aiSj)Qiov. Pollux, X. 31, well explains it, to rov Soparog iVrajitcvev. 
 It is also called arvpai and irrvpa 
 
154—186, ILIAD. X. 177 
 
 tered the brass, like the lightning of father Jove. The heio 
 himself however slumbered, and beneath him was strewed 
 the hide of a wild bull; but under his head was spread a 
 sjilendid piece of tapestry. Standing by him, the Gerenian 
 imight Nestor awoke him, moving him on the heel with his 
 foot,i he rou.spd him, and upbraided [him] openly : 
 
 " Arise, son of Tydeus, why dost thou indulge in sleep all 
 night ? Hearest thou not how the Trojans are encamped 
 upon an eminence in the plain near the ships, and that now 
 but a small space keeps them off ? " 
 
 Thus he spoke : but he leaped up very quickly from slimi- 
 ber, and addressing him, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Indefatigable art thou, old man : never, indeed, dost thou 
 cease from labour. Are there not even other younger sons 
 of the Greeks, who, going about in every direction, might 
 arouse each of the kings ] But, O old man, thou art im- 
 possible to be wearied." 
 
 But him then the Gerenian knight Nestor in turn 
 addressed: "Truly, my friend, thou hast spoken all these 
 things aright. I have to be sure blameless sous, and I have 
 numerous troops, some of whom indeed, going round, might 
 give the summons. But a very great necessity hath oppressed 
 the Greeks, and now are the affairs of aU balanced on a 
 razor's edge,^ whether there be most sad destruction to the 
 Greeks, or life. Yet go now, since thou art younger, arouse 
 swift Ajax, and the son of Phyleus, if thou hast pity on 
 me." 
 
 Thus he spake; but the other threw around his shoulders 
 the skin of a huge tawny Hon, reaching to his feet, and took 
 his spear. He hastened forth, and the hero, having aroused 
 the rest, led them thence. 
 
 But when they now came to the assembled guards, they 
 found not the leaders of the guards slumbering, but all were 
 sitting vigilantly with their arms. As dogs with care keep 
 watch around the sheep in a fold, hearing, the furious wild 
 beast, which comes through the wood from the mountains, 
 but much clamour of men and dogs is against it, and sleep 
 
 ' Not " cdlce pedis movcns." See Kennedy. 
 
 • Herodot. vii. 11 : 'Eiri ^vpov yap rrJQ dKfiijg e^trai y/fuv ra irpuy- 
 tiara. Soph. Antig. 996 : ^povti jStGw^ av vvv tiri ^vpov ru^rf 
 Theocrit, xxii. 6 : 'AvOptliirwv awTrjpig iird ^voaS IjSri iovTuv, 
 
 N 
 
178 ILIAD. X. 13/— 225. 
 
 is utterly lost to them; so was sweet slumber lost to 
 their eyelids, keeping guard during the sad night, for they 
 were ever turned towards the plain, whensoever they heard 
 the Trojans advancing. But the old man seeing them, 
 rejoiced, and encouraged them with a speech, and addressing 
 them, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Thus now, dear children, keep watch ; nor let sleep seize 
 upon any, lest we become a mockery to the enemy." 
 
 Thus saying, he crossed the trench ; and with him followed 
 the chiefe of the Greeks, as many as had been summoned to 
 the council. Along with these went Meriones, and the illus- 
 trious son of Nestor ; for they had invited them, that they 
 might consult with them. Having therefore passed over the 
 dug trench, they sat down in a clear space, where a piece of 
 ground appeared free from fallen dead bodies, whence im- 
 petuous Hector had turned back, having destroyed the 
 Greeks, when night at length enveloped them. There sitting 
 down, they addressed words to each other, and to them the 
 Gerenian knight Nestor began discourse : 
 
 " O friends, would not now some man put such confidence 
 in his own daring mind as to go against the magnanimous 
 Trojans, if perchance he might take some of the enemy 
 straying in the outskirts of the camp, or perhaps even learn 
 some report among the Trojans, what they deUberate among 
 themselves ; whether they intend to remain here by the 
 ships at a distance, or are about to return to the city, since 
 they have subdued the Greeks? Could he but hear all this, 
 and come back to us unscathed, great glory would be his 
 under heaven amongst aU men, and he shall have a good 
 reward. For as many chiefs as command the vessels, of all 
 these each will give a black sheep, a ewe, having a lamb at 
 its udders; to which indeed no possession will be hke; and 
 he will ever be present at our banquets and feasts." 
 
 Thus he spoke; aijid they were all mute in silence; but to 
 them Diomede, valiant in the din of battle, said : 
 
 " Nestor, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to enter the 
 camp of the hostile Trcjans, which is near; but if some other 
 man were to go along with me, there would be more pleasure, 
 and it would be more encouraging. For when two go 
 together, the one perceives before the other how the ad- 
 vantage may be. But if one being alone dioidd observe any- 
 
226—262. ILIAD. X. 179 
 
 tiling, Ms perception is nevertlieless more tardy, and liis 
 judgment weak." 
 
 Thus he spoke : and the greater number wished to follow 
 Diomede. The two Ajaces wished it, servants of Mars ; 
 Meriones wished it ; the son of Nestor very earnestly desired 
 it ; the spear-renowned son of Atreus, Menelaus, desired it ; 
 and hardy Ulysses was eager to penetrate the crowd of the 
 Trojans; for ever daring was his mind within Ms breast. 
 Among them, however, Agamemnon, the king of men, spoke : 
 
 " Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, select the 
 companion whom thou desirest, the bravest of those who 
 present themselves, since many are ready. Nor do thou, 
 pajdng deference in thy mind, leave indeed the better, and 
 select as follower the worse, tMough respect [for rank] ; 
 looking neither to family, nor whether one is more the 
 king." 
 
 Thus he spake, for he feared for yeUow-haired Menelaus ; 
 but amongst them Diomede, brave in the din of battle, again 
 spoke : 
 
 " If then ye now order me to select a companion myself, 
 how can I now forget godlike Ulysses, whose heart is prudent, 
 and spirit gallant in all labours; and whom Pallas Minerva 
 loves. He foUowing, we should both return even from 
 burning fire, for he is skilled in planning beyond [aU others]." 
 
 But him much-enduring, noble Ulysses in turn addressed : 
 " Son of Tydeus, neither praise me beyond measure, nor at 
 aU blame, for thou speakest these things amongst Argives, who 
 are acquainted with them already. But let us go, for night 
 hastens on, and morn is at hand. The stars have already far 
 advanced, and the greater portion of the night, by two parts, 
 has gone by, but the third portion remains. ' 
 
 Thus having spoken, they clad themselves ia their terrible 
 arms. To Diomede, Thrasymedes, firm ia war, gave Ms 
 two-edged sword, because his own was left at the sMps, and 
 a sMeld. Upon Ms head he placed Ms bull's-Mde helmet, 
 coneless, crestless, wMch is called cataityx,! and protects the 
 heads of blooming youths. And Meriones gave a bow, quiver, 
 and sword to Ulysses, and put upon his head a casque of 
 hide ; and within, it was firmly bound with many straps ; 
 
 ' " The Karairvi, might be termed the undress 'lelmet of the chief who 
 irore it." — Kennedy. 
 
180 ILIAD. X. 2fj3— 295. 
 
 wMlst witliout, the white teeth of an ivory-tusked boar set 
 thick together on all sides fenced it veil, and skilfully; and 
 in the midst a woollen head-piece ' was sewed. It Autolycus 
 once brought from Eleon, the city of Amyntor, son of Hor- 
 menus, having broken into his krge mansion. He gave it, 
 however, to Amphidamas, the Cytherian, to bear to Scandea, 
 and Amphidamas bestowed it upon Molus, to be a gift of 
 hospitality, but he gave it to his son Meriones to be worn. 
 Then at last, being placed around, it covered the head of 
 Ulysses. But they, when they had girt themselves in dread- 
 ful arms, hastened to advance, and left all the chiefs at the 
 same place. And to them near the way, Pallas Minerva 
 sent a heron upon the right hand : they did not discern it 
 with their eyes, because of the gloomy night, but heard it 
 rustling. And Ulysses was delighted on account of the bird, 
 and prayed to Minerva: 
 
 "Hear me, thou daughter of segis-bearing Jove, who 
 standest by me in all labours, nor do I escape thy notice, 
 having moved.^ Now again do thou, O Minerva, especially 
 befriend me, and grant that, covered with glory, we may 
 return back to the well-benched barks, having performed a 
 mighty deed, which will surely occasion care to the Trojans." 
 
 Then Diomede, brave in the din of battle, next prayed : 
 " Now hear me, too, O daughter of Jove, invincible. Attend 
 me, as once thou didst attend my sire, the noble Tydeus, to 
 Thebes, what time he went as an ambassador for the 
 Achseans; he left the brazen-mailed Achseans at the Asopus, 
 and he himself bore thither a mild" message to the Cad- 
 mseans: but when returning he performed many arduous 
 deeds, with thy aid, O noble goddess, when thou propitious 
 didst stand beside him. Thus now wiUingly stand by and 
 protect me ; and in return I will sacrifice to thee a heifer of 
 a year old, with broad forehead, untamed, which no man 
 hath yet brought under the yoke. This wUl I sacrifice to 
 thee, encircling its horns with gold." 
 
 Thus they spoke, praying; and Pallas Minerva heard 
 
 > Or, " it was stuffed with felt."— Oxford Transl. " Wool was inlaid 
 between the straps, in order to protect the head, and make the helmet fit 
 closer. ' ' — Kennedy. 
 
 ' Soph. Aj 16 : Kai vvv exeyvwj li fi kit' avSpi Sva/iivci Bdaiv 
 kvkXovvt'. 
 
296—332. ILIAD. X. 181 
 
 them. But -when they had supplicated the daughter of 
 mighty Jove, they hastened to advance, like two lions, 
 tlirough the dark night, through slaughter, through hodies. 
 through arms, and black blood. 
 
 Nor did Hector allow the gallant Trojans to sleep ; but 
 he sxunmoned all the chiefs together, as many as were 
 leaders and rulers over the Trojans. Having summoned 
 them together, he framed prudent counsel : 
 
 "Who, undertaking it for me, will accomplish this deed 
 for a great reward ? And there shall be sufficient payment 
 for him ; for I will give a chariot and two rough-maned 
 steeds, which excel in speed at the swift-saUing ships ol 
 the Greeks, to him whosoever would dare (he wiU also 
 obtain glory for himself) to approach near the swift-saUing 
 ships, and learn whether the fleet ships are guarded as for- 
 merly, or whether, now subdued by our hands, they meditate 
 flight among themselves, nor wish to keep watch during the 
 night, overcome with grievous toU." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they were all still in silence. But 
 among the Trojans there was one Dolon, the son of Eumedes, 
 a divine herald, rich ia gold, and wealthy in brass, who in 
 aspect indeed was deformed, but [was] swift-footed, and he 
 was an only [son] among five sisters. Who then, standing 
 by, addressed the Trojans and Hector : 
 
 " Hector, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to approach 
 the swift-sailing ships, and gain information. But come, 
 raise up thy sceptre to me, and swear that thou wilt as- 
 suredly give me the horses and chariot, variegated with 
 brass, which now bear the illustrious son of Peleus, and I 
 will not be a vain spy to thee, nor frustrate thy expectation j 
 for I will go so far into the camp tiU I reach the ship of 
 Agamemnon, where the chiefs will perchance be consulting 
 whether to fly or fight." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but he took the sceptre in his hand and 
 swore to him : " Let Jove himself now be my witness, the 
 loudly-thundering spouse of Jimo, that no other man of the 
 Trojans shall be carried by these horses : but I declare that 
 thou shalt entirely have the glory of them." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and indeed swore a vain oath ;' neverthe- 
 
 ' "There is no necessity for supposing that Hector meditated any 
 
182 ILIAD. X. 333— 3fi8. 
 
 ?«ss he encouraged him. Immediately he thre-w around Ms 
 shoulders his crooked bow, and put on above the hide of 
 a grey wolf, with a casque of weasel-skin upon his head ; 
 and seized a sharp javelin. And he set out to go from 
 the camp towards the ships : nor was he destined to bring 
 back intelligence to Hector, returning from the ships. But 
 when now he had quitted the crowd of horses and men, he 
 eagerly held on his way. But him godlike Ulysses observed 
 advancing, and addressed Diomede : 
 
 " Hark ! Diomede, a man comes from the camp ; I know 
 not whether as a spy upon our vessels, or to plunder some of 
 the dead bodies. But let us suffer him first to pass by a 
 little through the plain, and afterwards, hastUy rushing upon 
 him, let us take him. If, however, he surj)asses us in speed, 
 attacking him with the spear, let us continually drive him 
 from the camp towards the ships, lest by chance he escape 
 towards the city." 
 
 Then having thus spoken, they lay down out of the path- 
 way among the dead ; but he, in thoughtlessness, ran hastily 
 past. But when now he was as far off as is the space 
 ploughed at one effort ^ by mules (for they are preferable to 
 oxen in drawing the well-made plough through the deep 
 fallow), they indeed ran towards him ; but he stood still, 
 hearing a noise ; for he hoped within his mind that his 
 companions had come from the Trojans to turn him back, 
 Hector having ordered. But when now they were distant 
 a spear's cast, or even less, he perceived that they were 
 enemies, and moved his active knees to fly ; and they im- 
 mediately hastened to follow. As when two rough-toothed 
 hounds, skilled in the chase, ever incessantly pursue through 
 the woody ground either a fawn or hare, whilst screaming it 
 flies before ; thus did Tydides and Ulysses, sacker of cities, 
 pursue him ever steadily, having cut him off from his own 
 people. But when now flying towards the ships, he would 
 speedily have mingled with the watch, then indeed Minerva 
 infiised strength into Tydides, that none of the brazen-maUed 
 Greeks might be beforehand in boasting that he had wounded 
 
 deceit. The poet contemplates the event, which frustrated his hopes, and 
 rendered his oath nugatory." — Kennedy. 
 ' See the Scholiast, and Kennedy's note. 
 
SOS— 394. ILIAD. X. 183 
 
 him, but lie himself come second ; then gallant Diomedc, 
 rushing on him with his spear, addressed him : 
 
 " Either stop, or I -vsdll overtake thee with my spear ; nor 
 do I think that thou wilt long escape certain destruction 
 from my hand." 
 
 He said, and hurled his spear, but intentionally missed 
 the man. Over the right shoulder the point of the well- 
 poUshed spear stuck in the ground. Then indeed he stood 
 stm, and trembled, stammering (and there arose a chat- 
 tering of the teeth in his mouth), pale through fear. Panting 
 they overtook him, and seized his hands ; but he weeping, 
 spoke thus : 
 
 " Take me alive, and I wiU ransom myself ; for within 
 [my house] I have brass, and gold, and well- wrought iron ; 
 from which my father will bestow upon you countless ran- 
 soms, if he shall hear that I am alive at the ships of the 
 Greeks." 
 
 But him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed : 
 " Take courage, nor svtffer death at all to enter thy mind ; 
 but come, tell me this, and state it correctly : Why comest 
 thou thus alone from the camp towards the fleet, through 
 the gloomy night, when other mortals sleep t Whether that 
 thou mightst plunder any of the dead bodies, or did Hector 
 send thee forth to reconnoitre everything at the hollow 
 ships ? Or did thy mind urge thee on ? " 
 
 But him Dolon then answered, and his limbs trembled 
 under him : " Contrary to my wish. Hector hath brought me 
 into great detriment, who promised that he would give me 
 the solid-hoofed steeds of the illustrious son of Peleus, and 
 nis chariot adorned with brass. And he enjoined me, going 
 through the dark and dangerous ' night, to approach the 
 
 ' Buttm. Lexil. p. 369 : " I translate ^ui) ^v% by the quid and fearful 
 night ; and if this be once admitted as the established meaning of the 
 Homeric epithet, it will certainly be always intelligible to the hearer and 
 full of expression. 'Night,' says a German proverb, Ms no man's 
 friend ;' the dangers which threaten the nightly wanderer are formed into 
 a quick, irritable, hostile goddess. Even the other deities are afraid ol 
 her, who is (li. S, 259) Seiij' Sjirireipa Kai (ivSpwv ; and Jupiter himself, 
 in the midst of his rage, refrains from doing what might be vvktI So j 
 dTToSu/iio. Nor is the epithet less natural when the night is not personi- 
 fied : for as v^tie Kaiooi are dangerous times so hv this word Sioi it may 
 
18t ILIAD. X, 395—430. 
 
 enemy, and learn accurately whetlier tie swift ships be 
 guarded as before, or whether, already subdued by our hands, 
 ye plan flight with yourselves, nor choose to keep watch 
 during the night, overcome by severe toil." 
 
 But him crafty Ulysses smiling addressed : " A ssuredly 
 thy mind aimed at mighty gifts, the horses of warlike JEar 
 cides ; but these are difficult to be governed by mortal men, 
 and to be driven by any other than Achilles, whom an 
 immortal mother bore. But come, tell me this, and state 
 correctly ; where now, when coming hither, didst thou leave 
 Hector, the shepherd of the people ? Where lie his martial 
 arms, and where his steeds ? And how [stationed are] the 
 watches and tents of the other Trojans 1 What do they 
 consult among themselves? Do they meditate to remain 
 there at a short distance from the ships, or will they retiim 
 again to the city, since, forsooth, they have subdued the 
 Greeks?" 
 
 But him Dolon, the son of Eumedes, again addressed : 
 "Therefore will I indeed detail these things to thee very 
 correctly. Hector, with those, as many as are counsellors, is 
 deliberating upon plans at the tomb of divine Ilus, apart 
 from the tumult : but for the watches of which thou inquirest, 
 Hero, no chosen [band] defends or watches the camp. But 
 as many as are the hearths of fires among the Trojans, those 
 at them are they to whom there is compulsion ; ^ and they 
 are both wakeful, and exhort one another to keep watch. 
 But the allies, on the contrary, summoned from afar, are 
 sleeping ; for they commit it to the Trojans to keep watch, 
 for their children and wives lie not near them." 
 
 But him much-planning TJlysses answering addressed : " In 
 what manner now do they sleep : mingled with the horse- 
 breaking Trojans, or apai-t ? Tell me, that I may know." 
 
 But him Dolon, the son of Eumedes, answered : " There- 
 fore will I indeed detail these things also very correctly. On 
 the one hand, towards the sea, [are] the Carians and Poeo- 
 nians, armed with crooked bows, the Lelegans, and Cauco- 
 uians, and noble Pelasgians. Towards Thymbra, on the 
 
 be intended to mark the swiftness and imminency of dangers which 
 threaten men who go Sid vvxra fik\aivav»* 
 
 ' Construe, xara Toaaq fiiv wpbe iax^paCi oaai tla' Tpuiuiv, oiSt oian 
 ivi-jIKt] tariti, iypi)y6p8aai, k. r. X. 
 
<30— 466. ILIAD. X. 185 
 
 other, tlie Lycians are allotted their place, and the haughty 
 Mysians, the horse-breaking Phrygians, and the Mseonian 
 cavalry ^ warriors. But why inquire ye of me these things 
 separately ? For if ye are now eager to penetrate the host 
 of the Trojans, those Thracians lately arrived are apart, the 
 last of all the others. And among them is their king 
 Rhesus, son of Eioneus. And his horses are the most beau- 
 tiful and largest I have seen. They are whiter than snow, 
 and like to the winds in speed. And his chariot is well 
 adorned with both gold and silver ; and he himself came, 
 wearing golden armour of mighty splendour, a marvel to 
 behold ; which does not indeed suit mortal men to wear, but 
 the immortal gods. But now remove me to the swift ships, 
 or, having bound me with a cruel bond, leave me here until 
 ye retTim, and make trial of me, whether I have indeed 
 spoken to you truly, or not." 
 
 But him then valiant Diomede sternly regarding, ad- 
 dres.sed : " Think not within thy mind to escape from me, 
 O Dolon, although thou hast reported good tidings, since 
 thou hast once come into my hands. For if indeed we shall 
 now release thee, -or set thee at liberty, hereafter thou 
 wouldst surely return to the swift ships of the Achseans, 
 either in order to become a spy, or to fight against us. But 
 if, subdued by my hands, thou lose thy life, thou wilt not 
 ever afterwards be a bane to the Greeks." 
 
 He said ; and the other was preparing to supplicate him, 
 taking him by the chin with his strong hand ; but he, 
 rushing at him with his sword, smote the middle of his neck, 
 and cut through both the tendons ; and the head of him, 
 still muttering, was mingled with the dust. From his head 
 they took the weasel-skin helmet, and the wolf-skin, with 
 the bent bow and long spear ; and noble Ulysses raised them 
 on high with his hand to Minerva, the goddess of plunder, 
 and praying, spake : 
 
 " Rejoice, O goddess, in these, for thee, first of all the im- 
 mortals in Olympus, do we invoke ; but guide us likewise to 
 the horses and tents of the Thracian men." 
 
 Thus he said ; and raising them high above himself, he 
 bung them on a tamarisk-branch. But beside it he placed a 
 
 ' /. e. charioteers. 
 
186 ILIAD. X. 4G7-499. 
 
 conspicuous mark, pulling np handfuls of reeds,i aud the 
 wide-spreading branches of the tamarisk, lest they should 
 escape their notice whilst they were returning through the 
 dark and dangerous night. Then both advanced onwards 
 through arms and black blood ; and proceeding, they camo 
 immediately to the band of the Thracian heroes. But they 
 were sleeping, overpowered with fatigue ; and their beautiful 
 armour lay upon the ground beside them, carefully in order, 
 in. three rows : and by each of them [stood] a yoke of horses. 
 Rhesus slept in the midst, and beside him his swifb horses 
 were fastened by the reins to the outer rim ^ of the chariot. 
 And Ulysses first observing, pointed liim. out to Diomede ; 
 
 " This [is] the man, O Diomede, and these [are] the horsee), 
 which Dolon, whom we slew, pointed out to us. But come 
 now, exert thy mighty strength ; nor does it at all become 
 thee to stand leisurely with thy armour. Loose therefore 
 the steeds, or do thou slay the men, and the horses shall be 
 my care." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but into biTn azure-eyed Minerva breathed 
 valour, and he slaughtered, turning himself on every side, 
 and a dreadful gi'oaning arose of those smitten with the 
 sword; and the earth grew rod with blood. As when a Hon, 
 coming upon unprotected flocks of goats or sheep, rushes 
 upon them, designing evils, so fell the son of Tydeus upon 
 the Thracian men, until he had slain twelve. But much- 
 counselling Ulysses — whomsoever Diomede standing beside 
 btrucs with the sword — him Ulysses dragged backwards, 
 seizi ag by the foot ; meditating these things in his mind, 
 thai; the fair-maned steeds should pass through easily, nor 
 should tremble in spirit, treading on the corses ; for as yet 
 thoy were imused to them. But when now the son of Tydeus 
 had reached the king, him, the thirteenth, he deprived of 
 s\reet life, panting ; for by the counsel of Minerva an evU 
 
 ■ dream had stood over his head during the night, [in likeness 
 of] the son of CEneus : but in the meantime patient Ulysses 
 
 ' yvas untying the solid-hoofed steeds. With the reins he 
 bound them together and drove them from the crowd, lash- 
 
 ' 'Svniiap-ifjac. Ernesti says : " Confregit leviter arundines, et addidit 
 similiter confractis myricte frondibus." 
 
 ^ Ernesti regards iTriSijipidfioQ as an adjective, with dvTvyoe under- 
 stood. 
 
600—533. ILIAD. X. 187 
 
 lug them with his bow, because he thought not of taking 
 ■with his hands the splendid lash from the well-wrought cha- 
 riot seat; and then he whistled as a signal to noble Diomede. 
 But he remaining, was meditating what most daring deed he 
 should do ; whether seizing the car, where lay the embroidered 
 armour, he should drag it out by the pole * or bear it away, 
 raising it aloft ; or take away the life of more of the Thra- 
 cians. Whilst he was revolving these things within his mind, 
 Minerva in the meantime standing near, addressed noble 
 Diomede : 
 
 " Be mindful now of a return to the hollow ships, son 
 of magnanimous Tydeus, lest thou reach them, having been 
 put to flight; or lent some other god perchance arouse the 
 Trojans." 
 
 Thus she spoke; and he understood the voice of the god- 
 dess speaking, and he quickly ascended the chariot. And 
 Ulysses lashed on [the horses] with his bow, and they fled to 
 the swift ships of the Greeks. 
 
 Nor did silver-bowed Apollo keep a vain watch. When he 
 beheld Minerva accompanying the son of Tydeus, enraged 
 with her, he descended into the vast army of the Trojans, 
 and roused Hippocoijn, a counsellor of the Thracians, the 
 gallant cousin of Rhesus. And he, leaping up from sleep, 
 when he beheld the place empty where the fleet horses had 
 stood, and the men panting amidst the dreadful slaughter, 
 immediately then wept aloud, and called upon his dear com- 
 panion by name. A clamour and immeasurable tumult of 
 the Trojans running together arose, and they looked with 
 wonder at the marvellous deeds, which men having perpe- 
 trated, had returned to the hoUow ships. 
 
 But when now they came where they had slain the spy of 
 Hector, there Ulysses, dear to Jove, reined in his fleet steeds. 
 But the son of Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the 
 bloody spoils in the hands of U iysses, and then ascended the 
 chariot. And he lashed on the steeds, and both, not unwiUing, 
 fled towards the hollow ships, for thither it was agreeable to 
 their minds [to go]. But Nestor first heard the soimd, and 
 said : 
 
 " friends, leaders and nJers over the Greeks, shall I speak 
 
 ' Understand /card pvjiov. 
 
188 ILIAD. X. 534-573. 
 
 falsely, or say the trutt 1 StiU my miud impels me. Tho 
 noise of swift-footed steeds strikes upon my ears. that 
 now Ulysses and gallant Diomede would immediately drive 
 some solid-hoofed steeds from the Trojans ! But greatly do I 
 fear in mind lest these bravest of the Greeks suffer aughc 
 from the rude host of Trojans." 
 
 Not yet was the whole speech uttered, when they them- 
 selves arrived. Then indeed they descended to the ground, 
 and [their friends] rejoicing, saluted them with the right 
 hand and kind expressions. But [first] the Gerenian knight 
 Nestor asked them : 
 
 " Come, teU me, most excellent TJlysses, great glory of the 
 Greeks, how took ye these horses ? [Whether] penetrating 
 the camp of the Trojans ; or did some god, meeting, supply 
 you with them ? They are very like unto the rays of the 
 sun. I indeed always mingle with the Trojans, nor can I say 
 that I remain at the ships, although being an old warrior : 
 yet have I never beheld nor remarked such horses, but I 
 think that some god, meeting you, hath given them. For 
 cloud-compelling Jove loves you both, and the daughter of 
 segis-bearing Jove, azure-eyed Minerva." 
 
 But him crafty Ulysses answering addressed : " Nestor, 
 oftspiing of Neleus, great glory of the Greeks, a god indeed, 
 if willing, could easily have given better horses even than 
 these, since they (the gods) are much more powerful. But 
 those steeds about which thou inquirest, old man, are Thra- 
 cian, lately arrived, and valiant Diomede slew their lord, and 
 beside him twelve companions, all of the bravest. The thir- 
 teenth, a spy, we killed, near the ships, whom Hector sent 
 forth, and the other illustrious Trojans, to be a spy, forsooth, 
 [of our army]." 
 
 Thus saying, he drove the solid-hoofed steeds across the 
 ditch, exulting, and with him went the other Greeks rejoicing. 
 But when they came to the well-constructed tent of Diomede, 
 they tied the steeds by the sldlfuUy-cut reins to the horses' 
 stall, where stood the swift-footed steeds of Diomede, eating 
 sweet corn. In the stern of his vessel Ulysses laid the bloody 
 spoils of Dolon, until they could present them as a sacred gift 
 to Minerva. Then having gone into the sea, they washed off 
 the abundant sweat from around their legs, their neck, and 
 thighs. Bub when the wave of the sea had washed away the 
 
576—579. TLIAU. X. 18'J 
 
 abundant sweat fiom their bodies, and they were refreshed 
 in their dear heart, entering the well-polished baths, they 
 bathed. But having bathed and anointed themselves with 
 rich oil, they sat down to a repast ; and drawing forth sweet 
 wine from a full bowl, they poured it out in libation to 
 Minerva. 
 
190 ILIAD. XI. 1—22. 
 
 BOOK THE ELEVENTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Agamemnon distinguishes himself, but, being wounded, retires from tha 
 field. Diomede is wounded by Paris : Ulysses by Socus. Ajax and 
 Menelaus then go to the relief of Ajax, and Eurypylus, who had joined 
 them, is shot in the thigh by Paris, who also wounds Machaon. Nestor 
 conveys Machaon from the field. Achilles sends Patroclus to the tent 
 of Nestor, who exhorts Patroclus to engage in battle, assuming the 
 armour of Achilles. 
 
 But Aurora was rismg from her couch, from beside glorious 
 Tithonus, that she might hear light to immortals and to 
 mortals, whew Jove sent forth fell Discord to the swift ships 
 of the Greeks, bearing in her hands the portent of war. And 
 she stood upon the huge^ black ship of tJlysses, which was in 
 the centre, to shout to both sides, as well to the tents of Te- 
 lamonian Ajax, as to those of Achilles ; who had both drawn 
 up their equal ships at the very extremities, relying on their 
 valour and strength of hands. There standing, the goddess 
 shouted both loudly and terribly, in Orthian strain,^ to the 
 Greeks, and implanted mighty strength in the heart of each, 
 to war and fight incessantly. And immediately war became 
 more sweet to them, than to return in the hollow ships to 
 their dear fatherland. Then the son of Atreus shouted 
 aloud, and ordered the Greeks to be girded ; and arrayed 
 himself, putting on his shining armour. First he put upon 
 his legs his beautiful greaves, fitted with silver clasps ; next 
 he placed around his breast a corslet which Cinyras once gave 
 him, to be a pledge of hospitality. For a great rumour was 
 heard at 0\'prus, that the Greeks were about to sail to Troy 
 
 ' Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 378, sqq. 
 
 " /. e. shrill, at the full pitch of the voice. Cf. ^sch. Pen. 
 MoXtdjWv iji^ij/iijfftj/, opdiov S' tifia 'AirijXdXaJe. 
 
23—60 ILIAD. XI. 191 
 
 in sMps : wherefore lio gave him this, gratifying ihe king. 
 Ten bars indeed [of the corslet] were of dark cyanns,' twelve 
 of gold, and twenty of tin ; and three serpents of cyanus 
 stretched towards the neck on each side, like unto rainbows, 
 which the son of Saturn hath fixed in a cloud,^ a sign to 
 articulate-speaking men. Then around his shoulders he hung 
 his sword, on which glittered golden studs ; and a silver 
 scabbard enclosed it, fitted with golden rings. Next he took 
 up his shield, mortal-covering,^ variously wrought, strong, 
 beautiful, around which were ten brazen orbs. Upon it were 
 twenty white bosses of tia, and in the midst was [one] of 
 dark cyanus. On it a grim-visaged Gorgon was placed as an 
 ornament, looking horribly, and around [were] Terror and 
 Flight. The belt was of silver, but round it a snake of 
 cyanus was twisted, and there were three heads entwined, 
 springing fi^om one neck. TJpon his head also he placed his 
 hehnet, adorned with studs on aU sides, having four bosses, 
 crested with horse-hair, and dreadfully nodded the tuft from 
 above. He then took two strong spears, tipped with brass, 
 sharp; and the brass of them ghttered afar, even to heaven : 
 and Minerva and Juno thundered above, honoviring the king 
 of Mycenoe, rich in gold. 
 
 Then indeed each gave orders to his own charioteer to 
 hold there his horses in good order by the fosse ; whilst they 
 themselves on foot,'* arrayed with their armour, rushed forth; 
 and an inextinguishable clamour arose before morning. And 
 they* were marshalled in the foreground with the cavalry at 
 the trench; the cavalry followed at a little interval; but the 
 son of Saturn aroused a dreadful tumult, and sent down dew- 
 drops, moist with blood, from the air above, because he was 
 about to hurl many brave souls on to Hades. 
 
 On the other side, on the contrary, the Trojans [drew up] 
 on a hill in the plain around both mighty Hector, blameless 
 Polydamas, and ^neas, who, among the Trojans, was ho- 
 noured by the people as a god ; and the three sons of An- 
 tenor, Polybus, noble Agonor, and youthful Acamas, like 
 
 ' I have retained this woid, as we cannot ascertaia what precise metal 
 ie meant. 
 
 2 Cf. Genes, ix. 13. ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. S3. 
 
 ■* Cf. Hesych. t. i. p. 1065, with Alberti's note. 
 ' /. e. the chiefs. 
 
192 ILIAD. XI. 60—98. 
 
 UTito the immortals. And Hector in the van carried his 
 shield, equal on all sides. And as when a pernicious star 
 makes its appearance from the clouds, at one time shining, 
 and dark again hath entered the clouds ; so Hector, giving 
 orders, appeared now among the first, and now among the 
 last ; and he glittered all over with, brass, like the lightning 
 of aegis-bearing Jove. 
 
 And they, — as when reapers opposite to each other fonj- 
 Bwathes of wheat or barley along the field of a rich man, and 
 the frequent haniUuls fall, — so the Trojans and Greeks, rush- 
 ing against ono another, kept slaughtering : and neither 
 thought of pernicious flight. And they held their heads 
 equal in combat, and rushed on Kke wolves; whilst lament- 
 able Discord, looking on, exulted : for she alone of the gods 
 was present with them contending. But the other gods were 
 not present with them, but sat quiet in their palaces, where 
 beautiful mansions were buUt for each, along the summits of 
 Olympus. All however blamed the Satumian collector of 
 dark clouds, because he wished to afford glory to the Trojans. 
 But the sire did not regard them, but retiring by himself, sat 
 down apart from the others, exulting ia glory, looking both 
 upon the city of the Trojans, and the ships of the Greeks, and 
 the brightness of armour, and the slaying, and slain. 
 
 Whilst it was mom, and the sacred day was increasing, so 
 long the weapons reached both sides, and the people felL 
 But at the time when the woodcutter* has prepared his re- 
 past in the deUs of a mountain, when he has wearied his 
 hands hewing down lofty trees, and satiety comes upon his 
 mind, and the desire of sweet food seizes his breast ; then the 
 Greeks, by their valour, broke the phalanxes, cheering their 
 companions along the ranks. But Agamemnon first leaped 
 forth, and slew the hero Bianor, the shepherd of the people, 
 and then also his companion, Oileus, the goader of steeds. 
 For he then, leaping from the chariot, stood against him; but 
 he (Agamemnon) smote him, as he was rushing straight for- 
 ward, with his sharp spear, ia the forehead ; nor did the 
 visor, heavy with brass, retard the weapon, but it penetrated 
 both it and the bone, and all the brain within 'vas stained 
 
 ' Compare the similar allusion to rustic pursuits in xvi. 779, with 
 Buttm. Lexil. p. 89. 
 
98—137. ILlAD. XI. 193 
 
 with gore. Him then he subdued while eagerly rushing on, 
 And Agamemnon, king of men, left them there with their 
 bosoms all bare, for he had stripped off their tunics. Next he 
 went against Isus and Anthipus, two sons of Priam, [the one] 
 illegitimate, and [the other] legitimate, being both in one 
 chariot, in order to slay them. The spurious [son] guided 
 the chariot, whilst illustrious Antiphus fought. Them Achilles 
 had once bound with tender osiers on the summits of Ida, 
 taking them while pasturing their sheep ; and had liberated 
 them for a ransom. Then however the son of Atreus, wide- 
 luling Agamemnon, struck one upon the breast above the 
 jiap with his spear ; and again he smote Antiphus beside the 
 ear with his sword, and hurled him from his chariot. Has- 
 tening up, he despoiled them of their beautiful armour, re- 
 cognizing them ; for he had formerly seen them at the swift 
 sliips, when swift-footed Achilles brought them from Ida. 
 And as a Hon, returning to his lair, easily crushes the little 
 fawns of the fleet hind, seizing them in liis strong teeth, and 
 deprives them of their tender life, whilst she, although she 
 happen [to be] very near, cannot aid them; for a dreadful 
 tremor comes upon herself; but hastening, she immediately 
 flies through the thick oak groves and the forest, sweating, 
 through the attack of the wild beast. Thus no one of the 
 Trojans was then able to avert destruction from these, but 
 they themselves were put to flight by the Greeks. Next [he 
 attacked] Fisander and Hippolochus, bravo in battle, the sons 
 of warlike Antimachus, who having accepted gold from Paris, 
 rich gifts, would not suffer them to restore Helen to yellow- 
 haired Menelaus. His two sons, then, Agamemnon, king of 
 men, seized, being in one chariot, for they drove their fleet 
 horses together; for the splendid reins had fallen from their 
 hands, and they were confounded. But the son of Atreus 
 rushed against them like a lion, and they, on the contrary, 
 RuppUcated [him] from the chariot : 
 
 " Take us alive, O son of Atreus, and thou shalt receive 
 worthy ransoms. For many treasures he in the houses of 
 Antimachus, brass, gold, and variously-wrought iron. Prom 
 these would our father give infinite ransoms, if he should hear 
 that we were ahve at the ships of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus both weeping addressed the king with soothinj; 
 words ; but heard an unsoothing reply : " K indeed ye be 
 
 o 
 
194 ILIAD. XI. 138— 17S, 
 
 the sons of warlike Antimaclms, who once in an assembly of 
 tlie Trojans, ordered that they should there put to death 
 Menelaus, coming as an ambassador along with godlike 
 Ulysses, and not send him back to the Greeks — now surely 
 shall ye pay the penalty of the unmerited insolence of your 
 father." 
 
 He said, and hurled Pisander from his horses to the ground, 
 striking him on the breast with his spear ; and he was 
 stretched supine upon the soU. But Hippolochus leaped 
 down, whom next he slew upon the gi-ound, having lopped 
 off his hands with his sword, and cut off his neck ; and it 
 (the head) Uke a cylinder, he hurled forward, to be rolled 
 through the crowd. These then he left there ; and where 
 very many phalanxes were thrown into confusion, there he 
 rushed, and at the same time other well-greaved Greeks. 
 Infantry slew infantry, flying from necessity, and horse [slew] 
 horse, slaughtering with the biuss (whilst the dust was 
 • raised by them from the plain, which the loud-sounding feet 
 of the horses excited) ; but king Agamemnon, constantly 
 slaying, pursued, cheering on the GBeeks. And as when a 
 destructive fire falls upon a woody forest, and the wind 
 whirling carries it on all sides, whilst the branches fall with 
 the roots, overwhelmed by the violence of the flame ; so fell 
 the heads of the flying Trojans, at the hand of Agamemnon, 
 son of Atreus, and many lofty-necked steeds rattled their 
 empty chariots through the ranks ^ of the battle, longing for 
 their faultless charioteers ; but they lay upon the earth, far 
 more agreeable to the vultures than to their wives. 
 
 But Jove withdrew Hector out of the reach of weapons, 
 of dust, of slaughter, blood and tumult, whilst Atrides pur- 
 sued, loudly cheering on the Danai. [The Trojans] mean- 
 wliile rushed thi'ough the middle of the plain towards the 
 wild fig-tree, near the tomb of Ilus, the descendant of 
 ancient Dardanus, eager to f'each the city ; but Atrides still 
 followed shouting, and stained his invincible hands with 
 dusty gore. But when now they reached the Scsean gates 
 and the beech-tree, there at length they halted, and awaited 
 each other. Others, however, stiU fled through the middle 
 of the plain, like oxen which a lion, coming at the depth oi 
 
 ' Literally, " the bridges," i. e. the open spaces between the lines 
 
174—210. ILIAD. XI 195 
 
 night, hath put trembUngly to flight — all, but to some one 
 dreadful destruction is apparent ; whose neck he first com- 
 pletely breaks, seizing it in his strong teeth ; and then laps 
 up both the blood and all the entrails : thus did the son of 
 Atreus, king Agamemnon, foUow them, always kilhng the 
 hindermost ; and they kept flying. Many fell prone and 
 supine from their chariots, by the hands of the son of 
 Atreus ; for before [all others] he raged exceedingly with 
 the spear. But when now he was about soon to reach the 
 city and the lofty wall, then indeed the father both of men 
 and gods, descending from heaven, seated himself upon the 
 tops of Ida, of many riUs. And he held the lightning in his 
 hands, and aroused golden- winged Iris to bear his message : 
 
 "Come, swift Iris, deliver this message to Hector. As 
 long as he may behold Agamemnon, the shepherd of the 
 people, raging in the van, [and] destroying the ranks of men, 
 so long let ' him retreat, and let him exhort the rest of the 
 army to fight with the enemy during the violent contest. 
 But when he (Agamemnon) shall have mounted his steeds, 
 either smitten by a spear, or wounded by an arrow, then will 
 I supply him with strength to slay,^ until he reach the well- 
 benched ships, and the sun set, and sacred darkness come on." 
 
 Thus he spake ; nor did rapid Iris, swift as the wind on 
 her feet, disobey. But she descended from the mountains of 
 Ida, towards sacred Ilium. She found noble Hector, son of 
 waxlike Priam, standing in the midst of the horses and well- 
 joined chariots : and having approached, swift-footed Iris 
 addressed liim : 
 
 " Hector, son of Priam, equal in counsel to Jove, Jove 
 hath sent me forward to deliver to thee this message : As 
 long as thou seest Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, 
 raging amongst the van, [and] destroying the ranks of 
 men, so long do thou abstain from combat, but exhort the 
 rest of the army to fight with the enemy during the violent 
 contest. But when he shall have mounted his steeds, either 
 smitten with a spear, or wounded by an arrow, then will he 
 supply thee with strength to slay, until thou reach the well- 
 benched ships, and the sun set, and sacred darkness come on." 
 
 Thus having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed. But 
 
 ' Cf. Ter. 204. = The Greeks. 
 
 02 
 
196 ILIAD, XI. 211—247. 
 
 Hector with hit armour sprang from Ms chariot to the 
 ground, and brandishing sharp spears, ranged through the 
 army on every side, inciting them to fight, and stirred up 
 the dreadful battle. They indeed rallied, and stood opposite 
 to the Greeks ; but the Greeks, on the other hand, strength- 
 ened their phalanxes. And the battle was renewed, and 
 they stood front to front. But Agamemnon first rushed on, 
 for he wished to fight far before all. 
 
 Tell me now, ye muses, possessing Olympian dwelHags, 
 who first, either of the Trojans or illustrious allies, now came 
 against Aganiemnon ? Iphidamas, son of Antenor, both 
 valiant and great, who was nurtiired in fertile Thrace, the 
 mother of flocks. Cisseus, his maternal grandfather, who 
 begat fair-cheeked Theano, reared him in his house whilst yet 
 a Httle boy : but when he had attained the measure of glo- 
 rious youth, he there detained him, and gave binn his own 
 daughter. And having married her, he came from the 
 bridal chamber, on the rumour of the Greeks, with twelve 
 curved vessels which followed him. The equal ships indeed 
 he afterwards left at Percote, but he, proceeding on foot, 
 had arrived at Troy ; and he it was who then came against 
 Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. When these, advancing 
 against each other, were now near, the son of Atreus on his 
 part missed, and his spear was turned aside. But Iphidamas 
 smote him upon the belt, under the corslet ; and he put his 
 strength to it, relying on his strong hand. Yet he pierced 
 not the flexible belt, but meeting with the silver long before, 
 the point was turned like lead. Then indeed wide-ruhng 
 Agamemnon, seeing it in his hsnd, pulled it towards him, 
 exasperated, like a Hon, and plucked it from his hand ; and 
 he smote him on the neck with his sword, and relaxed his 
 limbs. Thus he, unhappy, while aiding his citizens, falling 
 there, slept a brazen sleep, away from his lawful virgin wife, 
 whose charms he had not yet known, although he had given 
 many presents [for her].' First he gave a hundred oxen, and 
 then he promised a thousand goats and sheep together, 
 which were pastured for him in countless numbers. Him 
 Agamemnon, son of Atreus, at that time stripped [of liis 
 arms], and went through the army of the Greeks, beariag 
 
 ' On this custom, cf. ii. 146, xviii. 59.'5. 
 
248— 2S0. ILIAD. XI. l'9? 
 
 his rich armour. Whom when Coon,' the eldest liorn of 
 Antenor, conspicuous amongst men, then beheld, violent 
 grief darkened his eyes, for his brother having fallen, and he 
 stood aside with his spear, escaping the notice of noble Aga- 
 memnon. And he wounded him in the middle of the arm, 
 below the elbow, and the point of the shining spear passed 
 right through to the other side. Then indeed Agamemnon, 
 the king of men, shuddered ; but not even thus did he 
 abstain from battle or from war, but he rushed upon Coon, 
 holding his wind-nurtured spear.^ He on his part was 
 eagerly dragging by the foot Iphidamas his brother, and 
 begotten by the same father, and was calling upon every 
 brave man, when [Agamemnon] wounded him with his 
 polished brazen spear below the bossy shield, whilst dragging 
 him through the crowd, and relaxed his limbs ; and, standing 
 beside him, cut off his head over Iphidamas. There the sons 
 of Antenor, fulfilling their destiny at the hands of the king, 
 the son of Atreus, descended to the abode of Hades. But 
 he was ranging about through the ranks of other men, with 
 his spear, his sword, and huge stones, whilst the warm blood 
 yet oozed from his wound. When, however, the wound grew 
 dry, and the blood ceased [to flow], sharp pains possessed the 
 strength of Atreus's son. And as when the sharp pang 
 seizes a woman in travail, piercing, which the IKthyise, 
 daughters of Juno,' who preside over childbirth, send forth 
 keeping bitter pangs in their possession ; so did sharp an- 
 guish enter the strength of the son of Atreus. And he sprang 
 into his chariot, and ordered his charioteer to drive on to 
 the hoUow ships ; for he was tortured at heart. And vocife- 
 rating, he shouted aloud to the Greeks : 
 
 " O friends, leaders, and rulers over the Argives, repel ye 
 now the severe battle rom the sea-traversing barks, since 
 provident Jove does not permit me to combat all day with 
 the Trojans." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and the charioteer lashed on the fair- 
 
 ' The name and fate of this hero unclassically remind us of the " gone 
 coon" of American celebrity, immortalized in the "at homes" of the late 
 Charles Matthews. 
 
 ' "ITie Scholiasts and Eustathius explain this epithet by the received 
 opinion that trees in exposed situations are usually the strongest and most 
 vigorous from their frequent agitation bv the wind."- — Kennedy. 
 
m ILIAD. XI. 281—315, 
 
 maned steeds towards the hollo-w ships; and they, not 
 unwilling, flew. They were covered with foam as to their 
 breasts, and were sprinkled beneath with dust, as they bore 
 the afflicted king apart from the battle. But Hector, when 
 he observed Agamemnon going apart, exhorted both the 
 Trojans and Lycians, shouting aloud : 
 
 " Ye Trojans, Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be 
 men, my friends, and be mindful of impetuous might. The 
 bravest hero has departed, and Satumian Jove has given 
 great glory to me. But straightway urge your solid-hoofed 
 horses against the gallant Greeks, that ye may bear off 
 higher glory." 
 
 Thus saying, he aroused the courage and spirit of each. As 
 when perchance Eocie huntsman should Tirge his white- 
 toothed dogs against a rustic wild boar or lion ; so Hector, 
 the son of Priam, equal to man-slaughteiing Mars, urged the 
 magnanimous Trojans against the Greeks. He himself, 
 having mighty courage, advanced among the first, and rushed 
 into the battle, like unto a storm blowing from above, and 
 wliich rushing down, stirs up the purple deep. 
 
 Then whom first and whom last, did Hector, son of Priam, 
 slay, when Jove gave him glory ? Assseus indeed first, and 
 Autonoijs, and Opites, and Dolops, son of dytis, and Ophel- 
 tius, and Agelaus, and ^syninus, and Orus, and Hipponous, 
 persevering in fight. These leaders of the Greeks he then 
 slew, and afterwards the common crowd ; as when the west 
 wind drives to and fro the clouds of the impetuous • south, 
 lashing them Vith an impetuous blast, and many a swollen^ 
 billow is rolled along, whilst the foam Is scattered on high 
 by the far-straying blast of the wind ; thus were many hesids 
 of the people subdued by Hector. Then indeed would there 
 have been ruin ; and inevitable deeds had been done, and the 
 flying Greeks had fallen in flight into their ships, had not 
 Ulysses encouraged Diomede, the son of Tydens : 
 
 " Son of Tydeus, through what cause are we forgetful of 
 impetuous might 1 But come hither, my friend, stand by 
 me ; for surely it will be a disgrace if indeed crest-tossing 
 Hector take the ships." 
 
 ' Or " serenlzing, causing a clear sky." Heyne compares " albaj 
 notus," in Horace. But see Kennedy. 
 
 ' Neuter of the Ionic adjective rp60ie=/Meyac, evrpa^iis. 
 
316—352. ILIAD. XI. 109 
 
 Him tten valiant Diomede, answering, addressed : •' I 
 indeed will remain, and be courageous; although there ■will 
 be little use^ for us, since cloud-compelling Jove chooses to 
 give glory to the Trojans rather than to us." 
 
 He said, and hurled Thymbrseus from his chariot to the 
 ground, striking him with his spear upon the left pap ; but 
 Ulysses [slew] MoUon, the godlike attendant of the Iting. 
 These then they left, since they caused them to cease from 
 war. Then both, advancing through the multitude, excited 
 confusion ; as when two boars, ftdl of courage, rush upon the 
 hounds; so they returning to the fight, cut down the Tro- 
 jans; and the Greeks joyfully gained a respite, avoiding 
 noble Hector. Next they took a chariot and two warriors, 
 the bravest of the people, the two sons of Percosian Merops, 
 who above all was skilled in augury, nor would pemut his 
 sons to march to the man-destroying war : yet did they not 
 obey him, because the destinies of black death led them on. 
 Them spear-renowned Diomede, the son of Tydeus, depriving 
 of life and breath, despoiled of their splendid armour. And 
 Ulysses slew Hippodamus and Hyperochus. 
 
 Then the son of Saturn, looking down from Ida, stretched 
 for them the contest with equal tension, and they slaughtered 
 one another. The son of Tydeus indeed wounded on the 
 hip, with his spear, the hero Agastrophus, son of Pseon; for 
 his horses were not at hand for him. to take flight; but he 
 had erred greatly in his mi. 1, for bis attendant kept them 
 apart, whilst he rushed on foot through the foremost com- 
 batants, tin he lost his life. But Hector quickly perceived 
 it along the ranks, and hastened towards them, shouting; 
 and with him followed the phalanxes of the Trojsins. Dio- 
 mede, brave in the din of battle, beholding him, shuddered, 
 and immediately addressed Ulysses, who was near : 
 
 "Towards us is this great destruction, dreadM Hector, 
 now rolled. But come, let us stand firm, and awaiting, 
 repulse [him]." 
 
 He said, and brandishing his long-shadowed spear, hurled 
 it, and smote him on the summit of the helmet on his head ; 
 nor, aiming did he miss. But brass wandered from brass, 
 aor did it reach the white skin; for the threefold oblong 
 
 ' Hesychius : 'HJof r/dovi], ic o^tXoe. 
 
200 ILIAD. XI. 353— 3«7. 
 
 helmet stopped it, -which Phoebus Apollo had given him. 
 Hector hastily retired to a distance, and was mingled with 
 the crowd. And he (Hector) falling upon his knee, remained 
 60, and supported himself with his strong hand against the 
 earth, whilst dark night overshadowed his eyes. But whilst 
 the son of Tydeus was following after the impulse of the 
 spear far through the foremost combatants, where it was 
 tixed in the earth. Hector, in the meantime, breathed again, 
 and springing again into his chariot, drove Lato the crowd, 
 and avoided black death. And valiant Diomede, rushing 
 upon him with his spear, addressed him : 
 
 " Dog, thou hast escaped indeed death at present, althougli 
 destruction approached near thee. Now again has Phoebus 
 Apollo rescued thee, to whom thou art wont to offer prayers, 
 advancing into the clash of spears. But I will assuredly 
 make an end of thee, meeting thee again, if perchance any 
 one of the gods be an ally to me. Now, however, I wiU go 
 against others, whomsoever I can find." 
 
 He said, and slew the spear-renowned son of Pseon. But 
 Paris, the husband of fair-haired Helen, leaning against a 
 pillar, at the tomb of the deceased hero, Dardanian Ilus, the 
 aged leader of the people, bent his bow against the son of 
 Tydeus, the shepherd of the people. Whilst he was removmg 
 the variegated corslet from the breast of gallant Agastrophus, 
 the shield from his shoulders, and his heavy casque, he 
 (Paris) in the meantime was drawing back the horn of his 
 bow, and struck him on the broad part of the right foot, nor 
 did the weapon escape in vain from his hand ; and the arrow 
 went entirely into the ground. And he, laughing very j oyfully , 
 sprang from his ambuscade, and boasting, spoke : 
 
 " Thou art struck, nor has the weapon escaped me in vain. 
 Would that, striking thee in the lower part of the groin, I 
 had deprived thee of life. Thus, indeed, would the Trojans 
 have respired from destruction, who now are thrilled with 
 horror at thee, as bleating goats at the lion." 
 
 But him valiant Diomede, undismayed, addressed : 
 
 " Archer, reviler, decked out with curls, woman's man, if 
 now in arms thou wouldst make trial of me, hand to hand, 
 thy bow shoul i not avail thee, and numerous arrows ; ' whereas 
 
 ' Cf. iii. 39, sqq. ; Hor. Od. i. 15, 13. 
 
S88— 425. ILIAD. XI. 201 
 
 now, having grazed the hroad part of my foot, thou boastest 
 thus. I regard it not, as though a woman had wounded me, 
 or a siUy boy : for idle is the weapon of an unwarlike, good- 
 for-nothing man. From me, indeed, it is otherwise ; for if 
 one be touched but slightly, the weapon is piercing, and 
 forthwith renders him lifeless ; and the cheeks of his wife are 
 furrowed on both sides, and his children are orphans ; but 
 crimsoning the earth with his blood, he putrefies, and the 
 birds around him are more numerous than the women." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but spear-renowned "Ulysses coming near, 
 stood before him, and he (Diomede) sitting down behind him, 
 drew the swift shaft out of his foot, and severe agony darted 
 through his body. Then he leaped into his chariot, and com- 
 manded his charioteer to drive to the hollow ships; for he 
 was grieved at heart. But spear-renowned Ulysses was 
 left alone, nor did any of the Greeks remain beside him, as 
 fear had seized upon all. Wherefore, groaning inwardly, he 
 addressed his own mighty soul : 
 
 " Alas ! what will become of me ? Great would be the 
 disgrace if I fly, alarmed at the multitude ; but worse would 
 it be if I were taken alone : but the son of. Saturn hath 
 struck the rest of the Greeks with terror. But wherefore 
 does my spirit discuss these things with me 1 for I know 
 that cowards indeed retire from the battle ; but whosoever 
 should be brave in combat, it is altogether necessary that he 
 stand firmly, whether he be wounded, or wound another." 
 
 Whilst he revolved these things within his mind and soul, 
 the ranks of the shielded Trojans in the meantime came 
 upon him, and enclosed liim in the midst, placing [their] 
 bane in the midst of them. As when dogs and vigorous 
 youths rush against a boar on all sides, but he comes out 
 from a deep thicket, sharpening his white tusk within his 
 crooked jaws; on all sides they rush upon him, and a 
 gnashing of teeth arises: but they remain at a distance from 
 Iiim, terrible as he is : so the Trojans did rush round Ulysses, 
 dear to Jove. But he wounded above the shoulder blameless 
 Deiopites, springing upon him with his sharp spear; and 
 afterwards he slew Thoon and Ennomous. With his spear 
 he next wounded Ohersidamas, when leaping from his chariot, 
 in the navel, below his bossed shield; but he, falling amid 
 the dust, grasped the earth with the hoUow of his hand- 
 
202 ILIAD. XI. 426— 4G1. 
 
 These indeed te left, and next wounded witli his spear 
 Charops, son of Hippasus, and brother of noble Socus. But 
 Socus, godlike hero, hastened to give him. aid ; and approach • 
 iiig very near, he stood, and addressed him ia these vords : 
 
 " illustrious Ulysses, insatiable in crafts and toil, to-day 
 shalt thou either boast over the two sons of Hippasus, having 
 slain such heroes, and stripped them of their arms, or else 
 stricken by my spear, thou shalt lose thy life." 
 
 Thus saying, he smote him upon the shield equal on all 
 sides. The rapid weapon penetrated the shining shield, and 
 was fixed through the curiously-wrought corslet, and tore off 
 all the skin from his sides. But Pallas Minerva suffered it 
 not to be mingled with the entrails of the hero. And Ulysses 
 perceived that the weapon had not come upon him mortally, 
 and retiring, he addressed [this] speech to Socus : 
 
 " Ah ! wretch ; very soon indeed wUl dreadful destruction 
 overtake thee. Without doiibt thou hast caused me to cease 
 ii-om fighting with the Trojans, but I declare that death and 
 black fate shall be thine this day ; and that, subdued beneath 
 my spear, thou shalt give glory to me, and thy soul to steed- 
 famed Pluto.']' 
 
 He said, and the other, turning again to flight, had begun 
 to retreat, but whilst he was t\iming, he (Ulysses) fixed his 
 spear in his back between the shoulders, and drove it through 
 his breast. Falling, he made a crash, and noble Ulysses 
 boasted over him : 
 
 " Socus, son of warlike, horse-breaking Hippasus, the 
 end of death has anticipated thee, nor hast thou escaped. 
 Ah ! wretch, neither thy father nor venerable mother shall 
 close thine eyes for thee, dead as thou art, but ravenous 
 birds shall tear thee, flapping about thee with dense wings : 
 but when I die, the noble Greeks will pay me funeral 
 honours." 
 
 So saying, he plucked the strong spear of warlike Socus 
 out of his flesh and bossy shield ; and Ms blood gushed forth 
 as he drew it out, and tortured his mind. But the mag- 
 nanimous Trojans, when they beheld the blood of Ulysses, 
 encouraging one another through the crowd, all rushed on 
 against himj whilst he kept retreating backwards, and called 
 
 ' Probably so called from the steeds (" inferni raptoris equos," Claud, 
 de Rapt. Pros. i. 1) by which he stole away Proserpine. See the Scholiast. 
 
452—500. ILIAD. XI. 203 
 
 to his companions. Thrice did he then shout as much as the 
 head of m^ortal could contain, and thrice warlike Menelaua 
 heard him exclaiming, and instantly addressed Ajax, being 
 near: 
 
 " Most noble Ajax, son of Telamon, chieftain of the people, 
 the cry of invincible Ulysses has come upon me, like to that; 
 as if the Trojans were greatly pressing upon him, being alone, 
 having cut him off in the sharp fight. Wherefore let us go 
 through the crowd, as it is better to aid him. I fear lest 
 being left alone amidst the Trojans, he suffer aught, although 
 being brave, and there be great want [of him] to the Greeks." 
 
 Thus speaking, he led the way, and the godlike hero 
 followed along with him. Then they found Ulysses, dear to 
 Jove; and around him followed the Trojans, like tawny 
 jackals round an antlered stag when wounded in the moun- 
 tains, which a man hath stricken with an arrow from the 
 bowstring. Him indeed, flying, it escapes on its feet, 
 as long as the blood is warm, and its knees have the 
 power of motion. But when the swift arrow hath subdued 
 it, the raw-devouring jackals destroy it in a shady grove 
 among the mountains. Chance, however, brings thither the 
 destructive Hon: the jackals then fly in terror, and he 
 devours. So at that time followed the Trojans, numerous 
 and brave, round warlike, crafty Ulysses; but the hero, 
 rushing on with his spear, warded off the merciless day. 
 Then Ajax came near, bearing his shield, like a tower, and 
 stood beside him ; and the Trojans fled, terrified, different 
 ways. In the meantime warhke Menelaus, taking him by 
 the hand, withdrew [him] from the throng, till his attendant 
 drove his horses near. But Ajax, springing upon the Tro- 
 jans, slew Doryclus, son of Priam, an illegitimate son; and 
 next wounded Pandocus. Lysander he wounded, and Py- 
 rasus, and Pylartes. And as when an overflowing river 
 comes down on the plain, a torrent from the mountains, 
 accompanied by the shower of Jove, and bears along with it 
 many dry oaks and many pines, and casts forth the swoUen 
 torrent into the sea; so illustrious Ajax, routing [them], 
 pursued [them] along the plain, slaughtering both horses and 
 men. Nor as yet had Hector heard it ; for he was fighting 
 on the left of the battle, on the banks of the river Scamander ; 
 for there chiefly fell the heads of men, and an inextinguish- 
 
204 ILIAD. XI. 500—531, 
 
 able clamour had arisen around mighty Nestor, and warlike 
 Idomeneus. Among these did Hector mingle, performing 
 arduous deeds with his spear and equestrian skill, and he was 
 laying waste the phalanxes of youths. Nevertheless the 
 noble Greeks would not have retired from the way, had not 
 Paris, the husband of fair-haired Helen, disabled Machaon, 
 the shepherd of the people, performing prodigies of valour, 
 wounding him on the right shoulder with a triple-barbed 
 arrow. For him then the valour-breathing Greeks trembled, 
 lest perchance they should slay him, the battle giving way, 
 and immediately Idomeneus addressed noble Nestor : 
 
 "O Neleian Nestor, great glory of he Greeks, come, 
 ascend thy chariot, and let Machaon mount beside thee ; and 
 direct thy solid-hoofed horses with aU speed towards the 
 ships, for a medical man is equivalent to many others, both 
 to cut out arrows, and to apply mild remedies." ^ 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor did the Gerenian knight Nestor dis- 
 obey. Forthwith he ascended his chariot, and Machaon, the 
 son of ^sculapius, blameless physician, mounted beside him ; 
 but he lashed on the steeds, and they flew not unwillingly 
 towards the hollow ships, for there it was agreeable to their 
 inclination [to go]. 
 
 But Cebriones, sitting beside Hector, perceived the Trojans 
 in confusion, and addressed him in [these] words : "Hector, 
 we two are mingling here with the Greeks in the outskirt 
 of evil-sounding battle, whilst the other Trojans are thrown 
 into confusion in crowds, both their horses and themselves. 
 Telamonian Ajax is routing them, for I know him well, for 
 around his shoulders he bears a broad shield. But let us also 
 direct our horses and chariot thither, where cavalry and 
 infantry, having engaged in the evil strife, are slaughtering 
 each other, and inextinguishable tumult hath arisen." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, he lashed on the fair-maned 
 
 ' Scribonius Largus, Compos. Med. cc. ' ' Neque chirurgia sine disetetica, 
 neque hsec sine rhinirgia, id est, sine ea parte quae medicamentonim utilium 
 visum habeat, perfici possunt ; sed alise ab aliis adjuvantur, et quasi eon- 
 sumantur." Where John Rhodius well observes : " Antiques chirurgos 
 Homerus Chironis exemplo herbarum succis vulnera sanasse memorat. 
 Hunc et sectiones adhibuisse notat Pindarus Pyth. Od. iii. Neque inge- 
 niorura fons IX. A. to ixTafivsiv oniisit." Cf. Celsus, Pref. with the 
 notes of Almeloveen, and lib. vii. praf., where the chirurgical part of 
 Mioient medicine is amusingly discussed. 
 
532—571. ILIAD. XI. 205 
 
 steeds with his shrill-cracldiig lash. But they, sensible of 
 the stroke, speedily bore the swift chariot through Trojans 
 and Greeks, trampling on both corses and shields. With 
 blood the whole axletree was stained beneath, and the rims 
 around the chariot-seat, which the drops £fom the horses' 
 hoofs, and from the wheel-tires, spattered. But he longed to 
 enter the crowd of heroes, and to break through, spiinging 
 upon them. And he sent destructive tumult upon the 
 Greeks, and abstained very little from the spear. Among 
 the ranks of other men indeed he ranged with his spear, his 
 sword, and with huge stones ; but he shunned the conflict of 
 Telamonian Ajax. 
 
 But lofty-throned Jove excited fear within Ajax, and lie 
 stood confounded, and cast behind him his shield of seven 
 bulls' hides. Panic-struck he retired, gazing on all sides like a 
 wild beast, turning to and fro, slowly moving knee after knee. 
 As when dogs and rustic men drive a rayening lion from the 
 stall of oxen, who, keeping watch all night, do not allow him 
 to carry off the fat of their cattle, but he, eager for their 
 flesh, rushes on, but profits nought, for numerous javelins tly 
 against him from daring hands, and blazing torches, at which 
 he trembles, although furious ; but in the morning he stalks 
 away with saddened mind : so Ajax, sad at heart, then 
 retired, much against his will, from the Trojans ; for he 
 feared for the ships of the Greeks. And as when a stubborn 
 a.ss, upon whose sides ^ many sticks have already been broken, 
 entering in, browses on the tall crop, but the boys stiU beat 
 nim with sticks, although their strength is but feeble, and 
 with difficulty drive him out, when he is satiated with food, 
 so then at length the magnanimous Trojans and far-sum- 
 moned allies continually followed Ajax, the mighty son of 
 Telamon, striking the middle of his shield with missile 
 weapons. And Ajax, sometimes wheeling about, was mindful 
 of impetuous might, and checked the phalanxes of the horse- 
 brealang Trojans, but again he would turn himself to fly. 
 But he prevented all from advancing to the swift ships, whijst 
 standing himself between the Trojans and. Greeks he raged 
 impetuously. And spears hm-led against him from daring 
 Lands, stuck, some indeed in his ample shield, and many, 
 
 ' Such seems to be the force of a/i0<c 
 
206 ILIAD. XI. 572-61X 
 
 though eager to glut themselves with his flesh, stood fixed ir 
 the ground between, before they could reach his fair skin. 
 
 "Whom when Euryj)ylus, the Ulustrious son of Evsemon, 
 perceived pressed hard with many darts, advancing he stood 
 beside him, and took aim with his shining spear ; and smote 
 Apisaon, son of Phausias, shepherd of the people, in the Hver, 
 under the diaphragm; and immediately relaxed his limbs. 
 And when godlike Alexander observed him stripping off the 
 armour of Apisaon, he instantly bent his bow against Eury- 
 pylus, and smote him with an arrow upon the right thigh; 
 and the reed was broken, and pained his thigh. Then he fell 
 back into the column of his companions, avoiding fate, and 
 shouting, he cried with a loud voice to the Greeks : 
 
 " O friends, leaders, and rulers over the Greeks, rallying, 
 stand firm, and ward off the merciless day from Ajax, who is 
 hard pressed with darts ; nor do I think that he will escape 
 from the dread-resounding battle. But by all means stand 
 firm round mighty Ajax, the son of Telamon." 
 
 So spake the wounded Eurypylus, and they stood very neai 
 him, resting their shields upon their shoulders, and lifting 
 up their spears. But Ajax came to meet them, and turning 
 about, stood firm, when he reached the body of his comrades. 
 Thus they indeed combated like blazing fixe. 
 
 In the meantime the Neleian steeds, sweating, bore Nestor 
 from the battle, and conveyed Machaon, the shepherd of the 
 people. And noble Achilles, swift of foot, looking forth, be- 
 held him ; for he stood upon the prow of his great diip, gazing 
 at the severe labour and lamentable rout. Straightway he 
 addressed Patroclus, his companion, calling [to him] from the 
 ship ; and he, hearing him within the tent, came forth, like 
 unto Mars : but it was the beginning of misfortune to him. 
 Him first the gallant son of Menoetius addressed: "Why 
 dost thou call me, Achilles, and what need hast thou of 
 me?" 
 
 But him swifb-footedAohUles answering, addressed : "Noble 
 son of Menoetius, most dear to my soul, soon I think that the 
 Greeks will stand round my knees entreating, for a necessity 
 no longer tolerable invades them. But go now, Patroclus, 
 dear to Jove, ask Nestor what man this is whom he is carry- 
 ing woimded from the battle. Behind, indeed, he wholly re- 
 sembles Machaon, the son of ^^sculapius, but I have not 
 
61 .1-646. ILIAD. XI. 207 
 
 beheld the countenance of the man : for the horses passed by 
 me, hastening onward." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and Patroclus was obedient to his dear 
 comrade, and hastened to run to the tents and ships of the 
 Greeks. 
 
 But when they came to the tent of the son of Neleus, they 
 themselves descended to the fertile earth, and Euiymedon, 
 the attendant of the old man, unyoked the mares from the 
 chariot; whilst they refreshed themselves from the sweat 
 upon their tunics,' standing towards the breeze beside the 
 shore of the sea, and afterwards, entering the tent, they sat 
 down upon couches. But for them fair-curled Hecamede 
 prepared a mixture, she whom the old man had brought from 
 Tonedos, when Achilles laid it waste, the daughter of mag- 
 nanimous Arsinous, whom the Greeks selected for him, be- 
 cause he surpassed all in counsel. First she set forward for 
 them a handsome, cyanus-footed, well-poHshed table ; then 
 upon it a brazen tray, and on it an onion, a reUsh^ for the 
 draught, as well as new honey, and beside it the fruit of 
 sacred corn. Likewise a splendid cup^ near them, which the 
 old man had brought from home, studded with golden nails. 
 Its handles were four, and around each were two golden 
 pigeons feeding, and under it were two bottoms. Another 
 indeed woidd have removed it with difficulty from the table, 
 being full ; but aged Nestor raised it without difficulty. In 
 it the woman, like unto the goddesses, had mixed for them 
 Pramnian wine, and grated over it a goat's-milk cheese with 
 a brazen rasp, and sprinkled white flour upon it : then bade 
 them drink, as soon as she had prepared the potion. But 
 when drinking they had removed parching tliirst, they 
 amused themselves, addressing each other in conversation. 
 And Patroclus stood at the doors, a godlike hero. 
 
 But the old man, perceiving him, rose from his splendid 
 seat, and taking him by the hand, led him in^ and bade hii. 
 
 ' " Consime dirfil'' Kara ror WpiS X"". 7. e. refreshed — cooled — them- 
 selves, by standing in front of the breeze and drying off the perspiration 
 with which their garments were saturated." — Kennedy. 
 
 ' Probably the onion acted as a stimulant to drinking, as anchovies and 
 olives are now used. 
 
 ^ It was an aiifiKinrcXKov. Cf. i. 584, and Buttm. Lexil. p. 93. 
 There were two doves round each handle, making eight in all.' 
 
iO<? ILIAD. XI. 646— esi. 
 
 be seated. But Patroclus, on the other side, declined, and 
 uttered [this] reply: 
 
 "No seat [for me], Jove-nurtured sage, nor wilt tlioii 
 persuade me. Revered and irascible' is he who sent me forth 
 to inquire who this man is whom thou leadest wotmded ; but 
 even I myself know, for I perceive Machaon, the shepherd of 
 the people. Now, however, in order to deliver my message, 
 I will return again an ambassador to Achilles; for well dost 
 thou know, O Jove-nurtured sage, what a terrible man he is; 
 soon would he blame even the blameless." 
 
 But liim the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered : " But 
 why indeed does Achilles thus compassionate the sons of the 
 Greeks, as many as have been wounded with weapons ? Nor 
 knows he how great sorrow hath arisen throughout the army; 
 for the bravest lie in the ships, smitten in the distant or the 
 close fight. ^ Stricken is brave Diomede, the son of Tydeus, 
 and wounded is spear-renowned Ulysses, as well as Agamem- 
 non. Eurjrpylus also has been wounded in the thigh with an 
 arrow ; and this other have I lately brought from battle, 
 smitten with an arrow from the bowstring : yet Achilles, 
 being brave, regards not the Greeks, nor pities them. Does 
 he wait until the swift ships near the sea, contrary to the 
 wlU of the Greeks, be consumed with the hostile fire, and we 
 ourselves be slain one after the other 1 For my strength is 
 not as it formerly was in my active members. Would that I 
 were thus young, and my might was firm, as when a contest 
 took place between the Eleans and us, about the driving 
 away some oxen, when, driving away in reprisal, I slew Ity- 
 moneus, the valiant son of Hypeirochus, who dwelt in Elis : 
 for he, defending his cattle, was smitten among the first by a 
 javelin from my hand, and there fell ; and his rustic troops 
 fled on every side. And we drove from the plain a verj"^ 
 great booty, fifty droves of oxen, a.s many flocks ol dheep, as 
 many herds of swine, and as many broad herds of goats, one 
 hundred and fifty yellow steeds, all mares, and beneath many 
 there were colts. And these we drove within Neleian Pylus, 
 at night towards the cityj but Neleus was delighted in his 
 mind, because many things had fallen to my lot, going as a 
 young man to the war. But with the appearing mom, 
 
 ' Or " respected," as the Oxford translator renders it. 
 
 ' C£ iv. 540, for the distinction between fii^rniivoi and ciraiuvoi. 
 
384—726. ILIAD. XI. 209 
 
 heralds cried aloud for those to approach to whom a debt 
 was due in rich EKs ; and the leading heroes of the Pylians 
 assembling, divided [the spoil], (because the Epeans owed a 
 debt to many); for we in Pylus, [being] few, were over- 
 whelmed with evil. For the Herculean might, coming in 
 former years, did us mischief, and as many as were bravest 
 were slain. For we, the sons of illustrious Neleus, were 
 twelve; of whom I alone am left, but all the rest have 
 perished. Elated at these things, the brazen-mailed Epeans, 
 insulting us, devised wicked deeds. But the old man chose 
 for himself a herd of cattle and a large flock of sheep, select- 
 ing three hxindred and their shepherds; for even to him a 
 great debt was due in rich EHs : four horses victorious in 
 the race, with their chariots, which had gone for the prizes ; 
 for they were about to run for a tripod ; but Augeas, king 
 of men, detained them there, and dismissed the charioteer, 
 giieved on account of his steeds. At wliich words and deeds 
 the old man, being wroth, chose out for himself mighty num- 
 bers, and gave the rest to the people to divide, that no one 
 might go away defended by him of his just proportion. We 
 indeed accompKshed each of these things, and were perform- 
 ing sacrifices to the gods through the city, when on the third 
 day they all came at once, both the citizens themselves and 
 their solid-hoofed steeds, in fiill force : and with them were 
 armed the two MoUons, being stiU youths, nor as yet very 
 skilled in impetuous might. There is a certain city, a lofty 
 hill, Thryoessa, far away at the Alpheus, the last of sandy 
 Pylus ; tills they invested, eager to overthrow it. But when 
 they had crossed the whole plain, Minerva, hastening from 
 Olympus, came to us by night as a messenger, that we should 
 be armed ; nor did she assemble an unwilling people at Pylus, 
 but one very eager to fight. StiU Neleus would not allow 
 me to be armed, but concealed my horses, for he said that I 
 was not at all acquainted with warlike deeds. Yet even thus 
 was I conspicuous amongst our cavalry, even although being 
 on foot ; for thus did Minerva conduct me to battle. There 
 is a certain river, Minyeius, emptying itself into the sea near 
 Arena, where we, the Pylian horsemen, awaited divine Morn, 
 whilst the swarms of infanxiy poured in. Thence in full 
 force, equipped in armour, we came at mid-day to the sacved 
 gtream of Alpheus. There having olifered fair victims to 
 
 p 
 
210 ILIAD. XI. 726—706. 
 
 almighty Jove, a bull to the Alpheus, and a bull to Neptune, 
 but aa untrained heifer to blue-eyed Minerva, we then 
 took supper through the army by troops ; and we each slept 
 in our arms along the river's stream. In the meantime the 
 magnanimous Epeans stood around, desirous to lay waste the 
 city ; but a mighty work of Mars first appeared to them : 
 for as soon as the splendid s\in was elevated above the earth, 
 we were engaged in the battle, praying to Jove and to 
 Minerva. But when now the battle of the Pylians and 
 Eleans began, I first slew a man, the warrior MoUon, and 
 bore away his solid-hoofed steeds : he was the son-in-law of 
 Augeas, and possessed Ms eldest daughter, yellow-haired 
 Agamede, who well understood as many drugs as the wide 
 earth nourishes. Him advancing against [me], I smote with 
 ray brazen spear. He fell in the dust, and springing into 
 his chariot, I then stood among the foremost combatants ; 
 but the magnanimous Epeans fled terrified in difierent direc- 
 tions when they beheld the hero fallen, the leader of their 
 cavalry, he who was the best to fight. But I rushed upon 
 them like unto a black whirlwind ; and I took fifty cha- 
 riots, and in each two men bit the ground with their teeth 
 vanquished by my spear. And now indeed I should have 
 slain the youthful Molion.s, the sons ' of Actor, had not 
 their sii-e, wide-ruling Neptune, covering them with a thick 
 haze, preserved them from the war. Then Jove delivered 
 into the hands of the Pylians great strength, for so long did 
 we follow them through the long ■* plain, both slaying them, 
 and gathering up rich armour, until he had driven our horses 
 !/•) Buprasium, fertile in wheat, to the rock Oleoia and 
 Aleaum, where it is called Colone : whence Minerva turned 
 back the people. Then having killed the last man, I left 
 him ; but the Greeks guided back their swift steeds from 
 Buprasium to Pylus ; and all gave glory to Jove, of the gods, 
 and to Nestor, of men. Thus was I, as sure as ever I ex- 
 isted, among men : but Achilles will enjoy his valour alone : 
 surely I think that he will hereafter greatly lament, when 
 the people have bitterly perished. O my friend, Menoetius 
 did assuredly thus command thee on that day when he sent 
 thee from Phthia to Agamemnon. For we being both 
 
 ' /. e. the reputed sons. 
 
 - Se« Scliol. Etym. M. s. v., and Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 1247 
 
7C6— 800. ILIAD. XI. 211 
 
 within, I and noble Ulysses, distiactly heaxd all things ia the 
 halls, as he charged you : but we were come to the weU- 
 iuhabited palace of Peleus, coUectiag an army through fertile 
 Greece. There then we found the hero Menoetius within, as 
 weU as thee, and Achilles besides ; but the aged horseman, 
 Peleus, was burning the fat thighs of an ox to thunder- 
 rejoicing Jove, within the enclosure > of his palace, and held 
 a golden cup, pouring the. dark wine over the blazing sacrifice. 
 Both of you were then employed about the flesh of the ox, 
 • whilst we stood in the vestibule ; but AchiUes, astonished, 
 leaped up, and led us in, taking us by the hand, and bade us 
 be seated : and he set in order before us the offerings of 
 hospitality which are proper for guests. But when we were 
 satiated with eating and drinking, I began discourse, exhort- 
 ing you to follow along with us. Ye were both very wiUing, 
 and they both conmianded you many things. Aged Peleus 
 in the first place directed his son Achilles ever to be the 
 bravest, and to be conspicuous above others ; but to thee 
 again Menoetius, the son of Actor, thus gave charge : ' My 
 son, Achilles indeed is superior in birth ; but thou art the 
 elder. And he is much superior in strength : but still do 
 thou frequently suggest to him proper advice, and admonish 
 and direct him, and he will surely be obedient in what is for 
 [his own] good.' Thus did the old man command thee ; but 
 thou art forgetful : but even now do thou mention these 
 things to warlike Achilles, if perchance he may be obedient. 
 Who knows if, advising him, thou mayest, with the gods' as- 
 sistance, arouse his mind ? For the admonition of a friend is 
 good. But if within his mind he avoid some prophecy, and 
 his venerable mother has told him anything from Jove, let 
 him at least send thee forth; and with thee let the other 
 forces of the Myrmidons follow, if indeed thou mayest be 
 some aid to the Greeks. Let him likewise give his beautiful 
 armour to thee, to be borne into battle, if perchance the Tro- 
 jans, assimilating thee to him, may abstain from the conflict, 
 and the warlike sons of the Greeks, already afflicted, may 
 respire; and there be a little respite from fighting.^ But you, 
 
 ' Properly, the fence or barrier of the enclosure. 
 
 ' There are several different interpretations for this line : I. Schneider 
 explains it : " They have but short time to respire; for if not at onre 
 assisted, they will be destroyed." 2. " Short will be the cessation from 
 
 r 2 
 
212 
 
 ILIAD. XI. 801—834. 
 
 [who are] fresh, will, with fightiag, easily drive back men 
 wearied, towards the city, from the ships and tents." 
 
 Thus he spake, and he aroused the spirit within his breast ; 
 and he hastened to run to the ships to Achilles, the grandson 
 of ^acus. But when now Patroclus, running, arrived at ihe 
 ships of godlike Ulysses, where were their forum and seat of 
 iustice, and there the altars of their gods also were erected, 
 "there Eurypylus, the noble son of Evsemon, wounded with an 
 arrow in the thigh, limping from the battle, met him. Down 
 his back ran the copious sweat from his shoulders and head, 
 and from the grievous wound oozed the black blood ; never- 
 theless his mind was firm. Seeing him, the gallant son of 
 Menoetius pitied him, and, grieving, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Alas ! unhappy men, leaders and rulers over the Greeks, 
 are ye then thus destined, far away from your friends and 
 native land, to satiate the swift dogs at Troy with your white 
 fat ? But come, tell me this, O Jove-nurtured hero, Emy- 
 pylus, will the Greeks still at aU sustain mighty Hector, or 
 wiE they now be destroyed, subdued by his spear?" 
 
 But him prudent Eurypylus in turn addressed : " No 
 longer, Jove-nurtured Patroclus, wiU there be aid for the 
 Greeks, but they wiU fall back upon the black ships. FDr 
 already all, as many as were once bravest, lie at the ships, 
 stricken or woimded by the hands of the Trojans, whose 
 strength ever increases. But do xhou now, indeed, save me, 
 leading me to my black ship ; and cut out the arrow from 
 my thigh, and wash the black blood' from it with warm 
 water ; then sprinkle upon it mild drugs, salubrious, which 
 they say thou wert taught bv Achilles, whom Chiron in- 
 structed, the most just of the Centaurs. For the physicians, 
 Podalirius and Machaon, the one, I think, having a wound, 
 lies at the tents, and himself in want of a faultless physician, 
 
 war." 3. " A cessation, or breathing-time, from war, altbougH short, 
 will be agreeable." 4. " Supply ' may 4e,' and translate, ' and fiiat there 
 mai/ be A short breathing-time from the battle;' although this last involves 
 some tautology with the preceding line." — Ed. Dubl. 
 
 ' Cf. Virg. jEn. X. 834 : " Vulnera siccabatlymphis." Themannerin 
 which this was done is described by Celsus, v. 26: "Si profusionem 
 timemus, siccis lineamentis vulnus implendum est, supraque imponenda 
 epongia ex aqua frigida expressa, ac manu super comprimenda." Ct 
 Athen. ii. 4. 
 
SSd— 847. ILIAD. XI. 213 
 
 and the other awaits the sharp battle of the Trojans upon the 
 plain." 
 
 But him again the brave son of Menoetius addressed •. 
 " How then will these things turn out 1 What shall we d& 
 O hero Eurypyhis ? I go that I may deliver a message tc 
 warlike Achilles, with which venerable Nestor, guardian of 
 the Greeks, has intrusted me : but even thus I cannot neglect 
 thee, afflicted." 
 
 He said, and having laid hold of the shepherd of the 
 people under his breast, bore hiTin to the tent, and his 
 attendant, when he saw him, spread under him buUs' hides. 
 There [Patroclus] laying him at length, cut out with a knife 
 the bitter, sharp arrow from his thigh, and washed the black 
 lilood from it with warm water. Then he applied a bitter, 
 pain-assuaging root, rubbing it in his hands, which checked 
 all his pangs : the wound, indeed, was dried up, iuid the 
 bleeding ceased. 
 
214 ILIAD. XII. 1— 2t- 
 
 BOOK THE TWELFTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Trojans assail the rampart, and Hector, despite an omen, wnicc 
 Polydamas interprets unfavourably, attacks and forces the gate, and 
 opens a way to the ships. 
 
 Thus then at the tents the valiant son of Menoetius was 
 healing the wounded Eurypylus : but the Greeks and Tro- 
 jans kept fighting in masses ; nor was the ditch of the 
 Oreeks destined to prove a barrier any longer, and the wide 
 wall from above, which they had erected in defence of the 
 ships ; but they had drawn a foss around (nor had they 
 given splendid hecatombs to the gods) ; that it enclosing 
 within, might defend the swift ships and the great booty. 
 But it was built against the will of the immortal gods, 
 therefore it remained not perfect for any long period.' As 
 long as Hector was alive, and Achilles indignant, and the 
 city of king Priam unravaged, so long was the mighty wall 
 of the G-reeks firm. But when all the bravest of the Tro- 
 jans were dead, and many of the Greeks were subdued, but 
 others left surviving, when in the tenth year the city of 
 Priam was sacked, and the Greeks went in their ships to 
 their dear fatherland ; then at length Neptune and Apollo 
 took counsel to demolish the wall, introducing the strength 
 of rivers, as many as flow into the sea from the Idsean 
 mountains, both the Rhesus and the Heptaporus, the Caresus 
 and the Ehodius, the Granicus and the .ijEsepus, the divine 
 
 ' Cf. Pseudo-Socrat. Epist. i. IIoXXoic Si iroXXd xal rdv dWiav flpijroi 
 iroirjTutv TTtpi ^euiv* Kal OTt rd fikv Karil rr/v avT&v /3ouXj;iTfv Trparro- 
 liiva Itt\ rb Xwtov licSaivei, rd 51 irapa Bftov AXvffireXrj UTrapxft roTc 
 irpaSaai, where Duport, p. 72, thinks there is a reference to the preseut 
 
 passage. 
 
22—50. ILIAD. XII. 215 
 
 Scamander ard the Simois, where many sliields and helmets 
 fell in the dust, and the race of demigod men. The mouths 
 of all these Phoebus Apollo turned to the same spot, and 
 for nine days he directed their streams against the wall ; 
 and Jove in the meantime rained continually, that he might 
 the sooner render the walls overwhelmed by the sea. But 
 the Earth-,shaker [Neptune] himself, holding the trident in 
 his hands, led them on ; and then dispersed among the bil- 
 lows all the foundations of beams and stones which the 
 Greeks had laid with toil. And he made [all] level along 
 the rapid Hellespont, and again covered the vast shore with 
 sands, having demolished the wall : but then he turned the 
 rivers to go back into their own channels, in which they 
 had formerly poured their sweet-flowing water.' 
 
 Thus were Neptune and Apollo about to act hereafter : 
 but then the battle and clamour burned around the well- 
 built wall, and the stricken joists of the towers resounded : 
 but the Greeks, subdued by the scourge ^ of Jove, were de- 
 tained, hemmed in at the hoUow ships, dreading Hector, 
 the furious cause of flight j for he fought, as formerly, equal 
 to a whirlwind. And as when a boar or Uon is occupied 
 amongst the dogs and huntsmen, looking dreadfully with 
 strength, and they, drawing themselves up in a square form,'* 
 stand against hiin, and hurl frequent javelins fi-om their 
 hands ; but never is his noble heart alarmed, nor is he put 
 to flight j but his courage proves his death. And frequently 
 he turns round, trying the ranks of men ; and wheresoever 
 he has directed bis attack, there the ranks of men give way : 
 so Hector, .going through the crowd, rolled along, inciting 
 his companions to cross the trench. Nor did the swift-footed 
 
 * On the present state of the Troad, which appears, from physical 
 facts, to justify the mythical description of Homer, — see Heyue and 
 Kennedy. Compare Virg. ^a. ii. 610, sqq.; Tryphiodor. 566, sqq. and 
 680, sqq. 
 
 ' Heyne compares II. xiii. 812 ; Pseud.-Eur. Rhes. 37 ; Find. Pytb. 
 iv. 390 ; Tryphiod. 596. The Scholiast on both passages, Hesychius, t. i. 
 p. 1006, and the Schol. on Oppian. Hal. v. 282, suppose that the light- 
 ning is meant ; but it is far better to understand, with Heyne, " terrors 
 Jivinitus immisso." 
 
 ' See Heyne, and Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 1083. 
 
216 IIJAD. XII. 51—86. 
 
 horses dare [it] ; ^ but they loudly neighed, standing upon the 
 precipitous brink ; for the wide ditch aifrighted [them], nor 
 was it easy to leap across, [by standing] near,^ or to pass it, 
 foi overhanging brinks stood round it on both sides, and 
 beneath it was fortified with sharp palisades, which the sons 
 of the Greeks had fixed, close-set and large, as a defence 
 against hostile men. There a horse, drawing a swift-roUing 
 chariot, could not readily enter, but the infantry eagerly 
 desired it, if they could accomplish it. Then indeed Poly- 
 damas, standing near, addressed daring Hector : 
 
 " Hector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans, and allies, 
 unwisely do we drive our fleet steeds through the trench, 
 which is very difficult to pass ; since sharp palisades stand m 
 it, and near them is the wall of the Greeks. Wherefore it is 
 by no means possible for the cavaliy to descend, or to fight, 
 for it is a narrow place, whore I think they woidd be 
 wounded. For if indeed lofty-thundering Jove, designing 
 evil, destroys the Greeks, but wishes to assist the Trojans, 
 certainly I would wish this to take place even immediately, 
 that the Greeks perish here inglorious, away from Argos. 
 If, however, they rally, and a repulse from the ships take 
 place, and we be entangled in the dug trench, I do not sup- 
 pose that then even a messenger will return back to the dty 
 from the Greeks. But come, let us all be persuaded as t 
 shall advise. Let the servants keep our horses at the trench, 
 and let us, all on foot, clad in armour, follow Hector in a 
 close body ; but the Greeks will not withstand us, if indeed 
 the end of destruction hang over them." 
 
 Thus spake Polydamas ; but the safe counsel pleased 
 Hector ; and immediately he leaped with his armour from 
 his chariot on the ground. Nor did the other Trojans 
 assemble on horseback, but dismounting, they rushed ou, 
 when they beheld noble Hector. Then each commanded 
 his own charioteer to rein his steeds in good order there 
 at the trench, and they, separating, drawing themselves up, 
 
 ' Cf. Statins, Theb. x. 517 :— 
 
 * ' ' — ut patulas saltu transmittere fossas 
 
 Horror equis ; hserent trepidi, atque immane paventes 
 Abruptum mirantur agi." 
 ' Understand sic rov (r^eWv, " adstando prope ad fossse Oram, nt saltu 
 facilius transilias." — Heyne. 
 
87—121. ILIAD. XII. 217 
 
 and being arranged in five columns, followed along with 
 their leaders. Some then went with Hector and illustrious 
 Polydamas, who were most numerous and brave, and who 
 were most resolutely desirous, having broken down the wall, 
 to fight at the hollow ships. And Oebriones followed as a 
 third ; for Hector left another, inferior to Cebriones, with 
 his chariot. Others Paris commanded, and Alcathous, and 
 Agenor. The third band Helenus and godlike Deiphobus, 
 two sons of Priam ; but the third [commander] was the hero 
 Asius, Asius son of Hyrtacus, whom fiery, taU steeds brought 
 from Arisba, from the river SeUe'is. But the fourth, ^neas, 
 the brave son of Anchises, led ; along with him were the two 
 sons of Antenor, Archilochus and Acamas, well skilled in 
 every kind of fight. But Sarpedon commanded the illus- 
 trious allies, and chose to himself Glaucus and warlike 
 AsteropsBus ; for they appeared to him, next to himself, 
 decidedly the bravest of the rest : for he, indeed, excelled 
 among all. When they then had fitted each other toge- 
 ther' with interlaced ox-hide bucklers, they advanced, full of 
 courage, direct against the Greeks, nor expected that they 
 would sustain them, but that they would fall in flight into 
 their black ships. 
 
 Then the other Trojans and far-summoned allies obeyed 
 the counsel of blameless Polydamas ; but Asius, son of Hyr- 
 tacus, leader of heroes, was unwilling to relinquish his horses 
 and attendant charioteer, but with them advanced to the 
 swift ships, — foolish ! Nor was he destined to return again, 
 borne on his steeds and chariot from the ships to wind-swept 
 IKum, ha\ing avoided evil destiny. Por him unlucky fate 
 first encircled from the spear of Idomeneus, the illustrious 
 son of Deucalion. For he rushed towards the left of the 
 ships, by the way in which the Greeks were returning from 
 the plain with their horses and chariots. Thither he drove 
 his horses and his chariot, nor did he find the gates closed ^ 
 
 ' " Put for dpapov rag affiriSag aW-tjXutv, iir' aWrj'KoiQ, clipeos con- 
 spHos manibus ante se tenebant, (ruvaff7ri(r/trp facto." — Heyne. Kennedy 
 well observes that " we may trace here the rude outline of the celebrated 
 phalanx, which formed so prominent a feature of the Macedonian tactics." 
 
 ' From this passage, Heyne observes that the gates must have opened 
 inwards, being secured from within by a double bolt (cf. ver. 455, sqq.^. 
 See D'Orville on Chariton, i. zii. p. 274, ed. Lips. On the l>x^^i> u" 
 Oars, cf. Pollux, x. 4. 
 
218 ILIAD. XII. 121—104. 
 
 in the portal, or the long bar up, but the men held them 
 wide open, that they might safely receive at the ships any of 
 their companions flying from the battle. He designedly 
 guided his steeds right onward ia that way, and [his troops], 
 slirilly shouting, followed along with him ; for they supposed 
 that the Greeks could no longer sustain them, but would fall 
 in flight into the black ships — fools ! for at the gates they 
 found two very brave heroes, the magnanimous sons of the 
 warUke Lapithse, the one the son of Pirithous, gallant Poly- 
 pcEtes, the other Leonteus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. 
 These two then stood -before the lofty gates, as tall oaks on 
 the mountains, which abide the wind and rain at aU seasons, 
 remaining firmly fixed by their great and wide-spreading 
 roots ; so they too, trusting to their hands and strength, 
 awaited mighty Asius coming on, nor fled. But the troops, 
 lifting high their well-seasoned bucklers, advanced with loud 
 shouting directly towards the weU-built waU, round their 
 king Asius, and lamenus, and Orestes, Acamas, the son of 
 Asius, Thoon, and QBnomaus. Hitherto indeed these, re- 
 maining within, were exhorting the well-armed Greeks to 
 fight for the ships ; but when they perceived the Trojans 
 rushing against the waU, and confusion and flight of the 
 Greeks arose, both darting out, fought before the gates, like 
 unto wild boars, which await the approaching tumult of men 
 and dogs in the mountains, and, advancing obliquely to the 
 attack, break down the wood around them, cutting it to the 
 root ; and a gnashing of teeth arises from beneath, till some 
 one, having taken aim, deprive them of life. So resounded the 
 shining brass upon their breasts, smitten in front, for very 
 valiantly they fought, trusting to the troops above, and to 
 their own valour. But they hurled stones down from the 
 ivell-built towers, defending themselves, theii' tents, and the 
 swift-voyaging ships. And as snow-flakes fall upon the 
 earth, which the violent wmd, having disturbed the shady 
 clouds, pours down thick upon the fertile soil ; thus poured 
 the weapons from the hands as well of the Greeks as of the 
 Trojans ; and the helmets and bossy shields, smitten with 
 large stones, sounded drily around. Then indeed Asius, son 
 of Hyrtacu.s, groaned, and smote both his thighs, and indig- 
 nant exclaimed : 
 
 " Father Jove, .surely now at least thou also hast become 
 
165—200. ILIAD. XII. 219 
 
 utterly deceitful ; for I did not expect that the' Grecian 
 heroes would abide our strength and invincible hands. But 
 they, as wasps flexible ^ ia the middle, and bees, [which] 
 make their dweUings iu a rugged path, nor quit their hollow 
 mansion ; but awaiting the huntsmen, fight for their off- 
 spring ; so are these unwilling to retire from the gates, though 
 beiug only two, untU they be either killed or taken." 
 
 Thus he spake, nor did he persuade the miad of Jove, 
 saying these things : for his soul designed to bestow glory 
 upon Hector. In the meantime others were waging the 
 battle at other gates ; but difficult would it be for me, as 
 if I were a god, to enumerate all these things ; for around 
 the wall in every direction a furiously-raging fire of stones 
 was aroused,^ and the ilreeks, although grieving, fought from 
 necessity for their ships ; and all the gods were sorrowful in 
 their minds ; as many as were allies to the Greeks in battle. 
 
 But the Lapithae began the battle and contest. Then the 
 son of Pirithous, brave Polypostes, smote Damasus with his 
 spear, through his brazen-cheeked helmet ; nor did the 
 brazen casque withstand, but the brazen blade burst quite 
 through the bone, and all the brain within was shattered. 
 Thus he subdued him, rushing on, and afterwards he slew 
 Pylon and Ormenus. And Leonteus, a branch of Mars, 
 wounded Hippomachus, the son of Antimachus, with his 
 spear, striking him at the belt. Next, drawing his sharp 
 sword from the sheath, he, rushing through the crowd, 
 smote Antiphates first, hand to hand, and he was dashed on 
 his back to the ground ; then Menon and lamenus, and 
 Orestes, all one over another he brought to the fertile earth. 
 
 Whilst they were stripping off their glittering armour, 
 those youths, meantime, who were most numerous and most 
 brave, and who were most eager to break down the wall, and 
 burn the ships with fire, followed Polydamas and Hector, 
 and they anxiously deliberated, standing at the trench. For 
 an augury had appeared on the left to them while eager to 
 
 ' Or "streaked." See Porphyr. Glusest. iii. But Buttmann, Lexil. 
 p. 64, dwells mueh upon the force of /ikaov, observing, " in no insect ia 
 liexibility more evident than in the wasp, where the lower part of its body 
 i;s joined as it were by a point with the upper." 
 
 ' " Through the long walls the stony showers were heard, 
 The ,blaze of flames, the flash of arms appeared,"— Pope. 
 
220 ILIAD. XII. 201—235. 
 
 iross, a high flying eagle dividing the people,' bearing in his 
 talons a monstrous blood-stained serpent, alive, stiU panting; 
 nor was it yet forgetful of fighting; for, while holding it, 
 writhing backwards, it wounded him upon the breast near 
 the neck ; but he let it drop from him to the ground, afSicted 
 with anguish, and threw it into the midst of the crowd, and, 
 flapping his wings, he fled away with the breeze of the 
 wind. And the Trojans shuddered as they beheld the 
 spotted serpent lying in the midst, a prodigy of aegis-bearing 
 Jove. Then Polydamas, standing near, addressed gallant 
 Hector : 
 
 " Hector, somehow or other thou art ever chiding me in 
 the assemblies, although proposing good counsels ; because it 
 is by no means becoming for a man, being a citizen, to ha^ 
 rangue contrary to thee, either in council or at any time in 
 war ; but ever to increase thy authority. Yet will I agaii: 
 speak as appears to me to be best. Let us not go about to 
 fight -with the Greeks for their ships ; for thus do I think it 
 wiU end, as sure as this augury has come to the Trojans de- 
 siring to cross, the high-fljring eagle upon the left dividing 
 the army, bearing in its talons a huge blood-stained serpent, 
 [still] living ; but presently it dropped it, before it reached 
 its dear home, nor succeeded in carrying it to give it to its 
 young : so we, if even we shall "with great force break through 
 the gates and wall of the Greeks, and the Greeks shall give 
 way, — not in order shall we return by the same way from the 
 ships : for we shall leave many Trojans, whom the Greeks, 
 fighting for the ships, will subdue with the brass. Thus 
 indeed would the diviner, who truly kens omens in his mind, 
 interpret, and the people would obey him." 
 
 But him jjternly regarding, crest-tossing Hector thus ad- 
 dressed : " Polydamas, thou dost not say things agreeable 
 to me ; besides, thou knowest how to devise other cotmsel 
 better than this. If, however, thou really speakest this with 
 seriousness, then truly have the gods destroyed thy judgment 
 from thee, irho advisest me to be forgetful of the counsels of 
 
 ' Either flying between the ranks of the Trojans, or between the two 
 opposing armies. Compare Cicero's translation, de Divin. i. 47, and 
 Virg. JEn. xi. 751, sqq. (with Macrob. Sat. v. 13j, and xii. 247, sqq. 
 The event of the Trojan war proved that Polydamas was right in hik 
 interpretation. 
 
236—269. ILIAD. XII. 221 
 
 lofly-thiindermg Jove, which he hath himself undertaken for 
 me, and confirmed. And thou exhortest me to obey the 
 ■wing-expanding birds; which I very little regard, nor do I 
 care for them, whether they fly to the right towards the 
 Morn and the Sun, or to the left towards the darkening 
 west; but let us obey tlie will of mighty Jove, who rules over 
 all mortals and immortals. There is one augury, the best, to 
 fight for our country.' Why dost thou dread the war and 
 conflict ? For although all the rest of us should perish round 
 the ships of the Greeks, there is no fear that thou wilt 
 perish, for thy heart is not persevering in the fight, nor war- 
 like. But if thou darest to abstain from the combat, or dis- 
 suading, dost avert another from the battle, immediately 
 stricken by my spear, shalt thou lose thy life." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, he led the way, but they fol- 
 lowed him with an immense clamour. Then thunder-delight- 
 ing Jove raised a storm of wind from the Idsean mountains, 
 which bore the dust directly towards the ships; moreover, 
 he weakened the courage of the Greeks, but bestowed glory 
 upon the Trojans and Hector : so that, relying upon his pro- 
 digies, and [their own] strength, they endeavoured to break 
 through the mighty waU of the Greeks. They tore down the 
 niched battlements of the towers, and demolished the breast- 
 works,^ and with levers they upheaved the projecting but- 
 tresses, which the Greeks had planted first in the earth, as 
 supporters of the towers. These then they tore down, and 
 hoped to break through the wall of the Greeks. 
 
 Yet did not the Greeks retire as yet from the way; but 
 fencing up the embrazures with their ox-hide shields, they 
 wounded from behind them the enemy coming up under the 
 wall. And both the Ajaces ranged in every direction upon 
 the towers, cheering on, rousing the valour of the Greeks. 
 < ne [they addressed]^ with soothing, another they rebuked 
 with harsh expressions, whomsoever they beheld totally ne- 
 glectful of battle : 
 
 " O fiiends, whoever of the Greeks is excelling, or mode- 
 
 ' Cf. Aristot. Rhet. ii. 22 ; Cicero Ep. ad Attic, ii. 3. See, also, 
 Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 73. 
 
 ' Observe the zeugma, and compare II. Q. 8, r. 327 ; Od. S. 291 ; and 
 the most elaborate and accurate note on this construction of D'Orville on 
 Charit. iv. 4, p. 440, sqq. ed. Lips., with Burm. and Schwabe on Pheedr. 
 IT. 17, 31 ; Diiker on Flor. iii. 21. 26. 
 
222 ILIAD. XII. 270—309. 
 
 rate, or inferior (since all men are not alike in war), now is 
 there work for aU; and ye yourselves, I ween, know this. 
 Let not any one be turned back towards the ships, hearing 
 the threatener [Hector], but advance onwards, and exhort 
 each other, if perchance Olympic Jove, the darter of light- 
 ning, may grant that, having repulsed the conflict, we may 
 pursue the enemy to the city." 
 
 Thus they, shouting in front, cheered on the attack of the 
 Greeks. But of them — as when frequent flakes of snow fall 
 upon a winter's day, when provident Jove has begun to snow, 
 displaying his weapons in the sight of men, and, having lulled 
 the winds, pours it down incessantly, till he covers the tops 
 and highest peaks of the lofty mountains, and the lotus 
 plains and rich husbandry of men : and likewise it is poured 
 out upon the havens and shores of the hoary sea; but the ap- 
 proaching wave restrains its progress, whilst aU other things 
 are covered beneath it, when the shower of Jove comes down 
 heavily ; so flew the frequent stones from those hurling on 
 both sides, some indeed towards the Trojans, and others from 
 the Trojans towards the Greeks. And along the whole wall 
 a tumult arose. 
 
 Yet never would the Trojans and illustrious Hector have 
 burst open the gates of the wall, and the long bolt, had 
 not provident Jove urged on his son, Sarpedon, against the 
 Greeks, like a lion against crooked-homed oxen. But he 
 immediately held before him his shield, equal on- all sides, 
 beautiful, brazen, plated; which the brazier indeed had plated 
 over, and underneath had sewed together thick bulls' hides, 
 with successive golden wires round its orb. He then, holding 
 this before him, advanced, brandishing two spears, like a lion 
 x'eared in the mountains, which hath been long in want of 
 flesh, and whose valiant mind impels him to go even to the 
 well-fenced fold, about to make an attempt upon the sheep. 
 And although he there fijid the shepherds keeping watch 
 about their flocks with dogs and spears, still he cannot bear 
 t,o be driven away, without having made trial of the fold, 
 but, springing in, he either carries [one] off, or is himself 
 wounded among the first by a javeUn from a quick hand. 
 Thus then did his mind impel godlike Sarpedon to attack 
 the wall, and to burst through the barriers ; and instantly he 
 addressed Glaucus, son of Hippolochus : 
 
SIO— 340. ILIAD. XII. 223 
 
 " Glaucus,* why are we especially hoaoured in Lycia, both 
 with the [first] seat in banquet, and with full goblets, and 
 why do all look to us as to gods ? "Why do we also possess 
 a great and beautiful enclosure of the vine-bearing and corn- 
 bearing land on the banks of Xanthus 1 Now, therefore, it 
 behoves us, advancing among the foremost Lycians, to stand 
 firm, and to bear the brunt of the raging fight ; so that some 
 one of the closely-armed Lycians may say, ' By no meanis in- 
 glorious do our kings govern Lycia, and eat the fat sheep, 
 and [drink] ^ the choice sweet wine ; but their valour like- 
 wise is excelling, because they fight among the foremost 
 Lycians.' O dear friend, if indeed, by escaping from this 
 war, we were destined to be ever fi^ee from old age, and im- 
 mortal, neither woidd I combat myself in the van, nor send 
 thee into the glorious battle. But now — for of a truth ten 
 thousand Fates of death press upon us, which it is not po.s- 
 sible for a mortal to escape or avoid — let us on : either we 
 shall give glory to some one, or some one to us." 
 
 Thus he spake, nor did Glaucua turn aside or disobey, but 
 both advanced straight forward, leading a numerous band of 
 Lycians. But Menestheus, the son of Peteus, beholding them, 
 shuddered, for they were advancing towards his company, 
 bearing destruction. He looked round along the line of the 
 Greeks, if he might see any of the leaders who could ward off 
 the fight from his companions, and perceived the two Ajaces, 
 insatiable of war, standing, and Teucer, lately come from his 
 tent, near at hand. Yet was it not possible for him to be 
 beard when shouting, so great was the din ; and the crash 
 of stricken shields, and of horse-hair crested helmets, and of 
 the gates, reached to heaven. For they had assailed all,^ and 
 
 > Milton, p. L. ii. 450 :— 
 
 " wherefore do I assume 
 
 These royalties, and not refuse to reign, 
 Refusing to accept as great a share 
 Of hazard as of honour, due alike 
 To him who reigns, and so much to him due 
 Of hazard more, as he above the rest 
 High honoured sits .' " 
 Zeugma. See on ver. 268. 
 ^ Three interpretations are given for this line : — 1. " All the gates were 
 attacked." 2. "All the gates were bolted." — Butt. 3. Change the 
 nominative case to the accusative, and translate — " They (the Lycians^ 
 dad attacked all the gates." — Ed. Dubl. 
 
224 ILIAD. XII. 341—379. 
 
 they, standing beside them, endeavoured to enter, bursting 
 them open by force. But immediately he despatched the 
 herald Thobtes to Ajax : 
 
 " Go, noble Thootes, running, call Ajax, rather indeed 
 both : for this would be by far the best of all, since in a 
 short -while heavy destruction -will arise here. For so vigo- 
 rously do the leaders of the Lycians press on, who even 
 before were impetuous in the sharp contest. If, however, 
 labour and contest have arisen to them there, at least let 
 brave Telamonian Ajax come, and with him let Teucer fol- 
 low, well skilled in archery." 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor did the herald, having heard him, dis- 
 obey, but he hastened to run along the wall of the brazen- 
 mailed Greeks, and proceeding, he stood beside the Ajaces, 
 and immediately addressed them : 
 
 " Ye Ajaces, leaders of the brazen-mailed Greeks, the 
 beloved son of Jove-nourished Peteus adjures you to come 
 thither, that ye may participate in his toil, though for a short 
 time. Both indeed in preference, for this would be by fer 
 the best of all tilings, since soon will heavy destruction arise 
 there. For so vigorously do the leaders of the Lycians press 
 on, who even before were impetuous in the sharp contest. 
 But if here also war and contest have arisen, at least let 
 brave Telamonian Ajax come alone, and with him let Teucei 
 follow, well skilled in archeiy." 
 
 Thus he spake, nor did mighty Telamonian Ajax disobey. 
 Instantly he addressed to the son of O'ileus winged words : 
 
 "Ajax, do thou and gallant Lycomedes, standing here, 
 incite the Greeks to fight bravely, whilst I go thither and 
 oppose the battle ; but I will return again instantly, after I 
 shall have assisted them." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, Telamonian Ajax departed, and 
 with him went Teucer, his brother, sprung from the same 
 father ; and Pandion, along with them, carried the bent bow 
 of Teucer. As soon as they reached the tower of magnani- 
 mous Menestheus, going within the wall (for they came to 
 [their friends] being hard pressed : and the brave leaders and 
 chiefs of the Lycians were mounting upon the breastworks 
 like unto a dark whirlwind), but they engaged to fight in 
 opposition, and a clamour arose. Telamonian Ajax first slew 
 a man, the companion of Sarpedon, magnanimous Epiclee. 
 
380—417. ILIAD. XII. 225 
 
 strikkig him witli a rugged stone, wMch, miglitj in size, lay 
 highest up against a pinnacle within the wall. Not easily 
 would a man support it with both hands, such as mortals 
 now are, not although being very youthful ; but he, raising 
 it aloft, hurled it, and burst the four-coned helmet, and along 
 with it crushed all the bones of the skull : but he, like unto 
 a diver, fell from the lofty tower, and life deserted his bones. 
 Teucer likewise with a shaft wounded Glaucus, the nrave son 
 of Hippolochus, as he was rushing on, against the lofty wall, 
 in a part where he perceived his arm naked ; and made him 
 cease from combat. But he sprang back from the wall, con- 
 cealing himself, that none of the Greeks might perceive him 
 wounded, and insult him with words. Then grief came upon 
 Sarpedon on account of G-laucus departing, as soon as he 
 observed it ; though he nevertheless was not neglectful of 
 the contest : but he taking aim, wounded Alcmaon, son of 
 Thestor, with his spear, and extracted the spear; but he. 
 following the weapon, fell prone, and his armour, variously 
 decked with brass, resounded upon him. Sarpedon then 
 seizing the buttress with his sturdy hands, pulled, and it all 
 followed entirely; but the wall was stripped away from 
 above, and he formed a way for many. Then Ajax and 
 Teucer aiming at him together, the one smote him with an 
 arrow in the splendid belt of his mortal-girding shield, around 
 liis breast ; but Jove averted the fate from Ms son, that he 
 might not be slain at the stems of the ships. But Ajax, 
 springing upon him, struck his shield, and pierced him quite 
 through with his spear, and forcibly checked him eager. And 
 then he fell back for a little from the buttress, but did not 
 altogether retreat, because his spirit hoped to bear off glory. 
 And turning round, he encouraged the godlike Lycians : 
 
 "O Lycians, why arfe ye thus remiss in your impetuous 
 force? It is difficult for me, although being brave, 
 having alone burst through, to form a way to the ships. But; 
 follow along with me; for the 'labour of the greater nuinbei 
 is better." 
 
 Thus he spake; and they, reverencing the exhortation of 
 their king, pressed on with more alacrity round their counsel- 
 giving king. And the Greeks, on the other side, strength- 
 ened their phalanxes within the wall, because a great work 
 presented itself to them. For neither could the gallant 
 
 Q 
 
226 ILIAD. XII. 417— 45IJ, 
 
 Lycians, bursting through the wall of the Greeks, make their 
 way to the ships, nor could the warlike Greeks repulse the 
 Lycians from the waU, since fii-st they approached it. But 
 as two men, holding measures in their hands, dispute, in a 
 common field,^ concerning their boundaries, who in a small 
 space contend for their equitable right; thus did the but- 
 tresses separate these [warriors], and, for them, each smote 
 the well-rounded ox-hide shields around each other's breasts, 
 and the hght bucklers of each other. And many were 
 wounded upon the body with the merciless brass, whether the 
 back of any combatant, averted, was laid bare, and many 
 right through the shield itself Eveiywhere the towers and 
 buttresses were sprinkled, on both sides, with the blood of 
 heroes, from the Trojans and the Greeks. Yet not even 
 thus could they cause a flight of the Greeks, but they held 
 themselves, as a just woman, who labours with her hands, 
 does the scales,^ who, poising both the weight and the wool, 
 draws them on either side to equalize them, that she may 
 procure a scanty pittance for the support of her children. 
 Thus equally was their battle and war extended, before the 
 time when Jove gave superior glory to Hector, the son of 
 Priam, who first leaped within the wall of the Greeks, and 
 shouted with a penetrating voice, calling out to the Trojans: 
 
 " Push on, ye horse-breaking Trojans, burst through the 
 wall of the Greeks, and hurl the fiercely-blazing fire against 
 the ships." 
 
 Thus he spake, cheering them on; but they all heard him 
 with their ears, and rushed against the wall in great num- 
 bers, and then mounted the battlements, caxiying theii 
 pointed spears. But Hector seizing it, took up a stone, which 
 stood before the gates, widening out at the base,* but sharp 
 above ; which two men, the strongest of the people, such as 
 mortals now are, could not easily raise from the ground upon 
 a waggon. He, however, brandished it easily and alone, 
 because the son of wise Saturn had rendered it light to him. 
 
 ' I. e. & field, to part of which each lays claim. Mirpa seem to be the 
 lines used in measuring ground (" linea mensuralis," Siculus F^accus, 
 p. 23, ed. Goes.). 
 
 ' Milton, P. L. vi. 245 :— 
 
 ^—— " lonf time in even scale 
 The battle hung." 
 * See Eustathius. 
 
451—471. ILIAD. XII. 227 
 
 As -when a stepherd without difficTilty carries the fleece of a 
 male sheep, taking it in either hand, and but a small weight 
 oppresses him; so Hector, raising the stone, bore it right 
 against the beams which strengthened the closely-jointed 
 gates, double and lofty; but two cross-bars secured them 
 within, and one key fitted them. But advancing, he stood 
 very near, and exerting his strength, struck them in the 
 middle, standing with his legs wide asunder, that the blow 
 of the weapon might not be weak. And he tore away both 
 hinges, and the stone fell within with a great weight; and 
 the gates crashed around : nor did the bars withstand it, but 
 the beams were rent asunder in difierent directions by the 
 impulse of the stone. There illustrious Hector rushed in, in 
 aspect hke unto the dreadful night; and he glittered in 
 terrible brass, with which he was girt arovmd his body. And 
 he held two spears in his hands, nor could any one, opposing, 
 restrain him, except the gods, after he had leaped within the 
 gates; but his eyes gleamed with fire. And turning to the 
 crowd, he cheered on the Trojans to ascend the wall, and 
 they obeyed him encouraging. Straightway indeed some 
 crossed the wall, and others were poured in through the 
 well-wrought gates, but the Greeks were routed towards the 
 hoUow barks, and an unyielding ^ tumult ensued. 
 
 > See Buttm. Lexil. p. 109. 
 
 a3 
 
228 ILIAD. XIII. I -10. 
 
 BOOK THE THIRTEENTH. 
 
 ARGDMENT. 
 
 Neptune engages on the Grecian side, and the battle proceeds. Deipho- 
 bus is repulsed by Meriones. Teucer kills Imbrins, and Hector Am- 
 phimachus. Neptune, assuming the likeness of Thoas, exhorts Ido- 
 meneus, who goes forth with Meriones to battle, when the former slays 
 Othryoneus and Asius. Deiphobus attacks Idomeneus, but misses 
 him, and slays Hypsenor. Idomeneus slays Alcathous, over whose 
 body a sharp contest ensues. 
 
 But after Jove, then, had brought the Trojajis and Hector 
 near the ships, he left them to endure labour and toil at them 
 incessantly ; but he himself turned back his shining eyes 
 apart, looking towards the land of the equestrian Thracians 
 and the close-fightiug Mysians, and the Ulustrious Hippo- 
 molgi, milk-nouiished, simple in living, and most just men.' 
 But to Troy he no longer now turned his bright eyes ; for 
 he did not suppose in his mind that any one of the immortals, 
 going, would aid either the Trojans or the Greeks. 
 
 ISTor did king Neptune keep a vain watch j for he sat 
 
 ' Arrian, Exp. Alex. iv. p. 239, referring to this passage of Homer, 
 observes, viKovffi Si kv ry 'Affiif ovToi avTovofioi, ovx TJKWTa Sid Trtviav 
 re Kai SiKaiorriTa. Dionyslus, Perleg. 309, seems, as Hill observes, to 
 consider the name l)r5rj//ioXyoi as applicable not to one single clan, but to 
 the whole of the Sarmatian nomads, milk being one of the principal articles 
 of their diet, as among the Suevi (Csesar, B. 6. iv. 1), and the ancient 
 Germans (id. vi. 22). Callimachus, Hymn iii., applies the epithet to the 
 Cimmerians. The epithet aStwv (or atiiiv=bowless, not living by archery : 
 of. Alberti on Hesych. t. i. pp. 17, 794) is involved in doubt, and the 
 ancients themselves were uncertain whether to regard it as a proper name 
 or an epithet. (Cf. Steph. Byz. s. v., p. 7, ed. Pined. ; VlUois on ApoU. 
 Lex. p. 14 J Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 74, sqq.) It seems best to under- 
 stand with Strabo, vil. p. 460, nations air' oXiytov tvriXiJjQ J^UvTae* 
 Knight wished to throw out these verses altogether, alleging that allusion 
 is made in them to the discipline of Zamoljis, with which Homer must 
 have been wholly unacquainted. 
 
11—43. ILIAD. XIII. 229 
 
 aloft upon the highest summit of the -woody Thracian Samos. 
 admiring the war and the battle. For from thence all Ida 
 ■was visible, and the city of Priam was visible, and the ships 
 of the Greeks. Then coming out of the sea, he sat down, 
 and he pitied the Greeks, subdued by the Trojans, and was 
 very indignant -with Jove. But presently he descended down 
 from the rugged mountain, rapidly advancing on foot, and 
 the high lulls and woods trembled beneath the immortal feet 
 of Neptune, advancing. Thrice indeed he strode, advancing, and 
 •with the fourth step he reached .iEgje, his destined goal. There 
 distinguished mansions, golden, glittering, ever incorruptible, 
 were erected to him in the depths of the sea. Coming 
 thither, he yoked beneath his chariot the brazen-footed steeds, 
 swiftly flying, crested with golden manes. But he himself 
 placed gold around his person, took his golden lash, well 
 wrought, and ascended his chariot. He proceeded to drive 
 over the bUlows, and the monsters of the deep ^ sported 
 beneath him on all sides from their recesses, nor were igno- 
 rant of their king. For joy the sea separated ; and they 
 flew very rapidly, nor was the brazen axle moist beneath. 
 And his well-bounding steeds bore him to the ships of the 
 Greeks. 
 
 Now there is an ample cave^ in the recesses of the deep 
 sea, between Tenedos and rugged Imbrus. There earth- 
 shaking Neptune stopped his horses, loosing them from the 
 chariot, and cast beside [them] ambrosial fodder to eat. 
 And round their feet he threw golden fetters, irrefragable, 
 indissoluble, that they might there steadily await their king 
 returning, but he departed towards the army of the Greeks. 
 
 The Trojans, however, in crowds, like unto a flame or a 
 whirlwind, followed Hector, the son of Priam, with insatiable 
 ardour, shouting loudly, and exclaiming ; for they hoped to 
 capture the ships of the Greeks, and slay all the Greeks 
 beside them. But earth-ruling, earth-shaking Neptune, 
 
 ' So I have ventured to render /cijrea. Nonius MarceU. v. Cetarii — 
 " cete in mari majora sunt piscium genera." Thus Quintus Calaber, 
 V. 94, imitating this passage, has Se\<l>ivie, and Hesychius defines ktituv 
 by &VVVIHV ^opa, the word evidently meaning any huge fish. Cf. Buttra. 
 Lexil. p. 378, sq. 
 
 ' Compare the description of the cave of Nereus, in Apoll. Rhod. iv. 
 771, sqq., and of the river Peneus, in Virg. Georg. iv. 359, sqq., withmj 
 note on jEsch. Prom. p. 11, ed. Bohn. 
 
230 ILIAD. XIII. 44— 8i 
 
 coining fi-oin the deep sea, aroused tLe Greek?, assimilating 
 his person and indefatigable voice to Calchas. The Ajaces 
 he first addressed, though themselves were earnest : 
 
 " Ye Ajaces, ye indeed, mindfiil of valour, not of direful 
 flight, -will preserve the people of the Greeks. For in any 
 other place, indeed, I do not dread the audacious hands of 
 the Trojans, who in great numbers have surmounted the 
 great wall, because the well-greaved Greeks will sustain them 
 all. But in that place I grievously fear lest we suffer any 
 thing, where infuriated Hector, like unto a flame, leads on. 
 who boasts to be the son of almighty Jove. But may some 
 of the gods thus put it in your minds, that ye stand firmly 
 yourselves, and exhort others ; thus may ye drive him, 
 although impetuous, from the swift-sailing ships, even if Jove 
 himself excites him." 
 
 He said, and earth-ruling Neptune, striking both with his 
 sceptre, filled them with violent might, and made their limbs 
 light and their feet and hands above. But he, Uke as a 
 swiffc-winged hawk is impelled to fly, which, lifted up from a 
 rugged, lofty rock, has hastened to pursue another bird over 
 the plain ; so darted earth-shaking Neptune from them. 
 But fleet Ajax, the son of O'ileus, recognized bim first of the 
 two, and straightway addressed Ajax, the son of Telamon : 
 
 " Ajax, since some one of the gods, who possess Olympus, 
 likening himself to the soothsayer, exhorts us to fight beside 
 the ships (neither is this Calchas, the prophesying augur; 
 for I readily recognized the traces of his feet and legs when 
 departing ; for the gods are easily distinguished), even to 
 myself, the soul within my bosom is more incited to war 
 and to fight, and my feet beneath and hands above eagerly 
 desire it." 
 
 But him Telamonian Ajax answering, addressed : " So also 
 to me are my strong hands upon my spear eager, and my 
 courage is aroused, and I am hurried along by both my feet 
 under me ; and I eagerly long, even alone, to combat with 
 Hector, the son of Priam, insatiably raging." 
 
 Thus they addressed these words to each other, joyful in 
 the desire of battle ' which the god had infused iuto theii 
 
 • See Heyne, who compares the Latin gestire. Hesych. : Xap/iq, 
 
83—121. ILIAD. XIII. £3 
 
 minds. In the meanwhile the Earth-mler (Neptune) aroused 
 the Acheeans in the rear, who were recruiting their spirit at 
 the swift ships J whose hmbs were at the same time relaxed 
 with toilsome labour, and grief was arising in their minds, be- 
 holding the Trojans, who with a tumult had sui-mounted the 
 vast wall. But beholding them, they poured forth tears from 
 beneath their eyebrows, for they expected not to escape 
 destruction : but the Earth-shaker intervening, easily aroused 
 the brave phalanxes. To Teucer and Leius he first came, 
 exhorting them, and to the hero Peneleus, and Thoas, and 
 Deipyrus, and to Meriones and Antilochus, skUftd in war. 
 These he encouraging, spoke winged words : 
 
 " shame ! Argives, young men, I trust that our ships 
 will be preserved by your fighting ; but if ye be remiss in 
 the destructive battle, the day is now come [for us] to be 
 subdued by the Trojans. Ye gods, surely I behold with my 
 eyes a great marvel, terrible, which I never expected would 
 be brought to pass, that the Trojans should approach our 
 ships ; who formerly, like unto timid stags, which through 
 the wood are the prey of lynxes, pards, and wolves, foolishly 
 straying about, weak, nor fit for combat : so the Trojans 
 formerly would not stand even for a Uttle against the might 
 and prowess of the Greeks. But now, far away from the 
 city, they combat at the hollow ships, thi'ough the perverse- 
 ness of om- general, and the indifference of the troops ; w-ho, 
 disputing with him, are unwilling to defend the swift ships, 
 but are slain among them. Yet although in reahty the hero, 
 the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, be altogether in 
 fault, in that he hath dishonoured the swift-footed son of 
 Peleus, still it is by no means our duty to be remiss in 
 battle, but let us the sooner repair [the mischief] ; ' the 
 minds of the brave are easily appeased. But they by no 
 means honourably remit your impetuous valour, being all 
 the bravest in the army : I indeed would not quarrel with 
 a man who should desist from combat, being unwarlike ; 
 but with you I am indignant from my heart. soft ones! 
 surely will ye soon create some greater evil by this inertness : 
 but do each of you in his mind ponder on the shame and 
 
 ' To ysyovoQatiaprriiia: Schol. For the metaphorical use of aKtffrai., 
 ef. Soph. Ant. 1026. "Otrrie h xaKOV niau>v aKeXrai /i))0 aKH/T/rof TsXtt. 
 So liiaroTtpoc Sta to liiTairuaOrjvat av, ArUtot. Eth. vii. 2. 
 
232 ILIAD. XIII. 122—153. 
 
 reproach ; for certainly a miglity contest hath arisen. Now 
 indeed brave Hector, good in the din of war, combats at the 
 ships, and hath burst through the gates and the long bar." 
 
 Thus then Neptune, exhorting, aroused the Greeks. But 
 round the two Ajaces firm phalanxes stood, which not even 
 Mars, coming amongst them, would have found fault with, 
 nor Minerva, the confoimder of armies; for the bravest 
 selected awaited the Trojans and noble Hector; knitting 
 spear with spear, shield with shield,' one upon another,- so 
 that shield pressed upon shield, hehnet upon helmet, and 
 man upon man. And the horse-haired helmets of them, 
 nodding, touched each other with their splendid ridges,' so 
 closely stood they to one another ; and spears in the act of 
 being hurled, were brandishing from their daring hands, 
 whilst they wished [to go] straight [against the enemy], and 
 were eager to fight. But the combined Trojans first made 
 the attack, and impetuous Hector first rushed against them : 
 as a destructively-roUing stone from a rock, which a wintry 
 toiTent drives down the brow, having biu^t with a 
 mighty shower the stays of the rugged rock, and bounding 
 along, it rolls, and the forest resounds beneath it : but 
 straightway it runs on uninterruptedly until it reach the 
 plain, but then it roUs no longer, though impelled ; so Hector 
 for a whUe threatened that he would easily come as far as 
 the sea, to the tents and ships of the Greeks, slaughtering. 
 But when now he met the fiim phalanxes, he stopped, beiag 
 come into close contact ; and the sons of the Greeks, op- 
 posing, repulsed him from them, striking hiTn with their 
 swords and two-edged spears ; but retiring, he was compelled 
 to withdraw ; and he cried out shouting audibly to the 
 Trojans : 
 
 " Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, 
 stand firm. Not long will the Greeks withstand me, although 
 they have drawn themselves up in very dense array.* But, 
 I conceive, they wiU retire from my spear, if in truth the 
 
 ' See the learned remarks of Duport, p. 76, sq. To quote parallel 
 passages would be endless. 
 
 ' Literally, " from the roots." So oixtrm— irpoSIXw/ii/a, Tryphiodor. 
 388. Cf. Albert! on Hesych. t. ii. p. 1029 ; Apoll. Lex. p. 676. 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 5^3. The ipaXoc formed a socket for the plumsii 
 
 * Lit. " tower-wise," forming a solid square. 
 
154—191. ILIAD. XIII. 233 
 
 most powerful of the gods, the high-thundering husband of 
 Juno, hath urged me on." 
 
 So saying, he aroused the might and courage of each. But 
 Deiphobus, the son of Priam, walked amongst them, high- 
 minded, and he held his shield equal on all sides before him, 
 proceeding with light step, and advancing under protection 
 of his shield. Then Meriones took aim with his shining 
 spear, and struck him (nor did he miss) upon the buU's-hide 
 shield, equal on all sides, which he did not pierce ; for the 
 long spear, far before was broken at the socket. But Deipho- 
 bus held bis bull's-hide shield far from liim, for he dreaded 
 in his mind the spear of warlike Meriones; but that hero fell 
 back into the column of his companions, for he was grievously 
 enraged on both accounts, both for [the loss] of the victory, 
 and of the spear which he had broken. Accordingly he pro- 
 ceeded to pass by the tents and ships of the Greeks, to bring 
 a long speax which had been left in his tent; whilst the 
 others fought, and a mighty tumult arose. 
 
 Then Telamonian Teucer first slew a hero, the warrior 
 Imbrius, son of Mentor, rich in steeds; and he dwelt at 
 Pedseum before the sons of the Greeks arrived, and had 
 married Medesicaste, the illegitimate daughter of Priam. But 
 when the equaUy-pHed ships of the Greeks arrived, he came 
 back to Ihum, and excelled amoi:;; the Trojans; and dwelt 
 with Priam, who honoured him equally with his sons. Him 
 the son of Telamon smote under the ear with his long javelin, 
 and plucked out the spear; but he indeed fell, like an ash, 
 which, on the summit of a mountain conspicuous from afar, 
 cut down with a brazen axe, strews its tender foKage on the 
 earth. Thus he fell, and his armour, variegated with brass, 
 rang about him. Then Teucer rushed on, eager to strip him 
 of his armour ; but Hector hurled his shining spear at him, 
 hastening. He, however, seeing it from the opposite side, 
 ■avoided, by a small space, the brazen spear; and [Hector] 
 wounded with his javehn, on the breast, Amphimachus, son 
 of Cteas, the son of Actor, advancing to the battle ; and, 
 falling, he gave a crash, and his arms rang upon him. Then 
 Hector rushed to tear from the head of magnanimous Amphi- 
 machus the helmet fitted to Ms temples, but Ajax hurled 
 with his shining spear at Hector, rushing on. Yet it never 
 reached Ms body, for he was protected all ove;* with terribla 
 
234 ILIAD. XIII. 192—233 
 
 brass; but he smote hiin upon the boss of the shield, and 
 repulsed him with great violence ; and he retired from both 
 bodies, and the Greeks drew them away. Then Stichius and 
 noble Menestheus, the leaders of the Athenians, cairied Am ■ 
 phimachus to the army of the Greeks, but the two Ajaces, 
 eager for impetuous combat, [carried] Imbrius. As two lions 
 bear a goat through the thick copse-wood, snatching it from 
 the sharp-toothed dogs, holding it high above the earth in 
 their jaws; so the two warriors, the Ajaces, holding him 
 [Imbrius] aloft, stripped off his armour; but the son of 
 O'fleus, enraged on account of Amphimachus, severed his head 
 from his tender neck, and sent it rolling like a ball through 
 the crowd ; but it fell before the feet of Hector in the dust. 
 
 Then indeed was Neptune grieved at heart for his grand- 
 son, slain in the grievous fight ; and he proceeded to go along 
 the tents and ships of the Greeks, exhorting the Greeks, and 
 prepared disasters for the Trojans. But spear-renowned Ido- 
 meneus then met him, returning from a companion who had 
 lately come to him from the battle, wounded in the ham 
 with the sharp brass, whom his comrades had carried in, and 
 he, having given directions to the surgeons, was returning 
 from his tent ; for he still desired to participate in the fight. 
 Him king Neptune addressed, assimilating himself, as to his 
 voice, to Thoas, son of Andrsemon, who governed the ^to-. 
 lians throughout all Pleuron and lofty Calydon, and who was 
 honoured by the people as a god : 
 
 " Idomeneus, t^ou counsellor of the Cretans, where indeed 
 are the threats gone, with which the sons of the Greeks 
 threatened the Trojans?" Whom again in return, Idome- 
 neus, the leader of the Cretans, addressed: "No man, 
 Thoas, as far as I know, is at present to blame ; for we ard 
 all skilled in vrarring. Neither does disheartening fear 
 detain any one, nor does any one, yielding to sloth, shirk evil 
 strife; but thus, doubtless, it will be agreeable to the all- 
 powerful son of Saturn, that here, far away from Argos, the 
 Greeks shall perish inglorious. But, Thoas — for formerly 
 thou wast warlike, and urged on others when thou didst 
 behold them negligent — so now desist not thyself, but exhort 
 each man." 
 
 But him earth-shaking Neptune then answered : " Never 
 may that main, O Idomeneus, return from Troy, but let him 
 
J33— 272. ILIAD. XIII. 
 
 235 
 
 here be the sport of the dogs, whosoever voltintarily this day 
 shall relax from fighting. But come, taking up arms, ad- 
 vance hither ; for it behoves us to hasten these things, if we 
 may be of any service, although but two ; for useful is the 
 valour of men, even the very pusUlanimous, if combined, 
 whereas we both understand how to fight even with the 
 brave." 
 
 So saying, the god departed again to the toil of heroes. 
 But Idomeneus, when now he had readied his well-made 
 tent, put on his rich armour around his body, and seized two 
 spears, and hastened to go, like unto the lightning, which 
 the son of Saturn, seizing in his hand, brandishes from glit- 
 tering Olympus, showing a sign to mortals; and bioUiant are 
 its rays ; so shone the brass around the breast of him running. 
 Then Meriones, his good attendant, met him yet near the 
 tent, — ^for he was going to fetch a brazen spear; and the 
 strength of Idomeneus addressed him : 
 
 " Meriones, son of Molus, swift of foot, dearest of my com- 
 panions, why comest thou thus, quitting the war and the 
 contest 1 Art thou at all wounded, and does the point of a 
 spear afflict thee ? Or comest thou to me on any message ? 
 For I myself am not desirous to sit within my tent, but to 
 fight." 
 
 But him prudent Meriones in turn answered : "Idomeneus, 
 thou counsellor of the brazen-mailed Cretans, I come, if there 
 be any spear left within thy tents, to take it: because I 
 indeed have broken that which I formerly had, having struck 
 the shield of ferocious Deiphobus." Whom again in turn 
 Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed: "Thou wilt 
 find, if thou desirest [to select from them], one-and-twenty 
 spears standing in my tent against the shilling walls, which 
 I have taken from the slain Trojans ; for I affirm that I do 
 not fight with hostile men, standing at a distance from them. 
 Hence I have both spears, and bossy shields, and helmets, 
 and corslets, brightly polished." 
 
 But him again prudent Meriones addressed in turn : " At 
 my tent also and black ship are there many spoils of the 
 Trojans; but they are not near, so that I might take them. 
 For neither do I conceive that I am forgetful of valour, but 
 I stand among the foremost in glory-giving battle, whenever 
 the contest of war has arisen. I am rather unobserved per- 
 
236 ILIAD. Xin. 272— 30& 
 
 haps, when fighting by some other of the brazen-mailed 
 Greeks ; but I think that thou knowest me." 
 
 Whom again Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed 
 in turn : " I know what thou art as to valour : what neces- 
 sity is there for thee to enimierate these things? For if now 
 aU we the bravest at the ships should be selected for an 
 ambuscade, where the courage of men is especially distin- 
 guished, where both the coward as well as the brave man is 
 made apparent — ^for the complexion of the coward on the one 
 hand is changed from this to that, nor is his heart cahn 
 within his bosom, so that he can rest without trembling, but 
 he shifts his position, and sits upon both his feet, whilst his 
 heart greatly palpitates within his breast, as he is expecting 
 death; and a chattering of his teeth arises. But neither is 
 the complexion of the brave man changed, nor is he at all 
 disturbed, after he first sits down in the ambush of heroes; 
 but he bums to be mingled with all haste in direfiil fight — 
 [no one], in that case, would find fault with thy courage and 
 might. For if, labouring [in the battle], thou wert wounded 
 from a distance, or smitten in close fight, the weapon would 
 not fall upon thy neck behind, nor upon thy back; but it 
 would pierce through either thy breast, or thy stomach, as 
 thou wast rushing forward amid the conflict' of foremost 
 combatants. But come, no longer let us speak of these 
 things, standing like infatuated persons, lest perhaps some 
 one chide us inordinately; but do thou, going to the tent, 
 take a strong spear." 
 
 Thus he spake, and Meriones, equal to swift Mars, quickly 
 took from the tent a brazen spear; and he went along with 
 Idomeneus, very eager for war. But as man-destroying Mars 
 enters the battle — ^with whom Terror, his dear son, at the 
 same time powerful and undismayed, follows, who strikes 
 fear into the warrior even of resolute soul : these indeed are 
 armed from Thrace, along with the Ephyri or with the mag- 
 nanimous Phlegyans ; neither do they hear both, but they give 
 glory to one or the other — so Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders 
 of heroes, advanced to battle equipped with helmets of glitter- 
 ing brass ; and Meriones first addressed him in these words : 
 
 ' HesyoU. 'Oapiariv' /laxriv. Etym. M. fol. 131,B. 2. 'Avri roJ 
 iv ry Twv TputraywviffT&v ofiiXi^ (which is its proper meaning, as derived 
 from oap) Kai cvpavaffrpof-g. 
 
507— 343. ILIAD. XIII. 237 
 
 "Son of Deucalion, where dost thou meditate to enter tlie 
 throng ? To the right of all the army, or at the centre, or 
 upon the left 1 Since nowhere [else] ^ in the battle do I con- 
 ceive that the long-haired Greeks so much require support." 
 
 But him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn 
 addressed : " Among the centre ships indeed there are others 
 to aid them, both the Ajaces and Teucer, who is the most 
 skilful of the Greeks in archery, and brave also in standing 
 fight ; who wiU sufficiently harass, even to satiety. Hector, 
 the son of Priam, although most urgent of battle, and 
 although being very gallant. Hai-d will it be for him, 
 although very desirous of fighting, having overpowered their 
 strength and invincible hands, to fire the ships, unless the 
 son of Saturn himself cast a flaming torch upon the swift 
 ships. Nor indeed wiU mighty Telamonian Ajax yield to 
 any man who may be a mortal, and who may eat the fruit of 
 Ceres, who is vulnerable by brass and by large stones. Not 
 even to warlike Achilles would he give way, at least in 
 standing fight; but in speed he is by no means able to con- 
 tend with him. Guide us, therefore, to the left of the army 
 that we may quickly know whether we shall afford glory to 
 any one, or any one to us." 
 
 Thus he spoke. But Meriones, equal to rapid Mars, began 
 to proceed, until he came to [that part of] the army whither 
 he had ordered him. But they, when they beheld Idome- 
 neus, like unto a flame in might, both him and his attendant, 
 in variously-wrought armour, they all, exhorting one another 
 along the crowd, advanced against him, and an equal contest 
 arose at the sterns of their ships. And as when storms 
 sweep along, [driven] by the shrill winds, on a day when the 
 dust around the roads [is] very abundant, and they at the 
 .same time raise up a large cloud of dust ; so came on the 
 battle of these together, and they were eager in their minds 
 to slaughter one another throughout the throng with the 
 sharp brass. And the mortal-destroying combat bristles 
 with the long spears which they held, flesh-rending; and the 
 brazen splendour from the gleaming helmets, the newly- 
 burnished corslets, and the sMning shields, coming together, 
 dazzled their eyes. Yery brave-hearted would he be who, 
 
 ' /. e. nowhere so much as on the left. 
 
838 ILIAD. XIII. 344—377. 
 
 ■when beholding their toil, could have rejoiced, and would not 
 be disturbed. 
 
 But the two powerful sons of Saturn., favouring different 
 sides, planned grievous toils for the heroes. On the one 
 hand, Jove willed victory to the Trojans and to Hector, glo- 
 rifying swift-footed Achilles ; yet he desired not entirely to 
 destroy the Grecian people before IHum, but was honouring 
 Thetis and her magnanimous son. On the other hand, Nep- 
 tune, coming amongst them, encouraged the Greeks, having 
 secretly emerged jfrom the hoary deep ; for he grieved that 
 vhey should be subdued by the Trojans, and he was greatly 
 indignant with Jove. The same race indeed was to both, 
 and the same lineage, but Jove was bom first,^ and knew 
 more. For this reason [Neptune] avoided aiding them openly, 
 but always kept privately inciting them through the army, 
 assimilated to a man. They indeed alternately stretched 
 over both the cord of vehement contest and equally destruc- 
 tive war, irrefragable and indissoluble, which relaxed the 
 knees of many. Then, although half-hoary Idomeneus, en- 
 couraging the Greeks, rushing upon the Trojans, created 
 flight ; for he slew Othryoneus, who had come from Cabesus, 
 staying within [Priam's house].^ He had lately come after 
 the rumour of the war, and demanded Cassandra, the most 
 beautiful in form of the daughters of Priam, without a dowry; 
 and he had promised a mighty deed, to repulse in spite of 
 themselves the sons of the Greeks irova. Troy. But to him 
 aged Priam had promised her, and pledged himself^ to give 
 her; therefore he fought, trusting in these promises. But 
 Idomeneus took aim at him with his shimng spear, and 
 hurling it, struck him, strutting proudly; nor did the brazen 
 corslet which he wore resist it, but he fixed it in the middle 
 of his stomach. And falling, he gave a crash, and [the other] 
 boasted and said : 
 
 " Othiyoneus ! above all men indeed do I praise thee, if 
 thou wilt now in truth accomplish all which thou hast under- 
 taken for Dardanian Priam : but he also promised thee his 
 daughter. "We likewise, promising these things, wiU accom- 
 
 ' Heyne compares xiv. 204. The Erinnys were supposed to avenge 
 »ny disrespect offered to an elder brother by a younger. 
 ^ Literally, " being within from Cabesus." 
 ' Lit. " bowed assent." 
 
378—409. ILIAD. XIII. 239 
 
 plish them to thee. "We will give thee the most beautiful in 
 form of the daughters of the son of Atreus to wed, bringing 
 her from Argoa, if along with us thou wilt destroy the well- 
 inhabited city of Ilium. But follow, that we may treat with 
 thee respecting the marriage of the sea-travei-sing ships; 
 since we are by no means bad brothers-in-law." 
 
 So saying, the hero Idomeneus dragged him by the foot 
 through the brisk battle. But to him Asius came as an 
 avenger, on foot, before his steeds; which his attendant 
 charioteer always kept breathing over his shoulders;' and in 
 his mind he longed to strike Idomeneus, but he (Idomeneus) 
 anticipating him, smote him with his spear in the throat, 
 below the chin, and drove the brass quite through. And he 
 fell, as when some oak faEs, or white poplar,^ or towering^ 
 pine, which timber-workers have cut down upon the moun- 
 tains with lately-whetted axes, to become ship timber. So 
 he lay, stretched out before his horses and chariot, gnashing 
 his teeth, gi-asping the bloody dust. But the charioteer was 
 deprived of the senses which he previously had, nor dared he 
 turn back the horses that he might escape from the hands of 
 the enemy : but him wai'like Antilochus, striking, transfixed 
 in the middle with his spear; nor did the brazen corslet 
 which he wore resist, but he fixed it ia the centre of Ijis 
 stomach. Then, panting, he fell fi.'om the well-made chariot- 
 seat, and Antilochus, the son of magnanimous Nestor, drove 
 away the horses from the Trojans to the well-armed Greeks. 
 But Deiphobus, enraged on account of Asius, drew very near 
 to Idomeneus, and hurled with his shining spear. Idome-: 
 neus, however, having perceived it opposite, avoided the 
 brazen spear, for he was concealed behind his shield equal on 
 all sides, which he bore, constructed of the hides of bulls, and 
 glittering brass, fitted with two handles. Behind this he 
 collected himself entirely, and the brazen spear flew over 
 him. But the shield returned a dry'' sound, the spear grazing 
 
 ' I. e. close by Asius (Kor wfjwi'), he having descended for the pur- 
 pose of rescuing the body of Othryoneus. — Kennedy. 
 
 " "'H XevKTi, populus alba." — Heyne. 
 
 ' BXw9p6c is connected with (SXiiffKu), as jSXnxpoe with pXirTio. Sea 
 Buttm. Lexil. p. 194. Hesych. : SKwQprf eiiavKvei V irpotaivovaa icai 
 dvui dp&aKovaa. Schol. on ApoU. Rhod. i. 322 : Tlirvv ^XwBptjv 
 'Ofitipog, TTiv d\pi Tov alB'tpoc uoXiaKovtrav. 
 
 * So v. 441 : avov liiKrer, So "aridus sonus," in Lucre.t. tI. 113; 
 
no ILIAD. XIII. 410—445 
 
 it, obliquely. Yet he (Dei'phobus) sent it not in vain from 
 his heavy hand, but he struck Hypsenor, son of Hippasus, 
 the shepherd of the people, upon the liver, below the breast, 
 and straightway relaxed his knees under him. But Dei'pho- 
 bus vainly boasted over Mm, loudly exclaiming : 
 
 "Surely not unavenged lies Asius; I rather think <hat he 
 will rejoice in his mind, though going into the strong-gated, 
 massy [dwelling] of Hades, since I have given him a guide." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but grief came upon the Greeks at his 
 boasting, and it particularly agitated the mind of warlike 
 Antilochus. Yet, grieved as he was, he neglected not Ms 
 companion, but running, he protected him, and covered him 
 over vcith his shield. Him then his two dear companions, 
 "Mecisteus, son of Echius, and noble Alastor, supporting, bore 
 to the hollow ships, deeply groaning. In the meantime Ido-' 
 meneus ceased not his mighty valour; but always burned 
 either to cover some of the Trojans with pitchy night,' or 
 himself to fall with a crash, repelling destruction from the 
 Greeks. Then the hero Alcathous, the beloved son of .^sy- 
 etas (and he was the son-in-law of Anchises, for he had 
 married Hippodamia, the eldest of his daughters, whom her 
 father and venerable mother loved from their hearts, whilst 
 in their home, because she excelled all of her age in beauty, 
 in accomplishments, and prudence, for which reason also the 
 most distinguished man in wide Troy had wedded her), him 
 Neptune subdued under Idomeneus, having dimmed his 
 shining eyes, and fettered his fair limbs. For he was able 
 neither to fly back nor to turn aside, but him, standing 
 motionless, like a pillar or lofty-branching tree, the hero 
 Idomeneus wounded with his spear in the middle of the 
 breast, and burst the brazen coat around him, which formerly 
 warded off destruction from his body : but then it sent forth 
 a dry sound, severed by the spear. Falling, he gave a crash, 
 and the spear was fixed in his heart, which, palpitating, 
 shook even the extremity of the spear ; and there at length 
 the impetuous Mars^ spent its force. But Idomeneus boasted 
 prodigiously over him, loudly exclaiming : 
 
 " aridus fragor," Virg. Georg. I. 357, noticed by Quintil. I. O. viii. 3. 
 A. dry, grating, half-crackling sound Is meant. 
 
 ■ I. e. death. 
 
 ' Here put for the weapon. 
 
445—482. ILIAD. XIII. 241 
 
 "Deiphobus ! do we judge rightly tliat it is a fair return, 
 that three should be slain for one, since thus thou boastest. 
 But do thou thyself also, ■wretch, stand against me, that thou 
 mayest kno-w of what nature I am, who have come hither 
 the offspring of Jove, who first begat Miaos, the guardian of 
 Crete. Minos again begat Deucalion, his blameless son, and 
 Deucalion begat me, king over many men in wide Crete. 
 But now the ships have brought me hither, an evil both to 
 thee and to thy father, and the other Trojans." 
 
 Thus he spoke, but Deiphobus hesitated between two opi- 
 nions, whether, falling back, he should join to himself some 
 one of the magnanimous Trojans, or make trial although 
 alone. But to him, thus deliberating, it appeared preferable 
 to go in search of .^Eneas ; whom he found standing at the 
 rear of the army, for he was ever indignant with noble 
 Priam, because he by no means honoured him, though being 
 valiant among heroes. And, standing near, he addressed to 
 binri winged words : 
 
 " .<3Eneas, thou counsellor of the Trojans, now does it 
 greatly behove thee to aid thy brother-in-law, if indeed any 
 regard reaches thee. But follow, let us bring aid to Alca- 
 thous, who, being thy brother-in-law, nourished thee whilst 
 very young, in his palace, and whom spear-famed Idomeneus 
 hath slain." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and roused the courage in his breast, and 
 he, greatly desirous of battle, went to meet Idomeneus. Yet 
 fear seized not Idomeneus like a tender boy, but he stood 
 stiU, lik e a boar in the mountains, confident in his prowess, 
 and who abides the mighty din of men advancing against 
 him, La a desert place,' and bristles up his back ; his eyes, 
 too, gleam with fire, and he whets his teeth, eager to keep 
 at bay both dogs and men. So spear-renowned Idome- 
 neus awaited .lEncas, swift ia the battle-din, coming against 
 him, nor retired ; but he shouted to his companions, looking 
 to Ascalaphus, and Aphareus, and Deipyrus, and Meriones, 
 and Antilochus, skOful in fight. Exhorting these, he ad- 
 dressed to them winged words : 
 
 " Hither, my friends, and aid me alone, for I greatly dread 
 swift-footed JEneas, rushing on, who is coming upon mo; 
 
 ' Or, " in tho sheep-pasture." 
 R 
 
242 ILIAD. XIII. 483-520. 
 
 •who is very powerful to slay men in battle, and possesses the 
 bloom of youth, which is the greatest strength. For if we 
 were of the same age, with the spirit that I now possess, 
 quickly would either he bear off great glory, or I would." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they all, having one determination in 
 their minds, stood near him, inclining their shields upon 
 their shoulders, ^neas, on the other hand, animated his 
 companions, looking towards Deiphobus, Paris, and noble 
 Agenor, who, together with himself were leaders of the Tro- 
 jans. These also the people followed, as sheep follow from 
 their pasture after the ram in order to drink ; and the shep- 
 herd then is rejoiced in his mind. So was the soul of .^neas 
 gladdened in his breast, when he beheld a body of troops 
 following himself. These therefore engaged in close fight 
 round Alcathous with long spears, whilst the brass resounded 
 horribly on the breasts of them, aiming at each other through 
 the crowd. But two warlike men, conspicuous among tibe 
 rest, .iEneas and Idomeneus, equal to Mars, longed to lacerate 
 each other's flesh with the ruthless brass. But jEneas first 
 hurled his javelin at Idomeneus ; but he, perceiving it oppo- 
 site, avoided the brazen spear; and the spear of jSlneas sank 
 qiiivering into the earth ; for it fled in vain from his sturdy 
 hand. Idomeneus next smote CEnomaus in the middle of 
 the stomach, and the spear burst the cavity of his corslet, 
 and penetrating, drank his entrails through ; but falling 
 amid the dust, he grasped the earth with the hollow of his 
 hand. Then Idomeneus plucked out the long spear from 
 his body, but was unable to tear off the other rich armoiu: 
 from his shoulders, for he was pressed hard by weapons. For 
 no longer were the sinews of his feet firm as he rushed, 
 either to hasten on after his o^vn dart,' or avoid [that of 
 another]. Wlierefore also in standing fight, he warded off 
 the fatal day, nor did his feet any longer bear hiTn with ease 
 in retreating from the battle. But against him, gradually 
 retiring, Deiphobus took aim with his glittering spear, for he 
 ever had a rooted hatred towards him. But then too ho 
 missed, and struck with his javelin Ascalaphus, the son of 
 Mars, and drove the stout spear through his shoulder ; and 
 felling amid the dust, he grasped the earth with his hand, 
 
 ' So as to recover it. 
 
521—555, ILIAD. XIII. 243 
 
 Not yet, however, had loudly-roaring,' impetuoiis Mars heard 
 that his son had fallen in the violent fight j but he sat upon 
 the summit of Olympus, beneath golden clouds, excluded 
 [from the battle] by the will of Jove, where also the other 
 immortal gods were restrained from the war. In the mean- 
 time they engaged in close fight round Ascalaphus. Dei'pho- 
 bus indeed tore the shining helmet from Ascalaphus; and 
 Meriones, equal to swift Mars, springing [upon luml smote 
 [him] with his spear in the arm, and the crested ^ casque, 
 falling from his hand, rang upon the earth. Immediately 
 Meriones, leaping upon him like a vulture, plucked out the 
 tough spear from the lower part of his arm, and retired back 
 again into the crowd of his comrades. But him Pohtes, his 
 own brother, throwing his hands round his waist, carried out 
 of the dread-sounding battle, tiU he reached his fleet steeds, 
 which awaited him in the rear of the combat and the war, 
 having both a charioteer and a variegated car ; which then 
 carried him towards the city, groaning heavily [and] afflicted ; 
 and the blood flowed from his recently-wounded hand : but 
 the others kept fighting, and an unquenchable clamour arose. 
 Then ^neaa rushing upon Aphareus, the son of Caletor, 
 smote him with his sharp spear upon the throat, when 
 turned, towards him. And his head was bent to one side, 
 then his shield clung to him, and his helmet ; and around 
 him hfe-destroying death was spread. AntUochus, however, 
 observing Thoas turning around, attacking, wounded him ; 
 and cut away all the vein, which, running quite along the 
 back, reaches to the neck. AU this he cut ofi"; but he fell 
 on his back in the dust, stretcliing out both hands to his 
 beloved companions. Then AntUochus sprang upon him, 
 and stripped the armour from his shoulders, looking around ; 
 for the Trojans surrounding him, struck his wide and orna- 
 mented shield with their darts, nor were they able to graze 
 with the dire brass the tender body of AntUochus within it ; 
 because earth-shaking Neptune protected the son of Nestor 
 
 ' BpiiiTrvog=spiydovvog. The Schol. on Apoll. Rh. iii. 860, observes: 
 Bpi, iTnTaaewe lariv, uig rh BpifiTTVOQ, 
 
 ' The meaning of aiXCiine is rather uncertain. According to the 
 Schol. and Hesychius, it means a helmet that has the openings for the 
 eyes oblong (irapanriKug Ixovaa rag tSiv dtpBaXfiuiv oirdg), or a helmet 
 with a long crest (EKTiTuuivov \6(pov). 
 
244 ILIAD. XIII. 556—586. 
 
 all round, even amongst many weapons. For never indeed 
 was he apart from the enemy, but he turned himself about 
 among them : nor did he hold his spear without motion, but 
 continually moving, it was whirled about ; and he prepared 
 within his mind, either to hurl it at some one afar off, or to 
 rush upon some one close at hand. But meditating these 
 things amid the throng, he escaped not the notice of Adamas, 
 the son of Asias, who smote him in. the middle of his shield 
 with the sharj) braas, attacking him in close combat ; but 
 azure-haired Nepfnne weakened the spear, grudging^ him 
 the life [of Antilochu.s]. Part of it remained there, like a 
 stake burned in the fire,'* in the shield of AntUochus, and 
 the other half lay upon the ground ; whilst he gave back- 
 wards into the crowd of his companions, shunning deatL 
 Meriones, however, following him departing, smote biTn with 
 his spear between the private parts and the navel, where a 
 wound ^ is particularly painful to miserable mortals. There 
 he fixed the spear in him ; and he falling, struggled panting 
 around the spear, as an ox, when cowherds in the moimtains, 
 forcibly bindiDg him with twisted cords, lead [him] away 
 unwiUing. So he, wounded, throbbed, though but for a 
 short time, and not very long, until the hero Meriones 
 coming near, plucked the spear from his body j and darkness 
 veiled his eyes. But Helenus, close at hand, struck Deipyrus 
 upon the temple with his huge Thracian sword, and cut 
 away the three-coned helmet ; which, being dashed off, fell 
 upon the ground ; and some one of the combating Greeks 
 lifted it up, having roUed between his feet ; whilst dim 
 night enveloped his eyes. Then grief seized the son of 
 Atreus, Mnnelaus, brave in the din of battle, and he ad- 
 vanced, threatening the hero, king Helenus ; brandishing his 
 sharp spear, whilst the other drew the horn of his bow. 
 Together then they darted, the one eager to launch his fip 
 tree spear, and the other an arrow from the string. Then 
 indeed the son of Priam smote bim in the breast with an 
 
 ' ^Bovriaas 'XSajiavn, fiq tov fiiov 'AvrCKoxov d^eXi/rai. 
 ' The " prBeustffi sudes'' of Csesar, B. G. v. 40. These were among 
 'Jie rustic weapons of antiquity, as may be seen from Virg. Mn. Til. 523. 
 " Non jam certamine agresti 
 Stipitibus duris agitur, sudibusve prseuatis ; 
 Sed ferro anoipiti decernunt." 
 » Cf. vs. 444. 
 
>.97— 623. ILIAD. XIII. 245 
 
 Bxrow, on the cavity of the corslet, but the bitter shaft 
 rebounded. As when from the broad -winnowing-fan in a 
 large threshing-floor, the black-coated beans or vetches leap 
 at the shrill blast, and the force of the \mmower; ;jo, 
 strongly repulsed by the corslet of glorious Menelaus, the 
 hitter arrow flew afar. But Menelaus, the son of Atreus, 
 brave in the din of battle, smote him upon the hand which 
 held his well-polished bow ; and in the bow the brazen spear 
 was fixed from the opposite side, through his hand. Then 
 he retired back into the crowd of his companions, avoiding 
 death, hanging down his hand at his side, but the ashen 
 spear was trailed along with him. And then magnanimous 
 Agenor extracted it from his hand, and bound [the hand] 
 itself sUng-ways in well-twisted sheep's wool, which his 
 attendant carried for the shepherd of the people. 
 
 But Pisander went direct against glorious Menelaus, be- 
 cause evil Fate led him towards the end of death, to be 
 subdued by thee, O Menelaus, in the dire battle. When 
 therefore they were near, advancing against each other, the 
 son of Atreus indeed missed, and his spear was turned aside 
 from liiTn • but Pisander smote the shield of glorious Mene- 
 'aus, nor could he drive the spear quite through ; because the 
 oroad shield kept it off, and the spear was broken at the 
 extremity : stUl he rejoiced in his mind, and hoped for vic- 
 tory. The son of Atreus, however, drawing his sUver- 
 studded sword, sprang upon Pisander; but he drew from 
 beneath his shield a handsome battle-axe of well-wrought 
 brass, fixed upon either side of an olive handle, long, well- 
 pohshed; and at once they struck each other. Then he 
 (Pisander) cut away the cone of the helmet, thick with horse- 
 hair, under the very crest, but (Menelaus smote) him, 
 approaching, upon the forehead, above the root of the nose. 
 And the bones crashed, and his blood-stained eyes fell at his 
 feet upon the ground in the dust : and falling, he writhed. 
 Then he (Menelaus) placing his heel upon his breast, de- 
 spoiled him of his armour, and boasting, spoke [this] speech : 
 
 " Thus,^ then, shall ye abandon the ships of the Greeks, 
 who possess swift steeds, ye treaty-breaking Trojans, insatiate 
 of dire battle. Of other injury and disgrace ye indeed lack 
 
 ' /, r. by being slain one after another. 
 
246 ILIAD. XIII. 624—660. 
 
 nothing witli wldoh ye have injured me, vile dogs, nor have 
 ye at all dreaded in your miads the heavy -wrath of high- 
 thundering, hospitable Jove, who mil yet destroy for you 
 your lofty city; ye who unprovoked departed, carrying off 
 my virgin spouse, and much wealth, after ye had been hos- 
 pitably received by her. Now again do ye eagerly desire to 
 hurl destructive fire upon the sea-traversing ships, and to 
 slay the Grecian heroes. But ye shall yet be restrained, 
 impetuous as ye be, from war. O fether Jove, assuredly they 
 say that thou excellest all others, men and gods, in prudence, 
 yet from thee do all these things proceed. How much dost 
 thou gratify these iasolent Trojan men, whose violence is 
 ever pernicious, and who cannot be satisfied with war, equally 
 destructive to all ! Of all things is there satiety, — of sleep, of 
 love, of sweet singing, and of fiitdtless dancing, with which 
 one would much more readily satisfy his desire, than with 
 war; but the Trojans are insatiate of battle." 
 
 So sayiag, having stripped the bloody armour from the 
 body, illustrious Menelaus gave it to his companions, whilst 
 he, advancing, was again mixed with the foremost combat- 
 ants. Then Harpalion, the son of king Pylsemenes, who 
 had then followed his dear father to wage war at Troy, 
 leaped upon him; nor returned he back to his native land. 
 [He it was] who then, close at hand, struck the middle of 
 Atrides' shield with his lance, nor was he able to drive quite 
 through the brass; but he retired back iuto the crowd of his 
 companions, avoiding death, looking around on all sides, lest 
 any one should touch his body' with a spear. Meriones, 
 however, shot a brazen-pointed arrow at him retreating, and 
 struck him upon the right hip, and the arrow penetrated to 
 the other side, through the bladder, below the bone. SiakLng 
 down, therefore, iu the same place, breathing out his life in 
 the arms of his beloved companions, Uke a worm, he lay 
 stretched upon the ground, whilst his black blood flowed, and 
 moistened the earth. Around hiTn the magnanimous Paph- 
 lagonians were employed, and, lifting him upon a chariot, 
 they bore him to sacred lUum, grieving; and with them went 
 his father, shedding tears ; but no vengeance was taken for 
 his dead son. 
 
 But Paris was greatly enraged iu his soul on account of 
 
 ' As the usual construction of IwavpcXv is with o gaiitive, Heyne 
 would supply ftri tic iiravfiy aiirov xard xpoa. 
 
661—637 ILIAD. XIII. 24T 
 
 his being glain, for he had been his guest among many Paph- 
 lagoniansj wherefore, enraged on Ms account, he sent forth 
 a brazen arrow. Now there was one Euchenor, son of the 
 diviner Polyi'dus, wealthy and brave, inhabiting a dwelling 
 at Corinth, who, weU knowing his fatal destiny, had arrived 
 in a ship. For often had Polyidus, good old man, told him, 
 that he would perish in his haUs of a grievous disease, or be 
 subdued by the Trojans among the ships of the Greeks; 
 wherefore he avoided at once the severe mulct ^ of the 
 Achseans, and odious disease, that he might not suffer sorrows 
 in his mind. Him he (Paris) smote below the jaw and the 
 ear ; and his spirit quickly departed from his members, and 
 hateful darkness seized him. 
 
 Thus indeed they fought like^ unto a burning fire. But 
 Hector, dear to Jove, had not learned, nor knew at all, how 
 at the left of the ships his people were being slaughtered by 
 the Greeks, for the victory was on the point of being the 
 Grecians' ; so much did earth-shaking Neptune encourage the 
 Greeks, and moreover himself assisted with his strength; but 
 he (Hector) pressed on where first he had sprung within the 
 gates and wall, breaking the thick ranks of the shielded 
 Greeks. There were the ships of Ajax and ProtesUaus, 
 drawn up upon the shore of the hoary sea; but above ^ them 
 the wall was built very low; there themselves and their 
 horses were most impetuous in the combat. There'' the Boeo- 
 tians and long-robed laonians, the Locrians, the Phthians, 
 and the illustrious Epeans, restrained him from the ships, 
 fiercely rushing on; but were unable to drive away from 
 them noble Hector, like unto a flame. The chosen men ot 
 the Athenians stood in the van; among whom Menestheus, 
 son of Peteus, had the command ; and with bim followed 
 Phidas, Stichius, and brave Bias, Meges, the son of Phyleus, 
 Amphion, and Dracius, led the Epeans, and over the Phthians 
 were Medon and Podarces, steady in fight (Medon indeed 
 was the spurious offspring of godlike O'fleus, and the brother 
 «f Ajax; but he dwelt at Phylace, away from his native 
 country,* having slain a man, the brother of his stepmother 
 
 ' As Corinth was under the authority of Agamemnon, he would have 
 been compelled to pay a fine for refusing the service. Compare the aTijiia 
 Tfjs aarpaTtiag at Athens. See Potter, Antlq. i. 23. 
 
 ' Cf. xi. 595, with the note. ' /. e. before them. 
 
 ' /. e. where Hector broke in * See my note on ii. p. 42, n. 2. 
 
248 ILIAD. XIII. 697—734. 
 
 Eriopis, whom O'ileus had married. But the other was the 
 son of Iphiclus, of Phylace). These in arms before the mag- 
 nanimous Phthians, fought among the Bceotians, defending 
 the ships. 
 
 ,i But Ajax, the swift son of O'ileus, never separated from 
 Telamonian Ajax, not even for a little tmie, but as in a 
 fallow field two black bullocks possessing equal spirit, draw 
 a well-joined plough, — hut meanwhile copious sweat breaks 
 forth around the roots of their horns j and them the well- 
 polished yoke alone separates on either side, advancing along 
 the furrows, and [the plough] cuts^ up the bottom of the 
 soU; so they twain, joined together, stood very near to each 
 other. And then many and brave troops followed the son 
 of Telamon as companions, who received from bim his shield, 
 whenever fatigue and sweat came upon his limbs. But the 
 Locrians followed not the great-souled son of Oiileus, for their 
 heart remained not firm to them in the standing fight, be- 
 cause they had not brazen helmets crested with horse-hair, 
 nor had they well-orbed shields and ashen spears ; but they 
 followed along with him to Iliiun, trusting in the bows and 
 the well-twisted sheep's wool, with which, frequently hurling, 
 they broke the phalanxes of the Trojans. At that time 
 indeed these (the Ajaces) in the van, with their variously- 
 wrought armour, fought against the Trojans and brazen- 
 armed Hector, whilst (the Locrians) shooting from the rear, 
 lay concealed; nor were the Trojans any longer mindful of 
 combat, for the arrows put them in confusion. 
 
 Then surely would the Trojans have retreated with loss 
 from the ships and tents to lofty Ilium, had not Polydamas, 
 standing near, addressed bold Hector : 
 
 " Hector, thou art impossible to be persuaded by advice.' 
 Because indeed a god hath given thee, above others, warlike 
 deeds, for this reason dost thou also desire to be more sldUed 
 than others in counsel'! But by no means canst thou thyself 
 obtain all things at once.^ To one indeed hath the deity 
 given warlike deeds; to another dancing; and to another 
 the harp and smging. To another again far-sounding Jove 
 implants a prudent mind in his bosom, of which many men 
 reap the advantage, as it (prudence) even preserves cities,* 
 
 ' Tc/iEi refers to aporpov in v. 703, not to Juyov. 
 
 ^ Put for ajiijxai'Oi' iuTi TriiQuv at, 
 
 * A favourite proverb, Cf. Duport, Gnom. p, 81. 
 
734—773. ILIAD. XIII. 249 
 
 and lie himself (who possesses it) especially knows (its value). 
 Yet will I speak as appears to me best; because the en- 
 circling host ^ of war bums round thee on all sides, and the 
 magnanimous Trojans, since they have crossed the walls, some 
 indeed stand apart with their arms, and others fight, the 
 fewer against the greater number, scattered amongst the 
 ships. But retiring back, summon hither all the chiefs. And 
 then we can better discuss the whole plan ; whether we shall 
 enter upon the many-benched ships, if indeed the deity wOl 
 give us victory; or depart uninjured from the barks ; because 
 of a truth I fear lest the Greeks repay their debt of yester- 
 day, since a man, insatiate in war, still remains at the ships, 
 who I conceive will no longer abstain entirely from battle." 
 Thus spoke Polydamas, but the faultless advice pleased 
 Hector ; and immediately he leaped with his armour from 
 his chariot to the ground, and, addressing him, spoke winged 
 words : 
 
 " Polydamas, do thou retain here all the bravest, whilst I 
 wiU come back again immediately after I have given proper 
 orders to the [troops]." He said, and shouting, he rushed on, 
 like unto a snowy mountain, and flew through the Trojans 
 and the allies. But they ail crowded round valour-loving 
 Polydamas, the son of Panthous, as soon as they heard the 
 voice of Hector. He, however, ranged through the foremost 
 combatants, seeking if he could anywhere find Deiphobus, the 
 might of king Helenus, and Adamas, the son of Asias, and 
 Asius, the son of Hyrtacus. Some he found no longer quite 
 unhurt, nor yet destroyed, whilst others again lay at the 
 stems of the ships of the Greeks, having lost their lives by 
 the hands of the Greeks; and others were stricken or 
 wounded within the wall. But he quickly found noble 
 Alexander, the husband of fair-haired Helen, on the left of 
 the lamentable battle, cheering on his companions, and en- 
 couraging them to fight; and, standing near, he addressed 
 him with reproachful words : 
 
 " Accursed Paris, fine only in person, woman-mad, seducer, 
 where are Deiphobus and the might of king Helenus, and 
 Adamas, the son of Asias, and AsiuS, the son of Hyrtacus ? 
 Where also is Othryoneus ? Now lofty IKum all perishes 
 from its summit,^ now is its final destruction certain." 
 
 ' So " corona," in Latin. 
 
 » The Latin "a oulmine," as in Virg. Mu. ii. 290, 603 So JE&ch, 
 
250 ILIAD. XIII. 774—806. 
 
 But him godlike Alexander in turn addressed : " Hector, 
 since it is tty intention to find fault mtli me -when innocent, 
 at some other time perhaps, I may be more neglectful of the 
 fight ; [but not now], since neither did my mother bear me 
 altogether unwarUke. For from the time when thou didst 
 stir up the battle of thy companions at the ships, from that 
 time, remaining here, have we engaged incessantly with the 
 Greeks; and those comrades are dead for whom thou in- 
 quirest. Deiphobus and the might of king Helenus alone 
 have withdrawn, both wounded in the hand with long spears ; 
 but the son of Saturn hath warded off death [from them]. 
 But now lead on, wheresoever thy heart and soul urge theej 
 and we will follow with determined minds, nor do I think 
 that thou wilt be at all in want of valour, as much strength 
 as is in us. It is not possible even for one, although keenly 
 desirous, to fight beyond his strength." 
 
 So saying, the hero persuaded the mind of his brother, and 
 they hastened to advance towards that place where especially 
 was the battle and contest ; round Cebriones and excellent 
 Polydamas, Phalces and Orthseus, and godlike Polyphoetes, 
 and Pahnys, and Ascanius and Morys, the sons of Hippotion, 
 who the day before had come as a relief guard ^ from fertile 
 Ascania: and Jove then urged them to fight. But they 
 marched hke unto the blast of boisterous winds, which rushes 
 down to the plain, urged by the thunder of father Jove, and 
 with a dreadful tumult^ is mingled with the ocean; and in 
 it [rise] many boiling bUlows of the much-resoundmg sea, 
 swollen, whitened with foam, first indeed some and then 
 others following. 
 
 So the Trojans, first indeed some in battle array, and then 
 others glittering in brass, followed along with their leaders. 
 But Hector, the son of Priam, equal to man-slaughtering 
 Mars, led the van, and held before bim his shield, equal on 
 all sides, thick with skins ; and much brass was laid over it : 
 and round his temples his gleaming helmet was shaken. 
 Stepping forward, he tried the phalanxes around on every 
 
 Choeph. 679 : Kar' aicpac MaS' (is iropdoiiitBa. Soph. Ant. 206 ; 
 'H9f\tim flip TTvpl irprjaai Kar dxpag, Eurip. Phoen. 1192 : Kar' aKptuD 
 Trepydfiitiv iXtti/ ttoXiv. 
 
 ' IToXe/xou SiaSoxoi, roig irpoTipotg t(7oi. — Eustathius. 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 358. 
 
807—837. ILIAD. Xllt. 251 
 
 side, if perchance they •would give way to him, advancing 
 under cover of his shield. Yet he disturbed not the courage 
 of the Greeks in their breasts : but Ajax, far-striding, first 
 challenged him : 
 
 " noble Sir, dra-w nearer : why dost thou thus frighten 
 the Greeks 1 We Greeks are by no means unskilful in battle, 
 although we are subdued by the evil scourge ' of Jove. Thy 
 •soul, forsooth, hopes, I suppose, to plunder the ships ; but we 
 also have hands ready to repulse thee immediately. As- 
 suredly, long before shall thy weU-inhabited city be taken 
 and destroyed by our hands. But to thee thyself, I say, the 
 time draws near, when, flying, thou shalt pray to father Jove 
 and the other inunortals, that thy fair-maned steeds, which 
 shall bear thee to the city, raising dust over the plain, may 
 become swifter than hawks." 
 
 Whilst he was thus speaking, a bird flew over him on the 
 right — a lofty-flying eagle j upon which the people of the 
 Greeks shouted, encouraged by the omen; but illustrious 
 Hector replied : 
 
 " babbling and vain-boasting Ajax, what hast thou said? 
 Woidd that I were as sure of becoming for ever the child of 
 segis-bearing Jove, that the venerable Juno had borne me, 
 and that I were honoured as Minerva and Apollo are ho- 
 noured, as that this day now certainly brings destruction 
 upon ail the Greeks; and among others thou shalt be slain, 
 if thou wilt dare to abide my long spear, which shall tear for 
 thee thy dainty person, and thou shalt satiate the dogs and 
 birds of the Trojans with thy fat and flesh, falling at the 
 ships of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, he led on; and they followed 
 along with him with a mighty shout, and the troops likewise 
 shouted in the rear. The Greeks, on the other side, raised 
 a shout, nor were they forgetful of their valour, but they 
 awaited the bravest of the Trojans, assaulting. But the 
 clamour of both reached to the sether and the shining splen- 
 dour^ of Jove. 
 
 ' See note on xii. 37. 
 
 » Cf. Find. 01. iii. 43 : AvyaXg aXi'ow. So " auras tetherias," Vii-g, 
 Georg. ii. 291. Lucret. i. 208, " Dias— luminis auras."— Kennedy. 
 
25Z ILIAD. XIV 1—21, 
 
 BOOK THE FOURTEENTH 
 
 AKGCMENT. 
 
 Agamemnon and the other wounded chiefs visit the battle with Nestor. 
 Juno, having borrowed the cestus of Venus, first obtains the assistance 
 of Sleep, and then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails, Jove 
 sleeps, and Neptune seizes the opportunity to aid the Greeks. 
 
 But the shouting did not entirely escape the aotice of Nes- 
 tor, although drinking, but he addressed wiuged words to 
 the son of ^sculapius : " Consider, noble Machaon, how 
 these things will be ; greater, certainly, [grows] the .shouting 
 of the blooming youths at the ships. But sitting here at 
 present, drink indeed the dark wine, until fair-haired Heca- 
 mede has wanned the tepid baths, and washed away the 
 bloody gore ; whilst I, going with speed to a watchtower, 
 will gain information." 
 
 So saying, he took the well-made shield of his own son, 
 horse-breaking Thrasymedes, [which was] lying in the tent, 
 all shining with brass (for he had the shield of his sire) ; 
 and seized a strong spear, pointed with sharp brass; and 
 stood without the tent, and soon beheld an unseemly deed, — 
 these [the Greeks] in confusion, and those, the haughty 
 Trojans, routing them in the rear ; but the wall of the 
 Greeks had fallen. And as when the vast deep blackens 
 with the noiseless' wave, foreboding with no effect, the rapid 
 courses of the shrill blasts, nor yet is it rolled forwards or 
 backwards, before some decisive blast comes down from Jove ; 
 so meditated the old man, distracted in his mind between 
 two opinions : whether he should go amongst the throng of 
 
 ' Literally, " deaf." So " surdi fluctus," Ovid, Epist. jrviii. 211 ; 
 " Omnia surda tacent," Propert. iv. 3, 53 j " Surdaque vota condidit 
 lonio," Pers. Sat. vi. 28. 
 
21—60. ILIAD. XIV. 253 
 
 t-horsed Greeks, or to Agamemnon, the son of AtreiLs, 
 ahepherd of the people. But to him thus reflecting, it ap- 
 peared better to go in quest of the son of Atreus. Mean- 
 while they kept slaughtering eaoh other, contending, and the 
 BoUd brass around their bodies rang, as they were stricken 
 with the swords and two-edged spears. 
 
 But the Jove-cherished kings, coming up from the vessels, 
 met Nestor, as many as had been wounded with the brass, 
 ■ — Tydides, and Ulysses, and Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. 
 Their ships indeed were drawn up upon the shore of the 
 hoary deep, very far away from the battle ; for they had 
 drawn the first as far as the plain, and had built a waU at 
 their stems. For, broad as it was, the shore was by no 
 means able to contain their vessels, and the people were 
 crowded. Wherefore they drew them up in rows one behind 
 the other, and filled the wide mouth of the whole shore, as 
 much as the promontories enclosed. There then were they 
 walking together, leaning upon the spear, in order to behold 
 the tumult and the battle ; and the heart in their bosoms 
 was grieved. But aged Nestor met them, and terrified the 
 souls in the breasts of the Greeks : whom first king Aga- 
 memnon addressing, said: 
 
 " Neleian Nestor, great glory of the Greeks, why, leaving 
 the man-destroying battle, comest thou hither ? Truly I fear 
 lest impetuous Hector make good his speech, as once he 
 threatened, haranguing among the Trojans, that he would 
 not return to Ilium from the ships, before that he had 
 burned the ships with fire, and slain us also : thus indeed he 
 harangued ; and now are all things fulfilling. Ye gods, 
 surely the other weU-greaved Greeks, as well as Achilles, 
 store up wrath against me in their minds j nor are they 
 willing to fight at the stems of the ships." 
 
 But him the Grerenian knight Nestor then answered : 
 " Assuredly these things are in active accomplishment, nor 
 could even lofty-thundering Jove himself contrive them 
 otherwise ; for the wall, in which we trusted that it would 
 be an impregnable defence to the ships and to ourselves, has 
 now fallen. But they are sustaining an obstinate contest at 
 the swift ships ; nor couldst thou any longer distinguish, 
 though examining particularly, on which side the Greeks, 
 confounded, are routed ; so promiscuously are they slain, 
 
254 ILIAD. XIV. 60- yb. 
 
 whilst tlie stout reaches heaven. Let us, however, deliberate 
 how these things will be, if counsel avail anything ; although 
 I advise not that we enter the battle ; for it is by no means 
 proper that a wounded man should fight." 
 
 But bim then answered Agamemnon, king of men ; 
 '' Nestor, since they are combatiug at the stems of the ships, 
 and the constructed rampart avails not, nor the ditch, at 
 which the Greeks suffered much, and hoped in their minds 
 that it would be an impregnable defence to the ships and to 
 themselves, surely it will be agreeable to aU-poweriul Jove 
 that the Greeks perish here, inglorious, far away from Argos. 
 For I was conscious when he willingly gave assistance to 
 the Greeks, and I now know that he honours those [the 
 Trojans] equally with the happy gods, but hath fettered our 
 courage and our hands. But come, let us all obey as I shall 
 advise. Let us draw down the ships, as many as are drawn 
 up first near the sea, and launch them all into the vast 
 ocean. Let us moor them at anchor in the deep, till mortal- 
 deceiving 1 night arrive, if even then the Trojans may 
 abstain from battle, and then we may perhaps draw down 
 all the vessels ; for there is no disgrace in flying from evil, 
 not even during the night. It is better for a flying man to 
 escape from evil, than to be taken." 
 
 But him sternly regarding, wise XJlysses then addressed : 
 " Son of Atreus, what speech hath escaped thy lips ? Lost 
 man ! thou shouldst command some worthless army, and not 
 rule over us, to whom Jove hath granted, from youth even 
 unto old age, to accomplish toilsome wars, until we, each of 
 us, shall perish. Dost thou then desire thus to leave wide- 
 wayed Troy, on account of which we have endured so many 
 woes ? Be silent, lest some other of the Greeks hear a 
 speech, which a man ought not to have brought through 
 Ms mouth, whoever understands in his mind how to speak 
 prudent things, who is a sceptre-bearer, and whom so many 
 people obey, as many as thou dost govern among the Greeks. 
 For now do I reprobate thy judgment, in what thou hast 
 
 ' 'AtpoTY) is akin to fijxtpoTOv from a/iap'^ivio, and therefore= 
 ' making mortals go astray," or e\se = aii€po(tiri in 11. 57. See Buttm. 
 Lexil. p. 82. Or it may be regarded as the "nox intempesta," i. e. 
 " multa nox, qua nihil agl tempestivum est," Censorlnus de Die Nat. 
 
 ZXiT. 
 
96-124. ILIAD. XIV. 
 
 255 
 
 said ; who commandest us, -whilst the -war and battle are 
 ■waged, to draw down the well-benched ships to the sea, in 
 order tliat the wishes of the Trojans may be still better ful- 
 filled, victorious though they be, and dire destniction fall 
 upon us : for the Greeks will not maintain the fight whilst 
 the ships are being dragged to the sea, but wiU look back, 
 and retire firom the combat. Then will thy counsel be 
 injurious, leader of the people." 
 
 But him Agamemnon, the king of men, then answered : 
 " Much, O TJlysses, hast thou touched me to the soul with 
 thy severe reproof; yet I commanded not the sons of the 
 Greeks against their will to draw the weU-benched ships 
 down to the sea. But now would that there were one, 
 either yoimg or old, who would deliver an opinion better 
 than this ; it would be to my joy." ^ 
 
 But among them Diomede, valiant in the din of battle, 
 also spoke : " The man is near, we need not seek far, if 
 indeed ye are willing to be persuaded ; and do not find fault 
 each through wrath, because I am by birth the youngest 
 amongst you ; for I boast that my race is from a noble sire, 
 Tydeus, whom the heaped-up earth ^ covers at Thebes. For 
 to Portheus were born three distinguished sons, and they 
 dwelt in Pleuron and lofty Calydon : Agrius and Melas, but 
 the third was the knight OEneus, the father of my father, 
 who was conspicuous among them for valour. He indeed 
 remained there, but my father, as an exile, dwelt at Argos, 
 for so Jove willed and the other gods. But he married [one] 
 of the daughters ^ of Adrastus, and he inhabited a mansion 
 opulent in resources, and corn-bearing fields were his in 
 abundance, and there were many rows * of plants around 
 him. Numerous were his herds, and he surpassed the Greeks 
 
 ' For this use of the dative, cf. Plato Phsedon, § 24. So Tacit. Agric. 
 " Quibus helium volentibus erat." — Kennedy. Cf. ^sch. Prom. s. i., 
 aa/iivip Si aoi 'H TroiKiXtifimv vv^ diroicpv^liti, (paog. 
 
 ' See my note on Od. ii. p. 21, n. 35, ed. Bohn, and an admirable 
 dissertation on these classic barrow-tombs in Stephen's notes on Saxo- 
 Grammaticus, pp. 90 — 92. 
 
 ^ Deipyle. See Scholiast. 
 
 * Not "gardens." Schol. Theocrit. i. 48. 'Opxaroy ifiv liriirnxov 
 ijivTt'uiv . . Kai ' ApiSTOtpavrig to ntTa%v ruiv (jivruiv fiiTopxii-i'Ov iKoKiatv 
 tv role yK^pyolg' Kai 'HaioSog opxov Xkyn Trjv itrhrixov rSiv afi.7rk\t<iv 
 fvTtiav. Cf. Schol. on Lycophr. 857 ; Hesych. t. ii. p. 792. 
 
250 ILIAD. XIV. 125—162. 
 
 in the use of the spear ; but these things ye ought to know, 
 since it is a truth. Do not, therefore, dispute the opinion 
 freely delivered, which I give advisedly, deeming that I am 
 base by birth, and unwarlike. Come, then, let us go 
 to battle, wounded as we are, from necessity. There, 
 then, let us ourselves approach the combat, out [of the 
 reach] of weapons, lest any one receive wound upon 
 wound ; and, encouraging others, we wiU urge them on, 
 who hitherto, gratifying their souls, have stood apart, nor 
 fought." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and to him they aU listened readily, and 
 obeyed. Wherefore they hastened to advance, and the king 
 of men, Agamemnon, led them. 
 
 Nor did the Ulustrious Earth-shaker keep a negligent 
 look-out, but he went amongst them like unto an aged man, 
 and he caught the right hand of Agamemnon, the son of 
 Atreus, and addressing him, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Son of Atreus, now perchajice the revengefiil heart of 
 Achilles rejoices in his breast, beholding the slaughter and 
 rout of the Greeks ; siuce there is no feeling in him^ not 
 even a little. May he, however, thus perish, and may a god 
 cover him with disgrace. But with thee the blessed gods 
 are not yet altogether enraged, but again the leaders and 
 chiefs of the Trojans wUl perchance raise the dust upon the 
 wide plain, and thou wilt behold them flying towards the 
 city from the ships and the tents." 
 
 So sayiug, he shouted aloud, rushing over the plain. As 
 loud as nine or ten thousand men shout, beginning the con- 
 test of Mars, so loud a ciy did king Neptune send forth from 
 his breast ; and he cast great resolution into every heart 
 among the Greeks, to war and to fight incessantly. 
 
 But golden-throned Juno, standing, looked down with her 
 eyes from the summit of Olympus, and immediately recog- 
 nized her own brother, [who was] also her brother-in-law, 
 exertiag himself through the glorious battle, and she rejoiced 
 in her mind. She also beheld Jove sitting upon the highest 
 top of many-riUed Ida, and he was hateful to her soul. 
 Then the venerable large-eyed Juno next anxiously con- 
 sidered how she could beguile the mind of segis-bearing Jove. 
 And now this plan appeared best to her mind, to proceed to 
 Ida, having well arrayed herself, if perchance he might de- 
 
163—191. ILIAD. XIV. 257 
 
 sire to lie beside her form^ in dalliance, so that slie might pour 
 upon his eyelids and vigilant mind careless and genial sleep. 
 And she proceeded to her chamber, which Vulcan, her dear 
 son, had made for her, and had fitted the thick doors to the 
 Mntels -with a secret bolt ; ^ and this no other god could 
 remove. There entering in, she closed the shining doors. 
 First she washed aU impurities from her lovely person with 
 rich oil, ambrosial,^ and anointed herself with rich oil, am- 
 brosial and agreeable,* which was odoriferous to her ; and 
 the perfume of which, when shaken in the brazen-floored ^ 
 mansion of Jove, reached even to earth and to heaven. 
 With this having anointed her body, and having also combed 
 her hair, with her hands she arranged her shining locks, 
 beautiful, ambrosial, [which flowed] from her immortal head. 
 Next she threw around her an ambrosial robe, which 
 Minerva had wrought ^ for her in needlework, and had 
 embroidered much varied work upon it, and she fastened it 
 upon her breast with golden clasps. Then she girded herself 
 with a zone, adorned with a hundred fringes, and in her well- 
 perforated ears placed her triple-gemmed, elaborate,'' earrings, 
 and much grace shone from [her]. From above she, divine 
 of goddesses, covered herself with a veil, beautiful, newly 
 wrought ; and it was bright as the sun ; and beneath her 
 shining feet she fastened her beautiful sandals. But when 
 she had arranged all her ornaments around her person, 
 she proceeded straight from her chamber ; and having 
 called Venus apart 6-om the other gods, addressed her in 
 speech : 
 
 " Wilt thou now be at all obedient to me, dear child, in 
 what 1 shall say? Or wilt thou refuse, enraged in thy 
 
 ' Construe irapaipaOiuv y xpotg. 
 
 = Respecting the different meanings of kXuc, see Kennedy. 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 81, 3. 
 
 ' Buttmann, p. 242, regards idavog as " perhaps a stronger and higher 
 meaning of tog, or log, good, which may be compared with oirtSavog, 
 uiiKedavoQ.'* 
 
 ' See my note on Od. ii. 2. 
 
 * " The proper sense of f?ufft is, scraped or rubbed over; and its use 
 here is best explained by supposing a reference to some process among the 
 ancients whereby a shining appearaT\(:e was given to their vestments, as by 
 calendering or glazing with us." — Kennedy. 
 
 ' Mopoej/ra, wipi d s^opijfftv o Tixvirrig. — Schol. 
 
 S 
 
258 ILIAD. XIV. 191-21S. 
 
 mind on fins account, because I aid the Greeks whilst thou 
 [aidest] the Trojans 1 " 
 
 But her Yenus, the daughter of Jove, then answered: 
 " Juno, venerable goddess, daughter of mighty Saturn, declare 
 whatsoever thou dost meditate ; for my mind urges me to 
 accomplish it, if indeed I can accomplish it, and if it be 
 practicable." 
 
 But her the venerable Juno, meditating guile, addressed ; 
 " Give now to me that loveliness and desire with which thou 
 dost subdue all, immortals, and mortal men ; for I go to visit 
 the limits of the fertile earth, and Oceanus, the parent of the 
 gods, and mother Tethys; who, receiving me from Ehea, 
 nurtured and educated me with care in their abodes, when 
 far-resounding Jove cast down Saturn beneath the earth aud 
 the fruitless sea. These I go to visit, and I will put an end 
 to eternal quarrels.' For already have they abstained for a 
 length of time from the couch and embrace of each other, 
 since anger fell upon their mind. But if, by persuading 
 their hearts by my words, I should lead them back to the 
 bed, to be united in love, then shoiild I always be called by 
 them beloved and revered." 
 
 But her laughter-loving Venus in turn addressed ; " It is 
 not possible nor becoming to refuse thy request, for thou 
 recHaest in the arms of mightiest Jove." 
 
 She said, and loosed from her bosom the embroidered, 
 variegated cestus;^ where all allurements were enclosed. In 
 it were love, and desire, converse, seductive speech, which 
 steals away the mind even of the very prudent. This then 
 she placed in her hands, spoke, and addressed her : 
 
 ' These passages were regarded by the ancients as referring to the per- 
 petual strife of the elements. Thus Plato, in Thesetet. says : "Ojitipoe 
 ^iTTuiv, *UKiav6v T€ &EWV ykvifTiv, Kai ^j]Tkpa TjjQvVj irdvra elpTiKtv 
 tK-yova poijs re Kai KLvrf(reu}g. See Sextus Empir. adv. Gramroat. i. 13, 
 p. 280, ed. Fabr. ; Stobceus, Eel. 1. 11. Grote, vol. i. p. 16, note, 
 observes that, " Oceanus and Tethys seem to be presented in the Iliad as 
 the primitive father and mother of the gods," although he says that 
 " Uranos and Gsea, like Oceanus, Tethys, and Nyx, are with Homer 
 great and venerable gods, but neither the one nor the other present the 
 ciiaracter of predecessors of Kronos and Zeus." 
 
 '^ I have avoided translating "cestus," as it is very doubtful what is 
 nifant by it. It could not have been an ordinary girdle, since it was to 
 be hidden in the bosom (ver. 219), and since its power appears to have 
 been secret. See Heyne's note. 
 
il9— 253. ILIAD. XIV. 2b'J 
 
 "Take^ this, now place in thy bosom this vaiiegated belt, 
 in which all things are contained; and I think that thou 
 wilt not return with thy object unaccomplished, whatsoever 
 thou desirest in thy mind." 
 
 Thus she spake, and the large-eyed, venerable Juno smiled, 
 and smiling, then placed it in her bosom. But Venus, the 
 daughter of Jove, departed to the palace ; and Juno, hasten- 
 ing, quitted the summit of Olympus, and, having passed over 
 Pieria and fertile Ematliia, she hastened over the snowy 
 mountains of equestrian Thrace, most lofty summits, nor did 
 she touch the ground with her feet. From Athos she 
 descended to the foaming deep, and came to Lemnos, the city 
 of divine Thoas, where she met Sleep, the brother of Death ; 
 to whose hand she then clung, and spoke, and addressed him : 
 
 " Sleep,^ king of all gods and all men,=* if ever indeed 
 thou didst listen to my entreaty, now too be persuaded ; and 
 I will acknowledge gratitude to thee all my days. Clo.se 
 immediately in sleep for me the bright eyes of Jove under 
 his eyelids, after I couch with liim in love ; and I will give 
 thee, as gifts, a handsome golden throne, for ever incor- 
 i-uptible. And my limping son, Vulcan, adorning it, shall 
 make it, and below thy feet he shall place a footstool, upon 
 which thou mayest rest thy shining feet while feasting." 
 
 But her sweet Sleep answering, addressed : " Juno, vene- 
 rable goddess, daughter of great Saturn, any other of the 
 everlasting gods could I easily lull to sleep, and even the 
 flowing of rapid Ocean, who is the parent of all; but I could 
 not approach Saturnian Jove, nor lull him to sleep, unless, 
 at least, he himself command me. For once already, at 
 least, has he terrified me by his threats, on that day when 
 tlie magnanimous son of Jove (Hercules) sailed from Ilium, 
 having sacked the city of the Trojans. Then I lulled the 
 mind of aegis-bearing Jove, being poured gently aroimd him, 
 
 ' Tq is an old imperative from a root TA — " formed like 'iijv, according 
 to Doric analogy. ... In all cases it stands either quite absolute, thiv, .«, 
 witli tlie object understood, or the accusative belongs to a verb imme- 
 diately following." — Buttm. Lexil. pp. 505, sq. 
 
 ' Cf. Hesiod, Theog. 214. The dying words of Gorgias of Leontlum 
 are very elega.nt : "Hde fit 6 vttvoq dpx^'^^'- i'ap«KaTari6tffOa( rtJ dSiXfbui. 
 — ^iian, Var. Hist. ii. 35. 
 
 ^ So in the Orphic hymn : '"Yirvf, ava^ Travrav jiaxdoi^v Svti'iuv r' 
 ivOoiuiriitv, 
 
 s2 
 
260 ILIAD. XIV. 253-287 
 
 whilst thou wast planning evils in thy miad [against the 
 hero], rousing the blasts of bitter -winds over the deep ; and 
 thou didst afterwards cany him away apart from all his 
 friends to well-inhabited Cos. But he, when awakem.-d, 
 was enraged, hurling about the gods through his mansion, 
 and me chiefly of all he sought, and would have cast me 
 down, a lost one, from the setlier into the deep, had not 
 Night, vanquisher of gods and men, presei-ved me, to whom 
 I came flying. So he restrained himself, angry as he was ; 
 for he dreaded lest he should do tilings which were disagree- 
 able to swift' Night. And now again dost thou urge me to 
 perform this another dangerous deed." 
 
 But him the venerable large-eyed Juno in turn answered : 
 " O Sleep, why thinkest thou these things within thy mind 1 
 Canst thou suppose that far-sounding Jove favours the Tro- 
 jans, as he was enraged on account of Hercules, his own son? 
 But come, [do this], and I will give thee one of the yotmger 
 Graces to v.'ed, and to be called thy spouse, Pasithea,^ whom 
 thou fondly desirest day after day." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but Sleep was delighted, and, answering, 
 addressed her : " Come now, swear to me by the inviolable 
 water of the Styx, and touch with one hand the fertile earth, 
 and with the other the marble sea; so that all the gods 
 beneath, around Saturn, may be witnesses between us, that 
 thou wilt surely give me one of the younger Graces, Pasithea. 
 whom I will desire all my days." 
 
 Thus ho spoke, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno 
 disobey, but she swore as he desired, and named all gods who 
 dwell under Tartarus, which are called Titans.* Wben then 
 she had swon\, and performed her oath, they both proceeded 
 leaving the city of Lemnos and Imbrus, mantled in haze, 
 quickly making their way; and they came to Ida of many 
 rills, the mother of wild beasts, to Lectos, where first they 
 ((uitted the sea: but they both advanced over the land, and 
 the summit of the wood was shaken beneath their feet. 
 There Sleep on his part remained, before the eyes of Jove 
 should perceive him ; ascending a lofty fir, which then 
 
 ' But see Buttm. Lexil. p. 369. Translate, " quick and fearful 
 night. ' ' 
 
 ' The most beautiful of the Graces, — " blandarum prima sororum," 
 according to Statius, Theb. ii. 286. Cf. Virg. JEn. i. 267, sqq. 
 
 ' On this oath, see Grotc, vol. i. p. 17. 
 
288—322. ILIAD. XTV. 261 
 
 growing the highest upon Ida, sprung up through the air to 
 the clouds. There he sat, thickly covered with the fir 
 branches, like unto a shrill bird, which, living in the moun- 
 tains, the gods call Chalcis, and men Cymindis. 
 
 But Jvmo proceeded hastily to Gargarus, the summit of 
 lofty Ida, and cloud-compelling Jove beheld her. But the 
 instant he beheld her, that instant ' desire entirely shadowed 
 around his august mind, just as when they first were united 
 in love, retiring to the bed, without the knowledge of their 
 dear parents. And he stood before her, and spoke, and 
 addressed her : 
 
 " Wherefore hastening from Olympus, Juno, comest thou 
 hither, but thy horses and chariot are not near, which thou 
 mayest ascend." 
 
 But him the venerable Juno, meditating guiles, addressed : 
 " I go to visit the limits of the fertile earth, and Oceanus, 
 the parent of the gods, and mother Tethys, who nurtured 
 and trained me with care in their palaces. Them I go to 
 see, and will take away their bitter quarrels. For already 
 they abstain a long while from the couch and embrace of 
 each other; since anger has invaded their minds. But my 
 steeds, which will bear me over dry and wet, stand near the 
 base of Ida with many rills. Now, however, on thy account 
 have I come hither from Olympus, lest perchance thou 
 shouldst afterwards be angry with me, were I to depart m 
 secret to the abode of deep-flowing Oceanus?" 
 
 But her cloud-collecting Jove answeiing, addressed : " Junoj 
 thither thou canst go even by-and-by, but come [now], let us, 
 rechning, be delighted with love ; for never at any time did 
 the love of a goddess or a woman, poured around the heart 
 within my breast, so subdue me : neither when I loved the 
 wife of Ixion, who bore Pirithous, a counsellor equal to the 
 gods ; nor when [I loved] fair-ankled Danae, the daughter of 
 Aorisius, who bore Perseus, most illustrious of all men ; nor 
 when with that of the celebrated daughter of Phoenix,^ who 
 bore to me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthus :•'' nor yet when 
 
 ' Cf. Theocrit. ii. 82 : 'Qe "i^ov, we i/iavtiv, iig fitv Trtpi Siviibg IcKperi. 
 iii. 42 : 'Qg Uiv, wfi l/iaj/j/. Ovid, Epist. xii. 33 : " Ut vidi, ut peril, 
 nee notis ignibus arsi." 
 
 ^ But Europa is generally considered to be the daughter of Agenor. 
 See Grote, vol. i. p. 350. 
 
 ' On the career of Rhadamanthus, who is " after death promoted to an 
 
■?C2 ILIAD. XIV. 323—355. 
 
 [I loved] Semele, nor Alcmena in Thebes, who brought forth 
 wj valiant son Hercules : but Semele bore [me] Bacchus, a 
 joy to mortals: nor when [I loved] Ceres, the fair-haired 
 queen: nor when glorious Latonanor thyself; as I now love 
 thee, and sweet desire seizes me." 
 
 But liim venerable Juno, meditating guiles, addressed : 
 '■ Most shameless son of Saturn, what word hast thou 
 spoken ? If now thou desire to recline in love upon the 
 summit of Ida, where aU places are exposed, how will it be, 
 if any of the immortal gods should perceive us sleeping, and, 
 going amongst all the gods, disclose it ? I for my part could 
 never return to thy mansion, arising from the couch; for 
 surely it would be unbecoming. But if in truth thou desirest 
 it, and it be agreeable to thy soul, there is a chamber of 
 thine which Vulcan, thy beloved son, formed for theo, and 
 fitted its secure doors to its lintels. Thither let us repaii-, 
 about to recline, since an embrace is indeed thy desire." 
 
 But her cloud-collecting Jove, answering, addressed : 
 
 " Fear not, Juno, that any of either gods or men shall 
 behold this. Such a golden cloud will I spread around, that 
 not even the Sun may see us through it, although his eye is 
 very keen to behold."^ 
 
 Thus he spake, and the son of Saturn encircled his wife in 
 liis arms. And the divine earth produced ^ fresh herbage 
 under them, the dewy lotus, and the crocus, and the hya- 
 cinth, close and soft, which elevated them from the earth. 
 Upon this [couch] they reclined, and clothed themselves 
 above with a beautiful golden cloud ; and lucid dew-drops 
 fell from it. 
 
 Thus quietly slumbered the sire upon the summit of Gar- 
 garus, subdued by sleep and love, and held his spouse in his 
 aims. But sweet Sleep hastened to run to the ships of the 
 Greeks, that he might deliver a message to Neptune, the 
 
 abode of undisturbed bliss in the Elysian plain at the extremity of the 
 earth," see Grote, vol. i. p. 300. 
 
 ' On the god Helios, and his overseeing influence, the student should 
 compare Grote, vol. 1. p. 466. 
 
 ' So Milton, describing the couch of our first palrents, P. L. iv. 700 :— 
 
 " underfoot the violet. 
 
 Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay, 
 'Broider'd the ground." 
 
356 390. ILIAD. XIV. 263 
 
 shaker of the earth. A.nd, standing near, he addressed to 
 him winged words: 
 
 "Now, Neptixne, heartily give aid to the Greeks, and 
 bestow glory iipon them, at least for a little, whilst yet Jove 
 sleeps; since I have enveloped him in aveiP of soft slumber, 
 and Juno hath deceived [him], that he might sleep in love." 
 
 So saying, he indeed departed to the Ulustrious tribes of 
 men; bat he still more impelled [Neptune] to assist the 
 Greeks, and immediately springing forward far into the van, 
 he exhorted them : 
 
 " Greeks, yet again do we peld the victory to Hector, 
 the son of Priam, that he may seize the ships and bear away 
 gloiy 1 For so indeed he supposes and boasts, because 
 Achilles remains at the hollow ships, enraged at heart. 
 However, there would not be a great need of him, if the 
 rest of us were incited to assist one another. But come, let 
 us all obey as I shall advise. Let us, clad with shields, as 
 many as are best and greatest in the ai-my, who are covered 
 as to our heads with gUttering helmets, and hold the longest 
 spears in our hands, advance, and I will load the way; nor 
 do I think that Hector, the son of Priam, will await us, 
 though very eager. Whatsoever man also is obstinate in the 
 fight, and bears but a small shield upon his shoulder, let him 
 give it to an inferior man, and let him clothe himself in a 
 larger shield." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they listened to him readily, and 
 obeyed. The kings themselves, Tydides, Ulysses, and Aga- 
 memnon, son of Atreus, majshalled [the troops], wounded as 
 they were ; and, going about among them all, exchanged 
 their martial arms, the brave [soldier] put on the good [ar- 
 mour], and the worse they gave to the inferior man. But 
 when they had girded the splendid brass around their bodies, 
 they began to advance ; and earth-shaking Neptune led them 
 ou, grasping in his firm hand a dreadful tapering sword, like 
 unto a thunderbolt, with which [sword] it is not possible 
 to engage in destructive battle, for the fear [of it] restrains 
 men. 
 
 On the other side again illustrious Hector drew up th» 
 Trojans. Then xruly azure-haired Neptune and illustrious 
 
 ' Observe the force of jrf pjicaX v^a. 
 
264 IT.IAD. XIV. 391—428. 
 
 Hector drew forth the seyerest struggle of war, the one 
 indeed aiding the Trojans, and the other the Greeks. But 
 the sea was dashed up to the tents and ships of the Greeks, 
 and they engaged with a mighty shout. Not so loudly does 
 the billow of the ocean roar against the main land, when 
 driven from the deep by the rough blast of Boreas ; nor so 
 great is the crackling of blazing fire in the glens of a moun- 
 tain, when it is raised aloft to consume the wood ; nor so 
 loud howls the wind amidst the high-foliaged oaks (which, 
 in particular, loudly roars in its wrath), as was the cry of 
 the Trojans and Greeks shouting dreadfully, when they 
 rushed one upon the other. 
 
 At Ajax illustrious Hector first took aim with his spear, 
 as he was turned right against him ; nor did he miss. [He 
 struck him] where the two belts were crossed upon his 
 breast, both that of the shield and that of the sUver-studded 
 sword; for these protected the tender skin: but Hector was 
 enraged because his swift weapon ha,d fled from his hand in 
 vain, and he retired back into the crowd of his companions, 
 shunning death. At him then, retiring, mighty Telamoiiian 
 Ajax [threw] with a stone, for [stones] in great numbers 
 were rolled about among the feet of the combatants, props 
 for the fleet barks; hffcing up one of these, he struck him upon 
 the breast, above the orb of the shield, near the neck. And, 
 throwing, he twirled it like a top, and it (the stone) rolled 
 roimd on all sides. As when, beneath a violent stroke from , 
 father Jove, an oak falls uprooted, and a terrible smell of 
 sulphur arises from it; but cimfidence no longer possesses 
 the man, whosoever being near beholds it, because the thun- 
 derbolt of mighty Jove is terrible : so rapidly upon the 
 ground fell the might of Hector in the dust. And he 
 dropped his spear fr-om his hand, his shield and helmet fol- 
 lowed above him, and his armour, variegated with brass, 
 rang upon him. Then the sons of the Greeks, loudly shout- 
 ing, rushed in, hoping to draw him ofi", and they hurled nu- 
 merous javelins; but no one was able either to strike from 
 a distance, or to smite close at hand, the shepherd of the 
 people, for the bravest [of the warriox-s], Polydamas, .iEneas, 
 and noble Agenor, Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, and illus- 
 trious Glaucus, first threw themselves round him. And no 
 one of the rest neglected him, but they held their well-orbed 
 
428—460. ILIAD. XIV. 265 
 
 shields before him. But his companions, up-raising him in 
 their hands, bore him out of the conflict, till they reached hia 
 fleet horses, which stood for him in rear of the combat and 
 the war, holding both the charioteer and the variegated car; 
 which then cai-ried him towards the city, groaning heavily. ^ 
 
 But when now they came to the ford of the rapid-flowing 
 cuiTcnt of eddying Xanthus, whom immortal Jove begat, 
 there they removed him from his car to the ground, and 
 poured water over him ; but he breathed again, and looked 
 up with his eyes; and, sitting upon his knees, disgorged 
 black blood. Again he fell back upon the ground, and dark 
 night overshadowed his eyes; for the blow still subdued his 
 spirits. 
 
 But when the Greeks saw Hector going apart, they pressed 
 the more on the Trojans, and were mindful of contest. Then 
 swift O'ilean Ajax before others, leaping forward with his 
 fir-tree spear, wounded Satnius, son of Enops, whom a Naiad, 
 the fairest nymph, bore to Enops, when keeping his flocks 
 by the banks of Satnio. Him the spear-renowned son of 
 O'ileus, drawing near, wounded in the flank; but he fell 
 supine, and round him the Trojans and Greeks engaged in a 
 valiant battle. But to him spear-brandishing Polydamas, 
 son of Panthous, came as an avenger, and smote Prothoenor, 
 son of Areilochus, upon the right shoulder. The tough speai 
 passed on through his shoulder, but falHng in the dust, he 
 grasped the earth with his hand. And Polydamas boasted 
 mightily over him, shouting aloud : 
 
 " I do not think, indeed, that the weapon hath fled vainly 
 from the sturdy hand of the magnanimous son of Panthous, 
 but some one of the Greeks has received it in Ms body ; and 
 I think that he, leaning upon it, will descend to the mansion 
 of Pluto." 
 
 Thus he spoke, but grief arose among the Greeks at his 
 boasting, and particularly agitated the mind of warlike Ajax, 
 the son of Telamon, for he had fallen veiy near him ; and he 
 
 ' Milton, P. L. vi. 335 :— 
 
 " Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run 
 By angels many and strong, who interposed 
 Defence, while others bore him on their shields 
 Back to his chariot, where it stood retired 
 From off the files of war ; there they him laid, 
 Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame." 
 
266 ILIAD. XIV. 4CI— 499. 
 
 immediately hiivled with his shining spear at him departing. 
 Polydamas himself indeed avoided black fate, springing off 
 obliquely; bnt Archilochus, sou of Antonor, received [the 
 blow], for to him the gods had doomed destruction. Him 
 then he struck upon the last vertebra, in the joining of the 
 head and neck, and he disjoined both tendons; but the head, 
 the mouth, and the nostrils of him falling, met the ground 
 much sooner than his legs and knees. Then Ajax in turn 
 cried out to blameless Polydamas : 
 
 " Reflect, O Polydamas, and teU me the truth ; is not this 
 man worthy to be slain in exchange of Prothoenor ? He aji- 
 ]iears not to me indeed a coward, nor [sprung] from cowards, 
 but [to be] the brother or the son of horse-brealdng Antenor, 
 for he seems most like him as to his race." 
 
 Thus he spoke, well knowing [him] ; but grief possessed 
 the minds of the Trojans. Then Acamas, stalking round his 
 brother, wounded with his spear Promachus, the Boeotian ; 
 whilst he was dragging him off by the feet. But over him 
 Acamas greatly boasted, calling out aloud : 
 
 " Ye Argive archers,' insatiable in threats, assuredly not 
 to us alone will toil and sorrow accrue, but thus thou also 
 wilt at some time be slain. Consider how your Promachus 
 sleeps, subdued by my spear, that a requital for my brother 
 might not be long unpaid. Therefore should a man wish a 
 brother to be left in his family, as an avenger of his death." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but grief arose among the Greeks as he 
 boasted, and he particularly agitated the mind of warlike 
 Peneleus. Accordingly he rushed upon Acamas, who 
 awaited not the charge of king Peneleus ; but he wounded 
 Ihoneus, son of Phorbas, rich in flocks, whom Mercury loved 
 most of all the Trojans, and had presented with possessions ; 
 and to whom his mother bore lUoneus alone. Him then he 
 wounded below the brow, in the socket of the eye, and he 
 forced out the pupil : but the spear went forward through 
 the oye, and through the back of the head ; and he sat down, 
 stretching ou.t both his hands. But Peneleus, drawing his 
 sharp .sword, smote him upon the middle of the neck, and 
 lopped off his head with its helmet to the ground, and the 
 strong spear still remained in his eye. But he (Peneleus), 
 
 ' See nole on iv. 242. 
 
499-022. ILIAD. XIV. 267 
 
 Kokling it up like a poppy, shouted to tlio Trojaas, and 
 bjasting spoke ttos : 
 
 " Tell for me, ye Trojans, the beloved father and mother 
 of illustrious Ilioneus, that they may lament him in their 
 halls ; for neither shall the wife of Promachus, the son of 
 Alegenor, present herself with joy to her dear husband 
 coming [back], when we, sons of the Greeks, retiirn from 
 Troy with our ships." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but pale fear seized upon them all, and 
 each gazed about, [seeking] where he might escape utter 
 destruction. 
 
 Tell me now, ye muses, possessing Olympian dwellings, 
 which of the Greeks now first bore away gore-stained spoils 
 of men, when the illustrious Earth-shaker turned the [tide 
 of] battle. 
 
 Telamonian Ajax then first wounded Hjrrtius, son of 
 Gyrtias, leader of the undaunted Mysians ; and AntUochus 
 spoiled Phalces and Mermenis ; Meriones slew Morys and 
 Hippotion ; and Teucer slew Prothous and Periphoetes. 
 But the son of Atreus next wounded upon the flank 
 Hyperenor, the shepherd of the people, and the spear, 
 cutting its way, drank his entrails ; and his soul, expelled, 
 fled in haste through the inflicted wound, and darkness 
 veiled his eyes. But Ajax, the swift son of Oileus, slew 
 the most ; because there was not one equal to him on foot, 
 to follow the flying men, when Jove had excited flight 
 amongst them. 
 
268 ILIAD. XV. 1—20. 
 
 BOOK THE FIFTEENTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Jove awaking, and finding the Trojans routed, menaces Juno. He then 
 sends Iris to desire Neptune to relinquish the battle, and Apollo to 
 restore Hector to health. Armed with the segis, Apollo puts the Greeks 
 to flight ; who are pursued home to their fleet, while Telamonian Ajax 
 slays twelve Trojans who were bringing fire to burn it. 
 
 But after the fugitives had crossed both the ramparts and 
 the trench, and many were subdued by the hands of the 
 Gi-eeks, the rest were at length detained, waiting beside 
 their chariots, pallid with fear, and terrified. But Jove 
 arose on the summits of Ida, from beside golden-throned 
 Juno ; and starting up, he stood and beheld the Trojans and 
 Greeks, those indeed in confusion, and the Greeks throwing 
 them into confusion in the rear ; and amoaigst them king 
 Neptune. Hector he beheld lying upon the plain, and his 
 companions sat round him ; ' but he was afflicted with 
 grievous difficulty of respiration, and devoid of his senses,' 
 vomiting blood, for it was not the weakest of the Greeks 
 who had wounded him. The father of men and gods, 
 seeing, pitied him, and sternly regarding Jimo, severely 
 addressed her : 
 
 " O Juno, of evil arts, impracticable, thy stratagem has 
 made noble Hector cease from battle, and put liis troops to 
 flight. Indeed I know not whether again thou mayest not 
 be the first to reap the fruits of thy pernicious machinations, 
 and I may chastise thee with stripes. Dost thou not re- 
 member when thou didst swing from on high, and I hung 
 two anvils from thy feet, and bound a golden chain arotmd 
 thy hands, that could not be broken ? And thou didst hang 
 
 ' Ari here has the force of demiim. 
 • 'ESfffrqKwf Ty '•pvxV' — Scholiast. 
 
80—59. ILIAD. XV. 269 
 
 in the air and clouds, and the gods commiseiated thee 
 throughout lofty Olympus ; but standing around, they were 
 not able to release thee ; but whomsoever I caught, seizing, 
 I hurled from the threshold [of heaven], till he reached the 
 earth, hardly breathing. Nor even thus did my vehement 
 anger, through grief for divine Hercules, leave me ; whom 
 thou, prevaUing upon the storms, with the north wind, didst 
 send over the un&xdtful sea, designing evils, and afterwards 
 bore him out of his course, to well-inhabited Cos. I hbe- 
 rated him, indeed, and brought him back thence to steed 
 nourishing Argos, although having accomplished many toils. 
 These things will I again recall to thy memory, that thou 
 mayest cease from deceits ; in order that thou mayest know 
 whether the intercourse and a couch wiH avail thee, ia which 
 thou wast mingled, coming apart from the gods, and having 
 deceived me." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but venerable large-eyed Juno shuddered, 
 and, addressing him, spoke winged words : 
 
 '' Be witness now. Earth, and boundless Heaven above, 
 and the water of Styx gliding beneath, which is the greatest 
 and most dreaded oath amongst the blessed gods ; Kkewise 
 thy sacred head, and our own nuptial couch, by which I 
 would not rashly swear at any time, that it is not by my 
 instigation that earth-shaking Neptune harasses the Trojans 
 and Hector, and aids the other side ; but certainly his own 
 mind incites and orders him ; for, beholding the Greeks 
 oppressed at the ships, he took compassion on them. And 
 even him would I advise to go there, where thou, O Cloud- 
 collector, mayest command." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but the father of men and gods smiled, 
 and answering her, spoke winged words : 
 
 " If indeed thou from henceforth, O venerable, large-eyed 
 Juno, wrnild^t sit amongst the immortals, beiag of the same 
 mind with me, then truly would Neptune, even although he 
 very much wishes otherwise, immediately change his mind 
 to the s,<ime point, to thy wish and mine. But if indeed 
 thou speakest in sincerity and truly, go now to the aseemblies 
 of the gods, and call Tris to come hither, and Apollo, 
 renowned in archery, that she may go to the people of the 
 brazen-mailed Greeks, and tell king Neptune, ceasing from 
 battle, to repair to his own palaces ; but let Phoebus AjioUo 
 
270 ILIAD XV. 59—98. 
 
 excite Hector to battle, and breathe strength into him agidn, 
 aud make him forgetful of the pains wliich now afflict him 
 in lus mind : but let him again put the Greeks to flight, 
 exciting unwarKke panic [amongst them], and, flying, let 
 them fall back upon the many-benched ships of Achilles, 
 the son of Peleus. Then shall he stimulate his companion 
 Patroclus, whom illustrious Hector shall slay with his spear 
 before Ihum, [Patroclus] having slain many other youths, 
 aud with them my son, noble Sarpedon ; but noble Achilles 
 shall slay Hector. From this time forward will I always 
 continually effect for thee, that there shall be a retreat [of 
 the Trojans] from the ships, until the Greeks, by the coun- 
 sels of Minerva, shall take lofty Ilium. However, I shall 
 not abate my angei-, nor will I here permit any of the immor- 
 tals to assist the Greeks, before that the request of the son 
 of Peleus be completed ; as first I promised to him, and 
 nodded assent with my head, on that day when the goddess 
 Thetis touched my knees, beseeching me that I would honom- 
 Achilles, the destroyer of cities." 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno 
 disobey, but went down from the Idsean mountains to lofty 
 Olympus. And as when the mind of a man flashes swiftly 
 [in thought], who, having traversed over many a land, 
 thinks within his prudent heart, " I was here, I was there," 
 and deliberates much : thus quickly hastening, up spmng 
 venerable Juno. But she reached lofty Olympus, and came 
 in upon the immortal gods, assembled in the house of Jove ; 
 but they beholding her, all rose up and welcomed her with 
 their cups. The rest, however, she neglected, but received a 
 goblet from fair-cheeked Themis ; for she first running, camo 
 to meet her, and addressing her, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Why, O Juno, hast thou come [hither], and art like unto 
 one in consternation ? Has then the son of Saturn, who is 
 thy husband, greatly terrified thee t " 
 
 But her the white-armed goddess Juno then answered : 
 " Do not, O goddess Themis, ask me these things ; even thou 
 thyself knowest how overbearing and cruel a spirit is his. 
 Bdt do thou preside over the equal feast, in the palaces of 
 the gods, and thou shalt hear these things along with all the 
 immortals, what evil deeds Jove denoiuices. Nor do I at all 
 tlunk that the mind will "iqually rejoice to all, neither to 
 
99-129- ILTAI). XV. 2;i 
 
 mortals nor to the gods, although some one jvon yet be 
 feasting pleasantly." 
 
 Thus having spoken, venerable Juno sat down; but the 
 gods were grieved throughout the palace of Jove. But she 
 laughed with her lips [only], nor was her forehead above her 
 dark brows exhilarated;! and, indignant, she sijoke amongst 
 them all : 
 
 " Senseless we, who are thus foolishly enraged with father 
 Jove ! Of a truth we still desii-e to restrain him, approach- 
 ing near, either by persuasion or by force; whilst he, sitting 
 apart, does not regard, nor is moved, for he says he is deci° 
 dedly the most mighty in strength and power among the 
 immortal gods. Wherefore endure whatever evil he may 
 please to send upon each of you; for now already, I tliink. 
 misfortune hath been inflicted upon Mars, since Ms son has 
 l)erished in the fight, the dearest of mortals, Ascalaphus, 
 whom impetuous Mars calls Ms own." 
 
 Tlius she spake; but Mars smote his brawny thighs with 
 his di'opped hands, and son-owing, addressed them : 
 
 "Do not now blame me, ye who possess the Olympic 
 mansions, repairing to the ships of the Greeks, to avenge the 
 slaughter of my son, even although it should be my fate, 
 smitten with the thunderbolt of Jove, to lie together with 
 the dead bodies in blood and dust." 
 
 Thus he spake, and he commanded Fear and Flight to 
 yoke his steeds, but he himself girded on his shining armoui-. 
 Then indeed some other greater and more grievous wrath 
 and indignation had fallen upon the immortals from Jove, 
 had not Minerva, greatly fearing for all the gods, leaped forth 
 from the vestibule, and left the throne where she sat. From 
 his head she snatched the helmet, and the shield from his 
 shoulders, and taking the brazen spear out of his strong hand, 
 she placed it upright; and rebuked impetuous Mars with 
 [these] words : 
 
 " Infuriated one, infatuated in mind, thou art undone ! are 
 tlij- ears indeed useless for hearing, and have thy sense and 
 
 ' Compare Virg. JEn. i. 211 : " Spem vultu simulat, premit altum 
 corde dolorem '* with Seneca ad Pol. 24. Nemesiau. Eclog. iv. 17 , 
 " Quid vultu mentem premis, ac spem fronte Serenas." Liv. xxviii. 8 ; 
 ** Moerebat quidem et antjebatur .... in concillo tamen dissimulans a'gri- 
 "udiiiem, ekto nimo diss"ruit." 
 
272 lUAD. XT. 130—169. 
 
 shame perished t Dost thou not hear what the white-armed 
 goddess Juno says, and she has just now come from Olym- 
 pian Jove 1 Dost thou thyself wiih, having fulfilled many 
 misfortunes, to return to Olympus very much grieved, and 
 by compulsion, and also to create a great evil to all the rest? 
 For he will immediately leave the Trojans and magnanimous 
 Greeks, ard will come against us, about to disturb us in 
 Olympus ; and will seize us one after the other, whoever is 
 culpable and who is not. Wherefore I exhort thee now to 
 lay aside thy^ wrath on account of thy son, for already some 
 one, even superior to him in strength and in hands, either is 
 slain, or will be hereafter; for it would be a difficult task to 
 liberate [from death] the race and offspiing of all men." 
 
 So saying, she seated impetuous Mars upon his throne. 
 But Juno called Apollo outside the house, and Iris, who is 
 the messenger among the inmiortal gods, and addressing 
 them, spoke winged words : 
 
 "Jove orders you twain to repair with all haste to Ida; 
 but when ye arrive, and look upon the countenance of Jove, 
 do whatsoever he may urge and command." 
 
 Then indeed, having thus spoken, venerable Juno retired, 
 and sat down upon her throne;' but they, hastening, flew 
 and arrived at Ida of many rills, the mother of wild beasts. 
 They found the far-seeing feon of Saturn sitting upon lofty 
 Gargarus, and an odoriferous cloud encircled Viim aroimd. 
 But coming before cloud-compeUing Jove, they stood; nor 
 was he enraged in his mind, beholding them, because they 
 quickly obeyed the commands of his dear wife. And first to 
 Iris he addressed winged words : 
 
 " Haste, begone, fleet Iris, tell all these things to king 
 Neptune, nor be thou a false messenger. Order him, having 
 ceased from the battle and the war, to repair to the assem- 
 blies of the gods, or to the vast sea. If, however, he will 
 not obey my words, but shall despise them, let liinn then 
 consider in his mind and soul, lest, however powerfiil he may 
 be, he may not be able to withstand me coming against him ; 
 for I say that I am superior to him in strength, and elder in 
 birth ; but his heart fears not to assert himself equal to me, 
 whom even the others dread." 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor was wind -footed, swift Iris disobedient : 
 but she descended from the Tdsean mountains to sacred 
 
170—200. ILIAD. XV. 273 
 
 Ilium. And as •when snow drifts from the clouds, or cold 
 hail, by the impulse of cloud-dispelling ^ Boi-eas, so quickly 
 swift Iris with eagerness flew along, and standing near illus- 
 trious Neptune, she addressed him : 
 
 " O azui'e-haired Earth-shaker, I have come hither, bringing 
 a certain message to thee from aegis-bearing Jova He has 
 commanded thee, having ceased from the battle and the wai , 
 to repair either to the assemblies of the gods or to the vast 
 sea. But if thou wilt not obey Ms words, but shalt despise 
 them, he threatens that he will come hither himself to fight 
 against thee ; and advises thee to avoid his hands, because he 
 asserts that he is greatly superior to thee in strength, and 
 older in birth : but thy heart does not fear to profess that 
 thou art equal to him, whom even the others dread." 
 
 But her illustrious Neptune, greatly indignant, then' ad- 
 dressed : "Gods! powerful though he be, he surely has spoken 
 proudly, if he will by force restrain me unwilling, who am of 
 equal honour. For we are three brothers [descended] from 
 Saturn, whom Rhea brought forth : Jupiter and I, and Pluto, 
 ■governing the infernal regions, the third; aiU things were 
 divided into three parts, and each was allotted his dignity.^ 
 I in the fir.st place, the lots being shaken, was allotted to 
 inhabit, for ever the hoary sea, and Pluto next obtained the 
 pitchy darkness ; but Jove in the third place had allotted to 
 liini the wide heaven in the air and in the clouds. Never- 
 theless the earth is still the common property of aU, and 
 lofty Olympus. Wherefore I shall not live according to the 
 will of Jove, but although being very powerful, let ■ him 
 remain quiet in his third part; and let him by no means 
 terrify me as a coward with his bands. For it would be 
 better for him to insult with terrific language the daughters 
 and sons whom he hath begotten, who wUl also through 
 necessity attend to him, exhorting them." 
 
 But him the fleet wind-footed Iris then answered: "0^ 
 
 ' More literally, " producing clear air." So Eustath'ius, or Euma- 
 thius, Erotic, ii. {>. 14 : Ai9pr]yivsTTie Boppag. Heyne prefers " in aere 
 genitus." 
 
 • ' On this division of things, see Servius on Virg. ^n. i. 143 ; Fulgent 
 Myth. j. 1,3. The Scholiasts attempt to refer it to the ancient theory of 
 the elements. 
 
 ' These three verses were elegantly applied by Sostrates in raitigating 
 
 T 
 
274 ILIAD. XV. 201—232 
 
 azure-haired Earth-shaker, shall I really thus bear back from 
 thee to Jove this relentless and violent reply ? Or wUt thou 
 change it at all? The minds of the prudent indeed are 
 flexible. Thou knowest that the Furies are ever attendant 
 on the elders." 1 
 
 But her again earth-shaking Neptune in ttu-n addressed : 
 ' Goddess Iris, very rightly hast thou delivered this opinion ; 
 moreover, it is good when a messenger knows fitting things. 
 But on this account severe indignation comes upon my heart 
 and soul, because he wishes to chide with angry words me, 
 equal to him by lot, and doomed to an equal destiny. 
 Nevertheless, at present, although being indignant, I will 
 give way. But another thing will I tell thee, and I wiU 
 tliKeaten this from my soul; if indeed, without me and prey- 
 hunting Minerva, Juno, Mercury, and king Vulcan, he shall 
 spare lofty Ilium, nor shall wish to destroy it, and give great 
 glory to the Greeks; let him know this, that endless ani- 
 mosity shall arise between us." 
 
 So saying, the Earth-shaker quitted the Grecian army, 
 itud proceeding, he plunged into the deep; but the Grecian 
 licroes longed for him. And then cloud-compelling Jove 
 addressed Apollo : 
 
 " Go now, dear Phoebus, to brazen-helmed Hector; for 
 already hath earth-encircling Neptune departed to the vast 
 sea, avoiding our dreadful anger ; for otherwise the rest, who 
 are infernal gods, being around Saturn, would sui'ely have 
 heard our quarrel. This, however, is much better for me as 
 well as for himself, that he hath first yielded to my hands, 
 accounting himself worthy of blame, because the matter 
 would not have been accomplished without sweat. But do 
 thou take the fringed aegis in thy hands, with which, by 
 violently shaking it, do thou greatly terrify the Grecian 
 heroes. To thyself, however, O far-darting [Apollo], let 
 illustrious Hector be a care. So long then arouse his great 
 might unto him, until the Greeks in flight reach the ships 
 
 the intemperate language which Antigonus would fain have addressed to 
 •'■foleiny Philadelphus. See Sextus Emp. adv. Gramm. i. 13, p. 276. 
 
 The Furies are said to wait on men in a double sense ; either for evil, 
 as upon Orestes after he had slain his mother ; or else for good, as upon 
 elders when they are injured, to protect them and avenge their wrongs. 
 Tliis is an instance that the pagans looked upon birthright as a right 
 divine. Eustath. quoted in ed. Dubl. cf. U. 507. 
 
233-26tl. ILIAD. XV. 275 
 
 and the Hellespont. Thenceforth I shall myself deliberate 
 m deed and word, how the Greeks also may revive from 
 labotxr." 
 
 Thus he spoke, nor did Apollo disobey his sire, but he 
 descended from the Idsean mountains like unto a swift hawk, 
 the dove-destroyer, the swiftest of birds. He found the son 
 of warlike Priam, noble Hector, sitting; for he no longer lay 
 [on the ground], but had just collected his senses, recognizing 
 his friends around him. But the panting and persjnration 
 had ceased, since the will of aegis-bearing Jove had aroused 
 him. Then far-darting Apollo, standing near, addressed 
 him : 
 
 " Hector, son of Priam, why sittest thou apart from the 
 rest, failing in strength 1 Has any grief invaded thee ?" 
 
 But him then crest-tossing Hector languidly addressed: 
 "And who art thou, best of the gods, who inquirest face to 
 face ? Hast thou not heard that Ajax, brave in the din of 
 battle, smote me with a stone upon the breast, and caused me 
 to cease from impetuous valour, when slajdng his companions 
 at the stems of the Grecian ships 1 And truly I thought 
 that I should this day behold the dead, and the mansion of 
 Pluto, since I was Ton the point ofl breathing out mv dear 
 life." 
 
 But him far-darting king Apollo addressed in turn : " Be 
 of good courage now, so great an assistant has the son of 
 Saturn sent forth from Ida to stand up and help thee, Phoebus 
 ApoUo, of the golden sword : who am accustomed to defend 
 at the same time thyself and the lofty city. But come, en- 
 courage now thy numerous cavalry to drive their fleet steeds 
 towards the hollow ships; but I, going before, will level the 
 whole way for the horses, and I will turn to flight the Gre- 
 cian heroes." 
 
 Thus speaking, he inspired great strength into the shep- 
 herd of the people. As when some staUed horse, fed on 
 barley' at the manger, having snapped his halter, ruis over 
 the plain, striking the earth with his feet (accustomed to 
 bathe in the smooth-flowing river), exulting, he holds his 
 head on high, and around his shoulders his mane is dis- 
 hevelled ; and, trusting to his beauty* — his knees easily bear 
 
 ' Cf. vi. 508 j and on dicoffrijo-oc, Bnttm. Lexil. p. 75, sq. 
 • Observe the abrupt change of construction. 
 
 t2 
 
276 ILIAD. XV. 208—3)7 
 
 him to the accustomed places aud pasture of the mares : so 
 Hector swiftly moved his feet and knees, encouraging the 
 horsemen, after he had heard the voice of the god. But they 
 — as dogs and rustic men rush against either a horned stag 
 or wild goat ; which however a lofty rock and shady forest 
 protect, nor is it destined for them to catch it ; but at tlisir 
 clamour^ a bushy-bearded lion appears in the way, and turns 
 them all back, although ardently pursuing: thus the Greeks 
 hitherto indeed ever kept following in troops, striking with 
 their swords and double-edged spears. But when they bo- 
 held Hector entering the ranks of heroes, they were troubled, 
 and the courage of aU fell at their feet. 
 
 Then Thoas, the son of Andrsemon, addressed them, by far 
 the bravest of the jffiltolians, skilled in the use of the javelin, 
 and brave in the standing fight; few also of the Greeks ex- 
 celled him in the council when the youths contended in 
 eloquence. Who wisely counselling, harangued them, and 
 said : 
 
 " O gods, surely I behold with mine eyes this mighty 
 miracle, since Hector has thus risen again, having escaped 
 death. Certainly the mind of each was in great hopes that 
 he had died by the hands of Telamonian Ajax. But some 
 one of the gods has again liberated and preserved Hector, 
 who hath already relaxed the knees of many Greeks ; as I 
 think is about [to occur] now also, for not without far- 
 sounding Jove does he stand in the van, thus earnest. But 
 come, let us all obey as I shall desire. Let us order the 
 multitude to retreat towards the ships. But let us, as many 
 as boast ourselves to be the best in the army, take a stand, if 
 aideed, opposing, we may at the outset interrupt him, 
 upraising our sijears ; and I think that he, although raging, 
 win dread in mind to enter the band of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but all heard him attentively, and obeyed. 
 Those around the Ajaces and king Idomeneus, Teucer, Me- 
 nones, and Meges, equal to Mars, calling the chiefs together, 
 marshalled their lines against Hector and the Trojans • 
 whilst the multitude in the rear retreated to the ships of the 
 Greeks. But the Trojans in close array pressed forward ; 
 and Hector, taking long strides, led the way ; but before him 
 
 ' "Tirb I'oxqe, attracted by their shouting. 
 
507—344. ILIAD. XV. 277 
 
 walked Phoebus Apollo, clad aa to Hs shoulders with a cloud,' 
 and he held the mighty, dreadful, fringed, ^ dazzling segis, 
 which the artist Vulcan had given to Jove, to be borne along 
 for the routing of men. Holding this in his hands, he led 
 on the people. But the Greeks remained in close array, and 
 a slirill shout arose on both sides. [Many] arrows bounded 
 from the strings, and many spears from gallant hands : some 
 were fixed in the bodies of warlike youths, but many half- 
 way, before they had touched the fair body, stuck, in the 
 earth, longing to satiate themselves with flesh. As long as 
 Phoebus Apollo held the segis unmoved in his hands, so long 
 did the weapons reach both sides, and the people fell. But 
 when, looking full in the faces of the swift-horsed Greeks, he 
 shook it, and he himself besides shouted very loudly, then he 
 checked the courage in their breasts, and they became forget- 
 ful of impetuous valour. But they — as when two wild beasts, 
 in the depth of the dark night,^ disturb a drove of oxen or a 
 gi-eat flock of sheep, coming suddenly upon them, the keeper 
 not beiug present—so the enfeebled Greeks were routed ; 
 for amongst them Apollo sent terror, and gave glory to the 
 Trojans and to Hector. Then indeed man dew man, when 
 the battle gave way. Hector slew Stichius and Arcesilaus ; 
 the one the leader of the brazen-mailed Boeotians ; but the 
 other the faithfal companion of magnanimous Menestheus. 
 But Mneas slew Medon and lasus : Medon indeed was the 
 illegitimate son of godlike O'ileus, and brother of Ajax ; and 
 he dwelt in Phylace, away from his father-land, having slain a 
 man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Odeus 
 had betrothed. lasus, however, was appointed leader of the 
 Athenians, and was called the son of Sphekis, the son of Bu- 
 colus. But Polydamas slew Mecistis, anpl Polites Echius, in 
 the van, and noble Agenor slew Klonius. Paris also wounded 
 Deiochous in the extremity of the shoulder from behind, 
 whilst he was flying amongst the foremost combatants ; and 
 drove the brass quite through. 
 
 Whilst they were spoiling these of their armour, the Greeks 
 in the meantime falling into the dug trench and stakes, fled 
 
 ' " Nube candentes humeros amictus, Augur Apollo."— Hor. Od. 2, 31. 
 » Cf. ii. 448. Literally, " shaggy, rugged, with fringes around. ' 
 » Cf. Butttn. Lexil. p. 89, whose translation of vvktoq diio\y(f I have 
 foUoned. 
 
278 ILIAD. XV. 345—380. 
 
 here and there ; and from necessity entered -within the ram- 
 part. But Hector, shouting aloud, exhorted the Trojans to 
 rush upon the ships, and to let go the bloody spoils : " And 
 whatever person I ' shall perceive apart from the ships any- 
 where, there will I cause his death ; nor indeed shall his 
 male and female relatives make him when dead partaker of a 
 funeral pile, but dogs shall tear him before our city." 
 
 So saying, with the lash upon the shoulder he drove on 
 his horses against the ranks, cheering on the Trojans ; but 
 they all shouting along with him, directed their car-drawing 
 steeds with a mighty clamour. But PhcBbus ApoUo in front 
 of them, easily overthrowing the banks of the deep ditch 
 with his feet, cast [them] into the middle ; and bridged a 
 causeway long and wide, as far as the cast of a spear reaches, 
 when a man, making trial of Ms strength, hurls it. In tha*; 
 way they poured onward by troops, and Apollo [went] before 
 them, holding the highly-prized aegis. But he overthrew 
 the wall of the Greeks veiy easUy, as when any boy does the 
 sand from the shore ; who, when amusing himself in child- 
 ishness he has made plajrthings, again destroys them with his 
 feet and hands. Thus, O archer Phoebus, didst thou destroy 
 the great labour and toil of the Greeks, and didst excite flight 
 amongst themselves. In this manner indeed, remaining, they 
 were penned up at the ships ; animating each other, and 
 raising up their hands to all the gods, they each loudly 
 offered vows. But the guardian of the Greeks, Gerenian 
 Nestor, most particularly prayed, stretching forth his hands 
 to the starry heaven : " O father Jove, if ever any one in 
 fruitful Argos, to thee burning the fat thighs of either oxen 
 or sheep, supplicated that he might return, and thou didst 
 promise and assent ; be mindful of these things, O Olympian, 
 and avert the crael day ; nor thus permit the Greeks to be 
 subdued by the Trojans." 
 
 Thus he spoke, praying : but provident Jove loudly thun- 
 dered, hearing the prayers of the Nelei'an old man. But the 
 Trojans, when they understood the will of segis-bearing Jove, 
 rushed the more against the Greeks, and were mindfiil of 
 
 ' Observe this sudden and animated change of person, which has been 
 noticed by Longinus, xxvii. and Dicnys. Halic. de Horn. Poes. § 8. This 
 irregularity is very common in the Greek Testament. Cf. Lu1<e v. 14 j 
 Acts i. 4 ; xvii. 3 ; xxiii. 22 ; .\xv. 8 j with the notes of Kuiiioel and Pricteu*. 
 
381—420. ILIAD. XV. 279 
 
 battle. And as a mighty wave of the -wide-flowing ocean 
 dashes over the sides of a ship, when the force of the wind 
 impels it (for that most of all increases waves) ; so the Tro- 
 jans with a mighty shout mounted over the wall. And 
 having driven in their horses, they fought at the stems, 
 hand to hand with two-edged spears, the one party from 
 their chariots, but the other on high from their black ships, 
 having ascended them with long poles which lay in their 
 vessels, for fighting by sea, well glued, and clad on the tip 
 with brass. 
 
 But Patroclus, as long indeed as the Greeks and Trojan? 
 fought round the wall, without the swift ships, so long he 
 sat in the tent of valour-loving Eurypylus, and delighted him 
 with liis discourse ; and to the severe wound he appUed 
 medicines, assuagers of dark pains. But when he perceived 
 that the Trojans had burst within the walls, and moreover 
 that a clamour and flight of the Greeks had arisen, then 
 indeed he gi-oaned, and smote both his thighs with his down- 
 ward-bent hands j and lamenting spoke : 
 
 " Eurypylus, I cannot any longer remain here with thee, 
 although needing much, for now has a mighty contest arisen. 
 But let thy attendant entertain thee, and I wiU hasten to 
 Achilles, that I may encourage him to fight. And who 
 knows whether, with God's assistance, persuading, I may 
 move his soul 1 for the admonition of a companion is efiec- 
 tual." But him his feet then bore away thus speaking. 
 Meanwhile the Greeks firmly withstood the Trojans rushing 
 on, nor were they able to repel them from the ships, although 
 being fewer ; nor could the Trojans, breaking through the 
 phalanxes of the Greeks, be mingled with the tents or ships. 
 But as a plumb-line in the hands of a skilful shipwright 
 (who knows well the whole art by the precepts of Minerva) 
 correctly adju-sts the naval plank, so was the battle and war 
 equally extended. Some indeed supported the conflict round 
 one ship, and others round another, but Hector advanced 
 against glorious Ajax. Thus these two undertook the task 
 round one ship, nor were they able, the one to drive tlie 
 other away and bum the ship with fire, nor the other to 
 repulse him, since a divinity had brought him near. Then 
 illustrious Ajax smote upon the breast with his spear 
 Caletor, son of Clytius, bearing fii'e against the ship ; and- 
 
280 ILIAD. XV. 421— :59 
 
 falling, he resounded, and the torch fell from his hand. But 
 when Hector perceived with his eyes his cousin fallen in the 
 dust before the black ship, he cheered on the Trojans ana 
 Lycians, loudly exclaiming : 
 
 " Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, 
 do not now retire from the fight in this narrow pass. But 
 preserve the son of Clytius, lest the Greeks despoil him of 
 his armour, having fallen in the contest at the ships." Thus 
 having spoken, he took aim with his shining spear at Ajax, 
 whom he missed; but [he smote] Lycophron, the son of 
 Mastor, the servant of Ajax, a Cjrtherean, who dwelt with 
 him, since he had killed a man amongst the celebrated 
 Cythereans. He struck him on the head over the ear, with 
 the sharp brass, whilst he was standing near Ajax : but he 
 fell supine to the ground from the stern of the ship in the 
 dust, and his limbs were relaxed. Then Ajax shuddered, 
 and accosted his brother : " Dear Teucer, now is our faithful 
 companion, the son of Mastor, whom being domesticated in 
 Cythera, we honoured equally with our beloved parents in 
 our palaces ; but him magnanimous Hector has slain. Where 
 now are thy death-bearing arrows and bow, which Phoebus 
 Apollo gav« thee?" 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but he understood ; and running, he stood 
 neai him, holding in his hand his bent bow, and arrow^- 
 bearing quiver; and very quickly he shot his arrows amongst 
 the Trojans. He struck CUtus, the illustrious son <rf Pisenor, 
 the companion of Polydamas, the renewed son of Panthous, 
 holding the reins in his hands. He indeed was employed in 
 [guiding] the horses ; for he directed them there, where the 
 most numerous phalanxes were thrown in confusion, grati- 
 fying Hector and the Trojans. But soon came «vil upon 
 him, which no one averted from him, although eager; for the 
 bitter shaft fell upon his ueck from behind, and he fell from 
 the chariot, whilst his horses started back, rattling the empty 
 car. But king Polydamas very quickly perceived it, and 
 first came to meet his horses. Them he intrusted to Asty- 
 nous, son of Protiaon, and exhorted him much to keep the 
 horses near him witliin sight ; but he himself returning was 
 mingled with the foremost coanbatants. Teucer, however, 
 dri3w another arrow against brazen-armed Hector, and would 
 have made him cease from battle, at the ships of the Greeks, 
 
460— i96. ILIAD. XV. 281 
 
 if striking him whUe bravely fighting, he had taken away 
 his life. But it did not escape the prudent mind of Jove, 
 who protected Hector, and deprived Teucer, the son of 
 Telamon, of glory; and who (Jove) broke the well-twisted 
 string, in his blameless bow, as he was drawing against 
 [Hector] ; but the brass-laden arrow was turned off m another 
 direction, and the bow fell from his hand. Then Teucer 
 shuddered, and addressed his brother : 
 
 " Ye gods ! a deity, without doubt, cuts short the plans 
 of oiir battle, who has shaken the bow from my hand, and 
 has snapped asunder the newly-twisted string which I tied 
 to it this morniag, that it might sustaiu the shafts frequeatly 
 bounding from it." 
 
 But him the mighty Telamonian Ajax then answered: 
 " my friend, permit then thy bow and numerous arrows 
 to lie aside, siuce a god has confounded them, envying the 
 Greeks ; but, taking a long spear in thy hands, and a shield 
 upon thy shoxdder, fight against the Trojans, and encourage 
 the other forces. Nor let them take the well-benched ships 
 without labour at least, although having subdued us, but let 
 us be mindful of the fight." 
 
 Thus he spoke j and he placed his bow within the tents. 
 Then around his shoulders he hung a four-fold shield, and 
 upon his brave head fixed a weU-made helmet, crested with 
 horse-hair, and the plume nodded dreadfully from above. 
 And he grasped a stout spear, tipped with sharp brass, and 
 hastened to advance, and running very quickly, stood beside 
 Ajax. But when Hector perceived the arrows of Teucer 
 frustrated, he encouraged the Trojans and Lycians, calling 
 aloud : 
 
 " Ye Trojans, Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be 
 men, my friends, and be mindful of impetuous valour at the 
 hollow ships, for I have beheld with my eyes the arrows of 
 their chief warrior rendered vain by Jove. Easily recog- 
 nizable amongst men is the power of Jove, as well among 
 those into whose hands he has delivered superior glory, as 
 those whom he deteriorates, and does not wish to defend. 
 As now he diminishes the might of the Greeks, and aids us. 
 But fight in close array at the ships, and which«ver of you, 
 wounded or stricken, shall draw on his death and fate, let 
 liini di() ; it is not inglorious to him to die fighting for hie 
 
282 ILIAD. XV. 497—535. 
 
 uoimtry; but his wife shall be safe, and his cliildren left 
 behind Mm, his house and patrimony unimpaired, if indeed 
 the Greeks depart with their ships to their dear father-land " 
 
 So saying, he kindled the strength and spirit of each : and 
 Ajax again, on the other side, animated his companions : 
 
 " Shame, oh Argives ! now is the moment for us either to 
 peiish, or to be preserved and to repel destruction from the 
 ships. Do ye expect that if crest-tossing Hector capture the 
 ships, ye will reach on foot each his native land ? Do ye 
 not hear Hector, who now rages to fire the ships, inciting all 
 liis people ? Nor indeed does he invite them to come to a 
 dance, but to battle. But for us there is no opinion or 
 design better than this, to join in close fight our hands and 
 strength. Better, either to perish at once, or live, rather 
 than thus uselessly to be wasted away ^ for a length of time 
 in dire contention at the ships, by inferior men." 
 
 So saying, he aroused the strength and courage of each. 
 Then Hector indeed slew Schedius, son of Perimedes, prince 
 of the Phoceans; and Ajax slew Laodamas, leader of the 
 infantry, the illustrious son. of Antenor. Polydamas slew 
 Cyllenian Otus, the comjmiiion of the son of Phyleus, cliief 
 of the magnanimous Epeans. Meges rushed upon him, per- 
 ceiving it, but Polydamas stooped obliquely, and he missed 
 him ; for Apollo did not sufier the son of Panthous to be 
 subdued among the foremost warriors. But he wounded 
 CroBsmus in the middle of the breast with his spear, but 
 falhng, he resounded; and he stripped the arms from his 
 shoulders. In the meantime Dolops, the descendant of 
 Lampus, well skilled in the spear, leaped upon him (he 
 whom Lampus, son of Laomedon, the best of men, begat, 
 skilled in impetuous fight), who then attacking him in close 
 fight, struck the middle of Meges's shield with his spear : but 
 the thick corslet defended him, which he wore, compact ui 
 its cavities. This Phyleus formerly brought from Ephyre, 
 from the river Sellei's : for his host, Euphetes, king of men, 
 had given it to him, to bear into the battle as a defence 
 against the enemy; and which then warded off destruction 
 from the body of his son. But Meges with his sharp spear 
 
 ' The verb arpevyiaOai, which may be compared with a7roXt£a?£ii' in 
 0(1. xii. 351, is interpreted by ApoUonius KaTairovitaBai. Cf. Hesych. 
 t. i. p. 1603, t. ii. p. 1278. 
 
536-570. ILIAD. XV. 28.'? 
 
 smote the base of the highest cone of his brazen horse-haired 
 lielmet, and struck off his horse-haired crest; and the whole 
 fell on the ground in the dust, lately shining with purple. 
 Wliilst the one (Meges) standing firm, fought with the other 
 (Dolops), and stUl expected victory; meanwhile, warlike 
 Menelaus came as an assistant to liim (Meges), and stood at 
 his side with his spear, escaping notice, and wounded him 
 from behind in the shoulder; but the spear, driven with 
 violence, passed through his breast, proceeding farther; and 
 he fell on his face. Both then rushed on, about to tear the 
 brazen armour from his shoulders; but Hector strenuously 
 exhorted all his relations, and rebuked the gallant Melanippus 
 first, the son of Hicetaon. He till then had fed his curved- 
 footed oxen at Percote, the enemy being yet at a distance; 
 but when the equaUy-pHed barks of the Greeks had arrived, 
 he came back to Troy, and was distinguished amongst the 
 Trojans; and he dwelt near Priam, and he honoured hitn 
 equally with his sons. But Hector rebuked him ; and spoke 
 and addressed him. : 
 
 "Shall we be thus remiss, O Melanippus? Is not thy 
 heart moved, thy kinsman being slain 1 Dost thou not per- 
 ceive how busy they are about the arms of Dolops? But fol- 
 low ; for it is no longer justifiable to fight at a distance with 
 the Greeks, before that either we slay them, or that they 
 tear lofty Ilium from its summit, and slay its citizens." So 
 saying, he led on, and the godlike hero followed with him. 
 But mighty Telamonian Ajax aroused the Greeks. 
 
 "0 my friends, be men, and set honour i in your hearts, 
 and have reverence for each other during the vehement con- 
 flicts. For more of those men who reverence [each other] 
 are saved than slain ; but of the fugitives, neither glory arises, 
 nor any defence." 
 
 Thus he spoke, but they too were eager to repel [the 
 enemy]. And they fixed Hs advice in their mind, and en- 
 closed the ships with a brazen fence; but Jove urged on the 
 Trojans. And Menelaus, brave in the din of battle, incited 
 Antilochus : 
 
 " Antilochus, no other of the Greeks is younger than 
 thovi, nor swifter of foot, nor strong, as thou [art], to fight 
 
 • Cf. V. 530, xiii. 121, with the notes. 
 
284 ILIAD. XV. 571—606. 
 
 Would' that, attacking some hero of the Trojans, thou couldst 
 wound him." 
 
 So saying, he on his part "withdrew again, and he aroused 
 him. But he (AntUochus) leaped forth from amongst the 
 foremost warriors, and took aim with his shining spear, 
 gazing around him; but the Trojans retired, the hero hurling. 
 But he did not cast his weapon in vain, for he struck mag- 
 nanimous Melanippus, the son of Hicetaon, in the breast, 
 near the pap, advancing to the battle. And falling, he made 
 a crash, and his arms rang upon him. But Antilochus 
 sprang upon him, as a dog that rushes on a wounded fawn, 
 wliioh the huntsman aiming at, has wounded, leaping from 
 its lair, and relaxed its limbs under it. Thus, O Melanippus, 
 did warlike Antilochus spring on thee, about to despoil thee 
 of thy armour : but he did not escape noble Hector, who 
 came against him, running through the battle. But Anti- 
 lochus did not await him, though being an expert warrior 
 but he fled, Kke unto a wild beast that has done some mis- 
 chief, which, having slain a dog or herdsman in charge of 
 oxen, flies, before a crowd of men is assembled : so fled the 
 son of Nestor; but the Trojans and Hector, with great cla- 
 mour, poured forth their deadly weapons. Yet when he 
 reached the band of his own companions, being turned round, 
 he stood. But the Trojans, like raw-devouring Uons, rushed 
 upon the ships, and were fiilfilling the commands of Jove; 
 who ever kept exciting their great strength, and enervated 
 the courage of the Greeks, and took away their glory ; but 
 encouraged those. For his mind wished to bestow glory on 
 Hector, the son of Priam, that he might cast the dreadfuUy- 
 burning, indefatigable fire upon the crooked barks; and ac- 
 complish all the unseasonable prayer of Thetis. 
 
 For this did provident Jove await, till he should behold 
 with his eyes the flame of a burning vessel; for from that 
 time he was about to make a retreat of (.he Trojans from the 
 ships, and to afford glory to the Greeks. Designing these 
 things, he aroused Hector, the son of Priam, against the hol- 
 low ships, although himself very eager. But he raged, aa 
 when Mars [rages], brandishing his spear, or [when] a de- 
 Btructive fire rages in the mountains, in the thickets of a deep 
 
 ' Ki is put fur litli. 
 
007— G46, ILIAD XV. 285 
 
 wood. And foam arose about Ma moutli, and his eyes flashed 
 from beneath his grim eyebrows; and the helm was shaken 
 awfully upon the temples of Hector, fighting ; for Jove him- 
 self from the aether was an assistant to him, and honoured 
 and glorified him aloneamongst manymen; because hewas des- 
 tined to be short-lived : for Pallas Minerva already impelleu 
 him towards the fatal day, by the might of the son of Peleus. 
 And he wished to break the ranks of heroes, trying them, 
 wheresoever he beheld the greatest crowd and the best arms. 
 But not thus was he able to break through them, although 
 very eager ; for they, compact m squares, sustained his at- 
 tack, as a lofty, huge cliff, being near the hoary deep, which 
 abides the impetuous inroads of the shrill is-inds, and the 
 swollen billows which are dashed against it. Thus the Greeks 
 firmly awaited the Trojans, nor fled. But he, gleaming with 
 fire on all sides, rushed upon the crowd ; and fell upon them, 
 as when an impetuous wave, wind-nurtured from the clouds, 
 dashes against a swift ship, and it [the sliip] is wholly enve- 
 loped with the spray, and a dreadful blast of wind roars 
 withiu the sail : but the sailors tremble in mind, fearing, be- 
 cause they are borne but a little way from death : thus was 
 the mind of the Greeks divided in their breasts. He, how- 
 ever, like a destructive lion coming upon oxen which feed 
 in myriads in the moist ground of a spacious marsh, and 
 amongst them a keeper not very skilful in fighting with a 
 wild beast for the slaughter of a crooked-horned ox ;' he in- 
 deed always accompanies the foremost or the hindmost cattle, 
 whilst [the lion] springing into the midst, devours an ox, 
 and all the rest fly in terror; thus then were the Greeks 
 wondrously put to flight by Hector and father Jove, all — ^but 
 [Hector] slew only Mycenaean Periphetes, the dear son of 
 Copreus, who went with a messenger of king Eurystheus to 
 mighty Hercules. From this far inferior fe,ther sprung a son 
 superior in all kinds of accomplishments, as well in the race 
 as in the combat, and who in prudence was among the first 
 of the Mycenseans, who at that time gave into tne hands of 
 Hector superior glory. For, turning backwards, he trod upon 
 the rim of his shield which he bore, a fence against javelins, 
 
 ' /. e, about its carcase. The Scholiast also gives another interpretation, 
 viz. "to prevent his killing an ox ;" but Kennedy, with reason, prefers 
 the former one. 
 
28G ILIAD. XV, 647—681. 
 
 wliich reached to his feet ; by this incommoded, he fell upon 
 his back, aud the lioliuet terribly sounded round the temples 
 of hi in fallen. But Hector quickly perceived, and running, 
 stood near him, and fixed his spear in his breast, and slew 
 him near his behjved companions, nor indeed were they able, 
 although giieved for their comrade, to avail him, for they 
 themselves greatly feared noble Hector. But they retreated 
 within the line of their ships,' and the extreme ships enclosed 
 them, which were first drawn up : and the others were 
 poured in. The Argives, therefore, from necessity, retreated 
 from the foremost vessels, and remained there at their tents 
 in close array, and were not dispersed through the camp, for 
 shame and fear restrained them, and they unceasingly exhorted 
 one another with shouting. More particularly did Gerenian 
 Nestor, the guardian of the Greeks, adjure them by their 
 parents, earnestly supplicating each man : 
 
 " my friends, be men, and place a sense of reverence ^ of 
 other men in your minds. Call to memory, each of you, 
 your children, wives, property, and parents, as well he to 
 whom they siu'vive as he to whom they are dead ; for by 
 those not present I here supplicate you to stand bravely, nor 
 be ye turned to flight." So saying, he aroused the might and 
 sjiirit of each. But for them Minerva removed the heaven- 
 sent cloud of darkness from their eyes ; and abundant hght 
 arose to them on both sides, both towards the ships and 
 towards the equally destructive battle. Then they observed 
 Hector, brave in the din of battle, and his companions, as well 
 whatever of them stood behind and did not fight as those who 
 fought the battle at the swift ships. Nor was it longer 
 pleasing to the mind of great-hearted Ajax to stand there 
 where the other sons of the Greeks stood together ; but he 
 went about upon the decks of the vessels, taking long strides, 
 and wielding in his hands a great sea-fighting pole, studded 
 with iron nails, twenty-two cubits long. And as when a man 
 well skilled in vaulting upon steeds, who, after he has selected 
 four horses out of a greater number, driving them from the 
 
 " They now held their ships in view, which were arranged in a two- 
 fold line, from the outermost whereof the Greeks were driven In upon their 
 tents, disposed in the intermediate position between the lines of the 
 vessels. ' ' — Kennedy. 
 ' Cf. V. 530. 
 
fi81— 7i6. ILIAD. XV. 
 
 287 
 
 plain, urges them towards a mighty city, along the public 
 way ; and him many men and women behold with admira- 
 tion ; but he, always leaping up firmly and safely, changes 
 alternately from one to the other,' whilst they are flying 
 along: so went Ajax along many decks of swift sjiips, 
 shouting loudly, and his voice reached to the sky; and, 
 always terribly shouting, he ordered the Greeks to defend 
 their ships and tents. Nor, indeed, did Hector remain 
 among the crowd of well-corsleted Trojans ; but as the tawny 
 eagle pounces upon a flock of winged birds, feeding on a 
 river's bank, either geese or cranes, or long-necked swans, so 
 did Hector direct his course towards an azure-prowed vessel, 
 rushing against it ; but Jove, with a very mighty hand, 
 impelled him from behind, and animated his forces along with 
 him. Again was a sharp contest waged at the ships. You 
 would have said that unwearied and indefatigable they met 
 each other in battle, so furiously they fought. And to them 
 fighting this was the opinion : the Greeks, indeed, thought 
 that they could not escape from destruction, but must pei-ish. 
 But the soul of each within his breast, to the Trojans, hoped 
 to burn the ships, and slay the Grecian heroes. They 
 thinking these things, opposed one another. 
 
 But Hector seized the stem of a sear-traversing bark, 
 beautiful, swift, wliich had carried ProtesUaus^ to Troy, but 
 did not beai- him back again to his father-land. Round his 
 ship the Greeks and Trojans were now slaying one another 
 in close combat ; nor did they indeed at a (Ustance await the 
 attacks of arrows and of javelins, but standing near, having one 
 mind, they fought with sharp battle-axes and hatchets, with 
 large swords and two-edged spears. And many fair swords, 
 black-hilted, with massive handles, fell to the ground, some 
 indeed from the hands, and others from the shoulders of the 
 contending heroes ; and the dark earth streamed with gore. 
 But Hector, after he had seized [the vessel] by the stern, did 
 
 ' As the " desultores" (Liv. xxiii. 29). Hence " desultor amoris," in 
 Ovid, Amor. i. 3, 15, to denote an inconstant lover ; " desultoria scientia," 
 Apaleius, Met. i. prsef. , spealting of his own varied fable. 
 
 ' The reader will do well to read the heautiful slcetch of this hero's deifi- 
 cation after death in Philostratus's preface to the Heroica. He was the 
 tirst of the Greeks who fell, being slain by Hector as he leaped from the 
 vessel (Hygin. Fab. ciii. ; Auson. Epigr. xx.). He was buried on the 
 Chersonese, near the city Flagusa. Hygin. P. A. ii, 40. 
 
288 ILIAD. XV. 716—746. 
 
 not let go, holding the furthest ^ edge with his hands, and he 
 cheered on the Trojans : 
 
 " Bring fire, and at the same time do yourseh'es together 
 excite the battle. Now hath Jove vouchsafed us a day worth 
 all,2 to take the ships, which, coming hither against the will 
 of the gods, brought many evils upon us through the cowardice 
 of our elders, who kept me back when desirous myself to 
 fight at the stems of the ships, and restrained the people. 
 But if, indeed, far-sounding Jove then mjured"* our minds, he 
 now impels and orders us." Thus he spoke, but they rushed 
 the more against the Greeks. Even Ajax no longer sustained 
 them, for he was overwhelmed with darts ; but, thinking he 
 should fall, retired back a short space to the seven-feet bench, 
 and deserted the deck of his equal ship. There he stood 
 watching, and with his spear continually repulsed the Trojans 
 from the ships, whoever might bring the indefetigable fire ; 
 and always shouting dreadfully, he animated the Greeks : 
 
 " O my friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, be men, 
 my friends, and be mindful of impetuous strength. Whether 
 do we think that we have any assistants in the rear, or any 
 stronger rampart which may avert destruction from the men? 
 Indeed there is not any other city near, fortified with towers, 
 where we may be defended, having a reinforcing array; but 
 bordering on the sea, we sit in the plain of the well-armed 
 Trojans, far away from our native land ; therefore safety is 
 in our exertions, not in remission of battle." 
 
 He said, and fiirious, charged with his sharp spear whoever 
 of the Trojans was borne towards the hollow ships with 
 burning fire, for the sake of Hector who incited them ; — ^him 
 Ajax wounded, receiving him with his long spear; and he 
 slew twelve in close fight before the ships. 
 
 ' The Oxford translator renders o^Xoffj-ov " the tafferel." 
 " This is, I think, much more spirited than the SchoUast's vavTiav 
 TTnvtjiv iffoppoTTov, or TravTtov tuv ToXnrj9ei>Tiov, Supply, therefore, 
 
 ^ I. e. befooled our senses, taking away our proper spirit. So Theognis 
 has vool BtSXaiiiiivoc laQXov. 
 
1—19. ILIAD. XVI. 289 
 
 BOOK THE SIXTEENTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Patroclus at length obtains permission from Achilles, and enters the fight, 
 on condition that he should return after liberating the Greeks from their 
 immediate peril. He comes opportunely to the assistance of Ajax, routs 
 the Trojans, and kills Sarpedon, whose body, but without the armour, 
 is rescued by Hector and Glaucus, Forgetful of his promise to Achilles, 
 Patroclus pursues the Trojans to their very walls. He is driven back 
 by Apollo, but slays the charioteer of Hector, Cebriones. He is sud- 
 denly afflicted with stupor by Apollo, and dies by the hand of Hector, 
 whose death he foretells. Hector pursues Automedon with the chariot 
 of Achilles towards the ships. 
 
 Thus, then, they were fighting for the -well-benched ship. 
 But Fatroclus stood beside Achilles, the shepherd of tlie 
 people, shedding ■warm^ tears ; as a black-water fountain, 
 which pours its sable tide down from a lofty rock. But 
 swift-footed noble Achilles, seeing, pitied him, and addressing 
 him, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Why weepest thou, O Patroclus, as an infant girl, who, 
 running along with her mother, importimes to be taken up, 
 catching her by the robe, and detains her hastening ; and 
 weeping, looks at her [mother] till she is taken up 1 — ^like 
 imtoher, O Patroclus, dost thou shed the tender tear. Dost 
 thou bear any tidings to the Myrmidons, or to me myself? 
 Or hast thou alone heard any news from Phthia ? They say 
 that, indeed, Menoetius, the son of Actor, still lives, and that 
 Peleus, the son of .lEacus, lives amongst the Myrmidons : 
 for deeply should we lament for either of them dying. Or 
 dost thou mourn for the Greeks, because they thus perish at 
 their hoUow ships, on account of their injustice ? Speak out, 
 •nor conceal it in thy mind, that we both may know." 
 
 ' Longus, iv. 7 : AaKpva riv iiri tovtoic Bep/ioTspa, which Mollus, re- 
 ferring to Homer, thus explains : " Lacrymse, quse ex magno impetii, 
 et animi atfectu quasi calido, neutiquam simulatae prosiliebant." 
 
 U 
 
290 ILIAD. XVI. 20—54, 
 
 But deeply sigMng, O knight Patroclus, him thou didst 
 address : " Achilles, son of Peleus, by fe,r the bravest of 
 the Greeks, be not indignant ; since a grief so heavy does 
 oppress the Greeks : for now all they, as many as were 
 formerly most valiant, lie in the ships, wounded or stricken. 
 Brave Diomede, indeed, the son of Tydeus, is wounded, and 
 spear-renowned Ulysses is stricken, as also Agamemnon , 
 and Eurypylus is also wounded in the thigh with an aiTow. 
 About these, indeed, physicians skilled in many remedies 
 are employed heaUng their wounds : but thou, Achilles, 
 art inexorable. Never may such anger seize me at least, as 
 thee, O crueUy brave, dost preserve. What other after-born 
 man will be defended by thee, if thou will not avert un- 
 worthy ruin from the Greeks 1 merciless one ! Certaioly the 
 knight Peleus was not thy father, nor Thetis thy mother ; 
 but the grey' Ocean produced thee, and the lofty rocks ; for 
 thy mind is cruel. But if thou wouldst avoid any oracle in 
 thy mind, and thy venerable mother has told any to thee 
 from Jove, at least send me quickly, and at the same time 
 give me the rest of the army of the Myrmidons, if perchance 
 I may become any aid to the Greeks. Grant me also to be 
 armed on my shoulders with thy armour, if perchance the 
 Trojans, likening me to thee, may cease from battle, and the 
 warlike sons of the Greeks, now fatigued, breathe again ; 
 and there be a short respite from war.* But we [who ai'e] 
 fresh, can easily repulse men worn out with battle from our 
 ships and tents towards the city." 
 
 Thus he spoke, supplicating, very rash ; for, assuredly, he 
 was about to supplicate for himself evil death and fate. 
 Whom, deeply sighing, swift-footed Achilles addressed : 
 
 " Alas ! most noble Patroclus, what hast thou said ? I 
 neither regard any oracle which I have heard, nor has my 
 venerable mother told anything to me from Jove. But this 
 bitter grief comes upon my heart and sovl, when a man who 
 excels ia power, wishes to deprive his equal* of his portion, 
 and to tsdce back his reward because he excels in power. 
 
 ' Alluding to the colour of the ocean when ruffled by a storm. With 
 the following passage compare Theocrit. ill. 15, sqq. ; Eurip. Bacch. 971, 
 ■qq. ; Virg. Mn. iv. 365, sqq. ; £cl. viii. 43, sqq., with Macrob. Sat. r. U< 
 
 ' Cf. xi. 800, with the note. 
 
 * /. e. in dignity. 
 
68—93. ILIAD. XVI. 291 
 
 This to ipe ia a bitter grief, since I have suffered sorro-ws 
 in my mind. The maid whom the sons of the Greeks se- 
 lected as a reicard for me, and [whom] I won by my spear, 
 having sacked a well-fortified city, her has king Agamemnon, 
 son of Atreus, taken back out of my hands, as from some 
 dishonoured alien. But we shall allow these things to be 
 among the things that were ; ' nor is it right, indeed, to be 
 continually enraged in one's mind. Certainly I affirmed 
 that I would not put a stop to my wrath, before that 
 clamour and war should reach my ships. But do thou put on 
 thy shoulders my famous armour, and lead on the war-loving 
 Myrmidons to battle ; since now a black cloud of Trojans 
 hath strongly surrounded the ships, and the Greeks are 
 hemmed in by the shore of the sea, possessing now but a 
 small portion of land. And the whole city of the Trojans 
 has rushed on, confident, because they behold not the front 
 of my helmet gleaming near. Certainly, quickly flying, 
 would they have filled the trenches with their bodies, if 
 king Agamemnon had known mildness to me : but now 
 they are fighting around the army. For the spear does 
 not rage in the hands of Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to 
 avert destniction from the Greeks : nor do I at all hear the 
 voice of Agamemnon shouting from his odious head ; but 
 [the voice] of man-slaughtering Hector, animating the Tro- 
 jans, resounds : whilst they with a shout possess the whole 
 plain, conquering the Greeks in battle. Yet even thus, 
 Patroclus, do thou faR on them bravely, warding off de- 
 struction from the ships; nor let them consume the vessels 
 with blazing fire, and cut off thy own return. But obey, as 
 I shall lay the sum of my advice in thy mind, in order that 
 thou mayest obtain for me great honour and glory from all 
 the Greeks ; and they may send back to me the beautiful 
 maid, and afford [me] besides rich presents. Having repulsed 
 the enemy from the ships, return back : and if, indeed, the 
 loud-thundering husband of Juno permit thee to obtain 
 glory, do not be desirous of fighting with the warlike 
 Trojans apart from me ; for thou wouldst render me more 
 dishonoured ; nor, exulting in the battle and havoc, lead on 
 as &r as IHum, slaughtering the Trojans, lest some of the 
 
 ' /. e. " Let bygones be bygones." — Dublin Ed. 
 cj2 
 
292 ILIAD. XVI. 93—123. 
 
 mmortal gods come down from Olympus [against thee] ; for 
 far-darting ApoEo greatly loves them. But return after 
 thou hast given safety to the ships, and allow the others 
 to contend through the plain. For would that, O fiither 
 Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, not one of the Trojans, as many 
 as there are, may escape death, nor any of the Greeks : 
 whilst to us two it [may be granted] to avoid destruction, 
 that we alone might overthrow the sacred bulwarks of 
 Troy." 
 
 Thus they indeed discussed these matters with each other. 
 But Ajax no longer remained firm,' for he was pressed hard 
 with weapons ; because the counsel of Jove overpowered him, 
 and the fierce Trojans hurling. And a dreadftd clang did 
 his glittering helmet round his temples emit, being struck, 
 and he was constantly smitten upon the weU-made studs of 
 his casque. He was fatigued in the left shoulder, by always 
 firmly holding his moveable shield ; nor could they, pressing 
 him aU around with their weapons, drive him [from his place]. 
 Unceasingly afficted was he with severe panting, and every- 
 where from his limbs poured copious perspiration, nor was 
 he able to respire ; for everywhere evil was heaped upon evil. 
 
 Declare now to me, ye Muses, possessing Olympic habita- 
 tions, how first the fire feU upon the ships of the Greeks ! 
 
 Hector, standing near, struck the ashen spear of Ajax 
 with his great sword, at the socket of the blade behind, and 
 cut it quite oflf ; Telamoniaii Ajax indeed vainly brandished 
 the mutilated' spear in his hand ; but the brazen blade rang, 
 falling upon the earth at a distance from him. Then Ajax 
 knew in his blameless snid, and shuddered at the deeds of the 
 gods ; because the loft.y thundering Jove cut off his plans of 
 war, and willed the A-iolory to the Trojans. Wherefore he 
 retired out of the reach of the weapons, and they hurled the 
 indefatigable fire at the swift ships, the inextinguishable flame 
 
 ■ Compare the splendid description in Ennius apud Macrob. Sat. vi. 3 i— 
 Undique conveniunt, vel imber, tela Tribuno, 
 Coniigunt parmam, tinnit liastilibus umbo, 
 j^ratse sonitant galese : sed nee pote qnisquam 
 Undique nitendo corpus discerpere ferro. 
 Semper abundanteis hastas frangitque, quatitqae, 
 Totum sudor habet corpus, multumque laborat ; 
 Nee respirandi fit copia prsepete ferro.'" 
 Cf. Vi.'g. ^n. ix. 806, sqq. ; Stat. TJieb. ii. 66n. SQt^. 
 
123—163. ILIAD. XVI. 293 
 
 of -wMcli -was immediately diffused around. Thus indeed the 
 flame surrounded the stem ; but Achilles, smiting his thighs, 
 addressed Patroclus : 
 
 " Haste, O most noble steed-directing Patroclus (I per- 
 ceive, indeed, the fury of the hostile fire at the ships), lest 
 they now take the vessels, and there be not an opportunity 
 of flying ; put on thy armour very quickly, and I shall 
 assemble the forces." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but Patroclus armed himself in glittering 
 brass. First, indeed, he put the beautiful greaves around his 
 legs, fitted -with clasps ; next he placed the corslet of the 
 swift-footed descendant of ^acus upon his breast, variegated, 
 and studded -with stars ; and suspended from his shoulders 
 his silver-studded sword, brazen, and then the great and 
 sturdy shield. But upon his gallant head he placed the 
 weU-made hebnet, crested with horse-hair; and dreadfully 
 the plume nodded from above. He took besides two strong 
 spears, which well fitted his hands; but the spear alone of 
 blameless ^aoides, ponderous, large, and strong, he did not 
 take ; which, indeed, no other of the Greeks could brandish, 
 but Achilles alone knew how to wield it ; a Pelian ash which 
 Chiron had given to his sire, [cut] from the tops of Pehon, 
 about to be death to heroes. He also commanded Automedon 
 quickly to yoke the steeds, whom, next to rank-breaking 
 Achilles, he most honoured, because he was most faithful to 
 him in battle, to stand the charge. Wherefore Automedon 
 yoked the fleet horses, Xanthus and Bahus, which kept pace 
 with the winds. Them the Harpy Podargi bore to Zephy- 
 rus, the wind, while feeding in the meadows by the stream 
 of Oceanus. And in the outer harness he fastened illustrious 
 Pedasu?, whom Achilles led away long since, having sacked 
 the city of Eetion ; and which [steed], though being mortal, 
 accompanied immortal steeds. But Achilles, going about, 
 armed all the Myrmidons through the tents with their 
 armour ; but they, Uke carnivorous wolves, in whose hearts 
 is immense strength, and which, having slain a great homed 
 stag in the mountains, tearing, devour it ; but the jaws of 
 all are red with blood : and then they rush in a pack, lap- 
 ping with slender tongues the surfwe of the dark water 
 from a black-water fountain, vomiting forth clots of blood ; 
 but the courage ia their Isreasts is dauntless, and thai/ 
 
294 ILIAD. XVI. 164—205 
 
 Rtomach is distended : so rushed the leaders and cMefs of 
 the Myrmidons round the brave attendant of swift-footed 
 .^kicides, and amongst them stood warlike Achilles, animatiag 
 both the steeds and the shield-bearing warriors. 
 
 Fifty were the swift galleys which Achilles, dear to Jove, 
 led to Troy ; and ia each were fifty men, companions at the 
 benches. But he had appointed five leaders, in whom he put 
 trust, to command them ; and he himself, being very power- 
 ful, governed. One troop indeed Menesthius, with flexible 
 corslet, commanded, the son of Sperchius, a Jove-descended 
 river ; whom the daughter of Peleus, fair Polydora, bore to 
 indefatigable Sperchius, a woman having been embraced by a 
 god ; although, according to report, to Bonis, son of Perieres, 
 who openly espoused her, giving infinite marriage gifts. But 
 warlike Eudorus commanded another [company], clandes- 
 tinely begotten, whom Polymela, the daughter of Phylas, 
 graceful in the dance, bore. Her the powerful slayer of 
 Argus 1 loved, beholding her with his eyes among the dancers 
 at a choir of golden-bowed Diana, huntress-maid ; and imme- 
 diately ascending to an upper chamber, pacific Mercury se- 
 cretly lay with her : whence she bore to biTin a son, Eudorus, 
 svsdft to run, and also a warrior. But after that birth-pre- 
 siding lUthyia had brought him into light, and he beheld 
 the splendour of the sun, the mighty strength of Echecleus, 
 son of Actor, led her to his house when he had given innu- 
 merable marriage-gifts ; whilst aged Phylas carefully nur- 
 tured and educated him, tenderly loving him, as if being 
 his own son. The third, warlike Pisander led, the son of 
 Msemalus, who, after the companion of the son of Peleus, 
 surpassed all the Myrmidons in fighting with the spear. 
 The fourth, the aged knight Phoenix commanded ; and Al- 
 cimedon, the illustrious son of Laerceus, the fifth. But when 
 AchiUes, marshaUiug them well, had placed all with their 
 leaders, he enjoined this strict command : 
 
 " Ye Myrmidons, let none of you be forgetful of the threats 
 with which, at the swift ships, ye did threaten the Trojans, 
 during aU my indignation, and blamed me, each of you [in 
 this manner] : ' cruel son of Peleus ! surely thy mother 
 nurtured thee in wrath : relentless ! thou who at the ships 
 detainest thy companions against their wiU. Let us at least 
 ' Mercury. 
 
205—240. ILIAD. XVI. 295 
 
 return Lome again in our sea-traversing barks, since per- 
 nicious wrath has thus fallen upon thy mind.' These things 
 ye frequently said to me, when assembled ; and now the 
 great task of war appears, of wliich ye were hitherto de- 
 sirous. Let each one here, having a valiant heart, fight 
 igainst the Trojans." 
 
 Thus speaking, he aroused the might and spirit of each, 
 and their ranks were condensed the more when they heard 
 the king. As when a man constructs the wall of a lofty 
 mansion with closely-joined stones, guarding against the 
 violence of the winds, so closely were their helmets and 
 bossed shields linked : then shield pressed upon shield, hel- 
 met upon helmet, and man upon man ; and the horse-hair 
 crests upon the shining cones of [their helmets] nodding, 
 touched each other ; so close stood they to each other. 
 Before all were armed two warriors, Patroclus and Auto- 
 medon, having one mind, to fight in the front of the Myr- 
 midons. But AohUles hastened to go into his tent ; and he 
 opened the lid of a chest, beautiful, variously adorned, which 
 silver-footed Thetis placed, to be carried in his ship, having 
 filled it well with garments, and wind-resisting cloaks, and 
 napped tapestry. And in it was a cup curiously wrought, 
 nor did any other of men drink dark wine from it, nor did 
 he pour out [from it] libations to any of the gods, except 
 to fether Jove. This then, taking from the cofier, he first 
 purified with sulphur, and then washed in a crystal rivulet 
 of water ; but he himself washed his hands, and drew off 
 the dark wine. Next, standing in the middle of the area, 
 he prayed, and ofiered a libation of wine, looking up to 
 heaven ; nor did he escape the notice of thunder-rejoicing 
 Jove : 
 
 " O kitvg Jove, Dodonean, Pelasgian, dwelling afar ofi", pre- 
 siding over wintry Dodona ; but around dwell thy priests, 
 the SeUi, with unwashed feet, and sleeping upon the ground ; 
 certainly thou didst formerly hear my voice when praying : 
 thou hast honoured me, and hast greatly injured the people 
 of the Greeks ; wherefore now also accomplish this addi- 
 tional request for me ; for I myself wiU remain in the 
 assemblage ' of ships, but I am sending forth my companion 
 
 ' So Siuov iyiiva, vi. 298. The Scholiast interprets it h vavcyTaO^Lif, 
 
296 ILIAD. XVI. 240-278. 
 
 with the numerous Myrmidons to battle ; along with liim. 
 do thou send forth glory, O far-sounding Jove ! embolden 
 his heart within his breast, that even Hector may know 
 whether my attendant, even when alone, knows how to wage 
 war, or [only] when these invincible hands rage with him, 
 when I likewise go forth to the slaughter of Mars. But 
 after he has repeUed the contest and the tumiilt from the 
 ships, unscathed let him return to me, to the swift barks, 
 with all his armour and his close-fighting companions." 
 
 Thus he spoke, praying; and provident Jove heard him. 
 One part indeed the Sire granted him, but refused the other. 
 He granted that he should repel the conflict and tumult 
 from the ships, but he refused that he should return safe 
 from the battle. He, on his part, having made a libation 
 and prayed to father Jove, again entered his tent, and 
 replaced the cup in the chest. Then coming out, he stood 
 before the tent, for he still wished in his mind to behold the 
 grievous conflict of Trojans and Greeks. 
 
 But those that were armed at the same time with mag- 
 nanimous Patroclus, marched orderly, tiU they rushed upon 
 the Trojans, with high hopes. Immediately they were 
 pouJed out, like unto wasps dwelling by the road-side, which 
 silly boys are wont to irritate, incessantly haiassing them, 
 possessing cells by the way-side ; and cause a common evil to 
 many. And if by chaaice any traveller, passing by, unin- 
 tentionally disturb them, then they, possessing a valiant 
 heart, ail fly forth, and fight for their young. The Myrmi- 
 dons then, having the heart and courag* of these, poured out 
 from the ships, and an inextinguishable tumult arose. But 
 Patroclus cheered on his companions, loudly shouting: 
 
 "Ye Myrmidons, companions of Achilles, the son of 
 Peleus, be men, my friends, and be mindful of impetuous 
 valour; that we, his close-fighting servants, may honour the 
 son of Peleus, who is by fer the bravest of the Greeks at the 
 ships ; and that the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, 
 may know his fault, that he nothing honoured the bravest of 
 the Greeks." 
 
 Thus speaking, he aroused the might and spirits of each : 
 and in dense array they fell upon the Trojans : but the ships 
 re-echoed dreadfully around from the Greeks shouting. But 
 the Trojans, when they beheld the brave son of Mencetius, 
 
i^— 309. ILIAD. XVI. 2J7 
 
 himself and b"s attendant glittering ia arms, the mind to all 
 of them was disturbed, and the phalanxes were deranged, 
 deeming that the swift-footed son of Peleus at the ships had 
 cast away his wrath, and resumed friendship: then each oiie 
 gazed about where he might escape utter destruction. 
 
 But Patroclus first took aim with his shining spear from 
 the opposite side right into the midst, where they were 
 huddled together in greatest numbers at the stem of the 
 ship of magnanimotis ProtesUaus, and wounded Pyraechmes, 
 who led the Pseonian equestrian warriors from Amydon, 
 from the wide-flowing Axius. Him he smote upon the right 
 shoulder, and he fell on his back in the dust groaning; but 
 the Pseonians, his companions, were put to flight around 
 him, for Patroclus caused fear to them all, having slain their 
 leader, who was very brave to fight. And he drove them 
 from the ships, and extinguished the blazing fire. But the 
 ship was left there half-burnt, whilst the Trojans were routed 
 with a prodigious tumult : and the Greeks were poured forth 
 amongst the hollow ships ; and mighty confusion was created. 
 And as when, from the lofty summit of a great mountain,' 
 iightning-driving Jove dislodges a dense cloud, and all the 
 eminences and highest ridges and glens appear, whilst the 
 boundless aether is burst open^ throughout the heaven; so the 
 Greeks respired for a little, having repelled the hostile fire 
 from their vessels. But of battle there was no cessation : for 
 the Trojans were by no means yet totally routed from the 
 black ships by the warlike Greeks, but still resisted, and 
 retreated from the ships from necessity. Then of the 
 generals, man slew man, the fight being scattered; and first, 
 the brave son of Menoetius forthwith with his sharp spear 
 
 ' Milton, P. L. ii. 488 :— 
 
 " As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds 
 Ascending, while the noith wind sleeps, o'cr-spread 
 Heav'n's cheerful face, the louring element 
 Scowls o'er the darkened landskip snow, or shower ; 
 If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet 
 Extend his evening beam, the fields revive. 
 The bii ds their notes renew and bleating herds 
 Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings." 
 = Virg. JEia. i. 591 :— 
 
 " Vix ea fatus erat, cum circumfusa repente 
 Seindit se nubes, et in sethera purgat apertum." 
 Cf. DralkemSj. on Silius, iii. 196 j Kuinoel on Matth. iii. 16 ; Acts vii. 55. 
 
298 ILIAD. XVI. 309—341 
 
 smote the thigh of Areilochiis when turned about, and drove 
 the bniss quite through : but the spear broke the bone, and 
 he fell prone upon the earth. But -warlike Menelaus then 
 ■wounded Thoas in the breast, exposed near the shield, and 
 relaxed his Umbs. But PhyKdes, perceiving Amphiclus 
 rushing against him, anticipated him, taking aim at the 
 extremity of his leg, where the calf of a man is thiokeftt ; the 
 tendons were severed all round • by the point of the spear, 
 and darkness overshadowed his eyes. Then the sons of 
 Nestor, the one, Antilochus, struck Atymnius with his sharp 
 spear, and drove the brazen lance through his flank; and he 
 fell before him : but Maris, standing before the carcase, rushed 
 upon Antilochus hand to hand with his speax, enraged on 
 account of his brother; but godlike Thrasymedes, taking aim, 
 anticipated him before he had wounded [Antilochus], nor did 
 he miss him, [but wounded him] immediately near the 
 shoulder ; and the point of the spear cut off the extremity of 
 the arm from the muscles, and completely tore away the 
 bone. Falling, he made a crash, and darkness veiled his 
 eyes. Thus to Erebus went these two, subdued by two 
 brothers, the brave companions of Sarpedon, the spear 
 renowned sons of Amisodarus, who nourished the invincible^ 
 Cliimsera, a destruction to many men. But Ajax, the son of 
 Oi'leus, rushing upon Cleobulus, took him aUve, impeded in 
 the crowd; and there relaxed his strength, striking him upon 
 the neck with his hilted sword. And the whole sword was 
 warmed over with blood, and purple^ death and stem fiite 
 possessed his eyes. 
 
 Then Peneleus and Lycon engaged in close combat, for 
 they had missed each other with their spears, and both had 
 hurled in vain;'' therefore they ran on again with their 
 swords ; then Lycon on his part struck the cone of the horse- 
 hair-crested helmet, and the sword was broken at the hilt. 
 
 ' Heyne would construe aixt^y with irepi, referring toviii. 86; xiii. 441, 
 570; Find. Nem. viii. 40. 
 
 - On the adjective auauiaKiTtiv, see intpp. on Soph. (Ed. R. 176; 
 CEd. Col. 127. 
 
 ' /. e. "atramors," TibuU. i. 3, 5. Cf. vs. 370: Qavdrov fiiXav 
 v£(pog. 
 
 ' On fiiXeog see Kennedy, Snidas : 'O fiiv JloiiiTrii (i. e. Homer) 
 ivi 7"0u fiaraiov evSkx^Tat to MkXtof^ oi St TfjayiKoi^ ivi tou oiKTpoVt. 
 So Uesych. tisXiog' ndraioQ. 
 
342—370. ILIAD. XVI, 299 
 
 But Peneleus smote Mm in the neck below the ear, and the 
 whole sword entered, and the skin alone retained it: the 
 head hung down, and his limbs were relaxed. 
 
 Meriones also, overtaking him with rapid feet, wounded 
 Acamas in the right shoulder, as he was about to ascend his 
 chariot ; and he fell from his chariot, and darkness was poured 
 over his eyes. 
 
 ^ But Idomeneus struck Erymas in the mouth with the 
 pitiless brass ; and the brazen weapon passed right through 
 from the opposite side down under the brain, and then cleft 
 the white bones. And his teeth were dashed out, and both 
 eyes were filled with gore, which, gaping, he forced' out 
 from his mouth and from his nostrils; and the black cloud 
 of death enveloped him. Thus these leaders of the Greeks 
 slew each a man. And as destructive wolves impetuously 
 rush on lambs or kids, snatching them from the flocks, which 
 are dispersed upon the mountains by the negligence of the 
 shepherd ; but they, perceiving them, immediately tear in 
 pieces them, having an un warlike heart : so did the Greeks 
 rush upon the Trojans, but they were mindftd of dire-sounding 
 flight, and forgot resolute valour. But mighty Ajax ever 
 longed to aim his javeHn at brazen-armed Hector; but he, 
 from his skill in war, covering himself as to his broad 
 shoulders with a buU's-hide shield, watched the hissing of 
 the arrows and the whizzing of the javelins. Already indeed 
 he knew the victory of battle was inclining to the other 
 side; yet even thus he remained, and saved his beloved 
 companions. 
 
 And as when from Ol3rmpus comes a cloud into heaven,^ 
 after a clear sky, when Jove stretches forth a whirlwind, 
 thus was the clamour and rout of those [flying] from the 
 ships. Nor did they repass [the trench] in seemly plight, 
 but liis fleet-footed steeds bore away Hector with his arms ; 
 and he deserted the Trojan people, whom against their will 
 the deep trench detained. And many fleft car-drawing 
 
 ' Made to rush with a bubbling noise, the verb here " expressing the 
 "iolent streaming of a liquid." See Buttm. Lezil. p. 484 ; and compare 
 my note on jEsch. Ag. p. 137, n. 2, ed. Bohn. 
 
 ' Heaven is here distinguished from Olympus, as in i. 597, and Tibull. 
 iy. i. 131 : — " Jupiter ipse levi vectus per inania curra 
 
 Adfuit, et cceIo vicinum liquit Olympum." 
 
390 ILIAD. XVI. 371—402. 
 
 steeds left in the foss tte chariots of their masters, broken at 
 the extremity of the pole. But Patroclus pursued, vehe- 
 mently cheering on ' the Greeks, and devising destruction for 
 the Trojans ; but they, with clamour and rout, filled aU the 
 ■ways after they -were dispersed. A storm [of dust] was 
 tossed up beneath the clouds, and the solid-hoofed horses 
 pressed back towards the city, from the ships and tents. Bui 
 Patroclus, wherever he perceived the army in greatest con- 
 fusion, thither directed [his steeds], exclaiming in a threat- 
 ening manner; whilst beneath his axles men fell prone fron; 
 their chariots, and the chariots were overturned. Then, from 
 the opposite side, the fleet immortal steeds, which the gods 
 had given as splendid presents to Peleus, eagerly pressing on, 
 bounded quite across the trench; for his mind urged him 
 against Hector, for he longed to strike him, but his swift 
 horses kept bearing him away. 
 
 And as beneath a whirlwind the whole dark earth is 
 oppressed on an autumnal day, when Jove pours forth his 
 most violent stream ; when, forsooth, enraged he gives vent 
 to his wrath against men, who by violence decree perverse 
 judgments in the assembly, and drive out justice, not re- 
 garding the vengeance of the gods ; and all their rivers 
 are flooded as they flow, and the torrents sever asunder 
 many mountains, and flowing headlong into the dark sea, 
 roar mightily, and the husbandry-works^ of men are dimi- 
 nished ; so loudly moaned the Trojan mares running along. 
 But Patroclus, when he had cut off the first phalanxes, drove 
 them back again towards the ships, and did not permit them, 
 desiring it, to ascend towards the city ; but, pressing on, he 
 slew them between the ships, and the river, and the lofty 
 wall, and he exacted revenge for many. Then indeed he 
 smote with his shining spear Pronous first, bared as to his 
 breast beside the shield, and relaxed his limbs : and fallin g, 
 he gave a crash. But next, attacking Thestor, son of Enopa 
 (who indeed sat huddled in his well-polished chariot, for he 
 
 ' From this sense of KiXivui arises its nautical meaning, also KcXcvirrr/s, 
 the man who gives the signal and cheers on the rowers. See Mollus on 
 Long. Past. iii. 14. So Athenffius, zii. p. 535 : Xpvaoyovog fiiv lytiXct to 
 TptqpLKOv. Ka.\\nrior]Q Sk 6 Tpayif}Sbg tKkXsvf, 
 
 ' For this agricultural use of ipya cf. Oppian, Cyn. ii. 151 : Uavr/i 
 S' ipya PoCiv. Nicander, Ther. 473 : ipya vo/ieiuv. Virg. Georg. i. 325 : 
 " Et pluvia ingenti sata Iseta, boumque labores diluit." 
 
403—433. ILIAD. XVI. 301 
 
 was panic-struck in his mind, and the reins had then dropped 
 from his hands), he standing near, smote him with his spear 
 on the right cheek, and drove it through his teeth. Then 
 catching the spear, he dragged him over the rim [of the 
 chariot] ; as when a man, sitting upon a jutting rook, [draws] 
 with a line and shining brass ^ a large fish entirely out of the 
 sea ; so he dragged from his chariot with his shining spear, 
 him gaping. Then he hurled him upon his mouth, and life 
 left him as he fell. Then next he struck with a stone on the 
 middle of the head, Eiyalus, rushing against him, and it was 
 totally split asunder into two parts in his strong helmet. 
 He therefore fell prone upon the earth, and fatal death was 
 diffused around him. Afterwards Eiymas, and Amphoterus, 
 Epaltes, and Tlepolemus, son of Damastor, Echius and Pyris, 
 Icheus, Euippus, and Polymelus, son of Argeus, all one over 
 the other he heaped upon the fertile earth. 
 
 But when Sarpedon perceived his loose-girt^ companions 
 subdued by the hands of Patroclus, the son of Menoetius, 
 exhortiag, he shouted to the godlike Lycians : 
 
 " Oh shame ! Lycians, where do ye fly ?^ Now be strenu- 
 ous : for I will oppose this man, that I may know who he is 
 who is victorious : and certainly he has done many evils to 
 the Trojans, siace he has relaxed the limbs of many and 
 brave men." 
 
 He spoke, and leaped from his chariot with his armour to 
 the ground ; but Patroclns, on the other side, when he be- 
 held him, sprang from his car. Then they, as bent-taloned, 
 crook-beaked vultures, loudly screaming, fight upon a lofty 
 rock — so they, shouting, rushed against each other. But the 
 son of the wily Saturn, beholding them, felt compassion, and 
 addressed Juno, his sister and wife :* 
 
 " O woe is me, because it is fated that Sarpedon, most 
 dear to me of men, shall be subdued by Patroclus, the son of 
 Menoetius. But to me, revolving it in. my mind, my heart is 
 
 ' /. e. the hook. So " asre," "the brass cutwater," Virg. JEn. i. 35. 
 
 ' Toif /t^ iiroZifvvv/iSvave jiirpas tdIq ^trwiriv. — Eustath. 
 
 - Tzetzes on Hesiod, Opp. 184, reads sotov, observing that it is ro 
 Sv'iKOv avri rod 7r\r]9vvTticov, 
 
 * Virg. ^n. i. 50 : " Jovisque et soror et conjux." Hor. Od. iii. 
 3, 64 : " Conjuge me Jovis et sorore." Anson. 343, 4 ; " Et soror et 
 conjux firatris regina dcarum." 
 
302 iLIAD. XVI. 436—466. 
 
 impelled with a twofold anxiety,* either that having snatched 
 him aUve from the mournful battle, I may place him among 
 the rich people of Lycia, or now subdue him beneath the 
 hands of the son of Mencetius." 
 
 Then the large-eyed, venerable Juno answered : " Most 
 dread son of Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Whether 
 dost thou wish to liberate from sad death a mortal man long 
 since doomed to fate 1 Do so ; but all we, the other gods, 
 will not assent to it. But another thing I wiU tell thee, and 
 do thou revolve it in thy mind. If indeed thou sendest this 
 Sarj)edon safe home, reflect whether some other of the gods 
 may not also wish to send his beloved son [safe home] from 
 the violent conflict ; for many sons of immortals fight roimd 
 the great city of Priam, upon whom thou wUt bring 
 heavy wrath. If, however, he be dear to thee, and thy 
 heart pities him, let him indeed be subdued in the violent 
 conflict, beneath the hands of Patroclus, the son of Mence- 
 tius : but when his spirit and life shall have left him, send 
 death and sweet sleep to bear him until they reach the 
 people of expansive Lycia. There wUl his brethren and 
 friends perform his obsequies with a tomb and a pillar ; for 
 this is the honour of the dead." 
 
 Thus she spoke, nor did the father of gods and men dis- 
 obey ; but he poured down upon the earth bloody dew-drops,^ 
 honouring his beloved son, whom Patroclus was about to 
 slay in fertile-soiled Troy, far away from his native land. 
 
 But when, advancing, they were now near each other, 
 then indeed Patroclus [struck] illustrious Thrasymelus, who 
 was the brave companion of king Sarpedon, hiiifi he struck 
 upon the lower part of the befly, and relaxed his hmbs. 
 Then Sarpedon, attacking second, missed him with his splen- 
 
 ' Cf. Virg. ^n. iv. 285 ;— 
 
 " Atque animum nunc hue celerem, nunc dividit illuc, 
 In partesque rapit varias, perque omnia versat." 
 X. 680. Ter. Andr. i. 5, 25. Ovid. Met. vii. 19 ; x. 373. Plato, Rep. 
 iii. p. 433, B. ed. Lsem. finds great fault with Homer for thus debasing 
 the character of Jove. His remarks are reiterated by Clemens Alexandr. 
 Protr. p. 16, 50, and Minucius Felix, § 22. 
 
 ' There is a similar prodigy in Hesiod, Scut. Hero. 384 : KaSS' ap' air' 
 ovpav69cv \j/iaSag jiaKiv aifiaTokaaag, ^rj/ia Ti9(ie TroXt/ioto eip fiiya- 
 9ap<7ti iraiSi. Tietzes there refers to the present passage, regarding it 
 as ominous of the death of Sarpedon. Cf. Lumeier, De Lustratiouibus, zil 
 p. 143. 
 
467—499. ILIAD. XVI. 303 
 
 did javelin ; but he wounded his horse Pedasus, with his 
 spear, in the right shoulder ; but he groaned, breathing out 
 liis life, and fell ia the dust, moaning, and his spirit fled from 
 him. But the two [other steeds] leaped asunder, and the 
 yoke crashed, and the reins were entangled about them, 
 when the side horse lay ia the dust. But spear-renowned 
 Automedon found an end of this. Drawing his long sword 
 from his robust thigh, rising, he cut away the farther horse, 
 nor did he act slothfuUy. And the two [remaining horses] 
 were set aright, and were directed by the reins ; and they 
 [the men] again engage in life-devouring combat. 
 
 Then again Sarpedon missed [him] with his shining spear, 
 and the point of the weapon passed over the left shoulder of 
 Patroclus, nor did it wound him. But Patroclus rushed on 
 with his javelin, and the weapon did not escape in vain froia 
 his hand, for he struck him where the midriff encloses the 
 compact 1 heart. And he fell, as when falls some oak, or 
 poplar, or lofty pine, which the workmen fell in the moun- 
 tains with newly-sharpened axes, to be a naval timber : so 
 he lay stretched out before his horses and chariot, gnashing 
 with his teeth, grasping the bloody dust. As a lion slays a 
 bull, coming among a herd, tawny, noble-spirited, among the 
 stamping^ oxen, and he perishes, bellowing, beneath the jaws 
 of the Hon ; so the leader of the shielded Lycians was indig- 
 nant,^ being slain by Patroclus, and addressed his dear com- 
 panion by name : 
 
 "Glaucus, dear friend, warrior amongst heroes, now it 
 greatly behoves thee to be a hero and a bold warrior ; now 
 if thou art impetuous, let destructive battle be thy desire. 
 First indeed, going in every direction, exhort the leaders of 
 the Lycians to fight around Sarpedon, and do thou thyself 
 also fight for me with thy spear. For I will hereafter be a 
 cause of shame and disgrace to thee, all thy days, throughout, 
 
 ' " By comparing the different uses of aSivig together, one thing is 
 clear, that ail the meanings which can occur in them, proceed from one, 
 which is that in the epithet of the heart, dense or compact, which physical 
 idea the word retains, according to the Homeric usage, in Od. r. 516, as 
 a Axed epithet of the heart, although there its physical state has nothing 
 to do with the context," Buttm. Lexii. p. 33. 
 
 » See Buttm. Lexil. p. 267. 
 
 * " Indignata anima gemebat," — Heyne, comparing Ma. xii. nit. 
 " Vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras." 
 
304 ILIAD. XVI. 500—5315. 
 
 if indeed the Greeks despoil me of my armour, falling in the 
 conflict at the ships. But persevere, and animate all the 
 army." 
 
 While he was thus speaking, the end of death covered 
 him as to his eyes and nostrils; but Patroclus, trampling 
 with his heel upon his breast, drew out the spear from his 
 iody, and the midriff ^ followed with it ; and he drew out at 
 the same time his life and the point of the weapon. But ' 
 the Myrmidons there held his panting steeds, eager to fly 
 along, since they had quitted the chariots of their lords. 
 Then bitter grief arose to Glaucus, hearing the voice [of his 
 friend], and his heart was grieved because he could not aid 
 him. But grasping his own arm in his hand, he compressed 
 it ; for grievously the wound pained him, which Teucer, with 
 an arrow, had inflicted upon him, as he was rushing against 
 the lofty wall, warding ofl" the battle from his companions. 
 Wherefore, praying, he addressed fe,r-darting Apollo : 
 
 " Hear, O king, thou who art somewhere in the rich state 
 of Lycia, or in Troy ; for thou canst everywhere hear a man 
 afflicted, as sorrow now comes upon me. For indeed I have 
 this grievous wound, and my hand is penetrated on every 
 side with acute pains, nor can the blood be stanched, but 
 my shoulder is oppressed with it. For neither can I firmly 
 hold my spear, nor, advancing, fight with the enemy j moi'e- 
 over a very brave hero has fallen, Sarpedon, the son of Jove; 
 but he aids not even his own son. But heal for me this 
 severe wound, O king ; assuage my pains, and grant me 
 strength, that, cheering on my companions, the Lycians, I 
 may urge them to fight ; and may myself fight for the dead 
 body." 
 
 Thus he spoke praying ; but Phoebus Apollo heard him. 
 Immediately he allayed the pains, and dried the black gore 
 from the grievous wound, and instilled strength into his 
 soul. But Glaucus knew in his mind, and rejoiced because 
 the mighty god had quickly heard him praying. First then, 
 going about in all directions, he aroused the heroes, leaders 
 of the Lycians, to fight for Sarpedon ; and then he went to 
 the Trojans, advancing with long strides to Polydamas, son 
 of Panthous, and noble Agenor. He also went after ./Eneas 
 
 Probably the pericardium is meant. 
 
5Sfi— 571. ILUD. XVI. 305 
 
 and brazen-armed Hector, and, standing near, addressed to 
 him winged words : 
 
 " O Hector, now hast thoii altogether neglected thine 
 allies, who are losing their lives for thy sake, far away from 
 their friends and father-land ; but thou dost not wish to aid 
 them. Sarpedon lies low, the leader of the shield-bearing 
 Lycians, who protected Lycia by his justice and his valour. 
 Him hath brazen Mars subdued with a sj^iear at the hands 
 of Patroclus. But stand near, my friends, and be indignant 
 in your minds, lest the Myrmidons spoil his armour, and 
 unworthily treat the body, enraged on account of the Greeks, 
 as many as have perished, whom we have slain with our 
 spears at the ships." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but intolerable, unyielding grief wholly 
 possessed the Trojans, for he had been a pillar of their, city, 
 though being a foreigner ; for many forces followed along 
 vnih him, among whom he himself was the most valiant in 
 battle. They therefore advanced eagerly straight against the 
 Greeks, ardent with desire ; but Hector led the way, enraged 
 on account of Sarpedon. But the valiant heart of Patroclus, 
 son of Menoetius, aioused the Greeks. First lie addressed 
 the Ajace.s, though they themselves were also eager : 
 
 " O Ajaces, now let it be a delightful thing to you both to 
 repel [the foe] ; be ye such as of old ye were amongst heroes, 
 or even braver. Sarpedon lies low, the man who first broke 
 through' the wall of the Greeks. But oh ! that taking him, 
 we could treat him with indignity, and spoil the armour 
 from his shoulders, and subdue with the cruel brass some one 
 of liis companions keeping [us] off from him." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they also themselves were ready to 
 repel [the foe]. But when they had strengthened their pha- 
 lanxes on both sides, the Trojans and Lycians, as well as the 
 Myrmidons and Achseans, they closed to fight roimd the 
 dead body, shouting dreadfully, and loudly rattled the arms 
 of men. But Jove stretched pernicious night over the 
 violent contest, that there might be a destructive toil of 
 battle around his dear son. The Trojans first drove back the 
 roUing-eyed Greeks ; for a man was smitten, by no means 
 the most inferior among the Myrmidons, noble Epigeiis, son 
 
 ' We must understand hiin as having done so in company witli Hector, 
 otherwise this passage would be at variance with xii. 290, 437. 
 
 X 
 
306 ILfAD. XVT. 572— 60!t. 
 
 of magnanimoua Agacles, who formerly ruled iii -weU-inha- 
 bited Budium ; but tlieii Laving slain a noble kinsman, lie 
 came as a suppliant to Peleus and silver-footed Thetis : they 
 sent him to follow with the rank-breaker Achilles, to steed- 
 renowned Ihum, that he might fight with the Trojans. Him 
 then, while seizing the body, illustrious Hector struck upon 
 the head with a stone ; and it was entirely split in two in 
 his strong helmet ; and he fell prone upon the corpse, and 
 soul-destroying death was diffused around him. Then to 
 Patroclus grief arose, on account of his companion slairi ; 
 and he rushed right through the foremost warriors, like 
 unto a swift hawk, which has put to flight jackdaws or 
 starlings ; so, O equestrian Patroclus, didst thou rush right 
 against the Lycians and Trojans ; for thou wert enraged in 
 thine heart for thy companion. And he struck Sthenelaus, 
 the beloved son of Ithsemeneus, on the neck with a stone, 
 and broke his tendons : and the foremost warriors and illus- 
 trious Hector gave back. And as far as is the cast of a 
 long javeliuj which a man may have sent forth striving either 
 in the game, or even in war, on account of life-destroying 
 enemies ; so far did the Trojans retire, and the Greeks re- 
 pelled them. But Glaucus, the leader of the shield-bearing 
 Lycians, first turned, and slew magnanimous Bathycles, the 
 beloved son of Chalcon, who, inhabiting dwellings in Hellas, 
 was conspicuous among the Myrmidons for his riches and 
 wealth. T Tim then Glaucus, turning suddenly round, wounded 
 ,iii the middle of the breast with his spear, when, pursuing, 
 he had overtaken him. But he made a crash as he fell ; and 
 deep grief possessed the Greeks, because a brave warrior had 
 thus fallen ; but the Trojans greatly rejoiced, and, advancing 
 in crowds, stood round him ; nor were the Greeks forgetful 
 of valour, but they directed their strength straight against 
 them. Then again Meriones slew a hero of the Trojans, 
 the warrior Laogonus, the gallant son of Onetor, who was 
 the priest of Idsean Jove, and was honoured hke a god br 
 the people. He smote him under the jaw and ear, and 
 his soul immediately departed from his limbs, and dreadful 
 darkness overshadowed him.i But .(Eneas hurled a brazen 
 spear at Meriones, for he hoped to hit him, advancing under 
 
 ' It has been well observed that Homer never describes a wound as 
 mortal, except when it is inflicted in a part real!; vital. 
 
610—643. ILIAD. XVI. 307 
 
 protection ot liis sLield. He, however, observing it in front, 
 avoided tlie brazen spear ; for he stooped forward, and the 
 long javelin, was fixed in the groimd behind him, and the 
 nether point ' of the spear was shaken ; then the rapid wea- 
 pon spent its force. Thus the javelin of .^neas, quivering 
 entered the earth, for it had fled in vain from his strong 
 h nd. Then ^neas was enraged in his mind, and said : 
 
 " Meriones, quickly indeed, although being a dancer,^ 
 would my spear have made thee cease for ever, if I had 
 struck thee." 
 
 But him then in turn spear-renowned Meriones answered : 
 " iEneas, it were difficult for thee, although being biuve, to 
 extinguish the valour of aU men, whosoever may come 
 against thee about to repulse thee ; for thou too art mortal. 
 And if I, taking aim, should strike thee in the middle with 
 my sharp spear, although being brave, and confiding in thy 
 might, thou wouldst give glory to me, but thy soul to steed- 
 famed Pluto." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but him the brave son of Menoetius re- 
 buked : " Meriones, why dost thou, although being brave, 
 harangue thus 1 O, my friend, the Trojans will not retire 
 from the corse by opprobrious words : first will the earth 
 possess some of them ; for the emergency of battle is placed 
 in the hands, but of counsel in words ; wherefore it is by no 
 means necessary to mtdtiply words, but to fight." 
 
 So saying, he on his paxt led the way, and along with him 
 the godlike hero followed. And as the crash of woodcutting 
 men arises in the dells of a mountain, and the sound is heard 
 from afar ; so the noise of these, smitten with swords and 
 two-edged spears, arose from the wide-extended plain, from 
 brass, from leather, and from well-prepared bull's-hide shields. 
 Nor would a man, although very discerning, have recognized 
 noble Sarpedon, since he was totally involved, from his head 
 to the soles of his feet, with weapons, and blood, and dust. 
 But they still crowded round the corse, as when flies in the 
 stall hum around the pails full of milk, during the spring 
 
 ' The oipiaxoQ was the same as the aavpuirvp- See Glossse Herodoteie, 
 and Hesych. p. 820. 
 
 ' A probable allusion to the Pyrrhic dance, which was in use amons 
 the Cretans, from whose country Meriones had come. See the Scholia.st, 
 and Miiller, Dorians, vol. ii. p. 346. 
 
 X 2 
 
308 ILIAD. XVI, 613—699. 
 
 season, -when the millf makes moiat the vessel. So they still 
 crowded round the body : nor did Jove ever turn his bright 
 eyes from the violent conflict ; but he ever beheld them, and 
 meditated many evU things in his mind concerning the death 
 of Patroclus, anxioiLsly deliberating whether now iUustrioua 
 Hector should kiU him with his spear in the brave battle, 
 over godlike Sarpedon, and spoil the armour from his shoul- 
 ders, or whether he should stiU increase the severe labour to 
 the multitudfi. To him, thus reflecting, it appeared better 
 that the brave servant of Achilles, the son of Peleus, should 
 repulse the Trojans and brazen-armed Hector, towards the 
 city, and take away the life of many. Into Hector, there- 
 fore, first [of all], he sent unwarlike fright, and ascending his 
 chariot, he turned himself to flight, and advised the other 
 Trojans to fly, for he recognized the sacred scales of Jove.' 
 Then not even the brave Lyciaus remained, but were all 
 turned in flight, when they beheld their king wounded to the 
 heart, lying in the heap of dead ; for many had fallen over 
 him, whilst the son of Saturn stretched on the violent strife. 
 But after they had taken from the shoulders of Sarpedon the 
 brazen and glittering armour, the gallant son of Menoetius 
 gave them to his companions to carry to the hollow ships ; 
 and then cloud-compeUing Jove addressed ApoUo : 
 
 " Come now, dear Phoebus, going, cleanse Sarpedon, [with- 
 drawn] from among the heap of weapons, of sable gore, and 
 afterwards bearing him far away, lave him in the stream of 
 the river, and anoint him with ambrosia, and put around him 
 immortal garments, then give him in charge to the twin- 
 brothers, Sleep and Death, swift conductors, to be borne 
 away, who wil^ quickly place him in the rich state of wide 
 Lycia. Thern wOJ bis brethren and kindred perform his 
 obsequies wiyi a tomb and a pillai-,^ for this is the honour of 
 the dead." 
 
 Thus he sjjoke: nor was Apollo inattentive to his father, 
 but he descended from the Ideean mountains to the grievous 
 conflict. Immediately removing noble Sarpedon out of [the 
 reach of] weapons, and bearing him far away, he laved him 
 
 ' /. e. He perceived that the fortune of the battle was changed by the 
 will of Jove. 
 
 ' /. e. A cippus, or column reared upon the tomb. See Pollux, yvl, 
 U, and the Scriptores Rei Agrim. p. 88, ed. Goes. 
 
G80— 712. ILIAD, XVT. 309 
 
 in the stream of the river, anointed xiim with ambrosia, and 
 placed around him immortal garments, then gave him in 
 charge to the twin-brothers. Sleep and Death, swift con- 
 ductors, to be borne away with them ; who accordingly quickly 
 placed him in the rich state of wide Lycia. 
 
 In the meantime Patroolus, cheering on liis steeds, and 
 Automedon, followed upon the TrojdHs and ijycians, and 
 came to great harm, — ^infatuate one ! — biit if he had observed 
 the direction of the son of Peleus, he iiad certainly escaped 
 the evil fate of black death. But the counsel of Jove is ever 
 better than that of men, who puts to flight even the valiant 
 man, and easily deprives him of victory, even when he him- 
 self has impelled him to fight ; who then also excited courage 
 in his breast. Then whom first, and whom last, didst thou 
 slay, O Patroclus, when the gods now ciUed thee on to death ? 
 Adrastus indeed first, Autonous and Echeclus, and Perimus, 
 son of Megas, and Epistor and Melanippus ; but then Elasus, 
 and Mulius, and Pylartes. These he slew, but the others 
 were, each of them, mindful of flight. Then indeed had the 
 sons of the Greeks taken lofty-gated Troy, by the hands of 
 Patroclus, for he raged greatly beyond [others] with his 
 spear, had not Phoebus Apollo stood upon a well-built tower, 
 meditating destructive things to him, and assisting the Tro- 
 jans. Thrice indeed Patroclus mounted a buttrese of the 
 lofty wall, and thrice did Apollo repel him with violence, 
 striking liis glittering shield with his immortal hands. But 
 when now, godlike, he rushed on the fourth time, far-casting 
 Apollo, threatening fearfiilly, addressed him : 
 
 " Retire, thou Jove-sprung Patroclus ; by no means is it 
 destined that the city of the magnanimous Troians should be 
 destroyed by thy spear, nor by Achilles, who is much better 
 than thou." 
 
 Thus he spoke, but Patroclus retired far back, avoiding 
 the wrath of far-darting Apollo. Bui Hector detained his 
 steeds at the Scajan' gates; for he doubted whether, having 
 
 I ' Schneider on Nicander, Th^. 264-9, p. 229, observes : " In Home- 
 rica Iliade fuerunt olim qui Sicai&f nvXag, quae alibi Dardanise dicuntur, 
 interpretabantur obliquas. teste Hesychio : fj dia to trKoXidg eluaL Kara 
 TTiv ii(sjio\!]v. Plane uU Servius ad ^n. iii. 351: ' Scsea porta dicta 
 est— nee ab itin^^re ingressis scsevo id est sinistro, quod ingressi non 
 recto eed siniscro eunt itinere, sed a cadavere Laomedontis, hoc est 
 
310 ILIAD. XVI. 713—745. 
 
 driven again into the crowd, he should fight, or should loudly 
 command the people to be collected within the walls. To 
 him then, meditating these things, Phoebus ApoUo stood near, 
 having assimilated himself to a hero youthful and brave, to 
 Asius, who was the maternal uncle of horse-breaking Hector, 
 own brother of Hecuba, and the son of Dymas, who dwelt in 
 Phrygia, by the streams of the Sangarius : to him Phoebus 
 ApoUo, assimilating himself, spoke : 
 
 " Hector, why dost thou cease from battle? Nor does it at 
 all become thee. "Would that I were so much superior to thee 
 as I am inferior; then indeed wquldst thou quickly have re- 
 tired from the battle to thy loss. But come, direct thy solid- 
 hoofed steeds against Patroclus, if perchance thou mayest slay 
 him, and Apollo may give thee glory." So saying, the god 
 on his part went again through the labour of men ; but illus- 
 trious Hector on his part commanded warlike Cebriones to 
 lash on his steeds to the battle, whilst ApoUo, proceeding, 
 entered the throng ; and sent an evil tumult among the 
 Greeks; but gave glory to the Trojans and Hector. Then 
 indeed did Hector neglect the other Greeks, nor slew them ; 
 but directed his solid-hoofed horses against Patroclus. But 
 Patroclus, on the other side, leaped from his chariot to the 
 ground, in his left hand holding his spear; but in the other 
 he seized a stone, white, rugged, which his hand embraced 
 around. Putting his force to it, he hurled it ; nor did it err 
 far from, the man, nor was the weapon hurled in vain,l for in 
 the forehead with the sharp stone he smote the charioteer of 
 Hector, Cebriones, the illegitimate son of illustrious Priam, 
 whilst holding the reins of the horses. But the stone crushed 
 both his eyebrows, nor did the bone sustain it, and his eyes 
 fell amid the dust upon the ground before his feet. But he 
 then, hke unto a diver, fell from the well-formed chariot-seat, 
 and life left his bones. But him insulting, thou didst 
 address, O equestrian Patroclus: 
 
 "O gods ! tmly ho is a very active man! how nimbly he 
 
 scaeomate, quod in ejus fuerit superliminio.' Ita Vitruvius, i. 5, 2 ; unde 
 vides, quomodo notio sinistri et obliqui in hac voce coaluerit. Notio 
 ipsa serius tandeni invaluisse vide.tur : antiquiorem enim Nicandreo locum 
 Ignore." 
 
 ' See Kennedy. Others make /3f\oj the accusative, and take aX.un 
 transitively. 
 
746—787. ILIAD. XVf. 311 
 
 dives ! if indeed Le were anywhere in the fishy sea, this man, 
 groping for oysters, might have satisfied many, plunging from 
 his ship, although it might be stormy; so easily now in the 
 plain does he dive from his chariot! Without doubt there 
 are divers among the Trojans." 
 
 . So saying, he advanced against the hero Cebriones, having 
 the force of a lion, which, ravaging the folds, is wounded in 
 the breast, and his own courage destroys him; thus, Patro- 
 clns, ardent, didst thou spring upon Cebriones; whilst Hector, 
 on the other side, leaped from his chariot to the ground. 
 These two, as lions, fought for Cebriones, when both being 
 hungry fight with utmost courage for a slaughtered stag in 
 mountain tops. So, for Cebriones, these two masters of the 
 fight, Patroelus, son of Menoetius, and illustrious Hector, 
 wished to rend each other's body with the pitiless brass. 
 Hector indeed, after he seized him by the head, did not let 
 him go; but Patroelus, on the other side, held [him by the] 
 foot ; and now the rest of the Trojans and Greeks engaged in 
 the violent conflict. 
 
 And as the East and South winds strive with each other, 
 in the dells of a mountain, to shake a deep wood, beech, ash, 
 and rugged cornel, but they strike their long- extended 
 boughs against each other with an immense sound, and a 
 crash of them breaking [arises] ; thus the Trojans and Greeks, 
 leaping upon each other, slaughtered, but neither were mind- 
 ful of pernicious flight. And many sharp spears were fixed 
 round Cebriones, and winged arrows bounding from the 
 string; and many huge stones smote the shields of those 
 fighting round him ; but he, mighty over mighty space, lay in 
 a whirlwind of dust, forgetftd of his equestrian skill. 
 
 As long indeed as the sun was ascending the middle 
 heaven, so long did the weapons reach both sides efiectually, 
 and the people kept falling. But when the sun had passed 
 over towards the west, then indeed the Greeks were superior, 
 concrary to fate. They drew the hero Cebriones from the 
 weapons, out of the tumult of Trojans, and took the armour 
 from his shoulders. But Patroelus, devising evils against the 
 Trojans, rushed on. Thrice then he charged, equal to swift 
 Mars, shouting horridly, and thrice he slew nine heroes. 
 But when, like unto a god, he made the attack for the fourth 
 time, thfin indeed, Patroelus, was the end of thy life mani- 
 
S12 ILIAD. XVI, 788—822, 
 
 fest; for Phoebus, terrible in the dire battle, met thee. He 
 did not indeed perceive him coming through the crowd, fen" 
 he advanced against Viim covered with much darkness; but 
 ho stood behind, and smote him with his flat hand upon the 
 back and broad shoulders, and his eyes were seized with gid- 
 diness, i And from his head Phoebus A.poUo struck the 
 helmet, and the oblong helmet rattled, tolling under the 
 horses' feet, and the crest was defiled with blood and dust; 
 although before this it was not permitted that [this] helmet, 
 crested with horse-hair, should be contaminated by the dust; 
 for it protected the head of a godlike hero, even the venerable 
 forehead of Achilles ; but Jove then gave it to Hector to wear 
 upon his head ; but his destruction was near. But the long- 
 shadowed spear, great, sturdy, pointed [with brass], was 
 utterly shattered in his hands; whilst the shield, which 
 reached to his heels, with its belt, fell to the ground; and 
 king Apollo, the son of Jove, unbound his corslet. But 
 stupor seized his brain, and his fair limbs were relaxed under 
 Inm, and he stood astounded. But a Trojan hero, Euphorbus, 
 the son of Panthous, who excelled those of Ids own age in 
 the spear, in horsemanship, and in swiftness of foot, smote 
 him close at hand with his sharp spear, in the back between 
 the shoulders. Por even before this he had hurled twenty men 
 from their horses, at first coming with his chariot, learning 
 [the art] of war. He [it was] who first hurled a weapon at 
 thee, O knight Patroclus, nor did he subdue thee ; for he ran 
 back, and was mingled with the crowd, having plucked the 
 a.shen spear out of thy body; nor did he await Patroclus, 
 though being unarmed, in the fight. Patroclus, however, 
 subdued by the blow of the god, and by the spear, retired 
 into the crowd of liis companions, avoiding death. But 
 Hector, when he perceived magnanimous Patroclus retiring, 
 wounded with a sharp spear, went through the ranks near 
 him, and smote him with his javelin in the lowest part of the 
 groin, and drove the brass quite through. Falling, he gave a 
 crash, and greatly grieved the people of the GreelS. As when 
 
 ' Swam roxmd, probably from exhaustion. Celsus, i. 3 : " Si quando 
 insuetus aliquis laboravit, aat si multo plus, quam solet, etiam is qui as- 
 
 suevit oculi caligant.". The affection is well described by Callus 
 
 Aurol. Chron. i. 2 : " Repentina visus tenebratio, atque nebula, cum ca- 
 pitis vertigine." 
 
823—853. ILIAD. XVI. 3l6 
 
 a lion presses on an unwearied boar in fight, and they twain, 
 high spirited, contend upon the mountain tops for a small 
 rill, for they both desire to drink, but the lion subdues him 
 by force, panting much; so Hector, the son of Priam, in close 
 fight with his spear, deprived the gallant son of Menoetius of 
 life, having slain many; and, boasting over him, spoke winged 
 words : 
 
 " Patroclus, doubtless thou didst think to waste our city, 
 and to carry off in thy ships the Trojan women to thy dear 
 father-land, having taken away their day of freedom, — ^infa- 
 tuated one ! But in defence of these, the fleet steeds of 
 Hector hasten with their feet to war, and I myself, who avert 
 the day of slavery ' from them, am conspicuous amongst the 
 war-loving Trojans in [the use of] the spear. But the vul- 
 tures shall devour thee here. Unhappy man ! Nor indeed 
 did Achilles, although being brave, aid thee, who remaining 
 behind, doubtless enjoined many things to thee, going forth : 
 ' Do not return to me, equestrian Patroclus, to the hollow 
 barks, before thou rendest the blood-stained garment 
 around the breast of man-slaughtering Hector.' Thus, 
 doubtless, he addressed thee, and persuaded the mind of 
 foolish thee." 
 
 But him, O knight Patroclus, breathing faintly, thou didst 
 address : " Even now. Hector, vaunt greatly, for Jove, the 
 son of Sattim, and ApoUo, have given thee the victory, who 
 subdued me easily j for they stripped the armour firom my 
 shoulders. But if even twenty such [as thou] had opposed 
 me, they had aU perished here, subdued by my spear. But 
 destructive fate, and the son of Latona, have slain me, and 
 of men, Euphorbus ; whilst thou, the third, dost despoil me 
 slain. Another thing wiU I tell thee, and do thou ponder it 
 in thy soul.^ Not long, indeed, shalt thou thyself aidvance in 
 hfe, but death and violent fate already stand near thee, sub- 
 
 ' So iXivQipov rijiap in ver. 830. Thus ava-)Kri afupiTTToXie, " slavery 
 caused by the capture of a city," iBsch. Choeph. 75. 
 
 ' This prophecy of the dying Patroclus seems to have attracted the 
 notice of Aristotle, if we may believe Sextns, Empir. adv. Phys. ix. 
 p. 553 : "Orav yap, (jiriaiv, ev ti^ vttvovv koQ' lavTrjv yivirai jj i^ux'/, 
 roTt T^v LOiov ctTToXatovtra ipvGtv TrponavTevsrai Tt Kai 7rpoayopsv£t ra 
 ftsWovTa' Toiavrrj Ss kffTi Kai kv ti^ Kara tuv Stdvarov xa)pi^C(rdai 
 tUv taoixaTuiv. He then refers to the similar example of Hector prophe> 
 lying the death of Achilles, xxiii. 353, sgq. 
 
314 ILIAD. XVI. 854— 85r. 
 
 dued by tte hands of Achilles, the blameless descendant of 
 ^acus." 
 
 Him then, having thus spoken, the end of death then over- 
 shadowed. But his soul flying from his members, departed 
 to Hades, bewaOing its lot,' relinquishing manliness and 
 youth. But him dead illustrious Hector addressed : 
 
 " Why now, Patroclus, dost thou prophesy cruel destruc- 
 tion to me ? Who knows whether Achilles, the son of fair- 
 haired Thetis, stricken by my spear, may not be the first to 
 lose his life 1 " 
 
 Thus having spoken, he extracted the brazen spear fi-om 
 the wound, pressing on him -with his heel ; and thrust him 
 prostrate from the spear. Then immediately, with the spear, 
 he went agaiust Automedon, the godlike servant of swift - 
 footed -(Hacides, for he was anxious to strike him. But the 
 fleet immortal steeds, which the gods bestowed on Poleus, 
 splendid gifts, bore him away. 
 
 ' See my note on irpoia^iv, II- i. 3, and Heyne. 
 
1—20. ILIAD. XVn. 315 
 
 BOOK THE SEVENTEENTH. 
 
 ARGUMEKT. 
 
 Euphorbus, attempting to despoil Patroclus of his armour, is slain by 
 Menelaus. It falls to the lot of Hector, but he retires on the approach 
 of Ajax. Being rebuked by Glaucus, he returns, and a fierce contest 
 is renewed over the body of Patroclus. The chariot of Achilles is 
 bravely defended by Automedon, but the Greeks at last begin to give 
 vifay, even Ajax being seized with consternation. Meriones and Mene- 
 laus, however, succeed in carrying oft' the body of Patroclus, although 
 the Greeks arc completely routed. 
 
 Nor did Patroclus, subdued in fight by the Trojans, escape 
 the notice of the son of Atreiis. Mars-beloved Menelaus ; but 
 he advanced through the foremost warriors, armed in glittering 
 brass. And round him he -walked, like a dam around its 
 calf, having brought forth for the first time, moaning, not 
 being before conscious of parturition : thus did yellow-haired 
 Menelaus walk around Patroclus. But before him he extended 
 Ms spear, and his shield on all sides equal, anxious to slay 
 him, whoever indeed should come against him. Nor was the 
 son of Panthus, of the good ashen spear, neglectful of blame- 
 less Patroclus, fallen ; but he stood near him, and addressed 
 warlike Menelaus : 
 
 " O Menelaus ! son of Atreus, Jove-nui-tured one, leader of 
 the people, retire, and leave the body, and let alone the 
 bloody spoils ; for not any of the illustrious Trojans or allies 
 smote Patrochis with the spear in the violent conflict before 
 me. Wherefore permit me to bear away the great glory 
 amongst the Trojans, lest I should strike thee, and take away 
 thy sweet life." 
 
 But him yellow haired Menelaus, very indignant, ad- 
 dressed : 
 
 " Father Jove, Ofirtainly it is not fitting to boast inordi- 
 nately. Not so gi-eat is the mighb of a panther, nor a lion. 
 
31S ILIAD. XVII. 21-54 
 
 nor of a destructive wild boar, whose most mighty coiirage 
 luges in liia lieart, violently in its strength, as much as the 
 sons of Panthus, of the good ashen spear, breathe forth. Nor 
 did the might of horse-breaking Hyperenor enjoy his youth, 
 when he reproached me, and withstood me ; and said that I 
 was the most reproachftil warrior amongst the Greeks ; nor 
 did he, I think, returning upon his feet, gi'atify Ms dear wife 
 and respected parents. Thus certainly will I dissolve thy 
 strength, if thou wilt stand against me. But 1 advise thee, 
 retiring, to go back into the crowd ; nor do thou stand 
 against me, before thon suffer any harm : for it is a fool that 
 perceives a thing when it is done." ^ 
 
 Thus he spoke, but persuaded him not ; but he answering, 
 spoke : 
 
 " Now indeed, O Jove-niirtured Menelaus, shalt thou make 
 atonement for my brother, whom thou hast slain, and [over 
 whom] thou speakest boastingly ; and thou hast widowed his 
 wife in the recess of her new bridal chamber, and caused 
 accursed mourning and sorrow to his parents. Certainly I 
 should be some alleviation of woe to them wretched, if indeed, 
 bearing back thy head and armour, I should place them in the 
 hands of Panthus and noble Phrontis. Nor shall the labour 
 of valour or flight be untried or invincible any longer." 
 
 So saying, he smote [him] upon the shield equal on all 
 sides, nor did the brass break through, for the point was bent 
 in the stout shield : and Menelaus, the son of Atreus,uext made 
 the attack with his brazen spear, having prayed to fether Jove. 
 He smote him upon the lowest part of the gullet as he retired, 
 and he himself forcibly impressed [the spear], relying on his 
 strong hand ; and the point went quite through his soft neck. 
 And falling, he made a crash, and his armour rang upon him. 
 And his locks, like unto the Graces, were bedewed with blood, 
 and his curls, which were bound with gold and silver. And 
 as a man rears a widely-blooming plant of olive, fair budding, 
 in a solitary place, where water is wont to spring ^ up in 
 
 ' Cf. Hesiod, 0pp. 216 : HaBuiv Sk rt vJ]inoQ iyviu. Plato, Sympos. 
 p. 336, A. : 'AX\' d-Kh Tutv ri^eHptiJv TraOrj^drtov yvbiira, €uXaG»/0j/vai, 
 Kai fiT^j Kard rrjv irapoifiiav, Htnrep r^TTiov, iraOovja yvSivau ./Esch. 
 Ag. 177 : TAv irafet /idBoe divra Kvplug ix^iv — Kai Trap' aKovrac s^9i 
 i7(i}<ppoviiv. See Proclus on Hesiod, Opp. 89. 
 
 • This perfect has much the same usage as iwevfivode, n. 219. 
 
55—92. ILIAD. XVII. 317 
 
 abundance, and which the breezes of every wind agitate, and 
 it buds forth with a white flower ; but a wind, suddenly- 
 coming on with a mighty blast, overturns it from the furrow, 
 and stretches it upon the earth : so the son of Panthus, 
 Euphorbus. skUlod in [the use of] the ashen spear, Menelaus, 
 son of Atreus, when he had slain [him], spoiled of his armour. 
 As when any momitain-nurtured lion, rel3Ting on his strength, 
 has cai'ried off from the pasturing herd a heifer, which is the 
 best ; but first he breaks its neck, seizing it in his strong 
 teeth, and then tearing it in pieces, laps up the blood and aji 
 the entrails ; whilst aa-ound him dogs and herdsmen shout 
 very frequently from a distance, nor do they wish to go against 
 him, for pale tear violently seizes them : thus the soul of no 
 one within his breast dared to advance against glorious Mene- 
 laus. Then indeed the son of Atreus had easily borne off 
 the celebrated arms of the son of Panthus, had not Phoebus 
 Apollo envied him, who immediately aroused Hector, equal 
 to fleet Mars, against Wm, assimilating himself to the hero 
 Mentes, leader of the Ciconcs ; and addressing him, he spoke 
 winged words : 
 
 " Hector, now indeed thou art thus running, pursuing 
 things not to be overtaken, the steeds of warlike Achilles ; 
 they indeed are diflicult to be managed by mortal men, or to 
 be driven by any other than AchiUes, whom an immortal 
 mother bore. In the meanwhile Menelaus, the warUke son 
 of Atreus, protecting Patroclus, has slain the bravest of the 
 Trojans, Euphorbus, the son of Panthus, and made him cease 
 from impetuous valour." 
 
 Thus having spoken, the god on his part again departed 
 into the labour of the men ; but heavy grief oppressed Hector 
 •IS to his dark soul. Then, indeed, he looked around through 
 the ranks, and immediately observed the one bearing away 
 the famous armour, and the other Ipng upon the ground ; 
 and the blood flowed through the inflicted wound. But he 
 advanced through the foremost warriors, armed in shining 
 brass, shrilly shouting, like unto the inextinguishable flame of 
 Vulcan. Nor did he escape the notice of the son of Atreus, 
 loudly exclaioung ; but he, deeply sighing, thus communed 
 with his own great-hearted soul : 
 
 " Ah me ! if I leave the beautiful armour and PatrocloSi 
 who lies here for the sake of my honour, [I dread] lest some 
 
SU ILIAD. XVU. 93—185, 
 
 one of the Greeks, whoever perceives it, will be indignant; 
 but if, being alone, I fight with Hector and the Trojans, 
 from shame, [I fear] lest many surround me, [being] alouo. 
 But crest-tossing Hector is leading all the Trojans hither. 
 But wherefore has my soul been thus debating i Whenever 
 a man desires, in opposition to a deity, to fight with a hero 
 whom a god honours, soon is a great destruction hurled upon 
 him ; wherefore no one of the Greeks will blame me, who 
 may perceive me retiring from Hector, since he wars under 
 the impulse of a god. But if I could hear Ajax, brave in 
 the din of war, both of us, again returning, would be mindful 
 of battle even against a god, if by any means we could draw 
 off the body for the sake of Achilles, the son of Peleus : of 
 evils, certainly it would be the better." ^ 
 
 While he was thus dehberating these things in his mind 
 and soul, the ranks of the Trojans were meanwhile advancing ; 
 and Hector led the way. But he retired back, and quitted 
 the corpse, turning round as a shaggy-bearded Hon, which 
 dogs and men drive from the stall with spears and clamour ; 
 Out his valiant heart within his breast is shaken, and he, 
 unwilling, departs from the fold : thus did yeUow-haired 
 Menelaus retire from Patroclus. And being turned round, he 
 stood, when he had reached the band of his companions, look- 
 ing all around for mighty Ajax, the son of Telamon ; whom 
 he very quickly perceived upon the left of the whole battle, 
 encouraging his companions, and urging them to fight : for 
 Phoebus Apollo had cast a heaven-sent panic amongst them. 
 But he made haste to run, and, immediately standing near, 
 spoke : 
 
 "Ajax, bitlier, friend, let us hasten in defence of slain 
 Patroclus, if we can bear his naked corse at least to Achilles ; 
 for his armour crest-tossing Hector possesses." 
 
 Thus he spoke, but he roused the courage of wai-like Ajax, 
 and he advanced through the foremost warriors, and with him 
 rellow-haired Menelaus. Hector on bis part, after he had 
 
 ' " The evils, here spoken of, and of which a. choice is presented to 
 Menelaus, are loss of both the body and the armour of Patroclus, or of 
 either separately. The first alternative he is resolved on guarding against 
 by summoning Ajax to his aid ; of the last two, he prefers the abandon- 
 ment of the arm*, j. e. aiXrj, spoliation of the corpse, to aetKcia, its dis- 
 tigurement. ' ' — Kennedy. 
 
I25-IG2. ILIAD. XVII. 315 
 
 despoiled him of Ms beautilul arniour, was dmggiug J'atro- 
 clus, tiiat he niight sever the head from the shoulders -with 
 the sharp brass, and, carrying off the body, might give it to 
 the Trojaai dogs, when Ajax came near, bearing his shield, 
 like a tower. Then Hector, retiring back, retreated into the 
 throng of his companions, and sprung up into his chariot ; 
 but he gave the handsome armour to the Trojans to cai'ry to 
 the city, to be a great glory to him. But Ajax, with his 
 broad shield covering around the son of Menoetius, stood 
 like a lion over her young ; against which, when leading her 
 whelps, the huntsmen rush together in the wood ; whilst he 
 looks dreadful in his might, and draws down all his eye- 
 brows, concealing his eyes : so strode Ajax round the hero 
 Patroclus. On the other side stood the son of Atreus, war- 
 like Menelaus, augmenting the gi-eat grief in his bosom. 
 
 But Glaucus, the son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian 
 heroes, looking sternly at Hector, upbraided him with harsh 
 language : " Hector, most excellent as to appearance, cer- 
 tainly thou art greatly deficient in fighting ; doubtless good 
 fame possesses thee without reason, since thou art a fugitive. 
 Consider now, how alone with the people [who are] bom in 
 Ilium, thou mayest preserve the state and city, for none of 
 the Lycians, at all events, will go to fight with the Greeks for 
 thy city ; since indeed there is no gratitude for fighting ever 
 incessantly with hostile men. How indeed, inglorious one, 
 hast thou preserved an inferior man in the throng, and suf- 
 fered Sarpedon, at once thy guest and companion, to become 
 a prey and booty to the Greeks ; who, when aUve, was a 
 great advantage to thy city and thyself; but now thou didst 
 not attempt to drive away the dogs from him. Whei'efore 
 if any of the Lycian waniors will now obey me, go home,' 
 and utter destruction will be manifest to Troy. For if now 
 that confident, intrepid strength, was in the Trojans, which 
 enters heroes who in the defence of their country undertake 
 toil, and conflict with hostile men, immediately might we 
 draw Patroclus into Ilium. But if he, lifeless, should come 
 to the great city of king Priam, and we had drawn him 
 away from the battle, quickly indeed would the Greeks rau- 
 
 ' Take i/utv (tsvai) imperatively, or understand sxiTrfiVerni ifiol Hon 
 nuTov Uvai £iQ oJkov, d^eivov av di] ovrwt; dpa u\e9pog, ic. r X. See 
 Kennedy. 
 
320 ILIAD. XVII. 162—200. 
 
 som [to us] the beautiM armour of Sarpedon, and we migLt 
 hear himself also into Troy; for the attendant of that man is 
 slain, who is by far the bravest of the Greeks at the ships, 
 and whose servants are close-fighting warriors. But thou, 
 forsooth, hast not dared to stand against magnanimous Ajax, 
 beholding his eyes in the battle of the enemy, nor to fight 
 against him ; for he is more brave than thou." 
 
 But him sternly regarding, crest-tossing Hector addressed : 
 " O Glaucus, why hast thou, being such as thou art, spoken 
 haughtily ] I' faith, friend, I thought that thou didst excel 
 in judgment the others, as many as inhabit fertile Lycia ; 
 but now I altogether blame thy understanding, since thou 
 hast thus spoken, thou who sayest that I do not withstand 
 mighty Ajax. Neither have I dreaded the battle, nor the 
 tumult of steeds ; but the counsel of aegis-bearing Jove is 
 ever superior, who puts even the valiant man to flight, and 
 easily takes away the victory ; but at another time he himself 
 impels him to fight. But come hither, my friend, stand by 
 me, and behold my conduct. Truly I shall always be a 
 coward, as thou sayest, or I wiU restrain even some of the 
 Greeks, although very eager, from keeping defence over dead 
 Patroclus." 
 
 Thus saying, he cheered on the Trojans, loudly shouting, 
 " Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, 
 be men, my friends, and be mindful of impetuous valour, 
 wliilst I put on the armour of illustrious Achilles, beautiful, 
 of which I despoiled mighty Patroclus, having slain him." 
 
 Thus having spoken, crest-tossing Hector departed from 
 the glowing battle, and, running very quickly, overtook his 
 companions, not far off, following with swift feet those who 
 were bearing towards the city the renowned arms of AchiUes. 
 Then standing apart from the mournful battle, he changed 
 his armour. His own indeed he gave to the warlike Trojans 
 to bear to sacred Ilium ; but he put on the immortal arms 
 of Achilles, the son of Peleus, which the heavenly gods had 
 bestowed on his dear father ; but he indeed, growing old, 
 presented them to his son j but the son grew not old in the 
 armour of his father. 
 
 But when cloud-compelling Jove beheld him apart, ac- 
 coutred in the armoiu: of divine Pehdes, then shaking Lis 
 head, he said to his own soul ; 
 
201—235. ILIAD. XVII. 321 
 
 " All ! luckless one ; nor is death at all in thy thoughts, 
 which is now near thee ; but thou puttest on the immortal 
 armour of the bravest hero, at whom others also tremble ; 
 and thou hast slain his companion, both gentle and brave, 
 and thou hast taken the armour from his head and shoulders 
 not according to propriety. But now will I give into thy 
 hands a great victoiy, a compensation for this, that Andro- 
 mache shall never receive from thee, having returned from 
 the battle, the iUustrious anns of the son of Peleus." 
 
 The son of Saturn spoke, and moreover nodded with his 
 sable brows. But the armoiu" fitted the person of Hector, 
 and Mars, the dreadful warrior, entered him. And his 
 limbs were inwai'dly filled with might and strength, and he 
 went after the iUustrioiis allies, exclaiming aloud; and glitter- 
 ing in his armour, to all of them he presented the appearance 
 of the magnanimous son of Peleus. But going among them, 
 he animated each with his words, — Mesthles, G-laucus, Medon, 
 and Thersilochiis, Asteropseus, Disenor, and Hippothoiis, 
 Phorcys, Chromius, and Ennomus the augur. Exhorting 
 these, he spoke winged words : 
 
 " Hear, ye countless troops of aUies dwelling around, for I 
 did not assemble you here, each from his own city, seeking 
 or wanting a crowd, but that ye might wiUingly defend for 
 me the wives and infant children of the Trojans from the 
 warlike Greeks. Thinking these things, I wear away my 
 people by gifts and provisions [to you], and I satisfy the 
 desire of each of you. Wherefore now let some one, being 
 turned round straight, either perish or be saved ; for these 
 are the chances of war.^ Nevertheless, whoever will drag 
 Patroclus, although dead, to the horse-breaking Trojans, and 
 to whom Ajax shall yield, [to him] will I present one-half of 
 the spoils, but I myself will keep the other half ; and glory- 
 shall be to him as much as to me." 
 
 •Thus he spoke ; but they, lifting up their spears, advanced 
 with condensed might ^ direct against the Greeks ; and their 
 mind eagerly hoped to draw away the dead body from Tela- 
 monian Ajax : — ^fools ! truly over it he took away the life from 
 
 ' See Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 97. 
 
 ^ Schol. : 2ri^og TTOiTjaavrtg^ ffwaffirlffavTeg, sig rb avrb Trarrtf 
 hpii.i)aavrtQ. A curious interpretation is given in the Glossaries: " ^^itu, 
 pott cibum denuo impiium facto." See Alberti on Hesych p- 766. 
 
 T 
 
S22 ILIAD. XVII. 226—268. 
 
 many. And then Ajax addressed Menelau3, good in the din 
 of war : 
 
 " O my Mend, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, no longer do I 
 expect that even we ourselves will return from battle. Nor 
 do I fear so much about the dead body of Patroclus, which 
 will quickly satiate the dogs and birds of the Trojans, as 
 much as I fear for my own head, lest it suffer anything, and 
 for thine, for Hector, that cloud of war, overshadows all 
 things ; whilst to us, on the other hand, utter destruction 
 appears. But come, call the bravest of the Greeks, if any 
 one will hear." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; nor did Menelaus, good in the din of war, 
 disobey ; but he shouted, crying with a loud voice to the 
 Greeks : 
 
 " O friends, leaders and chieftains of the Greeks, ye who 
 with Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, and Menelaus, drink 
 the publio wine,' and command each his forces ; but honour 
 and glory follows from Jove. Difficult would it be for me 
 to look to each of the leaders, for so great a strife of battle 
 burns. But let some one advance, and let him be indignant 
 in his mind, that Patroclus should become a sport to Trojan 
 dogs." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but quickly the swift O'ilean Ajax heard, 
 and first advanced opposite, rmining through the battle ; 
 after him Idomeneus, and Meriones, the armour-bearer of 
 Idomeneus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. But who in 
 his mind could recount the names of the others as many as 
 afterwards aroused the battle of the Greeks ? But the 
 Trojans, in close array, first made the onset, and Hector led 
 them on. 
 
 But as when, at the mouths^ of a river flowing from Jove, 
 the great wave roars against the stream, while around the 
 lofty shores resound, the wave being ejected [upon the beach], 
 with so loud a clamour did the Trojans advance : but tlie 
 Greeks stood round the son of Menastius, having one spirit, 
 protected by their brazen shields; whilst over their shining 
 
 ' /. 0. who are supplied from the public resources. — rd ix rwv koih&v 
 Kai Sif/ioaimv xPll^aTiov xoptiyov/ifva roTf ^aatXtvai. — Schol. 
 
 ^ Schol. Apoll. Rbod. i. 11: Twv TroTaftdv o^ ffviiGdWovrtg tottoi 
 Ty ^oKaany, TTpoj^oai Xtyovrai, where he quotes tiiis instance from 
 Homer, 
 
269—306. ILIAD. XVII. 323 
 
 helmets the son of Saturn poured a thick haze ; for he dj d 
 not formerly hate the son of Menoetius when, being alive, he 
 was the attendant of AchiUes, therefore he was loth that he 
 should become a prey to the Trojan dogs of the enemy; and 
 so he excited his companions to defend him. The Trojans, 
 however, first dislodged the dark-eyed Greeks, and they, 
 leaving the dead body, retreated; nor did the magnanimous 
 Trojans slay any of them with their spears, although desirous, 
 but drew off the body. But the Greeks were about to be 
 absent from him a very short while, for very quickly did 
 Ajax rally them, who, next to the renowned son of Peleus, 
 excelled the other Greeks in beauty and ia deeds. And he 
 broke through the front ranks, resembling a wild boar in 
 strength, which amongst the mountains easily disperses the 
 dogs and blooming youths through the woods, turning to 
 bay; so the son of illustrious Telamon, noble Ajax, having 
 made the attack, easily routed the phalanxes of the Trojans 
 who had surrounded Patroclus, and mostly expected to drag 
 him to their city, and bear away glory. Meanwhile Hippo- 
 thoua, the illustrious son of Pelasgian Lethus, was dragging 
 him by the foot through the violent conflict, having bound 
 him with a strap at the ancle round the tendons, gratifying 
 Hector and the Trojans. But soon came evil upon him, 
 which no one, even of those desiring it, averted from him. 
 Him the son of Telamon, rushing through the crowd, smote 
 in close fight through the brazen-cheeked helmet. The horse- 
 haired helmet was cleft by the point of the weapon, stricken 
 by the great spear and strong hand; and the brain, bloody, 
 gushed out of the wound at the cone of the helmet ;i and hjs 
 strength was there relaxed. Then he let fall from his hands 
 the foot of magnanimous Patroclus, to lie upon the earth, 
 and near him he himself fell, prone upon the dead body, far 
 away from fertile Larissa : nor did he repay the debt of 
 nourishment to his beloved parents, for Ms life was short, 
 subdued by the spear of magnanimous Ajax. But Hector 
 again aimed at Ajax with his shining spear; he, howevej-, 
 weeing it opposite, avoided the bi-azen spear by a little; but 
 he struck Schedius, the magnanimous son of Iphitus, by far 
 
 See iii. 372, " the part of the helmet in which the crest was inserted 
 — unless aiXbv be taken metaphorically, and by Trap' avXiv be meant 
 the atreain of blood, as from a pipe." — Oxford Transl. 
 
 t2 
 
824 ILIAD. XVII. 307- -343. 
 
 the bravest of the Phoceans, who inhabited dwellings in re- 
 nowned Panopeus, ruling over many men. Him. he smote 
 under the middle of the clavicle, and the brazen point of 
 the weapon went quite through, near the extremity of the 
 shoulder. Falling, he made a crash, and his arms rang upon 
 him. Then Ajax again smote warlike Phorcys, the son of 
 Phsenops, in the middle of the belly, while defending Hip- 
 pothous. And he broke the cavity of the corslet, and the 
 Ijrazen weapon drank his entrails through ; and falling in the 
 dust, he seized the earth with the palm of his hand. The 
 foremost warriors and illustrious Hector retreated ; but the 
 Greeks shouted loudly, and drew off the bodies, both Phorcys 
 and Hippothous, and they loosed the armour from their 
 shoulders. 
 
 Then again would the Trojans, [routed] by the warlike 
 Greeks, have gone up to Ilium, subdued through cowardice ; 
 but the Argives on their part, by their valour and might, 
 would have obtained glory, even contrary to the destined will 
 of Jove, had not Apollo himself excited ^neas, in body like 
 unto Periphas the herald, son of Epytis, who knowing pni- 
 dent counsels in his mind, had grown old, as a herald, with 
 his aged sire. Assimilating himself to him, Apollo, the son 
 of Jove, addressed him : 
 
 " O j^neas, how could ye preserve lofty Ilium against the 
 deity, since I behold these other men relying on their bravery, 
 and might, and valour, and their number, and possessing a 
 dauntless host ? Yet Jove wiUs the victory to us, rather than 
 to the Danai ; yet ye greatly tremble, nor fight." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but ^neas, seeing liim before him, recog- 
 nized far-darting Apollo ; and loudly shouting, addressed 
 Hector : 
 
 " O Hector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans and allies, 
 this now indeed is a shame, that we, subdued by cowardice, 
 should go up to Ilium, [driven] by the warlike Achseans. 
 For already even now some one of the gods, having stood 
 near to me, declared that Jove, the highest counsellor, is aa 
 ally of the battle [to us]. Wherefore let us go direct against 
 the Greeks, nor let them quietly move the dead Patroclus to 
 the ships." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and then springing forth, stood far before 
 the front ranks. But they rallied, and stood opjjosed to the 
 
844—383. ILIAD. XVII. 325 
 
 Greeks. Then ^neas wounded with his spear Leocritus, son 
 of Arisbas, the brave companion of Lycomedes. Him falling, 
 warlike Lycomedes pitied, and advancing very near, he stood, 
 and hurled with his shining spear, and struck Apisaon, the 
 son of Hippasis, shepherd of the people, in the liver, beneath 
 the diaphragm, and immediately relaxed his limbs. He had 
 come from fertile Paeonia, and next to Astercpseus, was the 
 bravest to fight. "Warlike Asteropseus pitied him fallen, and 
 he rushed forward, willing to fight with the Greeks. But not 
 yet could he [do so], for [those] standing around Patroclus were 
 fenced in on every side with shields, and held their spears 
 before them; for Ajax went eagerly among all, greatly cheer- 
 ing them on. He sufiered not any one either to retire from 
 the body, nor any of the Greeks to fight in front, excelling 
 the others, but vigorously to stalk around for defence, and to 
 combat in close fight. Thus did mighty Ajax command: but 
 the earth was moistened with purple gore, whilst upon each 
 other fell the dead bodies of the Trojans and courageous 
 allies, and of the Greeks ; for neither did they fight blood- 
 lessly, although far fewer perished, because they were ever 
 mindful throughout the tumult to repel sevei-e labour from 
 each other. 
 
 Thus iadeed they fought, like a fire ; nor would you say 
 that the Sun was safe, or the Moon, for they were wrapt in 
 dark haze in the combat, as many of the bravest as stood 
 around the dead son of Menoetius. The other Trojans and 
 well-armed Greeks, however, fought at ease^ beneath the 
 atmosphere; the piercing splendour of the sun was expanded 
 over them, and a cloud did not appear over all the earth, nor 
 the mountains. Resting at intervals, they fought, avoiding 
 the cruel weapons of each other, standing far asunder ; whilst 
 those in the middle suffered hardships from darkness and 
 from war, and were afiiicted by the ruthless brass, as many 
 as were most brave. But two heroes, illustrious men, Thra- 
 sjonedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard that blameless 
 Patroclus was dead ; but thought that, still alive, he was 
 fighting with the Trojans in the foremost tumult. But these, 
 watching the slaughter and flight of their companions, fought 
 apart, since Nestor had so ordered, urging [them] on to battle 
 
 ' /. «. resting at intervals, ae it is explained in ver. 373. 
 
S26 ILIAD. XVII. 383—422. 
 
 from the black sMps. But to these all day a mighty contest 
 of severe strife arose, and ever incessantly the knees, the legs, 
 and the feet of each under him. the hands and the eyes of 
 those fighting around the brave companion of swift- footed 
 ^acides, were defiled with fatigue and perspiration. And 
 as when a man gives the hide of a huge ox, saturated with 
 grease, to his people to stretch, but they, having received, stretch 
 it, standing apart from each other in a circle, and straight- 
 way the moisture exudes, and the oily matter enters, many 
 pulling it, till it is stretched in every direction j so they, on 
 both sides, dragged the body here and there in a small space ; 
 for the mind of the Trojans, on the one hand, eagerly hoped 
 to draw him to Ilium, but of the Greeks, on the other, to the 
 hollow ships. Around him arose a fierce tumult ; nor could 
 Mars, the exciter of troops, nor Minerva, having heheld it, 
 have found fault, not even if wrath had particularly come 
 upon her; such an evil labour of men and horses did Jove 
 extend over Patroclus on that day. Nor as yet did noble 
 Achilles at all know that Patroclus was dead, because they 
 fought far from the swift ships, beneath the wall of the 
 *Erojans. He never thought in his mind that he was dead ; 
 but that alive, having approached the gates, he would return 
 back, since he did not at all suppose that he could sack the 
 city without him, for he had often heard this from his mother, 
 hearing it apart, who used to tell him the design of mighty 
 Jove. Yet his mother had not then told him so great an 
 evil as had happened, that the companion by far most dear 
 to him had perished. 
 
 But they, ever around the dead body, holding their sharp 
 spears, charged incessantly, and slaughtered one another, and 
 thus would some of the brazen-mailed Greeks say : 
 
 " O friends, surely it will not be honourable for us to re- 
 treat to the hollow ships ; but [rather] let the black earth 
 here gape for all. This indeed would at once be better for 
 us, than that we should p<5rmit the horse-breaking Trojans 
 to drag him to their city, and obtain glory." 
 
 And thus also would some one of the magnanimous Tro- 
 ians say: 
 
 " O friends, although it be our destiny that all be equally 
 subduea beside this man, never let any one retire from the 
 battle." 
 
423—454. ILIAD. XA'^II. 327 
 
 Thus, then, some one said, and aroused the spirit of each. 
 Thus indeed were they fighting; and the iron clangour i 
 reached the brazen heaven through the uniruitful air. But 
 the horses of ^acides being apart from the combat, wept, 
 when first they perceived that their charioteer had fallen m 
 the dust, beneath man-slaughtering Hector. Automedon, 
 indeed, the brave son of Diores, frequently urged them on, 
 beating them with the sharp lash, and frequently addressed 
 them in mild terms and in threats; but they chose neithi 
 to go back to the ships towards the wide Hellespont nor ii a 
 the battle among the Greeks ; but, as a pillar remains finu, 
 which stands at the tomb of a dead man or woman, so they 
 remained detaining the splendid chariot motionless, and 
 drooping theii- heads to the earth. But warm tears^ flowed 
 from their eyeHds to the earth, complaining from desire 
 of their charioteer; and theii- thick mane was defiled, 
 flowing down on both sides from the collar at the yoke. 
 But the son of Saturn beholding them lamenting, felt 
 compassion, and shaking his head, communed with his own 
 mind: 
 
 " Ah ! luckless pair, why did we give you to king Peleus, 
 a mortal; for ye are free from old age, and immortal? Was it 
 that ye might endure griefs with unhappy men? For there 
 is not anything at all more wretched than man,^ of all, as 
 many as breathe and move over the earth. But Hector, the 
 son of Priam, shall not be borne by you, even in the curiously- 
 wrought chariot, for I will not permit it. Is it not enough 
 that he both possesses those arms, and vainly boasts? But 
 into your knees and spirit will I cast vigour, that ye may 
 safely bear Automedon from the battle to the hollow ships; 
 for still will I give glory to them (the Trojans), to slay, until 
 
 ' Clarke compares .^n. xii. 284, from Ennius, apud Macrob. vi. 1 : 
 " Hastati spargunt bastas, fit ferreus imber." See Columna's notes; 
 p. 82, ed. Hessel. The Scholiast rather interprets it, of a strong and 
 violent shout, aripibf xai iroXv laxvpog. 
 
 ' See Virg. .^n. xi. 89, sqq. with Servius, Quintus Calab. iii. 740 : 
 Oi}Sk fjLiv afji€poTOi 'iTTTTOi CLTa^^iOQ AtaKidoLO MifivoiJ aSdKpvTOi irapd 
 vriitTiv' aWd Kai aitroi MvpovTO c^trkpoio SaiKTafisvov ^affiXijog. Otis' 
 eSfXav fioyipoiaiv It avSpdaiv, oiiSi fieO' 'iinroiQ Miayiaff 'Apyeiuiv, 
 iXobv vepi iriv9og Ixoirfe. 
 
 ' On this comfortable and satisfactory sentiment, see the lugubrious 
 collection of parallel passages in Duport, p. 98. 
 
329 ILIAD. XVII. 454-48i 
 
 they reacli the well-henched ships, till the sun set, and sacred 
 darkness come on." 
 
 So saying, he breathed strong vigour into the steeds ; and 
 they, shaking the dust from their manes to the ground, 
 quickly bore the rapid car amongst the Trojans and Greeks. 
 And against them^ fought Automedon, though grieved for 
 his comjianion, rushing along in his chariot like a vulture 
 among the geese. For he fled easily from the tumult of the 
 Trojans, and easily did he rush on, pursuiug through the 
 dense throng. Yet did he not slay the men -when he pressed 
 onward to pursue ; for it was by no means possible for him, 
 being alone in the sacred ^ car, to assault with the spear and 
 to rein in the fleet steeds. At length, however, a companion, 
 the hero Alcimedon, son of Laerceus, the son of ^mon, be- 
 held bim with his eyes, and stood behind his chariot, and 
 addressed Automedon : 
 
 " Which of the gods, O Automedon, has placed a foolish 
 counsel iu thy bosom, and taken from thee sound judgment ; 
 inasmuch as alone thou fightest in the foremost ranks with 
 the Trojans ? Thy companion indeed is slain ; and Hector 
 himself vaunts, having upon his shouldei-s the armour of 
 wiEacides." 
 
 Him then Automedon, the son of Diores, addressed : 
 
 " Alcimedon, what other of the Greeks, then, is like thee, 
 to subdue and restrain the spirit of immortal steeds, unless 
 Patroclus, whilst aJive, a counsellor equal to the gods t Now, 
 however, death and fate possess him. Nevertheless, do thou 
 take the lash and beautiful reins; but I will descend from 
 the chariot, that I may fight." ^ 
 
 Thus he spoke, but Alcimedon, ascending the chariot, 
 swift ia war, instantly took in his hands the lash and reins, 
 whilst Automedon leaped down ; but illustrious Hector per- 
 ceived this, and immediately addressed .iEneas, being near : 
 
 "^neas, counsellor of the brazen-mailed Trojans, I have 
 
 ' The Trojans. 
 
 ' I. e. splendid, of surpassing workmanship. Others refer the epithet 
 to the divine gift mentioned in ver. 443, to the fabrication of the chariot 
 by the god Vulcan, or to the origin of Achilles himself from a goddess. 
 
 ' Alcimedon in this address condemns the imprudence of his friend, 
 who, in this moment of imminent danger, takes upon him the joint offices 
 of warrior (?rapo6dr)jj) and charioteer {riviaxog). 
 
486—522. ILIAD. XVII. 329 
 
 oViserved thtsse two steeds of Achilles proceeding through the 
 battle with unskilful charioteers. I therefore may hope to 
 capture them, if thou, at least, desire it in thy mind ; for 
 standing opposite, they will not dare to withstand us, rusliiug 
 on to fight in battle." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; nor did the brave son of A.nchises disobey. 
 Both advanced direct, covered as to their shoulders witli 
 bulls' hides, dry, thick ; and upon them much brass was 
 plated. But along with them went both Chromius and god- 
 like Aretus : and their mind greatly hoped to slay them, and 
 to drive away the long-necked steeds, roolish,^ for they were 
 not destined to return back bloodlessly from Automedon, for 
 he, having prayed to father Jove, was filled with fortitude 
 and valour, as to his dark mind, and immccliately addressed 
 Alcimedon, his faithful comrade : 
 
 " O Alcimedon, do not now detain the steeds far from me ; 
 but [keep them] breathing closely at iny back; for I do not 
 think that Hector, the son of Priam, will abstain from 
 violence, before that he has mounted the beaiitiful-maned 
 horses of Achilles, having slain both of us, and put to rout 
 the ranks of Grecian heroes ; or himself bo slain among the 
 first." 
 
 Thus saying, he called upon the Ajaces, and Menelaus : 
 " Ye Ajaces, leaders of the Greeks, and Menelaus, leave then 
 the dead body to those, as many as are bravest, to defend it 
 on all sides, and to repulse the ranks of men ; but from us 
 who are aUve avert the merciless day. For hither violently 
 i-ush through the lamentable fight Hector and .^neas, who 
 are the best of the Trojans. But all these things rest upon 
 the knees of the gods; for I also will hurl, and all these 
 things will be a care to Jove." 
 
 He said; and, brandishing, hurled his long-shadowed spear, 
 and struck upon the shield of Aretus, eqxial on all sides ; it 
 however did not repel the spear, but the brass went entirely 
 through, and passed through the belt into the bottom of his 
 belly. And as when a man in youthful vigour, holding a 
 sharp axe, cuts through the whole tendon, striking behind 
 the horns of a wild bull; but it, leaping forward, falls; so he^ 
 
 ' Cf. .^n. X. 501, sqq. So Milton, P. L. ix. 404 :— 
 
 " O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, 
 Of thy presumed return ! event perverse 1 " 
 
830 ILIAD. XVII. 523-563- 
 
 springing forward, fell supine ; and the sharp spear, quiver- 
 ing in liis entrails, relaxed his limbs. Then Hector took aim 
 at Autonaedon with his shining spear, but he, seeing it in 
 front of him, avoided the brazen weapon ; for he bent forward. 
 But the long spear was fixed in the ground behiud him ; and 
 moreover the nether end of the spear was shaken ; but there 
 then the strong weapon spent its force. Then truly they 
 would have engaged hand to hand with their swords, had not 
 the eager Ajaces, who came through the crowd, at the call 
 of their companion, separated them. But Hector, ^neas, 
 and godlike Chromius, greatly dreading them, retired back 
 again, and left Aretus lying there, lacerated as to his heart; 
 but him Automedon, equal to swift Mars, despoiled of his 
 armour, and, boasting, uttered this speech : 
 
 " Surely now I have a little reheved my teart of son-ow 
 for the dead son of Menoetius, although having slain but an 
 inferior man." 
 
 Thus having spoken, seizing the gore-stained spoils, he 
 placed them in the chariot, and mounted himself, bloody as 
 to his feet and hands above, like some lion which has fed 
 upon a bull. Again over Patroclus was the direful battle 
 extended, grievous, lamentable; and Minerva excited the 
 contention, descending from heaven ; for far-sounding Jove 
 sent her forth to encourage the Greeks, as his intention was 
 now changed. As Jove extends a purple rainbow from 
 heaven to mortals, to be a signal either of war, or of a chUling 
 storm, which causes men to cease from their works upon the 
 earth, and afflicts the cattle ; so she, having obscured herself 
 in a purple cloud, entered the army of the Greeks, and 
 aroused every man. First, however, she addressed the son 
 of Atreus, gallant Menelaus, inciting him, for he was near 
 her, assimUatiug herself, in her form and unwearied voice, to 
 Phoenix : 
 
 " Thine, of a truth, wiU shame and disgrace now be, 
 Menelaus, if the swift dogs tear the faithful companion of 
 illustrious Achilles beneath the wall of the Trojans; there- 
 fore bravely hold on, and urge on all the people." Whom, 
 in return, Menelaus, good in the din of war, addressed: 
 " Phoenix, father, old man long since born, would that Minerva 
 would give me strength, and ward off the force of the 
 veapons. Then indeed would I be willing to stand by and 
 
564— Syj. ILIAD. XVII. 331 
 
 defend Patroclus; for d)dng, he greatly affected my mind 
 with grief. But Hector has the dreadful force of fire, nor 
 does he cease slaying with his spear ; for to him Jove affords 
 glory." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but the azure-eyed goddess Minerva 
 rejoiced, because to her he had prayed first of all the gods. 
 But in his shoulders and knees she put strength, and placed 
 in his bosom the boldness of a fiy, which, although frequently 
 driven away from a human body, persists in biting, — and the 
 blood of man is sweet to it. With such confidence she filled 
 his dark soul : and he advanced towards Patroclus, and took 
 aim with his splendid spear. Now there was among the 
 Trojans one Podes, the son of Eetion, rich and brave; whom 
 of his people Hector chiefly honoured, for he was his dear 
 companion in the banquet. Him yellow-haired Menelaus 
 smote upon the belt while hastening to flight, and drove the 
 brazen weapon quite through. He, falling, gave a crash, and 
 Menelaus, the son of Atreus, dragged away the body from 
 the Trojans to the crowd of his companions. But Apollo, 
 standing near, excited Hector in the likeness of Phcenops, 
 son of Asias, who, inhabiting dwellings at Abydos, was most 
 dear to him of all his guests. Assimilating himself to him, 
 far-darting Apollo spoke : 
 
 " Hector, what other of the Greeks will any more fear 
 thee, since now thou dreadest Menelaus, who indeed before 
 was but an effeminate warrior, but now departs alone, 
 bearing off the dead corse from the Trojans 1 He has slain, 
 in the front ranks, Podes, the son of Eetion, thy comrade, 
 faithful and brave." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but him a dark cloud of grief over- 
 shadowed, and he went through the front ranks, armed in 
 glittering brass. And then the son of Saturn took his segis, 
 fringed and splendid, and covered Ida with clouds; but 
 having flashed his lightning, he thundered very loudly, and 
 shook it (the mountain) ; and (he) gave victoiy to the Tro- 
 jans, but put the Greeks to flight. 
 
 Peneleus, the Boeotian, first was leader of the flight ; for 
 he was wounded slightly' on the tip of the shoulder with a 
 spear, being always turned frontwards; but the spear of 
 
 ' 'Bin\iySiiv, on the surface, Si IffuroXijf ■• Kennedy, 
 
S32 ILIAD. XVII. 600-636. 
 
 ]'oly(kmas grazed even to the Lone, for lie, coming close, had 
 wounded him. Next Hector wounded Le'itus, son of mag- 
 nanimous Alectryon, on the hand at the wrist, and caused 
 him to cease from battle. Then looking around him, he 
 trembled, since he no longer hoped in his mind [to be able] 
 to fight with the Trojans, holding his spear in his hand. But 
 Idomeneus had struck, on the corslet, upon the breast near 
 the pap. Hector rushing after Leitus : the long spear, how- 
 ever, was broken at the socket ; and the Trojans shouted. 
 But he [Hector] discharged his javelin at Idomeneus, the son 
 of Deucalion, as he was standing in his car : him he missed 
 by a little, but struck Coeranus, the attendant and charioteer 
 of Meriones, who had followed him from well-situated 
 Lyctus. For at first on foot, having left his equally-plied 
 ships, he came, and would have secured a decided victory to 
 the Trojans, had not Coeranus quickly driven on his swift- 
 footed steeds : to him then he (Coeranus) came as a help, and 
 warded off the merciless day; but he himself lost his life 
 beneath man-slaughtering Hector. Him he smote beneath 
 the jaw-bone and ear, and the extremity of the spear forced 
 out his teeth and cut through the middle of his tongue. He 
 fell from his chariot, and the reins dropped to the ground ; 
 and Meriones, stooping, lifted them from the plain in his 
 own hands, and addressed Idomeneus : 
 
 " Lash on, now, until thou reach the swift sliips ; for even 
 thou thyself perceivest that victory is no longer on the side 
 of the Achseans." 
 
 Thus he spake ; and Idomeneus lashed on the beautiful- 
 maned steeds to the hollow ships; for fear now seized hia 
 mind. 
 
 Nor did Jove escape notice of magnanimous Ajax and 
 Menelaus, when he for the present gave the dubious victory 
 to the Trojans ; but to them the mighty Ajax, son of Tela- 
 mon, began to speak : 
 
 " Alas ! even he who is very stupid might now know that 
 father Jove himself is aiding the Trojans; for the weapons 
 of them all take effect, whoever may throw them, whether 
 coward or brave man. Jove certainly directs them all. But 
 the weapons of all of us fall to the earth in vain. Come, 
 however, let us devise the best plan, both how we may drag 
 off the corse, and how we ourselves may be a source of joy to 
 
637—670. ILIAD. XVII. 333 
 
 our beloved comrades, having returned home. They, of » 
 truth, beholding us here, are grieved, and think that we shall 
 no longer resist the might and invincible hands of man- 
 slaughtering Hector. But, would there were some companion 
 who would quickly bring word to Achilles, since T think he 
 has not yet heard the mournful tidings, that his dear comrade 
 has died. But nowhere can I see such a person among the 
 Greeks, for they and their steeds are together enveloped 
 in darkness. O father Jove, liberate at least the sons of the 
 Greeks from darkness ; make a clear atmosphere, and grant 
 us to see with our eyes j then destroy us in the hght,^ if thus 
 it be pleasmg to thee." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but the Sire felt compassion for him 
 weeping, and immediately dissipated the haze, and removed 
 the cloud. And the sun shone forth, and the whole battle 
 was displayed, and then Ajax addressed Menelaus, good in 
 the din of war : 
 
 "Look around now, Jove-nurtured Menelaus, if any- 
 where thou canst perceive, yet aUve, AntUochus, the son of 
 magnanimous Nestor. Urge him, going speedily, to tell to 
 warlike Achilles, that the comrade, by far most dear to him, 
 has perished." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; nor did Menelaus, good in the din of war, 
 disobey. But he hastened to go, like some lion from a fold, 
 which after that he is fatigued, harassing both dogs and men, 
 who watching all night, suffer him not to carry off the fat of 
 the oxen; but he, desirous of flesh, rushes on, but nothing 
 profits ; for many javelins fly against him from daring hands, 
 and blazing torches, which, eager as he is, he dreads ; but 
 early in the morning he goes apart with saddened mind. So, 
 most unwilling, from Patroclus went Menelaus, brave in the 
 din of war; because he greatly feared lest the Greeks, through 
 grievous terror, should leave him a prey to the enemy. And 
 much, therefore, hd exhorted Meriones and the Ajaces : 
 
 " Ye Ajaces, leaders of the Greeks, and Meriones, now let 
 each one be mindful of the gentleness of wretched Patroclus ; 
 
 ' A prayer well worthy of Ajax. Ammian. Maroell. xxviii. : " Per 
 horrorem tenebrarum — quo tempore hebetari solent obstrictae terroribus 
 mentes ; ut inter imiumera multa Ajax quoque Homericus docet, optann 
 perire potius luce, quam pati formidinis augmenta nocturnte." Cf. 
 Longiii. ix. 
 
3:51 ILIAD. XVII. 671—707. 
 
 for when alive, lie knew how to be mild fco al' ; but now, 
 indeed, Death and Fate overtake him." 
 
 Tims then having spoken, yellow-liaired Menelaus departed, 
 gazing round in all directions, like an eagle, wliich, they say, 
 sees most acutely of birds beneath the sky, and which, thougli 
 being aloft, the swift-footed hare does not escape, when lying 
 beneath the dense-foliaged thicket j but he pounces upon it, 
 and quickly seizing it, deprives it of life. Thus, O Jove- 
 nurtured Menelaus, were thy shining eyes turned round in 
 all directions through the band of thy numerous companions, 
 if anywhere thou mightst behold the son of Nestor, yet 
 living. But him he very soon perceived upon the left of all 
 the battle, encouraging his companions, and inciting them to 
 fight; and standing near, yellow-haired Menelaus addressed 
 [liim] : 
 
 " Ho ! hither come, AntUochus, Jove-nurtured, that thou 
 mayest hear the sad message which — would that it had not 
 happened. I think, indeed, that thou thyself looking, per- 
 ceivest that a god rolls disaster upon the Greeks, but that 
 victory is on the side of the Trojans ; for Patroclus, the 
 bravest of the Greeks, is slain ; and a great longing [after 
 him] has befallen the Greeks. But do thou quickly tell it to 
 Achilles, running to the ships of the Greeks, if perchance 
 quickly he may bring in safety to his sliips the unarmed 
 body ; for crest-tossing Hector possesses the armour." ^ 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but AntUochus shuddered, hearing the 
 news ; and long did a want of words possess him ; and his 
 eyes were filled with tears, and his liquid voice was inter- 
 rupted. Yet not even thus did he neglect the command of 
 Menelaus ; but he hastened to run, and gave his armour to 
 Laodocus, his blameless companion, who, near Mm, managed 
 the solid-hoofed steeds. Him, however, his feet bore, weep- 
 ing, from the battle, about to communicate the evil news to 
 Achilles, son of Peleus. 
 
 Nor, O Jove-nm'tured Menelaus, was thy mind wiUing to 
 aid the harassed comrades, in the place whence Antilochus 
 had dejjarted, and great longing after liim was caused to the 
 Pyhans ; but to them he sent noble Thrasymedes, and he 
 himself went again towards the hero Patroclus ; but arriv- 
 ing, he stood beside the Ajaces, and immediately addressed 
 them : 
 
TP8-745 ILIAD. XVII. 335 
 
 '' Him, indeed, I have now despatched to the swift ships, 
 to go to swift-footed Achilles : yet I do not think that he 
 will come, although greatly enraged with noble Hector ; for 
 being unarmed, he could by no means fight with the Trojans. 
 Let even us then ourselves deliberate upon the best plan, as 
 well how we shaU draw off the body, as also how we our- 
 selves may escape Death and Fate from the clamour of the 
 Trojans." 
 
 But him mighty Telamonian Ajax then answered : 
 
 " All things correctly hast thou spoken, O illustrious 
 Menelaus. But do thou, and Meriones, stooping quickly 
 imder it, having lifted it up, bear the body from the fight ; 
 whilst we two of like name, possessing equal courage, will 
 fight with the Trojans and with noble Hector, we who even 
 formerly have sustained the sharp conflict, remaining by 
 each other." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they with great exertion lifted up the 
 body in their arms from the ground : but the Trojan army 
 shouted in their rear when they saw the Greeks raising up 
 the dead body, and nished on like dogs, which spring upon 
 a wounded boar, befoi-e the youthful hunters. One while 
 indeed they run, eager to tear him asxmder, but again, when 
 he turns upon them, relying on his strength, then they 
 retreat, and fly in different directions hither and thither : so 
 the Trojans sometimes steadily pursued in a body, striking 
 with their swords and two-edged spears ; but when again 
 the Ajaces, turning round upon them, stood, then was their 
 colour changed, nor dared any one, rushing forward, to com- 
 bat for the corpse. 
 
 Thus they with alacrity bore the body from the fight to- 
 wards the hollow .ships j but the fierce battle was extended 
 to them like a flame, which assailing, [and] being suddenly 
 excited, sets fire to a city of men, and the houses diminish in 
 the mighty blaze ; whilst the force of the wind roars through 
 it ; so a horrid tumiilt of steeds and warlike heroes followed 
 them departing. But as mules, exerting vast strength,' drag 
 fi^om a mountain along a rugged path either a beam or a large 
 piece of timber for sliip-biulding, but the spirit within them, 
 BS they hasten, ia wearied equally with fatigue and pewpira- 
 
 ' Literally, •• girding tlieraselves with strength." 
 
3;S9 ILIAD. XVII. 746—761. 
 
 tiou ; so they with alacrity bore away the body, whilst the 
 Ajacus behind them chedced [the enemy] ; as a barner of 
 wood, stretched straight across a plain, restrains water; 
 wliich checks the furious courses even of rapid rivers, and 
 immediately tviming them, directs the streams of all into the 
 plain ; nor can they at all burst through it, though flowing 
 with violence. So the Ajaces in the rear always repulsed the 
 attack of the Trojans, who, however, followed along with 
 them; but two amongst them ia particular, ^neas, son of 
 Anchises, and illustrious Hector. And as a cloud of star- 
 lings or jackdaws, shrilly chattering,' flies away when they 
 perceive a hawk advancing, which brings death to small 
 birds ; so then from .^neas and Hector departed the sons of 
 the Greeks, loudly clamouring, and were forgetful of the 
 fight. And much beautiful armour of the flying Greeks fell 
 both in and about the trench ; but there was no cessation 
 from the battle. 
 
 ' Or, " shouting in presage of their doom," as Heyne and Kennedy 
 would take it, a meaning borne out by ■irpotSmmv. Cf. Longus. Past. ii. 
 
1—22- ILIAD. XVm. 337 
 
 BOOK THE EIGHTEENTH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Thetis comforts her son for the death of Patroclus, and promises to pro- 
 cure him new armour from Vulcan. At the command of Juno, Achillet: 
 comes forth and strikes terror into the enemy. The body of Patroclus 
 is rescued, and prepared for funeral rites, and Vulcan forges a suit of 
 armour and a splendid shield for Achilles. 
 
 Thus they, then,' were fighting, like a blazing fire ; but 
 ^wift-footed AntUochus came as a messenger to Achilles. 
 Him he found in front of his lofly-prowed ships, revolving in 
 bis mind those things which had already been accomplished ; 
 and then groaning, he communed with his own mind : 
 
 " Ah me ! why are the long-haired Achseans driven back 
 in coniusion to the ships, routed through the plain ? [I fear] 
 lest the gods have accomplished 6^41 sorrows to my soul, as 
 my mother once informed me, and told me that the bravest 
 of the Myrmidons, I being yet alive, would leave the light 
 of the sun, by the hands of the Trojans. Too surely now 
 the valiant son of Menoetius is dead, — obstinate one ! cer- 
 tainly I desired him, having repelled the hostile fire, to 
 return to the ships, nor to fight bravely with Hector." 
 
 WhUst he was revolving these things in his mind and in 
 his soul, in the meantime the son of illustrious Nestor di'ew 
 near, shedding warm tears, and delivered his sad message ; 
 
 " Alas ! O son of warlike Peleus, surely thou wilt hear 
 a very grievous message, which — ^would that it had not 
 taken place. Patroclus lies low; and around his unarmed 
 corse they are now fighting, whilst crest-tossing Hector 
 possesses his armour." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but him a black cloud of grief over- 
 
 ' This is to be taken in connection with ver. 148 of the last book, as 
 the regular narrative is interrupted by the message of Antilochus and th« 
 grief of Achilles. 
 
 7, 
 
S33 ILIAD. XVIII. 23—50 
 
 shadowed, and taking the burnt ashes with both hands, h( 
 poured them on his head, and defiled his comely countenance : 
 but the dark ashes everywhere adhered to his rich* tunic. 
 But he, mighty, lay extended at great length iu the dust, and 
 tearing, he disordered his hair with his hands. The hand- 
 maids, whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken, grieved La 
 their souls, shrieked aloud, and ran out of the door roimd 
 warlike Achilles ; and all smote their breasts with their 
 hands,^ and the limbs of each were relaxed. AntUochus, on 
 the other side, lamented, shedding tears, holding the hands of 
 Achilles ; (and he kept groaning within his generous heart,) for 
 he feared lest he should cut his throat with his sword. Then 
 he moaned dreadfully, and his venerable mother heard him, 
 sittiag in the depths of the sea, beside her aged father, and 
 imrfiediately lamented : and all the goddesses assembled 
 around her, as many Nereides as were at the bottom of the 
 sea. There were Glauce, Thaleia, and Cymodoce, Nesaea, 
 Spio, Thoa, and large-eyed Halia, Cymothoe, Actsea, and 
 Limnorea, MeHta, Isera, Amphithoe, and Agave, Doto, 
 Proto, Pherusa, and Dynamene, Dexamene, Amphinome, 
 and Callianira, Doris, Panope, and distinguished Galatea, 
 Nemertes, Apseudes, and Callianassa. There were also 
 Clymene, lanira, and lanassa, Msera, Orithya, and fair-haired 
 Amathea, and other Nereides which were in the depths of 
 the sea. But the resplendent cave was full of them, and 
 all at once they beat their breasts ; but Thetis began the 
 lamentation : 
 
 " Hear, sister Nereides, that hearing ye may all well know 
 what griefs are in my mind. Woe is me wretched ! woe is 
 me who have in an evil hour brought forth the bravest [of 
 men], I who, after having borne a son, blameless and valiant. 
 the chief of heroes, and he grew up * like a young tree : 
 
 * So vcKTaptov kavov, iii. 385. — Heyne. 
 
 ' In illustration of this custom of mourners, cf. Virg. .^n. i. 484 : — 
 " Crinibus Iliades passis, peplumque ferebant 
 Suppliciter tristes, et tunsee pectora palmis." 
 Ovid, Fast. iv. 454 : " Et feriunt moestse pectora nuda manus." Silius, 
 xii. 528. Fetronius, ciii. p. 509, ed. Burm. : " Sparsis prosequi crinibus, 
 aut nudatum pectus plangere ; " cxv. : " Percussi semel iterumque pec- 
 tus." See Westerhov.onTer. Hec. ii. 3, 49 ; Northmore on Tryphiodor. 
 34 ; and Blomf. on .^sch. Choeph. 27. 
 
 ^ 'Avslpajiov is used in tlie same way by Herodot. vii. 156, viii. 55 ; 
 Tiicocrit. xviii. 29. It corresponds to our Englisli phrase " to run up." 
 
57—91. ILIAD. XVIII. 33'J 
 
 having reared Tii-m like a sapling in a fruitful spot of a field, 
 I after-wards sent Tiim forth in the curved ships to IHum, to 
 fight against the Trojans ; but I shall not receive him again, 
 having returned home to the palace of Peleus. But whilst 
 he lives and beholds the light of the sun, he grieves,' nor can 
 I, going to him, avail him aught. Yet will I go, that I may 
 see my beloved son, and hear what grief comes upon him 
 remaining away from the battle." 
 
 Thus having spoken, she left the cave ; but they all went 
 along with her, weeping, and the wave of the ocean was cleft 
 around for them.^ But when they reached fertile Troy, 
 they in order ascended the shore, where the fleet ships of the 
 Myrmidons were drawn up round swift Achilles. Then 
 his venerable mother, shrilly wailing, stood near to him 
 deeply lamenting, and took the head of her son, and, mourning, 
 addressed to him winged words : 
 
 " son, why weepest thou, and what sorrow has come 
 upon thy mind ? Speak out, nor conceal it. Those things 
 indeed are fulfilled for thee from Jove, as thuu didst formerly 
 pray, lifting up thy hands — ^that aU the sons of the Greeks, 
 wanting thee, should be collected at the ships, and sufier 
 disgraceful deeds." 
 
 But her swift-footed Achilles addressed, deeply groaning : 
 
 " Mother mine, these things indeed the Olympian king 
 hath accomplished for me ; but what pleasure is there in 
 them to me, since Patroclus, my dear companion, is dead, 
 whom T honoured beyond all my companions, equally with 
 my own head? Him have I lost ; and Hector, having slain 
 him, has stripped off his mighty armoiir, a wonder to be seen, 
 beautiful ; which the other gods gave to Peleus, splendid 
 gifts, on ibhat day when they laid thee in the bed of a mortal 
 man. Would that thou hadst dwelt there among the im- 
 mortal marine inhabitants, and that Peleus had wedded a 
 mortal spouse. But now [thou hast been wedded, to the end] 
 that immeasurable grief may be upon thy mind for thy son 
 slain, whom thou ahalt not again receive, having returned 
 home. Since even my mind mrges me not to live nor have 
 intercourse with men, unless Hector first lose his life, smit- 
 
 ' /. e. he continues to do so, and will, till his death. 
 ' i^ifft is the dativus commodi. 
 Z2 
 
340 ILIAD. XVIII. 92—125, 
 
 ten by my spear; and pay the penalty for the slaughter ' of 
 Patroclus, the son of Menoetius." 
 
 But him Thetis in turn addressed, pouring forth tears : 
 " Short-lived thou ■wilt be, O my son, as thou sayest, for fate 
 is ready for thee immediately after Hector." Then, heavily 
 sighing, swift-footed Achilles addressed her : " May I die 
 then immediately, since it was not destined that I should aid 
 my companion now slain ; but he indeed hath perished far 
 away from his native land, and longed for me to be an 
 averter of his doom. But now^ — since I shall not return to 
 my dear father-land, nor have been a preservation^ to Patro- 
 clus, or to my other companions, who have been subdued in 
 great munbers by noble Hector ; but sit beside the ships, an 
 useless weight on the earth, being such as is none of the 
 brazen-mailed Aohseans in war, though in councU there are 
 others superior ; would that therefore contention might be 
 extinguished from gods and men ; and anger, which is wont 
 to impel even the very wisest to be harsh ; and which, much 
 sweeter than distilling honey, Kke smoke, rises in the breasts 
 of men ; so now did Agamemnon, king of men, enrage me : 
 but although greatly grieved, let us leave these things to 
 pass by as done, subduing, from necessity, our own spirit 
 within our bosoms : but now will I go, that I may find 
 Hector, the destroyer of my dear friend, and I will accept 
 death whensoever Jove and the other immortal gods shall 
 please to accomplish it. For not even the might of Her- 
 cules escaped death, who was very dear to king Jove, the 
 son of Saturn ; but fate subdued him, and the grievous wrath 
 of Juno. So also shall I lie, when I am dead, if a similar 
 fate be destined for me ; but now may I bear away illus- 
 trious glory, and compel some one of the Trojan women and 
 deep-robed Dardanians to sigh frequently, wiping away the 
 tears from her tender cheeks with both hands ; and may they 
 know that I have long ceased from battle.* Wherefore do 
 
 ' EXbiioia is the more usual form, but 'iXoipa is recognized by Hesychius. 
 " If correct," Kennedy says, " it may be explained by the existence of 
 i\u>pov from 'iKiap (Hesych. t. i. p. 1186, from II. v. 488), signifying 
 the price of slaughter, by the same analogy as ^oeTrrpov (iv. 478) the 
 price of nutrition. 
 
 ' Observe the long hyperbaton, resulting from the excitement of the 
 ejieaker. s Literally, " light." 
 
 ' f. e. they shall find out the difference when I make my appearance. 
 
121 -161. ILIAD. XVIII. 3.U 
 
 not hinder me from the combat, although loving me, for 
 thou mlt not persuade m^e." 
 
 Him then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered : " Cer- 
 tainly this is true, O son, nor is it an evil thing to avert 
 utter destruction from our friends when afflicted. But thy 
 beautiful arms, brazen and shining, are detained among the 
 Trojans, which crest-tossing Hector himself, having on his 
 .shoulders, boasts of: yet I suspect that he wUl not long 
 glory in them, for death is near to him. But do thou by no 
 means enter the slaughter of Mars before thou beholdest me 
 with thine eyes coming hither. For at dawn I will return 
 with the rising sun, bearing beautiful armour from king 
 Vulcan." 
 
 Thus having spoken, she turned round from her son, and 
 being turned, addressed her marine sisters : " Enter ye now 
 the broad bosom of the deep, about to behold the marine old 
 man, and the mansions of my sire, and tell him all things ; 
 but I go to lofty Olympus, to Vulcan, the skilful artist, to 
 try if he is willing to give my son illustrious, glittering 
 armour." 
 
 Thus she spoke, but they immediately sank beneath the 
 wave of the sea. But Thetis, the silver-footed goddess, again 
 departed to Olympus, that she might bear the illustrious 
 armour to her beloved son. Her, on the one hand, her feet 
 bore towards Olympus : but the Greeks, flying with a lieaven- 
 sent uproar from man-slaughtering Hector, reached the ships 
 and the Hellespont. Nor had the weU-greaved Greeks drawn 
 off the dead body of Patroclus, the attendant of Achilles, out 
 of the reach of weapons ; for now again both infantry and 
 cavalry pursued liim, and Hector, the son of Priam, Uke unto 
 a flame in violence. Thrice did illustrious Hector seize him 
 beliind by the feet, eager to draw him away, and loudly 
 shouted to the Trojans ; and thrice did the two A j aces, clad 
 in impetuous might, forcibly repulse him from the corse ; 
 whilst he, with steady purpose, ever relying on his might, 
 sometimes charged through the crowd, and sometimes again 
 stopped, loudly shouting ; but never retreated altogether. 
 But as night-watcliing ' shepherds are by no means able to 
 
 ' Cf. Luke ii. 8, tfith the notes of Wetstein and Kypke. Although 
 dypavXoi may simply mean " dwelling in the fields," as in Apolloiif 
 
342 ILIAD. XVIII. 162— 19a 
 
 drive away from a carcase a tawny lion, greatly hungering ; 
 BO were the two warriors, the Ajaces, unable to drive away 
 Hector, the son of Priam, from the body. And now indeed 
 would he have dragged it off, and obtained great glory, had 
 not fleet wind-footed Iris come as a messenger to the son of 
 Peleus, running down from Olympus, that he should arm 
 himself unknown to Jove and the other gods ; for Jimo sent 
 aer forth ; and standing near, she addressed to him winged 
 words : 
 
 " Arise, son of Peleus, most terrible of all men ; defend 
 Patroclus, for whom ' a dire contest is maintained before the 
 ships. But they are slaughtering each other, the one party 
 fighting for the slain corse, whilst the other, the Trojans, rush 
 on, that they may drag him away to wind-swept Ihum ; and 
 above all, illustrious Hector desires to seize him, for his mind 
 prompts him to fix his head upon stakes, having cut it from 
 the tender neck. But up, nor lie longer ; but let reverence^ 
 touch thy soul, that Patroclus should be a source of delight 
 to Trojan dogs. A disgrace would be to thee, if the dead 
 body -should come at all defiled" 
 
 But her noble, swift-footed Achilles, then answered : 
 " Which of the gods, O goddess Iris, sent thee as a messenger 
 tome?" 
 
 But him fleet, wind-footed Iris, again addressed : " Juno 
 sent me forth, the glorious spouse of Jove, nor does the lofty- 
 throned son of Saturn know it, nor any other of the im- 
 mortals who inhabit snowy Olympus." 
 
 But her swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed : "And 
 how can I go to the slaughter ? for they possess my armour. 
 Besides, my dear mother does not permit me to be armed, 
 before that with my eyes I behold her coming, for she hath 
 promised that she will boar me beautiful armour from Vulcan. 
 But I indeed know not of another, whose splendid armour I 
 could put on,^ except the shield of Ajax, son of Telamou. 
 
 Rh. iv. 317, it is better to follow the interpretation of Hesychius : Oi iv 
 dypolg diavvKTCptvovTig. But cf. Alberti, t. i. p. 64. 
 
 ' /. e. for whose body. 
 
 * " Se^af is commonly rendered ;0M(for, nearly synonymous with alliis 
 lt» meaning is however more forcible, viz. esteem it as an act ofimpielj 
 to abandon He body to insult." — Kennedy. 
 
 ' 'AW ovSivoQ olSa ap/ioZovirav fioi. 7rovo7r\iav,— SchoL. 
 
l9-t-230. ILIAD. XVIII 343 
 
 But he, I hope, mingles in the front ranks, slaying with his 
 spear round the head of Patroclus." 
 
 But him fleet-footed Iris again addressed: "Well too do we 
 know that they possess thy distinguished armour : yet even 
 thus, going towards the ditch, show thyself to the Trojans, if 
 perchance the Trojans, terrified, may desist from hattle, and 
 the warlike, harassed sons of the Greeks may breathe again ; 
 and there be a short respite from fighting." ' 
 
 Thus indeed having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed; 
 but Achilles, dear to Jove, arose ; and around his strong 
 shoulders Minerva threw her fringed segis. And the diyine- 
 one of goddesses crowned his head around with a golden 
 cloud, and from it she kindled a shining fiame. And as 
 when smoke, ascending from a city, reaches the aether from 
 an island afar off, which foes invest, who [pouring out] from 
 their city, contend all day in hateful fight ; but with the 
 setting sun torches blaze one after another,^ and the splen- 
 dour arises, rushing upwards, for [their] neighbours to be- 
 hold, if perchance they may come with ships, as repelleru 
 of the war ; thiis did the flame from the head of Achilles 
 reach the sky. He stood, having advanced from the wall to 
 the trench, nor mingled with the Greeks, for he reverenced 
 the prudent advice of his mother. There standing, he 
 shouted, and Pallas Minerva, on the other side, vociferated, 
 and stirred up immense tumult among the Trojans. And 
 as the tone is very clear, when a trumpet sounds, while 
 deadly foes are investing a city ; so distinct then was the 
 voice of the descendant of ^acus. But when they heard 
 the brazen voice of Achilles, the soul was disturbed to all, 
 whilst the beautiful-maned steeds turned the chariots back- 
 wards, for they presaged sorrows in their mind. The cha- 
 rioteers were panic-struck when they beheld the terrific, 
 indefatigable flame, blazing over the head of magnanimou.s 
 Pelides ; for the azure-eyed goddess Minerva lighted it. 
 Thrice over the trench loudly shouted noble Achilles, and 
 thrice were the Trojans and their illustrious allies thrown 
 into confusion. There then perished twelve bravest heroes 
 
 ' Cf. XV. 42. 
 
 ' Hesychius : IvriTpifioi, a\XciraX\f/\ot. Cf. Oppian, Cyn. i. 321 ; 
 ni. 275. The orthography iiriTpifiot is equally correct, according lo 
 Abresch. 
 
344 ILIAD. XVIII. 231-269, 
 
 by their chariots and spears, whilst the Greeks, draggmg 
 Patroclus with joy out oif the reach of weapons, stretched 
 him on a bier ; but his beloved companions stood round him 
 mourning, and with them followed swift-footed Achilles, 
 shedding warm tears, when he beheld his faithful comrade 
 lying upon a bier, lacerated with the sharp brass : whom 
 indeed he had sent forth with his horses and chariots to 
 battle, but did not receive him again, having returned. 
 
 But the large-eyed, venerable Juno sent the unwearied 
 sun, to return to the flowing of the ocean, against his incUnar 
 tion. The sun then set, and the noble Greeks desisted from 
 the violent conflict, and the equally destructive battle. The 
 Trojans again, on the other side, retuing from the violent 
 combat, loosed their fleet steeds from their chariots. But 
 they assembled ia the council before they bethought them 
 of their banquet. The assembly consisted of persons stand- 
 ing up, nor did any one dare to sit ; for fear possessed all, 
 because AchiUes had appeared, who had long abstained from 
 the direful combat. Among them prudent Polydamas, the 
 son of Panthus, began to speak, for he alone saw both the 
 future and the past. He was the companion of Hector, 
 and they were bom in one night, but the one excelled in 
 counsel, and the other greatly in the spear. He wisely 
 counselling, harangued them, and spoke : 
 
 " My frifnds, consider weU on both sides ; for I advise 
 that we no tr return to the city, nor await the sacred Mom 
 in the plain near the ships : for we are far away from the 
 wall. As long indeed as this man was wroth with noble 
 Agamemnon, so long were the Greeks more easy to fight 
 with. For even I was delighted, passing the night by the 
 swift barks, expecting that we should take the equally-plied 
 barks ; but now greatly do I fear swift-footed Pelides : so 
 violent is his soul, nor will he be content to remain in the 
 plain, where usually the Trojans and Greeks in the inter- 
 vening space divide ^ the force of war, but he will combat for 
 the city and our wives. We will go, then, towards the city 
 ■ — be persuaded by me — for so it must be. Ambrosial night 
 at present hath made swift-footed Pelides cease ; but if, 
 rushing forth to-morrow with his arms, he shall find us hero, 
 
 ' This is expressive of the vicissitudes of the conflict. 
 
270-301. ILIAD. XVIII. 345 
 
 then will some one know him ; .for gladly will he reach 
 sacred Ilium, whosoever shall escape : but dogs and vultures 
 will devour many of the Trojans. O that such [tidings] 
 may be far from our ears.^ But if we be obedient to my 
 words, although sad, we shall have protection ^ in the assem- 
 bly during the night, and the towers and lofty gates, and the 
 valves fitted to them, long, well polished, fastened together, 
 will protect the city. But to-morrow, at early dawn, we 
 will stand on the towers, arrayed in armour ; and it would 
 be difficult for him, even if he should wish it, coming from 
 the ships, to fight with us around the wall. Back again 
 will he go to the ships, after he has satiated his high-necked 
 steeds with a varied course, driving beneath the city. But 
 Ids mind will not permit him to rush within, nor will he 
 ever lay it waste ; sooner shall the fieet dogs devour him." 
 
 Him, then, crest-tossing Hector sternly regarding, ad- 
 dressed : 
 
 "No longer, O Polydamas, dost thou speak these tilings 
 agreeable to me, thou who advisest us, returning, to be 
 cooped up in the city. Are ye not yet satiated with being 
 shut up within the towers 1 Formerly indeed all articulate- 
 speaking men pronounced the city of Priam rich in gold and 
 in brass ; but now have the rich treasures of our houses 
 perished, and many possessions have already departed to 
 Phrygia and agreeable Mceonia, to be sold, since mighty 
 Jove was enraged. But at this crisis, when the son of poKtic 
 Saturn has granted me to obtain glory at the ships, and to 
 hem in the Greeks by the sea, no longer, foolish man, dis- 
 close these counsels to the people : for none of the Trojans 
 wiU obey ; nor wiU I permit them. But come, let us all 
 obey as I shall advise. At present take supper in your 
 ranks throughout the army ; be mindful of the watch, and 
 keep guard each [of you] ; but whosoever of the Trojans is 
 particularly anxious about his possessions, collecting them 
 together, let him give them to the people to be publicly 
 consumed ; it is better that any of them should enjoy them 
 than the Greeks. But to-morrow, with the dawn, arrayed 
 in armour, let us excite sharp conflict at the hollow shlpR, 
 
 ' EiOf Ss /lot TovTo nvfiovov jifi oipliHri, aXKa firiSi asovaSdri. — Schol. 
 ' O '> of the Scholiasts, however, would take n9ivoQ as = <!r(iaTiav, i. e, 
 we «/i<jii „eep the tfuops in a body. But see Kennedy. 
 
346 ILIAD. XVIII. 305-34^. 
 
 and if truly noble AchiUes has arisen at the ships, it will be 
 the worse for him, if he wishes [to fight] : I indeed will not fly 
 him from the horrid-sounding battle, but will stand very obsti- 
 nately against him, whether he bear away great glory, or I 
 bear it away. Mars [is] common,^ and even slays the slayer." 
 
 Thus Hector harangued, and the Trojans shouted in ap- 
 plause : foolish men, for Pallas Minerva had taken their 
 senses away from them. For they assented to Hector, 
 advising destructive things, whilst no one [assented to] 
 Polydamas, who advised prudent counsel. Then they took 
 supper through the anny. But the Greeks, lamenting all 
 night, wept over Patroclus, but among them PeUdes led the 
 ceaseless lamentation, placing his man-slaying hands upon 
 the breast of his companion, very frequently sighing ; as the 
 well-bearded Hon, from whom the stag-hunter has stolen the 
 cubs out of the thick forest ; and he is grieved, coming after- 
 wards. And through many valleys he goes, tracking the 
 footsteps of the man, if anywhere he may find him ; for 
 very keen rage possesses him. So, deeply sighing, he addressed 
 the Myrmidons : 
 
 " Alas ! vain indeed was the promise I uttered on that 
 day, encouraging the hero Menoetius in our halls ; for I 
 .said that I wotJd bring back his illustrious son to Opus, 
 having wasted Troy, and obtained a share of the spoil. But 
 Jove fulfils not for men all their intentions ; for it is fated 
 that we shall both stain with blood the same earth here in 
 Troy ; but neither shall aged horse-driving Peleus receive me 
 in his palaces, returning, nor my mother Thetis, but the 
 earth shall here hold me. Now, however, O Patroclus'! 
 since after thee I go beneath the earth, I shall not perform 
 thy funeral rites, before that I bring hither the arms and 
 head of magnanimous Hector, thy murderer, and behead 
 twelve illustrious sons of the Trojans, before thy pile, en- 
 raged on account of thee slain. Meanwhile thou shall he 
 thus at the crooked ships ; and round thee Trojan [dames] 
 and deep-bosomed Dardanians shall weep and shed tears 
 night and day ; whom we ourselves have toiled to get by our 
 valour and the long spear, laying waste the rich cities of 
 articulate-speaking men." 
 
 ' See Duport, p. 104, and Clarke's note. Livy translates it, " com. 
 muni£ Mars belli j" observing, "commuais M8rs,etincertu8 belli eTentiu." 
 
3i3— bSO. ILIAD. XVIII. S47 
 
 Thus having spoken, noble Achilles ordered his companions 
 to surround a large tripod with fire, that as soon as possible 
 they might wash away the bloody gore from Patroclus. They 
 then placed a bathing tripod on the blazing fire, and poured 
 water into it, and taking fagots, lighted them under it. The 
 fire indeed encircled the belly of the tripod, and the water 
 was warmed. But when the water boiled in the sonorou? 
 brass, then they both washed him, and anointed him with 
 rich oil. And they filled up his wounds with ointment nine 
 years old ; and laying him upon a bed, they covered him with 
 fine Unen from head to foot ; and over all, with a white 
 mantle. ' All night then the Myrmidons, lamenting Patroc) us, 
 wept around swift-footed Achilles. But Jove addressed Juno, 
 his sister and wife : 
 
 " And at length thou hast accomplished thy object, large- 
 eyed, venerable Juno, having aroused swift-footed Achilles. 
 Surely the waviug-crested Greeks are born from thy very 
 self." 
 
 But him large-eyed, venerable Juno then answered : 
 
 "Most imperious son of Saturn, what a word hast thou 
 spoken ? Surely now any man who is mortal, and knows 
 not so many designs, might accomplish this against a man. 
 How therefore ought not I, who boast myself to be chief of 
 the goddesses, both from birth and also because I am called 
 thy wife (and thou rulest over all the immortals), beiug en- 
 raged with the Trojan?, to [be able to] design evils against 
 them." 
 
 Thus indeed they conversed with one another. But silver- 
 footed Thetis reached the abode of Vulcan, incorruptible, 
 starry, remarkable amongst the iaunortals, brazen, which the 
 lame-footed himself had constructed. Him she found sweat- 
 ing, exerting himself at the bellows, earnestly working ; for 
 he was makmg full twenty tripods to stand around the wall 
 of his well-bmlt palace. Under the base of each he placed 
 golden wheels, that of their own accord they might enter the 
 heavenly council, and again return home — a wonder to be 
 seen. So much finish had they, but he had not yet added 
 the well-made handles, which he was preparing j and he was 
 forging the rivets. Whilst he was toiling at these things 
 
 ' Cf. Virg. .^n. vi. 218, sqq. ; xi. 36, sqq. I shall defer discussing i lie 
 heroic funeral-rites till tlie twenty-third book. 
 
S4U ILIAD. XVIII. 381— 40a 
 
 with skilful mind, meanwhile Thetis, the silver-footed goddes.', 
 came to him. But the beautiftil and fair-veiled Oharis, whom 
 illustrious Vulcan had espoused, advancing, beheld her; aud 
 hung upon her hand, and addi-essed her, and spoke : 
 
 " WTiy, O long-robed Thetis, venerable, beloved, dost thou 
 visit our abode f Formerly thou wast not in the habit of 
 coming frequently, i But follow farther onwards, that I may 
 set before thee hospitable fare." 
 
 Thus having spoken, the divine of goddesses led on. 
 Then i\ideed she placed her upon a silver-studded throne, 
 beautiful, variously wrought, and there was a stool under her 
 feet. But she called Vulcan, the distinguished artist, and 
 spoke this word : 
 
 " Come hither, Vulcan, Thetis now has need of thee." 
 
 But her illustrious Vulcan then answered: "Assuredly 
 then an awful and revered goddess is within, who saved me 
 when distress came upon me, faUen down far by the con- 
 trivance of my shameless mother, who wished to conceal me, 
 being lame.^ Then should I have suffered sorrows in my 
 mind, had not Eurynome and Thetis received me in their 
 bosom ; Eurynome, daughter of the refluent Ocean. With 
 them for nine years wrought I in brass many ingenious 
 w(jrks of art, buckles, twisted bracelets, and clasp-tubes, in 
 the hollow cave; whilst round us flowed the immense stream 
 (if Ocean, murmuring with foam : nor did any other either of 
 gods or mortal men know it ; but Thetis and Eurynome, who 
 preserved me, knew it. She now comes to my house ; where- 
 fore there is need that I should repay all the rewards of my 
 safety to fair-haired Thetis. But set now before her good 
 hospitable fare, whilst I lay aside my bellows and all my 
 tools." 
 
 ' Sa/rijeiv answers to the Latin " visere," " frequentare." Snidas . 
 Qafiil^eiQ' TrvKvaKeig^ (TVXvdauQ. Plato, Rep. i. p. 410, B. : OiiSs Sajui- 
 ^Hg r'ifitv KaraGaivujv tig rbv Ilctpata. Themist. Or. v. p. 152 : Mrjok 
 iaiiiiii oopu0opouira Etc Td ^aaiXita. Philostr. Vit. Soph. 1. 7, p. 254 : 
 Sajut'Swa/ fi'e rd aTparoTreSa. Cf. Alciphron, Ep. i. 4, p. 20, iii. 5 
 p. 286. 
 
 ' " Hephjestos is the son of H6r6 without a father, and stands to her 
 in the same relation as AthfinS to Zeus : her pride and want of sympath; 
 are manifested by her casting him out at once, in consequence of his do- 
 iormity." — Grote, vol. i. p. 79. 
 
410-443. ILIAD. XVIII. 349 
 
 He spoke and rose, a wondrous bulk,' from his anril-block, 
 limping, a.ud his weak legs moved actively beneath him. 
 The bellows he laid apart from the fire, and all the took 
 with which he laboured he collected into a silver chest. 
 With a sponge he wiped, all over, his face and both his hands, 
 his strong neck and shaggy breast ; then put on his tunic and 
 seized his stout sceptre. But he went out of the doors limpings 
 and golden handmaids, like unto living maidens, moved 
 briskly about the king ; and in their bosoms was pmdenuc with 
 understanding, and within them was voice and strength ;. and 
 they are instructed in works by the immortal gods. These 
 were busily occupied ^ by the king's side; but he, hobbling 
 along, sat down upon a, splendid throne near where Thetis 
 was, and himg upon her hand, and spoke, and addressed her : 
 
 " Why, long-robed ITietis, venerable and dear, hast thou 
 come to our abode ? For indeed thou didst not often come 
 before. Make known what thou desirest, for my mind orders 
 me to perform it,^ if in truth I can perform it, and if it is to 
 be performed." 
 
 Him then Thetis, pouring forth tears, answered : " 
 Vulcan, has any then, as many as are the goddesses in 
 Olympus, endured so many bitter griefs in her mind, as, to 
 me above all, Jove, the son of Saturn, has given sorrows ? 
 Me, from among the other marine inhabitants, has he sub- 
 jected to a man, to Peleus, sonof -lEacus ; and I have endured 
 the couch of a man very much again-st my will. He, indeed, 
 now lies in his palaces, afflicted with grievous old age; but 
 now other [woes] are my lot. After he had granted me to 
 bring forth aud nurture a son, distinguished among heroes, 
 and who grew up like a plant ; him having reared, as a plant 
 in a fertile spot of the field, I sent forth in the crooked barks 
 to lUiun, to fight with the Trojans; but him I shall not 
 receive again, having returned home to the mansion of Peleus. 
 As long, however, as he lives to me, and beholds the light of 
 the sun, he suffers sorrow, nor am I, going to him, able to 
 
 ' I have endeavoured to express Buttmann's idea respecting the mean- 
 ing of airjTov. See Lexil. p. 44-7. He concludes that it simply mean: 
 great, but with a collateral notion of astonishment implied, connecting it 
 with ayjiTOQ, 
 
 ' See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 481 
 
 ' Virg. ^n. i. 80 : " Tuus, 3 regina, quid optes 
 
 Explorare labor : mihi jussa capessere fas est." 
 
350 ILIAD. XVIII. 444—478. 
 
 avail Mm aught. The maid whom the sons of the Greeks 
 selected as a reward for him, her hath king Agamemnon 
 taken back again from his hands. Certainly, grieving for 
 her, he has been wasting his soul ; whilst the Trojans were 
 hemming in the Greeks at the ships, nor suffered them to go 
 beyond the gates : but the elders of the Greeks suppHcated 
 liim, and named many distinguished presents. But then he 
 refused to avert destruction, yet he clad Patroclus in Ms own 
 armour, and sent him forth to the battle, and he gave with 
 him much people. All day they fought round the Scsean 
 gates, and certainly on that day had overturned Troy, had 
 not ApoUo slain, among the foremost warriors, the gallant 
 son of Mencetius, after having done much miscMef, and given 
 glory to Hector. On this accoimt do I now approach thy 
 knees, if thou wilt give to my short-lived son a sMeld and 
 helmet, and beautifijl greaves, joined with clasps, and a 
 corslet : for what were his, Ms faithful companion has lost, 
 subdued by the Trojans; and he (Achilles) lies upon the 
 ground, grieving in his soul." 
 
 Her then illustrious Yulcan answered : " Take coinage, 
 nor let these things be cause of uneasiness in thy mind ; for 
 would that I could so surely conceal Mm from dread-sounding 
 death, when grievous fete approaches him, as that beautiful 
 armour shall be ready for him, such as any one of many men 
 shall hereafter admire, whosoever may behold it." 
 
 So saying, he left her there, and went towards the bellows, 
 wMch he turned towards the fire, and commanded them to 
 work. And full twenty bellows blew in the furnaces, ex- 
 citing a varied well-regulated ^ blast, to be ready for him, 
 at one time busy, at another the reverse, as Vulcan pleased, 
 and that the work might be complete. He cast into the fire 
 impenetrable brass, and tin, precious gold and silver ; but 
 next he placed the mighty anvil on the stock, and took in 
 [one] hand Ms strong hammer, and with the other grasped the 
 forceps. 
 
 First of all he formed a sMeld,^ both large and solid, deco- 
 
 ' /. e. one that would either blow, or not, according as the progress of 
 the work required. The student will do well to compare Virg. Georg. iv. 
 171, sqq., ^n. viii. 449, sqq., and Callimach. in Dian. 59, sqq. 
 
 ' See Coleridge, Classic Poets, p. 182, sqq. ; Riccius, Bissert. Hodj. 
 t. i. p. 216 ; Feith, Antiq. Horn. iv. 10, 4. In reading this whole de- 
 tcription, cure must be taken to allow for the freedom of poetic description, 
 «s well as for the skill of the supposed artificer. 
 
i79-bOy ILIAD. XVIII. 351 
 
 rating it all over, and around it he threw a shining border, 
 triple and glitteiing, and from it [there hung] a silver belt. 
 Of the shield itself, there were five folds ; but on it he 
 formed many curious works, with cunning skill. On it he 
 wrought the earth, and the heaven, and the sea, the un- 
 wearied sun, and the fuU moon. On it also [he represented] 
 all the constellations with which the heaven is crowned, the 
 Pleiades, the Hyades, and the strength of Orion, and the 
 Bear,* which they also call by the appellation of the Wain, 
 which there revolves, and watches Orion ;2 but it alone is 
 free^ from the baths of the ocean. 
 
 In it likewise he wrought two fair cities'* o£articulate-speak- 
 ing men. In the one, indeed, there were marriages and feasts ; 
 and they were conducting the brides from their chambers 
 through the city with brilliant torches,* and many a bridal 
 song^ wa.s raised. The youthftd dancers were wheeling round, 
 and amongst them pipes and lyres uttered a sound ; and the 
 women standing, each at her portals, admired. And people 
 were crowded together in an assembly, and there a contest 
 had arisen ; for two men contended for the ransom-money of 
 a slain man : the one affirmed that he had paid all, appealing 
 to the people; but the other denied, [averring] that he had 
 received nought : and both wished to find an end [of the 
 dispute] before a judge.^ The people were applauding both, 
 — supporters of either party, and the heralds were keeping 
 back the people ; but the elders sat upon polished stones, in a 
 sacred^ circle, and [the pleaders^] held in their hands the 
 staves of the clear-voiced heralds ; with these then they 
 
 ' Cf. Virg. Georg. i. 137 ; ^n. i. 748, iu. 516. 
 
 ^ Orion ascends above the horizon, as though in pursuit of the Wain, 
 which in return seems to observe his movements. Manilius, i. 500 : 
 " Arctos et Orion adversis frontibus ibaut," which is compared by Sca- 
 liger, p. 28. 
 
 ■^ Aratus, Dios. 48 : "ApKToi KvavEov ■jntpvS.ay^svot utKsavoXo. Virg. 
 Georg. i. 246 : " Arctos Oceani metuentes sequore tingi." The student 
 of ancient astronomy will do well to compare Scaliger on Manil. i. 
 p 43, 2 ; Casaub. on Strabo, i. init. 
 
 * Cf. Hesiod, Scut. Here. 270, sqq. 
 
 ' The escort took place at even-tide. 
 
 ° On the origin of this term, see Serv. on Virg. Mn. i. 655. 
 
 ' Or, " on the testimony of witnesses." See Kennedy. 
 
 ' See Heyne on x. 56. So fftXfta aifiviv, " the seat of justice." — 
 .lEsch. Ag. 183. 
 
 ' See Kennedy, who has collected the Homeric passages concernini^ 
 lawsuits. 
 
352 ILIAD. XVill. 506—538. 
 
 arose, and alternately pleaded their cause. Moreover, in 
 the midst lay two talents of gold, to give to him. who should 
 best establish his claim among them. But round the other 
 city sat two armies of people gUttering in arms ; and one of 
 two plans was agreeable to them,^ either to waste it, or to 
 divide aU things into two parts, — ^the wealth, whatever the 
 pleasant city contained within it. They, however, had not 
 yet complied, but were secretly arming themselves for an 
 ambuscade. Meanwhile, their beloved wives and young chil- 
 dren kept watch, standing above, and amongst them the men 
 whom old age possessed. But they (the younger men) ad- 
 vanced j but Mars was their leader, and Pallas Minerva, 
 both golden, and clad in golden dresses, beautiful and large, 
 along with their armour, radiant all round, and indeed like 
 gods ; but the people were of humbler size.^ But when they 
 now had reached a place where it appeared fit to lay an 
 ambuscade, by a river, where there was a watering-place for 
 all sorts of cattle, there then they settled, clad in shining 
 steel. There, apart from the people, sat two spies, watching 
 when they might perceive the sheep and crooked-homed 
 oxen. These, however, soon advanced, and two shepherds 
 accompanied them, amusing themselves with their pipes, for 
 they had not yet perceived the stratagem. Then they, dis- 
 cerning them, ran in upon them, and immediately slaughtered 
 on aU sides the herds of oxen, and the beautiful flocks of 
 snow-white sheep ; and slew the shepherds besides. But 
 they, when they heard the great tumult amongst the oxen, 
 previously sitting in front of the assembly,' mounting their 
 nimble-footed steeds, pursued ; and soon came up with them. 
 Then, having marshalled themselves, they fought a battle on 
 the banks of the river, and wounded one another with their 
 brazen spears. Amongst them mingled Discord and Tumult, 
 and destructive Fate, holding one alive, recently wounded, 
 another xmwounded, but a third, slain, she drew by the 
 feet through the battle ; and had the garment around her 
 
 * /, e. the enemy. The alternative was that the townsmen should 
 either surrender half their possessions, or submit to indiscriminate pillage. 
 S«e Kennedy. 
 
 ' This custom of representing gods and heroes of larger stature than 
 ordinary folk prevails almost universally in the Egyptian monuments and 
 sculptures. 
 
 ' " Eipn vel ipa est locus concionis, et ipse coetus," — Heyns. 
 
538—564. ILIAD. XVIII. 3r.3 
 
 shoulders crimsoned -vsith tte gore of men.^ But they 
 tiirjied about, like living mortals, and fought, and drew 
 away the slaughtered bodies of each other. 
 
 On it he also placed a soft fallow field,^ rich glebe, wide, 
 thrice-ploughed; and in it many ploughmen drove hither 
 and thither, turning round their teams. But when, return- 
 ing, they reached the end of the field, then a man, advancing, 
 gave into their hands a cup of very sweet wine ; but they 
 turned themselves in series,^ eager to reach the [other] end 
 of the deep fallow. But it was all black behmd, similar 
 to ploughed land, which indeed was a marvel beyond [all 
 others]. 
 
 On it likewise he placed a field of deep corn, where reapers 
 were cutting, having sharp sickles in their hands. Some 
 handfuls fell one after the other upon the ground along the 
 farrow, and the binders of sheaves tied others with bands. 
 Tliree binders followed [the reapers], whilst behind them 
 boys gathering the handfuls, [and] bearing them in their 
 arms, continually supplied them; and amongst them the 
 master stood by the swathe'' in sUence, holding a sceptre, 
 delighted in heart. But apart, beneath an oak, servants 
 w«re preparing a banquet, and sacrificing a huge ox, they 
 ministered; whilst women sprinkled much white barley* [on 
 the meat], as a supper for the reapers. 
 
 On it likewise he placed a vineyard, heavily laden with 
 grapes, beautiful, golden ; but the clusters throughout were 
 black ; and it was supported throughout by silver poles. 
 Eound it he drew an azure trench, and about it a hedged of 
 
 ' Cf. JEn. vi. ! " Tisiphoncque sedens, palla suocincta cruenta." Stat. 
 Theb. i. 109 : " Riget horrida tergo Palla, et cserulei redeunt in pectoie 
 nodi." 
 
 ^With the whole of this description of the shield of Achilles, the lovet 
 of poetry should compare Milton, P. L. xi. 638, sqq. with the remarks of 
 Bishop Newton. 
 
 ^ But Hesychias by oyfiovg understood avXaKas, " the furrows." 
 See Schneid. on Nicand. Ther. 371. 
 
 * I here follow the Oxford translator. The term ^aciKeig is well in 
 accordance with the simple manners of the early ages, when kings were 
 farmers on a large scale. Many of our Saviour's parables present a simi- 
 lar association of agriculture with the regal dignity. 
 
 " Probably a religious rite. Cf. i. 449, 458. 
 
 • 'E<ltvrev(xev afiTrsXutva, Kai (ppayfibv avTtp irspdOrjKE. Matt, xxi 
 33. See K,osemiiller on Jer. v. 5. 
 
 2a 
 
364 ILIAD. XVIII. 565—603. 
 
 tin ; bui there was only one path to it, by which the gatherers 
 went when they collected the vintage. Young virgins and 
 youths, of tender minds, bore the luscious fruit in woven, 
 baskets,' in the midst of whom a boy played sweetly on a 
 shiill harp ; and with tender voice sang gracefully to the 
 chord; whilst they, beating [the ground] in unison with 
 dancing and shouts, followed, skipping with their feet. 
 
 In it he also wrought a herd of oxen with horns erect. But 
 the tine were made of gold and of tin, and rushed out with 
 a lowing from the stall to the pasture, beside a murmuring 
 stream, along the breeze-waving reeds.^ Four golden herds- 
 men accompanied the oxen, and nine dogs, swift of foot, fol- 
 lowed. But two terrible Uons detained the bull, roaring 
 among the foremost oxen, and he was dragged away, loudly 
 bellowing, and the dogs and youths followed for a rescue. 
 They indeed, having torn off the skin of the great ox, lapped 
 up his entrails and black blood; and the shepherds vainly 
 pressed upon them, urging on their fleet dogs. These how- 
 ever refused to bite the Uons, but, standing very near, barked, 
 and shunned them. 
 
 On it illustrious Vulcan also formed a pasture in a beauti- 
 ful grove full of white sheep, and folds, and covered huts and 
 cottages. 
 
 Illustrious Vulcan likewise adorned it with a dance, Uke 
 unto that which, in wide Gnossiis, Dajdalus contrived for fair- 
 haired Ariadne. There danced youths and alluring^ virgins, 
 holding each other's hands at the wrist. These wore fine 
 linen robes, but those were dressed in well-woven tunics, 
 shining* as with oil; these also had beautiful garlands, and 
 those wore golden swords, [hanging] from sEver belts. Some- 
 times, with skilful feet, they nimbly bounded [round] ; as 
 when a potter, sitting, shall make trial of a wheel fitted to 
 his hands, whether it wiU run : and at other times again they 
 ran back to their places through one another. But a great 
 crowd surrounded the pleasing dance, amusing themselves; 
 
 ' " Vimineis calathis," Copa, 16. Propert. iii. 11, 31. 
 
 ^ See Knight and Kennedy. 
 
 ' Literally, " finders of oxen," i. e. so attractive as to be certain of 
 receiving a good dowry, paid, after the ancient custom, in cattle. 
 
 * This must have been some kind of oil-cloth, unless we read ariXiovret 
 with Kennedy. The meaning is very obscure. 
 
604—616, ILIAD. XVIII. 355 
 
 and amongst them two tumblers, beginning their song, spun 
 round through the midst. 
 
 But in it he also formed the vast strength of the river 
 Oceanus, near the last border of the ■well-formed shield. 
 
 But -when he had finished the shield, lajge and solid, he 
 next formed for him a corslet, brighter than the splendour 
 of fire. He also made for him a strong helmet, fitted to his 
 temples, beautiftd and variously ornamented, and on it placed 
 a golden crest ; and made greaves for him of ductile tin. 
 
 But when renowned Vulcan had with toil made all the 
 armour, lifting it up, he laid it before the mother of Achilles; 
 but she, like a hawk, darted down from snowy Olympus, 
 b<!aring fi:om Vulcan the shining armour. 
 
356 ILIAD. XIX. 1_20. 
 
 BOOK THE NINETEENTH. 
 
 ABGDMENT. 
 
 Thetis, having brought Achilles his new armour, and promised to preserve 
 the body of Patroclus from corruption, he is reconciled to Agamemnon, 
 and being miraculously invigorated by Minerva, goes forth to battle, 
 regardless of the prediction of his fate by his horse Xanthus. 
 
 Sapfeon-eobed Mom -was rising from the streams of ocean, 
 that slie migtt bear light to immortals and mortals ; ' but 
 she (Thetis) came to the ships, bearing the gifts from the 
 god. Her dear son she found lying upon Patroclus, bitterly 
 lamenting, and his numerous companions "were lamenting 
 around him. But near to him stood the divine of god- 
 desses, and hung upon his hand and spoke, and addressed 
 him : 
 
 " My son, let us suffer him now to Ue, grieved although 
 •we be, since first he has been laid low by the coimsel of the 
 gods : but do thou receive these distinguished arms from 
 Vulcan, very beautiful, such as no man has ever worn upon 
 his shoulders." 
 
 Having thus spoken, the goddess placed the armour before 
 AohiUes; and they, all curiously wrought, clashed aloud. 
 Then tremor seized all the Myrmidons, nor did any one 
 dare to look directly at them, but they fled in fear. But 
 when Achilles saw them, the more rage entered hiTn ; and 
 his eyes shone terribly beneath his eyelids, like a flame ; and 
 he was delighted, holding in his hands the splendid gifts of 
 the god. But after he had delighted his mind, beholding 
 these artificial works, he immediately addressed to his mother 
 \Tinged words : 
 
 ' " To rosalute the world with sacred light 
 
 Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalm'd 
 The earth."— Par. Lost. xi. 132. 
 
21—57. ILIAD. XIX. 357 
 
 " Mother mine, the god hatli indeed given arms, such as 
 are fit to be works of immortals, nor that a mortal man 
 oould make. Truly now mil I arm myself j but I very much 
 fear lest, in the meantime, the flies, having entered the gal- 
 lant son of Mencetins, by his spear-inflicted -wounds, create 
 maggots, and pollute the corse, (for life in it is destroyed,) 
 and all the parts of the body grow putrid." 
 
 But him the silver-footed goddess Thetis then answered : 
 
 " My child, let not these things be a care to thy mind. I 
 will endeavour to drive away from him the fierce swarms, 
 the flies which devour heroes slain ia battle. For although 
 he lie an entire year, his body shall always be uncorrupted, 
 or even better. But do thou, having siunmoned the Grecian 
 heroes to an assembly, having renounced thy wrath towards 
 Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, arm thyself quickly 
 for war, and put on thy might." 
 
 Thus, therefore, having spoken, she infused into him the 
 most daring courage, and then instilled into Patroclus, 
 through the nostrils, ambrosia and ruby nectar,' that his 
 body might be uncorrupted. 
 
 But noble Achilles went along the shore of the sea, shout- 
 ing fearfully, and aroused the Grecian heroes; so that even 
 those who used formerly to remain in the assemblage of the 
 ships, both those who were pilots, and who held the rudders 
 of the ships, and the pursers [who] were at the ships, dis- 
 pensers of food, even these then indeed went to the assembly, 
 because AchiUes appeared, for he had long abstained from 
 the grievous battle. And two servants of Mars, the warlike 
 son of Tydeus, and noble Ulysses, went limping, leaning upon 
 a spear ; for they still had painful wounds ; and advancing, 
 they sat in the front seats. Bui last came the king of men, 
 Agamemnon, having a wound ; for him also, in the sharp 
 battle. Coon, son of Antenor, had woiinded with his brazen 
 spear. Then when aU the Greeks were assembled, swift- 
 footed Achilles, rising up amongst them, said : 
 
 " Son of Atreus, this would surely have been somewhat 
 better for both thee and me,^ when we two, grieved at heart, 
 
 ' Milton, P. L. v. 633 : " with angels' food, and rubied nectar flows." 
 ' /. e. it would have been better for ua to have been friends, as we 
 now are, than enemies. The construction is interrupted, to suit the agi- 
 tation of the speaker. 
 
S58 ILIAD. XIX. 58—94. 
 
 raged with soul-devouring contention for the sake of a girL 
 Would that Diana had slain her with an arrow in the ships 
 on that day, when wasting, I took Lymessus ; then indeed 
 so many Greeks had not seized the mighty ground in their 
 teeth under the hands of the enemy, I being continually 
 enraged. This however was better for Hector and the Tro- 
 jans, but I think the Greeks will long remember the conten- 
 tion of you and me. But let us leave these things as passed, 
 although grieved, subduing from necessity the soul within 
 our bosoms. And now I terminate my wrath, nor is it at all 
 fit that I always obstinately be em-aged ; but come quickly, 
 incite the long-haired Achseans to battle, in order that still 
 I may make trial of the Trojans, going against them; if 
 they wish to pass the night at the ships ; but of them I 
 think that any will very gladly bond the knee, whoever 
 shall escape out of the destructive fight from my spear." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but the well-greaved Greeks rejoiced, the 
 magnanimous son of Peleus renouncing his wrath. But 
 them the king of men, Agamemnon, also addressed out of 
 the same place, from his seat, nor advancing into the midst : 
 
 " O friends ! heroes of the Greeks, servants of Mars, it is 
 becoming indeed that ye should hearken to me, thus rising, 
 nor is it convenient that thou shouldst interrupt ; for [it is] 
 di85.cult, even for one being skilled.^ But in a great uproar 
 of men, how can any one hear or speak ? but he is inter- 
 rupted, although being a clear-toned orator. I indeed will 
 direct myself to the son of Peleus ; but do ye, the other 
 Greeks, understand, and carefiiUy learn my meaning. Often 
 already have the Greeks spoken this saying to me, and have 
 rebuked me ; but I am not to blame,^ but Jove, and Fate, 
 and Erinnys, roaming amid the shades, who, during the 
 assembly, cast into my mind a sad injury, on that day, when 
 I myself took away the reward of Achilles. But what could 
 I do ? for the deity accomplishes all things ; pernicious Ate, 
 the venerable daughter of Jove, who injures all. Her feet 
 are tender, for she does not approach the ground, but she 
 walks over the heads of men, injuring mankind, and one at 
 
 ' /. e. even a good speaker can do nothing without a fair hearing. 
 
 - Cf. iii. 164. Seneca, (Ed. 1019 : " Fatl ista culpa est." Cf. Du- 
 port. p. 106. ^sch. Choeph. 910 : 'H /loXpa tovtwv, Hi Ttsvov, 
 wapairia. 
 
94—127. ILIAD. XIX. 359 
 
 least' [she] fetters. For at one time she injured even Jove, 
 who, they say, is the most powerful of men and gods; but him 
 Juno, being a female, deceived by her guile on that day 
 when Alcmene was about to bring forth mighty Hercules in 
 ,well-walled Thebes. He indeed, boasting, had said among 
 aU the gods : 
 
 " ' Hear me,'* all ye gods and all ye goddesses, whilst I 
 speak those things which the mind within my bosom urges. 
 This day Ilithyia, presiding over births, shall bring into the 
 light a certain man, who shall be ruler over all his neigh- 
 bours, — [one] of those men of the blood of my race !' 
 
 " But him the august Juno addressed, devising guile : 
 ' Thou shalt lie, nor shalt thou insure accomplishment to thy 
 speech. But come, swear a firm oath to me, O Olympian ! 
 that he shall indeed be ruler over all his neighbours, who 
 shall this day fall between the feet of a woman, among those 
 men, who are of the blood of thy family.' 
 
 " Thus she spoke, but Jove perceived not her crafty 
 design, but he swore the mighty oath, and afterwards was 
 much befooled.^ Then Juno springing forth, quitted the top 
 of Oljrmpus, and came speedily to Achaean Argos, where she 
 knew the noble spouse of Sthenelus, the son of Perseus. 
 And she, indeed, was pregnant of her beloved son ; and the 
 seventh month was at hand ; and she brought him into 
 light, being deficient the numljer of months ; but kept back 
 the delivery of Alcmene, and restrained the Ilithyise ; and 
 herself bearing the message, addressed Jove, the son of 
 Saturn : 
 
 " ' Father Jove, hurler of the red lightning, I will put a 
 certain matter in thy mind. A noble man is now bom, who 
 shall rule the Argives, Eurystheus, the son of Perseus, thy 
 offspring j nor is it unbecoming that he should govern the 
 Argives.' 
 
 " Thus she spoke ; but sharp grief smote him in his deep 
 mind ; and immediately he seized At6 by her head of shining 
 curls, enraged in his mind, and swore a powerful oath, that Ate, 
 
 ' " A delicate censure of Achilles." — Oxford Transl. 
 
 ' Cf. Pindar, OI. ill. 50-103, and 11. v. iii. I have followed Heyne's 
 construing, supplying riva. 
 
 ' Injured, vexed by his infatuation. Juno was thinking of Eurystheus. 
 but Jove of Hercules 
 
360 ILIAD. XTX. 128—161. 
 
 who injures all, should never again return to Olympus and 
 the starry heaven. 
 
 " Thus saying, he cast her from the starry heaven, whirl- 
 ing her round in his hand, but she quickly reached the works 
 of men. On her account he always groaned,' when he 
 beheld his beloved son suffeiing unworthy toil under the 
 labours of ^ Eurystheus. 
 
 " So I also, when the great crest-tossing Hector was thus' 
 destrojdng the Greeks at the stems of the ships, was not 
 able to forget the wrong which I had formerly foolishly com- 
 mitted. But since I have suffered harm, and Jove has taken 
 away my reason, I am willing again to appease thee, and to 
 give in&ute presents. But arise to the battle, and incite the 
 other people, and I myseK [wiU pledge myself] to furnish all 
 the presents, as many as noble Ulysses yesterday, going to 
 thee, promised in thy tents. Yet, if thou wilt, wait a little, 
 although hastening to battle, and my servants, taking the 
 presents from my ship, shall bring them, that thou mayest 
 see that I will present [thee] with appeasing offerings." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed ; "Most 
 glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, whether 
 thou wilt furnish gifts, as is meet, or keep them with thee, [will 
 be seen] ; but now let us very quickly be mindful of the contest; 
 for it is not fitting to waste time in idle talk,^ nor to delay; 
 as a mighty work is yet undone. But as some one may again 
 behold Achilles among the front ranks, destroying the pha- 
 lanxes of the Trojans with his brazen spear, so also let some 
 one of you, keeping this in mind, fight with [his] man." 
 
 But him Ulysses, of many wiles, answering, addressed : 
 " Not thus, brave as thou art, O godlike Achilles, urge on the 
 sons of the Greeks, fasting, towards Ilium, about to fight with 
 the Trojans ; for the conflict will not be for a short time 
 only, when once the phalanxes of men shall mingle, and a 
 god breathe might into both. But command the Greeks to 
 be fed at the ships with food and wine, for this is might and 
 
 ' On the servitude of Hercules, see Grote, vol. i. p. 128. 
 
 ^ I. e. imposed by. 
 
 ^ " The parallel implied here is of the havoc occasioned hy Hector, 
 and the laborious tasks imposed by Eurystheus. Such appears to be the 
 force of the particle." — Kennedy. 
 
 * Hesych. ■; KXoTaTninv TrapaXoyi'iia&ai o rpoyyeitcrSai. 
 
161—198. 1LIA0. XIX. 361 
 
 vigour. For a man, unrefreslied by food, would not be able 
 to fight against [tbe enemy] all day to the setting sun ; for 
 although he might desire in his mind to fight, yet his limbs 
 gradually grow languid, and thirst and hunger come upon 
 him, and his knees fail him as he goes. The man, on the 
 other hand, who is satiated with wine and food, fights all day 
 with hostile men, the heart within his breast is daring, nor 
 are his limbs at all fatigued before that all retire from 
 battle. But come, dismiss the people, and ordei- a repast 
 to be made ready ; and let the king of men, Agamemnon, 
 bring the gifts into the midst of the assembly, that all the 
 Greeks may see them with their eyes, and thou mayest be 
 delighted in thy mind. Let him, moreover, swear an oath 
 CO thee, standing up among the Greeks, that he has never 
 ascended her bed, nor has been mingled with her, as is the 
 custom, O king, of men and wives ; and to thee thyself, also, 
 let the soul within thy breast be placid. Then let him 
 next conciliate thee by a rich banquet vdthin his tents, that 
 thou mayest not have aught wanting of redress. And for the 
 future, O son of Atreus, thou wilt be more just towards 
 another ; for it is by no means unworthy that a king should 
 appease a man, when he ' may first have given ofience." 
 
 But him the king of men, Agamemnon, in return ad- 
 dressed : 
 
 " I rejoice, O son of Laertes, having heard thy speech, for 
 with propriety hast thou gone through and enumerated a;ll 
 things. These things I am willing to swear, and my mind 
 orders me, in presence of a god, nor will I perjure myself 
 But let Achilles remain here, at least for a little while, 
 though hastening to battle, and do all ye others remain, as- 
 sembled, until they bring the gifts from my tent, and we 
 strike faithful leagues. To thyself, however, [O UlyssesJ, I 
 give this charge, and order thee, selecting the principal 
 youths of all the Greeks, to bear from my ship the gifts, 
 as many as we yesterday promised that we should give to 
 Achilles, and to lead [hithei-] the women. But let Talthy- 
 bius also quickly prepare for me through the wide army of 
 the Greeks, a boar to sacrifice to Jove and the sun." 
 
 Him answeiing, swift-footed Achilles then addressed : 
 
 ' Uaderstand PaaiKivi, 
 
332 ILIAD. XIX. 199—23,9. 
 
 " Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agameitnon, 
 at some other time ought they rather to attend to these 
 things, when any cessation of battle hereafter be, and so 
 much ardour be not in my bosom : but at present those 
 lie mangled, whom Hector, son of Priam, subdued, when 
 Jove gave him the glory : but ye urge [them] to food ! 
 Now indeed I should excite the sons of the Greeks to fight, 
 fasting, but with the setting sun, to prepare a large supper, 
 after we have revenged our disgrace. Before that neither 
 drink nor food shall pass down my throat, my companion 
 being slain, who lies in my tent, torn with the sharp brass, 
 turned towards the vestibule, whilst his comrades mourn 
 around — ^these things are not a care to my mind, but slaughter 
 and bloodshed, and the dreadful groans of heroes." 
 
 But biTin iDuch-scheming Ulysses answering, addressed : 
 
 " O Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the bravest of the Greeks, 
 thou art superior indeed to me, and not a little more valiant 
 with the spear, but I indeed excel thee much in prudence ; 
 because I was bom before thee, and know more : wherefore 
 let thy mind be restrained by my words. Soon is there a 
 satiety of contest to the men, a most abundant crop of 
 whom the brass pours upon the earth ; but the harvest is 
 very small, when Jove, who is the umpire of the battle of 
 men, inclines his scales. It is by no means fit that the 
 Greeks should lament the dead with the stomach, for ia 
 great numbers and one upon another are they every day 
 falling ; when therefore coiild any one respire ft-om toil 1 
 But it is necessary to bury him, whosoever may die, having 
 a patient mind, weeping for a day.' But as many as survive 
 the hateful combat should be mindful of drinking and of 
 food, in order that we may ever the more ceaselessly contend 
 with our enemies, clad as to our bodies in impenetrable brass; 
 nor let any of the troops lie by awaiting another exhortation. 
 For evilly will that exhortation come upon him, whoever may 
 be left at the ships of the Greeks ; but advancing in a body, 
 let us stir up the keen battle against the horse-breaking 
 Trojans." 
 
 He said, and chose as his companions the sons of glorious 
 Nestor, and Meges, son of Phyleus, Thoas, and Meriones, 
 
 ' Libanius, Or. ix. in Julian. : 'Q iroWd avyKivijaaq iiri aavrtji daupva, 
 ovK iir' rifian Kara to ivog, i\o(pvpnoS rvx^^"- See Duport, p. 111. 
 
240—276. ILIAD. XIX. 3oJ 
 
 Lycomedes, son of Creon, and Melanippus ; and they pro- 
 ceeded to go towards tlie tent of Agamemnon, son of 
 Atreus. Immediately after the word was spoken, and the 
 work was perfected. Seven tripods they bore from the 
 tent, which he had promised him, and twenty splendid 
 goblets, and twelve steeds ; and straightway led forth seven 
 blameless women, sldlled in. works, but the eighth was fair- 
 cheeked Briseis. But Ulysses, placing ^ ten whole talents of 
 gold, led the way, and with him the other youths of the 
 Greeks bore the presents, and placed them in the midst 
 of the assembly ; but Agamemnon rose up ; and Talthybius, 
 like unto a god in his voice, stood beside the shepherd of the 
 people, holding a boar in his hands. Then the son of Atreus, 
 drawing the knife with his hands, which, always hung by the 
 great scabbard of his sword, cutting off the forelock of the 
 boar, prayed, lifting up his hands to Jove ; but all the Greeks 
 sat in silence in the same spot, listening in a becoming manner 
 to the king. But praying, he spoke, looking towards the 
 wide heaven : 
 
 " Now first let Jove be witness, the most supreme and 
 best of gods, and Earth, and Sun, and ye Furies, who be- 
 neath the earth chastise men, whoever may swear a false- 
 hood ; never have I laid h-ands upon the maid Briseis, 
 needing her for the sake of the couch, or any other purpose ; 
 but inviolate has she remained in my tents. But if any of 
 these things be felse, may the gods inflict on me those very 
 many distresses which they inflict when men sin -in swear- 
 ing." 
 
 He said, and cut the throat of the boar with the ruth- 
 less brass ; which Talthybius, whirling round, cast into the 
 mighty water of the hoary sea, as food for fishes. But 
 Achilles, rising, said among the war-loving Greeks : 
 
 " father Jove, certainly thou givest great calamities to 
 men ; for never could Atrides have so thoroughly aroused 
 the indignation in my bosom, nor foolish, led away the girl, 
 I being unwilling, but Jove for some intent wished death 
 should happen to many Greeks. But now go to the repast, 
 that we may join battle." 
 
 Thus then he spoke, and dissolved the assembly in haste.* 
 
 ' /. <;. in the scale, in order to be weighed. 
 
 • So Od. viii. 3S ■ 60171' oKtyvvere Salra, i. e. Souc. Virg. jEu. iv. 
 
3C4 ILIAD. XIX. 277—306. 
 
 They indeed were separated, each to his own ship ; but the 
 magnanimous Myrmidons were occupied about the gifts, and, 
 bearing them, went to the ship of godlike Achilles. These 
 they laid up in the tents, and placed the women iu seats ; 
 but the illustrious attendants drove the horses to the stud. 
 But afterwards Briseis, Kke unto golden Venus, when she 
 beheld Patroclus lacerated with the sharp spear, throwing 
 herself about him, wept aloud, and with her hands tore her 
 breast and tender neck, and fair count enance.' Then the 
 woman, like unto the goddesses, weeping, said : 
 
 " O Patroclus ! most dear to my wretched soul, I left thee 
 indeed abve, departing from my tent, but now returning, I 
 jBnd thee dead, O chieftain of the people ! How in my case 
 evil ever succeeds evil. The hero indeed to whom my father 
 and venerable mother had given me,^ I saw pierced with the 
 sharp brass before the city ; and three beloved brothers 
 whom the same mother had brought forth to me, all drew 
 on the destructive day. Nevertheless, thou didst not suffer 
 me to weep, when swift Achilles slew my husband, and laid 
 waste the city of divine Mynes, but thou saidst thou wouldst 
 render me the wedded wife^ of noble Achilles, lead me in the 
 ships to Phtliia, and prepare the nuptial feast amongst the 
 Myrmidons. Therefore do I insatiably lament thee dead, 
 being ever gentle." 
 
 Thus she spoke, weeping ; and the women lamented for 
 Patroclus, as a pretext, but [really] each for her own ills. 
 And around him (Achilles) were collected the elders ol the 
 Greeks, entreating him to take refreshment ; but he, moan- 
 ing, refused : 
 
 " I entreat [you], if any of my beloved compa ons would 
 be obedient to me, bid me not satiate my heai-t with food or 
 
 226 : " Celeres defer mea dicta per auras," which Servius interprets, 
 *' celer, vel celeriter." 
 
 ' On these ancient signs of lamentation cf. Virg. ^n. n. 672 ; xii. 605; 
 Silius, viii. 153 ; Tusc. Qusest. iii. 26. jEsch. Choeph. 22 : Upk-ni 
 ■KaprfiQ (poLvloiq a/ivyjioXi;. Eur. Hel. 1098 : Ilapnoi r' ovvx^a ^di/iov 
 tfitaXw xpoof. Orest. 950 : Ti9uffa Xsvkov ovv\a oia irapriiSityVj alfia- 
 TTjpbv arav. Artemidor. i. 'Ev role TrivBiai XdSiovTai. rig trapiias oi 
 ■ivBpMTToi. See Comm. on Petron. cxi. 
 
 '•' The consent of both parents was necessary to a contract of marriage. 
 See Feith, Antiq. Horn. ii. 13, 3. 
 
 ' She appears to have been, at present, only betrothed. 
 
307—345. ILIAD. XIX. 365 
 
 drink, siiice heavy grief hath invaded me j but I will wait 
 entirely till the setting sun, and wlU endure." 
 
 So saying, he dismissed the other kings : but two sons of 
 Atreus remained ; and noble Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, 
 and the aged knight Phoenix, constantly endeavouring to 
 delight him sorrowing ; nor was he at all delighted, before 
 he diould enter the mouth i of bloody war. But remember- 
 ing [Patroolus], he frequently heaved [a sigh], and said : 
 
 " Surely once, thou too, O imhappy one ! dearest of my 
 companions, wouldst thyseK have set before me a plentiful 
 feast, within my tent, speedily and diligently, when the 
 Greeks hastened to make tearful war upon the horse-break- 
 ing Trojans. But now thou liest mangled ; but my heart is 
 without drink and food, though they are within, from regret 
 for thee ; for I. could not suffer anything worse, not even if 
 I were to hear of my father being dead, who now perhaps 
 sheds the tender tear in Phthia from the want of such a 
 son; while I, in a foreign people, wage war against the 
 Trojans, for the sake of detested Helen : or him, my be- 
 loved son, who is nurtured for me at Scyros, if indeed he 
 still Hves, godlike Neoptolemus. For formerly the mind 
 within my bosom hoped that I alone should perish here in 
 Troy, far from steed-nourishing Argos, and that thou shouldst 
 return to Phthia, that thou mightst lead back my son in 
 thy black ship from Scyros, and mightst show hiirri every- 
 tliing, my property, my servants, and my great, lofty-domed 
 abode. For now I suppose that Peleus is either totally 
 deceased, or that he, barely alive, suffers pain from hateful 
 old age, and that he is continually expecting bad news re- 
 specting me, when he shall hear of my being dead." 
 
 Thus he spoke, weeping ; and the elders also groaned, re- 
 membering, each of them, the things which they had left in 
 their dwellings. But the son of Saturn felt compassion, 
 seeing them weeping, and immediately to Minerva addressed 
 winged words : 
 
 " O daughter mine, thou entirely now desertest thy valiant 
 hero. Is Achilles then no longer at all a care to thee in thy 
 mind 1 He himself is sitting before his lofty-beaked ships, 
 
 ' So Ennius, p. 128. Hessel. : " Belli ferrates posteis portasque re- 
 fregit." Virg. JEn. i. 298 : " Claudentur beUi porta." Stat. Theb. y, 
 136 : " Moret ostia belli." 
 
S66 1LIA0. XIX. 345—381. 
 
 be-wailing his dear companion j wMle the others have gone 
 to a banquet ; but he is uiirefreshed and iinfed. Go, ther& 
 fore, instil into his breast nectar and delightful ambrosia, 
 that hubger may come not upon him." 
 
 Se saying, he urged on Minerva, who was before eager. 
 But she, like unto a broad-winged, shrill-voiced harpy, leaped 
 down from the heavens through the air. The Greeks, how- 
 ever, were then arming themselves throughout the camp, 
 srhen she instilled into the bosom of Achilles nectar and 
 delightful ambrosia, that unpleasant hunger might not 
 come upon his limbs. Then she went to the solid mansion 
 of her powerful sire, and they, apart, poured forth from 
 the swift ships. 
 
 And as when thick snow-flakes fly down from Jove, be- 
 neath the force of the cold, air-clearing Boreas ; so from the 
 ships were borne out crowded helmets, shining brightly, and 
 bossed shields, strong-cavitied corslets, and ashen spears. 
 But the sheen reached to heaven, and aU the earth around 
 smiled beneath the splendour of the brass ; and a trampling 
 of the feet of men arose beneath. In the midst noble 
 Achilles was armed, and there was a gnashing of his 
 teeth, and his eyes shone like a blaze of fire ; but iuto- 
 lerable grief entered his heart within him, and, enraged 
 against the Trojans, he put on the gifts of the god, which 
 Vulcan, toiling, had fabricated for him. First around his 
 legs he placed the beautiful greaves, joined with silver clasps, 
 next he put on the corslet round his breast, and suspended 
 from his shoulders the brazen, silver-studded sword ; then he 
 seized the shield, large and solid, the sheen of which went to 
 a great distance, as of the moon.^ And as when from the 
 sea the blaze of a burning fire shines to mariners, which is 
 lit aloft amongst the mountains in a solitary place ; but the 
 storm bears them against their inclination away from their 
 friends over the fishy deep ; so from the shield of Achilles, 
 beautiful and skilfully made, the brightness reached the sky. 
 But raising it, he placed the strong helmet upon his head ; 
 
 ' MUton, P. L. i. 284 : 
 
 " his pond'rous shield 
 
 Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, 
 Behind him cast ; the broad circumference 
 Uuug on his shoulders like the moon.'' 
 
581—419 ILIAD. XIX. 367 
 
 and the helmet, ciested with horse-hair, shone like a star; 
 and the golden tufts which Vulcan had diffused thick around 
 the cone were shaken. Then noble Achilles tried himself in 
 his arms if they would fit him, and if his fair limbs would 
 move freely in them ; but they were Uke wings to him, and 
 lifted up the shepherd of the people. And from its sheath 
 he drew forth Ms paternal spear, heavy, great, and stout, 
 which no other of the Greeks was able to brandish, but 
 Achilles alone knew how to hurl it — a PeUan ash, which 
 Chiron had cut for his father from the top of Pelion, to be a 
 destruction to heroes. But Automedon and Alcimus, har- 
 nessing the steeds, yoked them ; and beautiful collars were 
 upon them. They put the bridles into their jaws, and drew 
 back the reias towards the well-glued car, when Automedon, 
 seizing the shining lash, fitted to his hand, leaped into the 
 oar; Achilles, armed for battle, mounted behind him, glitter- 
 ing in his armour like the shining sun ; and terribly he gave 
 command to the horses of his sire : 
 
 "Xanthus, and Balius, illustrious offspring of Podarges, 
 resolve now in a different manner to bring back your cha- 
 rioteer in safety to the body of the Greeks, after we are 
 satiated with battle, nor leave him there dead, Kke Patro- 
 clus." 
 
 But from beneath the yoke, Xanthus, his swift-footed 
 steed, addressed him, and immediately hung down his head, 
 and his whole mane, drooping from the ring which was near 
 the yoke, reached the ground. But the white-armed goddess 
 Jimo gave him the power of speech : 
 
 "Now, at least, we will bear thee safe, impetuous Achilles : 
 but the fatal day draws nigh to thee ; nor are we to blame, 
 but a mighty deity and violent destiny. For not by our 
 laziness, or sloth, have the Trojans stripped the armour 
 from the shoulders of Patroclus; but the bravest of the gods, 
 whom fair-haired Latona brought forth, slew him among the 
 front ranks, and gave glory to Hector. And [though] we 
 can run even with the blast of Zephyrus, which they say is 
 the most fleet, yet to thyself it is fated that thou shouldst be 
 violently subdued by a god and a man." 
 
 Of him, having thus spoken, the Furies restrained the 
 voice : but him swift-footed Achilles, greatly iadignant, ad- 
 dressed : 
 
358 ILIAD. XIX. 420—424. 
 
 " O Xanthus, why dost thou predict my death to me 1 
 For it is not at all necessary for thee. Well do I myseli 
 know that it is my fate to perish here, far away from my 
 dear fe,ther and mother. Nevertheless I wiU not cease before 
 the Trojans are abundantly satiated with war," 
 
 He spoke, and shouting amongst the front ranks, directed 
 on liis solid-hoofed steeds^ 
 
1_23. ILIAD. XX. 3«9 
 
 BOOK THE TWENTIETH. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Jove permits the gods to join in the battle, and they take their respective 
 places on either side. .zGneas engages Achilles, but is rescued by Nep- 
 tune. Hector, in revenge for the death of his brother Polydorus, also 
 attacks Achilles, and is only saved from death by the intervention of 
 Apollo. Achilles then slays many Trojans. 
 
 Thus around thee, O son of Peleus, were the Achseaus armed, 
 insatiable in fight, beside their crooked ships ; and the Tro- 
 jans, on the other side, on the acclivity ^ of the plain. But 
 Jove ordered Themis to summon the gods to an assembly, 
 from the top of many-valleyed Olympus, and she, going round, 
 ordered them to proceed to the palace of Jove. Nor was any 
 one of the rivers absent, save Oceanus, nor of the nymphs 
 who inhabit the pleasant groves and springs of rivers, and 
 the gi-assy meads. Then, coming to the habitation of cloud- 
 compelling Jove, they sat down upon shining polished 
 benches, which Vulcan with cunning sldll had made for 
 father Jove. Thus were they assembled within the palace of 
 Jove : nor did Neptune disobey the goddess, but he came to 
 ihem from the sea. Then he sat in the midst, and inquired 
 the design of Jove : 
 
 " Why again, O hurler of the glowing lightning, hast thou 
 summoned the gods to an assembly? Dost thou deliberate 
 anything respectiug the Trojans and Greeks? For now their 
 combat and the battle are on the point of being kindled." 
 But him cloud-compel hng Jove answering, addressed : 
 "Thou knowest, O earth-shaker, my design within my 
 breast, [and] for whose sake I have assembled you ; for 
 though about to perish, they are a care to me. I wiU, how- 
 ever, remain sitting on the top of Ol3rmpus, ■whence looking, 
 
 ' Sees. 160; xi. 56. 
 
 2b 
 
S70 ILIAD. XX. 23—53. 
 
 I shall delight my soul ; but depart the rest of you, that ye 
 may go to the Trojans and Greeks. Give aid to hoth, accord- 
 ing as is the inclination of each. For if Achilles alone shall 
 fight against the Trojans, they will not even for a little sus- 
 tain the swift-footed son of Peleus. Formerly even beholding 
 him, they fled terrified ; but now when he is grievously en- 
 raged in his mind on account of his companion, I fear lest he 
 overthrow, the wall, even contrary to fate." 
 
 Thus spote Satumian Jove, and he stirred up the unyielding ' 
 contest; and the gods hastened to proceed to the battle, 
 having discordant minds. Juno, indeed, and Pallas Minerva 
 [went] to the assemblage of the ships, as well as earth- 
 shaking Neptune, and useful Mercury, who excelled in a 
 prudent mind, with whom went Vulcan, looking savage in 
 his might, limping, and under him his weak limbs moved 
 with all their force. But to the Trojans [went] crest-tossing 
 Mars, and with him unshorn Phflebus,^ and Diana, delighting 
 m archery, Latona, Xanthus, and laughter-loving Yenus. As 
 long as the gods were apart from mortal men, so long the 
 Greeks were greatly elated, because Achilles appeared, for he 
 had long abstained from the dire battle ; and a violent tremor 
 came upon the Trojans, upon each of them as to their hmbs, 
 fearing because they beheld the swift-footed son of Peleus ght- 
 tering in arms, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. But after 
 the Olympians had come to the crowd of men, then arose 
 fierce Contention, the exciter of the people, and Minerva 
 shouted, sometimes standing beside the trench, outside the wall, 
 at other times she loudly shouted along the echoing shores. 
 But Mars yelled aloud on the other side, like unto a dark 
 whirlwind, keenly animating the Trojans from the lofty city, 
 at other times running along the Simois over CaUicolone.^ 
 
 ' Buttm. Lexil. p. 406, 3 : " The adjective dA iairroe, literally unbend- 
 ing, unyielding, not to be turned, became the epithet of a Tiolent, uncon- 
 trollable, incessant tumult, battle, lamentation, &c., as at II. M. 471 ; 
 B. 797 J Q. 760 ; and as an adverb at Q. 549." 
 
 ' Hor. Od. i. xxii. 2 : " Intonsum, pueri, dicite Cynthium." Tibnll. 
 i. 4, 37 : " Solis eeterna est Phoebo, Bacchoque juventa : banc decet inton- 
 sus criuis utrumque Deum." Various reasons are assigned for this; stch 
 as, " quia occidendo et renascendo semper est juvenior," Fulgent. 
 Myth. i. 17; or, " quod ipse sit sol, et sol ignis est, qui nunquam 
 senescit," Lutat. on Stat. Theb. i. 694. The inhabitants of Hieropolis, 
 however, worshipped a bearded Apollo. — Macr. Sat. i. 17. 
 
 ' A rising ground which lay on the road from Troy towards tlie sea- 
 
54—87. ILIAD. XX 371 
 
 Thus the blessed gods, inciting both, sides, engaged, and 
 among them made severe contention to break out. But 
 dreadfully from above thundered the father of gods and men ; 
 whilst beneath Neptune shook the boundless earth and the 
 lofty summits of the mountains. The roots and aU the sum- 
 mits of many- rilled Ida were shaken, and the city of the 
 Trojans, and the ships of the Greeks. Pluto himself, king of 
 the nether world, trembled beneath, and leaped up from his 
 throne, terrified, and shouted aloud, lest earth-shaking Nep- 
 tune should rend asunder the earth over him, and disclose to 
 mortals and immortals his mansions, terrible, squalid, which 
 even the gods loathe. So great a tumult arose from the gods 
 engaging in combat. Against king Neptune, indeed, stood 
 Phoebus Apollo, having his winged shafts, and against Mars 
 the azure-eyed goddess Minerva. Opposed to Juno stood the 
 goddess of the golden bow, huntress Diana, rejoicing in 
 archery, the sister of ApoUo; and opposite Latona, the pre- 
 server,' useful Mercury. Against Vulcan also was the great 
 deep-eddying river, which the gods caU Xanthus, and men 
 jhe Scamander. 
 
 Thus indeed gods went against gods; but Achilles chiefly 
 longed to penetrate through the crowd against Hector, the 
 .son of Priam; for with his blood his mind particularly or- 
 dered him to satiate Mars, the invincible warrior. But 
 ApoUo, exciter of troops, immediately aroused ^neas against 
 the son of Peleus, and infused into him strong courage. And 
 he likened himself in voice to Lycaon, the son of Priam, and 
 having Ukened himself to him, Apollo, the son of Jove, 
 
 " O ^neas, counsellor of the Trojans, where are thy threats 
 
 which, whilst carousing, thou didst promise to the leaders of 
 
 the Trojans, that thou wouldst fight against Achilles, the son 
 
 tf Peleus?" 
 
 But liiTin ^neas, answering, addressed in turn : 
 
 " Son of Priam, why dost thou order me, not wishing it, 
 
 coast, on the other side of the Simoi's, commanding the entire plain. 
 Hence it is the rendezvous of the gods who favoured the Trojans. 
 
 ' We find a collateral verb auiKiiv = valere, in .^sch. Eum. 36. 
 ApoUon. Lex. p. 752 ; Hesych. t. ii. p. 1334, derive cruKUf from 
 auiaioiKos, the former connecting it with kpiovvwg, 6 fiiyaXwe oviaxaiv, 
 tovt' tffri / 
 
372 ILIAD. XX. 88—127. 
 
 these things, to fight against magnanimous Pelides? For 
 shall I not now for the first time stand against swift-focted 
 AchiUes, but already, on another occasion, he chased me -with 
 his spear fi:om Ida, -when he attacked our cattle, and laid 
 waste Lymessus and Pedasus : but Jove preserved me, who 
 excited my strength and nimble limbs. Certainly I should 
 have been subdued beneath the hands of Achilles, and Mi- 
 nerva, who, preceding, gave him victory, and encouraged him 
 to slay the Lelegans and Trojans with his brazen spear. 
 Wherefore it is not possible that a man should fight against 
 Achilles, because one of the gods is ever beside him, who 
 averts destruction. Besides, also, his weapon files direct, nor 
 stops before it has pierced through human flesh ; though if 
 the deity would extend an equal scale of victory, not very 
 easily wotild he conquer me, although he boasts hiiaself to be 
 all brazen." 
 
 But him again king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed : 
 
 " But do thou also pray, hero, to the immortal gods, for 
 they say that thou too art sprung from Venus, the daughter 
 of Jove, but he from an inferior goddess; for the one is from 
 Jove, and the other from the aged sea^-god. But direct thy 
 invincible brass right against him, nor let him at all avert 
 thee by haughty words and threats." 
 
 Thus saying, he breathed great courage into the shepherd 
 of the people; and he advanced through the front ranks, 
 accoutred in shining brass. Nor did the son of Anchises 
 escape the notice of white-armed Juno, going against the son 
 of Peleus through the ranks of men ; but, calling the gods 
 together, she addressed them : 
 
 " Consider now, both Neptune and Minerva, in your minds, 
 how these things shall be. This jSlneas, accoutred in shining 
 brass, has advanced against the son of Peleus ; and Phoebus 
 Apollo has urged him on. But come, let us, however, turn 
 him back again; or let some one of us stand by Achilles, and 
 give him great strength, nor let him at all be wanting in 
 courage; that he may know that the mightiest of the im- 
 mortals love him ; and that those, on the contrary, are vain, 
 who hitherto avert war and slaughter from the Trojans. 
 But we have aU come down from Olympus, about to partici- 
 pate in this battle, lest he should suffer anything among the 
 Tiojans to-day; but hereafter he shall suffer those things, a.t 
 
128—156. ILIAD. XX. :s!3 
 
 many as Fate at his birth, wove in his thiead [ot uesliny]/ 
 to Mm, what time his mother brought him forth. But if 
 Achilles shall not learn these things from the voice of a god, 
 he ■will afterwards be afraid when any god comes agaimst him 
 in battle; for the gods, when made manifest, are terrible to 
 be seen manifestly."^ 
 
 But her then earth-shaking Neptune answered : 
 " Juno, be not beyond reason enraged ; nor is it at all 
 necessary. I, indeed, woTild not desire that we should engage 
 the other gods in a battle, since we are much more powerful. ^ 
 Bather let us, going out of the way, sit down upon a place of 
 observation,'* but the war shall be a care to mortals. But if 
 Mars shall begin the combat, or Apollo, or shall restrain 
 Achilles, and not suffer him to fight, then immediately shall 
 the strife of contention there arise to us ; and I think that 
 they, having very speedily decided it, wiU return to Oljrmpus, 
 and mix with the assembly of other gods, violently subdued 
 by necessity under our hands." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, the azure-haired [god] led the 
 way to the lofty mound-raised wall of divine Hercules, whicl. 
 the Trojans and Pallas Minerva had made, that, flying, he 
 might escape from the sea-monster, when pursued from the 
 shore to the plain. There then Neptune sat down, and the 
 other gods, and drew an indissoluble cloud around their 
 shoulders ; whilst on the other side they sat upon the tops of 
 Calhcolone, around thee, O archer ApoUo, and Mars, the saoker 
 of cities. Thus they sat on both sides, planning designs, yei 
 both were unwilling to commence grievous war ; but Jovc. 
 sitting aloft, cheered them on. All the plain, however, was 
 
 ' See Duport, p. 114. On the web woven by the Fates for man's life, 
 see Virg. Eel. iv. 46 ; Catullus, Ixiv. 328. But this passage of Homer 
 ieems to imply the ancient notion, that the Fates might be delayed, but 
 B£ver set aside. Cf. Nemes. de Nat. Horn. i. 36 ; Censorin. de die Nat. 
 xiv. ; Serv. on .lEn. vii. 398. 
 
 ' Deos manifesto in lumine vidi." — Virg. jEn. iv. 358. On the belief 
 that the sight of a god was attended with danger, cf. Liv. i. xvi. where 
 Proculus beseeches the apparition of Romulus " ut contra intueri fas 
 esset." See intpp. on Exod. xxxiii. 20 ; Judges xiii. 22. 
 
 ' I am half inclined to condemn this verse as spurious, with Ernesti. 
 It is wanting in MS. Lips, and ed. Rom., and does not appear to have 
 been read by Eustathius. 
 
 * Compare the " Contemplantes " of Lacan, sub init., where the gods 
 seek a similar place of observation. 
 
i7i ILIAD. XX. 157—189. 
 
 filled with them, and glittered with the brass of men and 
 horses, and the earth echoed under the feet of them rushing 
 together. But two heroes, by far the most valiant, advanced 
 towards [each other] into the midst of both armies, eager to 
 fight, — ^^neas, the son of Anchises, and noble Achilles. And 
 first ^neas, threatening, advanced, nodding with his strong 
 casque ; and before his breast he held his impetuous shield, 
 and shook his brazen spear. But on the other side Pehdea 
 rushed against him like a destructive lion, which men assem- 
 bled together, a whole village, are anxious to kill. He, how- 
 ever, at first despising them, proceeds ; but when some one 
 of vigorous youths has wounded him with a dart, yawning, 
 he collects himself [for a spring],^ and the foam arises round 
 his teeth, and his valiant soul groans within his breast, and 
 he lashes his sides and thighs on both sides with his tail, and 
 rouses himself to battle ; then, grimly glaring, he is borne 
 straight on by Ms strength, if he can kUl some of the men, 
 or is himself destroyed in the first crowd. Thus did his 
 might and noble soul urge Achilles to go against magnani- 
 mous ^neas. But when now, advancing, they approached 
 each other, swift-footed, noble Achilles first addressed the 
 other : 
 
 " Why, O ^neas, coming through so great a length of 
 crowd, dost thou stand against me 1 Does then thy soul 
 urge thee to fight with me, hoping that thou wilt govern 
 the horse-breaking Trojans in the place^ of Priam 1 Yet 
 even if thou shalt slay me, not thus will Priam place this 
 reward in thy hand : for he has sons ; and he is himself 
 steady, nor inconstant. Or, if thou slayest me, have the 
 Trojans cut ofi' for thee an enclosure'* of soil surpassing 
 others, suited to vines and the plough, that thou mayest 
 cultivate it 1 Still I hope thou wilt efiect it with difficulty. 
 For I think I have at some other time put thee to flight 
 with my spear. Dost thou not remember when I impe- 
 tuously drove thee, when alone, from the oxen, with rapid 
 
 ' So a\tle in XV. 403. " It is also used in the same way of a warrior, 
 who, whilst he is preparing to rush on his enemy, or expecting his attack, 
 draws himself up together, or, as we say, puts himself in an attitude of 
 attack or defence." — Buttm. Lexil. p. 258. 
 
 ^ 'AvtI rijt ^aaiKiiac is Gaza's correct paraphrase, 
 
 " Cf. 7i. 194. 
 
189—225. ILIAD. XX. 375 
 
 feet, down tlie Idsean mountains ? Then indeed thou didst 
 never turn round while flying, but didst escape thence into' 
 L)Tnessus ; but I wasted it, having attacked it with the aid 
 of Minerva and father Jove. The women also I led away 
 captives, having taken away their day of freedom ; but Jove 
 and the other gods preserved thee. However, I do not 
 think they will protect thee now, as thou castest in thy 
 mindj but I exhort thee, retiring, to go into the crowd, 
 nor stand against me, before thou suffer some evil ; 
 but [it is] a fool [who] knows a thing [only] when it is 
 done." 
 
 But him -(Eneas answered in turn, and said : 
 " Do not tliink, O son of Peleus, to afiright me, like an 
 infant boy, with words ; since I also well know how to utter 
 both threats and reproaches. But we know each other's 
 race, and we know our parents, hearing the words of mortal 
 men long since uttered ; although by sight, indeed, neither 
 dost thou know mine, nor I thine. They say, indeed, that 
 thou art the offspring of renowned Peleus, and of thy 
 mother Thetis, the fair-hairod sea-nymph ; whereas I boast 
 myself to be sprung from magnanimous Anchises, and Venus 
 is my mother. Of these the one or the other shall this day 
 lament their beloved son j for I think we shall not return 
 from the battle thus separated by childish words. But if 
 thou desirest to be taught these matters, that thou mayest 
 well know our race (for many men know it), cloud-compelling 
 Jove indeed first begat Dasdanus.^ And he bmlt Dar- 
 dania, for sacred Ilium, the city of articulate-speaking men, 
 was not as yet built in the plain, and they still dwelt at the 
 foot of many-rilled Ida. Dardanus again begat a son, king 
 Erichthonius, who was then the richest of mortal men ; 
 whose three thousand mares pastured through the maxsli, 
 rejoicing in their tender foals. Boreas, however, was enar 
 moured of some of these when pasturing, and having likened 
 himself to an azure-maned steed, covered them ; and they, 
 becoming pregnant, brought forth twelve female foals ; which 
 when they bounded upon the firuitful earth, ran over the 
 
 ' On Dardanus, the eponymus of Dardania, see Grote, vol. i. p. 387, 
 where the whole legend of Troy is admirably discussed. Cf. Virg. JEn. i. 
 292 ; iii. 167, where the Roman poet has made use of Homer in tracing 
 the pedigree of .^neas to Jove. 
 
376 ILIAD. XX. 227—260. 
 
 Wghest fruit of the stalts of corn, nor did they break them:' 
 but when they sported over the broad back of the ocean, 
 they ran along the surface of the ridge of the hoary sea. But 
 Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans. From Tros 
 again were descended three illustrious sons, Hus, Assaracus, 
 and godlike Ganymede, who indeed was the handsomest of 
 mortal men ; and whom the gods caught up into heaven, to 
 pour out wine for Jove,^ that, on account of his beauty, he 
 might be with the immortals. Ilus again begat his renowned 
 son Laomedon ; but Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam, 
 Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, a branch of Mars ; arid As- 
 saracus Capys, who also begat his sou Anchises. But An- 
 chises begat me, and Priam noble Hector. Of this race and 
 blood do I boast myself to be. But Jove increases and di- 
 minishes valour to men, as he pleases ; for he is the most 
 powerfiil of all. But come, let us no longer talk of these 
 tilings, like little boys, standing in the middle combat of the 
 strife. For it is possible for both to utter very many re- 
 proaches, so that a hundred-oared galley ^ would not contain 
 the burthen ; for the language of mortals is voluble,* and the 
 discourses in it numerous and varied : and vast is the distri- 
 bution* of words here and there. Whatsoever word thou 
 mayest speak, such also wilt thou hear. But what need is 
 there to us of disputes and railing, that we should quarrel 
 with each other like women, who, being angry with a soul- 
 destroying strife, proceeding into the middle of the way, chide 
 each other with many things true and not true : for rage 
 also suggests those things ? ® With words, however, thou 
 shalt not turn me, courageous, from my valour, before thou 
 flghtest against me with thy brass ; but come, quickly let 
 us make trial of each other with brazen spears." 
 
 He spoke, and hurled liis brazen spear against the dreadful 
 shield, terrible [to be seen], and the huge buckler resounded 
 
 ' This hyperbole has been emulated by numberless poets. Cf. Opplan, 
 Cyn. i. 231 ; Apollon. Rh. 1. 183 ; Quintus Calab. viii. 156 ; Virg. JEn. 
 vii. 808 ; Claudian in 3rd Cons. Hon. i. 97. 
 
 ' Cf. Pindar, 01. i. 69, and Serv. on JEn. i. 32. 
 
 * Compare the Latin phrase, " plaustra convitiorum," and Duport, 
 p. 116. 
 
 * 2rp£?r7)) — uypd Kai tiXvyiiTTog. — Eustath. 
 
 * No/*oc. ^irivhurfffiQ 6^* Ejcarcpa. — Eustath. See Kennedy. 
 
 * " 1. e. prompts to utter all sorts of things, true and false." — Oxf. Tr. 
 
261— 2S6. ILIAD. XX. 3?; 
 
 with the stroke of the javelin. But the son of Peleus, 
 alarmed, held the shield from him -with his strong hand, for 
 he supposed that the long spear of great-hearted .i^neaa 
 ■would easily penetrate ; foohsh ! nor did he reflect in his 
 mind and soul, that the glorious gifts of the gods are not easy 
 to be subdued by mortal men, nor to yield. Nor then did 
 the heavy spear of warlike ^neas penetrate the shield ; but 
 the gold stopped it, the gift of the god. It penetrated, how- 
 ever, through two folds, but there were still three ; since 
 Vulcan had drawn five folds over it, two brazen, two inside 
 of iia, and one golden ; ia which the brazen spear was 
 stopped. But Achilles next sent forth his long-shadowed 
 spear, and struck against the shield of ^neas, equal on all 
 sides, at the outside edge, where the thinnest brass ran round 
 it, and the ox-hide was thinnest upon it ; but the Pelian ash 
 broke through, and the shield was crushed by it. But 
 jSlneas crouched,^ and being terrified, held the shield from 
 him ; whilst the spear [passing] over his back, stuck in the 
 earth eager [to go on], for it had burst through both orbs of 
 the mighty ^ shield. But he, having escaped the long spear, 
 stood still, but immoderate sadness was poured over his eyes, 
 terrified, because the weapon had stuck so near him. But 
 Achilles eagerly sprang upon him, drawing his sharp sword, 
 and shouting dreadfully. Then ^neas seized in his hand a 
 stone, a great weight, which not two men could bear, such as 
 men now are j but he, though alone, easily wielded it. Then 
 indeed had ^neas smitten him, rushing on, with the stone, 
 either upon the helmet or the shield, which kept off grievous 
 destruction from him ; and BeUdes, in close fight, had taken 
 away his life with the sword, had not earth-shaking Neptune 
 quickly perceived it, and immediately addressed this speech 
 to the immortal gods : 
 
 " Ye gods ! certainly there now is grief to me, on account 
 of magnanimous uffilneas,^ who will quickly descend to Hades, 
 subdued by the son of Peleus, foolish, being persuaded by the 
 words of far-darting Apollo ; nor can he by any means avert ^ 
 
 ' See on ver. 168. 
 
 '■' Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 83. The Schol. and Hesych. t. i. p. 296, 
 interpret it " man-encircling." 
 
 ' The remarks of Grote, vol. 1. p. 428, sqq. on the character and posi- 
 tion of ^neas throughout the Iliad, deserve much attention. 
 
 * " The examples of xp""^/*"'' sre frequent enough in Homer to 
 
378 ILIAD. XX. 297—331 
 
 sad destruction from Mm. Eixt why now should this guilt- 
 less ' man suffer evils gratuitously, on account of sorrows due 
 to others, for he always presents gifts agreeable to the gods 
 who inhabit the wide heaven 1 But come, let us withdraw 
 him from death, lest even the son of Saturn be angry, if 
 indeed AchUles slay this man : moreover, it is fated that he 
 should escape, that the race of Dardanus, whom Jove lov&l 
 above all the children that were descended from him and 
 mortal women, may not perish without offspring, and become 
 extinct. For already hath the son of Saturn hated the race 
 of Priam, and the might of ^neas shall now rule over the 
 Trojans, and the sons of his sons, who may be bom in after- 
 times." 
 
 But him large-eyed venerable Juno then answered : 
 " earth-shaker ! do thou thyself reflect within thy Toini, 
 with respect to jEneas, whether thou wilt withdraw him, oi 
 suffer him, being brave, to be subdued by AchiUes, the son of 
 Peleus. For already we two, I and PaUas Minerva, have 
 sworn many oaths amongst all the immortals, that we will 
 never help to avert the evil day from the Trojans, not even 
 when all Troy, fired, shall bum with consuming flame, anr' 
 the warlike sons of the Greeks fire it." 
 
 But when earth-shaking Neptune heard this, he hastened 
 to go through the battle and the clash of spears ; and came 
 where were ^neas and renowned Achilles. And imme- 
 diately he shed a darkness upon the eyes of Achilles, 
 son of Peleus, and he drew out the ashen spear, well 
 guarded vidth brass, from the shield of magnanimous 
 ^neas ; and laid it before the feet of Aclulles, and pushed on 
 ^neas, lifting him high up from the ground. But jSlneas 
 leaped over many ranks of men and many of horses, impelled 
 by the hand of the god, and came to the rear of the troubled 
 fight, where the Caucones were arrayed for war. But very 
 near hiTn came earth-shaking Neptune, and addressing him, 
 spoke winged words : 
 
 enable us safely to assert, from a comparison of them, that it never has 
 (at least in his writings) the more general meaning of to be useful, to help, 
 
 but, without an exception, the more definite sense of to ward off by 
 
 examining passages we find, that even where no accusative is expressed, 
 the evil to be warded off may always be inferred from the context.' '^ 
 Buttm. Lexil. p. 542. 
 
 ' He bad wished to restore Helen. See Liv. i. 1. 
 
33^—368. ILIAD. XX. '379 
 
 " O j3Eneas, v, Mch of tte gods commanded thee, thas mad, 
 to combat against Achilles, who is at once more valiant than 
 thou, and more dear to the immortals ? But retire -whenever 
 thou shalt be opposed to him, lest, even contrary to fate, 
 thou arrive at the habitation of Pluto. But when Achilles 
 shall have attained his death and destiny, then again, being 
 confident, fight among the front ranks, because no other of 
 the Greeks shall slay thee." 
 
 So saying, he left him there, when he had told him all, 
 and immediately afterwards dissipated the thick darkness 
 from the eyes of Achilles, and he then saw very clearly with 
 his eyes; whereupon groaning, he addressed his magnanimous 
 soul : 
 
 " Ye gods ! certainly I behold this, a great marvel with 
 mine eyes. The spear indeed lies upon the ground, nor do 
 I at aU perceive the man at whom I hurled it, desiring to 
 kill him. Undoubtedly ^neas, too, was dear to the immor- 
 tal gods, although I supposed that he boasted thus idly. Let 
 him go ; there will be no spirit in him hereafter to make 
 trial of me, who even now rejoicing, has escaped from death. 
 But come, having encouraged the warlike Greeks, I wiL 
 make trial of the other Trojans, going against them." 
 
 He spoke, and sprang into the ranks, and cheered on 
 every man : 
 
 " No longer now stand ofi" from the Trojans, O noble 
 Greeks, but on ! let man advance against man, and let him 
 be eager to engage. Difficult is it for me, although being 
 valiant, to attack so many warriors, and to fight with them 
 all. N"ot even Mars, who is an immortal god, nor yet Mi- 
 nerva, could charge and toil against the force of such a 
 conflisit. Yet whatever I can do with hands, with feet, 
 and with strength, I declare that I will no longer be remiss, 
 not ever so little ; but I will go right through their line, nor 
 do I think that any Trojan will rejoice, whoever may come 
 near my javelin." 
 
 , Thus he spoke, encouraging them j but illustrious Hector, 
 upbraiding, animated the Trojans, and said that he would go 
 against Achilles : 
 
 " Ye magnanimous Trojans, fear not the son of Pelous. 
 I, too, could fight with words even with the immortals, but 
 with the spear it is difficult, for they are far more powerful. 
 
380 ILIAD. XX. 369—404. 
 
 Nor shall AcMlles give effect to all his words ; but one part 
 he shall fulfil, and the other leave half imperfect. Against 
 him will I go, even though he were like to fire as to his 
 hands ; and to shining iron, as to his might." 
 
 Thus he spoke, iaciting them ; but the Trojans opposite 
 quickly raised their spears ; their strength was mingled 
 together, and a shout arose. Then also Phoebus Apollo, 
 standing near, addressed Hector : 
 
 '' Hector, do not at all fight iu the van with Achilles, but 
 receive biTn in the crowd, and from the tumult, lest by any 
 chance he hit thee, or strike thee with the sword in close 
 combat." 
 
 Thus he spoke, and Hector sunk back again into the thick 
 body of men, dismayed when he heard the voice of the god 
 speaking. But Achilles leaped among the Trojans, clad with 
 courage as to his soul, shouting dreadfiilly ; and first slew 
 gallant Iphition, son of Otrynteus, the leader of many 
 people, whom the nymph Nais bore to Otrynteus, the 
 sacker of cities, under snowy Tmolus, in the rich district 
 of Hyda.^ Him, eagerly rushing straight forward, nobL 
 Achilles struck with his javelin in the middle of the head ; 
 and it was entirely split in two. He gave a crash as he fell, 
 and noble Achilles boasted over him : 
 
 " O son of Otrynteus, most tenible of all men, thou hest ; 
 death is here upon thee. Thy birth, however, is at the 
 Gygffian lake, where is thy paternal land, beside fishy 
 Hyllus, and eddying Hernnis." 
 
 Thus he spoke, boasting ; but darkness covered his (Iphi- 
 tion's) eyes, but the horses of the Greeks tore him with the 
 tires of the wheels in the front ranks. After him Achilles 
 smote Demoleon, son of Antenor, a brave repeUer of the 
 fight, in the temples, through his brazen-cheeked helmet. 
 Nor indeed did the brazen casque resisl it, but through it 
 the eager javelin broke the bone, and the whole brain 
 within was defiled ; and he subdued him, ardent. Next 
 he wounded with his spear in the back, Hippodamas, as he 
 was leaping down from his chariot, while flying before him. 
 But he breathed out his soul, and groaned, like as when a 
 buU, dragged round the Heliconian king,^ bellows, as the 
 
 ' A town of Mseonia in Lydia. See Staph. Byz. s. v. 
 
 • Neptune was a favourite god amonjf the lonians (of. Miiller, Dor. 
 
405—436. ILIAD. XX. 3S^ 
 
 youths di'ag him ; and the earth-shaker is delighted witli 
 them : so, as he moaned, his fierce soul left his bones. BuJ 
 he went with his spear against godlike Polydorus,! the son 
 of Priam ; but him his father did not permit to fight, because 
 he was the youngest among aU, and dearest to him, and sur- 
 passed aU in speed. Then, indeed, through youthful folly, 
 exhibiting the excellence of his speed, he ran among the 
 front ranks till he lost his hfe. Him noble swift-footed 
 Achilles smote rushing by, in the middle of the back, where 
 the golden rings of his belt clasped together, and the doubled 
 corslet met. Eight through at the navel pierced the point 
 of the spear, and uttering a groan, he fell upon his knees ; a 
 black cloud enveloped him, and stooping down, he gathered 
 his intestines in his hands. But when Hector perceived his 
 brother Polydorus holding his intestines in his hands, and 
 rolled on the earth, a darkness was immediately poured over 
 his eyes, nor could he any longer be employed afar ofij but 
 advanced towards Achilles, like unto a flame, brandishing 
 his sharp spear. On the other hand, Achilles, as soon as he 
 saw him, leaped up, and boasting, spoke : 
 
 '' Near is the man who has most stung my soul, who has 
 slain my cherished companion ; no longer indeed let us dread 
 each other through the bridges^ of war." 
 
 He spoke, and sternly regarding [him], addressed noble 
 Hector : 
 
 " Come nearer, that thou mayest the sooner reach the end 
 of death." 
 
 But him, not daunted, crest-tossing Hector addressed : 
 
 " son of Peleus, do not expect to terrify me now like a 
 little boy, at least with words; since I myself also well know 
 how to speak both revilLags and reproaches. I know that 
 thou indeed art brave, and that I am inferior to thee. But 
 these things indeed are placed at the knees of the gods, 
 whether, dthough being inferior, I shall taie away thj 
 
 "ol. i. p. 417), but derived this name from Helice, a town in the northern 
 coast of the Peloponnese, out of which the principal Achaean families were 
 ".riven by Tisamenns, whose tomb was shown there. See Miiller, id. 
 y. 74. 
 
 ' This is not the Polydorus of Virgil and Euripides, but the son of 
 Laothoe, daughter of Altas, king of the Lelegans 
 
 ' SeeiT. 371. 
 
882 ILIAD. XX. 437—475. 
 
 life, atriking thoe with my spear, since my weapon alao is 
 sharp at the ^oint." 
 
 He spoke, and, brandishing, sent forth his spear; and 
 Miaerva with a breath turned it back from glorious 
 Achilles, having breathed very gently; but it came back 
 to noble Hector, and lay before his feet. But Achilles, eager 
 to slay him, rushed furiously on, shouting dreadfully ; but 
 ApoUo, as a god, very easily snatched him away, and covered 
 him with abundant haze. Thrice indeed swift-footed noble 
 Achilles rushed on with his brazen spear, and thrice he smote 
 the deep haze. But when he rushed on the fourth time, like 
 unto a god, he, dreadfully chidiug, addressed to him winged 
 words : 
 
 " Dog, now again hast thou escaped death. Assuredly 
 evil came very near thee, but Phoebus ApoUo has now agaiu 
 preserved thee, to whom thou art wont to pray, when going 
 into the clang of spears. Yet will I certainly finish thee, 
 meeting thee hereafter, if indeed any of the gods be an ally 
 to me also.' At present, however, I will go after others of 
 the Trojans, whomsoever I can." 
 
 So saying, he struck Dryops with his spear in the middle 
 of the neck, and he fell before his feet. Him then he left 
 and then detained Demuchus, son of PhUetor, brave and 
 great, wounding [him] in the knee, with his spear, whom 
 then striking with his great sword, he deprived of hfe. But 
 attacking both, he pushed Laogonus and Dardanus, the sons 
 of Bias, from their chariot to the ground, wounding one with 
 his spear, and striking the other in close combat with his 
 sword. Also Tros, the son of Alastor, who came towards 
 him, taldng him by the knees, if on any terms he would 
 spare him, and dismiss him alive, nor slay him, taking pity 
 on their equal age : fool ! who knew not that he would not 
 be persuaded. For he was by no means a tender-minded 
 nor gentle man, but very ferocious. He (Tros) indeed clasped 
 his knees with his hands, desiring to supplicate him, but 
 he (Achilles) wounded bim ia the Hver with his sword ; 
 and his hver fell out, and the black blood from it filled his 
 bosom, and darkness veiled his eyes, wanting life. Buti 
 standing near Muhus, he smote him with his javehn on the 
 ear, and immediately the brazen blade went through the 
 other ear. Then, with his large-hilted sword, he smote 
 
475—503. ILIAD. XX. 383 
 
 Eclieclus, son of Antenor, in the centre of tte tead, and 
 the whole sword became tepid with blood ; but purple Death 
 and violent Fate seized his eyes. Then Deucalion, where the 
 tendons of the elbow unite, there he pierced hitn through 
 liis hand with his brazen spear ; but he, weighoi down as to 
 his hand, awaited him, perceiving death before him. But he 
 (Achilles) smiting his neck with his sword, knocked the head 
 off afar with its helmet, and the marrow sprang forth from 
 the spine ; and Deucalion lay extended on the ground. Then 
 he hastened to go towards Rigmus, the renowned son of 
 Pireus, who had come from fertile Thrace ; whom he smote in 
 the middle with his javelin, and the brass was fixed in his 
 stomach ; and he feU from his chariot : and AchOles wounded 
 in the back, with his sharp javelin, Areithoiis, the attendant, 
 while turning back the steeds, and threw him from the cha- 
 riot : and the horses were thrown into confusion. And as 
 the blazing fire burns through the deep dells of a dry moun- 
 tain, and the dense forest is consumed, and the wind agitating, 
 turns round the flame on all sides ; thus he raged in every 
 direction with his spear, like unto a deity, following those 
 that were to be slain ; and the black earth flowed with blood. 
 As when any one yokes broad fore-headed bulls to trample 
 out white barley on the weU-leveUed floor, and it eaaly 
 becomes small beneath the feet of the bellowing oxen ; so 
 the solid-hoofed horses, driven by magnanimous Achilles, 
 trod down together both corses and shields. And the whole 
 axletree beneath was polluted with gore, and the rings which 
 were round the chariot seat, which the drops from the horses' 
 hoofs spattered, as well as from the felloes. But the son of 
 Peleus was eager to bear away glory, and was polluted witk 
 gore as to his invincible hands. 
 
384 ILIAD. XXI. 1—17. 
 
 BOOK THE TWENTY-FIEST 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Having divided the Trojan army, Achilles drives one part towards the 
 eity, and the other into the Xanthus, where he takes twelve youths 
 alive, in order to sacrifice them at the tomb of Patroclus. He then 
 slays Lycaon and Asteropseus, deriding the river-god, Xanthus, as 
 unable to aid his friends. The river endeavours to overwhelm him by 
 the aid of Simo'is, but Vulcan defends him from the danger. Single 
 combats of the gods then follow, but they afterwards retire to Olympus 
 Apollo then leads Achilles away, assuming the form of Agenor, and the 
 Trojans are thus enabled to regain the city. 
 
 But when they at last reached the course of the fairly- 
 flowing river, the eddying Xanthus, -which immortal Jove 
 begat ; there separating them, he pursued some indeed through 
 the plaLa towai-ds the city, by the [same] way that the Greeks, 
 on the preceding day, being astounded, had fled, when illus- 
 trious Hector raged. By that way were they poured forth 
 terrified ; but Juno expanded a dense cloud before them, to 
 check them : but the other half were rolled into the deep- 
 flowing river, with silver eddies. But they fell ia with a 
 great noise ; and the deep streams resounded, and the banks 
 around murmured ; but they, with clamour, swam here and 
 there, whirled about in the eddies.^ As when locusts, driven 
 by the force of fire, fly into the air, to escape to a river, but 
 the indefatigable fire, suddenly kindled, blazes, and they fall, 
 through terror into the water: thus, by Achilles, was the 
 resounding river of deep-eddied Xanthus filled promiscuously 
 with horses and men. But the Jove-sprung [hero] left his spear 
 
 ' Virs. ^n. i. 118 : " Apparent ran nantes in gurgite vasto." With 
 the following description may be compared iEsch. Ag. 670 : "Opw/iev 
 dvQovv TTcXayoc AiyaXov vSKpuiv avSpuiv 'A\ai(i)v vavTiKuiV r' spsiirifitv, 
 Aristid. Fanath. p. 142 : 'Slg Sk iwpa rriv haXoTTav dLpiaTi Kai poQiif 
 pkovcaVj Kai iravTa v'sKpiov fcat vavayiwv ueurd. 
 
18—53. ILIAD XXI. 385 
 
 apon the banks, leaning against a tamarisk ; and lie leaped 
 in, like unto a god, having only his sword, and meditated 
 destructive deeds in his mind. And he smote on all sides, 
 and a shocking lamentation arose of those who were stricken 
 by the sword, and the water was reddened with blood. And, 
 as when the other fish, flying from a mighty dolphin, fill the 
 inmost recesses of a safe-anchoring harbour, frightened ; for 
 he totally devours whatever he can catch ; so the Trojans 
 hid themselves in caves along the streams of the terrible 
 river. But he, when he was wearied as to his hands, slaying, 
 chose twelve youths alive out of the river, a penalty for 
 dead Patroclus, the son of Menoetius. These he led out [of 
 the river], stupifi(!ii, like fawns. And he bound their hands 
 behind them' with weU-cut straps, which they themselves 
 bore upon their twisted tunics; and gave them to his com- 
 panions to conduct to the hoUow ships. But he rushed on 
 again, desiring to slay. 
 
 Then did he encounter the son of Dardanian Priam, Lycaon, 
 escaping from the river, whom he himself had formerly led 
 away, taking him unwilhng from his father's fe,rm, having 
 come upon him by night : but he, with ■ the sharp brass, 
 was trimming a wild fig-tree of its tender branches, that they 
 might become the cinctures of a chariot. But upon him came 
 noble Achilles, an unexpected evil ; and then, conveying him 
 in his ships, he sold him into well-inhabited Lemnos; but the 
 son of Jason gave his price.^ And from thence his guest, 
 Imbrian Eetion, ransomed him, and gave him many things, 
 and sent him to noble Arisbe; whence, secretly escaping, he 
 reached his father's house. Returning from Lemnos, for 
 eleven days he was delighted in his soul, with his friends ; 
 but on the twelfth the deity again placed him in tthe hands 
 of Achilles, who was about to send him into the [habitation] 
 of Hades, although not wUling to go. But when swift-footed, 
 noble Achilles perceived him naked, without helmet and 
 shield, neither had he a S])ear, for alt these, indeed, he had 
 thrown to the aground , for tht^ sweat overcame him, flyijig 
 from the river, and fatigue subdued his limbs beneath ; but 
 [Achilles] indignant, thus addressed his own great-hearted 
 soul : 
 
 ' As was customary with captives. Cf. Virg. Mn. ii. 57, ami Moll. 
 on Longus, ii. 9. ' /. e. purchase him as a slave. 
 
 2o 
 
886 ILIAD. XXI. 54—92. 
 
 " O gods ! surely I perceive this, a great marvel, -with, mine 
 eyes. Doubtless the magnanimous Trojans whom I have 
 slain will rise again from the murky darkness, as now this 
 man has returned, escaping the merciless day, having been 
 sold in sacred Lemnos ; nor has the depth of the sea restrained 
 him, which restrains many against their will. But come now, 
 he shall taste the point of my spear, that I may know in my 
 mind, and learn, whether he will in like manner return 
 thence, or whether the fruitful earth will detain him, which 
 detains even the mighty." 
 
 Thus he pondered, remaining still; but near him came 
 Lycaon, in consternation, anxious to touch his knees ; for he 
 very much wished in his mind to escape evil death and black 
 fate. Meanwhile noble Achilles raised his long spear, desiring 
 to wound him ; but he ran in under it, and, stooping, seized 
 his knees, but the spear stuck fixed in the earth over his 
 back, eager to be satiated with human flesh. But he, having 
 grasped his knees with one hand, supplicated him, and with 
 the othiT held the sharp spear, nor did he let it go; and, 
 supplicating, addressed to him winged words : 
 
 " O Achilles, embracing thy knees, I supplicate thee ; but 
 do thou respect and pity me. I am to thee in place of a 
 suppliant, to be revered, O Jove-nurtured one! For with 
 thee I first tasted the fruit of Ceres on that day when thou 
 tookest me in the well-cultivated field, and didst sell ^ me, 
 leading me away from my father and friends, to sacred 
 Lemnos ; and I brought thee the price of a hundred oxen. 
 But now will I redeem myself, giving thrice as many. This 
 is already the twelfth morning to me since I came to Troy, 
 having suffered much, and now again pernicious fate has 
 placed me in thy hands. Certainly I must be hated by father 
 Jove, who has again given me to thee. For my mother 
 Laothoe, the daughter of aged Altes, brought forth short-lived 
 me, of Altes, who rules over the warlike Lelegans, possessing 
 lofty Fadasus, near the Satnio: and Priam possessed his 
 daughter, as well as many othei-s; but from her we two were 
 born, but thou wilt slay both. Him, godlike Polydorus, 
 thou hast subdued already among the foremost infantry, when 
 thou smotest him with the sharp spear, and now will evil be 
 
 ' riesych, Tlkpaaaf eierb TripaQ rije daXdaatji Siairipaaas,ljiu\tjaac, 
 See Schol. on ver. 40. 
 
92—127. ILIAD XXI. 387 
 
 to me here ; for I do not tliink that I sliall escape thy hands, 
 since a deity has brought me near thee. Yet another thing 
 will I teU thee, and do thou store it in thy mind. Do not 
 slay me, for I am not of the same womb with Hector, who 
 killed thy companion, both gentle and brave." Thus then, 
 indeed, the noble son of Priam addressed him, supplicating 
 with words ; but he heard a stern reply. 
 
 " Fool, talk not to me of ransom, nor, indeed, mention it. 
 Before Patroclus fulfilled the fatal day, so long to me was it 
 more agreeable in my mind to spare the Trojans, and many 
 I took alive and sold. But now there is not [one] of all the 
 Trojans, whom the deity shall put into my hands before 
 Ilium, who shall escape death; but above all of the sons of 
 Priam. But die thou also, my friend ; why weepest thou 
 thus 1 Patroclus likewise died, who was much better than 
 thou. Seest thou not how great I am ? both fair and great ; 
 and I am from a noble sire, and a goddess mother bore me ; 
 but Death and violent Fate will come upon thee and me, 
 whether [it be] morning, evening, or mid-day -^ whenever any 
 one shall take away my life with a weapon, either wounding 
 me with a spear, or with an arrow from the string." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but his knees and dear heart were relaxed. 
 He let go the spear, indeed, and sat down, stretching out both 
 hands. But AchiUes, drawing his sharp sword, smote [him] 
 at the clavicle, near the neck. The two-edged sword pene- 
 trated totally, and he, prone uj)on the ground, lay stretched 
 out, but the black blood flowed out, and moistened the eai-th. 
 Then Achilles, seizing him by the foot, threw him into the 
 river, to be carried along, and, boasting, spoke winged 
 words : 
 
 " Lie there now with the fishes,^ which, without concern, 
 win lap the blood of thy wound ; nor shall thy mother^ weep, 
 placing thee upon the funeral couch, but the eddying Sca- 
 mander shall bear thee into the wide bosom of the ocean. 
 Some fish, bounding through the wave, wiU escape to the 
 dark ripple,'* jn order that he may devour the white fat of 
 
 ' See Kennedy. 
 
 ' Cf. Virg. .^n. x. 55.5, sqq. ; Longus, ii. 20 : 'AXXd /Bopiv [<'/ia£J 
 ixdviav difaia KaraSvaag, 
 » Cf. Soph. Electr. 1138, sqq. with my note. 
 * /. e. the surface. 
 
 2o'^ 
 
388 ILIAD. XXI. 128—103. 
 
 Lycaon. Perish [ye Trojans], till we attain to the city of 
 eacred Iliiun, you flying, and I slaughtering in the rear : nor 
 shall the wide- flowing, silver-eddying river, profit you, to 
 which ye have already sacrificed many bulls, and cast solid- 
 hoofed steeds alive into its eddies. But even thus shall ye 
 die an evil death, until ye all atone for the death of Patrochis, 
 and the slaughter of the Greeks, whom ye have killed at the 
 swift ships, I being absent." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but the River was thf more enraged at 
 heart, and revolved in his mind how he might make noble 
 Achilles cease from labour, and avert destruction from the 
 Trojans. But meanwhile the son of Peleus, holding his long- 
 shadowed spear, leaped upon Asteropseus, son of Pelegon, 
 desirous to kill him whom the wide-flowing Axius begat, and 
 Periboea, eldest of the daughters of Accessamenus ; for with 
 her had the deep-eddying river been mingled. Against him 
 Achilles rushed; but he, [emerging] from the river, stood 
 opposite, hohling two spears ; for Xanthus had placed courage 
 in his mind, because he was enraged on account of the youths 
 slain in battle, whom Achilles had slain in the stream, nor 
 pitied them. But wnen they were now near, advancing 
 towards each other, him first swift-footed, noble Achilles 
 addressed : 
 
 " Who, and whence art thou of men, thou who darest to 
 come against me? Truly they are the sons of unhappy men 
 who encounter my might." Him again the illustrious son of 
 Pelegon addressed : " O magnanimous son of Peleus, why dost 
 thou ask my race ? I am from fruitful Pseonia, being far off, 
 leading the long-speared Pseonian heroes ; and this is now 
 the eleventh morning to me since I came to Troy. But my 
 descent is from the wide-flowing Axius, who pours the fairest 
 flood upon the earth, he who begat Pelegon, renowned for 
 the spear; who, men say, begat me. But now, O illustrious 
 Achilles, let us fight." 
 
 Thus he spake, threatening : but noble Achilles raised the 
 Pelian ash ; but the hero Asteropseus [took aim] with both 
 spears at the same time,' for he was ambidexter.^ With the 
 
 ' 'Afiapry is here an adverb. 
 
 ' Symmachus, Epist. ix. 105 : " Pari nitore atque gravitate senatorial 
 actiones et Romanse rei monumenta liimasli. ut plane Homerica appella- 
 tioue TTtfji^sJiof, id est, iequimanum, te esse pronunciem." 
 
164—203. ILIAD. XXI. 389 
 
 one spear he struck the shield, nor did it pierce the shield 
 completely through; for the gold restrained it, the gift of a 
 god j and the other slightly wounded him upon the elbow of 
 the right arm ; and the black blood gushed out : but the 
 [spear passing] over him, -was fixed in the earth, longing to 
 satiate itself with his body. But second A chilles hurled his 
 straight-flying ashen spear at Asteropeeus, anxiously desiring 
 to slay him. From him indeed he erred, aud struck the 
 lofty bank, and drove the ashen spear up to the middle in 
 the bank. Then the son of Peleus, drawing his sharp sword 
 from his thigh, eagerly leaped upon him; but ho was not 
 able to pluck out, with his strong hand, the ashen spear of 
 Achilles, from the bank. Thrice, indeed, he shook it, desiring 
 to pluck it out, and thrice he failed in strength. And the 
 fourth time he had determined in his mind, bending, to snap 
 the ashen spear of jSlacides; but Achilles first, close at hand, 
 took away his life with the sword; for he smote him upon 
 the belly at the navel, and ail his bowels were poured out 
 upon the ground, and darkness veiled him, dying, as to his 
 eyes. Then Achilles, leaping upon his breast, despoiled him 
 of his arms, and boasting, spoke : 
 
 " Lie so : it is a difficult thing for thee, though descended 
 from a River, to contend with the sons of the most mighty 
 Satumian [Jove]. Thou saidst thou wert of the race of a 
 wide-flowing River, but I boast myself to be of the race of 
 mighty Jove. The hero ruling over many Myrmidons begat 
 me, Peleus, son of jEacus ; but .<3Eacu3 was from Jove ; where- 
 fore Jove is more powerful than Rivers flowing into the sea, 
 and the race of Jove again is more powerful than that of a 
 river. Besides, a very great River is at hand to thee, if it 
 can aught defend thee; but it is not lawfij to fight with 
 Jove, the son of Saturn. With him neither does king Ache- 
 loiis vie, nor the mighty strength of deep-flowing Oceanus, 
 from which flow all rivers, and every sea, and all fountains, 
 and deep wells ; but even he dreads the bolt of the great 
 Jove, and the dreadful thunder, when it bellows from 
 heaven." 
 
 He said, and plucked his brazen spear from the bank. But 
 him he left there, after he had taken away his hfe, lying i u 
 the sand, and the dark water laved him. About him, indeed, 
 the eels and fishes were busied, eating [and] nib])ling the fat 
 
390 IT.IAD. XXI. 204—232. 
 
 around his kidneys. But he (Achilles) hastened to go against 
 the Pseonian equestrian warriors, who were already turned 
 to flight beside the eddying river, when they saw the bravest 
 in the violent conflict bravely subdiied by the hands and 
 sword of the son of Peleus. Then he slew Thersilochus, 
 Mydnn, Astypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, ^nius, and Ophelestes. 
 And now had swift Achilles slain even more Pseonians, 
 had not the deep-eddying River, enraged, addressed him, 
 likening itself to a man, and uttered a voice from its deep 
 vortex : 
 
 "O Achilles, thou excellest, it is true, in strength, but 
 thou doest unworthy acts above [others], for the gods them- 
 selves always aid thee. If indeed the son of Saturn has 
 granted to thee to destroy all the Trojans, at least having 
 driven them from me, perform these arduous enterprises along 
 the plain. For now are my agreeable streams fiill of dead 
 bodies, nor can I any longer pour my tide into the vast sea, 
 choked up by the dead; whilst thou slayest imsparingly. 
 But come, even cea,so — a stupor seizes me — O chieftain of 
 the people." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed : 
 
 "These things shall be as thou desirest, O Jove-nurtured 
 Scamander. But I will not cease slaughtering the treaty- 
 breaking ' Trojans, before that I enclose them in the city, 
 and make trial of Hector, face to face, whether he shall slay 
 me, or I him." 
 
 Thus speaking, he rushed upon the Trojans like unto a 
 god ; and the deep-eddying River then addressed Apollo : 
 
 "Alas ! god of the silver bow, child of Jove, thou hast not 
 observed the counsels of Jove, who very much enjoined thee 
 to stand by and aid the Trojans, till the late setting evening^ 
 sun should come, and overshadow the fruitful earth." 
 
 ' Although this meaning of vvep<pia\og is well suited to this passage, 
 yet Buttmann, Lexil. p. 616, § 6, is against any such particular explana- 
 tion of the word. See his wliule dissertation. 
 
 ' &itf\oe has been shown by Buttmann to be really the qfiemoon- hut 
 he observes, p. 223, that in the present passage, "it is not the Attic 
 liiXti 6^ia, with which it has been compared, but by the force of Svidv, 
 the actual sunset of evening. The 6ipk is therefore, strictly spealung, 
 redundant, and appears to be used with reference only to the time past, 
 something in this way : ' Thou sbouldst assist the Trojans until ths suu 
 sinks late in the west.' " 
 
233—268. ILUD. XXI. 391 
 
 He spoke, and spear-reno-wned Achilles leaped into the 
 midst, rushing down from the bank. But he (the Elver) 
 rushed on, raging with a swoln flood, and, turbid, excited all 
 his waves. And it pushed along the numerous corpses, which 
 were in him ^ in abundance, whom Achilles had slain. These 
 he cast out, roaring Ulce a bull, upon the shore ; but the living 
 he preserved in his fair streams, concealing them among his 
 mighty deep gulfs. And terrible around Achilles stood the 
 disturbed wave, and the stream, falling upon his shield, op- 
 pressed him, nor could he stand steady on his feet. But he 
 seized with his hands a thriving, large elm ; and it, falling 
 from its roots, dislodged the whole bank, and interrupted the 
 beautiful streams with its thick branches, and bridged over 
 the river itself,''' falling completely in. Then leaping up from 
 tlie gulf, he hastened to fly over the plain on his rapid feet, 
 terrified. Nor yet did the mighty god desist, but rushed 
 after him, blackening on the surface, that he might make 
 noble Achilles cease from toil, and avert destruction from the 
 Trojans. But the sou of Peleus leaped back as far as is the 
 cast of a spear, having the impetuosity of a dark eagle, a 
 hunter, which is at once the strongest and the swiftest of 
 birds. Like imto it he rushed, but the brass clanked dread- 
 fully upon his breast ; but he, inclining obliquely, fled from 
 it, and it, flowing from behind, followed with a mighty noise; 
 As when a ditch- worker leads a stream of water from a black- 
 flowing fountain through plantations and gardens, holding a 
 spade in his hands, and throwing out the obstructions from 
 the channel ; all the pebbles beneath are agitated as it flows 
 along, and, rapidly descending, it murmurs down a sloping 
 declivity, and outstrips even him who directs it : so the water 
 of the river always overtook Achilles, though being nimble ; 
 for the gods are more powerful than mortals. As often as 
 swift-footed, noble Achilles attempted to oppose it, and to 
 know whether all the immortals who possess the wide heaven 
 put him to flight, so often did a great billow of the river, 
 
 ' /. e. in the river. One translator absurdly renders it " through 
 him," i. e. through Achilles. 
 
 ' " The circumstance of a fallen tree, which is by Homer described as 
 reaching from one of its banlcs to the other, affords a very just idea of the 
 breadth of the Scamander at the season witen we saw it."— Wood o» 
 Homer, p. 32S. 
 
392 ILIAD. XXI. 268—301. 
 
 flo-wing from Jove, lave his shoulders from above ; whilst he 
 leaped up with his feet, sad in mind, and the rapid stream 
 subdued his knees under him, and withdrew the sand fi"om 
 beneath his feet. But Pelides groaned, looking toward the 
 wide heaven : 
 
 " O father Jove, how does none of the gods undertake to 
 save me, miserable, from the river ! Hereafter, indeed, I would 
 suffer anything.' But no other of the heavenly inhabitants 
 is so culpable to me as my mother, who soothed me with 
 falsehoods, and said that I should perish by the fleet arrows 
 of Apollo, under the wall of the armed Trojans. Would that 
 Hector had slain me, who here was nurtured the bravest ; 
 then a brave man would he have slain, and have despoiled 
 a brave man. But now it is decreed that I be destroyed by 
 an inglorious death, overwhelmed in a mighty river, like a 
 swine-herd's boy, whom, as he is fording it, the torrent over- 
 whelms in wintry weather." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but Neptune and Minerva, very quickly 
 advancing, stood near him (but in body they had hkened 
 themselves to men), and, taking his hand in their hands, 
 strengthened him with words. But to them earth-shaking 
 Neptune began discourse : 
 
 " O son of Peleus, neither now greatly fear, nor yet be at 
 all dismayed ; so great allies from among the gods are we to 
 thee, Jove approving it, I and Pallas Minerva, so that it is 
 not decreed that thou shouldst be overcome by a river. It, 
 indeed, shall soon cease, and thou thyself shalt see it. But 
 let us prudently suggest, if thou be obedient, not to stop 
 thy hands from equally destructive war, before thou shalt 
 have enclosed the Trojan army within the renowned walls of 
 Troy, whoever, indeed, can escape : but do thou, having taken 
 away the life of Hector, return again to the ships ; for we 
 grant to thee to bear away glory." 
 
 They indeed having thus spoken, departed to the im- 
 mortals. But he proceeded towards the plain (for the com- 
 mand of the gods strongly impelled him), and it was all filled 
 with the overflowed water. Much beautiful ai-mour and 
 
 ' I. e. grunt that I may but escape a disgracefiil death by drowning, 
 and I care not how I perish afterwards. The Scholiast compares the 
 prayer of Ajax in p. 647 : 'Ev it ^ati 'icai oktaaav. CI. .£a. i. ItiO, 
 Bqg. ; .^Bsch. Chae])h. 340; Eur. Andr. 11S4. 
 
301—341. ILIAD. XXI. 393 
 
 corpses of youths slain in battle, floated along ; but his kncej 
 bounded up against the course of it rushing straight forward ; 
 for Minerva had put great strength into him. Nor did Sca- 
 mander remit his strength, but was the more enraged with 
 the son of Peleus. And he swelled the wave of the stream, 
 and, shouting, animated Simois : 
 
 " O dear brother, let us both, at least, restrain the force of 
 the man, since he will quickly destroy the great city of king 
 Priam, for the Trojans resist him not in battle. But aid me 
 very quickly, and fill thy streams of water from thy foun- 
 tains, and rouse all thy rivulets, raise a great wave, and stir 
 up a mighty confusion of stems and stones, that we may 
 restrain this furious man, who now already is victorious, .ind 
 is bent on deeds equal to the gods. For I think that neither 
 his strength will defend him, nor his beauty at aU, nor those 
 beautiful arms, which shall lie everywhere in the very bottom 
 of my gulf, covered with mud. Himself also will I involve 
 in sand, pouring vast abundant silt around him; nor shall the 
 Greeks know where to gather his bones, so much slime will 
 I spread over him. And there forthwith shall be ^ his tomb, 
 nor shall there be any want to him of entombing, when the 
 Greeks perform his obsequies." 
 
 He spoke, and raging aloft, turbid, he rushed upon Achilles, 
 murmuring with foam, with blood, and with dead bodies. 
 Immediately the purple water of the Jove-descended river 
 being raised up, stood, and seized the son of Peleus. But 
 Juno cried aloud, fearing for Achilles, lest the mighty deep 
 eddying river should sweep him away j and immediately ad- 
 dressed Vulcan, her beloved son : 
 
 "Arise, Vulcan, my son; for we supposed that eddying 
 Xanthus was equally matched in battle against thee ; but give 
 aid with aU haste, and exhibit thy abundant flame. But I 
 will go to excite a severe storm of Zephyrus, and rapid Notus 
 from the sea, which bearing a destructive conflagration, may 
 consume the heads and armour of the Trojans. Do thou, 
 therefore, bum the trees upon the banks of Xanthus, and 
 hurl at himself with fire, nor let him at all avert thee by 
 kind words or threats : neither do thou previously restrain 
 thy might ; but when I, shouting, shall give the signal, then 
 restrain thy indefatigable fire." 
 
 ' Observe the force of tctiv^itm. 
 
3M ILIAD. X.XI, 342—378 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but Vulcan darted forth his fierce-burning 
 fire. First, indeed, he kindled a fire in the plaiti, and burned 
 many dead bodies, which were in abundance, over it, whom 
 Achilles had slain ; so that the whole plain was dried up, 
 a -id the clear water restrained. And as when an autumnal 
 north wind immediately dries a newly-watered garden, and 
 gratifies him whoever cultivates it, so was the whole plain 
 dried, and it consumed the dead ; whereupon he turned his 
 all-resplendent flame against the river. The elins were 
 burned up, and the willows and tamarisks ; the lotus was con- 
 sumed, and the rushes and reeds, which grew in great abim- 
 dance round the beautiful streams of the river. Harassed 
 were the eels and the fishes, which through the whirlpools, 
 [and] which through the fair streams dived here and there, 
 exhausted by the breath of the various artificer Vulcan. 
 The might of the river was bnmt up, and he spake, and ad- 
 dressed him : 
 
 " None of the gods, O Vulcan, can oppose thee on equal 
 terms, nor can I contend with thee, thus burning with fire. 
 Cease from combat, and let noble Achilles instantly expel 
 the Trojans from their city ; what have I to do with contest 
 and assistance ? " 
 
 He spoke, scorched ; and his fe.ir streams boiled up. As a 
 caldron pressed by much fire, glows, bubbling up within on 
 all sides, while melting the fat of a delicately-fed sow, whilst 
 the dry wood lies beneath it ; so were his fair streams dried 
 up with fire, and the water boiled ; nor could he fiow on, 
 but was restrained, and the vapour [raised] by the might of 
 crafty Vulcan harassed him. At length, supplicating much, 
 he addressed to Juno winged words ; 
 
 " O Juno, why does thy son press upon my stream, to 
 annoy [me] beyond others ? nor truly am I so much to blame 
 as all the others, as many as are assistants to the Trojans. 
 But I will, however, desist, if thou biddest it ; and let him 
 also cease ; and I moreover will swear this, that I never will 
 avert the evil day from the Trojans, not even when ail burning 
 Troy shall be consumed with destructive fire, and the warUke 
 sons of the Greeks shall burn it." 
 
 But when the white-armed goddess Juno heard this, she 
 straightway addressed her beloved son Vulcan : " Vulcan, my 
 
373—413. ILIAD, XXI. 395 
 
 illustrious son, abstain ; for it is not fitting thus to persecute 
 an immortal god for the sake of mortals." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; and Vulcan extinguished his glowing fire, 
 and the refluent water immediately lowered its fair stream.s. 
 }3ut when the might of Xanthus was subdued, then indeed 
 they rested ; for Juno restrained herself, though enraged. 
 
 Among the other gods, however, grievous, troublesome 
 contention fell out, and the inclination in their minds was 
 borne in opposite directions. They engaged with a great 
 tumult, and the wide earth re-echoed, and the mighty heaven 
 resounded around. And Jove heard it, sitting upon Olympus, 
 and his heart laughed with joy, when he beheld the gods en- 
 gaging in contest. Then they did not long stand apart ; for 
 shield-piercing Mars began, and rushed first against Minerva, 
 holding his bi-azen spear, and uttered an opprobrious speech : 
 
 " Why thus, O most impudent, having boundless audacity, 
 dost thou join the gods in battle ? Has thy great soul incited 
 thee 1 Dost thou not remember when thou didst urge 
 Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to strike me ? And taking 
 the spear thyself, thou didst direct it right against me, and 
 didst lacerate my fair flesh. Now, therefore, I think that 
 I will chastise thee, for all that thou hast done against 
 me." 
 
 So saying, he struck [her] on the fringed segis, horrible, 
 which not oven the thunderbolt of Jove will subdue ; on it 
 gore-tainted Mars smote her with the long spear. But she, 
 retiring, seized in her stout hand a stone lying in the plain, 
 black, rugged, and qreat, which men of former days had set 
 to be the boundary of a field. ^ With this she struck fierce 
 BLars upon the Beck, and tftlay-ed Ms knees. Seven acres he 
 ^vered, felling; as to hiis hair he was defiled with dust ; and 
 his armour rang round him. But Pallas Minerva laughed, 
 and, boasting over him, addressed to him winged words : 
 
 " Fool, hast thou not yet perceived how much I boast my- 
 self to be superior, that thou opposest thy strength to me ? 
 Thus indeed dost thou expiate the Erinnys of thy mother, 
 who designs mischiefs against thee, enraged because thou 
 
 The student will find some rude representations of these boundary- 
 stones at page 212, sqq. of Van Goes' edition of the Rei Agrimensoria 
 Bcriptores. 
 
386 ILIAU. XXI. 413— <50. 
 
 hast deserted the Greeks, and dost aid the treaty-breakiiig 
 Trojans." 
 
 Thus having spoken, she turned back her bright eyes. 
 But Venus, the daughter of Jove, taking him by the hand, 
 led him away, groaning very frequently; but he wiOii diiB- 
 culty collected his spirit. But when the white-armed goddess 
 Juno perceived h\m^ immediately to Minerva she addrci*.uil 
 winged words : 
 
 " Alas ! child of segis-bearing Jove, invincible, see how 
 again she, most impudent, leads man-slaughtering Mars 
 through the tumult, from the glowing battle. But follow." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but Minerva rushed after, and rejoiced in 
 her mind ; and springing upon her, smotv her with her stout 
 hand on the breast, and dissolved her knees and dear heart. 
 Then both of them lay upon the fruitful earth ; but she, 
 boasting over them, spoke winged words : 
 
 " Would that all, as many as are allies to the Trojans, 
 when they fight against the armed Greeks, were so bold and 
 daring, as Venus came an assistant to Mars, to oppose my 
 strength ; then had we long since ceased from battle, having 
 overthrown the well-built city of Ilium." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but the white-armed goddess Juno smiled. 
 And the earth-shaking king addressed Apollo : 
 
 " Phoebus, why do we two stand apart t Nor is it be- 
 coming, since the others have begun. This would be dis- 
 graceful, if we return without fight to Olympus, and to tha 
 brazen-floored mansion of Jove. Commence, for thou art 
 younger by birth ; for it would not be proper for me, since I 
 am elder, and know more things. Fool, since thou possessest 
 a senseless heart ; nor dost at all remember those things, 
 how many evils we suffered round Ilium, when we alone 
 of the gods, coming from Jove to haughty Laomedon, la- 
 boured for a year for a stipulated hire, and he, commanding, 
 gave orders 1 I indeed bmlt a city and wall for the Trojans, 
 extensive and very beautiful, that the city might be im- 
 pregnable ; whilst thou, O Phoebus, didst feed his stamping- 
 footed, curved-horned oxen, among the lawns of many-valed, 
 woody Ida.i But when now the jocund Hours had brought 
 
 ' On this slaT"ry of Apollo, see my note, p. 43, n. 2. Longus, Past. iv. 
 10: EiTTore ' AiroWuv Aao/isdovTi hriTiviov iSovKoXqcTE, rotOffJE qv, olaf 
 
J51— 486. ILIAD. XXI. 397 
 
 round the period of payment, then did violent Laomsdon 
 forcibly defraud us both of all reward, and having threatened, 
 dismissed us. And beside,' he threatened that he would 
 bind our feet and hands from above, and sell us into distant 
 islands ; and affirmed that he would cut off the ears of both 
 with the brass : but we immediately returned back with indig- 
 nant mind, enraged on account of the rewards which, having 
 promised, he did not make good. Is it for this thou dost 
 now gratify the people 1 Why dost thou not strive along 
 with us, that the treaty-breaking Trojans may basely perish 
 from the root, with their cldldren and modest^ wives?" 
 
 But him the far-darting king, Apollo, in turn addressed : 
 
 " O Neptune, thou wouldst not say that I am prudent, if 
 I should now contend with thee, for the sake of miserable 
 mortals, who, Hke the leaves, are at one lime very blooming, 
 feeding on the fruit of the soil, and at another again, perish 
 without life. Rather let us cease from combat as soon as 
 possible ; and let them decide the matter themselves." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he turned himself back ; for he was 
 afraid to come to strife of hands with his uncle. But him 
 his sister, rustic Diana, the mistress of wild beasts, harshly 
 rebuked, and uttered this upbraiding speech : 
 
 " Fliest thou. Far-darter ? and hast thou yielded the whole 
 victory to Neptune ? and dost thou give easy glory to him ? 
 O Fool, why in vain dost thou hold an useless bow ? No 
 longer now shall I hear thee boasting in the halls of our sire, 
 as formerly amongst the immortal gods, that thou wouldst 
 fight in opposition to Neptune." 
 
 Thus she spoke ; but her the far-darting Apollo by no 
 means addressed. But tlie venerable spouse of Jove, en- 
 raged, rebuked [her] who rejoices in arrows, with reproach- 
 ing words : 
 
 " How darest thou now, fearless wretch, stand against 
 me ? A difficult match am I for thee to be opposed to 
 my strength, although thou art a bow-bearer ; for Jove has 
 made thee a lioness among women, and suffered thee to kill 
 whatever woman thou wilt. Certainly it is better to slay 
 wild beasts among the mountains, or rustic stags, than to 
 
 ' Si)/ fiiv, I almost prefer o-oi iih', with other MSS. and Clarke. 
 ~ Perhaps intended as a covert sneer at Helen. 
 
398 ILIAD. XXI. 486—512. 
 
 fight bravely with tliy betters. But if thou desirest to have 
 a knowledge of battle, come on, that thou mayest well 
 know how much the better I am ; since thou opposest strength 
 to me." 
 
 She spoke, and with her left hand seized both her (Diana's) 
 hands at the wrist, and with her right plucked the bow^ from 
 her shoulders. Smiling, she beat her about the ears with 
 it, while she writhed herself ; and the fleet arrows fell out 
 [of her quiver, as she moved]. Then the goddess fled, weep- 
 ing, like a dove which flies from a hawk to a hollow rock, 
 her hiding-place, (for neither was it fated that she should be 
 taken by it ;) so she fled, weeping, and left her arrows there. 
 
 But the messenger [Mercury], the slayer of Argos, ad- 
 dressed Latona : 
 
 " O Latona, I wiU by no means fight with thee ; for diffi- 
 cult indeed would it be to combat with the wives of cloud- 
 compelHng Jove ; but rather, very forward among the 
 immortal gods, boast that thou hast conquered me by 
 violent force." 
 
 Thus indeed he spoke ; but Latona collected together the 
 bent bow and the arrows ^ which had fallen here and there 
 amid the whirl of dust. She, having taken the arrows, fol- 
 lowed her daughter. But the daughter had arrived at 
 Olympus, and at the brazen-floored palace of Jove, and 
 had sat down at the knees of her father, weeping, whilst her 
 ambrosial robe trembled aroimd ; and her the Satumian 
 father drew towards him, and, sweetly smiling, interro- 
 gated her : 
 
 " Which now of the heavenly inhabitants, my dear child, 
 has rashly done such things to thee, as if having done some 
 evil openly?" 
 
 But him the faii'-crowned mistress of the chas«^ addressed 
 in turn : " Thy spouse, the white-armed Juno, has injured 
 
 ' I have followed Kennedy, who says : " The preferable meaning of 
 Tiijo is arcus. This Juno employs as an instrument of chastisement, to 
 avoid the infliction of which, her antagonist turns from side to side, and 
 whilst thus shifting her position lets fall her arrows, oiaroi, ver. 492." 
 Others by roja understood both bow and arrows. 
 
 " T6?a here means both bow and arrows. 
 
 ' A more literal version would be, " the fair crowned mistress of the 
 cry," I. e. the hunting cry. 
 
513—549, ILIAD. XXI. 39S 
 
 me, father, from wliom couteution and strife await' the 
 immortals." 
 
 Thus they indeed spoke such things with one another. 
 But Phoebus Apollo came to sacred Ihum ; for the wall of 
 the well-built city was a care to him, lest the Greeks, con- 
 trary to fate, should overthrow it that day. The other ever- 
 existing gods, however, repaired to Olympus, some indeed 
 indignant, but others greatly boasting. And they sat down 
 beside their father, the collector of dark clouds : but Achilles 
 slew at once the Trojans themselves, and their solid-hoofed 
 steeds. And as when a smoke, ascending from a burning 
 city, reaches the wide heaven, but the wrath of the gods has 
 excited it ; it creates toil to all, and sends griefs upon many ; 
 so did Achilles cause toil and griefs to the Trojans. 
 
 Meanwhile aged Priam stood upon a lofty tower, and ob- 
 served huge Achilles ; but by him the routed Trojans were 
 easily thrown into confusion, nor was there any might in 
 them. Then groaning, he descended from the tower to the 
 ground, in order to direct the illustrious guards at the gates 
 along the wall : 
 
 " Hold the gates open in your hands until the people, 
 fljdng, come into the city, for Achilles is at hand routing them. 
 Now I think that destructive deeds will be. But, as soon 
 as they revive, hemmed in within the wall, put to again the 
 well-fitted doors, for I tremble lest this destructive man 
 rush within the wall." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but ■ they opened the gates and pushed 
 back the bolts ; and they being opened, afforded safety. But 
 Apollo leaped out to meet them, that he might avert destruc- 
 tion from the Trojans. Then they, parched with thirst, and 
 covered with dust, fled from the plain directly towards the 
 city and the lofty wall ; but he furiously pursued with his 
 spear ; for fierce madness constantly possessed his heart, and 
 he burned to bear away glory. Then indeed the sons of the 
 Greeks had taken lofty-gated Troy, had not Phoebus Apollo 
 excited noble Agenor, a hero, the son of Antenor, both 
 blameless and brave. And into his heart he threw courage, 
 and he himself stood beside him, leaning against a beech- 
 
 ' '^(pfj-n-rai, " immitti solet." — Heyne. See D'Orville on Chariton, 
 vii. 5, p. 582, cd. Lips, 
 
400 ILIAD. XXI. 549—582. 
 
 tree, that lie might avert the heavy hands of death ; but hp 
 was overshadowed by much darkness. But he, when he 
 perceived Achilles, the destroyer of cities, stood stiU, and 
 much his heart was darkened ' as he remained ; and sighing, 
 he thus addressed his own great-hearted soul : 
 
 " Alas, me ! if indeed I fly from terrible Achilles, in the 
 way by which the others, routed, are flying, even thus will 
 he seize me, and will slay me unwarlike ; but if I suffer these 
 to be thrown into confusion by Achilles, the son of Peleus, 
 and fly in another direction on my feet from the wall through 
 the Ilian plain, until I reach the lawns of Ida, and enter its 
 thickets ; then indeed, having bathed myself at evening in 
 the river, J nuiy return back to Troy, cleansed from sweat. 
 But why does vny mind commune these things 1 Truly he 
 may observe me departing from the city towards the plain, 
 and, quickly pursuing, may overtake me on his swift feet ; 
 then will it no longer be possible to escape Death and Fate ; 
 for he is very powerful beyond all men. But if I go against 
 him in front of the city — for his body also is without doubt 
 vulnerable by the sharp brass, there is one soul in it, and 
 men say that he is mortal ; although Jove, the son of Saturn, 
 affords him glory." 
 
 So saying, gathering himself up,^ he awaited Achilles ; 
 and his valiant heart within him burned to combat and to 
 fight. As a j)anther advances from a deep thicket against a 
 huntsman,* nor is aught troubled in mind, nor put to flight, 
 although it hears the yelling ; and although anticipating it, 
 he may have wounded, or stricken it, nevertheless, although 
 pierced with a spear, it desists not from the combat, till either 
 it be engaged in close fight, or be subdued. Thus noble 
 Agenor, the son of renowned Antenor, would not fly till he 
 had made trial of Achilles ; but, on the contrary, held before 
 him his shield, equal on all sides, and took aim at him with 
 his spear, and shouted aloud : 
 
 ' Cf. Doaalson on Soph. Antig. 20, where there is a similar use of 
 KciKxaivstv. The present metaphor is taken from the troubled and 
 darkling aspect of the sea before a storm. 
 
 = Cf. xvi. 403, 714. 
 
 ' This pleonasm of av^p is very common; ii. 474, av^pfe a'nroKi,'- : 
 iv. 187, dvSpeg xo^i'VQ- Cf. iii. 170; xii. 41. So avSptg iroXha:. 
 riilegon. Trail, p. 26. 'AvSoig Stiftorai, Aristoph. Pint. 254. 'Aviici 
 (iaaiXtvc, Palsephatus, 39. Av^p oikoko/ioc, Manetho, iv. 610. 
 
S83— 611. ILIAD. XXI. 401 
 
 " Certainly now thoa art great in hopes in thy mind, O 
 illustrious Achilles, that thou -wilt this day devastate the city 
 of the magnanimous Trojans. Fool ! certainly many griefs 
 will be effected over it, for in it we are numerous and valiant 
 men, who wUl defend Ilium for our beloved parents, our 
 wives, and our children. But thou shalt here fulfil thy 
 destiny, although being so terrible, and a daring warrior." 
 
 He spoke, and hurled the sharp javelin from his heavy 
 hand, and struck him in the shin below the knee, nor missed : 
 but the greave of newly-wrought tin around [it] horribly re- 
 sounded; and the brazen weapon recoiled from it stricken, 
 nor penetrated : for the gifts of the god prevented it. Then 
 the son of Peleus next attacked godlike Agenor ; nor did 
 Apollo permit him to obtain glory; but snatched binn away, 
 and covered him with much haze; and sent him to return 
 peacefully from the battle. 
 
 But he by a- stratagem averted the son of Peleus from, the 
 people; for the Far-darter, having likened himself in every 
 respect to Agenor, stood before his feet; and he hastened to 
 pursue him with his feet. Whilst he was pursuing him, 
 nmning before at a small interval, over the corn-bearing 
 plain, turned towards the deep-eddying river Scamander; 
 (for ApoUo beguiled him by deceit, so that he always ex- 
 pected to overtake him on his feet;) meanwhile the other 
 Trojans being routed, came delighted in a crowd to the city ; 
 and the city was full of them shut in. Nor did they any 
 longer dare to wait for each other without the city and the 
 wall, and to inquire who had escaped, and who had fallen in 
 the battle ; but gladly they were poured into the city, whom- 
 soever of them the feet and knees preserved. 
 
402 ILIAD. XXII. 1—17. 
 
 BOOK THE TWENTY-SECOND. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Hector persists in remaining outside the walls, despite the entreaties of his 
 faxher. He flies thrice round Troy, fights, and is slain by Achilles, 
 who drags his body to the fleet at the wheels of bis chariot. The 
 lamentations of his wife and parents follow. 
 
 Thus they, indeed, driven by fright through the city, like 
 fawps, were refreshing themselves from sweat, and were 
 drinking and allaying their thirst, leaning against the hand- 
 some battlements ; but the Greeks were coming near the 
 wall, resting their shields upon their shovJders. But Hector 
 his destructive fate fettered to remain there, before Ilium 
 and the Scsean gates. And Phoebus Apollo thus addressed 
 the son of Peleus : 
 
 " Why, son of Peleus, dost thou pursue me, an immortal 
 god, with swift feet, thyself being a mortal ? Nor yet hast 
 thou at all discovered that I am a god; but thou incessantly 
 ragest. For certainly the labour of the Trojans is not now 
 a care to thee, whom thou hast routed, and who are now 
 enclosed within their city, while thou art turned aside hither. 
 Neither canst thou slay me, since I am not mortal." 
 
 But him swifb-footed Achilles, greatly indignant,* ad- 
 dressed : 
 
 "Thou hast injured me, O Far-darter, most destructive 
 of all gods, having now turned me away hither from the 
 wall; certainly many had now seized the earth with their 
 
 Milton, P. L. ii. 708 :— 
 
 " On tb' other side 
 
 Incensed with indignation Satan stood 
 Unterrified, and like a comet burn'd, 
 That fires the length of Ophiuchns huge 
 In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair 
 Shakes pestilence and war." 
 
18—57. ILIAD. XXII. 403 
 
 teeth, before they had arrived at Iliiun. But no-w hast thou 
 deprived me of great glory, and hast preserved them easUy, 
 for thou didst not at all dread vengeance after. Certainly 
 I -would punish thee, if the power at least were mine." 
 
 Thus sajdng, he went towards the city greatly elate, 
 hastening like a steed which bears away the prize, with 
 his chariot, which striving hard, nins swiftly over the plain. 
 So Achilles briskly moved his feet and his knees. 
 
 But him aged Priam first beheld with his eyes, rushing 
 over the plain, aU shining like a star which rises in autumn ; 
 and its resplendent rays shine among many stars in the depth 
 of the night, which by name they call the dog of Orion. 
 Very bright indeed is this, but it is a baleful sign, and brings 
 violent heat upon miserable mortals. So shone the brass 
 round the breast of him running. But the old man groaned, 
 and smote his head with his hands, raising them on high,' 
 and, groaning, he cried out greatly, supplicating his dear son. 
 But he stood before the Scsean gates, insatiably eager to fight 
 with Achilles ; but the old man piteously addressed him, 
 stretching out his hands : 
 
 " Hector, do not, my beloved son, await this man alone, 
 without others ; lest that thou shouldst speedily draw on fate, 
 subdued by the son of Peleus; since he is much more power- 
 fiil. Cruel ! would that he were [only] as dear to the gods as 
 he is to me ; quickly then would the dogs and vultures de- 
 vour him lying low; surely sad grief would then depart from 
 my heart. He who has made me deprived of many and brave 
 sons, slaying, and selling them into far-distant islands. For 
 even now the Trojans being shut up in the city, I cannot 
 see my two sons, Lycaon and Polydorus, whom Laothoe bore 
 to me, queen among women. But if indeed they five at the 
 camp, surely we wiU afterwards redeem them with brass and 
 with gold; for it is within; for aged Altes, renowned by 
 fame, gave many things to his daughter. But if they are 
 already dead, and in the mansions of Hades, grief wiU be to 
 my soul, and to their mother, we who gave them birth. But 
 to the other people the giief will be shorter, if thou shouldst 
 not die, sub.dued by Achilles. But come inside the wall, 
 my son, that thou mayest save the Trojan men and women, 
 
 ' Oa this gesture of grief, see Gorlus, Monam. Columb. p. 12 
 
 2d2 
 
404 ILIAD XXII. 57—90. 
 
 nor afford great glory to the son of Peleus, and thou thyself 
 be deprived of thy dear life. Moreover, pity me, wretched, 
 yet still preserving my senses,' unhappy, whom the Satumian 
 sire will destroy by grievous fete, upon the threshold of old 
 age, having seen many evil^''' my sons slain, my daughters 
 dragged captives, their chambers plundered, and my infant 
 cliildren dashed upon the earth in dire hostility, and my 
 daughters-in-law torn away by the pernicious hands of the 
 Greeks. And myself perhaps the last — ^the raw-devouring 
 dogs, whom I have nourislied in my palaces, the attendants 
 of my table, the guards of my portals, will tear at the en- 
 trance of the gates,** after some one, having stricken or 
 wounded me with the sharp brass, shall take away my soul 
 from my limbs ; and who, drinking my blood, will lie in the 
 porch, infuriated in mind. To a young man, indeed, slain in 
 battle, lacerated with the sharp brass, it is altogether be- 
 coming to lie, for all things are honourable to him dead, 
 whatever may appear; but when dogs dislionour the grey 
 head, the hoary beard, and privy members of an old man 
 slain, that is indeed most pitiable among wretched mortals." 
 
 The old man spoke, and tore out the hoary locks with his 
 hands, plucking them from his head; nor did he persuade 
 the mind of Hector. But his mother, then on the other 
 side, wailing, shed tears, laying bare her bosom, whilst with 
 the other hand she laid forth her breast ; and shedding tears, 
 addressed to him winged words : " Hector, my son, reve- 
 rence these things, and pity me myself. If ever I afforded 
 thee the grief-lulling breast, remember these things, O dear 
 son; and being within the wall, repel [this] hostile man; nor 
 stand a foremost adversary to him. Wretched one ! for if he 
 shall slay thee, neither shall I mourn thee on the couch, my 
 dear offspring, whom I myself brought forth, nor will thy 
 rich-dowered wife; but far away from us both, the swift dogs 
 will devour thee at the ships of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus weeping, they twain addressed their dear son, suppli- 
 
 ' /. e. alive. Cf. xxiii. 
 
 ' On the proverbial woes cf Priam, cf. Aristotle Eth. i. 9, 10 ; and 
 Ennius, fragm. Andromach. p. 236—9, with the notes of Columna, ed. 
 Hessel. 
 
 ' Cf. Virg. JEa. ii. 550, sqq., who has imitated this passage in bla 
 description of the death of Priam. 
 
91—122. ILIAD. XXII. 40S 
 
 eating him much ; nor did they persuade the mind of Hector; 
 but he awaited huge Achilles, coming near. And as a 
 fierce serpent at its den, fed on evil poisons, awaits' a man, 
 but direfiil rage enters it, and it glares horribly, coiling itself 
 around its den; so Hector, possessing inextinguishable 
 courage, retired not, leaning his splendid shield against a 
 projecting tower ; but, indignant, he thus addressed his own 
 great-hearted soul i^ 
 
 " Ah me, if indeed I enter the gates and, the wall, Poly- 
 ilamas will first cast reproach upon me,-' he who advised me 
 to lead the Trojans towards the city in this disastrous night, 
 when noble Achilles arose to battle. But I did not obey ; 
 certainly it would have been much better. And now, since 
 by my injurious obstinacy I have destroyed the people, I fear 
 the Trojan men, and the long-robed Trojan women, lest some 
 one inferior to me should say, ' Hector, relying on his own 
 strength, has destroyed the people.' Thus will they say; but 
 it would have been far better for me, slaying Acliilles in the 
 encounter,'* to return, or gloriously to be slain by him for the 
 citjr. But if now I shall lay down my bossed sliield and 
 stout helmet, and, resting my spear against the wall, I myself 
 going, shall come before renowned Achilles, and promise that 
 we wUl give to the Atrides to lead away Helen, a,nd all the 
 numerous possessions along with her, whatever Paris brought 
 to Troy in his hollow barks, and who was the origin of the 
 contention, and at the same time that we will divide others, 
 as many as tliis city contains, among the Greeks, — but again 
 I should exact an oath from the elders of the Trojans,' that 
 they would conceal nothing, but divide all tilings into two 
 portions, whatever treasure this delightful city contains 
 within it. Yet why does my soul discuss such things ? [I 
 
 ' Hesych, xfi«' »/ KaTaSvmc vStv o^Edtv Kal SpaKovTOJv. 
 ^ Milton, P. L. vi. Ill :— 
 
 " Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood 
 Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, 
 And thus his own undaunted heart explores." 
 ' Cf. Aristot. Eth. iii. S, and Casaub. on Pers. Sat. i. 4. " Ne mihi 
 I'olydamas, et Troiades Labeonem Prsetulerint." 
 * 'Avtijv. 
 
 '' This is perhaps the easiest way of expressing yipovawv optov. It 
 means an oath to be solemnly kept, an oath to which the elders mijht 
 with propriety pledge thenise'ves. 
 
406 ILIAD. XXII, 123—163 
 
 dread] lest I, going, sliould i-iiacli him, but he pity me not, 
 nor at all respect me, but slay me, bfiing thus naked, as a 
 woman, after I have put off my armour. Nor, indeed, is it 
 now allowed to converse with him from an oak, or from a 
 rook, as a virgin and a youth ; a virgin and youth converse 
 with one another. But it is better to engage him in strife ; 
 that as soon as possible we may know to which, indeed, the 
 Olympian [Jove] will gi/e glory." 
 
 Thus he pondered, remaining; but near him came Achilles, 
 like unto the helmet-shaking warrior. Mars, brandishing upon 
 his right shoulder the dreadful Pelian ash ; but the bra-ss 
 shone around, like unto the splendour either of a blazing fire, 
 or of the risiug sun. Then, as tremor seized Hector, he per- 
 ceived him, nor could he remain there any longer, but he left 
 the gates behind him, and fled affrighted; but the son of 
 Peleus rushed on, trusting to his swift feet. As a falcon in 
 the mountains, the swiftest of birds, easily dashes after a 
 timid pigeon ; she, indeed, flies away obliquely; but he, close 
 at hand, shrilly screaming, frequently assails, and his spirit 
 orders him to seize her : thus, eager, he flew right on ; but 
 Hector fled in terror under the waJl of the Trojans, and 
 moved his fleet limbs. Then they rushed by the prospect- 
 ground and the wind-waving fig-tree, always under the wall 
 along the public way, and reached the two fair-flowing 
 springs, where the two springs of the eddying Scamander 
 rise. The one, indeed, flows with tepid water, and a steam 
 arises from it around, as of burning fire ; whilst the other 
 flows forth in the summer time, like imto hail, or cold snow, 
 or ice from water. There, at them, are the wide, handsome 
 stone basins, where the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans 
 \ified to wash their splendid garments formerly in time of 
 peace, before the sons of the Greeks arrived. In this direc- 
 tion they ran past [the one] flying, but the other pursuing 
 from behind. A brave man, indeed, fled before, but a much 
 braver swiftly pursued him ; since they did not seek to 
 obtain a victim or a bull's hide, such as are the rewards of 
 men for speed, but they ran for the life of horse-breaking 
 Hector. And as when prize- winning ^ solid-hoofed steeds 
 nm very swiftly round the course, and a great reward is 
 
 > /. e. race horses. 
 
IGi— 202. ILIAD. XXII. 407 
 
 proposed, either a tripod, or a woman [in honoui-] of a deceased 
 hero ; so they thrice made the circuit of the city of Priam 
 with their swift feet : and all the gods beheld. Then to them 
 the father of men and gods commenced an address : 
 
 " Alas ! certainly I behold with mine eyes a beloved hero 
 pursued round the wall ; and my heart is grieved on account 
 of Hector, who has sacrificed many thighs of oxen to me, 
 upon the tops of many-valed Ida, and at other times again in 
 the highest [places of] the city; but now, indeed, noble 
 Achilles pursues him, on swift feet, around the city of Priam. 
 But come, deliberate, ye gods, and consider, whether we 
 shall preserve him from death, or shaU subdue ^^m now, 
 being brave [at the hands of] Achilles, the son of Peleus." 
 
 But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva then addressed : 
 
 " O father, hurler of the white thunder, [collector] of dark 
 clouds, what a word hast thou spoken ! Dost thou wish tc 
 liberate from sad death a man, being mortal, long age 
 destined to fate? Do it : but all we, the other gods, will not 
 assent to thee." 
 
 Her, then, the cloud-compelling Jupiter, answering, ad- 
 dressed : " Take courage, Tritonia, beloved child : I by no 
 means speak with serious mind, but I wish to be mild to thee. 
 Do as is the inclination, nor delay at all." 
 
 Thus speaking, he iucited Minerva, already prepared ; and, 
 springing forth, she descended down from the heights of 
 Olympus. 
 
 But swift AchiUes pursued Hector, incessantly pressing 
 upon him. And as when a dog pursues the fawn of a deer in 
 the mountains, having roused it from its lair, through both 
 glens and thickets ; and, although panic-stricken, it crouches 
 down beneath a brake ; yet tracking it, he nms continually 
 on until he finds it ; so Hector eluded not the swift-footed 
 son of Peleus. As often as he would rush against the Dar- 
 danian gates, towards under the weU-bmlt towers, if per- 
 chance they might aid bim with missUe weapons from above, 
 so often, previously anticipating him, he turned him away 
 towards the plain ; whilst he himself always flew on the side 
 of the city. And as in a dream one cannot pursue a fugitive ; 
 neither can the one escape the other, nor the other pursue : 
 so the one could not overtake the other in his speed, nor the 
 other escape him. But how, then, could Hector have escaped 
 
408 ILIAD. XXn. 203— 24D. 
 
 the fates of death, if Apollo had not, for the very last time, 
 met him, who aroused for him his courage and swift knees ? 
 But noble AchiUes nodded to the people with his head, nor 
 permitted them to cast their bitter weapons at Hector, lest 
 some one, wounding him, should obtain the glory, and he 
 himself come second. But when for the fourth time they 
 arrived at the fountains, then, indeed, the Sire raised aloft 
 his golden scales, and placed in them the two fates of death, 
 V)earing long sleep, this of Achilles, but that of horse-breaking 
 Hector. Holding them by the middle, he poised them, and 
 the fatal day of Hector incUned and sunk to Hades ; but 
 Phoebus Apollo left him. 
 
 Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva approached the son of 
 Peleus, and, standing near, addressed to him winged words : 
 
 " Now, O illustrious Achilles, dear to Jove, I hope that 
 we two shall bear back great glory to the Greeks at the ships, 
 having slain Hector, although being insatiate of war. Now, 
 certainly, it is no longer possible for him to escape us, not 
 even if far-darting Apollo should toil much, throwing himself 
 at the feet of the aegis-bearing father Jove. But do thou 
 now stand and revive ; but I, approaching with thee, will 
 persuade him to engage thee face to face." 
 
 Thus spoke Minerva ; but he obeyed, and rejoiced in his 
 mind ; and stood, leaning upon his ashen, brass- pointed spear. 
 But she then left him, and overtook noble Hector, likening 
 herself to Deiphobus, unwearied in her body and voice ; and, 
 standing near, she addressed to him winged words : " 
 brother dear, certainly swift Achilles now greatly presses on 
 thee, pursuing thee with rapid feet roimd the city of Priam. 
 But come now, let us stand, and, awaiting, repulse him." 
 
 But her mighty crest-tossing Hector in turn addressed : 
 
 " Deiphobus, surely thou wert ever before by far the dearest 
 to me of my brothers, the sons whom Hecuba and Priam 
 produced. But now I think in my mind that I honour thee 
 still more, since thou hast dared for my sake, when thou dost 
 behold [me] with thine eyes, to come out of the city; while 
 others remain within." 
 
 But him the &zure-eyed goddess Minerva in turn ad- 
 dressed : 
 
 " My brother dear, my father and venerable mother in- 
 deed greatly supplicated me, by turn embracing my knees. 
 
241—277 ILIAD. XXII. 40» 
 
 and my companions around, to remain there (so much do all 
 tremble with fear) ; but my mind -within was harassed with 
 sad grief. But now let us forthwith eagerly engage, nor let 
 there any longer be a sparing of our spears, that we may 
 know whether Achilles, having slain us both, shall bear our 
 bloody spoils to the hollow barks, or be subdxied by thy 
 spear." 
 
 Thus having spoken, Minerva also with deception led on. 
 But when they were near advancing towards each other, him 
 mighty crest-tossing Hector first addressed : 
 
 " No longer,- son of Peleus, will I fly thee as before. 
 Thrice have I fled round the great city of Priam, nor ever 
 dared to await thee coming on ; but now my mind urges me 
 to stand against thee : certainly I shall slay, or be slain. 
 But come, let us attest the gods ; for they will be the best 
 witnesses and observers of agreements. For neither will I 
 cruelly iasult thee, if indeed Jove shall give me the victory, 
 and I take away thy life ; but after I shall despoil thy beau- 
 tiful armour, O Achilles, I will givo back thy body to the 
 Greeks ; and so also do thou." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles sternly regarding, addressed : 
 
 " Talk not to me of covenants, O most cursed Hector. As 
 there are not faithful leagues between lions and men, nor 
 yet have wolves and lambs an accfirding mind,^ but ever 
 meditate evils against each other ; so it is not possible for 
 thee and me to contract a fiiendship, nor shall there at all 
 be leagues between us, — first shall one, falling, satiate the 
 invincible warrior Mars with his blood. Call to mind all thy 
 valotir ; now it is very necessary for thee to be both a spear- 
 man and a daring warrior. Nor is there any longer any 
 escape for thee, for Pallas Minerva at once subdues thee 
 beneath my spear, and thou shalt now pay for all the accu- 
 mulated sorrows of my companions, whom thou hast slain 
 raging with the spear." 
 
 He spoke, and brandishing it, sent forth Ids long-shadowed 
 spear, and illustrious Hector, seeing it opposite, avoided it ; 
 for, looking before him, he sunk down, and the brazen spear 
 passed over him, and was fixed in the earth. But Pallas 
 Minerva plucked it out, and gave it back to Achilles, and 
 
 See Dupoj-t, p 127 ■ and cf. Ilor. TCnnd. iv. 1. 
 
410 ILIAD. XXII. 277—315. 
 
 escaped the notice of Hector, the shepherd of the people. 
 Then Hector addressed the illuatrioua son of Peleus : 
 
 " Thou hast erred, O godlike Achilles, nor art thou yet 
 acquainted with my fate from Jove ; certainly thou didst say 
 so, but thou art a prater, and veiy subtle in words, in order 
 that, dreading thee, I may be forgetful of my strength and 
 courage. But not in my back, whilst flying, shalt thou 
 thrust thy spear, but shalt drive it through my breast, rush- 
 ing right on, if God grants this to thee. But now in turn 
 avoid my brazen spear ! would that thou mightst now 
 receive it all in thy body. Then truly would the war be- 
 come hghter to the Trojans, thou being slain ; for thou art 
 the greatest bane to them." 
 
 He spoke, and, brandishing, sent forth his long-shadowed 
 spear, and struck the centre of PeUdes' shield, nor missed ; 
 but the spear was repelled far away from the shield. But 
 Hector was enraged because his swift weapon had fled in 
 vain from his hand ; and stood dejected, for he had not 
 another ashen spear. Then he called upon the white- 
 shielded Deiphobus, greatly shouting, [and] he asked him 
 for a long spear ; b\it he was not near hfrn j and Hector 
 perceived in his mind, and said : 
 
 " Alas ! without doubt, now the gods have summoned me 
 to death. For 1 indeed thought the hero Deiphobus was by 
 my side ; but he is within the wall, and Minerva has deceived 
 me. But now is evil death near me, nor far away, neither is 
 there escape. Certainly this long since was more agreeable 
 to Jove and to the far-darting son of Jove, who formerly, 
 propitious, preserved me ; but now, on the contrary. Fate 
 overtakes me. Nevertheless I will not perish cowardly and 
 ingloriously at least, but having done some great deed to be 
 heard of even by jiosterity." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he drew his sharp sword, which 
 hung below his loins, both huge and strong, and, with col- 
 lected might, rushed forward, like a lofty-soaring eagle, which 
 swoops to the plain through the gloomy clouds, about to 
 snatch either a tender lamb, or a timid hare j thus Hector 
 rushed forward, brandishing his sharp sword. Aclulles also 
 rushed on, and fiUed his soul with fierce rage. He sheltered his 
 breast in front with his shield, beautifiil, curiously w^^ugbt, 
 and nodded with his shining helmet, four-coned; bi,'. the 
 
315—349. ILIAD. XXII. 411 
 
 beautifol golden tufts, which Yulcan had djfiused in great 
 abundance round the cone, were shaken. As the star Hes- 
 perus, which is placed the brightest star in heaven,^ proceeds 
 amongst other stars in the imseasonable time of night, so it 
 shone from the well-sharpened spear which Achilles, de- 
 signing mischief to noble Hector, brandished in his right 
 hand, eyeing his fair person, where it would best yield. But 
 the beautiful brazen armour, of which he had despoiled great 
 Patroclus, having slain him, covered the rest of his body so 
 mnch ; yet did there appear [a part] where the collar-bones 
 separate the neck from the shoulders, and where the destruc- 
 tion of life is most speedy. There noble Achilles, eager, 
 drove into liim with the spear, and the point went out quite 
 through his tender neck. However the ash, heavy with 
 brass, did not cut away the windpipe, so that, answering in 
 words, he could address him. But he fell in the dust, and 
 noble Achilles vaunted over him : 
 
 " Hector, thou didst once suppose, when spoiling Patroclus, 
 that thou be safe, nor dreaded me, being absent. Fool ! for 
 I apart, a much braver avenger of him, was left behind at 
 the hollow ships, I who have relaxed thy knees. The dogs, 
 indeed, and birds shall dishonourably tear thee, but the 
 Greeks shall perform his funeral rites." 
 
 But him crest-tossing Hector, growing languid, then 
 addressed : 
 
 " I supplicate thee by thy soul, thy knees, thy parents, suffer 
 not the dogs to tear me at the ships of the Greeks ; but do 
 thou indeed receive brass in abundance, and gold, which my 
 father and venerable mother will ^ve thee ; and send my 
 body home, that the Trojans and wives of the Trojans may 
 make me, dead, partaker of a funeral pyre."^ 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles, sternly regarding, addressed : 
 
 " Dog, supplicate me not by my knees, nor by my parents ; 
 for would that my might and mind in any manner urge mu 
 myself, tearing thy raw flesh to pieces, to devour it, such 
 things hast thou done to me. So that there is not any one 
 who can drive away the dogs from thy head, not even if they 
 
 ' Milton, P. L. T. 166 :— 
 
 " Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, 
 If better thou belong not to the dawn." 
 • Cf. ^n. I. 903 ; xii. 930, sqq. 
 
412 ILIAD. XXII. 349— STS- 
 
 should place ten-fold and twenty-times such ransoms, bring- 
 ing them hither, and even promise others ; not even if Dar- 
 danian Priam shotdd wish to compensate for thee with gold ; ' 
 not even thus shaU thy venerable mother lament [thee] 
 whom she has borne, having laid thee upon a bier; but dogs 
 and fowl shaU entirely tear thee in pieces." 
 
 But him crest-tossing Hector, dying, addressed : 
 
 " Surely well knowing thee, I foresaw this, nor was I des- 
 tined to persuaae thee; for truly within thee there is an iron 
 soul. Reflect now, lest to thee I be some cause of the wrath 
 of the gods, on that day when Paris and Phoebus Apollo ^ 
 shall kill thee, though being brave, at the Scsean gates." 
 
 As he spoke thus, the end of death overshadowed him ; 
 and his soul flying from his limbs, descended to Hades, be- 
 wailing its destiny, relinquishing vigour and youth. But 
 him, although dead, noble Achilles addre.ssed : 
 
 " Die : but I will then receive my fate whensoever Jove 
 may please to accomplish it,-'' and the other immortal gods." 
 
 He spoke, and plucked the spear from the corpse ; and 
 then laid it aside, but he spoiled the bloody armour from Ms 
 shoulders. But the other sons of the Greeks ran round, who 
 also admired the stature and wondrous form of Hector ;* 
 nor did any stand by without inflicting a wound. And 
 thus would some one say, looking to his neighbour : " Oh, 
 strange ! surely Hector is now much more gentle to be 
 touched, than when he burned the ships with glowing fire." 
 
 Thus would some one say, and, standing by, would wound 
 
 ' /. e. to give thy weight in gold. Theognis, 77: Iliarbe avi'ip xpvcrov 
 Tt Kai apyvpov avrepvaaaQai 'A^lqq. 
 
 ' Grote, Tol. i. p. 406, observes : " After routing the Trojans, and 
 chasing them into the town, Achilles was slain near the Skiean gate hy an 
 arrow from the quiver of Paris, directed under the unerring auspices of 
 Apollo," referring to Soph. Phil. 334 ; Virg. Mn. vi. 56. 
 
 ■^ " I have conversed with some men who rejoiced in the death or 
 calamity of others, and accounted it as a judgment upon them for being 
 un the other side, and agmnst them in the contention : but within the 
 revolution of a few months, the same man met with a more uneasy and 
 unhandsome death ; which when I saw, I wept, and was afraid ; for I 
 knew that it must be so with all men ; for we also die. and end ou 
 quarrels and contenrions by passing to a final sentence." — Taylor, Holy 
 Uymg, i. p. 305, ed. Bohn. 
 
 ■* Herodot. ix. 2.'i: '0 ^i vSKpdg trjv ^erjg u^tci; ^fyut^'rr eii/EKa xai 
 KoiWtoc* 
 
376-412. ILIAD. XXII. 413 
 
 him. But swift-footed .A.chilles, after he had despoiled hiTn, 
 standing amongst the Greeks, spoke winged words : 
 
 " friends, leaders and princes of the Greeks, since the 
 gods have granted us to subdue this hero, he who did as 
 many mischiefs, as did not all the others together ; come ! 
 let us make trial round the city with our arms, that we may 
 learn concerning the Trojans, what mind they have; whether 
 they are about to desert the citadel, he being slain, or intend 
 to remain. Hector being no more. But why does my mind 
 within me deliberate these things 1 Patroclus lies at the 
 ships, an unwept, unburied corse ; and him I shall never 
 forget, as long as I am amongst the living, and my dear 
 knees move for me ; and though they forget the dead in 
 Hades, yet will I remember my beloved comrade even thera 
 But come now, ye youths of the Greeks, singing a psean,^ let 
 us return to the hollow ships, and let us bring him ; we bear 
 back great glory : we have slain noble Hector, whom the 
 Trojans, throughout the city, worshipped as a god." 
 
 He spoke, and was meditating unseemly deeds against 
 noble Hector. He perforated the tendons of both his feet 
 behind, from the heel to the instep, and fastened in them 
 leather thongs, and bound him from the chariot ; but left 
 his head to be trailed along. Then ascending his chariot, 
 and taking up the splendid armour, he lashed (the horses) to 
 go on, and they, not unwilling, flew. But the dust arose 
 from him while trailed along, and his azure locks around 
 approached [the ground], ^ and his entire head, once gracefui, 
 lay in the dust ; for Jupiter had then granted to his enemies, 
 to dishonour him in his own father-land. Thus indeed his 
 whole head was defiled with dust ; but his mother plucked 
 out her hair, and cast away her shining veil, and wept very 
 loudly, having beheld her son. And his dear father groaned 
 piteously, and all the people around were occupied in waiUnj: 
 and lamentation through the city ; and it was very like to 
 this, as if all IHum, from its summit, were smouldering in 
 fire. "With difficulty indeed did the people detain the old 
 
 ' " This hymn consisted in a repetition, cf. v. 393, 4, which Quintus 
 ^myrnseus has imitated in IS. 117, and Abronius Silo translated ap. 
 Smec. Svas. c. 2. The most ancient hymn of this kind on record is that 
 ill the first book of Samuel, xviii. 7." — Kennedy. 
 
 • Supply ovSti or Koviy- 
 
414 ILIAD. XXII. 413—448. 
 
 man, indignant with grief, anxious to rush out from the 
 Dardanian gates : for rolling in the mud, he was supplicating 
 all, addressing each man by name : 
 
 " Desist, my friends, and permit me alone, grieved as I 
 am, going out of the city, to approach the ships of the 
 Greeks. I will supplicate this reckless, violent man, if 
 perchance he may respect my time of life, and have com- 
 passion on my old age ; for such is his father Peleus to him, 
 he who begat and nurtured him a destruction to the Trojans ; 
 but particularly to me above aU has he caused sorrows. For 
 so many blooming youths has he slain to me, for all of whom 
 I do not lament so much, although giieved, as for this one. 
 Hector, keen grief for whom wiU bear me down even into 
 Hiides.' Wotdd that he had died in my hands ; for thus we 
 should have been satisfied, weeping and lamenting, both his 
 unhappy mother who bore him, and I myself" Thus he 
 spoke, weeping, but the citizens also groaned. But among 
 the Trojan dames, Hecuba began her continued lamenta- 
 tion : 
 
 " my son, why do wretched T live, having sufiered 
 grievous things, thou being dead ? Thou who by night and 
 day wast my boast throughout the town, and an advantage 
 to the Trojan men and women throughout the city, who 
 received thee as a god. For assuredly thou wast a very 
 great glory to them when alive ; now, on the contrary, 
 death and fate possess thee." 
 
 Thus she spoke, weeping ; but the wife of Hector had not 
 yet learned anything : no certain measenger going, informed 
 her that her husband had remained without the gates ; but 
 she was weaving a web in a retired part of her lofty house, 
 double, splendid, and was spreading on it various painted 
 works.^ And she had ordered her fair-haired attendants 
 through the palace, to place a large tripod on the fire, that 
 there might be a warm bath for Hector, returning from the 
 battle. Foolish ! nor knew she that, far away from bathsj 
 azure-eyed Minerva had subdued him by the hands of 
 Achilles. But she heard the shriek and wailing from the 
 tower, and her limbs were shaken, and the shuttle feU from 
 
 ' " Then shall ye bring donrn my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.'", 
 —Genes, xlii. 38. 
 
 ' UoiKiXfiara is similarly used in vi. 294. 
 
449—434. ILIAD. XXII. 415 
 
 her to tlie ground ; and immediately she addressed her fair- 
 haired attendants : 
 
 " Come hitter, let two follow me, that I maj see what 
 deeds have been done. I heard the voice of my venerable 
 mother-in-law, and to myself the heart within my breast 
 leaps up to my mouth, and the Umbs under me are benumbed. 
 Surely some evil is now near the sons of Priam. that the 
 word may be [far] from my ear ! I dread lest brave Achilles, 
 having already cut off noble Hector alone from the city, may 
 drive him towards the plain, and even now have made him 
 desist from the fatal valour which possessed him ; for he 
 never remained among the throng of warriors, but leaped 
 out far before, yielding in his valour to none." 
 
 Thus having spoken, she rushed througii the palace like 
 unto one deranged, greatly palpitating in heart ; and her 
 attendants went along with her. But when she reached 
 the tower and the crowd of men, she stood looking round 
 over the wall, and beheld him dragged before the city ; but 
 the fleet steeds drew him ruthlessly towards the ships of the 
 Greeks. Then gloomy night veiled her over her eyes, and 
 she fell backwards, and breathed out her soul in a swoon. 
 But from ber head fell the beautiful head-gear, the garland, 
 the net, anrf the twisted fiUet, and the veil which golden 
 Venus had given to her on that day when crest-tossing 
 Hector led her from the palace of Eetion, after he had 
 presented many marriage - gifts. Around her in great 
 numbers stood her sisters-iu-law and sisters, who supported 
 her amongst them, seized with stupor unto death.' But 
 when she again revived, and her soul was collected in her 
 breast, sobbing at intervals, she spoke among the Trojan 
 dames : 
 
 " Hector, O wretched me ! then we were both born to a 
 like fate, thou indeed in Troy, in the mansion of Priam, but 
 I in Thebe, beneath woody Placus, in the palace of Eetion ; 
 who, himself iQ-fated, reared me, iU-fated, being yet a little 
 chUd ; — ^would that he had not begotten me ! Now, however, 
 thou goest to the mansions of Hades beneath the recesses of 
 the earth, but leavest me, in hateful grief, a widow in the . 
 dwelling ; aud thy boy, yet such an infant, to whom thou 
 
 ' See Kennedy ; ilinTi is to be understood before dffoXi^ai. 
 
ae ILIAD. XXII. 4So— iiS. 
 
 and I unfortunate gave birtli ; nor wilt thou be an advai.tago 
 to him, O Hector, for thou art dead ; nor he to thee. For 
 even if he shall escape the mournful war of the Greeks, still 
 will labour and hardship ever be to him hereafter ; for others 
 will deprive him of his fields by changing the landmarks. 
 But the bereaving day renders a boy destitute of his con- 
 temporaries j he is ever dejected, and his cheeks are bedewed 
 with tears. The boy in want shall go to the companions of 
 his father, pulling one by the cloak, another by the tuiiic ; 
 and some of these pitying, shall present him with a very 
 small cup ; and he shall moisten his lips, but not wet his 
 palate. Him also some one, enjoying both [parents],' shad 
 push aiii'ay from the banquet, striking him with his hands, 
 and reviling him with reproaches : ' A murrain on thee ! even 
 thy father feasts not with us.' Then shall the boy Astyanax 
 return weeping to his widowed mother, — ^he who formerly, 
 indeed, upon the knees of his own father, ate marrow alone, 
 and the rich fat of sheep ; but when sleep came upon him, 
 and he ceased childishly crying, used to sleep on couches in 
 the arms of a nurse, in a soft bed, fcdl as to his heart with 
 delicacies. But now, indeed, Astyaiiax,^ whom the Trojaiis 
 call by surname (because thon alone didst defend their gates 
 and lofty walls for them), shall suffer many things, missing 
 his dear father. But now shall the crawling worms devour 
 thee, naked, at the curved ships, far away from thy parents, 
 after the dogs shall have satiated themselves : but thy robes, 
 fine and graceful, woven by the hands of women, lie in thy 
 palaces. Truly all these will I consume with burning fire, 
 being of no use to thee, for thou wilt not lie on them ; but 
 let them be a glory [to thee] before the Trojans and the 
 Trojan dames." 
 
 Thus she spoke, weeping, and the females sIto mourned. 
 
 ' 'Afi^t9a\^Q iraXg 6 dfi^oTtptjjQtv ^aXXioVi iiyovv i^ afupto oi yovtli 
 
 ' Having on the signification of the name, — "king of the city." 
 This piere of twaddle has not been omitted by Plato in his ridiculous 
 Cratylu.%. 
 
1—17. ILIAD. XXIII. 4ir 
 
 BOOK THE TWENTY THIIID. 
 
 ARGUMBN'T. 
 
 Achilles, admonished in a drenm by the ghost of his friend, celebrates the 
 funeral of Fatroclus. 
 
 Thus they indeed were inoaming through the city; but the 
 Greeks, as soon as they reached the ships and the Hellespont, 
 were separated each to his own ship. But Achilles did not 
 permit the Myrmidons to be dispersed, but he spoke amongst 
 his warlike companions [thus] : 
 
 " Ye swift-horsed Myrmidons, comrades dear to me, let us 
 not yet loose the solid-hoofed steeds from under our chariots, 
 but with the very horses and chariots, going near, let us 
 bewail Patroclus; for this is the honour of the dead. But 
 when we have indulged* sad lamentation, unyoking our 
 steeds, we will all sup here." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they mourned in a body; and Achilles 
 led the way. Thrice they drove their fair-maned steeds 
 around the body,^ grieving; and among them Thetis kindled 
 a longing for lamentation. Moistened were the sands,- and 
 moistened were the arms of the men with tears ; for so brave 
 a master of the flight they longed. But among them the 
 
 ' Excellently paraphrased by Gaza: 'ETrnSav Si tov aktOpiov ^prjvov 
 aTToXavauifiiv. Ernesti well observes that TtTapmojitaOa Implies " de- 
 light mingled with satiety." 
 
 ' This was a frequent rite at funerals. Cf. ApoUon. Rh. i. 1059; 
 Virg. jEn. xi. 188, sqq.; Heliodor. Ethiop. iii p. 136: 'Eirulri to fivrjiia 
 Tov ^eoTTToKkfiov TrepuffToixrjaaTO // irofiiri], Kol rpiTov o'l £(j}ijtoi Ttjv 
 'iKTTov TTipiriKaaav, iiXoXviav fisv al yvvaues, I'/XaAa^av Si oi avipsg. 
 Among the Romans this rite was called decursio. Cf. Liv. xxv. 17; 
 Tacit. Ann. ii. 7 ; Sneton. Claud. § i. According to Plutarch, Alex- 
 ander the Great performed the same honours at the tomb of Achilles, that 
 Achilles had bestowed upon the manes of his friend Patroclus. See ^o 
 Bernart on Stat. Theb. (i. 217. 
 
 2 E 
 
418 ILIAD. XXIII, 17—46. 
 
 8oi» of Peleus led the abundant lamentation, laying Ms man- 
 slaughtering hands upon the breast of his companion : 
 
 " Hail ! O Patroclus, even in the dwellings of Hades ; for 
 now shall I accomplish all those things which formerly I 
 promised, that having dragged Hector hither, I would give 
 him to the dogs to be devomred raw; and that before thy 
 pile I would cut the necks of twelve illustrious sous of the 
 Trojans, enraged on account of thee slain." 
 
 He spoke, and meditated unworthy deeds against noble 
 Hector, having stretched him prone in the dust before the 
 bier of Meno'tiades ; but they each stripped off his brazen, 
 glittering armour, and unyoked their high-sounding steeds. 
 They sat also in crowds at the ship of swift-footed jEacides ; 
 but he afforded to them an agreeable funeral feast.^ Many 
 white bulls'^ were stretched around by the axe, having their 
 throats cut, and many sheep and bleating goats. Many white- 
 tusked swine also, aboimding in fat, were extended for roast- 
 ing in the flame of Vulcan; and on every side around the 
 dead body flowed abundant blood. But the chiefs of the 
 Greeks led the king, the swift-footed son of Peleus, to noble 
 Agamemnon, hardly persuading him enraged at heart on 
 account of his companion. But when advancing they reached 
 the tent of Agamemnon, he straightway ordered the clear- 
 voiced heralds to place a large tripod on the fire, if he could 
 persuade the son of Peleus to wash away the bloody gore. 
 But he sternly refused, and besides swore an oath:^ 
 
 " No, by Jove, who is both the supreme and the best of 
 gods, it is not lawful that ablutions should come near mv 
 head, before I place Patroclus on the pile, and have thrown 
 up a moimd, and shorn my hair ; for not to such a degree 
 
 * TaipoQ' TO yivofuvov irspiSetirvov f^ri Ty Tuv KaToixofieviov Ti^y. — 
 Hesych. 
 
 ' On these funeral sacrifices, see Comm. on Mn zi. 1. c. ; and Lomeier 
 de Lustrationibus, § xzxi. 
 
 ' Buttm. Lexil. p. 436, after insisting strongly on the perionificaiion 
 of "OpKoe, observes on this passage : " I see no reason why we shoald not 
 suppose that in the poet's mind Jupiter was put in opposition to opKov, 
 exactly in the same sense as iipicoc is actually found in opposition to Ztvg 
 in Pindar, Pyth. iv. 297. Koprepog 8picof dfifti fiaprvg tarni ZtiiQ it 
 yiv'tQXwq a^tporepois. Further, the expressions niyag op/cof, Kaprepog 
 opKoi suit much better the idea of the witness or pledge of the oath, than 
 they d ) the oath itself." 
 
47—78. ILIAD. XXIII. 419 
 
 will sorrow a second time invade my Heart, whilst 1 am 
 among the living. But nevertheless let us now yield to the 
 loathsome banquet. But on the morrow, O king of men, 
 Agamemnon, give orders to bring wood, and dispose it so as 
 is proper that a dead body enjoying it, should descend be- 
 neath the obscure darkness; so that the indefatigable fire 
 may consume liim very quickly from our eyes, and the people 
 may return to their occupations." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they indeed readily listened to him, 
 and obeyed. Then they, each sedulously preparing supper, 
 feasted; nor did their mind lack aught of an equal feast. 
 But when they had dismissed the desire of food and drink, 
 some dopartod in order to Ue down, each to his tent. But 
 the son of I'eleus, on the contrary, amid his many Myrmi- 
 dons, lay near the shore of the far-sounding sea, heavily 
 moaning, in a clear spot, where the waves plashed against 
 the shore; when sweet' sleep, diffused around, took posses- 
 sion of him, relaxing the cares of his mind ; for he was very 
 much fatigued as to his fair knees, chasing Hector at wind- 
 swept lUum. But to liim came the spirit of wretched Pa- 
 troclus, Uke unto him in all things, as to bulk, and beautiful 
 eyes, and his voice ; and like garments also were around his 
 body; and he stood over his head, and addressed Mm: 
 
 " Sleepest thou, Achilles, and art thou forgetful of me ? 
 Thou didst not indeed neglect me when ahve, but [now that 
 I am] dead. Bury me, that I may as soon as possible pass 
 the gates of Hades. The spirits, the images of the deceased,^ 
 drive me far away, nor by any means permit me to be 
 mingled with them beyond the river ; but thus I do wander 
 round the ample-gated dweUing of Hades. But give me thy 
 hand,^ I beseech thee, for I shall not again return from 
 Hades after thou hast made me a partaker of the fire. For 
 by no means shall we, being alive, sitting apart from our 
 dear companions, deliberate counsels; but the hateful fate 
 
 ' On the epithet vriSvuog, cf. Battm. p. 414, sqq. 
 
 ' Battm. Lexil. p. 372, in a very interesting discussion, regards 
 xafiovTee as an eaphemism, "by which the dead, whom we consider as 
 still acting and feeling, and consequently as the objects of our kind offices, 
 of which they are conscious, are represented as still living in another 
 state, but deprived of their earthly powers." 
 
 ' Virg. ^n. vi. 370i " Da dextram misero." 
 2 E 2 
 
420 ILIAD. XXIII. 79— in 
 
 which befel me when born, has snatched me away. And to 
 thyself also, godlike Achilles, thy fate is to perish beneath 
 the wall of the noble Trojans. But another thing I bid, and 
 will command, O Achilles, if thou wilt obey, not to lay my 
 bones apart from thine; but as we were nurtured together 
 in thy palaces, when Menoetius led me from Opus, a little 
 boy, to thy home, on account of a melancholy homicide, on 
 that day when, imprudent, I slew the son of Amphidamas, 
 not wishing it, enraged about the dice : ' then Peleus received 
 me in his abode, carefully reared me, and named me thy 
 attendant. So may the same tomb contain our bones, the 
 golden vase which thy venerable mother gave thee." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed : 
 
 "Why, O venerable friend, hast thou come to me, and 
 commandest each of these things to me? Tet will I readily 
 accomplish all these things for thee, and obey as thou com- 
 mandest. But stand nearer to me, that embracing each 
 other even for a little while, we may indulge in sad lamenta- 
 tion." 
 
 Thus then having spoken, he stretched out with his 
 friendly arms, nor caught him;^ for the spirit went gibber- 
 ing^ beneath the earth, like smoke. Then Achilles sprang 
 up astonished, and clapped together his hands, and spoke this 
 doleful speech: 
 
 "Alas! there is indeed then, even in the dwellings of 
 Hades, a certain spirit and image, but there is no body'' in it 
 at all ; for all night the spirit of miserable Patroclus stood by 
 m.e, groaning and lamenting, and enjoined to me each parii- 
 cular, and was wonderfully like xvaxo himself." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and excited among them all a lon^ng for 
 lamentation J and rosy-fingered Morn appeared to them 
 while weeping around the miserable corpse. But king Aga- 
 memnon incited everywhere from the tents both mules and 
 
 ' See the ouaint remarks of Jeremy Taylor, Hnly liiving, p. 224, 
 ed. Bohn. 
 
 ■ Cf. Georg. iv. 499 ; jEn. ii. 790, iv. 276 ; Lucan, iii. 34. 
 
 ' See Odyss. xxiv. sub init., where the same word is applied to tha 
 ihades of the suitors of Penelope. 
 
 * By ifipivts we may understand the power of using reason and judg- 
 ment, with Duport, Gnom. p. 128, and Jeremy Taylor, Holy Dying, 
 p. S24, ed. Bohn. But ver. 100 seems to require the interpretation whidi 
 1 huvefollowed ; Clarke rendering it " prsecordia." 
 
112-138. ILIAD. XXIII. 421 
 
 men to bring woocl ; and for this a brave man was roused, 
 Meriones, the servant of valour-loving Idomeneus. And 
 they went, holding in their hands wood-lopping axes and 
 weU-twisted ropes ; and before them went thft mules. They 
 passed over many ascents,' descents, and straightways and 
 crossways. But when they reached the forests of many- 
 rilled Ida, hastening, they cut down the towering oaks with 
 the keen-edged brass. These greatly resoimding, fell ; and the 
 Greeks then splitting them, tied [them] upon the mules, but 
 they pained the ground with their hoofs, eager to reach the 
 plain through the close thickets. But all the wood-cutters 
 carried trunks of trees, for so Meriones, the servant of valour- 
 loving Idomeneus, ordered ; and afterwards threw them in 
 order upon the shore, where Achilles designed a mighty tomb 
 for Patroclus, and for himself. 
 
 But when they had thrown on all sides immense quantities 
 of wood, remaining there in a body, they sat down; but 
 Achilles immediately ordered the warlike Myrmidons to gird 
 on the brass, and to yoke each his horses to his chariot; but 
 they arose, and were arrayed in their armour. And both 
 the combatants and the charioteei-s ascended their chariots ; 
 the cavalry indeed first, but a ck.ud of infantry followed 
 after in myriads ; and in the midst his companions bore Pa- 
 troclus. They covered all the dead body over with hair, 
 which, cutting off,^ they threw upon it ; but noble Achilles 
 held his head behind, grieving, for he was sending a blame- 
 less companion to Hades. 
 
 But they, when they reached the place where Achilles 
 
 ' A most remarkable and beautiful example of the appropriation of 
 sound to sense. Pope has admirably imitated the original by the follow- 
 ing translation : — 
 
 " O'er hills, o'er dales, o'er crags, o'er rocks, they go." 
 Cowper less successfully : — 
 
 *' They measured hill and dale, 
 Right onward now, and now circuitous." 
 Cf. Milton, P. L. ii. 948 :— 
 
 " So eagerly the fiend 
 O'er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, 
 With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way. 
 And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies." 
 ' So in Senec. Hippol. 1176, " Placemus umbras, capitis exuvias cap.e, 
 Inccrxque frontis accipe abscissam comam." The custom is learnedly 
 iUunlrated by Bernart on Stat. Theb. vi. 193, Lomeier de Lustrat. § xxv. 
 
422 ILIAD XXlll. 139—165. 
 
 pointed out to them, laid him down; and immediately heaped 
 on abundant wood for him. Then again swift-footed Achilles 
 remembered another thing. Standing apart from the pile, 
 he cut off his yellow hair, which he had nurtured, blooming, 
 for the river Sperchius;' and, moaning, he spake, looking 
 upon the dark sea : 
 
 " In vain, O Sperchius, did my father Peleus vow to thee, 
 that I, returning to my dear native land, should there cut off 
 my hair for thee, and offer a sacred hecatomb ; and besides, 
 that I would in the same place sacrifice fifty male sheep at 
 the fountains, where are a grove and fragrant altar to thee. 
 Thus the old man spake, but thou hast not fulfilled his wilL 
 And now, since I return not to my dear fatherland, I will 
 give my hair to the hero Patroclus, to be borne [with him]." 
 Thus saying, he placed his hair in the hands of his dear com- 
 panion; and excited amongst them all a longing for weeping. 
 And the light of the sun had certainly set upon them, mourn- 
 ing, had not Achilles, standing beside, straightway addressed 
 Agamemnon : 
 
 " O son of Atreus (for to thy words the people of the 
 Greeks most especially hearken), it is possible to satiate one- 
 self even with weeping.; ^ but now do thou dismiss them from 
 the pile, and order them to prepare supper. We, to whom 
 the corpse is chiefly a care, will labour concerning these 
 things; but let the chiefs remain with us." 
 
 But when the king of men, Agamemnon, heard this, he 
 immediately dispersed the people among the equal ships; 
 but the mourners remained there, and heaped up the wood. 
 They formed a pile^ a himdred feet this way and that, and 
 laid the body upon the summit of the pile, grieving at heart. 
 
 ' Oa this custom, of. Schol. Hesiod. Theog. 348 : AttoXXuvi ko! 
 'TTOTafioig oi vkoi aTTETE/iov rdg KOfiag, Sid rb av^ii(T£(t}Q Kai dvarpoipJig 
 airiove ilvai. See Lindenbrog on Censorin. de Die Nat. 1. p. 6, and 
 Blomf. on .Ssch. Choeph. s. init., with my own note. Statins, Achill. i. 
 028, " Quserisne meos, Sperchie, natatus, Promissasque comas?" Cf. 
 Pausan. i. 43, 4 ; Philostrat. Her. xi. 
 
 ' See Buttm. Lexil. p. 25. " Achilles speaks of the expediency of 
 terminating the lamentations of the army at large, and leaving wha* 
 remains to be performed in honour of the deceased to bis more particular 
 friends. ' ' — Kennedy. 
 
 ^ In illustration of the following rites, cf. Virg. JFiVi. iii. 62 ; v. 96 ; 
 Ti. 215 ; X. 517 ; xi. 80, 197, sqq. ; and the notes of Stephens on Saxo 
 Grammat. p. 92. 
 
81G— 196. ILIAD. XXIII. 423 
 
 Many fat slieep, and stamping-footed, bent-horned oxen, they 
 skinned and dressed before the pile ; from all of which mag- 
 nanimous Achilles, taking the fat, covered over the dead body 
 [with it] from head to feet, and heaped around the skinned 
 carcases. Leaning towards the bier, he likewise placed vessels 
 of honey and oU,' and, sighing deeply, hastily threw upon the 
 pyre four high-necked steeds. There were nine dogs, com- 
 panions at the table of the [departed] king, and, slaying two 
 of them, he cast them upon the pUe; also twelve gallant 
 sons 2 of the magnanimous Trojans, slaying them with the 
 brass; and he designed evil deeds in his mind. Next he 
 applied to it the iron strength of fire, that it might feed 
 upon it : then he groaned aloud, and addressed his beloved 
 companion by name :^ 
 
 '' Hail ! O Patroclua, even in the dwellings of Hades : for 
 I now fulfU aU things which I formerly promised thee ; 
 tvsrelve brave sons of the magnanimous Trojans, all these, 
 along with thee, shall the fire consume ; but I wUl not sufier 
 Hector, the son of Priam, to be devoured by fire, but by the 
 dogs." 
 
 Thus he spoke, threatening ; but about him the dogs were 
 not busied ; for Venus, the daughter of Jove, drove ofi" the 
 dogs both days and nights, and anointed him with a rosy 
 unguent, ambrosial, that he might not lacerate him dragging 
 him along. Over him also Phoebus Apollo drew a dark cloud 
 from heaven to the plain, and overshadowed the whole space, 
 as much as the dead body occupied, lest the influence of the 
 sun should previously dry the body all around, with the nerves, 
 and limbs. 
 
 Yet the pUe of dead Patroclus burnt not. Then again 
 noble Achilles meditated other things. Standing apart from 
 the pile, he prayed to two winds, Boreas and Zephyrus, and 
 promised fair sacrifices ; and, pouring out many libations 
 
 ' Cf. Alcaeus apud Brunck, Ann. i. p. 490: Kai rafov VTJ/iiaavTo, 
 ■/aKeiKTi Sk TTOi/isvig alyHv 'Eppavav ^av9<f in^dfievoi /leXiTi. Compare 
 the similar libations to the dead in Enr. Orest. 114 ; Heliodor. Eth. vi. ; 
 Apul. Met. 3 ; Stat. Theb. vi. 209 ; Virg. JEn. iii. 66. 
 
 ' This cruel castom was in vogue amongst the followers of Odin. See 
 Olaus Magnus, iii. 3, and Mallet, Northern Antiquities, p. 213, sq., 
 ed. Bohn. 
 
 ' On this TTpoff^wi'f/ffJC, or last address to the deceased, see my note 
 on Eurip. Alcest. 625, t. i. p. 231, ed. Bohn ; and Suppl. 773, 804, 
 Virg. Ma. iii. 68, v. 79 j Propert. i. 17 ; Auson. Parent. 159, 10. 
 
424 ILIAD. XXIII. 197-234. 
 
 with a golden goblet, he supplicated them to come, that they 
 might burn the body with fire as soon as possible, and the 
 wood might hasten to be burned. But swift Iris, hearing his 
 prayers, went as a messenger to the winds. They, indeed, 
 together at home with fierce-breathing Zephyrus, were cele- 
 brating a feast, when Iris, haMening, stood upon the stone 
 threshold. But when they beheld her with their eyes, they 
 rose up, and invited her to him, each of them. But she, on 
 the contrary, refused to sit down, and spoke [this] speech : 
 
 " No seat [for me] ; for I return again to the flowings of 
 the ocean, to the land of the .^Ethiopians, where they sacrifice 
 hecatombs to the immortals, that now I, too, may have a 
 share in their offerings. But Achilles now supplicates Boreas, 
 and sonorous Zephyrus, to come, that ye may kindle the pile 
 to be consumed, on which lies Patroclus, whom all the Greeks 
 bewail." 
 
 She, indeed, thus having spoken, departed ; but they 
 hastened to go with a great tumult, driving on the clouds 
 before them. Immediately they reached the sea, blowing, 
 and the billow was raised up beneath their sonorous blast : 
 but they reached the very fertile Troad, and fell upon the 
 pile, and mightily resounded the fiercely burning fire. All 
 night, indeed, did they together toss about the blaze of the 
 pyre, shrilly blowing ; and aU night swift Achilles, holding a 
 double cup, poured wine upon the ground, drawing it from a 
 golden goblet, and moistened the earth, invoking the manes 
 of wretched Patroclus. And as a father mourns, consuming 
 the bones of his son, a bridegroom who, dying, has afflicted 
 his unhappy parents, so moiu-ned Achilles, burning the bones 
 of his companion, pacing pensively beside the pile, groaning 
 continually. But when Lucifer arrived, proclaiming light 
 over the earth, after whom saffi-on-vested Mom is diffused 
 over the sea, then the pyre gi'ew languid, and the flame 
 decayed ; and the Winds departed again, to return home 
 through the Thracian sea ; but it (the sea) groaned indeed, 
 raging with swelling billow. 
 
 But Pelides, going apart' from the pile, reclined fatigued, 
 and upon him fell sweet sleep. The others, however, wei^e 
 assembling in crowds round the son of Atreus, the noise and 
 
 ' On XidZonai, cf. Buttm. hex. p. 404. 
 
iU—Z67. ILIAD. XXin. 425 
 
 tumult of whom, approaching, awoke him ; and, being raised 
 up, he sat, and addressed them : 
 
 " O son of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of the Greeks, first, 
 indeed, extinguish the whole pUe, as much as the fire has 
 seized, with dark wine ; and then let us collect the bones of 
 Patroclus, the son of Menoetius, well difcriminating them 
 (for they are readily distinguished ; for he lay in the centre 
 of the pyre, but the others, both horses and men, were burned 
 promiscuously at the extremity), and let us place them in a 
 golden vessel, and with a double [layer of] fat, till I myself 
 be hidden in Hades. And I wisu that a tomb should be 
 made, not very large, but of sucli' a size a.s is becoming ; but 
 do ye, O Achseans, hereafter, make it both broad and lofty, 
 you who may be left behind me at the many-benched 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and they obeyed the swift-footed son oi 
 Peleus. First of all, indeed, they totally extinguished the 
 pyre with dark wine, as much as the fii-e had invaded, and 
 the deep ashes fell in ; and, weeping, they collected the white 
 bones of their mild companion into a golden vessel, and 
 a double [layer of] fat ; then, laying them in the tent, they 
 covered them -with soft^ Unen. Next they marked out the 
 area for the tomb, and laid the foundations around the pile ; 
 and immediately upraised a mound of earth ; and, heaping up 
 the tomb, returned. But Achilles detained the people there, 
 and made the wide assembly sit down ; but from the ships 
 he brought forth prizes, goblets, tripods, horses, mules, and 
 sturdy heads of oxen, and slender-waisted women, and hoary^ 
 iron. First he staked as prizes for swift-footed steeds, a 
 woman to be borne away, faultless, skilled in works, as well 
 as a handled tripod of two-and-twenty measm-es, for the first; 
 but for the second he staked a mare six years old, unbroken, 
 pregnant with a young mule ; for the third he staked a fire- 
 
 ' Ernesti considers that toiov is here added to indicate magnitude, and 
 Heyne accordingly renders it : " magnimdine fere hac," the speaker being 
 supposed to use a gesture while thus spealdng. 
 
 ■' See Buttm. Lexil. pp. 236-9. 
 
 ^ " Ernesti conceives that the colour is here maintained to express, not 
 merely the ahining aspect, but the newness of the metal ; as Xivkov in 
 268. This is ingenious ; but why not receive it as expressive of colour, 
 and borrowed from that' to which the metal itself supplies a well-known 
 epithet, viz., the liair jf age?" — Kennedy. 
 
426 ILIAD. XXIII. 267—302, 
 
 less tripod, beautifiil, containing four measures, yet quite 
 untarnished ; ' for the fourth he staked two talents of gold ; 
 and for the fifth he staked a double vessel, untouched by the 
 fire. Erect he stood, and spoke this speech to the Greeks : 
 
 " O son of Atreus, and ye other well-greaved Greeks, these 
 prizes lie in the circus, awaiting the charioteers. If now, 
 indeed, in honour of another, we Grecians were contending, 
 then truly would I, receiving, bear the first [prizes] to my 
 tent. For ye know how much my steeds suritass in excel- 
 lence ; for they are both immortal, and Neptune gave them 
 to my father Peleus, who, again, delivered them to me. But 
 nevertheless I and my solid-hoofed steeds will remain apart 
 [from the contest] j because they have lost ' i excellent 
 might of such a charioteer, who very often pou d the moist 
 oU over their manes, having washed them with limpid water. 
 They, indeed, standing, lament him, but their manes hang 
 down upon the ground, and they stand, grieved at heart 
 However, do ye others through the army prepare, who- 
 ever of the Greeks confides in his steeds and well-fastened 
 chariots." 
 
 Thus spoke the son of Peleus ; but the swift charioteers 
 arose. But, far the first, arose Eumclus, king of men, the 
 dear son of Adnietus, who smiiassed in equestrian sldll. 
 After him arose the son of Tydeus, valiant Diomede, and led 
 under the yoke the horses of Tros, which he formerly took 
 fvom .iEneas ; but ApoRo preserved himself'' alive ; next to 
 whom arose the most noble son of yeUow-haired Atreus, 
 Menelaus, and led beneath the yoke fleet steeds, Agamemnon's 
 mare .^the, and his own stallion, Podargus. Her Echepolus, 
 the son of Anchises, had presented as a gift to Agamemnon, 
 that he need not follow him to wind-swept Hium, but staying 
 there might be delighted ; for Jove had given him great 
 wealth, and he dwelt in wise Sicyon. Her, persevering in 
 the race, he led under the yoke. But Antilochus, the fourth, 
 harnessed his beautiful-maned steeds (the illustrious son of 
 
 ' AvTwe here designates " that which is original, unchanged, in oppo- 
 sition to common changes, Xcvkov 16' avTiog, still in that its original 
 state, completely unblackened with fire ; and oj. 413 ; of the body of Hec- 
 tor, dXX' tTt KHvoQ Ktirai Aurwg, in that state in which he was before, 
 still free from corruption." — Buttm. Lexil. p. 173. 
 
 '' .iSncas. 
 
502—330. ILIAD. XXIII. 427 
 
 thb magnanimous king Nestor, the son oi Neleus), and s-vrift- 
 footed Pelian-born steeds drew his chariot for him ; but his 
 father, standing near, spoke for his good, advising him, 
 though himself prudent : 
 
 " O Antiloch\is, assuredly indeed both Jove and Neptune 
 have loved thee, although being young, and have taught thee 
 all kinds of equestiian exercise ; wherefore there is no great 
 need to instruct thee. For thou knowest how to turn the 
 goals with safety ; but thy horses are very slow to run, 
 wherefore I think that disasters may happen. Their horses, 
 indeed, are more fleet, but they themselves know not how to 
 manoeuvre better than thou thyself. But come now, beloved 
 one, contrive every manner of contrivance in thy mind, lest 
 the prizes by any chance escape thee. By skill is the wood- 
 cutter much better than by strength ; and, again, by skill the 
 pilot directs upon the dark sea the swift ship, tossed about 
 by the winds ; and by skill charioteer excels charioteer. 
 One man who is confident in his steeds and chariot, turns 
 imprudently hither and thither over much [ground], and his 
 steeds wander through the course, nor does he rein them in. 
 But he, on the contrary, who is acquainted with stratagem 
 [though] driving inferior steeds, always looking at the goal, 
 turns it close, nor does it escape him in what manner he may 
 first turn [the course] ' with his leathern reins ; but beholds 
 on steadily, and watches the one who is before him. But I 
 will show thee the goal, easily distinguished, nor shall it 
 escape thy notice. A piece of dry wood, as much as a cubit, 
 stands over the ground, either of oak or of larch, which is not 
 rotted by rain ; and two white stones are placed on either 
 side, in the narrow part of the way j^ but the racecourse aroimd 
 
 ' Or "pull with his leathern reins." — Oxf. Transl. " ravvay, viz. 
 Ipofiov aiv Ifiaaiv. Thus tccBti Spoiiog, ver. 375. The same ellipsis 
 occurs in the following verse, in the case of lx^'» wliich, however, admits 
 also of the construction l^ti iavTov, one usual in the latter language." — 
 Kennedy. 
 
 ^ '* The old interpreter explained iv Kuvoxyt^tv oSov, and I think cor- 
 rectly, of a wide track in the open plain becoming somewhat narrower at 
 tlie point where the old monument stood ; but a/KJtis they took in the 
 opposite sense of X'^C'f> <"■ still more forced. Heyne, however, under- 
 stood it quite correctly of the wide plain around, which was so suited to a 
 chariot-race, and within which, in the distance, stood also the mark 
 chosen by Achilles, ver. 359. Others see in this passage the course wind- 
 ing round the monument ; but then it must have been an old course 
 
428 ILIAD. XXIII. 331—360. 
 
 is level: either it is the monument' of some man long since 
 dead, or perhaps it has been a goal in the time of former men, 
 and now swift-footed noble Achilles has appointed it the goal. 
 Approaching this very closely, drive thy chariot and horses 
 near ; but incline thyself gently towards the left of them (the 
 steeds), in the weU-joined chariot-seat ; and, cheering on the 
 right-hand horse, apply the whip, and give him the rein with 
 thy hands. Let thy left-hand horse, however, be moved 
 close to the goal, so that the nave of the well-made wheel 
 may appear to touch the top [of the post] ; but avoid to touch 
 upon the stone, lest thou both wound thy horses, and break 
 thy chariot in pieces, and be a joy to the others, and a 
 disgrace to thyself. But, my beloved son, mind to be on thy 
 guard ; for if at the goal thou couldst pass by in the course, 
 there will not be one who could overtake thee in pursuit, 
 nor pass thee by ; not if behind he drives noble Arion, the 
 swift steed of Adrastus,^ which was from a god in race , or 
 those of Laomedon, which, excellent, have here been reared." 
 Thus speaking, Neleian Nestor sat down again in his own 
 place, when he had mentioned the most important points of 
 each matter to his son ; and Meriones, fiftli, harnessed his 
 beautiful-maned steeds. Then they ascended their chariots, 
 and cast lots iato [the helmet]. Achilles shook, and the lot 
 of Antilochus, son of Nestor, leaped forth ; after him king 
 Eumelus was allotted ; but after hinri spear-ronowned Mene- 
 laus, son of Atreus, and Meriones was allotted to drive after 
 him. But the son of Tydeus, by far the bravest, was allotted 
 to drive his coursers last. Then they stood in order ; and 
 Achilles pointed out the goals,* far off in the level plain ; 
 and near it placed godlike PhcBuix as an umpire, the armour- 
 regularly drawn out for the purpose ; whereas this monument was selected 
 by Achilles for the goal or mark quite arbitrarily, and by bis own choice ; 
 and Nestor, ver. 332, only conjectures that it might have formerly served 
 for a goal." — Buttm. Lexil. p. 95. 
 
 ' Such monumental stones were frequently placed in public places. Cf. 
 Theocrit. vi. 10 ; Virg. Eel. ix. 55 ; DicEearchus in Athen. xiii. p. 594. 
 
 " According to many authors, this horse was produced from the earth 
 by « stroke of Neptune's trident. See Serv. on Virg. Georg. i. 12; 
 Pausan. viii. p. 650 ; Apollodor. iii. 6, 8 ; and Bernart. on Stat. Theb. 
 iv. 43. 
 
 ' Cf. JEn. V. 129; Quintus Calab. iv. 193: Tolfft U uijiiaiveaKi ipojiou 
 
 rfXoj ilKVTClTQW ' ATpti£l\Q, 
 
361-395, ILIAD. XXIII. 
 
 42& 
 
 bearer of his own sire, that he might attend to the race, and 
 report the truth. 
 
 Then they all at once raised theii- lashes over their steeds, 
 and struck them -with the reins, and cheered thorn on with 
 words incessantly ; but they rapidly flew over the plain, tar 
 away from the ships, swiftly, and beneath their breasts the 
 excited dust stood up, raised like a cloud or a whirlwind : 
 whilst their manes were tossed about by the breath of the 
 wind. Sometimes, iudeed, the chariots approached the fruitful 
 earth, and at others bounded aJoft ; but the drivers stood 
 erect in their chariots, and the heart of each of them, eager 
 for victory, palpitated : and each anmiated his own steeds, 
 but they flew along, stirring up dust from the plain. But 
 when now the fleet steeds were performing the last course, 
 back towards the hoary deep, then appeared the excel- 
 lence of each, and the course was immediately extended to 
 the horses ; * and then the swift-footed steeds of the son of 
 Pheres^ swiftly bore him away. The male Trojan steeds of 
 Diomede, however, bore [themselves] next to them ; nor 
 were they at all far distant, but very near; for they always 
 Beamed as if about to mount into the chariot. And with 
 their breathing the back and broad shotdders of Eumelus 
 were warmed ; for they flew along, leaning their heads over 
 him. And certainly he had either passed, or made [the 
 victory] doubtful, had not Phcebus Apollo been enraged with 
 the son of Tydeus, and accordingly shaken out of his hands 
 the shining lash. Then from the eyes of Viim indignant 
 tears poured, because indeed he beheld the others now going 
 much swifter, wliilst his [steeds] were injured, running 
 without a goad. Neither did Apollo, fraudulently injuring 
 Tydides, escape the notice of Minerva, but she very quickly 
 overtook the shepherd of the people, and gave him his lash, 
 and put vigour into his steeds. And to the son of Admetus, 
 the goddess, indignant, advanced, and broke for him his 
 horse-yoke ; and so his mares ran on both sides out of the 
 way, and the pole was da.shed upon the ground. He him- 
 self was thro'.vn from the driving-seat close by the wheel, 
 and was lacerated all round in his arms, his mouth, and 
 
 ' I. e. " the speed of the horses was immediately put to the stretch," 
 as the Oyford Translator well, but freely, renders it. 
 ' Eumelus. 
 
430 ILIAD. XXIII. 396—436. 
 
 nostrils, and his forehead was bruised near the eyebrows; 
 but his eyes were filled with tears, and his liquid voice was 
 clogged. Then Diomede passing by, directed his hollow- 
 hoofed steeds, bounding far before the others ; for IVIinerva 
 had put vigour into his steeds, and given him glory. But 
 after him, however, the son of Atreus, yeUow-haired Mene- 
 laus, drove ; but AntUochus cheered on the steeds of his 
 father : 
 
 " Push on ! afld exert yourselves, both of you, as fast as 
 possible. I indeed do not order you to contend with the 
 steeds of warlike Diomede, to which Minerva has now 
 given speed, and given glory to him ; but quickly overtake 
 the horses of Atrides, nor be left behind, lest ^the, being a 
 mare, shed disgrace upon you both. Why should ye be left 
 inferior, best [of steeds] 1 For thus I teU you, and it shall 
 surely be accomplished ; attention will not be paid to you by 
 Nestor, the shepherd of the people, but he will immediately 
 slay you with the sharp brass, if we, remiss, bear off the less 
 worthy prize. But follow, and hasten as fe,st as possible. 
 These things will I myself manage and look to, to pass him 
 by in the narrow way ; nor shall it escape me." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they, di-eading the threat of their 
 master, ran faster for a short time : but immediately then 
 warlike AntUochus perceived the narrow of the hollow way. 
 It wais a fissure of the earth, where the wintry torrent col- 
 lected, had broken away [part] of the road, and gullied the 
 whole place ; thither drove Menelaus, avoiding the clash of 
 wheels. But Antilochus, deviating, guided his solid-hoofed 
 horses out of the way, and turning aside, pursued him a little. 
 But the son of Atreus feared, and shouted to AntUochus : 
 
 " Antilochus, rashly art thou driving thy horses ; but 
 check thy steeds — ^for the road is narrow, and thou wilt soon 
 drive past in a wider — lest thou damage both [of us], running 
 foul of [my] chariot." Thus he spoke ; but Antilochus drove 
 even much faster, urging [them] on with the lash, like unto 
 one not hearing. As far as is the cast of a quoit, hiurled 
 from the shoulder, which a vigorous youth has thrown, 
 making experiments of his youthful strength ; so far they 
 ran abreast ; but those of Atrides fell back : for he himself 
 voluntarily ceased to drive, lest the solid-hoofed steeds should 
 clasli in the road, and overturn the well-ioined chariots, and 
 
137-471. ILIAD. XXIII. 431 
 
 they themselves should fall in the dust, while contending for 
 the victory. And 'hitYi yeUow-haired Menelaus, cliidiug, 
 addressed : 
 
 " Antilochus, no other mortal is more pernicious than 
 thou. Avaunt ! for we Greeks untruly said that thou wast 
 prudent. Yet not even thus shalt thou bear away the prize 
 without an oath."i Thus saying, he cheered on his steeds, 
 and spoke to them : 
 
 " Be not kept back, nor stand, grieving in your hearts : 
 sooner will the feet and knees grow weary to them than to 
 you ; for they are both deprived of vigour." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they, dreading the exhortation oi 
 their master, ran more fleetly, and became very near the 
 others. But the Greeks sitting in assembly,^ beheld the 
 steeds, and they flew along, raising dust over the plain. 
 Then first Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, distinguished 
 the horses ; for he sat outside the circus, veiy high up, on an 
 observatory ; and hearing him, being far off, encouraging 
 [his steeds], knew him. He also perceived a remarkable 
 steed outstripping, which in every other part indeed was 
 chesnut, but in its forehead was a white round spot, like the 
 moon. And he stood erect, and delivered this speech 
 amongst the Greeks : 
 
 " O friends, leaders and chieftains of the Greeks, do I 
 alone recognise the horses, or do ye also ? Difierent steeds 
 indeed appear to me to be foremost, and there seems a dif- 
 ferent charioteer ; but those [mares] which hitherto were 
 successful, are probably hurt upon the plain somewhere : for 
 surely I first saw them turning roimd the goal, but now I 
 can no longer see them, although my eyes survey the Trojan 
 plain as I gaze around. Surely the reins have fled the 
 charioteer, and he could not rein well round the goal, and 
 did not succeed in ttu-ning. There I imagine he fell out, and 
 at the same time broke his chariot, whilst they (the mares) 
 bolted, when fiiry seized their mind. But do ye also, stand- 
 ing up, look, for I cannot well distinguish ; it appears to me 
 to be an ^tolian hero by birth, and [who] rules amongst 
 
 ' " Videtur proverbii loco dictum in eos, qui non facile, non sine gravi 
 labore ao diffioultate consequi possent, quod peterent, sive qui rem valde 
 diScilem peterent." — Ernesti. 
 
 ' See note on vii. p. 129, n. 2. 
 
432 TLJAD. XXIII. 472—502 
 
 tlie Argives, the son of horse-breaking Tydeus, gallant 
 Diomede." 
 
 But him swift Ajax, the son of Oileus, bitterly re- 
 proached : 
 
 "Idomeneus, why dost thou prate endlessly?' Those 
 liigh-prancing mares run over the vast plain afar. Neither 
 art thou so much the youngest amongst the Greeks, nor do 
 thine eyes see most sharply from thy head : but thou art 
 always prating with words. Nor is it at all necessary foi 
 thee to be a prater, for others better than thou are present. 
 For the mares of Eumelus are still ^ foremost, which were so 
 before, and he himself is advancing, holding the reins." 
 
 But him the leader of the Cretans, indignant, answered in 
 turn : 
 
 " Ajax, best at abuse, revUer, but in all other things thou 
 art inferior to the Greeks, because thy temper is morose ; 
 come now, let us stake a tripod ^ or a goblet, and let us 
 both appoint Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, arbiter, which 
 horses are foremost ; that paying, thou mayest learn." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but swift Ajax, son of OQeus, immediately 
 rose to reply in harsh words. And now doubtless the strife 
 would have proceeded farther to both, had not Achilles him- 
 self risen up, and spoke : 
 
 " No longer now, O Ajax and Idomeneus, hold altercation 
 in evil, angry words, for it is not fitting, and ye also would 
 blame another, whoever should do such things ; but, sitting 
 down in the circus, look towards the steeds, which themselves 
 will soon arrive, contending for victory; and then will ye 
 know, each of you, the horses of the Greeks, which are second, 
 and which first." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; tut the son of Tydeus came very near, 
 pursuing, and always drove on [his horses] with the lash 
 across the shoulders ; whilst the steeds were raised up aloft 
 into the air, quickly completing their course, and the drop.s 
 of dust kept always bespattering their charioteer. The 
 
 ^ " napoc implies habit, as in i. 553, particularly in connection with a 
 ^erb of such import, as in XTiii. 425." — Kennedy. 
 
 ' This is implied in wep. 
 
 ' " Ut supra, zxii. 254, erat iinSoaBm, pro ioadai jiaprvpag tm riv 
 XPV'^^^Tif sic nunc TpiiroSos ■jrepiSbifiiOa est 5b}fifQa opxov Trtpi TpiTroSof, 
 quern poenae loco daturuserit uter nostrum temere contenderit." — Heyre. 
 
803—542. ILIAD. XXIII. 433 
 
 chariot, adorned with gold and tin, rolled on close to the 
 swift-footed steeds; nor was. there a deep trace of the tires 
 behind in the fine dust, but thej^ hastening, flew. But ho 
 stood in the midst of the circus, and much perspiration 
 exuded from the steeds, from their necks and chest to the 
 ground. But he himself leaped to the ground from his all- 
 sliining chariot, and rested his scourge against the yoke ; nor 
 was gallant Sthenelus dilatory, but he eagerly seized the 
 prize, and gave the woman to his magnanimous companions 
 to escort, and the handled tripod to bear away j whilst he 
 himself unyoked the steeds. 
 
 Next to him Neleian AntUochus drove his steeds, out- 
 stripping Menelaus by stratagem, not indeed by speed. Yet 
 even thus Menelaus drove his swift horses near ; but as far 
 as a horse is distant from the wheel, which, exerting its 
 speed with the chariot, draws its master through the plain, 
 and the extreme hairs of its tail touch the wheel-tire, but it 
 rolls very near, nor is there much space between, while it 
 nms over the vast plain ; so far was illustrious Menelaus left 
 behind by Antilochus : although at first he was left behind 
 as much as the cast of a quoit, yet he quickly overtook him; 
 for the doughty strength of Agamemnon's mare, the beau- 
 tiful-maned ^the, was increased. And if the course had 
 been stiU longer to both, he would surely have passed him 
 by, nor left it doubtful. Meriones again, the good attendant 
 of Idomeneus, was left behind a spear's throw by the illus- 
 trious Menelaus, for his fair-maned steeds were the slowest, 
 and he himself least s kilf ul in driving a chariot in the con- 
 test. But the son of Admetus came last of others, dragging 
 his beauteous chariot, driving his steeds before him. But 
 him swift-footed, noble Achilles seeing, pitied, and standing 
 amongst the Greeks, spoke [to him] winged words : 
 
 " The best man drives his solid-hoofed steeds the last. 
 But come, let us give him, as is right, the second prize ; 
 and let the son of lydeus bear away the first." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and all approved as he ordered. And 
 now truly he had given the mare to him (for the Greeks 
 approved it), had not Antilochus, the son of magnanimous 
 Nestor, rising up, replied to AchiUes, the son of Peleus, on 
 the question of justice :* 
 
 ' Not " with justice," as the translators, following the Scholiast, have 
 2f 
 
434 ILIAD. XXIII. 543—580. 
 
 " Achillea, I shall be very indignant with thee, if thou 
 fulfillest this promise ; for thou art about to deprive me of 
 my reward, considering these things, that his chariot and 
 fleet steeds were injured, he himself being skilful ; but he 
 should have prayed to the immortals, then would he by no 
 means have come up driving the last. But if thou pitiest 
 him, and it be agreeable to thy mind, thou hast much gold 
 and brass in thy tent, and cattle and maidens, and solid- 
 hoofed steeds are thine. Taking from these, give him after- 
 wards even a greater reward, or even now forthwith, that 
 the Greeks may applaud thee. This, however, I will not 
 resign, but let him of the wai-riors strive for her, whoever 
 wishes to contend with me in strength of hands." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and swift-footed, noble Achilles smUed, 
 favouring AntUochus, for he was a dear companion to him ; 
 and, answering, addressed to him winged words : 
 
 " O AntUochus, since thou now biddest me give something 
 else to Eumelus from my house, this will I indeed accomplish. 
 I will give him the corslet which I took from Aateropseus, 
 brazen, around which there is entwined a rim of shining tin j 
 and it is of great value." 
 
 He spoke ; and ordered his dear comrade, Automedon, to 
 bear it from the tent : and he went and brought it to hiTti ; 
 then he placed it in the hands of Eiimelus, and he received 
 it rejoicing. But Menelaus also arose amongst them, grieving 
 in, his mind, vehemently enraged with AntUochus. Then a 
 herald placed the sceptre in his hands, and ordered the 
 Greeks to be silent ; and then the godlike hero spoke : 
 
 " O AntUochus, hitherto prudent, what hast thou done ? 
 Thou hast disgraced my skill, and injured my steeds, driving 
 tliine before them, which indeed are greatly inferior. But 
 come, ye leaders and chiefs of the Greeks, judge between us 
 both, and not for favour; lest spme one of the brazen-mailed 
 Greeks should say : ' Menelaus having overcome Antilochus 
 by falsehoods, came off, leading the mare [as a prize], for his 
 steeds were very inferior, but he himself superior in skill and 
 strength.' ' But come, I myself will decide, and I think that 
 no other of the Greeks will blame me, for it will be just. 
 
 interpreted ffiKij. That would have required aiv Sixy, as in Soph. 
 Antig. 23. 
 ' Cf. vers. 571. »', 
 
581-615. ILIAD. XXIIl. 435 
 
 Antilochus, nurtured of Jove, come hither, I pray, as it is 
 just, standing before thy horses and chariot, and holding hi 
 thy hands the pliant lash with which thou didst formerly 
 drive, touching thy steeds, swear by earth-encompassing 
 Neptime, thkt thou didst not willingly impede my chariot 
 by stratagem." ' 
 
 But him prudent Antilochus in turn answered : 
 
 '■ Have patience now, since I am much younger than thou, 
 
 king Menelaus, and thou art older and superior. Thou 
 knowest of what sort are the errors of a youth ; for his mind 
 is indeed more volatile, and his counsel weak. Therefore let 
 thy heart endure, and I myself will give thee the steed which 
 
 1 have received. And if indeed thou demandest any- 
 thing else greater from my house, I should be willing to 
 give it immediately rather than fall for ever, O Jove- 
 nurtured, from thy good opinion, and be sinful towards the 
 gods." 
 
 He spoke ; and the son of magnanimous Nestor, leading 
 the mare, placed it in the hands of Menelaus ; but his^ mind 
 was cheered^ as the dew [is difi'used] over the ears of growing 
 com, when the fields are bristling. Thus indeed, O Mene- 
 laus, was thy soul in thy breast cheered ; and speaking, he 
 addressed to him winged words : 
 
 " Antilochus, now indeed will I cease being enraged with 
 thee, for formerly thou wert neither foolish nor volatile ; 
 though now youth has subdued reason. Avoid a second 
 time overreaching thy superiors ; for not another man of 
 the Greeks would have easily appeased me. But thou 
 hast already suffered much, and accomplished many deeds, 
 as well as thy good father and brother, for my sake : there- 
 fore will I be persuaded by thee, supplicating, and will 
 give the mare also, although being mine ; that these too 
 may perceive that my soul is never overbearing or un- 
 relenting." 
 
 He spoke, and gave the steed to Noemon, the comrade of 
 Antilochus, to lead away ; and then he received the shining 
 goblet [himself]. But Meriones, the fourth, took up the 
 two talents of gold, in which order he drove ; but the fifth 
 
 ' See ver. 441. ' I. t. Menelaus. 
 
 I ' Or softened, melted. See Heyne. 
 
 2 f2 
 
436 ILIAD. XXin. 616—653. 
 
 prize waa left,' which Achilles, bearing through the assembly 
 of the Giccks, gave to Nestor, and standing by him, said : 
 
 " Receive now, and let this be a keepsake to thee, a me- 
 morial of the burial of Patroclus j for never more shalt thou 
 behold him among the Greeks. I give this piize to thee 
 even thus \^ for tliou indeed wilt not fight with the csestus, 
 nor wrestle, nor engage in the contest of hurling the javelin, 
 nor run on the feet, for grievous old age now oppresses thee." 
 
 Thus speaking, he placed it in his hands ; but he rejoicing, 
 accepted it, and addressing him, spoke in winged words : 
 
 " Assuredly, O my son, thou hast spoken aU these things 
 aright ; for no longer are my limbs firm, my friend, nor my 
 feet, nor yet do my hands move pliant on each side from my 
 shoulders. Would that I were as young, and my strength 
 was firm to me, as when the Epeans buried king Amarjrn- 
 ceus at Byprasiimi, and his sons staked the prizes of the king. 
 There no man was equal to me, neither of the Epeans, nor 
 of the Pelians themselves, nor of the magnanimous ^tolians. 
 In the csestus I. conquered Clytomedes, the son of Enops ; 
 and in wrestling, Ancseus, the Pleuronian, who rose up 
 against me ; and on foot I outstripped Iphiclus, though 
 being excellent ; and with the spear hurled beyond Phyleus 
 and Polydorus. The two sons of Actor drove by me by their 
 steeds only, exceeding me in number, envying me the vic- 
 tory, for the greatest rewards were left for that contest. But 
 they were two ; the one indeed steadily directed the reins, 
 whilst the other urged on with the lash. Thus I formerly 
 was, but now let younger men undertake such deeds, as it 
 becomes me to obey sad old age, though I then excelled 
 amongst heroes. But go, and celebrate thy comrade's obse- 
 quies with games. This, indeed, I willingly accept, and ray 
 soul rejoices that thou art ever mindfiil of me ; nor am I 
 forgotten by thee, with what honour it becomes me to be- . 
 honoured among the Greeks. And for these things may the 
 gods give thee a proper return." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but the son of Peleus went through the 
 great assemblage of the Greeks, when he had heard all the 
 praise of Nestor. Then he proposed prizes for a laborious 
 
 ' Because Eumelus had received an extraordinary prize. 
 
 ^ /. e. although thou bast not shared the contests. See Kennedy. 
 
654-690. ILIAD. XXIII. 437 
 
 boxing-match.! Leading a mule, patient of toil, six years 
 uld, unbroken, which, is most difficult to be tamed, he tied 
 it in the circus ; and for the conquered again he staked a 
 two-handled cup : then he stood up, and spoke amongst the 
 Greeks : 
 
 " O ye sons of Atreus, and other well-greaved Greeks, we 
 invite two men, who are very expert, raising their hands 
 aloft, to strike for these with the fist. But to whom Apollo 
 indeed may give victory, and all the Greeks approve, leading 
 away the mule, patient of labour, let him conduct id to his 
 tent ; but the vanquished shall bear away a double cup." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; and immediately arose a man brave and 
 great, skilled ia the art of boxing, Epeus, son of Panopeus ; 
 and grasping the patient-toiling mule, said : 
 
 "' Let him draw near, whosoever will bear away the double 
 cup ; but I think that no other of the Greeks having con- 
 quered in boxing, will lead away the mule ; for I boast myself 
 to be the best man. Is it not enough that I am inferior in 
 battle?* For it is by no means possible for a man to be 
 skilled in every work. For thus I tell you, and it shall be 
 accomplished, I will utterly fracture Ids body, and also break 
 Ids bones. And let his friends remain here assembled, who 
 may carry him away vanquished by my hands." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but they were all mute, in silence. But 
 Euryalus alone stood up against him, a godlike hero, son of 
 king Mecisteus, a descendant of Talai'on, who formerly came 
 to Thebes to the funeral of the deceased CEdipus, and there 
 vanquished all the Cadmeans. About him the spear-renowned 
 son of Tydeus was busied, encouraging him with words, for 
 he greatly wished victoi7 to him. And first he threw around 
 him his girdle, and then gave him the well-cut thongs (made 
 of the hide] of a rustic ox. But they twain, having gilded 
 themselves, proceeded into the middle of the circus, and both 
 at the same time engaged, with their strong hands opposite, 
 raising [them up], and their heavy hands were mingled. Then 
 a horrid crashing of jaws ensued, and the sweat flowed or. ail 
 sides from their limbs. Then noble Epeus rushed in, and 
 smote him upon the cheek, while looking round, nor could ho 
 
 ' Cf. Virg. Mn. v. 365. 
 
 • " /. e. is it not enough, that, though I am inferior xn battle, 1 aia 
 Buperior in boxing ? ' '—Oxford Transl. 
 
438 ILIAD. XXIII. 691-723. 
 
 stand any longer ; but his fair limbs tottered under liim. 
 And as wlien, from beneath the surface, rippled ' by the north 
 wind, a fish leaps out upon the -weedy shore, and the dark 
 bUlow covers it, so he, stricken, sprang up. But magna- 
 nimous Epeus, taking [him] in his hands, lifted him up ; and 
 his dear comrades stood around, who conducted him through 
 the circus on tottering feet, spitting out clotted gore, [and] 
 drooping his head on each side ; and then, leading, placed 
 him among them, insensible, while they, departing, received 
 the double cup. 
 
 But the son of Peleus quickly staked other third prizes for 
 laborious wrestling, exhibiting [them] to the Greeks ; for the 
 conqueror, indeed, a large tripod, ready for the fire,^ which 
 the Greeks estimated amongst themselves at twelve oxen ; 
 and for the conquered person he placed a female in the midst. 
 She understood various works, and they reckoned her at four 
 oxen. But he stood up, and spoke this speech among the 
 Greeks : 
 
 " Arise, ye who will make trial of this contest." Thus he 
 spoke ; but then arose mighty Telamonian Ajax, and wise 
 tjlysses stood up, skilled in stratagems. But these two, 
 having girded themselves, advanced into the midst of the 
 circus, and grasped each other's arms with their strong hands, 
 like the rafters^ of a lofty dome, which a renowned architect 
 has fitted, guarding off the violence of the winds. Then their 
 backs creaked, forcibly dragged by their powerful hands, and 
 the copious^ sweat poured down ; and thick welds, purple 
 with blood, arose upon their sides and shoulders. Yet always 
 eagerly they sought desired victory, for the sake of the well- 
 made tripod. Neither could Ulysses trip, nor throw him to 
 the ground, nor coidd Ajax him, for the valiant might of 
 Ulysses hindered him. But when at length they were 
 wearying the weU-greaved Greeks, then mighty Telamonian 
 Ajax addressed him : 
 
 •' most noble son of Laertes, Ulysses of many wiles, either 
 
 ' See Kennedy. 
 
 ' /. e. intended for domestic purposes, not a mere votive offering or 
 ornament. 
 
 ' 'Auu€ovTig SoKot /leyaXai, dWtjXaie irpoaviiTTOvaai, Siari Saffra- 
 {eiv Tr)v dpotpriv' airivfg Kai avaraTai KoXot^yrai,— SciioL 
 
 * See Kenuedv. 
 
724—759. ILIAD. XXIII. 439 
 
 fifl up me, or I thee, and all these things will be a care to 
 Jove." 
 
 So saying, he lifted him. up ; but yet was not Ulysses nn 
 mindful of a stratagem. Aiming at his ham, he struck him 
 behind, and relaxed his limbs, and threw him on his back; 
 but Ulysses fell upon his breast ; then the people admiring 
 gazed, and were stupified. Next noble, much-enduring 
 Ulysses, lifted him in turn, and moved him a little from the 
 ground, nor did he lift him up completely ; but he bent his 
 knee ; and both fell upon the ground near to each other, and 
 were defiled with dust. And, getting up, they had surely 
 wrestled for the third time, had not Achilles himself stood up 
 and restrained them : 
 
 " No longer contend, nor exhaust yourselves with evils ; 
 for there is victory to both : so depart, receiving equal 
 rewards, in order that the other Greeks also may contend." 
 Thus he spoke ; but they indeed heard him willingly, and 
 obeyed ; and, wiping off the dust, put on their tunics. But 
 the son of Peleus immediately staked other rewards of swift- 
 ness, a wrought sUver cup, which contained, indeed, six 
 measures, but in beauty much excelled [all] upon the whole 
 earth, for the ingenious Sidonians had wrought it cunningly, 
 and Phoenician men had carried it over the shadowy sea, 
 and exposed it for sale in the harbours, and presented it as a 
 gift to Thoas. Euneus, son of Jason, however, had given it 
 to the hero Patroclus, as a ransom for Lycaon, son of Priam. 
 This also Achilles offered as a new prize, to be contended for, 
 In honour of his companion, whoever should be the nimblest 
 on swift feet ; for the second, again, he proposed an ox, large 
 and luxuriant in fat ; and for the last he staked half a talent 
 of gold. But he stood upright, and spoke amongst the 
 Greeks : 
 
 " Arise, ye who will make trial of this contest also." Thus 
 he spoke ; and immediately swift Ajax, son of Ofleus, arose, 
 and much-enduring Ulysses ; and after them AntUochus, son 
 of Nestor; for he, indeed, excelled all the youths in fleetness. 
 But they stood in order, and AchiUes pointed out the goal ; 
 and their course was stretched out from the goal.' Then 
 swiftly leaped forth the son of Oileus ; but very close after 
 
 ' See Kennedy, and on the race of the SiavXog, Smith's Diet, of 
 Antiquities. 
 
140 ILIAD. XXin. rCO— 799. 
 
 him nislied noble Ulysses; as -when a, shuttle is at the breast 
 of a well -girdled dame, which she throws very skilfully with 
 her hands, drawing out the woof, [and inserting them] into 
 the warp, and holds it near her breast : so ran Ulysses near 
 Viim ; and with his feet trod on his footsteps behind, before 
 the dust was shed over them. But noble Ulysses, constantly 
 running swiftly, exhaled his breath upon his head ; and all 
 the Greeks shouted to him, eager for victory, and encouraged 
 him, hastening rapidly. But when they were now completing 
 their last course, Ulysses forthwith prayed in his mind to 
 azure- eyed Minerva: 
 
 " Hear, O goddess, come a propitious assistant to my feet." 
 Thus he spoke, praying; but Pallas Minerva heard him; and 
 she made Iiis hmbs nimble, his feet and his hands above. But 
 when they were just about to fly in upon the prize, then 
 Ajax slipped, while running (for Minerva did the mischief), 
 where the dung of the deep-lowing slaughtered oxen was 
 around, which swifb-footed Achilles had slain in honour of 
 Patroclus. Then much-enduring, noble Ulysses took up the 
 goblet, as he came running the fii-st ; and illustrious Ajax 
 received the ox. But he stood, holding the horn of the rustic 
 ox in his hands; and, spitting out the dung, spoke amongsi 
 the Greeks : 
 
 " Alas ! surely a goddess injured my feet, who ever vf old 
 stands by Ulysses as a mother, and assists him." 
 
 Thus he spoke; and they all then laughed heaatily at him. 
 But AntUochus next bore away the last prize, smiling, and 
 spoke among the Greeks : 
 
 '' I wiU tell you all, my friends, though now knowing it, 
 that even stiU the immortals honour the aged. For Ajiix, 
 indeed, is a little older than I am: but he is of a former 
 generation, and former men ; and they say that he is of crude 
 old age, and it is difficult for the Greeks to contend in swift- 
 ness with him, except for Achilles." 
 
 Thus he spoke; and praised the swift- footed son of Peliiui?. 
 But Achilles, answering, addressed him with words : 
 
 " Thy praise, O AntUochus, shall not be spoken in vain, 
 but for thee I will add half a talent of gold." 
 
 So saying, he placed it in his hands; and he, rejoicing, 
 received it. Bilt the son of Peleus, bearing into the circus, 
 laid doMTi a long speax, and .a shield, and helmet, the arms of 
 
300-841. ILIAD. XXIII. 441 
 
 Sarpedon, which Patroclus had stripped him of; and stood 
 upright, and spoke amongst the Greeks: 
 
 " "We invite two warriors, whoever are bravest, having put 
 on these arms, [and] seizing the flesh-rending brass, to make 
 trial of each other before the host for these. Whoever shall 
 be the first to wound the fair flesh, and touch the entrails 
 through the armour and black blood, to him, indeed, will I 
 give this silver-studded, beautiful Thracian sword, which I 
 formerly took from Asteropseus. But let both bear t\way 
 these arms in common, and before them T wiU place a splendid 
 banquet in my tents." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but then arose mighty Telamonian Ajax, 
 and the son of Tydeus, valiant Diomede rose up. Eut they, 
 after they had armed apart on either side from the ground, 
 both came together into the midst, eager to fight, looking 
 dreadfully ; and stupor possessed all the Greeks. But when 
 approaching each other, they were near, thrice indeed ihey 
 rushed on, and thrice made the attack hand to hand. Then 
 Ajax, indeed, pierced through his shield, equal on all sides, 
 nor reached the flesh ; for the corslet inside protected him. 
 But next the son of Tydeus, with the point of his sliining 
 spear, endeavoured to reach the neck, over his great shield. 
 And then, indeed, the Greeks, fearing for Ajax, desired them, 
 ceasing, to take up equal rewards. The hero, however, gave 
 the great sword to Diomede, bearing it both with the sheath 
 and the weU-cut belt. 
 
 Then the son of Peleus deposited a rudely-molten mass of 
 iron, which the great might of Eetion used formerly to hurl. 
 But when swift-footed, noble Achilles slew him, he brought 
 this also, with other possessions, in his ships. Then he stood 
 up, and spoke amongst the Greeks : 
 
 " Arise, you who will make trial of this contest also. Even 
 if his rich fields be of very far and wide extent, using this he 
 will have it even for five revolving years ; for indeed neither 
 «?ill his shepherd nor his ploughman go into the city wanting 
 iron, but [this] will furnish it." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; then up arose warlike Polypoetes, and thfi 
 valiant might of godlike Leonteus arose; also Telamoniau 
 Ajax, and noble Epeus arose. Then they stood in order; but 
 noble Epeus seized the mass, and, whirling it round, threw it ; 
 but all the Greeks laughed at him. Next Leonteus, a branch 
 
442 ILIAD. XXIII. 841-880. 
 
 of Mars, threw second ; but thii-d, mighty Telamonian Ajax 
 hurled with his strong hand, and cast beyond the marks ot 
 all. But when now warlike Polypoetes had seized the mass, 
 as far as a cow-herdsman throws his crook, which, whirled 
 around, flies through the herds of oxen, so far, through the 
 whole stadium, did. he cast beyond; but they shouted aloud; 
 and the companions of brave Polypoetes, rising up, bore away 
 the prize of the king to the hollow ships. 
 
 Next, for the archers, he staked iron fit for making arrows,' 
 and laid down ten battle-axes, and also ten demi-axes. He 
 also set upright the mast of an azure-prowed vessel, afar upon 
 the sands; from [this] he fastened a timid dove by a slender 
 cord, by the foot, at which he ordered [them] to shoot : 
 
 " Whosoever indeed shall strike the timid dove, taking up 
 all the battle-axes, may bear [them] to his tent; but whoso- 
 ever shall hit the cord, missing the bird (for he is inferior), 
 let him bear off the demi-axes." , 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but then up rose the might of king Teucer, 
 and up rose Meriones, the active attendant of Idomeneus; 
 and taking the lots, they shook them in a brazen helmet. 
 But Teucer was appointed first by lot ; and straightway he 
 .shot an arrow strenuously, nor did he vow to sacrifice a cele- 
 brated hecatomb of firstling lambs to king [Apollo]. He 
 missed the bird indeed, because Apollo envied him this, but 
 he hit the string with which the bird was fastened, close to 
 its foot; and the bitter arrow cut the cord quite through. 
 Then indeed the bird ascended towards heaven, but the cord 
 was sent down towards the earth : and the Greeks shouted 
 applause. But Meriones, hastening, snatched the bow from 
 his hand; and now held the arrow for a long time, as he had 
 directed it ; and immediately vowed to sacrifice to far-darting 
 Apollo a noble hecatomb of firstling lambs. But he saw the 
 timid dove on high beneath the clouds, which, as she was 
 turning rotmd, he hit in the middle under the wing, and the 
 arrow pierced quite through. And it indeed again was fixed 
 in the ground at the foot of Meriones: but the bird, alight- 
 ing upon the mast of the azure-beaked galley, drooped its 
 neck, and its close wings were at the same tune expanded. 
 And swift its soul flitted from its members, and it fell fai 
 
 ' /. e. well-tempered. 
 
881—897 ILIAD. XXIII. 443 
 
 from [the mast] ; but the people wondering, beheld, and were 
 stupified. Then Meriones took up all the ten battle-axes, 
 and Teucer carried off the demi-axes to the hollow barks. 
 
 Then the son of Peleus indeed, bearing it into the circus, 
 staked a long spear, and also a caldron, untouched by fire, 
 worth an ox, adorned with flowers; and immediately the 
 spearmen arose. The son of Atreus rose up, wide-mling 
 Agamemnon, and Meriones, the expert attendant of Idome- 
 neus; whom also swifb-footed, noble AchiUes addi-essed: 
 
 " O son of Atreus, for we know how much thou dost sur- 
 pass all, as well as how much thou excellest in .strength and 
 m the javelin, wherefore thou indeed mayest repair to the 
 hollow barks, possessing this reward; but let us give the 
 spear to the hero Meriones, if, truly, thou dost thus wish it 
 in thy mind; for I on my part advise it." 
 
 Thus he spoke; nor did the king of men, Agamemnon, 
 disobey ; but he gave the brazen spear to Meriones ; and the 
 hero himself gave the very splendid prize to the herald Tal- 
 thybius. 
 
m ILIAD. XXIY, 1—22. 
 
 BOOK THE TWENTY-FOURTH. 
 
 ARUUMENT. 
 
 Jove orders Thetis to go to Achilles, and demand the restoration of Hee- 
 tor's body. Mercury is also sent to Priam, whom he guides in safety 
 through the Grecian camp, to the tent of Achilles. A pathetic inter- 
 view follows, and Priam ransoms the body of his son, and obtains a 
 twelve days' truce, during which he performs his funeral obsequies. 
 
 The assembly was dissolved, and the people were dispersed, 
 to go each to their hoUow barks. They indeed took care^ to 
 indulge in the banquet and sweet slumber ; but Achilles 
 wept, remembering his dear companion, nor did all-subdning 
 sleep possess him, but he was rolled here and there, longing 
 for the vigour and valiant might of Patroclus. And what- 
 ever things he had accomplished with him, and hanl'ihips he 
 had suffered, both [encountering] the battles of heroes, and 
 measuring the grievous waves, remembering these things, he 
 shed the warm tear, lying at one time upon his sides,' at 
 others again on his back, and at other times on his face ; but 
 again starting up, he wandered about in sadness along the 
 shore of the sea; nor did Mom, appearing over the sea and 
 the shores, escape his notice. But he, when he had harnessed 
 his fleet steeds to his chariot, bound Hector to be dragged 
 after his chariot; and having drawn him thrice ai'ound the 
 tomb of the dead son of Menoetius, again rested in his tent ; 
 and left him there, having stretched Viim on his face in the 
 dust. But Apollo kept off all pollution from his body, pity- 
 ing the hero, although dead; and encircled him with the 
 golden aegis, lest that, dragging, he might lacerate hun. 
 Thus he indeed, raging, was insulting noble Hector, but 
 
 * Cf. Heliodor. Ethiop. vii. p. 325: YIm'vvxioi' yovv tKfiro, TrvKva fi^v 
 irpbg tKartpav TrXsvpcLv rb aS)jia ciaOTpkipovja, Chariton quotes th« 
 line of Homer, when describing the uneasy rest of « love-strickeu being. 
 
23-57. ILIAD. XXIV. 445 
 
 the blessed gods, looking towards Mm, commiserated, and in- 
 cited the watchful slayer of Argus to steal him away. Now, to 
 all the rest it was certainly pleasing, but by no means so to 
 Juno, to Neptune, nor to the azure-eyed maid; but they 
 were obstinate,' for saored Ilium was odious to them from 
 the first, and Priam and his people, on account of the infa- 
 tuation of Paris, who had insulted the goddesses, when they 
 came to his cottage, and preferred her who gratified his de- 
 structive lust.2 But when the twelfth morning from that had 
 arisen, then indeed Phoebus Apollo spoke amongst the im- 
 mortals : 
 
 " Cruel ye are, gods, [and] injurious. Has not Hector 
 indeed formerly burned for you the thighs of buUs and chosen 
 goats? whom now, although being dead, ye will not venture 
 to take away for his wife, and mother, his son, and his father 
 Priam, and the people to behold; who would quickly burn 
 him with fire, and perform his funeral rites. But ye wish to 
 bestow favour, gods, upon destructive AchUles, to whom 
 there is neither just disposition, nor flexible feelings in his 
 breast ; who is skilled in savage deeds, as a Hon, which, yield- 
 ing to the impulse of his mighty strength and haughty soul, 
 attacks the flocks of men, that he may take a repast. Thus 
 has AchiUes lost all compassion, nor in him is there sense of 
 shame, which greatly hurts and profits men. For perhaps 
 some one will lose another more dear, either a brother, or a 
 son; yet does he cease weeping and lamenting, for the Des- 
 tinies have placed in men an enduring mind. But this man 
 drags godlike Hector around the tomb of his dear companion, 
 binding him to his chariot, after he has taken away Ins dear 
 life ; yet truly this is neither more honourable, nor better for 
 him. [Let him beware] lest we be indignant with him, brave 
 as he is, because, raging, he insults even the senseless clay." 
 
 But him the wliite-armed Juno, indignant, addressed : 
 " Tliiu truly might be our language, O God of the silver bow, 
 if now thou assignest equal honour to Achilles and to Hector. 
 
 ' After t'xoj/ supply rfiv SiaBiaiv (with Schol.)=" iept their determi- 
 nation." 
 
 ' Payne Knight would reject vers. 23 — 30, considering the wor^ 
 fia'xKoavvriv as un-Homeric. If they are genuine, they furnish the earliest 
 mention of the judgment of Paris. Cf. MoUus on Longus, Past. iii. 27 ; 
 Intpp. on Hygia. Fab. zcii. 
 
446 ILIAD. XXIV. S8— 89. 
 
 Hector indeed is a mortal, and sucked a woman's breast ; but 
 Achilles is the offspring of a goddess, whom I myself both 
 nurtured and educated, and gave as a wife to the hero 
 Peleus, who is dear to the immortals in their heart : and ye 
 were all present at the nuptials,' gods ; and thou didst 
 feast amongst them, holding thy lyre, O companion of the 
 evil, ever faithless." 
 
 But -her cloud-compelling Jove, answering, addressed : 
 
 " O Juno, be not now completely enraged with the gods ; 
 for their honour shall not be at all equal : but Hector also 
 was the dearest of mortals to the gods, of [those] who are in 
 Ilium ; for thus was he to me ; for never did he miss 
 [offering], pleasing gifbs. For never did my altar lack the 
 fitting banquet, or incense, or odour : for this honour are we 
 allotted. Yet let us forego to steal away bold Hector ; (nor 
 is it at all practicable without the knowledge of Achilles ;) 
 for he is ever by him both by night and day, like as a mother. 
 But let some of the gods call Thetis near me, that to her I 
 may tell prudent advice, in order that Achilles may receive 
 gifts from Priam, and ransom Hector." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but Iris, swift as the whirlwind, rose up, 
 about to bear his message. Half way between Samos and 
 rugged Imbrus she plunged into the dark sea, and the ocean 
 groaned. She sank to the bottom like unto a leaden ball,^ 
 which, [j)laced] along the horn of a wild buU, entering, de- 
 scends, bearing death to the raw-devouring fishes. But she 
 found Thetis in her hoUow cave, and the other sea goddesses 
 sat around her, assembled together ; she indeed, in the midst, 
 lamented the fate of her own blameless son, who was about 
 to perish in fertile Troy, far away from his native land. But 
 her swift-footed Iris, standing near, addressed : 
 
 " Rise, O Thetis ; Jove, skilled in imperishable counsels, 
 calls thee." 
 
 Her then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered : 
 
 ' See Grote, vol. i. p. 257. 
 
 ' The only clear explanation of this passage seems to be that of the 
 traveller Clarke, quoted by Kennedy, as follows : " The Greeks in fishing 
 let their line, with the lead at the end, run over a piece of horn fixed at 
 the side of the boat," to prevent, as Kennedy remarks, the wear from 
 friction. Pollux, x. 30, 31, merely mentions the iio\v€laivti among the 
 implements of fishermen ; but says nothing of tli'e manner in which it was 
 used. 
 
90—119. IMAD. XXIV. 447 
 
 « Why does that mighty god call me 1 I am ashamed to 
 mix -svith the immortals, for I have innumerable griefs in my 
 soul. Yet must I go ; for the word which he utters will 
 not be in vain." 
 
 Thus having spoken, the divine one of goddesses took her 
 dark robe, than which no garment is blacker. And she set 
 out to go, whilst wind-footed, fleet Iris led the way ; and the 
 water of the sea retired on each side of them.i Next ascend- 
 ing the shore, they were impelled up to heaven. They found 
 the far-sounding son of Saturn ; and all the other blessed 
 immortal gods sat assembled around him j but she then sat 
 down beside father Jove, and Minerva gave place to her. 
 Then Juno placed a beautifiil golden goblet in her hand, and 
 consoled her with words ; and Thetis having drunk, returned 
 it. But to them the father of men and gods began dis- 
 course : 
 
 "Thou hast come to Olympus, although sad, O goddess 
 Thetis, having in thy mind a grief not to be forgotten ; and 
 I know it. Yet even thus wUl I speak, and on tliis account 
 have I called thee hither. Nine days has a contest already 
 been excited amongst the immortals respecting the body of 
 Hector, and Achilles the destroyer of cities, and they have urged 
 the watchful slayer of Argus to steal him. But I bestow this 
 glory^ on AchUles, securing for the future thy respect and love. 
 Descend very speedily to the camp, and give orders to thy 
 son. Tell him that the gods are offended, and that I am 
 angry above all the immortals, because with infuriated mind 
 he detains Hector at the crooked barks, nor has released 
 him : if perchance he will revere me, and restore Hector. 
 Meanwhile I wiU despatch Iris to magnanimous Priam, that, 
 going to the ships of the Greeks, he may ransom his beloved 
 son, and carry offerings to Achilles, which may melt his soul." 
 
 ' " At II. 1^. 231 : TlijXeiSrig S' ajro ffwpicatj/s Mfuiai XiaaBtig, going 
 away, or aside from the pyre. And so voafi XiaaOiiQ, II. a. 349, X. 80. 
 One of the plainest instances of the same sense is at II. 01, 96, of tlie 
 waves, which make way for the goddesses as they rise from the depths of 
 the sea, which turn aside, ind yield them a passage." — Buttm. Lexil. 
 p. 404. 
 
 ° " The sense is : / have not sanctioned the proposal that the body of 
 Hector should be removed furtively in order that an opportunity might 
 be offered to Achilles of receiving a ransom for it, which would redound 
 to his glory." — Kennedy, 
 
448 ILIAD. XXIV. 120— Ii8. 
 
 Tlius he spoke ; nor did the silver-footed goddess Thetis 
 disobey; but, rushiiig impetuously, she descended down from 
 the tops of Olympus. Then she came to the tent of her son, 
 and found him within, moaning continually, whilst around 
 him his dear comrades were busily occupied, and prepared a 
 feast, for a great thick-fleeced sheep had been slaughtered by 
 them iu the tent. But his venerable mother sat down very 
 near him, and caressed him with her hand, and spoke, and 
 addressed him : 
 
 " O my son, how long, grieving and bewailing, wilt thou 
 afflict thine heart, being not at all mindful of either food or 
 bed ? But it is good to be mingled in love with a woman ; 
 for thou shalt not live long tor me, but Death and stem 
 Fate already stand near thee. But quickly attend to me, 
 for I am a messenger to thee from Jove. He says that the 
 gods are angry with thee, and that he himself above all the 
 immortals is enraged, because with furious mind thou de- 
 tainest Hector at the hollow ships, nor dost release him. 
 But come, release him, and receive ransoms for the dead body." 
 
 But her swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed : 
 
 " Let him approach hither, who may bear the ransoms, 
 and bear away the body, if indeed the Olympian himself 
 now commands it with a serious mind." Thus they indeed, 
 the mother and the son, amongst the assemblage of the ships, 
 spoke many winged words to each other ; but the son oif 
 Saturn impelled Iris towards sacred Ilium : 
 
 " Go quickly, fleet Iris, having left the seat of Olympus, 
 order magnanimous Priam to ransom his dear son to Ilium, 
 going to the ships of the Greeks ; and to carry gifts to 
 AchUles, which may appease his mind, alone ; nor let another 
 than of the Ti'ojans go with him. Let some aged herald 
 accompany him, who may guide his mules and well-wheeled 
 chariot, and may bear back to the city the dead body which 
 noble Achilles has slain ; nor let death at all be a cause of 
 anxiety to his mind, nor at all a terror ; such a conductor, 
 the slayer of Argus, wUl we give to him, who shall lead him, 
 untU, directing, he shall place him beside AchiUes. But 
 when he shall have conducted him into the tent of Achilles, 
 be will not kill him himself, and he will ward off all others j 
 for he is neither imprudent, noi i-ash, nor profane ; but will 
 very humanely spare a suppliant man." 
 
IS9— 189. ILIAD. XAif. 449 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but wind-footed Iris rushed on, about to 
 carry her message. She came to [the palace] of Priam, and 
 found wailing and lamentation. His sons, sitting around 
 their father within the hall, were drenching their robes with 
 tears ; whilst the old man sat in the midst, covered entirely ' 
 with a cloak ; but much filth was around upon the head and 
 neck of the aged man, which, while rolling [on the ground], 
 he had abundantly collected ^ with his own hands. But his 
 daughters and daughters-in-law throughout the dwelling 
 lamented, remembering those who, many and brave, lay, 
 having lost their lives by the hands of the Greeks. Then 
 the ambassadress of Jove stood beside Priam, and addressed 
 him in an under-tone ; and tremor seized him. as to his 
 limbs : 
 
 " Take courage, Dardanian Priam, in thy mind, nor 
 fear at all ; for indeed I come not hither boding^ evil to 
 thee, but meditating good ; for I am an ambassadress from 
 Jove to thee, who, though being far off, greatly cares for and 
 pities thee. The Olympian bids thee ransom noble Hector, 
 and bear presents to Achilles, which may melt his soul ; thee 
 alone, nor let another man of the Trojans go with thee. But 
 let some aged herald accompany thee, who may guide thy 
 mules and well-wheeled chariot, and bring back to the city 
 the dead which noble Achilles has slain. Nor let death be a 
 cause of anxiety to thy mind, nor fear at all such a con- 
 ductor; the slayer of Argus shall attend thee, who shall lead 
 thee, untU, guiding, he shall bring thee near Achilles. But 
 when he shall have led thee into the tent of Achilles, he 
 will not slay thee himself, and he will ward off all others ; 
 for he is neither imprudent, nor rash, nor profane ; but will 
 very humanely spare a suppliant man." 
 
 Thus having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed. But he 
 ordered his sons to prepare his well-wheeled mtile-drawn 
 
 ' I take ivTVTrag adverbially, with Eustatliius, p. 1474, aiid understand 
 that he was " so completely enfolded, as to exhibit the entire contour of 
 Ws person " (Kennedy), with the Sehol. Hesych. t. i. p. 1264. Phavo- 
 rinUs, Suidas, and the Schol. on Appoll. Rh. 264. Ernesti well expresses 
 the idea : " 'Evrvirac Ke/caXu/i/xevoj est, qui ita adstrinxit vestem, eiquf se 
 involvit, ut tota corporis figura appareat, qupd secus est in toga et paiiio 
 a'Jt stola.' ' 
 
 ' Literally, " reaped, cropped." 
 
 ' See Buttmann, Leail. p. 445 
 
 2 a 
 
460 ILIAD. XXIV. 190—225. 
 
 chariot, and to tie a chest upon it ; but he descended into an 
 odoriferous chamber of cedar, lofty-roofed, which contained 
 many rarities, and called in his wife Hecuba, and said : 
 
 " "Unhappy one, an Oljrmpian messenger has come to me 
 from Jove, [that I should] ransom my dear son, going to the 
 ships of the Greeks, and should bear gifts to Achilles, which 
 may melt his soul. But come, tell this to me, what does it 
 appear to thee in thy mind t For my strength and courage 
 vehemently urge me myself to go thither to the ships, into 
 the wide army of the Greeks." 
 
 Thus he spoke : but his spouse wept, and answered bim in 
 words : 
 
 " Ah- me, where now is thy prudence gone, for which thou 
 wast formerly distinguished among foreigners, and among 
 those whom thou dost govern ? Why dost thou wish to go 
 alone to the ships of the Greeks, before the eyes of the 
 man who slew thy many and brave sons ? Certainly an 
 iron heart is thine. For if this cruel and perfidious man 
 shall take and behold' thee with his eyes, he wiU not pity 
 thee, nor will he at all respect thee. But let us now lament 
 him apart,^ sitting in the hall ; but [let it be] as formerly to 
 him, at his birth violent fate spun his thread, when I brought 
 him forth, that he should satiate the swift-footed dogs at a 
 distance from his own parents, with that fierce man, the very 
 middle of whose bver I wish that I had hold of, that, cling- 
 ing to it, I might devour it ; then would the deeds done 
 against my son be repaid ; for he did not slay him behaving 
 as a coward, but standing forth in defence of the Trojan men 
 and deep-bosomed Trojan dames, neither mindful of flight 
 nor of receding." 
 
 But her again the aged, godlike Priam addressed : 
 
 " Do not detain me, desirous to go, nor be thou thyself an 
 evil-omen bird in my palaces ; nor shalt thou persuade me. 
 For if indeed any other of earthly beings had ordered me, 
 whether they be prophets, soothsayers, or priests, we might 
 have pronounced it a falsehood, and been the more averse. 
 But now since I myself have heard it from a deity, and have 
 beheld her face to face, I will gOj nor shall this word be vain ; 
 »ud if it be my fate to die at the ships of the brazen-mailed 
 
 ' A somewhat awkward inversion of the sense. 
 ' i. e. without the body of Hector being at band. 
 
226—261. ILIAD. XXIV. 
 
 451 
 
 Greeks, I am willing ; for Achilles will forttwitli slay me. 
 embracing my son in my arms, after I have taken away the 
 desire of weeping." 
 
 He spoke ; and opened the beautifiil Uds of the chests, and 
 took out thence twelve beautiful mantles, twelve siQgle cloaks, 
 as many tapestried rugs, and, in addition to these, as many 
 tunics ; and having weighed it, he took out ten whole talents 
 of gold. He took out beside two gUtteriug tripods, and four 
 goblets, and a very beautiful cup, which the Thracian men 
 had given him when going on an embassy, a mighty posses- 
 sion. Nor now did the old man spare even this in his 
 palaces ; for he greatly wished in his mind to ransom liis 
 dear son. And he drove away all the Trojans from liis 
 porch, chiding them with reproachful words : 
 
 " Depart, wretched, reproachful [creatures] ; is there not 
 indeed grief to you at home, that ye should come fretting 
 me ? Or do ye esteem it of little consequence that Jove, the 
 son of Saturn, has sent sorrows upon me, that 1 should have 
 lost my bravest son ? But ye too shall perceive it, for ye 
 will be much more easy for the Greeks to destroy now, he 
 being dead ; but I will descend even to the abode of Hades, 
 before I behold with mine eyes the city sacked and plun- 
 dered." 
 
 He spoke ; and chased away the men with his staff; but 
 they went out, the old man driving [them]. He indeed 
 rebuked his own sons, reviling Helenus, Paris, and godlike 
 Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonus, and PoHtes, brave in the 
 din of battle, Deiphobus, Hippothous, and renowned Dius. 
 To these nine the old man, reproaching, gave orders : 
 
 " Haste for me, O slothful children, disgraceful ; would 
 that you had all been slain at the swift ships, instead of 
 Hector. Ah me ! the most unhappy of all, since I have 
 begotten the bravest sons in wide Troy; but none of whom 1 
 thmk is left : godlike Mestor, and Troilus, who fought from 
 his chariot, and, Hector, who was a god among men, for he 
 did not appear to be the son of a mortal man, but of a god. 
 These indeed has Mars destroyed to me; but all these dis- 
 graces remain, Uars, dancers,^ most sldUed in the choirs, and 
 
 ' Cicero pro Murana, vi., " Saltatorem appellat L. Mursenam Cato, 
 Maledictum est, si vere objicitur, vehementis accusatoris." Cf. jEq. 
 ix. 6U. 
 
 2o2 
 
452 ILIAD. XXXV. 262—300 
 
 public robbers of lambs and kids. Will ye not -with all 
 haste get ready my chariot, and place all these things upon 
 it, that we may perform our journey ?" 
 
 Thus he spoke j but they, dreading the reproach of their 
 father, lifted out the weU-wheeled, mule -drawn chariot, 
 beautiful, newly bmlt, and tied the chest' upon it. They 
 then took down the yoke for the mules from the pin, made 
 of box-wood, and embossed, well fitted with rings, and then 
 they brought out the yoke-band, nine cubits in length, along 
 with the yoke. And this indeed they adjusted carefully to 
 the pole at its extremity, and threw the ring over the bolt. 
 Thrice they Uqiped it on either side to the boss ; and when 
 they had fastened, they turned it evenly under the bend ; 
 then, bearing the inestimable ransoms of Hector's head from 
 the chamber, they piled them upon the well-polished car. 
 Then they yoked the strong-hoofed mules, patient in labour, 
 which the Mysians formerly gave to Priam, splendid gifts. 
 They also led under the yoke for Priam, the horses, which 
 the old man himself had fed at the weU-polished manger. 
 These indeed the herald and Priam yoked in the lofty palaice, 
 having prudent counsels in their minds. But near them 
 came Hecuba, with sad mind, bearing sweet wine in her 
 right hand, in a golden goblet, in order that having made 
 libations, they might depart. But sh? stood before the 
 steeds, and spoke, and addressed them : 
 
 " Take,^ offer a libation to father Jove, and pray that thou 
 mayest return home again from the hostile men ; siace indeed 
 thy mind lu-ges thee to the ships, I at least not being willing. 
 But do thou pray now to the dark, cloud-compelling Idaean 
 son of Saturn, who looks down upon all Troy ; but seek the 
 fleet bird, his messenger, which to him is the most pleasing 
 of birds, and whose strength is very great, on thy right hand, 
 so that, marking him thyself with thine eyes, thou mayest 
 go, relying on him, to the ships of the fleet-horsed Greeks. 
 But if wide-viewing Jove will not give thee his own mes- 
 senger, I would not at all then, urging, advise thee to go to 
 tbo ships of the Greeks, though very eager." 
 
 But her godlike Priam answering, addressed : 
 
 •' O spouse, certainly I will not disobey thee, advising 
 
 ' A kind of wicker hamper. Cf. Hesyoh. t. ii. p. 921. 
 » See i. 219 
 
sot— 337. ILIAD. XXIV. 453 
 
 this ; for it is good to raise one's hands to Jove, if perchance 
 he may compassionate me." —*^ 
 
 The old man spoke, and bade the attending servant pour 
 pure water upon his hands ; for a handmaid stood by. oolding 
 in her hands a basin, and also an ewer ; and having washed 
 himself, he took the goblet from his wife. Then he prayed, 
 standing in the midst of the enclosure, and poured out a 
 libation of wine, looking towards heaven ; and raising his 
 voice, spoke : 
 
 " O father Jove, ruHng from Ida, most glorious, most 
 great, grant me to come acceptable and pitied to [the tent] 
 of AchiUes ; and send the swift bird, thy messenger, which is 
 the most agreeable of birds to thee, and whose strength is 
 very great, on my right hand ; that I myself, perceiving him 
 with my eyes, may go, relying on him, to the ships of the 
 fleet-horsed Greeks." 
 
 Thus he spoke, praying ; but to him provident Jove 
 hearkened, and immediately sent an eagle, the Black 
 Hunter, the most certain augury of birds, which they also 
 call Percnos.^ As large as the well-bolted, closely-fitted door 
 of the lofty-roofed chamber of a wealthy man, so great were 
 its wings on each side; and it appeared to them, rushing on the 
 right hand over the city. But they, having seen it, rejoiced, 
 and the soul was overjoyed in their bosoms. Then the old 
 man, hastening, mounted his polished car, and drove out of 
 the vestibule and much-echoing porch. Before, indeed, the 
 mules drew the four-wheeled car, which prudent Idseus 
 drove ; but after [came] the horses, whicli the old man 
 cheered on, driving briskly through the city with his lash ; 
 but all his friends accompanied, greatly weeping for him, as 
 if going to death. But when they had descended from the 
 city, and reached the plain, his sons and sons-in-law then re- 
 turned to Iliimi. Nor did these two, advancing on the plain, 
 escape the notice of far-seeing Jove ; but, seeing the old man, 
 he pitied him, and straightway addressed his beloved son : 
 
 " Mercury (for to thee it is jjeculiarly grateful to 
 associate with man, and thou hearest whomsoever thou art 
 willing), go now, and so convey Priam to the hollow ships 
 of the Greeks, that neither any one may see him, nor indeed 
 
 ' See Albert! on Hesych. t. ii. pp. 622, 941 ; Villois on ApoU Lex. 
 p. 556. 
 
454 ILIAD. XXIV. 338—373. 
 
 any of the other Greeks perceive him until he reach the son 
 of Peleus." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; nor did the messenger, the son of Argus, 
 disobey.' Immediately then he fastened under his feet his 
 beautiful sandals, ambrosial, golden, which carry him as well 
 over the sea, as over the boundless earth, with the blasts of 
 the wind. He also took his rod, with which he soothes the 
 eyes of those men whom he wishes, and again excites others 
 who are asleep ; holding this ia his hands, the powerful slayer 
 of Argus flew along. But he immediately reached theTroad 
 and the Hellespont, and hastened to go, like unto a princely 
 youth, first springing into youth, whose youth is very graceful 
 And they, wlien they had driven by the great tomb of Ilus, 
 stopped their mules and horses, that they might drink in the 
 river; for even now twilight had come over the earth. But 
 the herald, spying, observed Mercury near, and addressed 
 Priam, and said : 
 
 " Beware, descendant of Dardanus ; this is matter for 
 prudent thought. I perceive a warrior, and I think that he 
 will soon destroy us. But come, let us fly upon our steeds ; 
 or let us now, graspiag his knees, entreat him, if he would 
 pity us." Thus he spoke, but the mind of the old man was 
 confounded, and he greatly feared ; but the hair stood upright 
 on his bending limbs. AJid he stood stupified ; but Mercury 
 himself coming near, taking the old man's hand, interrogated, 
 and addressed him : 
 
 " Whither, father, dost thou this way direct thy horses 
 and mules during the ambrosial night, when other mortals 
 are asleep ? Dost thou not fear the valour-breathing Greeks, 
 who, enemies and hostile to thee, are at hand ? Kany one of 
 these should see thee in the dark and dangerous night, 
 bearing off so many valuables, what intention would then be 
 towards thee ? Neither art thou young thyself, and this [is] 
 an old man who accompanies thee, to repel a warrior when 
 first any may molest thee. But I will not do thee injury, 
 but will avert another from thee, for I think thee like my 
 dear father." 
 
 But him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered : 
 
 " Surely these things are as thoii sayest, my dear son. But 
 
 > Compare Milton, P. L. v. 285, sqq., with Newton's note. 
 
374—411. ILIAD. XXIV. 455 
 
 hitherto some one of the gods has protected me with his hand, 
 who has sent such a favourable coudiictor to meet me, so 
 beautiful art thou in form and appearance. And thou art 
 also prudent in mind, and of blessed parents." But him 
 again the messenger, the slayer of Argus, addressed : " O old 
 man, thou hast certainly spoken all these things with pro- 
 priety. But come, tell me this, and relate it truly ; whither 
 now dost thou send so many and such valuable treasures 
 amongst foreigners? Whether that these, at least, may 
 remain safe to thee? Or do ye all, now fearing, desert sacred 
 Ilium ? For so brave a hero, was he who died, thy son; he 
 was not in aught, inferior to the Greeks in battle." 
 
 But liim Priam, the godlike old man, then answered : 
 
 " But who art thou, best one, and of what parents art 
 thou, who speakest so honourably to me of the death of my 
 luckless son?" 
 
 But him again the messenger, the slayer of Argus, ad- 
 dressed : 
 
 " Thou triest me, old man, and inquirest concerning noble 
 Hector; whom I, indeed, have very often beheld with mine 
 eyes in the glorious fight, when, routing the Greeks, he slew 
 them at their ships, destroying [them] with his sharp spear; 
 but we, standing, marvelled; for Achilles, enraged with the 
 son of Atreus, did not permit us to fight. But I am his 
 attendant, and the same well-made vessel brought us. I am 
 [one] of the M3rrmidons; Polyctor is my father, who, indeed, 
 is rich, but now old as thou. To him there are six sons, but 
 I am his seventh; with whom casting lots, the lot occurred 
 to me to follow [Achilles] hither. And I came to the plain 
 from the ships, for at dawn the rolling-eyed Greeks will raise 
 a fight around the city. For they are indignant sitting quiet, 
 nor can the chiefs of the Greeks restrain them, longing for 
 war." 
 
 But him then Priam, the godlike old man, answered : 
 
 " If indeed thou art one of the servants of Achilles, the son 
 of Peleus, come now, tell all the truth to me, whether is my 
 son stm at the ships, or has Achilles, tearing him limb from 
 limb, cast bim to the dogs?" 
 
 But him the messenger, the slayer of Argus, again ad- 
 dressed : 
 
 " O old man, neither have the dogs yet devoured him, nor 
 
456 ILIAD. XXIV. 412—447. 
 
 the birds, but lie still lies at the ship of Achilles, in the same 
 plight as before, at his tents; and it is [now] the twelfth 
 morning him lying, yet his body is not at all putrid, nor do 
 the worms devour him, which consume men slain in battla 
 Doubtless he will drag him cruelly around the tomb of his 
 dear companion when divine mom appears ; but he does not 
 defile him. Approaching, thou indeed thyself wouldst wonder 
 how fresh' he lies, while the blood is washed away from 
 aroiind, nor [is he] polluted in. any part. But all his wounds 
 are closed, whatever were inflicted; for many thrust a spear 
 into him. ThiLS do the happy gods regard thy son, though 
 dead ; for he was dear to them in their heart." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but the old man rejoiced, and answered 
 in words : 
 
 " son, surely it is good to give due gifts to the immortals; 
 for my son, while he was yet in being, never neglected the 
 gods who possess Olympus, in his palace ; therefore are they 
 mindful of him, although in the fate of death. But come 
 now, accept from me this beautiful goblet; protect myself,- 
 and, with the favour of the gods, conduct me until I come 
 into the tent of the son of Peleus." «|l 
 
 But him the slayer of Argus again addressed : " Old num,* ' » 
 thou triest me, [being] younger ; nor wilt thou now persuade 
 me ; thou who orderest me to accept thy gifts unknown jto 
 Achilles; whom indeed I dread, and scruple in my heart v> 
 plunder, lest some evil should afterwards come upon me. Yet 
 would I go as a conductor to thee even to renowned Argos, "^ 
 sedulously, in a swift ship, or accompanying thee on foot; 
 nor, indeed, would any one contend with thee, despising thy 
 guide." 
 
 Mercury spoke, and, leaping upon the chariot and horses, 
 quickly took the scourge and the reins in his hands, and 
 breathed bold vigour into the horses and mules. But when 
 thoy had now reached the ramparts and trench of the ships, 
 then the guards were just employed about their feast, and 
 the messenger, the slayer of Argus, poured sleep upon them 
 all; and immediately he opened the gates and pushed back 
 the bars, and led in Priam, and the splendid gifts upon the 
 
 ' Literally, " dew-like." See Kennedy. 
 
 ' Heyne prefers, " effect for me the ransom of the body," luotiug 
 Hesych.. oviaOui, XvrpunaaOai, 
 
448—486. ILIAD. XXIV. 457 
 
 car. But when they reached the lofty tent of AchilleS; 
 which the Myrmidons had reared for their king, lopping fir 
 timbers; and they roofed it over -with a thatched roof, 
 mowing it from the mead, and made a great fence around, 
 with thick-set stakes, for their king : one bar only of fir held 
 the door, which, indeed, three Greeks used to fasten, and 
 three used to open the great festening of the gates ; but 
 Achilles even alone used to shoot it. Then, indeed, profitable 
 Mercury opened it for the old man, and led in the splendid 
 presents to swift-footed Achilles; then he descended to the 
 ground, from the chariot, and said : 
 
 " old man, I indeed come, an immortal god. Mercury, to 
 thee; for to thee my father sent me as companion. Yet 
 shall T return indeed, nor be present before the eyes of 
 Achilles ; for it would indeed be invidious for an immortal 
 god so openly to aid mortals. But do thou, entering, clasp 
 the knees of the son of Peleus, and supplicate him by his 
 father, and fair-haired mother, and his son; that thou mayest 
 effect his mind." 
 
 Thus, indeed, 'having spoken, Mercury went to lofty 
 lOlympus ; and Priam leaped from his chariot to the ground, 
 ^1|^ left Idseus there : but he remained, guarding the steeds 
 and mules; while the old man went straight into the tent, 
 where Achilles, dear to Jove, was sitting. Himself he found 
 within ; but his companions sat apart ; but two alone, the 
 %evo Automedon, and Alcimus, a branch of Mars, standing 
 near, were ministering to him (for, eating and drinking, he 
 had just ceased from foo(i, and the table stiU remained); but 
 great Priam, entering, escaped his notice, and, standing near, 
 he clasped the knees of Achilles with his hands, and kissed 
 his dreadful man-slaughtering hands, which had slain many 
 sons to him. And as when a dread sense of guilt has seized 
 a man, who, having killed a man in his own country, comes 
 to another people, to [the abode of] some wealthy man,^ and 
 stupor possesses the spectators ; so Achilles wondered, seeing 
 godlike Priam ; and the others also wondered, and looked at 
 one another. And Piiami, supplicating, spoke [this] speech : 
 
 " Eemember thy own father, Achilles, like unto the gods, 
 
 ' Probably for the purpose of purification, although, as has been before 
 observed, Homer does not mention this. Compare my note on /Esch. 
 Eura. p. 1S7, u. 5, and p. 187, n. 1, ed. Bohn. 
 
458 ILIAD. XXIV. 487— 52S. 
 
 of equal age with me, upon the sad threshold of old age. 
 And perhaps indeed his neighbours aroimd are perplexing 
 him, nor is there any one to ward off war and destruction. 
 Yet he indeed, hearing of thee being alive, both rejoices in 
 his mind, and every day expects to see his dear son returned 
 from Troy. But I [am] every way unhappy, for I begat the 
 bravest sons in wide Troy, of whom I say that none are left. 
 Fifty there were to me, when the sons of the Greeks arrived ; 
 nineteen indeed from one womb, but the others women bore 
 to me in my palaces. And of the greater number fierce Mars 
 indeed has relaxed the knees under them ; but Hector, who 
 was my favourite,^ and defended the city and ourselves, thou 
 hast lately slain, fighting for his country ; on account of whom 
 I now come to the ships of the Greeks, and bring countless 
 ransoms, in order to redeem him from thee. But revere the 
 gods, Achilles, and have pity on myself, remembering thy 
 father; for I am even more miserable, for I have endured 
 what no other earthly mortal [has], to put to my mouth the 
 hand of a man, the slayer of my son." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but in him he excited the desire of mourn- 
 ing for his father; and taking him by the hand, he gently 
 pushed the old man from him. But they indeed, calling to 
 mind, the one^ wept copiously [for] man-slaughtering Hector, 
 rolling [on the ground] before the feet of Achilles; but 
 Achilles bewailed his father, and again in turn Patrodus ; 
 and their lamentation was aroused throughout the house. 
 But when noble Achilles had satiated himself with grief, and 
 the desire [for weeping] had departed from his heart and 
 limbs, immediately rising from his seat, he lifted up the old 
 man with his hand, compassionating both his hoary head and 
 hoary chin; and, addressing him, spoke winged words: 
 
 "Alas! wretched one, thou hast certainly suffered many 
 evils in thy mind. How hast thou dared to come alone to 
 the ships of the Greeks, iuto the sight of the man who slew 
 thy many and brave sons? Assuredly thy heart is iron. 
 But come now, sit upon a seat; and let us permit sorrows to 
 sink to rest within thy mind, although grieved ; for there is 
 not any use in chill grief. For so have the gods destined to 
 unhappy mortals, that they should live wretched; but they 
 
 ' Literally, " my only son." ' rriam. 
 
527—559. ILIAD. XXIV. 459 
 
 themselves are free from care.' Two casks of gifts,^ which 
 he bestows, lie at the threshold of Jupiter, [the one] of evils, 
 and the other of good. To whom thunder-rejoicing Jove, 
 mingling, may give them, sometimes he falls into evil, but 
 sometimes into good; but to whomsoever he gives of the 
 evil, he makes him exposed to injury; and hungry calamity 
 pursues him over the bounteous earth; and he wanders about, 
 honoured neither by gods nor men. So indeed have the gods 
 given illustrious gifts to Peleus from his birth; for he was 
 conspicuous among men, both for riches and wealth, and he 
 ruled over the Myrmidons, and to him, being a mortal, they 
 gave a goddess for a wife.^ But upon hiTn also has a deity 
 inflicted evil, for there was not to him in his palaces an off- 
 spring of kingly sons ; but he begat one short-lived son ; nor 
 indeed do I cherish him, being old, for I remain in Troy, far 
 away from my country, causing sorrow to thee and to thy 
 sons. Thee too, old man, we learn to have been formerly 
 wealthy : as much as Lesbos, above the seat of Macar, cuts off 
 on the north, and Phrygia beneath, and the boundless Hel- 
 lespont : among these, O old man, they say that thou wast 
 conspicuous for thy wealth and thy sons. But since the 
 heavenly inhabitants have brought this bane upon thee, wars 
 and the slaying of men are constantly around thy city. Arise, 
 nor grieve incessantly in thy mind; for thou wilt not profit 
 aught, afflicting thyself for thy son, nor wilt thou resuscitate 
 him before thou hast suffered another misfortune." 
 
 But him Priam, the go^dlike old man, then answered : 
 
 " Do not at all place me on a seat, O Jove-nurtured, whilst 
 Hector lies unburied in thy tents ; but redeem him as soon 
 as possible, that I may behold him with mine eyes ; and do 
 thou receive the many ransoms which we bring thee ; and 
 mayest thou enjoy them, and reach thy father-land, since 
 thou hast suffered me in the first place to Uve, and to behold 
 the Kght of the sun." 
 
 But him swift-footed Achilles, sternly regarding, then 
 addressed : 
 
 ' This Epicurean sentiment is illustrated with great learning by Duport, 
 pp. 140, sqq. 
 
 ' See Duport, pp. 142, sqq. 
 
 ' Catullus, Ixii. 25: " Teque adeo eximie tsedis felieibns aucte Thessalias 
 eolumen Peleu, quoi Juppiter ipse, Ipse suos divum genitor concessit 
 (mores." 
 
460 ILIAD. XXIV. 560—596. 
 
 " Do not irritate me further, old man, for I also myself 
 meditate ransoming Hector to thee; for the mother who 
 bore me, the daughter of the marine old man, came as a mes- 
 senger from Jove to me. And I perceive thee also, O Priam, 
 in my mind, nor do thou deceive me, that some one of the 
 gods has led thee to the swift ships of the Greeks ; for a 
 mortal would not have dared to come into the camp, not 
 even in very blooming youth, for he could not have escaped 
 the guards, nor indeed pushed back the bars of our gates. 
 Wherefore do not move my mind more to sorrows, lest I 
 leave thee not unharmed, old man, in my tents, though being 
 a suppliant, and violate the commands of Jove." 
 
 Thus he spoke; but the old man feared, and obeyed. But 
 the son of Peleus leaped forth, like a Hon, from the door of 
 the house, not alone ; for two attendants accompanicid him, 
 the hero Automedon, and Alcimus, whom AchiUes lionoured 
 most of his companions next after the deceased Patroclus. 
 These then imhamessed the horses and mules from the yoke, 
 and led in the clear-voiced herald of the old man, and placed 
 him upon a seat. They also took down from the well-polished 
 car the countless ransoms of Hector's head. But they left 
 two cloaks and a well-woven tunic, in order that, having 
 covered the body, he might give it to be borne home. But 
 having called his female attendants, he ordered them to wash 
 and anoint all round, taking it apart, that Priam might not 
 see his son; lest, seeing his son, he might not restrain the 
 wrath in his grieving heart, and might arouse the soul of 
 Achilles, and he might slay him, and violate the commands 
 of Jove. But when the servants had washed and anointed 
 it with oil, they then threw over him a beautiful cloak, and 
 a tunic ; then Achilles himself, having raised him up, placed 
 him upon a litter, and his companions, together with [him], 
 lifted him upon the well-polished chariot. But he moaned, 
 and called upon his deal- companion by name : 
 
 " O Patroclus, be not wrathful with me, if thou shouldst 
 hear, although being in Hades, that I have ransomed noble 
 Hector to his beloved father, since he has not given me 
 unworthy ransoms. Besides even of these will I give thee a 
 share, whatever is just." 
 
 Noble Achilles spoke, and returned into the tent, and sat 
 
S97— 635. ILIAD. XXIV. 
 
 461 
 
 down upon a well-made couch, whence he had risen, at the 
 opposite wall, and addressed Priam : 
 
 " Thy son is indeed redeemed to thee, as thou didst desire, 
 and lies upon a bier; and with the early dawn thou shalt 
 behold him, conveying [him away] : but now let us be mind- 
 ful of the feast ; for even fair-haired Mobe was mindful of 
 food, although twelve children perished in her palaces, six 
 daughters and six youthful sons; these indeed Apollo slew 
 with his silver bow, enraged with Niobe ; but those, arrow- 
 rejoicing Diana, because, forsooth, she Lad compared herself 
 with faii--cheoked Latona. She said that [Latona] had borne 
 [only] two, whereas she had borne many; yet those, though 
 being only two, destroyed all [her own]. Nine days indeed 
 they lay in blood, nor was there any one to bury them, for 
 the son of Saturn had made the people stones; but upon the 
 tenth day the heavenly gods interred them. Still was she 
 mindful of food, when she was fatigued with weeping. Now, 
 indeed, ever amidst the rocks, in the desert moimtains, in 
 Sipylus, where, they say, the beds of the goddess Nymphs are, 
 who lead the dance around Achelous, there, although being 
 a stone, she broods over the sorrows [sent] from the gods. 
 But come now, O noble old man, let us likewise attend to 
 food, but afterwards thou mayest lament thy beloved son, 
 conveying him into Troy ; and he wiU be bewailed by thee 
 with many tears." 
 
 Swift Achilles sjjoke, and leaping up, slew a white sheep, 
 and his companions flayed it well, and fitly dressed it ; then 
 they skUfully cut it in pieces, pierced them with spits, roasted 
 them diUgently, and drew them all off. Then Automedon, 
 taking bread, distributed it over the table in beautiful 
 baskets ; wliilst Achilles helped the meat, and they stretched 
 out their hands to the prepared victuals lying before them. 
 But when they had dismissed the desii-e of food and drink, 
 Dardanian Priam indeed marvelled at Achilles, such and so 
 great ; for he was like unto the gods ; but AchiUeS mar- 
 velled at Dardanian Priam, seeing his amiable countenance, 
 and hearing his conversation. When, however, they were 
 satisfied with gazing at each other, him Priam, the godlike 
 old man, first addressed : 
 
 " Send me now to rest as soon as possible, O Jove-nur- 
 
462 ILIAD XXIV. 636—669. 
 
 tured, that -we, reclining, may take our fill of sweet sleej) ; 
 for never have these eyes been closed beneatli my eyelids 
 froni the time when my son lost his hfe by thy hands ; but 
 I ever lament and cherish many woes, rolling in the dust 
 within the enclosures of my palaces. But now I have tasted 
 food, and poured pweet wine down my throat ; for before 
 indeed I had not tasted it." 
 
 He spoke ; but Achilles ordered his companions, servants, 
 and maids, to place couches beneath the porjh, and to spread 
 beautiful pui-ple mats on them, and to strew embroidered 
 carpets over them, and ti lay on them well-napped cloaks, to 
 be drawn over all. But they went out of the hall, having a 
 torch ia their hands, and hastening, they quickly spread 
 two couches. But the swift-footed Achilles, jocularly ad- 
 dressing hitn,^ said : 
 
 " Do you lie without, O revered old man, lest some coun- 
 sellor of the Greeks come hither, who, sitting with me, con- 
 stantly meditate plans, as is just. If any of these should see 
 thee in the dark and dangerous night, he would forthwith 
 tell Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, and perchance 
 there would be a delay of the redemption of the body. But 
 come, tell nie this, and tell it accurately : How many days 
 dost thou desire to perform the funeral rites of noble Hector, 
 that I may myself remain quiet so long, 'md restrain the 
 people?" 
 
 But him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered : 
 
 " If indeed thou desirest me to celebrate the funeral of 
 noble Hector, thus doing, O Achilles, thou dost surely gratify 
 me. For thou knowest how we are hemmed in within the 
 city, and it is far to carry wood from the mountain ; and the 
 Trojans greatly dread [to do so]. Nine days indeed we 
 would lament him in our halls, but on the tenth would bury 
 him, and the people should feast ; but upon the eleventh we 
 would make a tomb to him, and on the twelfth we will 
 fight, if necessary," But him swift-footed Achilles again 
 addressed : 
 
 " These things shall be to thee, O aged Priam, as thou 
 
 ' " Achilles, in a mood partly jonular and partly serious, reminds Priam 
 of the real circumstances of his situation, not for the sake of alarming 
 him, but of accounting for his choosing the place he diH for the couch o/ 
 the agert king." — Kennedy. 
 
670—708. ILIAD. XXIV. iG3 
 
 desirest ; for I will prevent tlie fight as long a time as thou 
 desirest." 
 
 Thus having spoken, he grasped the right hand of the old 
 man near the -wrist, lest he should fear in his mind. They 
 indeed, the herald and Priam, slept there in the porch of 
 the house, having prudent counsels in their mind ; while 
 AohUlcs slept in the interior of the -weU-built tent ; and 
 beside him lay fair-cheeked Briseis. 
 
 The other gods indeed and chariot-fighting men slept all 
 aight, subdued by gentle slumber ; but sleep seized not 
 Mercury, the author of good, revolving in his mind how he 
 should convey away king Priam from the ships, having 
 escaped the notice of the sacred gate-keeper. Accordingly 
 he stood over his head, and addressed him : 
 
 " O aged man, certainly evil is not at all a care to thee, that 
 thou sleepest thus amongst hostile men, after Achilles has suf- 
 fered thee. Now indeed thou hast ransomed thy beloved son, 
 and hast given much ; but the sons left behind by thee would 
 give three times as many ransoms for thee alive, if Agamem- 
 non, the son of Atreus, shoidd know of thy being here, and 
 all the Greeks should know of it." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; but the old man feared, and awoke the 
 herald. Then for them Mercury yoked the horses and mules, 
 and quickly drove them himself through the camp, nor did 
 any one perceive. But when they reached the course of the 
 fair-flowing river, eddying Xanthus, which immortal Jove 
 begat, then indeed Mercury went away to lofty Olympus ; 
 and saflTron-robed Mom was difiused over the whole earth. 
 They indeed drove the horses towards the city with waiUng 
 and lamentation, and the mules bore the body ; nor did any 
 other of the men and weU-girdled women previously perceive 
 it ; but Cassandra, like unto golden Venus, ascending Per- 
 gamus, discovered her dear father standing in the driving- 
 seat, and the city-summoning herald. She beheld him also 
 ujion the mnles, lying on the litter; then indeed she 
 shrieked, and cried aloud throughout the whole city : 
 
 " Trojans and Trojan women, going forth, oehold Hec- 
 tor, if ever ye rejoiced at his returning alive from battle ;,^ 
 for he was a great joy to the city, and to the whole people."- 
 
 Tlius she spoke ; nor was there any man left in the city 
 nor woman ; for insupportable grief came upon them all , 
 
i^i ILIAD. XXir. 709—747 
 
 and they met ln'm near the gates brmgiiig in the body. But 
 his wife and venerable mother first rushing to the ■well- 
 wheeled chariot, plucked out their hair, touching his head ; 
 and the crowd stood around, weeping. And they indeed 
 would have wept the whole day till sunset before the gates, 
 lamenting Hector, had not the old man addressed the people 
 from his chariot : 
 
 " Give way to me, to pass through with the mules ; but 
 afterwards shall ye be satiated with weeping, after I shall 
 carry him home." Thus he spoke ; but they stood off., and 
 made way for the chariot. But when they had brought him 
 into the illustrious palace, they laid him upon perforated beds, 
 and placed singers beside him, leaders of the dirges, who 
 indeed sang a moumful ditty, while the women also uttered 
 responsive groans. And amongst them white-armed Andro- 
 mache began the lamentation, holding the head of man- 
 slaughtering Hector between her hands : 
 
 " O husband, young in years hast thou died, and hast left 
 me a widow in the palace. And besides, thy son is thus an 
 infant, to whom thou and I, ill-fated, gave birth; nor do I 
 think he will attain to puberty ; for before that, this city will 
 be overthrown from its summit. Certainly thou, the pro- 
 tector, art dead, who didst defend its very self, and didst 
 protect its venerable wives and infant children ; who will 
 soon be carried away in the hollow ships, and I indeed 
 amongst them. But thou, O my son, wilt either accompanj- 
 me, where thou shalt labour unworthy tasks, toiling for a 
 merciless lord ; or some one of the Greeks, enraged, seizing 
 thee by the hand, will hurl thee from a tower, to sad destruc- 
 tion ; to whom doubtless Hector has slain a brother, or a 
 father, or even a son ; for by the hands of Hector very many 
 Greeks have grasped the immense earth with their teeth. 
 For thy father was not gentle in the sad conflict ; wherefore 
 indeed the people lament him throughout the city. But thou 
 hast caused unutterable grief and sorrow to thy parents, O 
 Hector, but chiefly to me are bitter sorrows left. For thon 
 didst not stretch out thy hands to me from the couch when 
 dying ; nor speak any prudent word [of solace], which I might 
 for ever remember, shedding tears night and day." 
 
 Thus she spoke, bewailing ; but the women also lamented , 
 and to them in turn Hecuba began her vehement lamentarion : 
 
718-783. ILIAD. XXIV. 465 
 
 " O Hector, far of all my sons dearest to my soul, cer- 
 tainly being alive to me, thou -wert beloved by iiie gods, who 
 truly have had a care of thee, even in the destiny of death. 
 For swift-footed AchiUes sold^ aU. my other sons, whomsoever 
 he seized,, beyond the unfruitful sea, at Samos, Imbrus, and 
 Lemnos without a harbour. But when he had taken away thy 
 life with his long-bladed spear, he often dragged thee round 
 the tomb of his comrade Patroclus, whom thou slewest ; but 
 he did not thus raise him up. But now thou liest, to 
 my sorrow, in the palaces, fresh ^ and lately slain like hlni 
 whom silver-bowed Apollo, attacking, has slain with his mild 
 weapons." 
 
 Thus she spoke, weeping ; and aroused a vehement lamenta- 
 tion. But to them Helen then, the third, began her lamenta- 
 tion : 
 
 " O Hector, far dearest to my soul of all my brothers- 
 in-law, for godlike . Alexander is my husband, he who 
 brought me to Troy : — ^would that I had perished first. But 
 now already this is the twentieth year to me from the time 
 when I came from thence, and quitted my native land ; yet 
 have I never heard from thee a harsh or reproachful word ; 
 but if any other of my brothers-in-law, or sisters-in-law, or 
 well-attired husband's brothers' wives, reproached me in the 
 palaces, or my mother-in-law (for my father-in-law was ever 
 gentle as a father), then thou, admonishing him with words, 
 didst restrain him, both by thy gentleness and thy gentle 
 words. So that, grieved at heart, I bewail at the same time 
 thee and myself, unhappy ; for there is not any other in wide 
 Troy kind and friendly to me ; but all abhor me." 
 
 Thus she spoke, weeping ; and again the countless throng 
 groaned. And aged Priam spoke [this] speech amongst the 
 people : 
 
 " O Trojans, now bring wood to the city, nor«at all fear in 
 your mind a close ambuscade of the Greeks ; for AchiUes, dis- 
 missing me from the dark ships, thus promised me, that he 
 woula not commence ho-stiUties, before the twelfth morning 
 should arrive." 
 
 Thus he spoke ; smd they yoked both oxen and mules be- 
 neath the waggons j and then assembled before the city. For 
 
 ' See Grote, vol. i. p. 399 " See ors »er. 419. 
 
 2 H 
 
466 ILIAD. XXIV. 784—804. 
 
 nine days indeed they brought together an immense quantity 
 of wood; but when now the tenth mom, bearing light to 
 mortals, had appeared, then indeed, weeping, they carried 
 out noble Hector, and placed the body on the lofty pile, and 
 cast in the fire. 
 
 But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered Mom, ap- 
 peared, then were the people assembled round the pile of 
 illustrious Hector. But after they were assembled, and col- 
 lected together, first indeed they extinguished aJl the pyre 
 with dark wine, as much as the force of the fire had 
 possessed ; but then his brothers and companions collected 
 his white bones, weeping, and the abundant tear streamed 
 down their cheeks. And, taking them, they placed them in 
 a golden urn, covering them with soft purple robes, and 
 forthwith deposited it in a hollow grave ; and then strewed 
 it above with numerous great stones. But they built up 
 the tomb in haste, and watches sat around on every side, 
 lest the well-greaved Greeks should make an attack too 
 soon. Ajid having heaped up the tomb, they returned ; 
 and then being assembled together in order, they feasted 
 on a splendid banquet in the palaces o^ Priam, the Jove- 
 nurtured king. 
 
 Thus indeed they performed the funeral of steed-breaking 
 Hector. 
 
 END or THE ILIAIW 
 
 LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLUWKS AND SONS, LIMITBDi 
 BTAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS. 
 

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