{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_22382/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_22382","id":"gutenberg_22382","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22382","summary":null,"tags":["Achilles (Mythological character)","Category: Classics of Literature","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Classical Antiquity","Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English","Trojan War"],"text":"THE ILIAD OF HOMER,\nLiterally Translated,\n\nWITH EXPLANATORY NOTES.\n\nBY\n\nTHEODORE ALOIS BUCKLEY, B.A.\nOF CHRIST CHURCH.\n\nLONDON:\nBELL AND DALDY, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.\n\n1873.\n\nLONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET\nAND CHARING CROSS.\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE.\n\nThe present translation of the Iliad will, it is hoped, be found to\nconvey, more accurately than any which has preceded it, the words and\nthoughts of the original. It is based upon a careful examination of\nwhatever has been contributed by scholars of every age towards the\nelucidation of the text, including the ancient scholiasts and\nlexicographers, the exegetical labours of Barnes and Clarke, and the\nelaborate criticisms of Heyne, Wolf, and their successors.\n\nThe necessary brevity of the notes has prevented the full discussion of\nmany passages where there is great room for difference of opinion, and\nhence several interpretations are adopted without question, which, had\nthe editor\u2019s object been to write a critical commentary, would have\nundergone a more lengthened examination. The same reason has compelled\nhim, in many instances, to substitute references for extracts,\nindicating rather than quoting those storehouses of information, from\nwhose abundant contents he would gladly have drawn more copious\nsupplies. Among the numerous works to which he has had recourse, the\nfollowing deserve particular mention-Alberti\u2019s invaluable edition of\nHesychius, the Commentary of Eustathius, and Buttmann\u2019s Lexilogus.\n\nIn the succeeding volume, the Odyssey, Hymns, and minor poems will be\nproduced in a similar manner.\n\nTHEODORE ALOIS BUCKLEY,\n_Ch. Ch., Oxford._\n\n\n\n\nTHE ILIAD OF HOMER.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE FIRST.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nApollo, enraged at the insult offered to his priest, Chryses, sends a\npestilence upon the Greeks. A council is called, and Agamemnon, being\ncompelled to restore the daughter of Chryses, whom he had taken from\nhim, in revenge deprives Achilles of Hippodameia. Achilles resigns her,\nbut refuses to aid the Greeks in battle, and at his request, his\nmother, Thetis, petitions Jove to honour her offended son at the\nexpense of the Greeks. Jupiter, despite the opposition of Juno, grants\nher request.\n\n\nSing, \u039f goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus,\nwhich brought countless woes upon the Greeks, 1 and hurled many valiant\nsouls of heroes down to Hades, and made themselves 2 a prey to dogs and\nto all birds [but the will of Jove was being accomplished], from the\ntime when Atrides, king of men, and noble Achilles, first contending,\nwere disunited.\n\nFootnote 1: (return)  Although, as Ernesti observes, the verb \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03af\u03b1\u03c8\u03b5\u03bd\ndoes not necessarily contain the idea of a _premature_ death, yet the\nancient interpreters are almost unanimous in understanding it so. Thus\nEustathius, p. 13, ed. Bas.: \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70 \u03b2\u03bb\u03ac\u03b6\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03af\u03c2 \u0391\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u1f41 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03ad\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2\n\u1f14\u03c0\u03b5\u03bc\u03c6\u03b5\u03bd, \u1f61\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b8\u03ad\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 (_i.e._ \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf) \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c1\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2, \u1f22 \u1f01\u03c0\u03bb\u1f61\u03c2\n\u1f14\u03c0\u03b5\u03bc\u03c8\u03b5\u03bd, \u03ce\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03bd\u03b1\u03b6\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f24\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b8\u03ad\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2. Hesych. t. ii. p. 1029, s. \u03bd.:\n\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03af\u03b1\u03c8\u03b5\u03bd\u2014\u03b4\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u1fd6 \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f24\u03c2 \u03bb\u03ad\u03be\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u2019 \u1ecf\u03b4\u1f51\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03c0\u03ce\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd. Cf.\nVirg. \u00c6n. xii. 952: \u201cVitaque cum gemitu fugit _indignata_ sub umbras,\u201d\nwhere Servius well observes, \u201cquia discedebat a juvene: nam volunt\nphilosophi, invitam animam discedere a corpore, cum quo adhuc habitare\nlegibus natur\u00e6 poterat.\u201d I have, however, followed Ernesti, with the\nlater commentators.\n\nFootnote 2: (return)  _I.e._ their bodies. Cf. \u00c6. i. 44, vi. 362, where\nthere is a similar sense of the pronoun.\n\nWhich, then, of the gods, engaged these two in strife, so that they\nshould fight? 3 The son of Latona and Jove; for he, enraged with the\nking, stirred up an evil pestilence through the army [and the people\nkept perishing] 4; because the son of Atreus had dishonoured the priest\nChryses: for he came to the swift ships of the Greeks to ransom his\ndaughter, and bringing invaluable ransoms, having in his hands the\nfillets of far-darting Apollo on his golden sceptre. And he supplicated\nall the Greeks, but chiefly the two sons of Atreus, the leaders of the\npeople:\n\n\u201cYe sons of Atreus, and ye other well-greaved Greeks, to you indeed may\nthe gods, possessing the heavenly dwellings, grant to destroy the city\nof Priam, and to return home safely: but for me, liberate my beloved\ndaughter, and accept the ransoms, reverencing the son of Jove,\nfar-darting Apollo.\u201d\n\nFootnote 3: (return)  Rut see Anthon.\n\nFootnote 4: (return)  Observe the full force of the imperfect tense.\n\nUpon this, all the other Greeks shouted assent, that the priest should\nbe reverenced, and the splendid ransoms accepted; yet was it not\npleasing in his mind to Agamemnon, son of Atreus; but he dismissed him\nevilly, and added a harsh mandate:\n\n\u201cLet me not find thee, old man, at the hollow barks, either now\nloitering, or hereafter returning, lest the staff and fillet of the god\navail thee not. 5 For her I will not set free; sooner shall old age\ncome upon her, at home in Argos, far away from her native land,\nemployed in offices of the loom, and preparing 6 my bed. But away!\nirritate me not, that thou mayest return the safer.\u201d\n\nFootnote 5: (return)  Of \u03c7\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd, Buttmann, Lexil. p. 546, observes\nthat \u201cit is never found in a positive sense, but remained in ancient\nusage in negative sentences only; as, \u2018_it is of no use to thee_,\u2019 or,\n\u2018_it helps thee not_,\u2019 and similar expressions.\u201d\n\nFootnote 6: (return)  The old mistake of construing \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03cc\u03c9\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\n\u201csharing,\u201d which still clings to the translations, is exploded by\nButtm. Lex. p. 144. Eust. and Heysch. both give \u03b5\u1f7a\u03c4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c0\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03bd\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd as one of\nthe interpretations; and that such is the right one is evident from the\ncollateral phrase \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03bb\u03ad\u03c7\u03bf\u03c2 in Od. iii. 403. \u039b\u03bc\u03c6\u03b9\u03b6\u03ad\u03b6\u03b7\u03ba\u03b1\u03c2 is the\nperfect tense, but with the force of the present.\n\nThus he spoke; but the old man was afraid, and obeyed the command. And\nhe went in silence along the shore of the loud-resounding sea; but\nthen, going apart, the aged man prayed much to king Apollo, whom\nfair-haired Latona bore:\n\n\u201cHear me, god of the silver bow, who art wont to protect Chrysa and\ndivine Cilla, and who mightily rulest over Tenedos: O Sminthius, 7 if\never I have roofed 8 thy graceful temple, or if, moreover, at any time\nI have burned to thee the fat thighs of bulls or of goats, accomplish\nthis entreaty for me. Let the Greeks pay for my tears, by thy arrows.\u201d\n\nFootnote 7: (return)  An epithet derived from \u03c3\u03bc\u03af\u03bd\u03b8\u03bf\u03c2, the Phrygian\nname for a _mouse_: either because Apollo had put an end to a plague of\nmice among that people, or because a mouse was thought emblematical of\naugury.\u2014Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol. i. p. 68, observes that this\n\u201cworship of Sminthian Apollo, in various parts of the Troad and its\nneighbouring territory, dates before the earliest period of \u00c6olic\ncolonization.\u201d On the Homeric description of Apollo, see M\u00fcller,\nDorians, vol. i. p. 315.\n\nFootnote 8: (return)  Not \u201ccrowned,\u201d as Heyne says; for this was a\nlater custom.\u2014See Anthon and Arnold.\n\nThus he spoke praying; but to him Phoebus Apollo hearkened. And he\ndescended from the summits of Olympus, enraged in heart, having upon\nhis shoulders his bow and quiver covered on all sides. But as he moved,\nthe shafts rattled forthwith 9 upon the shoulders of him enraged; but\nhe went along like unto the night. Then he sat down apart from the\nships, and sent among them an arrow, and terrible arose the clang of\nthe silver bow. First he attacked the mules, and the swift 10 dogs; but\nafterwards despatching a pointed arrow against [the Greeks] themselves,\nhe smote them, and frequent funeral-piles of the dead were continually\nburning. Nine days through the army went the arrows of the god; but on\nthe tenth, Achilles called the people to an assembly; for to his mind\nthe white-armed goddess Juno had suggested it; for she was anxious\nconcerning the Greeks, because she saw them perishing. But when they\naccordingly were assembled, and were met together, swift-footed\nAchilles, rising up amidst them, [thus] spoke:\n\n\u201cO son of Atreus! now do I think that we would consent to return,\nhaving been defeated in our purpose, if we should but escape death,\nsince at the same time 11 war and pestilence subdue the Greeks. But\ncome now, let us consult some prophet, or priest, or even one who is\ninformed by dreams (for dream also is from Jove), 12 who would tell us\non what account Phoebus Apollo is so much enraged with us: whether he\nblames us on account of a vow [unperformed], or a hecatomb [unoffered];\nand whether haply he may be willing, having partaken of the savour of\nlambs and unblemished goats, to avert from us the pestilence.\u201d\n\nFootnote 9: (return)  The force of \u1f04\u03c1\u03b1 is noticed by N\u00e4gelsbach.\n\nFootnote 10: (return)  Or \u201cwhite.\u201d Hesych. \u03c4\u03b1\u03c7\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2, \u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 11: (return)  Ammonius, p. 14, foolishly supposes that \u1f01\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6\nhere denotes place, \u1f30\u03bd \u03a4\u03c1\u03bf\u03af\u1fb3. Valcknaer justly supports the ordinary\ninterpretation.\n\nFootnote 12: (return)  Cf. Plin. Ep. i. 18, and Duport, Gnom. Hom. p.\n3, sq.\n\nHe indeed, thus having spoken, sat down; but to them there arose by far\nthe best of augurs, Calchas, son of Thestor, who knew the present, the\nfuture, and the past, 13 and who guided the ships of the Greeks to\nIlium, by his prophetic art, which Phoebus Apollo gave him, who, being\nwell disposed, 14 addressed them, and said:\n\n\u201cO Achilles, dear to Jove, thou biddest me to declare the wrath of\nApollo, the far-darting king. Therefore will I declare it; but do thou\non thy part covenant, and swear to me, that thou wilt promptly assist\nme in word and hand. For methinks I shall irritate a man who widely\nrules over all the Argives, and whom the Greeks obey. For a king is\nmore powerful 15 when he is enraged with an inferior man; for though he\nmay repress his wrath 16 for that same day, yet he afterwards retains\nhis anger in his heart, until he accomplishes it; but do thou consider\nwhether thou wilt protect me.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: \u201cTaking full\nconfidence, declare the divine oracle, whatsoever thou knowest. For, by\nApollo, dear to Jove, to whom thou, praying, O Calchas, dost disclose\npredictions to the Greeks, no one of all the Greeks, while I am alive\nand have sight upon the earth, shall lay heavy hands upon thee at the\nhollow ships; not even if thou wast to name Agamemnon, who now boasts\nhimself to be much the most powerful of the Greeks.\u201d 17\n\nFootnote 13: (return)  A common formula in the ancient poets to express\nthe eternity of things. Empedocles apud Pseud. Arist. de Mundo: \u03ac\u03bd\u03b8\u2019\n\u1f45\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c4\u2019 \u1f74\u03bd, \u1f45\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c4\u2019 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u1f76, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f44\u03c3\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b5 \u1f14\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f40\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c3\u03c9. Virg. Georg. iv. 392:\n\u201cNovit namque omnia vates, Qu\u00e6 sint, qu\u00e6 fuerint, qu\u00e6 mox ventura\ntrahantur\u201d.\n\nFootnote 14: (return)  See Abresch. on \u00c6schyl. p. 287. Ernesti.\n\nFootnote 15: (return)  \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03af \u03b3\u1f00\u03c1 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f51\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c7\u03ae\u03bd. A\u2014rist. Rhet.\nii. 2, quoting this verse.\n\nFootnote 16: (return)  Lit. \u201cdigest his bile\u201d. Homer\u2019s distinction\nbetween \u03c7\u03cc\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 and \u03ba\u03cc\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 is observed by Nemesius, de Nat. Hom. \u00a7 21.\n\nFootnote 17: (return)  I have used \u201cGreeks\u201d wherever the whole army is\nevidently meant. In other instances I have retained the specific names\nof the different confederate nations.\n\nAnd upon this, the blameless prophet then took confidence, and spoke:\n\u201cNeither is he enraged on account of a vow [unperformed], nor of a\nhecatomb [unoffered], but on account of his priest, whom Agamemnon\ndishonoured; neither did he liberate his daughter, nor did he receive\nher ransom. Wherefore has the Far-darter given woes, and still will he\ngive them; nor will he withhold his heavy hands from the pestilence,\nbefore that [Agamemnon] restore to her dear father the bright-eyed 18\nmaid, unpurchased, unransomed, and conduct a sacred hecatomb to Chrysa;\nthen, perhaps, having appeased, we might persuade him.\u201d\n\nFootnote 18: (return)  See Arnold.\n\nHe indeed, having thus spoken, sat down. But to them arose the hero,\nthe son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, 19 agitated; and his\nall-gloomy heart was greatly filled with wrath, and his eyes were like\nunto gleaming fire. Sternly regarding Calchas most of all, he addressed\n[him]:\n\n\u201cProphet of ills, not at any time hast thou spoken anything good for\nme; but evils are always gratifying to thy soul to prophesy, 20 and\nnever yet hast thou offered one good word, nor accomplished [one]. And\nnow, prophesying amongst the Greeks, thou haranguest that forsooth the\nFar-darter works griefs to them upon this account, because I was\nunwilling to accept the splendid ransom of the virgin daughter of\nChryses, since I much prefer to have her at home; and my reason is, I\nprefer her even to Clytemnestra, my lawful wife; for she is not\ninferior to her, either in person, or in figure, or in mind, or by any\nmeans in accomplishments. But even thus I am willing to restore her, if\nit be better; for I wish the people to be safe rather than to perish.\nBut do thou immediately prepare a prize for me, that I may not alone,\nof the Argives, be without a prize; since it is not fitting. For ye all\nsee this, that my prize is going elsewhere.\u201d\n\nFootnote 19: (return)  \u201cIn the assembly of the people, as in the courts\nof justice, the nobles alone speak, advise, and decide, whilst the\npeople merely listen to their ordinances and decisions, in order to\nregulate their own conduct accordingly; being suffered, indeed, to\nfollow the natural impulse of evincing, to a certain extent, their\napprobation or disapprobation of their superiors, but without any legal\nmeans of giving validity to their opinion.\u201d M\u00fcller, Gk. Lit. p. 30.\n\nFootnote 20: (return)  But we must not join \u03bc\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 with\n\u03ba\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac.\u2014N\u00e4gelsbach.\n\nBut him swift-footed godlike Achilles then answered: \u201cMost noble son of\nAtreus, most avaricious of all! for how shall the magnanimous Greeks\nassign thee a prize? Nor do we know of many common stores laid up\nanywhere. But what we plundered 21 from the cities, these have been\ndivided, and it is not fitting that the troops should collect these\nbrought together again. But do thou now let her go to the God, and we\nGreeks will compensate thee thrice, or four-fold, if haply Jove grant\nto us to sack the well-fortified city of Troy.\u201d\n\nFootnote 21: (return)  More closely: \u201ctook from the cities, when we\ndestroyed them.\u201d\n\nBut him answering, king Agamemnon addressed: \u201cDo not thus, excellent\nthough thou be, godlike Achilles, practise deceit in thy mind; since\nthou shalt not overreach, nor yet persuade me. Dost thou wish that thou\nthyself mayest have a prize, whilst I sit down idly, 22 wanting one?\nAnd dost thou bid me to restore her? If, however, the magnanimous\nGreeks will give me a prize, having suited it to my mind, so that it\nshall be an equivalent, [it is well]. But if they will not give it,\nthen I myself coming, will seize your prize, or that of Ajax, 23 or\nUlysses, 24 and will bear it away; and he to whom I may come shall have\ncause for anger. On these things, however, we will consult afterwards.\nBut now come, let us launch a sable ship into the boundless sea, and\nlet us collect into it rowers in sufficient number, and place on board\na hecatomb; and let us make the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses to\nembark, and let some one noble man be commander, Ajax or Idomeneus, or\ndivine Ulysses; or thyself, son of Peleus, most terrible of all men,\nthat thou mayest appease for us the Far-darter, having offered\nsacrifices.\u201d\n\nFootnote 22: (return)  Buttmann would take \u03b1\u1f54\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2 as = frustra.\n\nFootnote 23: (return)  Tecmessa.\n\nFootnote 24: (return)  Laodice, daughter of Cyenus.\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles sternly regarding, addressed: \u201cHa! 25\nthou clad in impudence, thou bent on gain, how can any of the Greeks\nwillingly obey thy orders, either to undertake a mission, or to fight\nbravely with men? For I did not come hither to fight on account of the\nwarlike Trojans, seeing that they are blameless as respects me. Since\nthey have never driven away my oxen, nor my horses either nor ever\ninjured my crops in fertile and populous Phthia: for very many shadowy\nmountains, and the resounding sea, are between us. But thee, O most\nshameless man, we follow, that thou mayest rejoice; seeking\nsatisfaction from the Trojans for Menelaus, and for thy pleasure,\nshameless one! for which things thou hast neither respect nor care. And\nnow thou hast threatened that thou wilt in person wrest from me my\nprize, for which I have toiled much, and which the sons of the Greeks\nhave given me. Whenever the Greeks sacked a well-inhabited city of the\nTrojans, I never have had a prize equal to thine; although my hands\nperform the greater portion of the tumultuous conflict, yet when the\ndivision [of spoil] may come, a much greater prize is given to thee,\nwhile I come to my ships, when I am fatigued with fighting, having one\nsmall and agreeable. But now I will go to Phthia, for it is much better\nto return home with our curved ships; for I do not think that thou\nshalt amass wealth and treasures while I am dishonoured here.\u201d\n\nFootnote 25: (return)  See my note on Od. i. p. 2, n. 11, ed. Bohn.\n\nBut him, the king of men, Agamemnon, then answered: \u201cFly, by all means,\nif thy mind urges thee; nor will I entreat thee to remain on my\naccount: there are others with me who will honour me, but chiefly the\nall-wise Jove. For to me thou art the most odious of the Jove-nourished\nprinces, for ever is contention agreeable to thee, and wars and\nbattles. If thou be very bold, why doubtless a deity has given this to\nthee. Going home with thy ships and thy companions, rule over the\nMyrmidons; for I do not regard thee, nor care for thee in thy wrath;\nbut thus will I threaten thee: Since Phoebus Apollo is depriving me of\nthe daughter of Chryses, 26 her indeed I will send, with my own ship,\nand with my own friends; but I myself, going to thy tent, will lead\naway the fair-cheeked daughter of Brises, 27 thy prize; that thou\nmayest well know how much more powerful I am than thou, and that\nanother may dread to pronounce himself equal to me, and to liken\nhimself openly [to me].\u201d\n\nFootnote 26: (return)  Astynome. Cf. Eustath. fol. 58.\n\nFootnote 27: (return)  Hippodameia.\n\nThus he spoke, and grief arose to the son of Peleus, and the heart\nwithin, in his hairy breast, was pondering upon two courses; whether,\ndrawing his sharp sword from his thigh, he should dismiss them, 28 and\nshould kill the son of Atreus, or should put a stop to his wrath, and\nrestrain his passion. While he was thus pondering in his heart and\nsoul, and was drawing his mighty sword from the scabbard, came Minerva\nfrom heaven; for her the white-armed goddess Juno had sent forward,\nequally loving and regarding both from her soul. And she stood behind,\nand caught the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, appearing to him\nalone; but none of the others beheld her. But Achilles was amazed, and\nturned himself round, and immediately recognized Pallas Minerva; and\nawe-inspiring her eyes appeared to him. And addressing her, he spoke\nwinged words:\n\n\u201cWhy, O offspring of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, hast thou come hither? Is it\nthat thou mayest witness the insolence of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus?\nBut I tell thee, what I think will be accomplished, that he will\nprobably soon lose his life by his haughtiness.\u201d\n\nFootnote 28: (return)  The princes assembled.\n\nBut him in turn the azure-eyed goddess Minerva addressed: \u201cI came from\nheaven to assuage thy wrath, if thou wilt obey me; for the white-armed\ngoddess Juno sent me forward, equally loving and regarding both from\nher soul. But come, cease from strife, nor draw the sword with thine\nhand. But reproach by words, as the occasion may suggest; for thus I\ndeclare, and it shall be accomplished, that thrice as many splendid\ngifts shall be presented to thee, because of this insolent act; only\nrestrain thyself, and obey us.\u201d\n\nBut her answering, 29 swift-footed Achilles addressed: \u201cIt behoves me\nto observe the command of you both, O goddess, although much enraged in\nmy soul; for so it is better. Whosoever obeys the gods, to him they\nhearken propitiously.\u201d\n\nFootnote 29: (return)  Columna on Ennius, p. 17, ed. Hessel., compares\n\u201cOllei respondet Rex Alba\u00ef longa\u00ef,\u201d and \u201cOllei respondet suavis sonus\nEgeri\u00e4i,\u201d observing that this formula was probably as common in the\nheroic annals of Ennius as \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b4\u2019 \u1f70\u03c0\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9\u03be\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 is in Homer.\n\nHe spoke, and held still his heavy hand upon the silvery hilt, and\nthrust back the great sword into the scabbard, nor did he disobey the\nmandate of Minerva; but she had gone to Olympus, to the mansions of\n\u00e6gis-bearing Jove, amongst the other deities. But the son of Peleus\nagain addressed Atrides with injurious 30 words, nor as yet ceased from\nanger:\n\n\u201cWine-bibber, having the countenance of a dog, but the heart of a stag,\nnever hast thou at any time dared in soul to arm thyself with the\npeople for war, nor to go to ambuscade with the chiefs of the Greeks;\nfor this always appears to thee to be death. Certainly it is much\nbetter through the wide army of the Ach\u00e6ans, to take away the rewards\nof whoever may speak against thee. A people-devouring king [art thou],\nsince thou rulest over fellows of no account; for assuredly, son of\nAtreus, thou [otherwise] wouldst have insulted now for the last time.\nBut I will tell thee, and I will further swear a great oath: yea, by\nthis sceptre, which will never bear leaves and branches, nor will bud\nagain, after it has once left its trunk on the mountains; for the axe\nhas lopped it all around of its leaves and bark; but now the sons of\nthe Greeks, the judges, they who protect the laws [received] from Jove,\nbear it in their hands; and this will be a great oath to thee; surely\nwill a longing desire for Achilles come upon all the sons of the\nAch\u00e6ans at some future day, and thou, although much grieved, wilt be\nunable to assist them, when many dying shall fall by the hand of\nman-slaying Hector. Then enraged, wilt thou inwardly fret thy soul,\nthat thou didst in no way honour the bravest of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 30: (return)  Epimerism. Hom. in Cramer\u2019s Anecdott. vol. i. p.\n24. \u03ac\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2, \u03b7 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd, \u03bf \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b2\u03bb\u03ac\u03be\u03b7\u03bd, \u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2.\u2014Hesych.\n\u03b2\u03bb\u03b1\u03be\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2, \u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2.\n\nThus spoke the son of Peleus; and he cast upon the earth his sceptre\nstudded with golden nails, and sat down. But on the other hand, the son\nof Atreus was enraged; therefore to them arose the sweet-voiced Nestor,\n31 the harmonious orator of the Pylians, from whose tongue flowed\nlanguage sweeter than honey. During his life two generations of\narticulately-speaking men had become extinct, who, formerly, were\nreared and lived with him in divine Pylus, but he was now ruling over\nthe third; who, wisely counselling, addressed them, and said:\n\nFootnote 31: (return)  I must refer the reader to a most happy sketch\nof Nestor\u2019s exploits and character in Crete\u2019s Hist, of Greece, vol. i.\np. 153.\n\n\u201c\u039f gods! surely a great sorrow comes upon the Grecian land. Verily,\nPriam would exult, and the sons of Priam, and the other Trojans, would\ngreatly rejoice in their souls, if they were to hear these things of\nyou twain contending: you who in council and in fighting surpass the\nGreeks. But be persuaded; for ye are both younger than I am. For\nalready, in former times, I have associated with men braver than you,\nand they never disdained me. I never saw, nor shall I see, such men as\nPirithous, and Dryas, shepherd of the people, and C\u00e6neus, and Exadius,\nand god-like Polyphemus, 32 and Theseus, the son of \u00c6geus, like unto\nthe immortals. Bravest indeed were they trained up of earthly men;\nbravest they were, and they fought with the bravest Centaurs of the\nmountain caves, and terribly slew them. With these was I conversant,\ncoming from Pylus, far from the Apian land; for they invited me, and I\nfought to the best of my power; but with them none of these who now are\nmortals upon the earth could fight. And even they heard my counsels,\nand obeyed my words. But do ye also obey, since it is better to be\nobedient; nor do thou, although being powerful, take away the maid from\nhim, but leave it so, seeing that the sons of the Greeks first gave\n[her as] a prize on him. Nor do thou, \u039f son of Peleus, feel inclined to\ncontend against the king; since never yet has any sceptre-bearing king,\nto whom Jove has given glory, been allotted an equal share of dignity.\nBut though thou be of superior strength, and a goddess mother has given\nthee birth, yet he is superior in power, inasmuch as he rules more\npeople. Do thou, son of Atreus, repress thine anger; for it is I that\n33 entreat thee to forego thy resentment on behalf of Achilles, who is\nthe great bulwark of destructive war to all the Ach\u00e6ans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 32: (return)  A prince of the Lapith\u00e6, not the Cyclops.\n\nFootnote 33: (return)  See Anthon, who has well remarked the force of\nthe particles.\n\nBut him king Agamemnon answering addressed: \u201cOf a truth thou hast said\nall these things, old man, according to what is right. But this man is\ndesirous to be above all other men; he wishes to have the mastery, and\nlord it over all, and to prescribe to all; with which his desires I\nthink some one will not comply. But if the ever-existing gods have made\nhim a warrior, do they therefore give him the right to utter insults?\u201d\n\nBut him noble Achilles interruptingly answered: \u201cYea, forsooth, 34 I\nmay be called a coward and a man of no worth, if now I yield to thee in\neverything, whatever thou mayest say. Enjoin these things to other men;\nfor dictate not to me, for I think that I shall no longer obey thee.\nBut another thing will I tell thee, and do thou store it in thy mind: I\nwill not contend with my hands, neither with thee, nor with others, on\naccount of this maid, since ye, the donors, take her away. But of the\nother effects, which I have at my swift black ship, of those thou shalt\nnot remove one, taking them away, I being unwilling. But if [thou\nwilt], come, make trial, that these also may know: quickly shall thy\nblack blood flow around my lance.\u201d\n\nFootnote 34: (return)  Properly elliptical\u2014_I have done right; for_,\n&c.\u2014Crusius.\n\nThus these twain, striving with contrary words, arose, and they broke\nup the assembly at the ships of the Greeks. The son of Peleus on his\npart repaired to his tents and well-proportioned 35 ships, with the son\nof Menoetius, 36 and his companions. But the son of Atreus 37 launched\nhis swift ship into the sea, and selected and put into it twenty\nrowers, and embarked a hecatomb for the god. And he led the fair\ndaughter of Chryses and placed her on board, and the very wise Ulysses\nembarked as conductor. They then embarking, sailed over the watery\npaths. But the son of Atreus ordered the armies to purify themselves;\n38 and they were purified, and cast forth the ablutions into the sea.\nAnd they sacrificed to Apollo perfect hecatombs of bulls and goats,\nalong the shore of the barren sea; and the savour involved in 39 smoke\nascended to heaven. Thus were they employed in these things through the\narmy. Nor did Agamemnon cease from the contention which at first he\nthreatened against Achilles. But he thus addressed Talthybius and\nEurybates, who were his heralds and zealous attendants: 40\n\nFootnote 35: (return)  Equal on both sides, so as to preserve a\nbalance. But Blomfield, Obs. on Matth. Gr. \u00a7 124, prefers to render it\n\u201cships of due size,\u201d as [\u03b4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b7], ver. 468, \u201can equalized meal.\u201d\n\nFootnote 36: (return)  Patroclus.\n\nFootnote 37: (return)  So Anthon, comparing ver. 142.\n\nFootnote 38: (return)  Not a mere medicinal measure, but a symbolical\nputting away of the guilt, which, through Agamemnon\u2019s transgression,\nwas brought upon the army also.\u2014Wolf.\n\nFootnote 39: (return)  Not _about_ the smoke, but _in_ the smoke; for\n\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03af denotes also the staying within the compass of an\nobject.\u2014N\u00e4gelsbach.\n\nFootnote 40: (return)  \u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03ac\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd is a voluntary servant, as opposed to\n\u03b4\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2.\u2014See Arnold.\n\n\u201cGoing to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus, lead away fair\nBris\u00ebis, having taken her by the hand; but if he will not give her,\nthen I myself, coming with great numbers, will take her, and this will\nbe more grievous 41 to him.\u201d\n\nThus speaking, he despatched them, having added 42 a harsh command. But\nthey reluctantly went along the shore of the barren sea, and came to\nthe tents and ships of the Myrmidons. And they found him sitting at his\ntent and his black ship: nor did Achilles, seeing them, rejoice. But\nthey, confused, and reverencing the king, stood still, nor addressed\nhim at all, nor spoke [their bidding]. But he perceived [it] in his\nmind, and said:\n\n\u201cHail, heralds, messengers of Jove, 43 and also of men, come near, for\nye are not blamable to me in the least, but Agamemnon, who has sent you\non account of the maid Bris\u00ebis. However, come, noble Patroclus, lead\nforth the maid, and give her to them to conduct; but let these be\nwitnesses [of the insult offered me], both before the blessed gods, and\nbefore mortal men, and before the merciless king. But if ever again\nthere shall be need of me to avert unseemly destruction from the rest,\n[appeal to me shall be in vain], 44 for surely he rages with an\ninfatuated mind, nor knows at all how to view the future and the past,\nin order that the Greeks may fight in safety at their ships.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke. And Patroclus obeyed his dear companion, and led forth\nfair-cheeked Bris\u00ebis from the tent, and gave her to them to conduct;\nand they returned along by the ships of the Greeks. But the woman went\nwith them reluctantly, whilst Achilles, weeping, 45 immediately sat\ndown, removed apart from his companions, upon the shore of the hoary\nsea, gazing on the darkling main; and much he be sought his dear\nmother, stretching forth his hands:\n\nFootnote 41: (return)  Hesych. \u03c1\u03af\u03b3\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd, \u03c6\u03bf\u03b2\u03b5\u03c1\u03ce\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd, \u03c7\u03b1\u03bb\u03b5\u03c0\u03ce\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 42: (return)  \u201cMisit eos, minaci jusso dato.\u201d\u2014Heyne.\n\nFootnote 43: (return)  So called from their inviolability,\u2014\u03ac\u03c3\u03bd\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd \u03b3\u03b1\u03c1\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf \u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b7\u03c1\u03cd\u03ba\u03c9\u03bd.\u2014Schol. \u039a\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b6\u03ae\u03bd \u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03af\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c7\u03cc\u03c3\u03b5 \u03ac\u03b4\u03b5\u03ce\u03c2\n\u03af\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9.\u2014Pollux, viii. They were properly sacred to Mercury (id. iv. 9.\nCf. Feith, Antiq. Homer, iv. 1), but are called the messengers of Jove,\nas being under his special protection, with a reference to the\nsupporting of regal authority.\n\nFootnote 44: (return)  Observe the aposiopesis.\n\nFootnote 45: (return)  Not for the loss of Brise\u00efs, but on account of\nthe affront.\n\n\u201cO mother, since thou hast borne me, to be but short-lived, at least\nthen ought high-thundering Olympian Jove to have vouchsafed honour to\nme; but now he has not honoured me ever so little; for the son of\nAtreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, has dishonoured me; for he, taking away\nmy prize, possesses it, himself having wrested it [from me].\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, weeping. But to him his venerable mother hearkened,\nsitting in the depths of the ocean beside her aged sire. And\nimmediately she rose up from the hoary deep, like a mist. And then she\nsat before him weeping, and soothed him with her hand, and addressed\nhim, and spoke aloud:\n\n\u201cSon, why weepest thou\u2014on account of what has grief come upon thy mind?\nDeclare it, nor hide it in thy soul, that we both may know it.\u201d\n\nBut her, sighing deeply, swift-footed Achilles addressed: \u201cThou\nknowest; why should I tell all these things to thee, already knowing\n[them]? We went against Thebe, 46 the sacred city of E\u00ebtion; and this\nwe plundered, and brought hither all [the spoil]. And these things\nindeed the sons of the Greeks fairly divided among themselves, and\nselected for Agamemnon the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses. But\nChryses, priest of the far-darting Apollo, came afterwards to the fleet\nships of the brazen-mailed Greeks, about to ransom his daughter, and\nbringing invaluable ransoms, having in his hand the fillets of\nfar-darting Apollo, on his golden sceptre. And he supplicated all the\nGreeks, but chiefly the two sons of Atreus, the leaders of the people.\nUpon this all the other Greeks shouted assent, that the priest should\nbe reverenced, and the splendid ransoms accepted: yet it was not\npleasing to Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in his mind; but he dismissed him\nevilly, and added a harsh mandate. The old man therefore went back\nenraged; but Apollo hearkened to him praying, for he was very dear to\nhim. And he sent a destructive arrow against the Greeks; and the forces\nwere now dying one upon another, and the shafts of the god went on all\nsides through the wide army of the Greeks. But to us the skilful seer\nunfolded the divine will of the Far-darter. Straightway I first\nexhorted that we should appease the god; but then rage seized upon the\nson of Atreus, and instantly rising, he uttered a threatening speech,\nwhich is now accomplished; for the rolling-eyed Greeks attend her to\nChrysa with a swift bark, and bring presents to the king; but the\nheralds have just now gone from my tent, conducting the virgin daughter\nof Bris\u00ebis, whom the sons of the Greeks gave to me. But do thou, if\nthou art able, aid thy son. Going to Olympus, supplicate Jove, if ever\nthou didst delight the heart of Jove as to anything, by word or deed;\nfor I frequently heard thee boasting in the palaces of my sire, when\nthou saidest that thou alone, amongst the immortals, didst avert\nunworthy destruction from the cloud-collecting son of Saturn, when the\nother Olympian inhabitants, Juno, and Neptune, and Pallas Minerva,\nwished to bind him. But thou, O goddess, having approached, freed him\nfrom his chains, having quickly summoned to lofty Olympus, the\nhundred-handed, whom the gods call Briareus, and all men \u00c6geon, because\nhe was superior to his father in strength, 47 who then sat by the son\nof Saturn, exulting in renown. Him then the blessed gods dreaded, nor\ndid they bind [Jove]. Of these things now reminding him, sit beside\nhim, and embrace his knees, if in anywise he may consent to aid the\nTrojans, and hem in 48 at their ships, and along the sea, the Greeks\n[while they get] slaughtered, that all may enjoy their king, and that\nthe son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, may know his baleful folly,\n49 when he in no wise honoured the bravest of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 46: (return)  Thebe was situated on the border of Mysia, on\nthe mountain Placus, in the district afterwards called Adramyttium. The\ninhabitants were Cilicians.\u2014See Heyne, and De Pinedo on Steph. Byz.\ns.v. p. 307, n. 58.\n\nFootnote 47: (return)    Briareus as the son of Neptune or of Uranus\nand Terra.\u2014See Arnold. The fable is ridiculed by Minucius Felix, \u00a7 22.\n\nFootnote 48: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. pp. 257, 261, Fishlake\u2019s\ntranslation.\n\nFootnote 49: (return)  The idea of infatuation is not, however,\nnecessarily implied in \u1f04\u03c4\u03b7. See Buttm. Lex. p. 5, sq.\n\nBut him Thetis then answered, shedding down a tear: \u201cAlas! my son,\nwherefore have I reared thee, having brought thee forth in an evil\nhour. Would that thou wert seated at the ships tearless and uninjured;\nfor thy destined life is but for a very short period, nor very long;\nbut now art thou both swift-fated and wretched above all mortals:\ntherefore have I brought thee forth in my palace under an evil fate.\nHowever, to tell thy words to thunder-delighting Jove, I myself will go\nto snow-clad Olympus, if by chance he will be persuaded. But do thou,\nnow sitting at the swift ships, wage resentment against the Greeks, and\ntotally abstain from war. For yesterday Jove went to Oceanus, 50 to the\nblameless \u00c6thiopians, to a banquet, and with him went all the gods. But\non the twelfth day he will return to Olympus; and then will I go to the\nbrazen-floored palace of Jove, and suppliantly embrace his knees, and I\nthink that he will be persuaded.\u201d\n\nFootnote 50: (return)  According to Homer, the earth is a circular\nplane, and Oceanus is an immense stream encircling it, from which the\ndifferent rivers run inward.\n\nThus having said, she departed, and left him there wrathful in his soul\nfor his well-girded maid, whom they had taken from him against his\nwill. But Ulysses, meantime, came to Chrysa, bringing the sacred\nhecatomb. But they, when they had entered the deep haven, first furled\ntheir sails, and stowed them in the sable bark; they next brought the\nmast to its receptacle, lowering it quickly by its stays, and they\nrowed the vessel forwards with oars into its moorage; they heaved out\nthe sleepers, and tied the hawsers. They themselves then went forth on\nthe breakers of the sea, and disembarked the hecatomb to far-darting\nApollo, and then they made the daughter of Chryses descend from the\nsea-traversing bark. Then wise Ulysses, leading her to the altar,\nplaced her in the hands of her dear father, and addressed him:\n\n\u201cO Chryses, Agamemnon, king of men, sent me forth to conduct to thee\nthy daughter, and to sacrifice a sacred hecatomb to Ph\u0153bus for the\nGreeks, that we may appease the king, who now has sent evils fraught\nwith groanings upon the Argives.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he placed her in his hands; but he rejoicing\nreceived his beloved daughter. Then they immediately placed in order\nthe splendid hecatomb for the god around the well-built altar. After\nthat they washed their hands, and held up the pounded barley. 51 But\nfor them, Chryses, uplifting his hands, prayed with loud voice:\n\nFootnote 51: (return)  \u201cSalted barley meal,\u201d\u2014Anthon; \u201cwhole\nbarley,\u201d\u2014Voss; but Buttmann, Lexil. p. 454, in a highly amusing note,\nobserves, \u201cno supposition of a regular and constant distinction between\nthe Greeks and Romans, the one using barley whole and the other\ncoarsely ground, possible as the thing may be in itself, is to be\nentertained without the express testimony of the ancients.\u201d\n\n\u201cHear me, O thou of the silver bow, who art wont to protect Chrysa and\ndivine Cilla, and who mightily rulest over Tenedos! already indeed at a\nformer time didst thou hear me praying, and didst honour me, and didst\nvery much afflict the people of the Greeks, now also accomplish for me\nthis further request: even now avert from the Greeks this unseemly\npestilence.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke praying, and him Ph\u0153bus Apollo heard. But after they had\nprayed, and sprinkled the pounded barley, they first bent back [the\nneck of the victims], killed them, and flayed them, and cut out the\nthighs, and wrapped them round with the fat, having arranged it in\ndouble folds; then laid the raw flesh upon them. Then the old man\nburned them on billets, and poured sparkling wine upon them; and near\nhim the youths held five-pronged spits in their hands. But after the\nthighs were roasted, and they had tasted the entrails, they then cut\nthe rest of them into small pieces, and fixed them on spits, and\nroasted them skilfully, and drew all the viands [off the spits].\n\nBut when they had ceased from their labour, and had prepared the\nbanquet, they feasted; nor did their soul in anywise lack a due\nallowance of the feast: but when they had dismissed the desire of drink\nand food, the youths on the one hand filled the goblets with wine to\nthe brim, 52 and handed round the wine to all, having poured the first\nof the wine into the cups. 53 But the Grecian youths throughout the day\nwere appeasing the god by song, chanting the joyous P\u00e6an, 54 hymning\nthe Far-darter, and he was delighted in his mind as he listened. But\nwhen the sun had set, and darkness came on, then they slept near the\nhawsers of their ships. But when the mother of dawn, 55 rosy-fingered\nmorning, appeared, straightway then they set sail for the spacious camp\nof the Ach\u00e6ans, and to them far-darting Apollo sent a favourable gale.\nBut they erected the mast and expanded the white sails. The wind\nstreamed 56 into the bosom of the sail; and as the vessel briskly ran,\nthe dark wave roared loudly around the keel; but she scudded through\nthe wave, holding on her way. But when they reached the wide armament\nof the Greeks, they drew up the black ship on the continent, far upon\nthe sand, and stretched long props under it; but they dispersed\nthemselves through their tents and ships.\n\nFootnote 52: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 291, sqq. The custom of\ncrowning the goblets with flowers was of later origin.\n\nFootnote 53: (return)  See Battm. p. 168. The customary libation is\nmeant.\n\nFootnote 54: (return)  On the P\u00e6an, see M\u00fcller, Gk. Lit. iii. \u00a7 4. and\nDorians, vol. i. p. 370.\n\nFootnote 55: (return)  See Loewe on Odyss. ii. 1, and my translation.\nKennedy renders it \u201cushering in the dawn.\u201d\n\nFootnote 56: (return)  See Buttm. p. 484. I am partly indebted to\nAnthon in rendering this expression.\n\nBut the Jove-sprung son of Peleus, swift-footed Achilles, continued his\nwrath, sitting at his swift ships, nor ever did he frequent the\nassembly of noble heroes, nor the fight, but he pined away his dear\nheart, remaining there, although he longed for the din and the battle.\n\nNow when the twelfth morning from that time arose, 57 then indeed all\nthe gods who are for ever went together to Olympus, but Jupiter\npreceded. But Thetis was not forgetful of the charges of her son, but\nshe emerged from the wave of the sea, and at dawn ascended lofty heaven\nand Olympus; 58 and she found the far-seeing son of Saturn sitting\napart from the others, on the highest summit of many-peaked Olympus,\nand then she sat down before him, and embraced his knees with her left\nhand, but with the right taking him by the chin, imploring, she thus\naddressed king Jove, the son of Saturn:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, if ever I have aided thee among the immortals, either\nin word or deed, accomplish for me this desire: honour my son, who is\nthe most short-lived of others; for now indeed Agamemnon, the king of\nmen, has disgraced him; for he possesses his prize, he himself having\nborne it away. Do thou at least, Olympian Jove all counselling, honour\nhim: and so long grant victory to the Trojans, until the Greeks shall\nreverence my son, and shall advance him in honour.\u201d\n\nFootnote 57: (return)  Cf. ver. 425.\n\nFootnote 58: (return)  \u039f\u1f50\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc\u03c2 is here the upper clear region of\nair,\u2014the ether, into which Olympus soared up.\u2014Voss.\n\nThus she spoke; but cloud-compelling Jove answered her nothing, but sat\nsilent for a long time. And as Thetis seized his knees, fast clinging\nshe held them, and thus again entreated: \u201cDo but now promise to me\nexplicitly, and grant or refuse, (for in thee there is no dread,) that\nI may well know how far I am the most dishonoured goddess amongst all.\u201d\n\nBut her cloud-compelling Jove, deeply moved, addressed: \u201cTruly now this\n[will be] a grievous matter, since thou wilt cause me to give offence\nto Juno, when she shall irritate me with reproachful words. For, even\nwithout reason, she is perpetually chiding me amongst the immortal\ngods, and also says that I aid the Trojans in battle. But do thou on\nthy part now depart, lest Juno behold thee: but these things shall be\nmy care, until I perform them. But if [thou wilt have it thus], so be\nit; I will nod to thee with my head, that thou mayest feel confidence.\nFor this from me is the greatest pledge among the immortals: for my\npledge, even whatsoever I shall sanction by nod, is not to be\nretracted, neither fallacious nor unfulfilled.\u201d\n\nThe son of Saturn spoke, and nodded thereupon with his dark eyebrows.\nAnd then the ambrosial locks of the king were shaken over him from his\nimmortal head; and he made mighty Olympus tremble. Thus having\nconferred, they separated. She at once plunged from splendid Olympus\ninto the profound sea. But Jove on the other hand [returned] to his\npalace. But all the gods rose up together from their seats to meet\ntheir sire; nor did any dare to await 59 him approaching, but all rose\nin his presence. Thus indeed he sat there on his throne; nor was Juno\nunconscious, having seen that silver-footed Thetis, the daughter of the\nmarine old man, had joined in deliberation with him. Forthwith with\nreproaches she accosted Saturnian Jove:\n\n\u201cWhich of the gods again, O deceitful one, has been concerting measures\nwith thee? Ever is it agreeable to thee, being apart from me, plotting\nsecret things, to decide thereon; nor hast thou ever yet deigned\nwillingly to tell me one word of what thou dost meditate.\u201d\n\nFootnote 59: (return)  Heyne supplies \u201csedendo.\u201d\n\nTo her then replied the father of men and gods: \u201cO Juno, build up no\nhopes of knowing all my counsels; difficult would they be for thee,\nalthough thou art my consort. But whatever it may be fit for thee to\nhear, none then either of gods or men shall know it before thee: but\nwhatever I wish to consider apart from the gods, do thou neither\ninquire into any of these things, nor investigate them.\u201d\n\nBut him the large-eyed, venerable Juno then answered: \u201cMost dread son\nof Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Heretofore have I ever\nquestioned thee much, nor pryed [into thy secrets]; but thou mayest\nvery quietly deliberate on those things which thou desirest. But at\npresent I greatly fear in my soul, lest silver-footed Thetis, the\ndaughter of the marine old man, may have influenced thee: for at dawn\nshe sat by thee and embraced thy knees: to her I suspect thou didst\nplainly promise that thou wouldest honour Achilles, and destroy many at\nthe ships of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nBut her answering, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: \u201cPerverse one! thou\nart always suspecting, nor do I escape thee. Nevertheless thou shalt\nproduce no effect at all, but thou shalt be farther from my heart: and\nthis will be more bitter to thee. But granted this be so, it appears to\nbe my pleasure. 60 But sit down in peace, and obey my mandate, lest as\nmany deities as are in Olympus avail thee not against me, I drawing\nnear, 61 when I shall lay my resistless hands upon thee.\u201d\n\nFootnote 60: (return)  _I.e._, say that what you suspect is correct;\nwell then, such is my will.\n\nFootnote 61: (return)  I prefer taking \u03af\u03bf\u03bd\u03b8\u2019 for \u03af\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1, not for \u03af\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5,\nas Buttmann wished.\u2014See Anthon.\n\nThus he spoke: but venerable, large-eyed Juno feared, and sat down\nsilent, having bent her heart to submission. But the heavenly gods\nmurmured throughout the palace of Jove. And the renowned artificer,\nVulcan, began to harangue them, doing kind offices to his beloved\nmother, white-armed Juno:\n\n\u201cTruly now these will be grievous matters, and no longer tolerable, if\nye twain contend thus on account of mortals, and excite uproar among\nthe deities. Nor will there be any enjoyment in the delightful banquet,\nsince the worse things prevail. 62 But to my mother I advise, she\nherself being intelligent, to gratify my dear father Jove, lest my sire\nmay again reprove her, and disturb our banquet. For if the Olympian\nThunderer wishes to hurl [us] from our seats 63\u2014for he is much the most\npowerful. But do thou soothe him with gentle words; then will the\nOlympian king straightway be propitious to us.\u201d\n\nFootnote 62: (return)  Cf. Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 9. The saying is\nalmost proverbial.\n\nFootnote 63: (return)  An aposiopesis; understand, \u201che can easily do\nso.\u201d\n\nThus then he spoke, and rising, he placed the double cup 64 in the hand\nof his dear mother, and addressed her:\n\n\u201cBe patient, my mother, and restrain thyself, although grieved, lest\nwith my own eyes I behold thee beaten, being very dear to me; nor then\nindeed should I be able, though full of grief, to assist thee; for\nOlympian Jove is difficult to be opposed. For heretofore, having seized\nme by the foot, he cast me, desiring at one time to assist you, down\nfrom the heavenly threshold. All day was I carried down through the\nair, and I fell on Lemnos 65 with the setting sun: and but little life\nwas in me by that time. There the Sintian 66 men forthwith received and\ntended 67 me, having fallen.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: but the white-armed goddess Juno smiled; and smiling she\nreceived the cup from the hand of her son. But he, beginning from left\nto right, 68 kept pouring out for all the other gods, drawing nectar\nfrom the goblet. And then inextinguishable laughter arose among the\nimmortal gods, when they saw Vulcan bustling about 69 through the\nmansion.\n\nFootnote 64: (return)  See my note on Od. iii. p. 30, n. 13, ed. Bohn.\nIt was \u201ca double cup with a common bottom in the middle.\u201d\u2014Crusius.\n\nFootnote 65: (return)  Hercules having sacked Troy, was, on his return,\ndriven to Cos by a storm raised by Juno, who was hostile to him, and\nwho had contrived to cast Jupiter into a sleep, that he might not\ninterrupt her purpose. Jupiter awaking, in resentment of the artifice\npractised upon him, bound her feet to iron anvils, which Vulcan\nattempting to loose, was cast headlong down to Lemnos by his enraged\nsire.\n\nFootnote 66: (return)  A race of robbers, of Tyrrhenian origin\n(according to M\u00fcller), and the ancient inhabitants of Lemnos. This\nisland was ever after sacred to Vulcan. Cf. Lactant. i. 15; Milton,\nP.L. i. 740, sqq.\n\nFootnote 67: (return)  See Arnold.\n\nFootnote 68: (return)  This meaning of \u03ad\u03bd\u03b4\u03ad\u03be\u03b9\u03b1 is due to Buttmann.\n\nFootnote 69: (return)  See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 481.\n\nThus, then, they feasted 70 the entire day till the setting sun; nor\ndid the soul want anything of the equal feast, nor of the beautiful\nharp, which Apollo held, nor of the Muses, who accompanied him,\nresponding in turn, with delicious voice.\n\nFootnote 70: (return)  \u201cThe gods formed a sort of political community\nof their own, which had its hierarchy, its distribution of ranks and\nduties, its contentions for power and occasional revolutions, its\npublic meetings in the agora of Olympus, and its multitudinous banquets\nor festivals.\u201d\u2014Grote, vol. i. p. 463. Cf. M\u00fcller, Gk. Lit. ii. \u00a7 2.\n\nBut when the splendid light of the sun was sunk, they retired to\nrepose, each one to his home, where renowned Vulcan, lame of both legs,\nwith cunning skill had built a house for each. But the Olympian\nthunderer Jove went to his couch, where he lay before, when sweet sleep\ncame upon him. There, having ascended, he lay down to rest, and beside\nhim golden-throned Juno.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE SECOND.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nJove sends a dream to Agamemnon, in consequence of which he\nre-assembles the army. Thersites is punished for his insolent speech,\nand the troops are restrained from seeking a return homewards. The\ncatalogue of the ships and the forces of the confederates follows.\n\n\nThe rest, then, both gods and horse-arraying men, 71 slept all the\nnight: but Jove sweet sleep possessed not; but he was pondering in his\nmind how he might honour Achilles, and destroy many at the ships of the\nGreeks. But this device appeared best to him in his mind, to send a\nfatal dream 72 to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. And addressing him, he\nspoke winged words:\n\n\u201cHaste away, pernicious dream, to the swift ships of the Greeks. Going\ninto the tent of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, utter very accurately\neverything as I shall command thee. Bid him arm the long-haired Ach\u00e6ans\n73 with all their array; for now perhaps he may 74 take the wide-wayed\ncity of the Trojans; for the immortals who possess the Olympian\nmansions no longer think dividedly, for Juno, supplicating, hath bent\nall [to her will]. And woes are impending over the Trojans.\u201d\n\nThus he spake: and the dream 75 accordingly departed, as soon as it\nheard the mandate. And quickly it came to the swift ships of the\nGreeks, and went unto Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. But him it found\nsleeping in his tent, and ambrosial slumber was diffused around. And he\nstood over his head, like unto Nestor, the son of Neleus, him, to wit,\nwhom Agamemnon honoured most of the old men. To him assimilating\nhimself, the divine dream addressed him:\n\nFootnote 71: (return)  See Anthon, who observes that \u201cfighting from on\nhorseback was not practised in the Homeric times.\u201d\n\nFootnote 72: (return)  Some would personify Oneirus, as god of dreams.\n\nFootnote 73: (return)  Observe the distinction, for the Abantes, ver.\n542, and the Thracians, iv. 533, wore their hair differently.\n\nFootnote 74: (return)  \u03ba\u03b5\u03bd limits the assertion to _probability_, so\nthat Jupiter does not utter a _direct_ falsehood.\n\nFootnote 75: (return)  In defence of this cheating conduct of Jove, at\nwhich Plato was much scandalized, Coleridge, p. 154, observes: \u201cThe\n\u03bf\u1f56\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f44\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 was a lying spirit, which the father of gods and men had\na supreme right to commission for the purpose of working out his\nultimate will.\u201d\n\n\u201cSleepest thou, son of the warrior, horse-taming Atreus? It becomes not\na counsel-giving man, to whom the people have been intrusted, and to\nwhom so many things are a care, to sleep all the night. But now quickly\nattend to me; for I am a messenger to thee from Jove, who, although far\ndistant, greatly regards and pities thee. He orders thee to arm the\nlong-haired Greeks with all their array, for now mayest thou take the\nwide-wayed city of the Trojans, since the immortals, who possess the\nOlympian mansions, no longer think dividedly; for Juno, supplicating,\nhath bent all [to her will], and woes from Jove are impending over the\nTrojans. But do thou preserve this in thy recollection, nor let\nforgetfulness possess thee, when sweet sleep shall desert thee.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, he departed, and left him there pondering\nthese things in his mind, which were not destined to be accomplished.\nFor he, foolish, thought that he would take the city of Priam on that\nday; nor knew he the deeds which Jupiter was really devising; for even\nhe was about yet to impose additional hardships and sorrows upon both\nTrojans and Greeks, through mighty conflicts. But he awoke from his\nsleep, and the heavenly voice was diffused around him. He sat up erect,\nand put on his soft tunic, beautiful, new; and around him he threw his\nlarge cloak. And he bound his beautiful sandals on his shining feet,\nand slung from his shoulders the silver-studded sword. He also took his\npaternal sceptre, ever imperishable, with which he went to the ships of\nthe brazen-mailed Greeks.\n\nThe goddess Aurora now 76 ascended wide Olympus, announcing the dawn to\nJove and the other immortals. But he 77 on his part ordered the\nclear-voiced heralds to summon the long-haired Ach\u00e6ans 78 to an\nassembly. They therefore summoned them, and the people were very\nspeedily assembled. First the assembly of magnanimous elders sat at the\nship of Nestor, the Pylus-born king. Having called them together, he\npropounded a prudent counsel:\n\nFootnote 76: (return)  \u1fe5\u03b1 appears to mark the regular transition from\none event to another.\n\nFootnote 77: (return)  Agamemnon.\n\nFootnote 78: (return)  See on ver. 11.\n\n\u201cHear me, my friends: a divine dream came to me in sleep, during the\nambrosial night, very like unto the noble Nestor, in form, in stature,\nand in mien. And it stood above my head, and addressed me: \u2018Sleepest\nthou, son of the warrior, horse-taming Atreus? It becomes not a\ncounsellor, to whom the people have been intrusted, and to whom so many\nthings are a care, to sleep all the night. But now quickly attend to\nme; for I am a messenger to thee from Jove, who, although far distant,\ngreatly regards and pities thee. He orders thee to arm the long-haired\nGreeks with all their array, for now mayest thou take the wide-wayed\ncity of the Trojans; for the immortals, who possess the Olympian\nmansions, no longer think dividedly, for Juno, supplicating, has bent\nall [to her will], and woes from Jove are impending over the Trojans;\nbut do thou preserve this in thy thoughts.\u2019 Thus having spoken, flying\naway, it departed; but sweet sleep resigned me. But come, [let us try]\nif by any means we can arm the sons of the Greeks. But first with words\nwill I sound their inclinations, as is right, and I will command them\nto fly with their many-benched ships; but do you restrain them with\nwords, one in one place, another in another.\u201d\n\nHe indeed having thus spoken, sat down; but Nestor, who was king of\nsandy Pylus, rose up, who wisely counselling, harangued them, and said:\n\n\u201cO friends, generals and counsellors of the Argives, if any other of\nthe Greeks had told this dream, we should have pronounced it a\nfabrication, and withdrawn ourselves [from the reciter]. But now he has\nseen it, who boasts himself [to be] by far the greatest man in the\narmy. But come on, if by any means we can arm the sons of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, he began to depart from the assembly; and\nthey, the sceptre-bearing princes, arose, and obeyed the shepherd of\nthe tribes, and the hosts rushed forward. Even as the swarms of\nclustering bees, 79 issuing ever anew from the hollow rock, go forth,\nand fly in troops over the vernal 80 flowers, and some have flitted in\nbodies here, and some there; thus of these [Greeks] many nations from\nthe ships and tents kept marching in troops in front of the steep shore\nto the assembly. And in the midst of them blazed Rumour, messenger of\nJove, urging them to proceed; and they kept collecting together. The\nassembly was tumultuous, and the earth groaned beneath, as the people\nseated themselves, and there was a clamour; but nine heralds\nvociferating restrained them, if by any means they would cease from\nclamour, and hear the Jove-nurtured princes. With difficulty at length\nthe people sat down, and were kept to their respective 81 seats, having\ndesisted from their clamour, when king Agamemnon arose, holding the\nsceptre, which Vulcan had laboriously wrought. Vulcan in the first\nplace gave it to king Jove, the son of Saturn, and Jove in turn gave it\nto his messenger, the slayer of Argus. 82 But king Mercury gave it to\nsteed-taming Pelops, and Pelops again gave it to Atreus, shepherd of\nthe people. But Atreus, dying, left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks; but\nThyestes again left it to Agamemnon to be borne, that he might rule\nover many islands, 83 and all Argos. 84 Leaning upon this, he spoke\nwords amongst the Greeks:\n\nFootnote 79: (return)  The dative here implies direction, \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76\nincreasing its force, according to Stadelmann and K\u00fchner, who are\nfollowed by Anthon. I have restored the old interpretation, which is\nmuch less far-fetched, and is placed beyond doubt by Virgil\u2019s\nimitations.\u2014\u201c_per_ florea rura,\u201d \u00c6n. i. 430; \u201cfloribus insidunt\nvariis.\u201d \u00c6n. vi. 708. \u201cAmong fresh dews and flowers, Fly to and\nfro.\u201d\u2014Milton. P.L. i. 771.\n\nFootnote 80: (return)  _I. e._ over the flowers in the spring-time,\nwhen bees first appear. See Virg. l. c. Eurip. Hipp. 77, \u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03b1\n\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd\u2019 \u1f90\u03c1\u03b9\u03bd\u1f78\u03bd \u1f42\u03b9\u03ad\u03c1\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9.\u2014Nicias, Anthol. i. 31, \u1f14\u03b1\u03c1 \u03c6\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\n\u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03b1.\u2014Longus, i. 4.\n\nFootnote 81: (return)  Observe the distributive use of \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03ac. Cf. Od.\niii. 7.\n\nFootnote 82: (return)  Mercury. Cf. Ovid. Met. i. 624. sqq.\n\nFootnote 83: (return)  On the extended power of Agamemnon, see Thucyd.\ni. 9.\n\nFootnote 84: (return)  On this sceptre, the type of the wealth and\ninfluence of the house of the Atrides, see Grote. vol. i. p. 212.\n\n\u201cO friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, Jove, the son of Saturn,\nhas entangled me in a heavy misfortune. Cruel, who before indeed\npromised to me, and vouchsafed by his nod, that I should return home,\nhaving destroyed well-fortified Ilium. But now he has devised an evil\ndeception, and commands me to return to Argos, inglorious, after I have\nlost many of my people. So forsooth it appears to be agreeable to\nall-powerful Jove, who has already overthrown the citadels of many\ncities, yea, and will even yet overthrow them, for transcendent is his\npower. For this were disgraceful even for posterity to hear, that so\nbrave and so numerous a people of the Greeks warred an ineffectual war,\nand fought with fewer men; but as yet no end has appeared. For if we,\nGreeks and Trojans, having struck a faithful league, 85 wished that\nboth should be numbered, and [wished] to select the Trojans, on the one\nhand, as many as are townsmen; and if we Greeks, on the other hand,\nwere to be divided into decades, and to choose a single man of the\nTrojans to pour out wine [for each decade], many decades would be\nwithout a cupbearer. 86 So much more numerous, I say, the sons of the\nGreeks are than the Trojans who dwell in the city. But there are\nspear-wielding auxiliaries from many cities, who greatly stand in my\nway, and do not permit me wishing to destroy the well-inhabited city.\nAlready have nine years of mighty Jove passed away, and now the timbers\nof our ships have rotted, and the ropes have become untwisted. 87 Our\nwives and infant children sit in our dwellings expecting us; but to us\nthe work for which we came hither remains unaccomplished, contrary to\nexpectation. But come, as I shall recommend, let us all obey; let us\nfly with the ships to our dear native land, for at no future time shall\nwe take wide-wayed Troy.\u201d\n\nFootnote 85: (return)  \u1f4a\u03c1\u03ba\u03b9\u03b1 is probably used as an adjective,\nunderstanding \u1f76\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u1fd6\u03b1, the victims that were slain in order to ratify\nthe oath. See however Buttm. Lexil. p. 439.\n\nFootnote 86: (return)  The Greeks doubled the Trojans in number. See\nAnthon.\n\nFootnote 87: (return)  Observe the change of construction in \u03bb\u03ad\u03bb\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\nwith the neuter plural. Apollon. de Syntaxi, iii. 11. \u03a4\u1f70 \u03c3\u03c0\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b1\n\u03bb\u03ad\u03bb\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c1\u03b1 \u03c3\u03ad\u03c3\u03b7\u03c0\u03b5.\n\nThus he spoke; and to them he aroused the heart in their breasts, to\nall throughout the multitude, whoever had not heard his scheme. 88 And\nthe assembly was moved, as the great waves of the Icarian Sea, which,\nindeed, both the south-east wind and the south are wont to raise, 89\nrushing from the clouds of father Jove. And as when the west wind 90\nagitates the thick-standing corn, rushing down upon it impetuous, and\nit [the crop] bends with its ears; so was all the assembly agitated.\nSome with shouting rushed to the ships, but from beneath their feet the\ndust stood suspended aloft; and some exhorted one another to seize the\nvessels, and drag them to the great ocean; and they began to clear the\nchannels. The shout of them, eager [to return] home, rose to the sky,\nand they withdrew the stays from beneath the vessels. Then truly a\nreturn had happened to the Argives, contrary to destiny, had not Juno\naddressed herself to Minerva:\n\nFootnote 88: (return)  _I. e._ his real object. Cf. vs. 75, sqq.\n\nFootnote 89: (return)  Spitzner and the later editors unite in reading\n\u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b7 for \u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 from the Venice MS. See Arnold.\n\nFootnote 90: (return)\n\n         \u2014\u2014\u201cAs thick as when a field\nOf Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends\nHer bearded grove of ears, which way the wind\nSways them.\u201d\u2014Paradise Lost, iv. 980.\n\n\n\u201cAlas! indomitable daughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, thus now shall the\nArgives fly home to their dear native land, over the broad back of the\ndeep, and leave to Priam glory, and to the Trojans Argive Helen, on\nwhose account many Greeks have perished at Troy, far from their dear\nnative land? But go now to the people of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and\nrestrain each man with thy own flattering words, nor suffer them to\nlaunch to the sea their evenly-plied 91 barks.\u201d Thus she spoke, nor did\nthe azure-eyed goddess Minerva refuse compliance. But she, hastening,\ndescended down from the summits of Olympus, and quickly reached the\nswift ships of the Ach\u00e6ans. Then she found Ulysses, of equal weight\nwith Jove in counsel, standing still; nor was he touching his\nwell-benched, sable bark, since regret affected him in heart and mind.\nBut standing near him, azure-eyed Minerva said:\n\nFootnote 91: (return)  _I.e._ rowed on both sides. But Rost and Liddell\n(s.v.) prefer \u201cswaying, rocking on both sides.\u201d\n\n\u201cJove-sprung son of Laertes, Ulysses of many wiles, thus then will ye\nfly home to your dear native land, embarking in your many-benched\nships? And will ye then leave to Priam glory, and to the Trojans Argive\nHelen, on whose account many Greeks have fallen at Troy, far from their\ndear native land? But go now to the people of the Greeks, delay not;\nand restrain each man by thy own flattering words, nor suffer them to\nlaunch to the sea their evenly-plied barks.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, but he knew the voice of the goddess speaking. Then he\nhastened to run, and cast away his cloak, but the herald Eurybates, the\nIthacensian, who followed him, took it up. But he, meeting Agamemnon,\nson of Atreus, received from him 92 the ever-imperishable paternal\nsceptre, with which he went through the ships of the brazen-mailed\nGreeks.\n\nFootnote 92: (return)  This is an instance of the \u03c3\u03c7\u1fc6\u03bc\u03b1 \u03a3\u03b9\u03ba\u03b5\u03bb\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03bd, as\nin H. O. 88, \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b5 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03be\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c4\u03ce\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u1fc6\u03c2\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03c8\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u03cd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f01 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b8\u03ad\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2.\u2014Lesbonax, \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03af \u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc. \u03c1. 181,\ned. Valck.\n\nWhatsoever king, indeed, or distinguished man he chanced to find\nstanding beside him, he checked him with gentle words:\n\n\u201cStrange man! it ill becomes thee, coward-like, to be in trepidation;\nbut both sit down thyself, and make the other people sit down, for thou\nhast not as yet clearly ascertained what the intention of Atrides is.\nHe is now making trial of, and will quickly punish the sons of the\nGreeks. We have not all heard what he said in council. Take care lest\nhe, being incensed, do some mischief to the sons of the Greeks. For the\nanger of a Jove-nurtured king is great; his honour too is from Jove,\nand great-counselling Jove loves him.\u201d\n\nBut on the other hand, whatever man of the common people he chanced to\nsee, or find shouting out, him would he strike with the sceptre, and\nreprove with words:\n\n\u201cFellow, sit quietly, and listen to the voice of others, who are better\nthan thou; for thou art unwarlike and weak, nor ever of any account\neither in war or in council. We Greeks cannot all by any means govern\nhere, for a government of many is not a good thing; 93 let there be but\none chief, one king, 94 to whom the son of wily Saturn has given a\nsceptre, and laws, that he may govern among them.\u201d\n\nFootnote 93: (return)  See Aristot. Polit. iv. 4, and Cicer. de Off. i.\n8. This true maxim has been often abused by tyrants, as by Dion (Corn.\nNepos, Dion, \u00a7 6, 4), Caligula (Sueton. Cal. 22), and Domitian (id.\n12).\n\nFootnote 94: (return)  On the aristocratic character of Homer\u2019s poetry,\nsee M\u00fcller, Gk Lit. iv. \u00a7 2.\n\nThus he, acting as chief, was arranging the army. But they again rushed\nwith tumult from the ships and tents to an assembly, as when the waves\nof the much-resounding sea roar against the lofty beach, and the deep\nresounds.\n\nThe others indeed sat down, and were kept to their respective seats.\nBut Thersites alone, immediate in words, was wrangling; who, to wit,\nknew in his mind expressions both unseemly and numerous, so as idly,\nand not according to discipline, to wrangle with the princes, but [to\nblurt out] whatever seemed to him to be matter of laughter to the\nGreeks. And he was the ugliest man who came to Ilium. He was\nbandy-legged, 95 and lame of one foot; his shoulders were crooked, and\ncontracted towards his breast; and his head was peaked 96 towards the\ntop, and thin woolly hair was scattered over it. To Achilles and\nUlysses he was particularly hostile, for these two he used to revile.\nBut on this occasion, shouting out shrilly, he uttered bitter taunts\nagainst noble Agamemnon; but the Greeks were greatly irritated against\nhim, and were indignant in their minds. But vociferating aloud, he\nreviled Agamemnon with words:\n\nFootnote 95: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 540, \u00a7 8.\n\nFootnote 96: (return)  See Buttm. p. 537, who derives \u03c6\u03bf\u03b6\u03bf\u03c2 from\n\u03c6\u03ce\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd, _to dry_, as if \u03c6\u03c9\u03be\u03cc\u03c2, _warped by heat_.\n\n\u201cSon of Atreus, of what dost thou now complain, or what dost thou want?\nThy tents are full of brass, and many chosen women are in thy tents,\nwhom we Greeks bestow on thee the first of all, whenever we capture a\ncity. Dost thou still require gold, which some one of the horse-taming\nTrojans shall bring from Troy, as a ransom for his son, whom I, or some\nother of the Greeks, having bound, may lead away? Or a young maid, that\nthou mayest be mingled in dalliance, and whom thou for thyself mayest\nretain apart 97 [from the rest]? Indeed it becomes not a man who is\nchief in command, to lead the sons of the Greeks into evil. \u039f ye soft\nones, vile disgraces, Grecian dames, no longer Grecian men, 98 let us\nreturn home, home! 99 with our ships, and let us leave him here to\ndigest his honours at Troy, that he may know whether we really aid him\nin anything or not. He, who but just now has dishonoured Achilles, a\nman much more valiant than himself; for, taking away, he retains his\nprize, he himself having seized it. But assuredly there is not much\nanger in the heart of Achilles; but he is forbearing; for truly, were\nit not so, \u039f son of Atreus, thou wouldest have insulted now for the\nlast time.\u201d\n\nFootnote 97: (return)  Not being compelled to restore her, like the\ndaughter of Chryses.\n\nFootnote 98: (return)  Virg. \u00c6n. ix. 617: \u201c\u039f vere Phrygi\u00e6, neque enim\nPhryges!\u201d\n\nFootnote 99: (return)  This is N\u00e4gelsbach\u2019s spirited rendering of\n\u03bf\u03af\u03ba\u03b1\u03b4\u03b5 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1.\n\nThus spoke Thersites, reviling Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people.\nBut godlike Ulysses immediately stood beside him, and eyeing him with\nscowling brow, reproached him with harsh language:\n\n\u201cThersites, reckless babbler! noisy declaimer though thou be, refrain,\nnor be forward singly to strive with princes; for I affirm that there\nis not another mortal more base than thou, as many as came with the son\nof Atreus to Ilium. Wherefore do not harangue, having kings in thy\nmouth, nor cast reproaches against them, nor be on the watch for a\nreturn. Not as yet indeed do we certainly know how these matters will\nturn out, whether we sons of the Greeks shall return to our advantage\nor disadvantage. Wherefore, now thou sittest reviling Agamemnon, son of\nAtreus, the leader of the people, because the Grecian heroes give him\nvery many gifts, whilst thou, insulting, dost harangue. But I declare\nto thee, which shall also be accomplished: if ever again I catch thee\nraving, as now thou art, no longer may the head of Ulysses rest upon\nhis shoulders, and no longer may I be called the father of Telemachus,\nunless I seizing thee divest thee of thy very garments, thy coat, thy\ncloak, and those which cover thy loins; and send thyself weeping to the\nswift ships, having beaten thee out of the assembly with severe blows.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and smote him with the sceptre upon the back and the\nshoulders; but he writhed, and plenteous tears fell from him, and a\nbloody weal arose under the sceptre upon his back. But he sat down and\ntrembled; and grieving, looking foolish, he wiped away the tears. They,\nalthough chagrined, laughed heartily at him, and thus one would say,\nlooking towards the person next him:\n\n\u201cO strange! surely ten thousand good deeds has Ulysses already\nperformed, both originating good counsels, and arousing the war. But\nnow has he done this by far the best deed amongst the Greeks, in that\nhe has restrained this foul-mouthed reviler from his harangues. Surely\nhis petulant mind will not again urge him to chide the kings with\nscurrilous language.\u201d\n\nThus spake the multitude; but Ulysses, the sacker of cities, arose,\nholding the sceptre, and beside him azure-eyed Minerva, likened unto a\nherald, ordered the people to be silent, that at the same time the sons\nof the Greeks, both first and last, might hear his speech, and weigh\nhis counsel. He wisely counselling, addressed them, and said:\n\n\u201cO son of Atreus, the Greeks wish to render thee now, O king, the\nmeanest amongst articulately-speaking men; nor perform their promise to\nthee, 100 which they held forth, coming hither from steed-nourishing\nArgos, that thou shouldest return home, having destroyed well-fortified\nIlium. For, like tender boys, or widowed women, they bewail unto one\nanother to return home. And truly it is a hardship to return [so],\nhaving been grieved. For he is impatient who is absent even for a\nsingle month from his wife, remaining with his many-benched ship, 101\nthough wintry storms and the boisterous sea may be hemming in; 102 but\nto us it is [now] the ninth revolving year since we have been lingering\nhere. Wherefore I am not indignant that the Greeks are growing\nimpatient by their curved ships; but still it would be disgraceful both\nto remain here so long, and to return ineffectually. Endure, my\nfriends, and remain yet awhile, that we may know whether Calchas\nprophesies truly or not. For this we well know, and ye are all\nwitnesses, whom the Fates of death carried not off yesterday and the\nday before, when the ships of the Greeks were collected at Aulis,\nbearing evils to Priam and the Trojans, and we round about the\nfountain, at the sacred altars, offered perfect hecatombs to the\nimmortals, beneath a beauteous plane-tree, whence flowed limpid water.\n103 There a great prodigy appeared; a serpent, spotted on the back,\nhorrible, which the Olympian himself had sent forth into the light,\nhaving glided out from beneath the altar, proceeded forthwith to the\nplane-tree. And there were the young of a sparrow, an infant offspring,\non a topmost branch, cowering amongst the foliage, eight in number; but\nthe mother, which had brought forth the young ones, was the ninth.\nThereupon he devoured them, twittering piteously, while the mother kept\nfluttering about, lamenting her dear young; but then, having turned\nhimself about, he seized her by the wing, screaming around. But after\nhe had devoured the young of the sparrow, and herself, the god who had\ndisplayed him rendered him very portentous, for the son of wily Saturn\nchanged him into a stone; but we, standing by, were astonished at what\nhappened. Thus, therefore, the dreadful portents of the gods approached\nthe hecatombs. Calchas, then, immediately addressed us, revealing from\nthe gods: \u2018Why are ye become silent, ye waving-crested Greeks? For us,\nindeed, provident Jove has shown a great sign, late, of late\naccomplishment, the renown of which shall never perish. As this\n[serpent] has devoured the young of the sparrow, eight in number, and\nherself, the mother which brought out the brood, was the ninth, so must\nwe for as many years 104 wage war here, but in the tenth we shall take\nthe wide-wayed city.\u2019 He indeed thus harangued: and all these things\nare now in course of accomplishment. But come, ye well-greaved Greeks,\nremain all here, until we shall take the great city of Priam.\u201d\n\nFootnote 100: (return)  See Grote, vol. i. p. 392, n. 2.\n\nFootnote 101: (return)  I have followed Wolf, taking \u03c3\u1f7a\u03bd \u03c5\u03bd\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03c5\u03b6\u03cd\u03b3\u1ff3\nin connection with \u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03ce\u03bd. Others most awkwardly make \u03c3\u1f7a\u03bd=\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac.\n\nFootnote 102: (return)  Cf. Buttm. Lexil. s. v. \u03b5\u1f30\u03bb\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 103: (return)  Pausanias, ix. 20, says that both the spring\nand the remains of the tree were shown in his time. The whole of this\nfable has been translated into verse by Cicero, de Div. ii. 30. Compare\nthe following passage of Apuleius de Deo Socr. p. 52, ed. Elm. \u201cCalchas\nlonge pr\u00e6stabilis ariolari, simul alites et arborem contemplatus est,\nactutum sua divinitate et tempestates flexit, et classem deduxit, et\ndecennium pr\u00e6dixit.\u201d\n\nFootnote 104: (return)  _I. e._ for nine. It is remarkable that so\nlittle notice has been taken of this story by the later poets. But the\nsacrifice of Iphigenia was a more attractive subject for tragedy or\nepisode, and took the place of the Homeric legend.\n\nThus he [Ulysses] spoke, and the Greeks loudly shouted, applauding the\nspeech of divine Ulysses; but all around the ships echoed fearfully, by\nreason of the Greeks shouting. Then the Gerenian 105 knight Nestor\naddressed them:\n\n\u201cO strange! assuredly now ye are talking like infant children, with\nwhom warlike achievements are of no account. Whither then will your\ncompacts and oaths depart? Into the fire now must the counsels and\nthoughts of men have sunk, and the unmixed libations, and the right\nhands in which we trusted; for in vain do we dispute with words, nor\ncan we discover any resource, although we have been here for a long\ntime. But do thou, O son of Atreus, maintaining, as before, thy purpose\nfirm, command the Greeks in the hard-fought conflicts; and abandon\nthose to perish, one and both, 106 who, separated from the Greeks, are\nmeditating [but success shall not attend them] to return back to Argos,\nbefore they know whether the promise of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove be false or\nnot. For I say that the powerful son of Saturn assented on that day,\nwhen the Argives embarked in their swift ships, bearing death and fate\nto the Trojans, flashing 107 his lightning on the right, and showing\npropitious signs. Let not any one, therefore, hasten to return home\nbefore each has slept with a Trojan wife, and has avenged the cares 108\nand griefs of Helen. But if any one is extravagantly eager to return\nhome, let him lay hands upon his well-benched black ship, that he may\ndraw on death and fate before others. But do thou thyself deliberate\nwell, O king, and attend to another; nor shall the advice which I am\nabout to utter be discarded. Separate the troops, Agamemnon, according\nto their tribes and clans, that kindred may support kindred, and clan.\nIf thou wilt thus act, and the Greeks obey, thou wilt then ascertain\nwhich of the generals and which of the soldiers is a dastard, and which\nof them may be brave, for they will fight their best, 109 and thou wilt\nlikewise learn whether it is by the divine interposition that thou art\ndestined not to dismantle the city, or by the cowardice of the troops,\nand their unskilfulness in war.\u201d\n\nFootnote 105: (return)  Nestor took this name from a city of Messena\n(_Gerenium_, _a_, or _ia_. See Arnold, and Pinedo on Steph. Byz. s.v.\n\u0393\u03b5\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd\u03af\u03b1), where he was brought up, probably after Pylos had been\ndestroyed by Hercules.\n\nFootnote 106: (return)  Proverbially meaning a few, but probably\nreferring to Achilles and Thersites. See the Scholiast.\n\nFootnote 107: (return)  Observe this bold change of construction, and\ncompare Valck. on Lesbonax, at the end of his edition of Ammonius, p.\n188.\n\nFootnote 108: (return)  Hesych. \u1f41\u03c1\u03bc\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1, \u03bc\u03b5\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9. Etym. \u039c.\n\u1f10\u03bd\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1, \u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03af\u03b4\u03b5\u03c2. See Buttm. Lexil. p. 440, sqq. Helen certainly\nshows some repentance in iii. 176.\n\nFootnote 109: (return)  \u201cPro virili parte,\u201d Wolf. Cf. i. 271.\n\nBut him answering, king Agamemnon addressed: \u201cOld man, now indeed, as\nat other times, dost thou excel the sons of the Greeks in council. For,\nwould, O father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I were possessed of ten\nsuch fellow-counsellors among the Greeks! So should the city of Priam\nquickly fall, captured and destroyed by our hands. But upon me hath\n\u00e6gis-bearing Jove, the son of Saturn, sent sorrow, who casts me into\nunavailing strifes and contentions. For I and Achilles have quarrelled\non account of a maid with opposing words: but I began quarrelling. But\nif ever we shall consult in common, no longer then shall there be a\nrespite from evil to the Trojans, no, not for ever so short a time. Now\ngo to your repast, that we may join battle. Let each one well sharpen\nhis spear, and well prepare 110 his shield. Let him give fodder to his\nswift-footed steeds, and let each one, looking well to his chariot, get\nready for war; that we may contend all day in the dreadful battle. Nor\nshall there be a cessation, not for ever so short a while, until night\ncoming on shall part the wrath of the heroes. The belt of the\nman-protecting 111 shield shall be moist with sweat around the breasts\nof each one, and he shall weary his hand round his spear; and each\none\u2019s horse shall sweat, dragging the well-polished chariot. But\nwhomsoever I shall perceive desirous to remain at the beaked ships,\napart from the battle, it will not be possible for him afterwards to\nescape the dogs and the birds.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, but the Argives shouted aloud, as when a wave [roars]\nagainst the steep shore, when the south wind urges it, coming against\nan out-jutting rock; for this the billows from all kinds of winds never\nforsake, when they may be here or there. And rising up, the people\nhastened forth, scattered from ship to ship, and raised up smoke among\nthe tents, and took repast. And one sacrificed to some one of the\nimmortal gods, and [another to another,] praying to escape death and\nthe slaughter of war. But king Agamemnon offered up a fat ox, of five\nyears old, to the powerful son of Saturn, and summoned the elder chiefs\nof all the Greeks, Nestor first of all, and king Idomeneus, but next\nthe two Ajaxes, 112 and the son of Tydeus, and sixth Ulysses, of equal\nweight with Jove in council. But Menelaus, valiant in the din 113 of\nwar, came of his own accord, 114 for he knew his brother in his heart,\nhow he was oppressed. Then they stood around the ox, and raised up the\npounded barley cakes: and king Agamemnon, praying amidst them, said:\n\nFootnote 110: (return)  Schol. \u03b5\u03cd\u03c4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9.\n\nFootnote 111: (return)  These shields were so large, that they covered\nnearly the whole person.\n\nFootnote 112: (return)  One the son of Telamon, the other the son of\nO\u00efleus.\n\nFootnote 113: (return)  This translation is, I think, far bolder than\n\u201cloud-voiced,\u201d or \u201cgood in the battle-shout.\u201d \u0392\u03bf\u1fc2 contains the whole\nidea of the tumultuous noise heard in the heat of battle, and thence\nthe battle itself. Thus the Schol. \u1f41 \u1f10v \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u1f10\u03bc\u03c9 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03b1\u1f32\u03bf\u03c2; and Hesych.\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1fc2\u03bd \u03bc\u03ac\u03c7\u03b7\u03bd \u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u1f32\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 114: (return)  Opposed to \u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2, as in Oppian, Hal. iii. 360,\n\u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03af \u03c4\u2019 \u03b1\u03cd\u03c4\u03cc \u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03af \u03c4\u03b5. See Plato Sympos. p. 315, G. L\u00e6m. Why Menelaus\ndid so, is no matter to us, and probably was no mystery to his brother.\n\n\u201cO Jove, most glorious, most great dark-cloud-collector, dwelling in\nthe air, may not the sun set, nor darkness come on, before I have laid\nprostrate Priam\u2019s hall, blazing, and consumed its gates with the\nhostile fire; and cut away Hector\u2019s coat of mail around his breast,\nsplit asunder with the brass; and around him may many comrades, prone\nin the dust, seize the earth with their teeth.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, nor as yet did the son of Saturn assent, but he accepted\nthe offering, and increased abundant toil. But after they had prayed,\nand thrown forward the bruised barley, they first drew back [the neck\nof the victim,] slew it, and flayed it, then cut out the thighs, and\ncovered them in the fat, having arranged it in a double fold, and then\nlaid the raw flesh upon them. And they roasted them upon leafless\nbillets. Next, having pierced the entrails with spits, they held them\nover the fire. But then, after the thighs were roasted, and they had\ntasted the entrails, they cut the rest of them into small pieces, and\nfixed them on spits, and roasted them skilfully, and drew them all off\n[the spits]. But when they had ceased from labour, and had prepared the\nbanquet, they feasted; nor did their soul in anywise lack a due\nallowance of the feast. But when they had dismissed the desire of drink\nand food, them the Gerenian knight Nestor began to address:\n\n\u201cMost glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, let us now no\nlonger sit prating 115 here, nor let us long defer the work which the\ndeity now delivers into our hands. But come, let the heralds of the\nbrazen-mailed Greeks, summoning the people, assemble them at the ships,\nand let us thus in a body pass through the wide army of the Greeks,\nthat we may the sooner awaken keen warfare.\u201d\n\nFootnote 115: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 398, Anthon, and Arnold.\n\nThus he spoke, nor did Agamemnon, king of men, refuse compliance.\nImmediately he ordered the clear-voiced heralds to summon the\nwaving-crested Greeks to battle. These then gave the summons, and they\nwere hastily assembled, and the Jove-nurtured kings, who were with the\nson of Atreus, kept hurrying about arranging them. But amongst them was\nazure-eyed Minerva, holding the inestimable \u00e6gis, which grows not old,\nand is immortal: from which one hundred golden fringes were suspended,\nall well woven, and each worth a hundred oxen in price. With this she,\nlooking fiercely about, 116 traversed the host of the Greeks, inciting\nthem to advance, and kindled strength in the breast of each to fight\nand contend unceasingly. Thus war became instantly sweeter to them than\nto return in the hollow ships to their dear native land.\n\nAs when a destructive 117 fire consumes an immense forest upon the tops\nof a mountain, and the gleam is seen from afar: so, as they advanced,\nthe radiance from the beaming brass glittering on all sides reached\nheaven through the air.\n\nFootnote 116: (return)  See Liddell and Scott.\n\nFootnote 117: (return)  Literally \u201cinvisible.\u201d Hence \u201cmaking invisible,\ndestructive.\u201d Cf. Buttm. Lex. s. v. \u1f00\u0390\u03b4\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nAnd of these\u2014like as the numerous nations of winged fowl, of geese, or\ncranes, or long-necked swans, on the Asian mead, by the waters of\nCayster, fly on this side and on that, disporting with their wings,\nalighting beside each other clamorously, and the meadow resounds\u2014so the\nnumerous nations of these [the Greeks] from the ships and tents poured\nthemselves forth into the plain of Scamander, countless as the flowers\nand leaves are produced in spring.\n\nAs the numerous swarms of clustering flies which congregate round the\nshepherd\u2019s pen in the spring season, when too the milk overflows the\npails; so numerous stood the head-crested Greeks upon the plain against\nthe Trojans, eager to break [their lines].\n\nAnd these, 118 as goat-herds easily separate the broad flocks of the\ngoats, when they are mingled in the pasture, so did the generals here\nand there marshal them to go to battle; and among them commander\nAgamemnon, resembling, as to his eyes and head, the thunder-delighting\nJove, as to his middle, Mars, and as to his breast, Neptune.\n\nFootnote 118: (return)  In \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 there is an anacoluthon similar to\nthe one in vs. 459\n\nAs a bull in the herd is greatly eminent above all, for he surpasses\nthe collected cattle, such on that day did Jove render Agamemnon,\ndistinguished amongst many, and conspicuous amongst heroes.\n\nTell me now, ye Muses, who possess the Olympian mansions (for ye are\ngoddesses, and are [ever] present, and ken all things, whilst we hear\nbut a rumour, nor know anything 119), who were the leaders and chiefs\nof the Greeks. For I could not recount nor tell the multitude, not even\nif ten tongues, and ten mouths were mine, [not though] a voice\nunwearied, 120 and a brazen heart were within me; unless the Olympic\nMuses, daughters of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, reminded me of how many came to\nIlium. However, I will rehearse the commanders of the ships, and all\nthe ships.\n\nFootnote 119: (return)  Cf. \u00c6n. vii. 644:\u2014\n\n \u201cEt meministis enim, Div\u00e6, et memorare potestis:\n  Ad nos vix tenuis fam\u00e6 perlabitur aura.\u201d\n\n\n   Milton, Par. Lost, i. 27:\u2014\n\n\n \u201cSay first, for Heav\u2019n hides nothing from thy view,\n  Nor the deep tract of Hell\u2014\u2014\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 120: (return)  Cf. \u00c6n. vi. 625 sqq.; Georg. ii. 42; Valer.\nFlacc, vi. 36; Silius, iv. 527; Claudian, 6 Cons. Hon. 436. This\nhyperbolical mode of excusing poetic powers is ridiculed by Persius,\nSat. vi. 1.\n\nTHE CATALOGUE OF THE SHIPS.\n\nPeneleus, and Le\u00eftus, and Arcesilaus, and Protho\u00ebnor, and Clonius,\ncommanded the B\u0153otians; both those who tilled Hyrie, and rocky Aulis,\nand Sch\u0153nos, and Scholos, and hilly Eteonus, Thespia, Gr\u00e6a, and the\nample plain of Mycalessus; and those who dwelt about Harma, and\nIlesius, and Erythr\u00e6; and those who possessed Elion, Hyle, Peteon,\nOcalea, and the well-built city Medeon, Cop\u00e6, Eutressis, and Thisbe\nabounding in doves; and those who possessed Coron\u00e6a, and grassy\nHaliartus, and Plat\u00e6a; and those who inhabited Glissa, and those who\ndwelt in Hypotheb\u00e6, the well-built city, and in sacred Onchestus, the\nbeauteous grove of Neptune; and those who inhabited grape-clustered\nArne, and those [who inhabited] Midea, and divine Nissa, and remote\nAnthedon: fifty ships of these went to Troy, and in each embarked a\nhundred and twenty B\u0153otian youths.\n\nThose who inhabited Aspledon, and Minyean Orchomenus, these Ascalaphus\nand Ialmenus, the sons of Mars, led, whom Astyoche bore to powerful\nMars in the house of Actor, son of Azis: a modest virgin, when she\nascended the upper part of her father\u2019s house; but the god secretly\nembraced her. Of these thirty hollow ships went in order.\n\nMoreover, Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of magnanimous Iphitus, the\nson of Naubolus, led the Phoceans, who possessed Cyparissus, and rocky\nPython, and divine Crissa, and Daulis, and Panopea; and those who dwelt\nround Anemoria and Hyampolis, and near the sacred river Cephissus, and\nthose who possessed Lil\u00e6a, at the sources of Cephissus: with these\nforty dark ships followed. They indeed, 121 going round, arranged the\nlines of the Phoceans; and they were drawn up in array near the\nB\u0153otians, and towards the left wing.\n\nFootnote 121: (return)  Schedius and Epistrophus.\n\nSwift-footed Ajax, the son of Oileus, was leader of the Locrians; less\nin stature than, and not so tall as Ajax, the son of Telamon, but much\nless. He was small indeed, wearing a linen corslet, but in [the use of]\nthe spear he surpassed all the Hellenes and Ach\u00e6ans, who inhabited\nCynus, Opus, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarpha, and pleasant Augeia, and\nTarpha, and Thronium, around the streams of Boagrius. But with him\nforty dark ships of the Locrians followed, who dwell beyond sacred\nEub\u0153a.\n\nThe Abantes, breathing strength, who possessed Eub\u0153a, and Chalcis, and\nEretria, and grape-clustered Histi\u00e6a, and maritime Cerinthus, and the\ntowering city of Dium, and those who inhabited Carystus and Styra: the\nleader of these was Elephenor, of the line of Mars, the son of\nChalcodon, the magnanimous prince of the Abantes. With him the swift\nAbantes followed, with flowing locks behind, warriors skilled with\nprotended spears of ash, to break the corslets on the breasts of their\nenemies. With him forty dark ships followed.\n\nThose besides who possessed Athens, the well-built city, the state of\nmagnanimous Erechtheus, whom Minerva, the daughter of Jove, formerly\nnursed (but him the bounteous earth brought forth), and settled at\nAthens in her own rich temple: there the sons of the Athenians, in\nrevolving years, appease her with [sacrifices of] bulls and lambs\n122\u2014them Menestheus, son of Peteus, commanded. \u201cNo man upon the earth\nwas equal to him in marshalling steeds and shielded warriors in battle;\nNestor alone vied with him, for he was elder. With him fifty dark ships\nfollowed.\u201d\n\nBut Ajax 123 led twelve ships from Salamis, and leading arranged them\nwhere the phalanxes of the Athenians were drawn up.\n\nFootnote 122: (return)  Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol. i. p. 75,\nobserves, \u201cAthene is locally identified with the soil and people of\nAthens, even in the Iliad: Erechtheus, the Athenian, is born of the\nearth, but Athene brings him up, nourishes him, and lodges him in her\nown temple, where the Athenians annually worship him with sacrifice and\nsolemnities. It was altogether impossible to make Erechtheus son of\nAthene,\u2014the type of the goddess forbade it; but the Athenian\nmyth-creators, though they found this barrier impassable, strove to\napproach to it as near as they could.\u201d Compare also p. 262, where he\nconsiders Erechtheus \u201cas a divine or heroic, certainly a superhuman\nperson, and as identified with the primitive germination of Attic man.\u201d\n\nFootnote 123: (return) : The son of Telamon.\n\nThose who possessed Argos, and well-fortified Tiryns, Hermione, and\nwhich encircle the Asine deep bay, Tr\u0153zene, and Eion\u00e6, and vine-planted\nEpidaurus, and those who possessed \u00c6gina, and Mases, Ach\u00e6an youths.\nTheir leader then was Diomede, brave in war, and Sthenelus, the dear\nson of much-renowned Capaneus; and with these went Euryalus the third,\ngod-like man, the son of king Mecisteus, Talaus\u2019 son; and all these\nDiomede brave in war commanded. With these eighty dark ships followed.\n\nThose who possessed Mycen\u00e6, the well-built city, and wealthy Corinth,\n124 and well-built Cleon\u00e6, and those who inhabited Ornia, and pleasant\nAr\u00e6thyrea, and Sicyon, where Adrastus first reigned: and those who\npossessed Hyperesia, and lofty Gonoessa, and Pellene, and those who\n[inhabited] \u00c6gium, and all along the sea-coast, 125 and about spacious\nHelice. Of these, king Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, commanded a\nhundred ships: and with him by far the most and bravest troops\nfollowed; and he had clothed himself in dazzling brass, exulting in his\nglory, that he shone conspicuous amongst all heroes; for he was the\nmost eminent, and led by far the most numerous troops. 126\n\nFootnote 124: (return)  An anachronism, as Corinth, before its capture\nby the Dorians, was called Ephyra (as in II. vi. 152). \u201cNeque est, quod\nmiremur ab Homero nominari Corinthum, nam ex persona poet\u00e6 et hanc\nurbem, et quasdam Ionum colonias iis nominibus appellat, quibus\nvocabantur \u00e6tate ejus, multo post Ilium captum condit\u00e6.\u201d\u2014Vell. Paterc.\ni. 3.\n\nFootnote 125: (return)  I. e. the later Achaia.\u2014Arnold.\n\nFootnote 126: (return)  On the superior power of Agamemnon, see Grote,\nvol. i. p. 211 and compare II. ix. 69.\n\nBut those who possessed great Laced\u00e6mon, full of clefts, and Pharis and\nSparta, and dove-abounding Messa, and Brysi\u00e6, and pleasant Augei\u00e6; and\nthose who possessed Amycl\u00e6, and Helos, a maritime city; and those who\npossessed Laas, and dwelt round \u0152tylus. Of these his brother Menelaus,\nbrave in battle, commanded sixty ships, but they were armed apart [from\nAgamemnon\u2019s forces]. Amidst them he himself went, confiding in his\nvalour, inciting them to war; but especially he desired in his soul to\navenge the remorse of Helen and her groans.\n\nThose who inhabited Pylos and pleasant Arene, and Thryos, by the fords\nof Alph\u0153us, and well-built \u00c6py, and Cyparesseis and Amphigenia, and\nPteleum, and Helos, and Dorium: and there it was the Muses, meeting the\nThracian Thamyris, as he was coming from \u0152chalia, from \u0152chalian\nEurytus, caused him to cease his song; for he averred, boasting, that\nhe could obtain the victory, 127 even though the Muses themselves, the\ndaughters of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, should sing. But they, enraged, made\nhim blind, and moreover deprived him of his power of singing, and\ncaused him to forget the minstrel-art. These the Gerenian horseman\nNestor commanded: and with him ninety hollow ships proceeded in order.\n\nThose who possessed Arcadia, under the breezy 128 mountain of Cyllene,\nnear the tomb of \u00c6pytus, where are close-fighting heroes; those who\ninhabited Pheneus, and sheep-abounding Orchomenus, and Ripe and\nStratie, and wind-swept Enispe, and who possessed Tegea and pleasant\nMantinea; and those who held Stymphalus, and dwelt in Parrhasie; of\nthese king Agapenor, the son of Anc\u00e6us, commanded sixty ships; but\naboard each ship went many Arcadian heroes skilled in war. But the son\nof Atreus, Agamemnon himself, the king of heroes, gave them the\nwell-benched ships, to pass over the dark sea; since they had no care\nof naval works.\n\nFootnote 127: (return)  Respecting the connection of this story with\nthe early poetic contests, see M\u00fcller, Gk. Lit. iv. 2, whose\ninteresting remarks are, unfortunately, too long for a note.\n\nFootnote 128: (return)  i. e. lofty.\n\nThose who inhabited Buprasium and noble Elis, as much as Hyrmine, and\ndistant Myrsinus, and the Olenian rock, and Alisium, contain within; of\nthese the leaders were four; but ten swift ships followed each hero,\nand many Epeans went aboard them. Amphimachus and Thalpius, sons, the\none of Cteatus, the other of Eurytus, Actor\u2019s son, commanded some:\nbrave Diores, son of Amarynceus, commanded others: and god-like\nPolyxenus, son of Agasthenes, the son of king Augeas, commanded the\nfourth division.\n\nThose from Dulichium, and the Echinades, sacred islands, which lie\nbeyond the sea, facing Elis. 129 Over these presided Meges, son of\nPhyleus, equal to Mars, whom the knight Phyleus, beloved by Jove,\nbegat, who, enraged against his father, once on a time removed to\nDulichium. With him forty dark ships followed.\n\nMoreover Ulysses led the magnanimous Cephallenians, those who possessed\nIthaca and leaf-quivering Neritos, and who dwelt in Crocylea and rugged\n\u00c6gilips, and those who possessed Zacynthus, and those who inhabited\nSamos, and those who possessed the continent, and dwelt in the places\nlying opposite; these Ulysses commanded, equal to Jove in council. With\nhim followed twelve red-sided ships.\n\nThoas, son of Andr\u00e6mon, led the \u00c6tolians, those who inhabited Pleuron,\nand Olenus, and Pylene, and maritime Chalcis, and rocky Calydon. For\nthe sons of magnanimous \u0152neus were no more, nor was he himself\nsurviving; moreover, fair-haired Meleager was dead. 130 To him [Thoas,]\ntherefore, was intrusted the chief command, to rule the \u00c6tolians, and\nwith him forty dark ships followed.\n\nFootnote 129: (return)  \u201cThis description of the Echinades has\nsomething equivocal in it, which is cleared up, if we suppose it\naddressed to the inhabitants of the Asiatic side of the Archipelago.\nBut if, with Pope, we understand the words \u2018beyond the sea\u2019 to relate\nto Elis, I think we adopt an unnatural construction to come at a forced\nmeaning; for the old Greek historians tell us, that those islands are\nso close upon the coast of Elis, that in their time many of them had\nbeen joined to it by means of the Achelous.\u201d\u2014Wood on Homer, p. 8, sq.\n\nFootnote 130: (return)  Grote, Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 197, after\nreferring to the Homeric legend respecting Meleager in II. xi. 525,\nsqq., remarks that \u201cthough his death is here indicated only indirectly,\nthere seems little doubt that Homer must have conceived the death of\nthe hero as brought about by the maternal curse: the unrelenting\nErinnys executed to the letter the invocations of Alth\u00e6a, though she\nherself must have been willing to retract them.\u201d\n\nSpear-renowned Idomeneus commanded the Cretans, those who possessed\nGnossus and well-walled Gortyna and Lyctos, and Miletus, and white\nLycastus and Ph\u00e6stus, and Rhytium, well-inhabited cities; and others\nwho inhabited the hundred-towned Crete. These spear-famed Idomeneus\ncommanded, and Meriones, equal to man-slaying Mars: with these followed\neighty dark ships.\n\nBut Tlepolemus, the brave and great descendant of Hercules, led from\nRhodes nine ships of the haughty Rhodians, those who inhabited Rhodes,\narranged in three bands, Lindus, and Ialyssus, and white Camirus. These\nspear-famed Tlepolemus led, he whom Astyochea brought forth to the\nmight of Hercules, 131 whom [Astyochea] he [Hercules] carried out of\nEphyre, from the river Selleis, after having laid waste many cities of\nnobly-descended youths. Now Tlepolemus, after he had been trained up in\nthe well-built palaces, straightway slew the beloved uncle of his\nfather, Licymnius, now grown old, a branch of Mars; and instantly he\nbuilt a fleet; and having collected many troops, he departed, 132\nflying over the ocean; for him the sons and grandsons of the might of\nHercules had threatened. And he indeed came wandering to Rhodes,\nsuffering woes. And they, divided into three parts, dwelt in tribes,\nand were beloved of Jove, who rules over gods and men: and on them the\nson of Saturn poured down immense wealth.\n\nFootnote 131: (return)  As in the Odyssey, I prefer preserving the\nquaint simplicity of these antiquated periphrases.\n\nFootnote 132: (return)  Grote, History of Greece, vol. i. p. 33, has\ncollected the Homeric instances of exile \u201cfor private or involuntary\nhomicide,\u201d observing, however, from the Schol. on Il. xi. 690, \u201cthat\nHomer never once describes any of them to have either received or\nrequired purification for the crime.\u201d\n\nNireus moreover led three equal ships from Syme, Nireus son of Aglaea,\nand king Charopus, Nireus, the fairest of men that came to Ilium, of\nall the other Greeks, next to the unblemished son of Peleus. But he was\nfeeble, and few troops followed him.\n\nBut those who possessed Nisyrus, and Crapathus, and Casus, and Cos, the\ncity of Eurypylus, and the Calydn\u00e6 isles, Phidippus and Antiphus, both\nsons of the Thessalian king, the son of Hercules, commanded. Thirty\nhollow ships of these went in order.\n\nBut now, [O muse, recount] those, as many as inhabited Pelasgian Argos,\nboth those who dwelt in Alos and Alope, and Trechin, and those who\npossessed Phthia, and Hellas famous for fair dames. But they are called\nMyrmidons, and Hellenes, and Ach\u00e6ans: of fifty ships of these was\nAchilles chief. But they remembered not dire-sounding war, for there\nwas no one who might lead them to their ranks. For swift-footed\nAchilles lay at the ships, enraged on account of the fair-haired maid\nBris\u00ebis, whom he carried away from Lyrnessus, after having suffered\nmany labours, and having laid waste Lyrnessus and the walls of Thebes;\nand he killed Mynetes and spear-skilled Epistrophus, sons of king\nEvenus, the son of Selepius. On her account he lay grieving, but\nspeedily was he about to be roused.\n\nThose who possessed Phylace and flowery Pyrrhasus, the consecrated\nground of Ceres, and Iton the mother of sheep, maritime Antron, and\ngrassy Ptelon. These warlike Protesilaus, whilst he lived, commanded;\nbut him the black earth then possessed. His wife, lacerated all around,\nhad been left at Phylace, and his palace half finished. For a Trojan\nman slew him, as he leaped ashore from his ship much the first of the\nGreeks. Nor were they, however, without a leader, although they longed\nfor their own leader; for gallant Podarces marshalled them, Podarces,\nson of sheep-abounding Iphiclus, the son of Phylacis, own brother of\nmagnanimous Protesilaus, younger by birth; but the warlike hero\nProtesilaus was older and braver. His troops wanted not a leader, but\nlamented him, being brave; with him forty dark ships followed.\n\nThose who inhabited Ph\u00e6re by the lake B\u0153be\u00efs, B\u0153be, and Glaphyr\u00e6, and\nwell-built Iaolcus; these Eumeles, the beloved son of Admetus,\ncommanded in eleven ships, whom Alcestis, divine amongst women, most\nbeautiful in form of the daughters of Pelias, brought forth by Admetus.\n\nThose who inhabited Methone and Thaumacia, and possessed Melib\u0153a, and\nrugged Olizon; these Philoctetes, well skilled in archery, commanded in\nseven ships. Fifty sailors, well skilled in archery, went on board each\nto fight valiantly. But he lay in an island enduring bitter pangs, in\ndivine Lemnos, where the sons of the Greeks had left him suffering with\nthe evil sting of a deadly serpent. There he lay grieving; but soon\nwere the Argives at the ships destined to remember their king\nPhiloctetes. Nor were they however without a leader, though they longed\nfor their own leader; but Medon, the bastard son of O\u00efleus, whom Rhina\nbrought forth by city-wasting O\u00efleus, marshalled them.\n\nThose who possessed Tricca, and hilly Ithome, and those who possessed\n\u0152chalia, the city of \u0152chalian Eurytus; Podalirius and Machaon, two\nexcellent physicians, 133 both sons of \u00c6sculapius, led these. With them\nthirty hollow ships went in order.\n\nFootnote 133: (return)  Grote, vol. i. p. 348, remarks that the \u201crenown\nof Podalirius and Machaon was further prolonged in the subsequent poem\nof Arctinus, the Iliu-Persis, wherein the one was represented as\nunrivalled in surgical operations, the other as sagacious in detecting\nand appreciating morbid symptoms. It was Podalirius who first noticed\nthe glaring eyes and disturbed deportment which preceded the suicide of\nAjax.\u201d\n\nThose who possessed Ormenium, and the fountain Hyperia, and those who\npossessed Asterium and the white tops of Titanus; these Eurypylus, the\nbrave son of Ev\u00e6mon, commanded. With him forty dark ships followed.\n\nThose who possessed Argissa, and inhabited Gyrtone, and Orthe, and\nElone, and the white city Oloosson: these the stout warrior Polyp\u0153tes,\nson of Pirithous, whom immortal Jove begat, commanded. Him renowned\nHippodamia brought forth by Pirithous, on the day when he took\nvengeance on the shaggy Centaurs, and drove them from Mount Pelion, and\nchased them to the \u00c6thiceans. He was not the only leader; with him\ncommanded warlike Leonteus, son of magnamimous Coronus, the son of\nC\u0153neus. With these forty dark ships followed.\n\nBut Gyneus led two-and-twenty ships from Cyphus. Him the Enienes\nfollowed, and the Per\u00e6bi, stout warriors, who placed their habitations\nby chilly Dodona, and those who tilled the fields about delightful\nTitaresius, which pours its fair-flowing stream into the Peneus; nor is\nit mingled with silver-eddied Peneus, but flows on the surface of it\nlike oil. For it is a streamlet of the Stygian wave, the dreadful\n[pledge of] oath.\n\nProtho\u00fcs, son of Tenthredon, commanded the Magnetes, who dwell about\nthe Peneus, and leaf-quivering Pelion: these swift Protho\u00fcs led; and\nwith him forty dark ships followed.\n\nThese then were the leaders and chieftains of the Greeks. Do thou,\nthen, O muse, tell me who was the most excellent of these, of the kings\nand their steeds, who followed the son of Atreus to Troy. The steeds of\nthe descendant of Pheres were indeed by far the most excellent, which\nEumelus drove, swift as birds, like in hair, like in age, and level in\n[height of] back by the plumb-line. 134 These, bearing with them the\nterror of Mars, both mares, silver-bowed Apollo fed in Pieria. 135 Of\nthe heroes Telamonian Ajax was by far the best, whilst Achilles\ncontinued wrathful, for he was by far the bravest; and the steeds which\nbore the irreproachable son of Peleus surpassed those of Eumelus. But\nhe on his part lay in his dark sea-traversing ships, breathing wrath\nagainst the son of Atreus, Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people. But\nhis forces meantime amused themselves with quoits and javelins, hurling\n[them,] and with their bows; and their steeds stood, each near his\nchariot, feeding on lotus and lake-fed parsley. And the well-fastened\nchariots lay in the tents of their lords. But they, longing for their\nwarlike chief, wandered hither and thither through the camp, and did\nnot fight.\n\nBut they went along, as if the whole earth was being fed upon by fire,\n136 and the earth groaned beneath, as in honour of thunder-rejoicing\nJove when angry, 137 when he strikes the earth around Typh\u0153us in Arim\u00e6,\n138 where they say is the tomb of Typh\u0153us; thus indeed beneath their\nfeet the earth groaned mightily, as they went, and very swift they\npassed over the plain.\n\nFootnote 134: (return)  I. e. exactly equal in height, as if they had\nbeen measured.\n\nFootnote 135: (return)  This degradation of Apollo used to be\ncommemorated in the theoria in honour of the god. See M\u00fcller Dor. vol.\ni. p. 233.\n\nFootnote 136: (return)  Such was the glitter of their arms.\n\nFootnote 137: (return)  See Arnold.\n\nFootnote 138: (return)  A volcanic district of Mysia.\n\nBut swift-footed Iris came from aegis-bearing Jove, a messenger to the\nTrojans, with a woeful announcement. They all, collected together, both\nyoung and old, were holding councils at the gates of Priam. But\nswift-footed Iris standing near, accosted them: and she likened herself\nin voice to Polites, son of Priam, who, trusting to the swiftness of\nhis feet, sat at watch for the Trojans on the top of the tomb 139 of\nold \u00c6syetus, watching when the Greeks should set forth from the ships.\nTo him having likened herself, swift-footed Iris addressed them:\n\n\u201cOld man, ever are injudicious words pleasing to thee, as formerly in\ntime of peace: but now has an inevitable war arisen. Truly I have\nalready very often been present at the conflicts of heroes, but never\nhave I beheld such brave and numerous forces. For very like unto the\nleaves or the sand proceed they through the plain, about to fight for\nthe city. Hector, for it is to thee in particular I give advice: and do\nthou act thus; for many are the allies through the great city of Priam;\nand different are the languages 140 of the widely-spread men. Let then\neach hero command those of whom he is the chief: but do thou,\nmarshalling the citizens, be leader of them.\u201d\n\nThus she said. But Hector was not ignorant of the voice of the goddess;\nand he instantly dismissed the council, and they rushed to arms. And\nthe portals were opened, and the troops rushed out, both foot and\nhorse; and much tumult arose.\n\nNow there is a certain lofty mound before the city, far in the plain,\nthat may be run round, 141 which men indeed call Batiea, but the\nimmortals, the tomb of nimbly-springing Myrinna. There the Trojans and\ntheir allies were then marshalled separately.\n\nFootnote 139: (return)  On the height of the ancient tombs, see my note\non Odyss. ii. p. 21, n. 35, ed. Bohn.\n\nFootnote 140: (return)  Cf. iv. 437, where this variety of dialects is\nagain mentioned, and M\u00fcller, Greek Lit. i. \u00a7 4.\n\nFootnote 141: (return)  _I. e._ standing clear on all sides.\n\nThe Trojans, in the first place, great helmet-nodding Hector, son of\nPriam, commanded. With him far the most numerous and the bravest troops\nwere armed, ardent with their spears.\n\nThe Dardanians, in the next place, \u00c6neas, the gallant son of Anchises,\ncommanded (him to Anchises the divine goddess Venus bore, couched with\nhim a mortal on the tops of Ida): not alone, but with him the two sons\nof Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, skilled in every kind of fight.\n\nBut the Trojans who inhabited Zeleia, 142 beneath the lowest foot of\nIda, wealthy and drinking the dark water of \u00c6sepus, these Pandarus, the\nvaliant son of Lycaon, commanded, to whom even Apollo himself gave his\nbow.\n\nFootnote 142: (return)  Cf. iv. 119. \u201cThe inhabitants of Zeleia\nworshipped Apollo, and Zeleia was also called Lycia; facts which show\nthat there was a real connection between the name of Lycia and the\nworship of Apollo, and that it was the worship of Apollo which gave the\nname to this district of Troy, as it had done to the country of the\nSolymi.\u201d\u2014M\u00fcller, Dor. vol. i. p. 248.\n\nThose who possessed Adrest\u00e6, and the city of Ap\u00e6sus, and possessed\nPityea, and the lofty mountain Tercia; these Adrastus and linen-mailed\nAmphius commanded, the two sons of Percosian Merops, who was skilled in\nprophecy above all others; nor was he willing to suffer his sons to go\ninto the man-destroying fight. But they did not obey him, for the fates\nof sable death impelled them.\n\nThose who dwelt around Percote and Practius, and possessed Sestos and\nAbydos, and divine Arisbe; these Asius, son of Hyrtacus, prince of\nheroes, commanded: Asius, son of Hyrtacus, whom large and fiery steeds\nbore from Arisbe, from the river Selle\u00efs.\n\nHippotho\u00fcs led the tribes of the spear-skilled Pelasgians, of those who\ninhabited fertile Larissa; Hippotho\u00fcs and Pyl\u00e6us of the line of Mars,\nthe two sons of Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus, commanded these.\n\nBut Acamus and the hero Piro\u00fcs led the Thracians, all that the rapidly\nflowing Hellespont confines within.\n\nEuphemus, son of heaven-descended Tr\u0153zenus, son of Ceas, was commander\nof the warlike Cicones.\n\nBut Pyr\u00e6chmes led the P\u00e6onians, who use darts fastened by a thong, far\nfrom Amydon, from wide-flowing Axius, from Axius, whose stream is\ndiffused the fairest over the earth.\n\nBut the sturdy heart of Pyl\u00e6menes from the Eneti, whence is the race of\nwild mules, led the Paphlagonians, those who possessed Cytorus, and\ndwelt around Sesamus, and inhabited the famous dwellings around the\nriver Parthenius, and Cromna, \u00c6gialus, and the lofty Erythine hills.\n\nBut Hodius and Epistrophus, far from Alybe, whence is a rich product of\nsilver, commanded the Halizonians. Chromis and the augur Ennomus\ncommanded the Mysians, but he avoided not sable death through his skill\nin augury, for he was laid low by the hands of Achilles in the river,\nwhere he made havoc of the other Trojans also.\n\nPhorcys and godlike Ascanius far from Ascania, led the Phrygians, and\nthey eagerly desired to engage in battle.\n\nBut Mesthles and Antiphus led the M\u00e6onians, both sons of Tal\u00e6meneus,\nwhom the lake Gyg\u00e6a bore; these led the M\u00e6onians, born beneath Mount\nTmolus.\n\nNastes commanded the barbarous-voiced Carians, who possessed Miletus,\nand the leaf-topped mountain of Pethiri, and the streams of M\u00e6ander,\nand the lofty tops of Mycale. These indeed Amphimachus and Nastes\ncommanded, Nastes and Amphimachus the famous sons of Nomion, who\nfoolish went to battle decked with gold like a young girl 143; nor did\nthis by any means ward off bitter death; but he was laid low by the\nhands of the swift-footed son of \u00c6acus at the river, and warlike\nAchilles took away the gold.\n\nFootnote 143: (return)  It was customary for virgins to wear golden\nornaments in great profusion. See Porson on Eur. Hec. 153.\n\nBut Sarpedon and gallant Glaucus from Lycia afar, from the eddying\nXanthus, led the Lycians.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE THIRD\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nJust as the armies are on the point of engaging, Paris proposes a\nsingle combat, but, on Menelaus advancing, retires in affright. Being\nrebuked by Hector, he consents to engage Menelaus, and a treaty is\narranged. Paris is vanquished, but is brought back safe to Ilium by\nVenus, who appeases the anger of Helen. Menelaus, as conqueror, calls\nupon the Trojans to fulfil the conditions of the challenge.\n\n\nBut after they had each been marshalled along with their leaders, the\nTrojans, on the one hand, moved along with both clamour and\nbattle-shout, like birds; just as is the noise of cranes forth under\nheaven, which, after they have escaped the winter and immeasurable 144\nshower, with a clamour do these wing their way towards the streams of\nthe ocean, bearing slaughter and fate to the Pygm\u00e6an men; and they then\nat early dawn bring fatal strife. But the Greeks, on the other hand,\nbreathing might, 145 advanced in silence, anxious in mind to aid one\nanother.\n\nFootnote 144: (return)  See Alberti on Hesych. s. v., t. i. p. 126;\nlit. \u201cwhat even a god would not say.\u201d\u2014Buttm. Lexil. p. 359.\n\nFootnote 145: (return)  Par. Lost, i. 559:\n\n                  \u201c\u2014\u2014thus they,\nBreathing united force with fixed thought,\nMoved on in silence.\u201d\n\n\nAs when the south wind sheds a mist over the top of a mountain, by no\nmeans friendly to the shepherds, but more serviceable even than night\nto the robber, and one can see [only] so far as he hurls a stone. So\nunder the feet of them proceeding an eddying dust kept rising: and very\nspeedily they traversed the plain.\n\nBut when they now were near, approaching each other, godlike Alexander\nadvanced in front of the Trojans, having a panther\u2019s skin on his\nshoulders, and his crooked bow, and a sword; but he brandishing two\nspears tipped with brass, challenged all the bravest of the Greeks to\nfight against him in grievous conflict.\n\nBut when Mars-beloved Menelaus perceived him advancing before the host,\ntaking long strides, as a hungering lion exults, when happening on a\ncarcase of large size, having found either a horned stag or a wild\ngoat. For he greedily devours it, although swift hounds and vigorous\nyouths pursue him. Thus Menelaus rejoiced, having beheld with his eyes\ngodlike Alexander. For he thought he would be revenged upon the guilty\nwretch: forthwith, therefore, with his arms he leaped from his chariot\nto the earth.\n\nBut when, therefore, godlike Alexander perceived him appearing among\nthe foremost warriors, he was smitten in his heart, and gave way back\ninto the band of his companions, avoiding death. And as when any one\nhaving seen a serpent in the thickets of a mountain, has started back,\nand tremor has seized his limbs under him, and he has retired\nbackwards, and paleness seizes his cheeks: thus godlike Alexander\nshrank back into the band of the haughty Trojans, dreading the son of\nAtreus.\n\nBut Hector having seen him, upbraided him with opprobrious words:\n\u201cCursed Paris, 146 most excellent in form, thou woman-raving seducer,\nwould that thou hadst either not been born, or that thou hadst perished\nunmarried. This, indeed, I would wish, and indeed it would be much\nbetter, than that thou shouldst thus be a disgrace and scandal to\nothers. In truth the long-haired Ach\u00e6ans may laugh, having suspected\nthat thou wast a noble champion, because a fine person belongs [to\nthee]; but there is not strength in thy soul, nor any nerve. Didst\nthou, being such a one, having sailed over the ocean in sea-traversing\nships, having collected congenial associates, and mingled with\nforeigners, take away a beauteous lady, from the Apian land, the spouse\nof martial men, a great detriment to thy father, to the city, and to\nall the people; a joy indeed to our enemies, but a disgrace to thyself?\nCouldst thou not have awaited warlike Menelaus? Then shouldst thou have\nknown of how brave a man thou dost possess the blooming spouse. Nor\nwill thy harp, and the gifts of Venus, and thy hair, and thy figure\navail thee, when thou shalt be mingled with the dust. 147 But the\nTrojans are very pusillanimous; else wouldst thou have been arrayed in\na garment of stone, on account of the evils which thou hast done.\u201d 148\n\nHim then godlike Alexander in turn addressed: \u201cHector, since thou hast\nreproached me justly, and not unjustly, [I will submit]. Ever is thy\nspirit unwearied, like an axe, which penetrates the wood, [driven] by\nthe man who with art cuts out the naval plank, and it increases the\nforce of the man: so in thy breast is there an intrepid heart. Reproach\nme not with the lovely gifts of golden Venus: the distinguished gifts\nof the gods are by no means to be rejected, whatever indeed they give;\nfor no one can choose them at his own pleasure. Now, however, if thou\ndesirest me to wage war and to fight, cause the other Trojans and all\nthe Greeks to sit down, but match me and Mars-beloved Menelaus to\ncontend in the midst for Helen and all the treasures. And whichever of\nus shall conquer, and shall be superior, having received all the\ntreasures without reserve, and the woman, let him conduct them home.\nBut let the rest of you, striking a friendship and faithful league,\ninhabit fertile Troy; and let them return to the steed-nourishing\nArgos, and fair-damed Achaia.\u201d\n\nFootnote 146: (return)  \u0394\u1f51\u03c2 here denotes the evils which fatally\nresulted to Paris and his friends (so \u03b4\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03bb\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2, \u201cbaleful Helen,\u201d Eur.\nOr. 1388. Cf. \u00c6sch. Ag. 689, sqq.) in consequence of his having been\npreserved, despite the omens attending his birth. See Hygin. Fab. xci.\nHence the Schol. on Il. x. i. 96, derive his name of Paris, \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd\n\u03bc\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03bf\u1fc6\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 147: (return)  Cf. Hor. Od. i. 15, 13:\u2014\n\n\u201cNequicquam, Veneris pr\u00e6sidio ferox,\nPectes c\u00e6sariem, grataque feminis\nImbelli cithara carmina divides: . . .\n. . . tamen, heu! sorus adulteros\nCrines pulvere collines.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 148: (return)  _I. e._ thou wouldst have been stoned to death.\n\nThus he spoke, but Hector on the other hand rejoiced greatly, having\nheard his speech; and having advanced into the centre, holding his\nspear by the middle, he restrained the phalanxes of the Trojans, and\nthey all sat down. Against him the waving-haired Ach\u00e6ans were directing\ntheir bows, and taking aim, were going to hurl with shafts and with\nstones. But Agamemnon, he, 149 the king of men, exclaimed aloud:\n\nFootnote 149: (return)  Mark the force of the pronoun.\n\n\u201cWithhold, Argives! cast not, ye sons of the Aen\u00e6ans; for helm-nodding\nHector stands as if intending to propose something.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they abstained from battle, and instantly became\nsilent. But Hector between both [armies] spoke thus:\n\n\u201cHear from me, ye Trojans, and well-greaved Greeks, the proposal of\nAlexander, on whose account this strife has arisen. He advises that the\nother Trojans and all the Greeks should lay down their beauteous arms\nupon the bounteous earth; but that he and Mars-beloved Menelaus alone\nshould fight in the midst for Helen and all the treasures; and\nwhichever shall conquer, and shall be superior, having received all the\ntreasures without reserve, and the woman, let him conduct them home:\nbut let the rest of us strike a friendship and faithful league.\u201d\n\nThus he said, and all became mute in silence. But amidst them Menelaus,\nvaliant in the din of war, thus spoke:\n\n\u201cNow hear me also; for anguish has invaded my soul most: but I purpose\nthat the Greeks and Trojans should now be separated, since ye have\nsuffered many evils on account of my quarrel and the beginning of [this\nstrife through] Alexander. And to whichever of us death and fate has\nbeen ordained, let him die; but do the rest of you be very speedily\nseparated. And bring lambs\u2014one white, the other black\u2014to the Earth and\nto the Sun; and we will bring another to Jove. Moreover ye shall bring\nthe might of Priam, that he may strike the league himself, for his sons\nare overbearing and faithless; lest any one, by transgression, violate\nthe covenant of Jove. For the minds of younger men are ever\nfluctuating; but for those among whom a senior is present, he looks at\nthe same time both backward and forward, in order that the best results\nmay accrue to both parties.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke. But both Greeks and Trojans rejoiced, hoping to have\nrespite from grievous war. And they accordingly reined back their\nhorses to the ranks [of the foot], but dismounted themselves, and put\noff their arms, and laid them down on the ground near each other; and\naround [each pile of arms] there was a little space.\n\nBut Hector despatched two heralds to the city with speed, to bring the\nlambs, and to call Priam. While, on the other hand, king Agamemnon sent\nTalthybius to go to the hollow ships, and ordered him to bring a lamb.\nAnd he did not disobey noble Agamemnon.\n\nAnd meantime came Iris a messenger to white-armed Helen, likening\nherself to her husband\u2019s sister, the wife of Antenor\u2019s son, most\nexcelling in beauty of the daughters of Priam, Laodice, whom the son of\nAntenor, king Helicaon, possessed. But she found her in her palace, and\nshe was weaving an ample web, a double [mantle], 150 resplendent, and\non it was working many labours both of the horse-taming Trojans and the\nbrazen-mailed Greeks, which on her account they suffered at the hands\nof Mars. Standing near, the swift-footed Iris accosted her thus:\n\n\u201cCome hither, dear lady, 151 that thou mayest view the wondrous deeds\nof the horse-taming Trojans, and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, who\nformerly against each other waged tearful war in the plain, eager for\ndestructive battle. Now, however, they sit in silence (and the war has\nceased), leaning on their shields, and near them their long spears are\nfixed. But Alexander and Mars-beloved Menelaus are about to fight for\nthy sake with their long spears, and thou shalt be called the dear wife\nof him who conquers.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, the goddess infused a tender desire into her mind\nboth of her former husband, and of her city, and her parents. And\ninstantly veiling herself in white linen robes, 152 she rushed from her\nchamber, shedding a tender tear: not alone, for two domestics\naccompanied her, \u0152thra, daughter of Pittheus, and large-eyed Clymene.\nThen they quickly came to where the Sc\u00e6an gates were. But Priam and\nPanthous, and Thym\u0153tes, Lampus, Clytius, Hicetaon, an offshoot of Mars,\nUcalegon, and Antenor, both prudent, elders of the people, sat at the\nSc\u00e6an gates, long since desisting from war, through old age: but good\norators, like unto the Cicad\u00e6, 153 which, in the woods, sitting on a\ntree, send forth a delicate voice; such leaders of the Trojans at that\ntime were sitting on the tower. But when they saw Helen coming to the\ntower, in low tone they addressed to each other winged words:\n\nFootnote 150: (return)  By \u03c7\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd is understood a mantle which could\nbe worn doubled. Others suppose it means cloth of double tissue.\n\nFootnote 151: (return)  An affectionate use of the word \u03bd\u03cd\u03bc\u03d5\u03b1, which\nproperly means a bride or young wife.\n\nFootnote 152: (return)  The plural is used to denote a long, flowing\nrobe.\n\nFootnote 153: (return)  some the cicada or \u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03c4\u03b9\u03be, this is to be\nconsidered to be the balm-cricket.\n\n\u201cIt is not a subject for indignation, that Trojans and well-greaved\nGreeks endure hardships for a long time on account of such a woman. In\ncountenance she is wondrous like unto the immortal goddess, but even\nso, although being such, let her return in the ships, nor be left a\ndestruction to us and to our children hereafter.\u201d\n\nThus they spoke. But Priam called Helen,\u2014\u201cComing hither before us, dear\ndaughter, sit by me, that thou mayest see thy former husband, thy\nkindred, and thy friends\u2014(thou art not at all in fault towards me; the\ngods, in truth, are in fault towards me, who have sent against me the\nlamentable war of the Greeks)\u2014that thou mayest name for me this mighty\nman, who is this gallant and tall Grecian hero. Certainly there are\nothers taller in height; but so graceful a man have I never yet beheld\nwith my eyes, nor so venerable; for he is like unto a kingly man.\u201d\n\nBut him Helen, one of the divine women, answered in [these] words:\n\u201cRevered art thou and feared by me, dear father-in-law; would that an\nevil death had pleased me, when I followed thy son hither, having left\nmy marriage-bed, my brothers, my darling 154 daughter, and the\ncongenial company of my equals. But these things were not done:\ntherefore I pine away with weeping. But this will I tell thee, which\nthou seekest of me and inquirest. This is wide-ruling Agamemnon, son of\nAtreus, in both characters, 155 a good king and a brave warrior. He was\nthe brother-in-law, moreover, of shameless me, if ever indeed he was.\u201d\n156\n\nFootnote 154: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. s. v. and Arnold.\n\nFootnote 155: (return)  Observe the force of the neuter.\n\nFootnote 156: (return)  \u201c_Si unquam fuit, quod nunc non est ampleus_.\ni.e. _si recte dici potest fuisse, quod ita sui factum est dissimile,\nut fuisse unquam vix credas_.\u201d\u2014Herm. on Vig. p. 946, quoted by Anthon.\n\nThus she spoke. But him the old man admired, and said \u201cO blessed son of\nAtreus, happy-born, fortunate, truly indeed were many Ach\u00e6an youths\nmade subject to thee. Before now I entered vine-bearing Phrygia, where\nI beheld many Phrygians, heroes on fleet horses, the forces of Otreus\nand godlike Mygdon, who encamped there near the banks of the Sangarius.\nFor I also, being an ally, was numbered with them on that day, when the\nman-opposing Amazons came. But not even these were so numerous as the\nblack-eyed Greeks.\u201d\n\nBut next perceiving 157 Ulysses, the old man asked her: \u201cCome, tell me\nof this one also, dear daughter, who he is? he is less indeed in height\n158 than Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, but is broader to behold in\nshoulders and breast. His arms lie up on the fertile earth, but he\nhimself, like a ram, goes round the ranks of the men. I for my part\ncompare him to a thick-fleeced ram, which wanders through a great flock\nof snowy sheep.\u201d\n\nFootnote 157: (return)  This whole passage may be compared with the\nsimilar enumeration and description of the seven Argive chieftains in\nEurip. Ph\u0153n. 119, sqq.\n\nFootnote 158: (return)  Not \u201ca head less\u201d in height; for line 169 would\nthen mean that Agamemnon was a head less than others, and consequently\nUlysses would be two heads under the ordinary size. Anthon has adopted\nthis common mistake, although Wolf had pointed it out.\n\nBut him Helen, sprung from Jove, answered: \u201cNow, this one again is the\nson of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, who was bred in the country of\nIthaca, rugged though it be, skilled in all kinds of stratagems and\nprudent counsels.\u201d\n\nHer then the sage Antenor addressed in reply: \u201cO lady, assuredly hast\nthou spoken this word very truly: for already in former times divine\nUlysses came hither also, on an embassy concerning thee, with\nMars-beloved Menelaus. I received them as guests, and entertained them\nin my palace, and became acquainted with the genius of both, and their\nprudent counsels; but when they were mingled with the assembled\nTrojans, Menelaus indeed overtopped him, as they stood by his broad\nshoulders; but when both were sitting, Ulysses was more majestic. 159\nBut when they began to weave words and counsels for all, Menelaus, on\nhis part, would harangue very fluently; a few [words] indeed, but very\nsweetly, since he was not loquacious, nor a random talker, though he\nwas younger in age. But when much-counselling Ulysses arose, he stood\nand looked down, fixing his eyes on the earth, but he neither moved his\nsceptre backwards nor forwards, but held it unmoved like an unskilful\nman: you would say indeed that he was a very irritable man, as well as\ndevoid of reason. But when he did send forth the mighty voice from his\nbreast, and words like unto wintry flakes of snow, no longer then would\nanother mortal contend with Ulysses. And beholding, we then marvelled\nnot so much at the aspect of Ulysses, [as at his words].\u201d\n\nFootnote 159: (return)  Observe the Attic construction, where the\ngenitive would have been expected. So Od. M. 73. Il. ii 317. Compared\nby Lesbonax, \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc. p. 183, sq. ed. Valck. See, also, my note on\n\u00c6sch. Prom, p. 8, ed. Bohn; intpp. on Theocrit. i. 48.\n\nThen in the third place, having beheld Ajax, the old man asked: \u201cWho is\nthat other Ach\u00e6an hero, valiant and great, out-topping the Argives by\nhis head and broad shoulders?\u201d\n\nBut him long-robed Helen answered, divine of women: \u201cThis indeed is\nmighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Ach\u00e6ans: on the other side, amongst the\nCretans, stands Idomeneus like unto a god: but around him the leaders\nof the Cretans are collected. Often did Mars-beloved Menelaus entertain\nhim in our palace, when he would come from Crete. But now I behold all\nthe other rolling-eyed Greeks, whom I could easily recognize, and\npronounce their names; but two leaders of the people I cannot see:\nhorse-taming Castor, and Pollux skilled in boxing, twin brothers, whom\nthe same mother brought forth with me. Either they have not followed\nfrom pleasant Laced\u00e6mon, or they indeed have followed hither in the\nsea-traversing ships, but now are reluctant to enter the fight of the\nheroes, fearing the disgrace, and the many reproaches which are mine.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; but them the life-bestowing earth already possessed:\nthere in Laced\u00e6mon, in their dear native land. 160\n\nFootnote 160: (return)  They had fallen in combat with Lynceus and\nIdas, whilst besieging Sparta.\u2014Hygin. Poet. Ast. ii. 22. According,\nhowever, to other mythologists, they shared immortality in turns. See\nOd. xi. 302. Virg. \u00c6u. vi. 121; with Servius, and Apollodor. iii. ll.\n2.\n\nBut heralds through the city were bearing the firm pledges of the gods,\ntwo lambs and joyous wine, the fruit of the earth, in a goat-skin\nflagon. But the herald Id\u00e6us also brought a splendid goblet, and golden\ncups; and standing by him, incited the old man in these words:\n\n\u201cArise, son of Laomedon; the chiefs of the horse-breaking Trojans, and\nof the brazen-mailed Greeks, call thee to descend into the plain, that\nthou mayest ratify a faithful league. For Alexander and Mars-beloved\nMenelaus are about to fight with long spears for the woman. But let the\nwoman and the effects attend the conqueror; but let the rest of us,\nhaving struck a friendship and faithful league, inhabit fruitful Troy,\nand they shall return to horse-feeding Argos, and to Achaia, famed for\nfair dames.\u201d\n\nThus he said, but the old man shuddered, and ordered his attendants to\nyoke his horses; and they briskly obeyed. Priam then mounted his\nchariot, and drew back the reins: and beside him Antenor mounted the\nbeautiful chariot. So they guided their fleet steeds through the Sc\u00e6an\ngates, towards the plain.\n\nBut when they had now come between the Trojans and the Greeks,\ndescending from their steeds to the fruitful earth, they advanced into\nthe midst of the Trojans and Greeks. Then Agamemnon, king of heroes,\nimmediately arose, and much-counselling Ulysses arose. But the\nillustrious heralds collected together the faithful pledges of the\ngods, and mixed wine in a bowl, and poured water upon the hands of the\nkings. And the son of Atreus, drawing with his hands his dagger, which\nwas always suspended at the huge sheath of his sword, cut off hairs\nfrom the heads of the lambs: and then the heralds distributed them to\nthe chiefs of the Trojans and the Greeks. Amongst them the son of\nAtreus prayed earnestly, having stretched forth his hands:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty,\u2014and thou,\nO sun, who beholdest all things, and nearest all things\u2014and ye rivers,\nand thou earth, and ye below who punish men deceased, whosoever swears\nwith perjury, be ye witnesses and preserve the faithful league. If, on\nthe one hand, Alexander should slay Menelaus, let him thenceforth\nretain Helen and all her possessions; but let us return in our\nsea-traversing ships. But if, on the contrary, yellow-haired Menelaus\nslay Alexander, let the Trojans then restore Helen and all her\ntreasures, and pay a fine to the Argives such as is just, and which may\nbe [recorded] amongst posterity. But if Priam and the sons of Priam\nwill not pay me the fine, on Alexander falling, then will I afterwards\nfight on account of the fine, remaining here till I find an end of the\nwar.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and cut the throats of the lambs with the cruel steel, and he\nlaid them on the earth panting, wanting life; for the brass had taken\naway their [vital] strength. Then having drawn wine from the goblet,\nthey poured it into the cups, and prayed to the immortal gods. But thus\nsome one of the Greeks and Trojans said:\n\n\u201c\u039f Jove, most glorious, most mighty, and ye other immortal gods,\nwhoever first shall offend against the leagues, so let the brain of\nthemselves and of their children stream upon the ground like this wine,\nand let their wives be mingled with other men.\u201d\n\nThus they said, nor yet did the son of Saturn ratify [their vows]. Then\nPriam, the son of Dardanus, addressed them:\n\n\u201cHear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greaved Greeks: I, indeed, return\nagain to wind-swept Ilion, since I can by no means endure to behold\nwith these eyes my dear son fighting with Mars-beloved Menelaus. Jove,\ncertainly, knows this, and the other immortal gods, to which of them\nthe event of death is destined.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and the godlike man placed the lambs in the chariot, and\nascended himself, and drew back the reins; and beside him Antenor\nmounted the very beautiful chariot. They on their part returning went\nback towards Ilion.\n\nBut Hector on the other hand, the son of Priam, and divine Ulysses,\nfirst measured the ground; then taking the lots, they shook them in the\nbrazen helmet, [to decide] which should hurl the brazen spear first.\nBut the people meantime supplicated, and stretched forth their hands to\nthe gods; and thus some one of the Greeks and Trojans said:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty, whichever\nhas caused these evil works to both sides, grant that he, being slain,\nmay enter the house of Pluto, but that to us, on the other hand, there\nmay be friendship and a faithful league.\u201d\n\nThus then they spoke, and now mighty helm-quivering Hector shook the\nlots, looking backward; and quickly the lot of Paris leaped forth. They\nthen sat down in their ranks, where the fleet steeds of each stood, and\ntheir varied arms lay. But divine Alexander, the husband of fair-haired\nHelen, put on his beauteous armour around his shoulders. In the first\nplace, around his legs he placed his beautiful greaves fitted with\nsilver clasps; then again he put on his breast the corslet of his\nbrother Lycaon, for it fitted him; but around his shoulders he slung\nhis brazen, silver-studded sword and then his huge and solid shield.\nBut on his valiant head he placed a well-wrought helmet, crested with\nhorse-hair, and the crest nodded dreadfully from above; and he grasped\nhis doughty spear, which fitted to his hands. In this same manner the\nmartial Menelaus put on his arms.\n\nBut they, when they were armed from each side of the throng, advanced\nto the middle between the Trojans and Greeks, looking dreadfully; and\namazement seized the beholders, both the horse-breaking Trojans and the\nwell-greaved Greeks. They then stood near in the measured-out space,\nbrandishing their spears, incensed against each other. Alexander first\nhurled his long-shadowed spear, and smote the shield of the son of\nAtreus, equal on all sides, nor did the brass break, for the point\nwas bent upon the strong shield: but next Menelaus, son of Atreus,\ncommenced the attack with his brazen spear, praying to father Jove:\n\n\u201cO king Jove, grant [me] to avenge myself [on him] who first injured\nme, and subdue impious Alexander under my hands, that every one, even\nof future men, may shudder to offer injury to a guest who may have\nafforded [him] an hospitable reception.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; and brandishing, he hurled his long-shadowed spear, and smote\nthe shield of the son of Priam, equal on all sides; and through the\nglittering shield went the impetuous spear, and was stuck firmly into\nthe deftly-wrought corslet: and the spear pierced right through his\nsoft tunic beside the flank: but he bent sideways, and evaded black\ndeath. Next the son of Atreus having drawn his silver-studded sword,\nraising it, struck the cone 161 of his helmet, but it fell from his\nhand shivered round about into three or four pieces. And the son of\nAtreus groaned aloud, looking towards the wide heaven:\n\nFootnote 161: (return)  Buttmann, Lexil. p. 521, makes \u03c6\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 to be the\nsame as \u03ba\u03c9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2, a metal ridge in which the plume was fixed.\n\n\u201c\u039f father Jove, none other of the gods is more baleful than thou.\nCertainly I hoped to be revenged upon Alexander for his wickedness: but\nnow my sword has been broken in my hands, and my spear has been hurled\nfrom my hand in vain, nor have I smote him.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; and rushing on, he seized him by the horse-hair tufted\nhelmet, and turning, began to drag him to the well-greaved Greeks: but\nthe richly-embroidered band under his tender throat was choking him,\nwhich was drawn under his chin as the strap of his helmet. And now he\nhad dragged him away, and obtained infinite glory, had not Venus, the\ndaughter of Jove, quickly perceived it, who broke for him 162 the\nthong, [made] from the hide of an ox slaughtered by violence: and\nthereupon the empty helmet followed with his strong hand. It, then, the\nhero whirling round, cast to the well-greaved Greeks, and his dear\ncompanions took it up. And he [Menelaus] again rushed on, desiring to\nslay him with his brazen spear: but him [Paris] Venus very easily, as\nbeing a goddess, rescued, and covered him in a thick mist; then placed\nhim down in his fragrant chamber, exhaling perfumes.\n\nFootnote 162: (return)  _I.e._ Menelaus.\u2014to his confusion.\n\nBut she herself, on the other hand, went to call Helen, and she found\nher on the lofty tower, and many Trojan dames around her. Then with her\nhand catching her by the fragrant mantle, she shook her: and likening\nherself to an ancient dame, a spinner of wool, who used to comb fair\nwool for her when dwelling at Laced\u00e6mon, and she loved her much: to her\nhaving likened herself, divine Venus accosted [Helen]:\n\n\u201cCome hither, Alexander calls thee to return home. He himself is in his\nchamber and turned bed, shining both in beauty and attire; nor wouldst\nthou say that he had returned after having fought with a hero, but that\nhe was going to the dance, or that just ceasing from the dance, he sat\ndown.\u201d\n\nThus she said, and agitated the heart in her breast: and when she\nbeheld the all-beauteous neck of the goddess, and her lovely bosom, and\nher flashing eyes, she was awe-struck, and spoke a word, and said:\n\n\u201cStrange one! why dost thou desire to deceive me in these things? Wilt\nthou lead me anywhere farther on to one of the well-inhabited cities,\neither of Phrygia or pleasant M\u00e6onia, if there be any of\narticulately-speaking men dear to thee there? Is it because Menelaus,\nhaving now conquered noble Alexander, wishes to bring hated me home,\nthat therefore with artful purpose thou now standest near me? Going,\nsit with him thyself, and renounce the path of the gods. And mayest\nthou no more return on thy feet to Olympus: but always grieve beside\nhim, and watch him, until he either make thee his consort, or he indeed\n[make thee] his handmaid. But there I will not go to adorn his couch,\nfor it would be reprehensible: all the Trojan ladies henceforth will\nreproach me. But I shall have woes without measure in my soul.\u201d\n\nBut her, divine Venus, incensed, thus addressed: \u201cWretch, provoke me\nnot, lest in my wrath I abandon thee, and detest thee as much as\nheretofore I have wonderfully loved thee, and lest I scatter\ndestructive hate in the midst of the Trojans and Greeks, and thou\nperish by an evil fate.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke: but Helen, sprung from Jove, dreaded, and she went\ncovered with a white transparent robe, in silence; and escaped the\nnotice of all the Trojan dames, for the goddess led the way.\n\nBut when they reached the very beautiful palace of Alexander, then the\nmaids, on their part, turned themselves speedily to their tasks; but\nshe, divine of women, ascended into her lofty-roofed chamber: and then\nlaughter-loving Venus, carrying, placed a seat for her opposite\nAlexander: there Helen, daughter of the \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, sat,\naverting her eyes, and reproached her husband with these words:\n\n\u201cThou hast come from the war: would that thou hadst perished there,\nslain by that brave hero, who was my former husband. Certainly, thou\ndidst formerly boast, that thou wast superior to Mars-beloved Menelaus,\nin might, in hands, and at the spear. But go now, challenge\nMars-beloved Menelaus to fight once more against thee! But I advise\nthee to refrain, nor unadvisedly wage war and fight against fair-haired\nMenelaus, lest perchance thou mayest be subdued beneath his spear.\u201d\n\nBut her Paris answering addressed in words: \u201cWoman! assail me not in\nsoul with reproachful taunts; for now indeed has Menelaus conquered by\nMinerva\u2019s aid; but I in turn will vanquish him, for gods are with us\nalso. But come, let us delight in dalliance, reclining together, for\nnever before did love so fondly enwrap my soul, not even when formerly,\nhaving borne thee away from pleasant Laced\u00e6mon, I sailed in the\nsea-traversing ships, and was united with thee in love and in the couch\nin the island Crana\u00eb; so now am I enamoured of thee, and sweet desire\npossesses me.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and led the way, ascending the couch; but his wife followed\nwith him: they therefore rested upon their perforated couch.\n\nMeanwhile the son of Atreus was wandering through the crowd like to a\nsavage beast, if anywhere he could perceive godlike Alexander. But none\nof the Trojans or their illustrious allies could then point out\nAlexander to Mars-beloved Menelaus; for neither through friendship\nwould they have concealed him, if any one did see him; for he was\nhateful to them all, like sable death. But amongst them spoke\nAgamemnon, king of heroes:\n\n\u201cHear me, ye Trojans, Greeks, and allies: the victory indeed appears\n[to belong to] Mars-beloved Menelaus. Do ye therefore restore Argive\nHelen and her treasures with her, and pay the fine which is fitting,\nand which shall be remembered by future men.\u201d\n\nThus spoke the son of Atreus, and the other Greeks approved.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE FOURTH\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nParis not being slain, the combat left it doubtful whether Helen should\nbe returned or not; but Juno extorts a promise from Jove of the final\ndestruction of Troy. Minerva then persuades Pandarus to break the truce\nby aiming an arrow at Menelaus. The wound is, however, cured by\nMachaon. The Trojans proceed to the battle, while Agamemnon exhorts the\nchieftains of the Greeks. The fight then commences, Mars and Apollo\nencouraging the Trojans, Minerva and the other deities the Greeks.\n\n\nNow they, the gods, sitting on the golden floor 163 with Jove, were\nengaged in consultation, and amidst them venerable Hebe poured out the\nnectar: but they pledged 164 one another with golden cups, looking\ntowards the city of the Trojans. Forthwith the son of Saturn attempted\nto irritate Juno, speaking with a covert allusion, with reproachful\nwords: 165\n\n\u201cTwo goddesses, indeed, are auxiliaries to Menelaus, Argive 166 Juno\nand Minerva of Alalcomen\u00e6: 167 and yet these, forsooth, sitting apart,\namuse themselves with looking on; but to the other, on the contrary\n[Paris], laughter-loving Venus is ever present, 168 and averts fate\nfrom him. Even now has she saved him, thinking that he was about to\ndie. But the victory, indeed, belongs to Mars-beloved Menelaus: let us\ntherefore consult how these things shall be, whether we shall again\nexcite the destructive war, and dreadful battle-din, or promote\nfriendship between both parties. And if, moreover, this shall perchance\n169 be grateful and pleasing to all, the city of king Priam, indeed,\nmay be inhabited, but let Menelaus lead back again Argive Helen.\u201d\n\nFootnote 163: (return)  \u201cOn the golden floor of Jove\u2019s abode.\u201d\u2014Cowper.\n\nFootnote 164: (return)  Athen\u00e6us, i. ll, \u03b5\u03b4\u03b5\u03be\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf, \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c0\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2\n\u03b5\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2, \u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5\u03be\u03b9\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2. Cf. xi. 14. Hesych. \u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf, \u03b5\u03b4\u03b5\u03be\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf, \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\n\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b7\u03c3\u03c0\u03b1\u03b6\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 165: (return)  I am indebted to Arnold for this version.\n\nFootnote 166: (return)  So called from her temple at Argos. See Pausan.\nii. 17; Apul. Met. vi. p. 458; Servius on \u00c6n. i. 28.\n\nFootnote 167: (return)  She had a temple at Alalcomen\u00e6, in B\u0153otia. Cf.\nPausan. ix. 33; Steph. Byz. \u03bd. \u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u03ba\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 168: (return)  On the affinity of \u03b2\u03bb\u03c9\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd and \u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u0390\u03bd, see\nButtm. Lexil. p. 84.\n\nFootnote 169: (return)  Read \u03b1\u03c5 \u03c0\u03c9\u03c2 for \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2, with Aristarchus, Wolf,\nSpitzner.\n\nThus he spoke: but Minerva and Juno murmured with closed lips, for they\nwere sitting near, and were devising evils for the Trojans. Minerva,\nindeed, was silent, nor said anything, indignant with her father Jove,\nfor dreadful rage possessed her. But Juno could not retain her fury in\nher breast, but addressed him:\n\n\u201cMost baleful son of Saturn! what a sentence hast thou uttered! How\ndost thou wish to render my labour vain, and my sweat fruitless, which\nI have sweated through with toil? For the steeds are tired to me\nassembling the host, evils to Priam and to his sons. Do so: but all we\nthe other gods do not approve.\u201d\n\nBut her cloud-compelling Jove, in great wrath, answered: \u201cStrange one!\nhow now do Priam and the sons of Priam work so many wrongs against\nthee, that thou desirest implacably to overturn the well-built city of\nIlion? But if thou, entering the gates and the lofty walls, couldst\ndevour alive 170 Priam and the sons of Priam, and the other Trojans,\nthen perhaps thou mightst satiate thy fury. Do as thou wilt, lest this\ncontention be in future a great strife between thee and me. But another\nthing I tell thee, and do thou lay it up in thy soul: whenever haply I,\nanxiously desiring, shall wish to destroy some city, where men dear to\nthee are born, retard not my rage, but suffer me; for I have given thee\nthis of free will, though with unwilling mind. For of those cities of\nearthly men, which are situated under the sun and the starry heaven,\nsacred Ilion was most honoured by me in my heart, and Priam and the\npeople of Priam skilled in the ashen spear. For there my altars never\nlacked a due banquet and libation, and savour; for this honour were we\nallotted.\u201d\n\nFootnote 170: (return)  Literally, \u201ceat raw.\u201d Cf. Xenoph. Anab. iv. 8,\n14. \u03a4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b7\u03bd \u03c0\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03c9\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c9\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c6\u03b1\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd.\u2014Clarke.\n\nHim then the venerable full-eyed Juno answered: \u201cThere are three\ncities, indeed, most dear to me: Argos, and Sparta, and wide-wayed\nMycen\u00e6; 171 destroy these whenever they become hateful to thy soul. In\nbehalf of these I neither stand forth, nor do I grudge them to thee:\nfor even were I to grudge them, and not suffer thee to destroy them, by\ngrudging I avail nothing, since thou art much more powerful. And yet it\nbecomes [thee] to render my labour not fruitless; for I am a goddess,\nand thence my race, whence thine; and wily Saturn begat me, very\nvenerable on two accounts, both by my parentage, and because I have\nbeen called thy spouse. Moreover, thou rulest amongst all the\nimmortals. But truly let us make these concessions to each other: I, on\nmy part, to thee, and thou to me; and the other immortal gods will\nfollow. Do thou without delay bid Minerva go to the dreadful battle-din\nof the Trojans and Greeks, and contrive that the Trojans may first\nbegin to injure the most renowned Greeks, contrary to the leagues.\u201d\n\nFootnote 171: (return)  \u201cIt certainly seems to me, that, in a reference\nso distinct to the three great Peloponnesian cities which the Dorians\ninvaded and possessed, Homer makes as broad an allusion to the\nconquests of the Heraclid\u00e6, not only as would be consistent with the\npride of an Ionic Greek in attesting the triumphs of the national\nDorian foe, but as the nature of a theme cast in a distant period, and\nremarkably removed, in its general conduct, from the historical detail\nof subsequent events, would warrant to the poet.\u201d\u2014Bulwer, Athens, i. 8.\nThe correctness of this view, however, depends upon the true date of\nHomer\u2019s existence.\n\nThus she spoke; nor did the father of gods and men disobey. Instantly\nhe addressed Minerva in winged words:\n\n\u201cGo very quickly to the army, among the Trojans and Greeks, and\ncontrive that the Trojans may first begin to injure the most renowned\nGreeks, contrary to the league.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he urged on Minerva already inclined; she hastening\ndescended the heights of Olympus; such as the star which the son of\nwily Saturn sends, a sign either to mariners, or to a wide host of\nnations, and from it many sparks are emitted. Like unto this Pallas\nMinerva hastened to the earth, and leaped into the midst [of the army];\nand astonishment seized the horse-breaking Trojans and the well-greaved\nGreeks, looking on. And thus would one say, looking at some other near\nhim:\n\n\u201cDoubtless evil war and dreadful battle-din will take place again, or\nJove is establishing friendship between both sides, he who has been\nordained the arbiter of war amongst men.\u201d 172\n\nFootnote 172: (return)  Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 20, compares the words of\nBelisarius in Procop. Vandal. i. \u039c\u03b1\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9, \u03b2\u03c1\u03b1\u03b6\u03b5\u03c5\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b5 \u03bf\n\u0398\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c0\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9 \u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b5\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03af\u03b4\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9 \u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nThus then did some one of the Greeks and Trojans say; but she like a\nhero entered the host of the Trojans, the brave warrior Laodocus, son\nof Antenor, seeking godlike Pandarus, if anywhere she might find him.\nShe found the blameless and valiant son of Lycaon standing, and around\nhim the brave ranks of shielded warriors, who had followed him from the\nstreams of \u00c6sepus; and standing near, she thus to him spoke winged\nwords:\n\n\u201cWouldst thou now hearken to me in anything, O warlike son of Lycaon?\nThou wouldst venture then to aim a swift arrow at Menelaus. Doubtless\nthou wouldst bear away both thanks and glory from all the Trojans, but\nof all, chiefly from the prince Alexander, from whom, indeed, first of\nall, thou wouldst receive splendid gifts, if he should see martial\nMenelaus, the son of Atreus, subdued by this weapon, ascending the sad\npile. But come, aim an arrow at renowned Menelaus; and vow to\nLycian-born 173 Apollo, the renowned archer, that thou wilt sacrifice a\nsplendid hecatomb of firstling lambs, having returned home to the city\nof sacred Zeleia.\u201d\n\nFootnote 173: (return)  This is probably the true interpretation, and\nis given by the Scholiast, Hesychius, and others. But Heraclides,\nAlleg. \u00a7 6, says that Apollo is so called \u03b5\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03bf\u03c1\u03b8\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd\n\u03c9\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd \u03bb\u03c5\u03ba\u03b1\u03c5\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9\u03bf\u03b9, \u03b7 \u03bf\u03c4\u03b9 \u03bb\u03c5\u03ba\u03b1\u03b6\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03b1, \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\n\u03b5\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd. Cf. Macrob. Sat. i. 17; Serv. on \u00c6n. iv. 377.\n\nThus spoke Minerva, and she persuaded his mind for him, unthinking one.\nStraightway he uncased his well-polished bow, made from [the horn of] a\nwild, bounding goat, which he indeed surprising once on a time in\nambush, as it was coming out of a cavern, struck, aiming at it beneath\nthe breast; but it fell supine on the rock. Its horns had grown sixteen\npalms from its head; and these the horn-polishing artist, having duly\nprepared, fitted together, and when he had well smoothed all, added a\ngolden tip. And having bent the bow, he aptly lowered it, having\ninclined it against the ground; but his excellent companions held their\nshields before him, lest the martial sons of the Greeks should rise\nagainst him, before warlike Menelaus, the chief of the Greeks, was\nwounded. Then he drew off the cover of his quiver, and took out an\narrow, fresh, winged, a cause of gloomy ills. Forthwith he fitted the\nbitter arrow to the string, and vowed to Lycian-born Apollo, the\nrenowned archer, that he would sacrifice a splendid hecatomb of\nfirstling lambs, having returned home to the city of sacred Zeleia.\nHaving seized them, he drew together the notch [of the arrow] and the\nox-hide string; the string, indeed, he brought near to his breast, and\nthe barb to the bow. But after he had bent the great bow into a circle,\nthe bow twanged, the bowstring rang loudly, and the sharp-pointed shaft\nbounded forth, impatient to wing its flight through the host.\n\nNor did the blessed immortal gods forget thee, O Menelaus; 174 but\nchiefly the spoil-hunting daughter of Jove, who, standing before thee,\naverted the deadly weapon. She as much repelled it from thy body, as a\nmother repels a fly from her infant, when it shall have laid itself\ndown in sweet sleep. But she herself guided it to that part where the\ngolden clasps of the girdle bound it, and the double-formed corslet\nmet. 175 The bitter arrow fell on his well-fitted belt, and through the\ndeftly-wrought belt was it driven, and it stuck in the variegated\ncorslet and the brazen-plated belt which he wore, the main defence of\nhis body, a guard against weapons, which protect him most; through even\nthis did it pass onwards, and the arrow grazed the surface of the\nhero\u2019s skin, and straightway black gore flowed from the wound. And as\nwhen some M\u00e6onian 176 or Carian woman tinges ivory with purple colour,\nto be a cheek-trapping for steeds; in her chamber it lies, and many\ncharioteers desire to bear it, but it lies by as an ornament for the\nking, both as a decoration to the steed, and a glory to the rider: so,\nMenelaus, were thy well-proportioned thighs, and legs, and fair feet\nbelow, stained with gore.\n\nFootnote 174: (return)  It is elegantly observed by Coleridge, p. 160,\nthat \u201cit is principally owing to our sense of the dramatic probability\nof the action of the divinities in the Iliad that the heroes do not\nseem dwarfed by their protectors; on the contrary, the manifest\nfavourite of the gods stands out in a dilated and more awful shape\nbefore our imagination, and seems, by the association, to be lifted up\ninto the demigod.\u201d\n\nFootnote 175: (return)  \u201cOccurrebat sagitt\u00e6, obvius erat ei\npenetranti.\u201d\u2014Heyne. But it is better to understand, \u201cwhere the plates\nof the cuirass meet and overlay the \u03b6\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1].\u201d\u2014Arnold.\n\nFootnote 176: (return)  _I.e._ Lydian.\n\nThen Agamemnon, the king of men, shuddered, as he beheld the black gore\nflowing from the wound, and Mars-beloved Menelaus himself shuddered.\nBut when he saw the string 177 and the barbs still outside, his courage\nwas once more collected in his breast. But Agamemnon, deeply sighing,\nand holding Menelaus with his hand, spoke thus amidst them, and all his\ncompanions kept groaning with him:\n\nFootnote 177: (return)  With which the iron head was fastened to the\nshaft.\n\n\u201c\u039f dear brother, now have I ratified a treaty which will prove thy\ndeath, exposing thee alone to fight with the Trojans for the Greeks;\nsince the Trojans have thus wounded thee, and trampled on the faithful\nleague. But by no means shall the league and the blood of the lambs be\nin vain, and the pure libations, and the right hands in which we\nconfided. For even although Olympian Jove has not immediately brought\nthem to pass, he will however bring them to pass at last; and at a\ngreat price have they paid the penalty, 178 to wit, with their own\nheads, and their wives and children. For this I know well in mind and\nsoul. A day will be, when sacred Ilium shall perish, and Priam, and the\npeople of ashen-speared Priam; and when Saturnian Jove, lofty-throned,\ndwelling in the \u00e6ther, will himself shake his gloomy \u00e6gis over all,\nwrathful on account of this treachery. These things, indeed, shall not\nbe unaccomplished; but to me there will be grief on thy account, O\nMenelaus, if thou shalt die and fulfil the fate of life; then, indeed,\nbranded with shame, shall I return to much longed-for Argos. For\nquickly the Greeks will bethink themselves of their fatherland, and we\nshall leave Argive Helen a boast to Priam and to the Trojans, and the\nearth will rot thy bones lying in Troy, near to an unfinished work. And\nthus will some one of the haughty Trojans exclaim, leaping upon the\ntomb of glorious Menelaus: \u2018Would that Agamemnon thus wreaked his\nvengeance against all, as even now he has led hither an army of the\nGreeks in vain, and has now returned home into his dear native land,\nwith empty ships, having left behind him brave Menelaus.\u2019 Thus will\nsome one hereafter say: then may the wide earth yawn for me.\u201d\n\nFootnote 178: (return)  The past tense for the future: implying that\nthe hour of retribution is so certain, that it may be considered\nalready arrived.\n\nBut him fair-haired Menelaus accosted, cheering him: \u201cHave courage, nor\nin anywise frighten the people of the Ach\u00e6ans. The sharp arrow has not\nstuck in a vital part, but before [it reached a vital part], the\nvariegated belt, and the girdle beneath, and the plate which\nbrass-working men forged, warded it off.\u201d\n\nKing Agamemnon answering him replied: \u201cWould that it were so, O beloved\nMenelaus; but the physician shall probe the wound, and apply remedies,\nwhich may ease thee of thy acute pains.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; and thus accosted Talthybius, the divine herald: \u201cTalthybius,\nsummon hither with all speed the hero Machaon, son of the blameless\nphysician \u00c6sculapius, that he may see martial Menelaus, the chief of\nthe Greeks, whom some skilful archer of the Trojans, or of the Lycians,\nhas wounded with a shaft; a glory, indeed, to him, but a grief to us.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; nor did the herald disobey when he had heard. But he\nproceeded to go through the forces of the brazen-mailed Greeks, looking\naround for the hero Machaon: him he saw standing, and round him the\nbrave ranks of the shield-bearing hosts, who followed him from\nsteed-nourishing Tricca. Standing near, he spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cCome, O son of \u00c6sculapius, Agamemnon, king of men, calls thee, that\nthou mayest see martial Menelaus, the son of Atreus, whom some skilful\narcher of the Trojans or of the Lycians has wounded with a dart; a\nglory indeed to him, but a grief to us.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and incited his soul within his breast. And they\nproceeded to go through the host, through the wide army of the Greeks;\nbut when they had now arrived where fair-haired Menelaus had been\nwounded (but around him were collected as many as were bravest, in a\ncircle, while the godlike hero stood in the midst), instantly thereupon\nhe extracted the arrow from the well-fitted belt. But while it was\nbeing extracted, the sharp barbs were broken. Then he loosed the\nvariegated belt, and the girdle beneath, and the plated belt which\nbrass-workers had forged. But when he perceived the wound, where the\nbitter shaft had fallen, having sucked out the blood, he skilfully\nsprinkled on it soothing remedies, 179 which, benevolent Chiron had\nformerly given to his father.\n\nFootnote 179: (return)  Celsus, Pref. \u201cPodalirius et Machaon, bello\nTrajano ducem Agamemnonem secuti, non mediocrem opem commilitonibus\nsuis attulerunt. Quos tamen Homerus non in pestilentia neque in variis\ngeneribus morborum aliquid attulisse auxilii, sed vulneribus tantummodo\nferro et medicamentis mederi solitos esse proposuit. Ex quo apparet,\nhas partes medicin\u00e6 solas ab his esse tentatas, easque esse\nvetustissimas.\u201d\n\nWhilst they were thus occupied around warlike Menelaus, meantime the\nranks of the shielded Trojans advanced; and these again put on their\narms, and were mindful of battle. Then would you not see divine\nAgamemnon slumbering, nor trembling nor refusing to fight; but\nhastening quickly to the glorious fight. He left his steeds, indeed,\nand his brass-variegated chariot; and these his servant Eurymedon, son\nof Ptolym\u00e6us, the son of Pir\u00e4is, held apart panting. Him he strictly\nenjoined to keep them near him, against the time when weariness should\nseize his limbs, commanding over many. But he on foot traversed the\nranks of the heroes, and whichever of the swift-horsed Greeks he saw\nhastening, them standing beside, he encouraged with words:\n\n\u201cArgives! remit nought of your fierce ardour, for father Jove will not\nbe an abettor to falsehoods, but certainly vultures will devour the\ntender bodies of those very persons, who first offered injury, contrary\nto the league; and we, after we shall have taken the city, will carry\noff in our ships their dear wives, and their infant children.\u201d\n\nBut whomsoever on the other hand he saw declining hateful battle, them\nhe much rebuked with angry words:\n\n\u201cArgives, ye arrow-fighters, 180 subjects for disgrace, are ye not\nashamed? Why stand ye here astounded, like fawns, which, when they are\nwearied, running through the extensive plain, stand, and have no\nstrength in their hearts? Thus do ye stand amazed, nor fight. Do ye\nawait the Trojans until they come near, where your fair-prowed galleys\nare moored on the shore of the hoary sea, that ye may know whether the\nson of Saturn will stretch forth his hand over you.\u201d\n\nFootnote 180: (return)  If it be remembered that archery, in comparison\nwith fighting close-handed, handed, was much despised (cf. Soph. Aj.\n1120, sqq.; Eur. Herc. Fur. 160), the term \u1f30\u03cc\u03bc\u03c9\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9 (\u03bf\u1f31 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u1f30\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2\n\u03bc\u03b5\u03bc\u03bf\u03c1\u03b7\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9, Apoll. Lex. and Hesych.) need not be forced into any of\nthe out-of-the-way meanings which Anthon and others have assigned to\nit.\n\nThus he, acting as commander, kept going through the ranks of heroes,\nand he came to the Cretans, going through the throng of men. But they\nwere armed around warlike Idomeneus. Idomeneus, on his part,\n[commanded] in the van, like a boar in strength; but Meriones urged on\nthe hindmost phalanxes for him. Seeing these, Agamemnon, the king of\nmen, rejoiced, and instantly accosted Idomeneus, in bland words:\n\n\u201cO Idomeneus, I honour thee, indeed, above the swift-horsed Greeks, as\nwell in war, as in any other work, and at the banquet, when the nobles\nof the Argives mix in their cups the dark-red honourable 181 wine: for\nthough the other crested Greeks drink by certain measures, thy cup\nalways stands full, as [mine] to me, that thou mayest drink when thy\nmind desires it. But hasten into war, such as formerly thou didst boast\nto be.\u201d\n\nFootnote 181: (return)  See my note on Od.\n\nBut him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn answered: \u201cSon of\nAtreus, a very congenial ally will I be to thee, as first I promised\nand assented. But exhort the other crested Greeks that we may fight\nwith all haste, since the Trojans have confounded the league: death and\ngriefs shall be theirs hereafter, since they first offered injury,\ncontrary to the league.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: and the son of Atreus passed on, joyous at heart, and he\ncame to the Ajaces, going through the troops of the heroes. But they\nwere armed, and with them followed a cloud of infantry. As when a\ngoat-herd from a hill-top perceives a cloud traversing the deep,\nbeneath the north-western blast; and to him, standing at a distance, it\nappears while coming over the ocean, darker than pitch, and brings with\nit a mighty whirlwind; 182 he both shudders on seeing it, and drives\nhis flock into a cave. Such, with the Ajaces, moved into hostile battle\nthe dense dark phalanxes of Jove-nurtured youths, bristling with\nshields and spears. And king Agamemnon seeing them, rejoiced, and\naccosting them, spoke winged words:\n\nFootnote 182: (return)  The _waterspout_, which is often followed by\nhurricanes, is meant. See Arnold.\n\n\u201cYe Ajaces, leaders of the brazen-mailed Argives, ye two, indeed, for\nit becomes me not, I in no respect desire to incite; for ye yourselves\nmightily instigate the people to fight valiantly. Would that, O father\nJove, Minerva, and Apollo, such courage were in the breasts of all;\nsoon then would the city of king Priam bend to its fall, taken and\ndestroyed by our hands.\u201d\n\nThus having said, he left them there and went to the others; there he\nfound Nestor, the harmonious orator of the Pylians, marshalling his\nassociates, and exhorting them to battle, mighty Pelagon, Alastor,\nChromius, and prince H\u00e6mon, and Bias the shepherd of the people. In\nfront, indeed, he placed the cavalry 183 with their horses and\nchariots, but the foot, both numerous and brave, in the rear, to be the\nstay of the battle; but the cowards he drove into the middle, that\nevery man, even unwilling, might fight from necessity. At first,\nindeed, he gave orders to the horsemen; these he commanded to rein in\ntheir horses, nor to be confused with the crowd. \u201cAnd let no person,\nrelying on his skill in horsemanship, and on his strength, desire\nalone, before the rest, to fight with the Trojans, nor let him retreat:\nfor [if so], ye will be weaker. And whatever man, from his own chariot,\ncan reach that of another, let him stretch out with his spear; 184 for\nso it is much better: for thus the ancients overturned cities and\nwalls, keeping this purpose and resolution in their breasts.\u201d\n\nFootnote 183: (return)  _I. e._ those who fought from chariots.\n\nFootnote 184x: (return)  With Arnold and Anthon, I follow K\u00f6ppen\u2019s\ninterpretation. The meaning is, whoever, without leaping from his own\nchariot, can reach that of another, should commence the attack. This\nwas less dangerous than dismounting.\n\nThus the old man, long since well skilled in wars, exhorted them, and\nking Agamemnon rejoiced when he saw him; and accosting him, spoke\nwinged words:\n\n\u201cO old man, would that thy knees could so follow thee, and thy strength\nwere firm as is the courage in thy breast. But old age, common alike to\nall, wearies thee. Would that some other man had thy age, and that thou\nwert amongst the more youthful.\u201d\n\nHim then the Gerenian knight Nestor answered: \u201cSon of Atreus, I myself\nwould much wish to be so, as when I killed Eruthalion. But the gods\nnever give all things at the same time to men. If I were a young man\nthen, now in turn old age invades me. Yet even so, I will be with the\nhorse, and will exhort them with counsel and words: for this is the\noffice of old men. But let the youths, who are younger than I am, and\nconfide in their strength, brandish their spears.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and the son of Atreus passed him by, rejoicing at heart.\nNext he found the horseman Menestheus, son of Peteus, standing, and\naround him the Athenians skilled in the war-shout: but crafty Ulysses\nstood near; and round him stood the ranks of the Cephallenians not\nfeeble; for not yet had the troops of these heard the shout, since\nlately the roused phalanxes of the horse-subduing Trojans and of the\nGreeks moved along; but they stood waiting till another division of the\nGreeks, coming on, should charge the Trojans and begin the battle.\nHaving seen these, therefore, Agamemnon, the king of men, reproved\nthem, and, accosting them, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cO son of Peteus, Jove-nurtured king, and thou, accomplished in evil\nwiles, crafty-minded [Ulysses], why trembling do ye refrain from\nbattle, and wait for others? It became you, indeed, being amongst the\nfirst, to stand and meet the ardent battle. For ye are the first\ninvited by me to the feast when we Greeks prepare a banquet for the\nchiefs. Then it is pleasant to you to eat the roasted meats, and to\nquaff cups of sweet wine, as long as ye please. But now would ye in\npreference be spectators, though ten divisions of the Greeks should\nfight in your presence with the ruthless brass.\u201d\n\nBut him sternly regarding, crafty Ulysses answered thus: \u201cSon of\nAtreus, what a word has escaped the barrier of thy teeth! How canst\nthou say that we are remiss in fighting? Whenever we Greeks stir up\nfierce conflict against the horse-taming Trojans, thou shalt see, if\nthou desirest, and if these things are a care to thee, the beloved\nfather of Telemachus mingled with the foremost of the horse-taming\nTrojans. But thou sayest these things rashly.\u201d\n\nBut him king Agamemnon, when he perceived that he was angry, smiling,\naddressed, and he retracted his words:\n\n\u201cNoble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, I neither chide thee in\nterms above measure, nor exhort thee. For I am aware that thy mind in\nthy breast kens friendly counsels: for thou thinkest the same that I\ndo. But come, we shall settle these disputes at a future time, should\nanything evil have now been uttered. But may the gods render all these\nthings vain.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he left them there, and went to others; he found\nmagnanimous Diomede, son of Tydeus, standing by his horses and\nbrass-mounted 185 chariot. Near him stood Sthenelus, son of Capaneus.\nAnd having seen him too, king Agamemnon reproved him, and accosting him\nthus, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cAlas! O son of warlike horse-breaking Tydeus, why dost thou tremble?\nWhy dost thou explore the intervals of the ranks? 186 It was not with\nTydeus thus customary to tremble, but to fight with the enemy far\nbefore his dear companions. So they have said, who beheld him toiling:\nfor I never met, nor have I beheld him: but they say that he excelled\nall others. For certainly with godlike Polynices he entered Mycen\u00e6\nwithout warlike array, a guest, collecting forces: they 187 were then\npreparing an expedition against the sacred walls of Thebes, and\nsupplicated much that they would give renowned auxiliaries. But they\n[the Mycen\u00e6ans] were willing to give them, and approved of it, as they\nurged; but Jove changed [their design], showing unpropitious omens.\nBut, after they departed, and proceeded on their way, they came to\nrushy, grassy Asopus. Then the Ach\u00e6ans sent Tydeus upon an embassy. 188\nAccordingly he went, and found many Cadmeans feasting in the palace of\nbrave Eteocles. Then the knight Tydeus, though being a stranger, feared\nnot, being alone amongst many Cadmeans: but challenged them to contend\n[in games], and easily conquered in all, so mighty a second was Minerva\nto him. But the Cadmeans, goaders of steeds, being enraged, leading\nfifty youths, laid a crafty ambuscade for him returning: but there were\ntwo leaders, M\u00e6on, son of H\u00e6mon, like unto the immortals, and\nLycophontes, persevering in fight, the son of Autophonus. Tydeus,\nhowever, brought cruel death upon them. He killed them all, but sent\none only to return home: for he dismissed M\u00e6on, obeying the portents of\nthe gods. Such was \u00c6tolian Tydeus. But he begat a son, inferior to\nhimself in battle, but superior in council.\u201d\n\nFootnote 185: (return)  Properly, \u201cfastened, soldered.\u201d\n\nFootnote 186: (return)  Lit. \u201cthe bridges of the war.\u201d He was looking\nto see where there was a chance of escape by running between the ranks.\n\nFootnote 187: (return)  Polynices and Adrastus. The reader will do well\nto compare Grote vol. i. p. 371.\n\nFootnote 188: (return)  To Thebes.\n\nThus he spoke; but brave Diomede answered nothing, reverencing the\nrebuke of the venerable king.\n\nBut him the son of renowned Capaneus answered: \u201cSon of Atreus, lie not,\nknowing how to tell truth. We, indeed, boast to be far better than our\nfathers. We too have taken the citadel of seven-gated Thebes, leading\nfewer troops under the wall sacred to Mars, confiding in the portents\nof the gods, and in the aid of Jove: but they perished through their\nown infatuation. Wherefore, never place my ancestors in the same rank\nwith me.\u201d\n\nHim sternly regarding, brave Diomede accosted thus: \u201cMy friend 189\nSthenelus, sit in silence, and obey my words; for I blame not\nAgamemnon, the shepherd of the people, for thus exhorting the\nwell-greaved Greeks to fight. Glory shall attend him, if, indeed, the\nGreeks shall conquer the Trojans, and take sacred Ilium; but great\ngrief shall be his, on the other hand, the Greeks being cut off. But\ncome now, and let us be mindful of impetuous valour.\u201d\n\nFootnote 189: (return)  \u03a4\u03ad\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1 is an affectionate phrase applied to an\nelder, like _papa_. Compare Alberti on Hesych. v. \u1f00\u03c0\u03c6\u03af\u03b1, t. i. p. 505,\nand on \u1f05\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1, p. 606; Helladius, Chrestom. p. 9, ed. Meurs.\n\nHe spoke, and from his chariot leaped with his arms upon the earth, and\ndreadfully sounded the brass on the breast of the prince, as he moved\nrapidly along: then truly would fear have seized even a brave spirit.\n\nAs when on the loud-resounding shore a wave of the sea is impelled in\ncontinuous succession beneath the north-west wind which has set it in\nmotion; at first indeed it raises itself aloft in the deep, but then\ndashed against the land, it roars mightily; and being swollen it rises\nhigh around the projecting points, and spits from it the foam of the\nsea: thus then the thick phalanxes of the Greeks moved incessantly on\nto battle. Each leader commanded his own troops. The rest went in\nsilence (nor would you have said that so numerous an army followed,\nhaving the power of speech in their breasts), silently reverencing\ntheir leaders. And around them all their arms of various workmanship\nshone brightly; clad with which, they proceeded in order. But the\nTrojans, as the sheep of a rich man stand countless in the fold, whilst\nthey are milked of their white milk, continually bleating, having heard\nthe voice of their lambs\u2014thus was the clamour of the Trojans excited\nthrough the wide army. For there was not the same shout of all, nor the\nsame voice, but their language was mixed, for the men were called from\nmany climes. These Mars urged on, but those blue-eyed Minerva, 190 and\nTerror, and Rout, and Strife, insatiably raging, the sister and\nattendant of homicide Mars, she raises her head, small indeed at first,\nbut afterwards she has fixed her head in heaven, and stalks along the\nearth. Then also she, going through the crowd, increasing the groaning\nof the men, cast into the midst upon them contention alike destruction\nto all.\n\nFootnote 190: (return)\n\n    \u201cOn th\u2019 other side, Satan alarm\u2019d\n    Collecting all his might dilated stood,\n    Like Teneriff or Atlas unremoved:\n    His stature reach\u2019d the sky.\u201d\u2014Paradise Lost, iv. 985.\n\n\nBut they, when now meeting, they had reached the same place, at once\njoined their ox-hide shields, and their spears, and the might of\nbrazen-mailed warriors; and the bossy shields met one another, and much\nbattle-din arose. There at the same time were heard both the groans and\nshouts of men slaying and being slain; and the earth flowed with blood.\nAs when wintry torrents flowing down from the mountains, mix in a basin\nthe impetuous water from their great springs in a hollow ravine, and\nthe shepherd in the mountains hears the distant roar\u2014so arose the\nshouting and panic of them, mixed together.\n\nAntilochus first killed a Trojan warrior, Echepolus, son of Thalysias,\nvaliant in the van. Him he first struck on the cone of his horse-plumed\nhelmet, and the brazen point fixed itself in his forehead, then pierced\nthe bone, and darkness veiled his eyes; and he fell, like a tower, in\nfierce conflict. Him fallen, king Elephenor, the offspring of\nChalcodon, chief of the magnanimous Abantes, seized by the feet, and\nwas drawing him beyond the reach of darts in haste, that with all haste\nhe might despoil him of his armour: but that attempt was short; for\nmagnanimous Agenor having descried him dragging the body, wounded him\nwith a brazen spear in the side, which, as he stooped, appeared from\nbeneath the covert of his shield, and he relaxed his limbs [in death].\nHis soul therefore left him. But over him arose a fierce conflict of\nTrojans and of Greeks. But they like wolves rushed on each other, and\nman bore down man. Then Telamonian Ajax smote the blooming youth\nSimo\u00efsius, son of Anthemion, whom formerly his mother, descending from\nIda, brought forth on the banks of Simois, when, to wit, she followed\nher parents to view the flocks; wherefore they called him Simo\u00efsius.\nNor did he repay to his dear parents the price of his early nurture,\nfor his life was short, he being slain with a spear by magnanimous\nAjax. For him advancing first, he [Ajax] struck on the breast, near the\nright pap: and the brazen spear passed out through his shoulder on the\nopposite side. He fell on the ground in the dust, like a poplar, winch\nhas sprung up in the moist grass-land of an extensive marsh,\u2014branches\ngrow smooth, yet upon the very top, which the chariot-maker lops with\nthe shining steel, that he might bend [it as] a felloe for a beauteous\nchariot. Drying, it lies indeed on the banks of the river. So did the\nhigh-born Ajax spoil Simo\u00efsius, the descendant of Anthemion. But at him\nAntiphus, of the varied corslet, the son of Priam, took aim through the\ncrowd with a sharp spear. From whom, indeed, it erred: but he struck\nLeucus, the faithful companion of Ulysses, in the groin, as he was\ndrawing the body aside; but he fell near it, and the body dropped from\nhis hand. For him slain, Ulysses was much enraged in mind; and he\nrushed through the van, armed in shining brass; and advancing very\nnear, he stood, and casting his eyes all around him, hurled with his\nglittering spear. But the Trojans retired in confusion, as the hero\nhurled; he did not, however, hurl the spear in vain, but struck\nDemocoon, the spurious son of Priam, who came from Abydos, from\n[tending] the swift mares. 191 Him Ulysses, enraged for his companion,\nstruck with his spear in the temple, and the brazen point penetrated\nthrough the other temple, and darkness veiled his eyes. Falling he made\na crash, and his arms resounded upon him. Both the foremost bands and\nillustrious Hector fell back. The Argives shouted aloud, and dragged\nthe bodies away: then they rushed farther forward; and Apollo was\nenraged, looking down from Pergamus; and, shouting out, exhorted the\nTrojans:\n\nFootnote 191: (return)  Priam had a stud at Abydos, on the Asiatic\ncoast of the Hellespont.\u2014Scholiast.\n\n\u201cArouse ye, ye horse-breaking Trojans, nor yield the battle to the\nGreeks; since their flesh is not of stone, nor of iron, that when they\nare struck, it should withstand the flesh-rending brass; neither does\nAchilles, the son of fair-haired Thetis, fight, but at the ships he\nnourishes his vexatious spleen.\u201d\n\nThus spoke the dreadful god from the city. But most glorious Tritonian\nPallas, the daughter of Jove, going through the host, roused the Greeks\nwherever she saw them relaxing.\n\nThen fate ensnared Diores, son of Amarynceus; for he was struck with a\njagged hand-stone, at the ankle, on the right leg; but Pirus, son of\nImbrasus, who came from \u00c6nos, the leader of the Thracian warriors,\nstruck him. The reckless stone entirely crushed both tendons and bones;\nsupine in the dust he fell, stretching forth both hands to his dear\ncompanions, and breathing forth his soul. But Pirus, he who struck him,\nran up, and pierced him in the navel with his spear; and thereupon all\nhis entrails poured forth upon the ground, and darkness veiled his\neyes.\n\nBut him 192 \u00c6tolian Thoas struck, rushing on with his spear, in the\nbreast over the pap, and the brass was fastened in his lungs: Thoas\ncame near to him, and drew the mighty spear out of his breast; then he\nunsheathed his sharp sword, and with it smote him in the midst of the\nbelly, and took away his life. But he did not spoil him of his armour,\nfor his companions stood round him, the hair-tufted Thracians, holding\nlong spears in their hands, who drove him from them, though being\nmighty, and valiant, and glorious; but he, retreating, was repulsed\nwith force. Thus these two were stretched in the dust near to each\nother; Pirus, indeed, the leader of the Thracians, and Diores, the\nleader of the brazen-mailed Epeans; and many others also were slain\naround.\n\nThen no longer could any man, having come into the field, find fault\nwith the action, who, even as yet neither wounded from distant blows,\n193 nor pierced close at hand with the sharp brass, might be busied in\nthe midst, and whom spear-brandishing Minerva might lead, taking him by\nthe hand, and might avert from him the violence of the darts; for many\nof the Trojans and of the Greeks on that day were stretched prone in\nthe dust beside one another.\n\nFootnote 192: (return)  Pirus.\n\nFootnote 193: (return)  Observe the distinction between \u1f04\u03d1\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 and\n\u1f00\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2. See Anthon; Ammonius, p. 29; Valck. \u0392\u03b5\u03d1\u03bb\u1fc6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f10\u03ba\n\u03b2\u03bf\u03bb\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c4\u03c1\u1f7c\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03af, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f30 \u1f10\u03ba \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u03bf\u1f50\u03c4\u1fb6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u1f72, \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f10\u03ba \u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2\n\u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03c1\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE FIFTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nThe exploits of Diomedes, who, irritated by a wound from Pandarus,\nfights with unremitted fury, and even wounds Venus and Mars, who were\naiding the Trojans.\n\n\nThen, moreover, Pallas Minerva gave strength and daring to Diomede, the\nson of Tydeus, that he might become conspicuous amongst all the\nArgives, and might bear off for himself excellent renown. And she\nkindled from his helmet and his shield an unwearied fire, like unto the\nsummer 194 star, which shines 195 very brightly, having been bathed in\nthe ocean. Such a fire she kindled from his head and shoulders, and she\nurged him into the midst, where the greatest numbers were in commotion.\n\nFootnote 194: (return)  _I. e._ the dog star, Sirius, whose rising\nmarked the beginning of the \u1f40\u03c0\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1, or season extending from the middle\nof July to the middle of September. It is said to be most brilliant at\nits time of rising. Cf. Apoll. iii. 956: \u1f4d\u03c2 \u03b4\u03ae \u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1f78\u03c2 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u1f00\u03c1\u03af\u03b6\u03b7\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2\n\u03c4\u2019 \u1f10\u03c3\u03b9\u03b4\u03ad\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03af \u1f08\u03bd\u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9.\n\nFootnote 195: (return)  This use of the subjunctive mood is called the\n\u03c3\u03c7\u1fc6\u03bc\u03b1 \u1f38\u03d1\u03cd\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd by Lesbonax, p. 179, ed. Valck.\n\nNow there was amongst the Trojans one Dares, rich, blameless, the\npriest of Vulcan; and he had two sons, Phegeus and Id\u00e6us, well skilled\nin all kinds of battle: these twain, apart [from their companions],\nrushed to meet [Diomede]; they on their part, from their two-horse\nchariot, but he, from the ground, made the attack on foot. When these,\ntherefore, advancing against each other, were now near, Phegeus first\nhurled forth his long-shadowed spear, and the point of the spear went\nover the left shoulder of the son of Tydeus, nor did it strike him. But\nthe son of Tydeus next rushed on with his brazen javelin; nor did the\nweapon fly in vain from his hand, but struck his [Phegeus\u2019s] breast\nbetween the paps, and forced him from his chariot. Then Id\u00e6us leaped\ndown, having left the very beautiful chariot, nor ventured to protect\nhis slain brother. [In vain,] for not even he would have escaped gloomy\nfate, but Vulcan snatched him away, and saved him, having enveloped him\nin darkness, that the old man might not be altogether sad. But the son\nof magnanimous Tydeus having taken the horses, gave them to his\ncompanions to lead to the hollow ships. When the magnanimous Trojans\nbeheld the sons of Dares, the one 196 flying, the other slain at the\nchariot, the hearts of all were discomfited. But azure-eyed Minerva,\nseizing him by the hand, thus addressed impetuous Mars: \u201cMars, Mars,\nman-slayer, gore-stained, stormer of walls, should we not suffer the\nTrojans and the Greeks to fight, to which side soever father Jove may\ngive glory; but let us retire, and avoid the wrath of Jove?\u201d\n\nThus having said, she led impetuous Mars from the battle, and\nafterwards seated him on grassy 197 Scamander. Then the Greeks turned\nthe Trojans to flight, and each of the leaders slew his man. First\nAgamemnon, king of men, hurled from his chariot huge Hodius, chief of\nthe Halizonians. For in the back of him first turned [in flight],\nbetween his shoulders he fixed the spear, and drove it through his\nbreast; and falling, he made a crash, and his arms resounded upon him.\n\nBut next Idomeneus killed Ph\u00e6stus, the son of M\u00e6onian Borus, who had\ncome from fertile Tarne. Him, just as he was mounting his chariot, 198\nspear-famed Idomeneus, with his long lance, wounded in the right\nshoulder: he fell from his chariot, and hateful darkness seized him.\nThen the attendants of Idomeneus despoiled him of his arms.\n\nFootnote 196: (return)  observe the construction by apposition, soph.\nant. 21: \u03c4\u1f7c \u03ba\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03b3\u03bd\u03ae\u03c4\u03c9, \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03af\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2, \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b4\u2019 \u1f00\u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ac\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9.\u2014561: \u03c4\u1f7c\n\u03c0\u03b1\u1fd6\u03b4\u03b5 \u03c6\u03b7\u03bc\u1f76 \u03c4\u03ce\u03b4\u03b5 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u1f00\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03c9\u03c2 \u1f04\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03d5\u03ac\u03bd\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b4\u2019 \u1f00\u03d5\u2019 \u03bf\u1f57 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03c1\u1ff6\u03c4\u2019\n\u1f14\u03d5\u03c5.\n\nFootnote 197: (return)  see buttm. lexil. p. 324, sqq.\n\nFootnote 198: (return)  I shall generally adopt this translation of\n\u03ca\u03c0\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9, with anthon.\n\nMenelaus, the son of Atreus, slew with his sharp 199 spear Scamandrius,\nson of Strophius, clever in the chase, an excellent huntsman; for Diana\nherself taught him to shoot all kinds of beasts, which the wood in the\nmountains nurtures. But then at least arrow-rejoicing Diana availed him\nnot, nor his skill in distant shooting, in which he had been formerly\ninstructed. But spear-renowned Menelaus, son of Atreus, wounded him,\nflying before him, with a spear in the back, between the shoulders, and\ndrove [the spear] through his breast. Prone he fell, and his arms\nresounded upon him.\n\nMeriones slew Phereclus, son of the artist Harmon, who knew how to form\nwith his hands all ingenious things (for Pallas Minerva loved him\nexceedingly): who also for Alexander had built the equal ships, source\nof woes, which were a bane to all the Trojans and to himself, since he\ndid not understand the oracles of the gods. 200 Meriones, indeed, when\nfollowing he overtook him, struck him in the right hip; but the point\nwent right through beneath the bone, near the bladder; and on his knees\nhe fell lamenting, and death overshadowed him.\n\nFootnote 199: (return)  Apoll. Lex. Hom. p. 604, ed. Villois: \u1f40\u03be\u03c5\u03cc\u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9.\n\u1ff8 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u1f08\u03c0\u03af\u03c9\u03bd, \u03cc\u03be\u03b5\u1fd6 \u1f14\u03b3\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9, \u1f40\u03be\u03c5\u03cc\u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b4\u1f72, \u1f40\u03be\u03c5\u0390\u03bd\u1ff3. With Anthon, I prefer\nApion\u2019s interpretation. Others explain it \u201cbeechen,\u201d or \u201cthorn-wood.\u201d\nCf. Alberti on Hesych. p. 766.\n\nFootnote 200: (return)  A doubtful line, but probably referring to an\noracle by which the Trojans were recommended to avoid maritime affairs.\nCf. Procl. Chrestom. p. 472, ed. Gaisf.\n\nBut Meges next slew Ped\u00e6us, son of Antenor, who, indeed, was a spurious\nson, yet noble Theano brought him up with care, equally with her own\ndear children, gratifying her husband. Him the spear-famed son of\nPhyleus, on his part, coming near, smote on the back of the head with\nhis sharp spear; the steel cut through his teeth under his tongue. In\nthe dust he fell, and caught the cold steel in his teeth.\n\nBut Eurypylus, son of Ev\u00e6mon, slew noble Hypsenor, son of magnanimous\nDolopion, who was priest of Scamander, and was honoured as a god by the\npeople; him, as he was flying before him, Eurypylus, then, the\nillustrious son of Ev\u00e6mon, struck in the shoulder in his flight,\nrushing on with his sword, and cut off his heavy hand: then the gory\nhand fell in the field; but blood-red death and stern fate seized his\neyes.\n\nThus they on their part laboured in the violent fight. But you would\nnot have known the son of Tydeus, to which side he belonged, whether he\nwas mixed with the Trojans or with the Greeks. For he rushed through\nthe plain, like unto a river swollen by mountain-streams, which flowing\nrapidly throws down bridges: and this, neither the fortified dams can\nrestrain, nor the fences of the richly-blooming fields check, as it\ncomes suddenly, when the rain-storm of Jove bears down heavily: many\nhopeful works of vigorous youths are wont to fall by it. Thus by the\nson of Tydeus were the close phalanxes of the Trojans thrown into\nconfusion; nor did they withstand him, although being numerous.\n\nWhen, therefore, Pandarus, the illustrious son of Lycaon, saw him\nrushing through the field, discomfiting the phalanxes before him, he\ndrew his crooked bow, and smote him rushing on, striking him upon the\nright shoulder [on] the cavity of the corslet: the bitter shaft flew on\nand broke through to the other side; and the corslet was stained with\nblood. Whereupon the illustrious son of Lycaon exclaimed aloud:\n\n\u201cRush on, ye magnanimous Trojans, spurrers of steeds, for the bravest\nof the Greeks is wounded; nor do I think that he will long endure the\nviolent arrow, if king Apollo, the son of Jove, really urged me\nproceeding from Lycia.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, vaunting; but him [Diomede] the swift arrow did not\nsubdue: but having retreated, he stood before his horses and chariot,\nand thus accosted Sthenelus, son of Capaneus:\n\n\u201cHaste, dear son of Capaneus, descend from thy chariot, that thou\nmayest draw from my shoulder the bitter shaft.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and Sthenelus leaped from his chariot to the ground,\nand, standing by him, drew the swift, deeply-piercing arrow forth from\nhis shoulder, and the blood spurted out through the twisted mail. Then\nDiomede, brave in battle, prayed:\n\n\u201cHear me, O daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unwearied, if ever\nfavouring thou stoodest by me and my sire in the hostile fight, now in\nturn befriend me, O Minerva. And grant me to slay this man, and that he\nmay approach within the aim of my spear, who being beforehand has\nstruck me, and boasts, and says that I shall not long behold the\nbrilliant light of the sun.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, praying, and Pallas Minerva heard him, and made light\nhis limbs, his feet, and his hands above, and standing near him, spoke\nwinged words:\n\n\u201cWith confidence, now, O Diomede, fight against the Trojans; for into\nthy soul have I sent that intrepid ancestral might, such as the\nshield-brandishing knight Tydeus was wont to possess: and moreover I\nhave taken away the darkness from thine eyes, which before was upon\nthem, that thou mayest discern a god and also a man. Wherefore now, if\nany divinity come hither, making trial of thee, do thou by no means\nfight against any other immortal gods; but if Venus, daughter of Jove,\nshould come into battle, wound her at all events with the sharp brass.\u201d\n\nThus on her part having spoken, azure-eyed Minerva departed: but the\nson of Tydeus, returning again, was mixed with the van; and ardent as\nhe before was in spirit to fight against the Trojans, then, indeed,\nthrice as much courage possessed him. Like as a lion, whom the shepherd\nin the country, by his fleecy sheep, has grazed indeed, while\noverleaping the court-yard, but has not killed; he [the shepherd] has\nmerely roused his ardour; but afterwards he ventures no farther aid,\nbut on the contrary retires within the fold, while the sheep, deserted,\nfly in consternation. These, indeed, are huddled in masses one upon\nanother, but he [the lion] leaps joyfully from the lofty fold. 201 So\nwas brave Diomede joyfully mixed with the Trojans.\n\nThen he slew Astyno\u00fcs, and Hypenor the shepherd of the people: having\nsmote the one above the pap with the brazen lance, but the other he\nsmote with his huge sword on the collar-bone at the shoulder, and\nseparated the shoulder from the neck and back. These, indeed, he left,\nbut rushed on Abas and Poly\u00efdus, the sons of Eurydamas, the aged\ninterpreter of dreams; to whom going to the war, the old man did not\ninterpret their dreams; but brave Diomede spoiled them when slain. Then\nhe went against Xanthus and Thoon, the sons of Ph\u00e6nops, both dearly\ncherished; 202 but he was worn by sad old age, and did not beget\nanother son to leave over his possessions. These, then, Diomede slew,\nand took their life from both, but to their father left grief and\nmournful cares, since he did not receive them returning alive from\nbattle; but his next of kin 203 divided the inheritance amongst them.\n\nFootnote 201: (return)  A very doubtful line.\n\nFootnote 202: (return)  Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 511.\n\nFootnote 203: (return)  Schol.: \u03a7\u03b7\u03c1\u03c9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u1f76, \u03bf\u1f76 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03c7\u1fc6\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf\u1fd6\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\n\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03bc\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 \u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9. Apoll. Lex. p. 854: \u039f\u1f76 \u03bc\u03b1\u03ba\u03c1\u03cc\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03ae\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c7\u1fc6\u03c1\u03b1 \u1f44\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b5\u03b3\u03b3\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c7\u03c1\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2.\n\nThen he seized Echemon and Chromius, two sons of Dardanian Priam, being\nin one chariot. As when a lion, leaping amidst the herd, has broken the\nneck of a heifer or of an ox pasturing in a thicket; so did the son of\nTydeus forcibly dislodge them both from the chariot against their\nwills, and then spoiled them of their arms. But the steeds he gave to\nhis companions, to drive to the ships.\n\nBut him \u00c6neas beheld devastating the ranks of men, and he hastened to\ngo both through the battle and the din of spears, seeking godlike\nPandarus, if anywhere he might find him. He found the blameless and\nvaliant son of Lycaon, and stood before him, and spoke [this] word to\nhim:\n\n\u201cO Pandarus, where are thy bow and thy winged shafts, and thy renown,\nwith which no man here at least contends with thee, nor does any person\nin Lycia boast to be braver than thou? But come, having raised thy\nhands to Jove, aim an arrow against this man, (whoever he be, who is\nthus prevailing, and who has already wrought many ills against the\nTrojans, since he has relaxed the knees of many and of brave), unless\nhe be some god, wrathful against the Trojans, angry on account of\nsacrifices [not offered]: and unless the severe wrath of a deity be\nupon us.\u201d\n\nHim the illustrious son of Lycaon answered in turn: \u201c\u00c6neas, counsellor\nof the brazen-mailed Trojans, I assimilate him in all respects to the\nwarlike son of Tydeus, recognizing him by his shield and oblong helmet,\nand looking on his steeds: but I do not know certainly whether he be a\ngod. But if this man, whom I speak of, be the warlike son of Tydeus, he\ndoes not perform these frantic deeds without divine aid, but some one\nof the immortals stands near, wrapped round as to his shoulders 204 in\na cloud, who has turned into another course the swift shaft just about\nto hit him. For but just now I aimed an arrow at him, and struck him on\nthe right shoulder, entirely through the cavity of his corslet; and I\nthought I should hurl him down to Pluto; yet did I not altogether\nsubdue him; some god, of a truth, is wrathful. And steeds and chariots\nare not present, which I might ascend: but somewhere in the palaces of\nLycaon [are] eleven chariots, beautiful, newly-built, lately made:\ncoverings are spread around them: and beside each of them stand steeds\nyoked in pairs, eating white barley and wheat. Of a truth the aged\nwarrior Lycaon gave me, on setting out, very many commands in his\nwell-built palaces: he ordered me, having ascended my steeds and my\nchariot, to command the Trojans in the fierce conflicts; but I heeded\nhim not (and truly it would have been much better), sparing my steeds,\nlest they, accustomed to feed largely, should want food, to my cost, 205\nthe men being shut up [in the city]. Thus I left them; but I have come\non foot to Troy, relying on my bow and arrows, but these were not\ndestined to profit me. For lately I aimed [a shaft] at two chiefs, at\nthe son of Tydeus and the son of Atreus; and having struck, I drew\nblood manifestly from both; but I roused them the more. Therefore, with\nevil fate I took down my curved bow from the peg, on that day when I\nled the Trojans to pleasant Ilium, doing a favour to divine Hector. But\nif I shall return, and shall with these eyes behold my country, and my\nwife, and my lofty-roofed great palace, immediately may some hostile\nman cut off my head, if I do not put this bow into the shining fire,\nhaving broken it with my hands; for it attends on me to no purpose.\u201d\n\nFootnote 204: (return)  Cf. Hor. Od. i. 2, 31: \u201cNube candentes humeros\namictus.\u201d\n\nFootnote 205: (return)  Observe the force of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9.\n\nHim then \u00c6neas, the leader of the Trojans, addressed in turn: \u201cSpeak\nnot so: but it will not be otherwise, before that we twain, with horses\nand chariot, going against this man, make trial of him with arms. But\ncome, ascend my chariot; that thou mayest see of what kind are the\nsteeds of Tros, skilful in the plain to pursue rapidly here and there,\nand to retreat; they also shall bring us safe again to the city, if\nJove will a second time afford glory to Diomede, the son of Tydeus. But\ncome, take the whip now, and the shining reins, and I will descend from\nthe chariot, that I may fight; or do thou await this man, and the\nsteeds shall be my care.\u201d\n\nHim then the illustrious son of Lycaon answered in turn: \u201c\u00c6neas, do\nthou thyself hold the reins and thy own steeds: the better will they\nbear along the curved chariot under their accustomed charioteer, if we\nshall fly back from the son of Tydeus; lest they, taking fright, should\nbecome restive, and be unwilling to bear us away from the war, missing\nthy voice, and the son of magnanimous Tydeus, rushing on us, should\nslay ourselves, and drive away thy solid-hoofed steeds. But do thou\nthyself drive the chariot and thy own steeds, but with my sharp spear\nwill I receive him advancing.\u201d\n\nThus having said, ascending the variegated chariot, they directed the\nswift steeds impetuously against the son of Tydeus. But Sthenelus, the\nillustrious son of Capaneus, perceived them, and immediately to the son\nof Tydeus he spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cDiomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, I perceive two valiant\nmen eager to fight against thee, possessing immense might; one, indeed,\nwell-skilled in the bow, 206 Pandarus, and moreover he boasts to be the\nson of Lycaon, and \u00c6neas, [who] boasts to be born the son of\nmagnanimous Anchises; but Venus is his mother. But come, let us now\nretire, having ascended our horses, nor thus, I pray thee, run\nfuriously through the van, lest thou shouldst lose thy dear life.\u201d\n\nBut him sternly regarding, brave Diomede thus addressed: \u201cTalk not to\nme of retreat, 207 since I think thou wilt not persuade me. It becomes\nnot my nature to fight in a skulking manner, nor to tremble; as yet my\nstrength is unimpaired. I am averse to mount the chariot, but even as I\nam will I advance to meet them: spear-brandishing Minerva does not\nsuffer me to tremble. Never shall the swift horses bear these twain\nboth back again from us, supposing even one of them shall escape. But\nanother thing I tell thee, and do thou lay it up in thy soul, if most\nprudent Minerva should grant me the glory to kill both, then do thou\ndetain here these swift steeds, stretching forth the reins from the\nrim, and, mindful, rush upon the horses of \u00c6neas, and drive them from\nthe Trojans to the well-greaved Greeks. For they are of that breed\nwhich far-seeing Jove gave as a price to Tros for his son Ganymede;\nwherefore they are the best of steeds, as many as are under the east\nand the sun. From this breed Anchises, king of men, stole them, having\nsupplied mares without the knowledge of Laomedon: of the breed of these\nsix were foaled in his courts. Reserving four himself, he nourished\nthem at the manger, and two, skilled in rousing terror, he gave to\n\u00c6neas. If we can take these, we shall have borne away excellent glory.\u201d\n\nFootnote 206: (return)  This bold change of construction, where one\nwould have expected \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd, \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd, \u03b4\u1f72, has been noticed by Lesbonax, p.\n186.\n\nFootnote 207: (return)  But Anthon, I think, with more spirit, renders\nthis, \u201cSpeak not at all fearward.\u201d\n\nThus they were speaking such things to each other; but the others soon\ndrew near, urging onward their swift steeds. The illustrious son of\nLycaon first accosted Diomede:\n\n\u201cStout-hearted, warlike-minded, son of illustrious Tydeus, certainly my\nswift shaft, my bitter arrow has not slain thee. Now again will I try\nwith my spear, whether I can hit my mark.\u201d 208\n\nHe said, and brandishing [it], he sent forth his long-shadowed spear,\nand struck the shield of Tydides: but the brazen spear flying straight\nthrough, approached the corslet. Then the son of Lycaon shouted loudly\nover him:\n\n\u201cThou art wounded in the flank, through and through, nor do I think\nthou wilt endure it much longer: but to me hast thou given great\nglory.\u201d\n\nBut him the valiant son of Tydeus, undisturbed, addressed: \u201cThou hast\nerred, nor hast thou reached thine aim; 209 but I certainly think thou\nwilt not cease, till one of you at least, having fallen, shall satiate\nMars, the warrior of the bull\u2019s-hide shield, with his blood.\u201d\n\nFootnote 208: (return)  This is the best manner of expressing the full\nmeaning of \u03c4\u03cd\u03c7\u03c9\u03bc\u03b9.\n\nFootnote 209: (return)  _I. e._ given a mortal wound.\n\nThus having spoken, he hurled forth [his lance], and Minerva directed\nthe weapon to his nose, near the eye; and it passed quite through his\nwhite teeth: and then unwearied, the brass cut the root of his tongue,\nand the point came out at the bottom of his chin. From his chariot he\nfell, and his variegated, shining 210 arms resounded upon him; but his\nswift-footed steeds started aside through fright, and there were his\nsoul and strength dissolved. \u00c6neas then bounded down with his shield\nand long spear, fearing lest the Greeks by any means should take the\nbody away from him. He walked round it, therefore, like a lion,\nconfiding in his strength: and before him he stretched out his lance,\nand his shield equal on all sides, shouting dreadfully, eager to slay\nhim, whoever might come against him. But the son of Tydeus seized in\nhis grasp a hand-stone, a huge affair, such as no two men could carry,\nsuch at least as mortals are now; but he even alone easily wielded it.\nWith it he struck \u00c6neas on the hip, where the thigh is turned in the\nhip;\u2014they call it the socket;\u2014the socket he smote violently, and broke\nbesides both tendons, and the rugged stone tore off the skin. But the\nhero having fallen on his knees, remained so, and supported himself\nwith his strong hand upon the ground, and dark night veiled his eyes.\n\nFootnote 210: (return)  But Buttm. Lexil. p. 65 prefers \u201cagile,\u201d _i.\ne._ easily-wielded.\n\nAnd there, of a truth, \u00c6neas, the king of men, had perished, unless\nVenus, the daughter of Jove, had quickly perceived him, his mother, who\nbrought him forth to Anchises as he fed his oxen; 211 but around her\nown dear son she spread her white arms, and before him she extended the\nfolds of her shining robe, as a fence against arrows, lest any of the\nswift-horsed Greeks having cast the steel into his breast, should take\naway his life. She, indeed, stealthily bore off her beloved son from\nthe battle. Nor was the son of Capaneus forgetful of those commands\nwhich warlike Diomede gave him: but he detained his own solid-hoofed\nsteeds apart from the tumult, having stretched forth the reins from the\nrim; and rushing forward, drove from the Trojans to the well-greaved\nGreeks the beautiful-maned steeds of \u00c6neas, and gave them to Deipylus,\nhis beloved companion (whom he honoured above all his coevals, because\nhe possessed in his mind sentiments congenial with himself), to drive\nthem to the hollow ships: but the hero himself, having ascended his\nchariot, took the splendid reins; and instantly drove his solid-hoofed\nsteeds after the son of Tydeus with ardour; but Diomede pursued Venus\nwith the cruel steel, 212 knowing that she was an unwarlike goddess,\nnor [one] of those goddesses who administer the war of men, neither\nMinerva, nor city-destroying Bellona. But when he had now overtaken\nher, having pursued her through a great crowd, then the son of\nmagnanimous Tydeus, having stretched forward, wounded the feeble\n[goddess] in the extremity of the hand, bounding on with the sharp\nbrass. Instantly the spear pierced through the skin, through her\nambrosial robe (which the Graces themselves had wrought), at the\nextremity [of the hand] above the palm. Immortal blood flowed from the\ngoddess, ichor, such, to wit, as flows from the blessed gods. For they\neat not bread, nor drink dark wine; therefore are they bloodless, and\nare called immortal. But she screaming aloud, cast her son from her:\nand him Phoebus Apollo rescued in his hands in a sable cloud, lest any\nof the swift-horsed Greeks, casting the steel into his breast, should\ntake away his life. But warlike Diomede shouted loudly after her:\n\nFootnote 211: (return)  Cf. Theocrit. i. 105: \u039f\u03cd \u03bb\u03ad\u03b3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f70\u03bd \u039a\u03cd\u03c0\u03c1\u03b9\u03bd \u1f78\n\u03b2\u03bf\u03c5\u03ba\u03cc\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2, \u1f15\u03c1\u03c0\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u2019 \u1f38\u03b4\u1f70\u03bd, \u1f1c\u03c1\u03c0\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u2019 \u1f08\u03b3\u03c7\u03af\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd. See Hymn, in Vener. 54,\nsqq.; and Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol. i. p. 73.\n\nFootnote 212: (return)  It is well known that these battles and\nwoundings of the gods gave so much scandal to Plato, that he wished to\ncast Homer out of his republic, much to the indignation of Heraclides\nPonticus, Alleg. Hom. p. 511. The fathers of the early church made no\nsmall use of Plato\u2019s opinion on this head. Cf. Euseb. P. E. ii. 10;\nTertull. Apol. \u00a7 xiv.; Augustin, C. D. ii. 14; Minucius Felix, 22; who\nall make use of his testimony as an argument against Paganism. See\nColeridge, Classic Poets, p. 64.\n\n\u201cWithdraw, O daughter of Jove, from war and battle. Is it not\nsufficient that thou dost practise deception upon feeble women? But if\nthou wilt go to the war, I certainly think thou wilt hereafter dread\nbattle, even though thou but hearest of it elsewhere.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: but she departed, distracted [with pain], for she was\ngrievously exhausted. But swift-footed Iris having taken her, led her\noutside the crowd, oppressed with griefs; but she began to turn livid\nas to her beauteous skin. Then she found impetuous Mars sitting at the\nleft of the battle; and his spear and swift horses had been enveloped\nin darkness. But she, falling on her knees, with many entreaties\nbesought from her dear brother his golden-frontleted steeds:\n\n\u201cDear brother, render me a service, and give me thy steeds, that I may\ngo to Olympus, where is the seat of the immortals. I am grievously\noppressed with a wound which a mortal man, the son of Tydeus, inflicted\non me, who now would fight even with father Jove.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke: but Mars gave her the golden-frontleted steeds. But she\nmounted the chariot, grieving in her heart; and Iris mounted beside\nher, and took the reins in her hands, and scourged them to go on, and\nthey flew not unwillingly. And immediately then they reached the seat\nof the gods, the lofty Olympus. There nimble, swift-footed Iris stayed\nthe steeds, having loosed them from the chariot, and set before them\nambrosial fodder. But the goddess Venus fell at the knees of her mother\nDione; and she embraced her daughter in her arms, and soothed her with\nher hand, and addressed her, and said:\n\n\u201cWhich of the heavenly gods, beloved daughter, has wantonly done such\nthings to thee, as if thou hadst openly wrought some evil?\u201d\n\nBut her laughter-loving Venus answered: \u201cThe son of Tydeus, haughty\nDiomede, has wounded me, because I was withdrawing from battle my\nbeloved son \u00c6neas, who is by far most dear to me of all. For it is no\nlonger the destructive contest of Trojans and of Greeks; but now the\nGreeks fight even with the immortals.\u201d\n\nBut her Dione, divine one of goddesses, answered: \u201cEndure, my daughter,\nand bear up, although grieved; for many of us, possessing Olympian\nhabitations, have in times past endured pains at the hand of men, 213\nimposing heavy griefs on one another. Mars, in the first place, endured\nit, when Otus and valiant Ephialtes, the sons of Alo\u00ebus, bound him in a\nstrong chain. He was chained in a brazen prison for thirteen months:\nand perhaps Mars, insatiate of war, had perished there, had not his\nstepmother, all-fair E\u00ebrib\u00e6a, told it to Mercury; but he stole Mars\naway, already exhausted, for the cruel chain subdued him. Juno also\nsuffered, when the brave son of Amphitryon smote her in the right\nbreast with a three-pronged shaft. Then most irremediable pain seized\nher. Amongst these Pluto also endured a swift shaft, when the same\nhero, the son of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, afflicted him with pains at Pylos\namongst the dead, having wounded him. But he went to the palace of\nJove, and the lofty Olympus, grieving in his heart, and transfixed with\npains; for the shaft had pierced into his huge shoulder, and tortured\nhis soul. But P\u00e6on healed him, sprinkling pain-assuaging remedies, for\nhe was not at all mortal. Audacious, regardless one! who felt no\ncompunction in doing lawless deeds,\u2014who with his bow violated the gods\nthat dwell in Olympus. But against thee azure-eyed goddess Minerva has\nexcited this man. Infatuate! nor does the son of Tydeus know this in\nhis mind, that he is by no means long-lived who fights with the\nimmortals, nor ever at his knees will sons lisp a father\u2019s name, as he\nreturns from war and dreadful battle. Therefore, let the son of Tydeus\nnow, though he be very brave, have a care, lest a better than thou\nfight with him: lest at a future time \u00c6gial\u00eba, the very prudent\ndaughter of Adrastus, the noble spouse of horse-taming Diomede,\ngrieving, should rouse her servants from sleep, longing for the husband\nof her youth, the bravest of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 213: (return)  Speaking of these humiliations of the gods,\nGrote, Hist. t. i. p. 78, well observes: \u201cThe god who serves is for a\ntime degraded; but the supreme god who commands the servitude is in the\nlike proportion exalted, whilst the idea of some sort of order and\ngovernment among these super-human beings was never lost sight of.\u201d\n\nShe spoke, and with her palms wiped off the ichor from her hand: the\nhand was healed, and the severe pains mitigated. But then Minerva and\nJuno looking on, provoked Saturnian Jove with heart-cutting words; but\namidst them azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus began speaking:\n\n\u201cFather Jove, wilt thou indeed be angry with me on account of what I\nshall say? Surely it must be that Venus, inspiring some one of the\nGrecian women with a desire of accompanying the Trojans, whom now she\nexceedingly loves, while caressing one of those fair-robed Grecian\nwomen, has torn her delicate hand against a golden buckle.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke: but the father of men and gods smiled, and having\ncalled, he thus accosted golden Venus:\n\n\u201cNot to thee, daughter mine, are intrusted warlike works; but do thou\nconfine thyself to the desirable offices of marriage, and all these\nthings shall be a care to swift Mars and to Minerva.\u201d\n\nThus they, indeed, were speaking such things to each other. But\nDiomede, doughty in the din of battle, rushed upon \u00c6neas, conscious\nthat Apollo himself held over him his hands. But he revered not the\nmighty god, for he always longed to slay \u00c6neas, and despoil him of his\nglorious armour. Thrice then, immediately, he rushed on, eager to slay\nhim, and thrice Apollo repelled his shield with violence; but when at\nlength the fourth time he rushed on, like a god, the far-darting Apollo\nmenacing terribly, addressed him: \u201cConsider, O son of Tydeus, and\nretire, nor wish to think things equal with the gods; for the race of\nthe immortal gods and of men walking on the earth is in nowise\nsimilar.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: but the son of Tydeus retired a little, biding the wrath\nof far-darting Apollo. But Apollo placed \u00c6neas apart from the crowd, in\nsacred Pergamus, where his temple was. 214 Latona and shaft-rejoicing\nDiana healed him in the mighty shrine, and adorned him with glory. But\nsilver-bowed Apollo formed a phantom like unto \u00c6neas himself and such\nin arms. Around the phantom the Trojans and the noble Greeks smote on\neach others\u2019 breasts the well-battered ox-hide shields, and the light\nbucklers. Then at length Ph\u0153bus Apollo addressed impetuous Mars:\n\nFootnote 214: (return)  \u201cOn the Trojan citadel of Pergamus itself was a\ntemple of Apollo, Diana and Latona; and hence Homer represents these\nthree deities protecting the falling city.\u201d\u2014\u039c\u00fcller, Dorians, vol. i. p.\n248.\n\n\u201cMars! Mars! man-slaughterer, gore-tainted, wall-batterer! wouldst not\nthou now, meeting this man, the son of Venus, withdraw him from the\nbattle, who would even now cope with father Jove? First, indeed, in\nclose combat, he wounded Venus in the hand, at the wrist; but then he\nassailed me, like unto a god.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he sat down on lofty Pergamus; but destructive Mars\naroused the ranks of the Trojans, going through them, assimilating\nhimself to Acamus, the swift leader of the Thracians, and thus he\nharangued the Jove-nourished sons of Priam:\n\n\u201cYe sons of Priam, Jove-nourished king, how long will ye suffer the\npeople to be slain by the Greeks? Is it until they fight around the\nwell-made gates? A hero lies prostate, whom we honoured equally with\nnoble Hector, the son of magnanimous Anchises. But come, let us rescue\nfrom the assault our excellent companion.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he excited the might and courage of heart. Then\nSarpedon much rebuked noble Hector:\n\nHector, where now has that strength gone, which thou didst formerly\npossess? Thou saidst, I ween, that thou, with thy kindred and thy\nbrothers, couldst defend the city without the forces and allies. Now I\ncan neither see nor perceive any of these; but they crouch down, like\ndogs but a lion: we, on the contrary, who are here mere allies, bear\nthe brunt of the fight. Even I, being thine ally, have come from a very\ngreat distance; for far off is Lycia, at lying Xanthus, where I left my\nbeloved wife and my infant son, and many possessions, which he who is\npoor covets: but I, nevertheless, exhort the Lycians, and ready myself\nto fight with that hero; and yet there is here to me such store as the\nGreeks can carry or let. But thou standest still, and dost not exhort\neven the forces to stand and to defend their wives. Beware perchance,\nas though ensnared in the meshes of an alluring net, thou become a prey\nand a spoil to hostile for quickly will they destroy thy well-inhabited\ncity. As it behoves thee, both night and day, to interest thyself in\nthese matters, beseeching the chiefs of thy far-summoned force to\npersevere with ardour, and forego their violent strife.\n\nThus spoke Sarpedon, but his speech gnawed the heart of Hector, and\nimmediately he leaped from his chariot with his armour to the ground,\nand brandishing his sharp spear, went in all directions through the\narmy, exhorting the battle; and he stirred up a grievous conflict. The\nTrojans rallied and stood against the Greeks; but the Greeks stood in\nclose array, withstood them, nor fled.\n\nAnd as the wind scatters the chaff about the threshing-floors, when men\nare winnowing [it], and yellow Ceres is separating both the grain and\nthe chaff, the winds rush along; and the chaff-heaps 215 grow white\nbeneath; thus then the Greeks became white with the chaff from above,\nwhich indeed through them, as they again mingled in the combat, the\nfeet of the steeds struck up [the ground] to the brazen heaven; for the\ncharioteers turning back. But they directed the strength of theirs\nstraight forward; and fierce Mars spread a vapour over the battle,\naiding the Trojans, going about everywhere, echoing the commands of\ngolden-sworded Ph\u0153bus Apollo and ordered him to excite the courage of\nthe Trojans, whenever he should see Pallas Minerva departing; for she\nwas an ally of the Greeks. But he sent forth \u00c6neas from his very rich\nshrine and infused strength into the breast of the shepherd of the\npeople.\n\nFootnote 215: (return)  But cf. Schol. \u03bf\u1f31 \u03c4\u03cc\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f53\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 \u1f04\u03c7\u03c5\u03c1\u03b1\n\u1f10\u03ba\u03c0\u03af\u03c0\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9.\n\nThen \u00c6neas placed himself amidst his companions and they rejoiced when\nthey saw him approaching alive, unhurt and having excellent strength.\nThey did not ever, ask any questions; for a different labour did not\npale which the silver-bowed god and man-slaughtering war and Strife\ninsatiably raging, had excited. But then Greeks, the two Ajaces, and\nUlysses and Diomede, urged on to fight. But they, even by themselves,\nfeared neither the violent attacks 216 of the Trojans, nor their\nshouts: but remained firm, like unto clouds, which the son of Saturn,\nduring a calm, has placed upon the lofty mountains, at rest, when the\nmight of Boreas sleeps, 217 and of the other impetuous winds, which,\nblowing with shrill blasts, disperse the shadowy clouds. Thus the\nGreeks awaited the Trojans, standing firm, nor fled. But the son of\nAtreus kept hurrying through the host, exhorting them much:\n\n\u201cO friends, be men, and assume a valiant heart, and feel shame 218\ntowards each other through the fierce engagements: for more of those\nmen who dread shame are safe, than are slain; but from fugitives\nneither does any glory arise, nor any assistance.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and darted with his spear quickly, and struck D\u00ebicoon, son of\nPergasis, a warrior chief, the companion of magnanimous \u00c6neas, whom the\nTrojans honoured equally with the sons of Priam; since he was prompt to\nfight amidst the van. Him then king Agamemnon struck in the shield with\nhis spear, but it [the shield] did not repel the spear, for even\nthrough this it passed onwards, and pierced him through the belt, at\nthe lower part of the stomach. And he made a crash as he fell, and his\narms rattled over him.\n\nHere then \u00c6neas slew some brave heroes of the Greeks,\u2014Crethon and\nOrsilochus, the sons of Diocles: their father, indeed, rich in\nsustinence, 219 dwelt in well-built Pher\u00e6; but his origin was from the\nriver Alpheus, which flows widely through the land of the Pylians.\nAlpheus begat Orsilochus, a prince over many men; but Orsilochus begat\nmagnanimous Diocles; and of Diocles were born two sons, Crethon and\nOrsilochus, well skilled in all kinds of battle. These, indeed, in the\nbloom of youth, in their sable ships followed with the Argives to Ilium\nfamed for noble steeds, seeking honour for the sons of Atreus,\nAgamemnon and Menelaus: but there the end of death overshadowed them.\n\nFootnote 216: (return)  Such seems to be the force of the plural \u03b2\u03af\u03b1\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 217: (return)  \u201cAscending, while the north wind\nsleeps.\u201d\u2014Milton, P. L. ii. 489.\n\nFootnote 218: (return)  I. e. be ashamed to fly or give way. Compare\nPlato, Sympos. p. 317, F. G. ed. L\u00e6m., where he dwells upon the\nadvantages of friends fighting together, as rendering men ashamed of\nany cowardly action.\n\nFootnote 219: (return)  This construction with the genitive is very\ncommon in Latin. Virg. Georg. ii. 468: \u201cdives opum.\u201d \u00c6n. i. 18; Hor.\nEp. ii. 2, 31; Od. iv. 8, 5; Silius, i. 393.\n\nThey two, 220 just as two lions have been reared under their dam, amid\nthe thickets of a deep wood, on a mountain\u2019s heights; they in process\nof time seizing oxen and fat sheep, lay waste the stalls of men, till\nat length they are themselves killed by the hands of men with the sharp\nbrass; such these two, subdued by the hands of \u00c6neas, fell like lofty\nfirs. Then Menelaus, brave in the din of war, pitied them fallen, and\nwent through the van, equipped in shining brass, brandishing his spear;\nfor Mars kindled his strength, with the design that he should be\nsubdued by the hands of \u00c6neas.\n\nBut him Antilochus, son of magnanimous Nestor, beheld, and proceeded\nthrough the van, for he feared much for the shepherd of the people,\nlest he should suffer anything, and greatly disappoint them of [the\nfruits of] their labour. And now they were stretching forth their hands\nand sharp spears against each other, eager to fight; but Antilochus\nstood very near the shepherd 221 of the people. But \u00c6neas, though a\nbrisk warrior, remained not, when he beheld the two heroes standing\nnear each other. When, therefore, they had drawn the dead bodies 222 to\nthe people of the Greeks, they gave the miserable pair into the hands\nof their companions; and they themselves, returning back, fought in the\nvan.\n\nFootnote 220: (return)  The order is, \u03c4\u03ce\u03b3\u03b5, \u03bf\u1f34\u03c9 \u03bb\u03ad\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b4\u03cd\u03c9. Anthon\nrefers to K\u00fchner 1. 443, 4, p. 97, Jelf\u2019s Translation.\n\nFootnote 221: (return)  See note on ver. 50.\n\nFootnote 222: (return)  Of the sons of Diocles.\n\nThen they slew Pyl\u00e6menes, equal to Mars, general of the magnanimous\nshielded Paphlagonians. Him indeed the son of Atreus, spear-renowned\nMenelaus, wounded with a spear as he stood, having smote him on the\ncollar-bone. But Antilochus on his part smote the charioteer Mydon, his\nbrave attendant, the son of Atymnias (now he was in the act of turning\nhis solid-hoofed steeds), having struck him with a hand-stone on the\nelbow; immediately the reins, white with ivory, fell from his hands on\nthe ground in the dust. But Antilochus, rushing on, smote him with his\nsword in the temple, and panting he fell from the well-made chariot,\nheadlong in the dust, on his head and his shoulders. Very long he stood\n(for he fell on deep sand), till the two horses, striking him, cast him\nto the ground in the dust: but Antilochus lashed them on, and drove\nthem to the army of the Greeks.\n\nBut them Hector discerned through the ranks, and rushed on them,\nvociferating, and with him followed the brave phalanxes of the Trojans.\nMars and venerable Bellona led them; she, on the one hand, bearing with\nher tumultuous Din, but Mars, on the other, brandished a huge spear in\nhis hands. At one time, indeed, he paced before Hector, at another\nafter him.\n\nBut him Diomede, brave in fight, seeing, trembled. As when a man,\nuncertain of his course, passing over a great plain, has stopped at a\nswift-flowing river, running into the sea, beholding it boiling with\nfoam, and retreats back in haste: so then did the son of Tydeus retire,\nand he said to the host:\n\n\u201cO friends, how do we all admire noble Hector, that he is both a\nspearman and a daring warrior! But with him one at least of the gods is\never present, who wards off death; even now Mars in person stands by\nhim like unto a mortal man. But retreat back, [with your faces] turned\nalways to the Trojans, nor desire to fight valiantly against the gods.\u201d\n\nThus then he said: but the Trojans advanced very near them. There\nHector slew two heroes skilled in battle, Menesthes and Anchialus,\nbeing in one chariot. But mighty Telamonian Ajax pitied them falling;\nand advancing he stood very near them, and launched with his shining\nspear, and smote Amphius, son of Selagus, who, exceedingly rich in\nproperty and crops, dwelt in P\u00e6sus. But fate had led him as an ally to\nPriam and his sons. Him Telamonian Ajax smote on the belt, and the\nlong-shadowed spear was fixed in the pit of his stomach. Falling, he\nmade a crash, and illustrious Ajax ran up to him, about to spoil [him\nof] his armour; but the Trojans poured upon him sharp spears, shining\nall around, and his shield received many. But he, pressing on him with\nhis heel, drew from the body his brazen spear; however, he was not able\nto take off from his shoulders any other beautiful armour, for he was\npressed upon with weapons. He also dreaded the stout defence of haughty\nTrojans, 223 who, both numerous and doughty, stood around, stretching\nforth their spears, and who drove him away from them, although being\nmighty, and valiant, and renowned. But he, retiring, was repelled by\nforce.\n\nFootnote 223: (return)  Cf. Lex. Seg. 6, p. 336. Bekk.: \u1f00\u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03c7\u03bf\u03c2,\n\u03c3\u03b5\u03bc\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2, \u1f51\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03cc\u03c0\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2, \u03d1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03cd\u03c2. On the different and doubtful etymologies of\nthis word, see Alberti on Hesych. t. i. p, 44, and Buttm. Lexil. p. 19,\nsq.\n\nThus they, on the one hand, toiled through the violent conflict. But\nviolent fate urged on Tlepolemus, the brave and great son of Hercules,\nagainst godlike Sarpedon. But when they, the son and grandson of\ncloud-collecting Jove, were now rushing against one another, Tlepolemus\nfirst addressed him [Sarpedon]:\n\n\u201cSarpedon, chief of the Lycians, what necessity is there for thee,\nbeing a man unskilled in war, to tremble here? Falsely do they say that\nthou art the offspring of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, since thou art far\ninferior to those heroes, who were of Jove, in the time of ancient men.\nBut what sort do they say that Hercules was, my bold-minded,\nlion-hearted father? who formerly coming hither, on account of the\nsteeds of Laomedon, with six ships only, and with a few men, laid waste\nthe city of Ilium, and widowed its streets. But thou hast an ignoble\nmind, and thy forces are perishing away; nor do I think that thou wilt\nbe an assistance to the Trojans, having come from Lycia, not even if\nthou be exceedingly valiant; but that, slain by me, thou wilt pass\nthrough the gates of Hades.\u201d\n\nBut him Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, in return accosted:\n\u201cTlepolemus, he indeed overturned sacred Ilium, through the folly of\nthe hero, famous Laomedon, who reproved with harsh language him who had\ndeserved well, nor did he give back the steeds, on account of which he\ncame from afar. But I tell thee that here slaughter and gloomy death\nwill befall thee at my hands; and that, subdued by my spear, thou wilt\ngive glory to me, and a spirit to steed-famed 224 Pluto.\u201d\n\nFootnote 224: (return)  An epithet probably derived from the steeds\n(\u201cinferni raptoris equos,\u201d Claudian, de R. P. i. 1) employed in the\nabduction of Proserpine.\n\nThus spoke Sarpedon: but Tlepolemus raised his ashen spear, and from\ntheir hands, at the same moment, flew the long spears. Sarpedon, on his\npart, struck the centre of [his adversary\u2019s] neck, and the grievous\nweapon passed right through; and gloomy night overspread his eyes. But\nTlepolemus in the meantime had struck Sarpedon in the left thigh with\nhis long spear; and the spear, rushing with violence, passed through,\ngrazing the bone: but his father as yet averted death.\n\nHis noble companions bore godlike Sarpedon from the battle; but the\nlong spear, trailed along with him, pained him; but this no one of them\nhastening noticed, nor thought of extracting from his thigh the ashen\nspear, that he might ascend the chariot; for such anxiety did his\nattendants entertain for him. But on the other side the well-greaved\nGreeks carried Tlepolemus from the fight; and divine Ulysses,\npossessing an enduring heart, perceived them, and his soul was stirred\nwithin him. And then he anxiously pondered in his mind and soul,\nwhether he should pursue farther the son of loud-thundering Jove, or\nshould take away the lives of many more Lycians. But it was not fated\nfor magnanimous Ulysses to slay the brave son of Jove with the sharp\nspear. Therefore Minerva turned his thoughts towards the multitude of\nthe Lycians. Then he slew C\u0153ranus, and Alastor, and Chromius, and\nAlcander, and Halius, and No\u00ebmon, and Prytanis. And yet more Lycians\nwould noble Ulysses have slain, had not mighty crest-tossing Hector\nquickly perceived him. He therefore went through the van, armed in\nshining brass, bearing terror to the Greeks: then Sarpedon, the son of\nJove, rejoiced at him approaching, and spoke [this] mournful address:\n\n\u201cO son of Priam, I pray thee, suffer me not to lie a prey to the\nGreeks, but aid me. Even then 225 let life forsake me in thy city;\nsince I was not destined to gladden my dear wife and infant son,\nreturning home to my dear fatherland.\u201d\n\nFootnote 225: (return)  I. e. when you have rescued my body from the\nfoe, I will die content in Troy.\u2014Anthon.\n\nThus he spoke: but him plume-waving Hector answered nought, but flew\npast him, in order that he might repel the Greeks with all haste, and\ntake away the lives of many. His noble companions meantime placed\ngodlike Sarpedon under a very beautiful beech of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove.\nStout Pelagon then, who was his beloved companion, forced out the ashen\nspear from his thigh. Thereupon animation left him, and darkness was\npoured over his eyes; but he again revived, for the breeze of Boreas,\nbreathing upon him around, refreshed in spirit him panting with\ndifficulty.\n\nBut the Greeks, on account of Mars and brazen-helmed Hector, neither\nwere driven at any time back to their sable ships, nor did they advance\nforward to battle; but always kept giving ground, since they had heard\nthat Mars was with the Trojans.\n\nThen whom first, whom last did Hector, the son of Priam, and brazen\nMars slay? The godlike Teuthras, and moreover the knight Orestes, the\n\u00c6tolian spearman Trechus, and \u0152nomaus, and Helenus of the race of\n\u0152nops, and Oresbius of flexible 226 belt, who dwelt in Hyla, near the\nlake Cephissus, very intent on wealth: and near him dwelt other\nB\u0153otians, having a very rich territory.\n\nFootnote 226: (return)  Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 66. I. e. \u201ca belt which he\ncould easily move, and which, from its suppleness and flexibility,\nyielded to the pressure of his person.\u201d\u2014Anthon.\n\nWhen therefore the white-armed goddess Juno perceived these Greeks\nperishing in the violent engagement, straightway to Minerva she\naddressed winged words:\n\n\u201cStrange! O daughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, unwearied one, certainly we\nhave made a vain promise to Menelaus, that he should return after\nhaving destroyed well-walled Ilium, if we suffer destructive Mars thus\nto rage. But come, let us too bethink ourselves of some powerful aid.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; nor did the azure-eyed goddess Minerva disobey her.\nJuno, on her part, venerable goddess, daughter of mighty Saturn,\nquickly moving, harnessed her gold-caparisoned steeds; but Hebe\nspeedily applied to the chariot, to the iron axletree on both sides,\nthe curved wheels, golden, with eight spokes. Of these, indeed, the\nfelloe is of gold, imperishable: but above [are] brazen tires fastened\non them, wonderful to be seen; but the circular naves on both sides are\nof silver; and the body 227 was stretched on with gold and silver\nthongs (there was a double circular rim); from this projected a silver\npole; at its extremity she bound the golden, beauteous yoke, and to it\nattached the beautiful golden poitrels. But Juno, longing for conquest\nand battle, led the swift-footed steeds under the yoke.\n\nFootnote 227: (return)  \u03b4\u03af\u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 is properly the seat, but is here put\nfor the whole chariot.\n\nMinerva, on the other hand, the daughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, let flow\ndown on her father\u2019s floor her dainty robe of variegated hue, which she\nherself had wrought and worked with her own hands: then she, having put\non her tunic, equipped herself for the tearful war in the armour of\ncloud-compelling Jove, and around her shoulders she then threw the\nfringed \u00e6gis, dreadful, around which on all sides Terror appears\nplumed. Thereon was Strife, thereon Fortitude, and thereon was chilling\nPursuit; 228 on it was the Gorgonian head of the dreadful monster,\ndire, horrible, a portent of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove. On her head she placed\nher four-crested helmet, with a spreading metal ridge, 229 golden,\nsufficient for the heavy-armed of a hundred cities. She then stepped\ninto her shining chariot with her feet; and took her spear, heavy,\nhuge, and sturdy, with which she, sprung from a dread sire, subdues the\nranks of heroic men, with whomsoever she is wroth. But Juno with the\nlash quickly urged on the steeds. The gates of heaven creaked\nspontaneously, the gates which the Hours guarded, to whom are intrusted\nthe mighty heaven and Olympus, as well to open the dense cloud as to\nclose it. In this way, indeed, through these gates, they drove their\nsteeds, urged on with the goad: and they found the son of Saturn\nsitting apart from the other gods on the highest summit of many-peaked\nOlympus. There staying her steeds, the white-armed goddess Juno\ninterrogated supreme Saturnian Jove, and thus addressed him:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, art thou not indignant at Mars for these bold\ndeeds,\u2014how numerous and how choice a multitude of Greeks he has\ndestroyed rashly, nor as became him: a grief indeed to me; but Venus\nand silver-bowed Apollo in quiet are delighted, having let slip this\nfrantic [god], who knows no rights. Father Jove, wilt thou be angry\nwith me if I drive Mars from the battle, having dreadfully wounded\nhim?\u201d\n\nFootnote 228: (return)  Compare  \u03c1\u03bf\u03af\u03c9\u03be\u03b9\u03c2 and  \u03b1\u03bb\u03af\u03c9\u03be\u03b9\u03c2, similarly\npersonified, in Hesiod, Scut. Herc. 134, and Virg. \u00c6n. viii. 701:\n\n    \u201c\u2014tristesque ex \u00e6there Dir\u00e6,\n    Et sciss\u00e2 gaudens vadit Discordia pall\u00e2;\n    Quam cum sanguineo sequitur Bellona flagello.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 229: (return)  See note on iii. 362.\n\nBut her answering, cloud-compelling Jove addressed:\n\n\u201cCome, incite the pillaging Minerva against him, who is very wont to\ncause him to approach grievous woes.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey, but she\nlashed on her steeds. They flew, not unwillingly, midway between the\nearth and the starry heaven. Now, as much haze 230 as a man sees with\nhis eyes, sitting upon some lofty point, and looking over the darkling\nocean, so far do the high-sounding steeds of the gods clear at one\nbound. But when they now reached Troy, and the two flowing rivers,\nwhere Simois and Scamander unite their streams, there the white-armed\ngoddess Juno stayed her steeds, having loosed them from the chariot,\nand shed a dense mist around them. But to them Simois afforded\nambrosial food to feed on.\n\nBut they went on, like unto timid doves in their pace, hastening to\nassist the Grecian heroes. But when they had now arrived where the most\nnumerous 231 and the bravest stood collected in dense array round\nhorse-breaking Diomede, like raw-devouring lions or wild boars, whose\nstrength is not feeble, there standing, the white-armed goddess Juno\nshouted aloud, having likened herself to great-hearted, brazen-voiced\nStentor, who was accustomed to shout as loud as fifty other men:\n\nFootnote 230: (return)  Opposed to the pure air of \u00e6ther. See Buttm.\nLexil. p. 37, sqq.\n\nFootnote 231: (return)  Observe the elegant position of the plural verb\nbetween two singular substantives, according to the Schema Alemanicum.\nCompare Od. K, 513, and Il. Y, 138, which have been pointed out by\nLesbonax, p. 179, ed. Valck.\n\n\u201cShame! ye Greeks! foul subjects of disgrace! admirable in form\n[alone]. As long, indeed, as divine Achilles was wont to be engaged in\nthe war, the Trojans were not in the habit of advancing beyond the\nDardan gates; for they dreaded his mighty spear; but now they fight at\nthe hollow ships, far away from the city.\u201d\n\nThus saying, she aroused the strength and courage of each. The\nazure-eyed goddess Minerva rushed towards the son of Tydeus; but she\nfound that prince by his steeds and chariot, cooling the wound which\nPandarus had inflicted on him with a shaft. For perspiration had\nafflicted him beneath the broad belt of his well-orbed shield: with\nthis was he afflicted, and he was fatigued as to his hand; and raising\nthe belt, he wiped away the black gore. Then the goddess touched the\nyoke of the horses, and said:\n\n\u201cLittle like himself has Tydeus begotten a son. Tydeus was certainly\nsmall in body, but a warrior. And even when I suffered him not to\nfight, nor to rush furiously to battle, when he came far from the\nGreeks, an ambassador to Thebes to the numerous Cadmeans, I commanded\nhim to feast quietly in the palaces; but he, retaining his doughty\nspirit, as before, challenged the youths, the Cadmeans, and easily\nconquered them in everything; so great an auxiliary was I to him. But\nthee, indeed, I stand by and preserve, and I exhort thee freely to\nfight against the Trojans. But either weariness, from great toil, has\nentered thy limbs, or at least disheartening fear in some manner\npossesses thee. Thou art not henceforth to be deemed at least the son\nof Tydeus, the gallant son of \u00c6neus.\u201d\n\nBut her valiant Diomede answering addressed: \u201cI know thee, O goddess,\ndaughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove; therefore will I willingly tell this\nword to thee, nor will I conceal it. Neither does any disheartening\nfear possess me, nor any sloth: but as yet I am mindful of thy\nmandates, which thou didst enjoin. Thou didst not suffer me to fight\nwith the other happy gods; but if Venus, the daughter of Jove, should\ncome into the battle, to wound her at least with the sharp steel.\nWherefore now I myself retire, and have ordered all the other Greeks to\nbe collected here: for I perceive Mars dispensing the battle.\u201d\n\nBut him the azure-eyed goddess Minerva then answered: \u201cDiomede, son of\nTydeus, most dear to my soul, neither fear this Mars at all, nor any\nother of the immortals; such an auxiliary am I to thee. But come, first\ndirect thy solid-hoofed steeds against Mars, strike him in close\ncombat, nor regard impetuous Mars, this frenzied and unnatural pest,\nshifter from one to another; who lately haranguing promised me and\nJuno, that he would fight against the Trojans, and aid the Greeks; but\nnow he mixes with the Trojans, and has forgotten these.\u201d\n\nThus having said, she forced Sthenelus from his horses to the ground,\ndragging him back with her hand; but he promptly leaped down. Then the\ngoddess herself, infuriate, ascended the chariot beside noble Diomede,\nand greatly did the beechen axle groan under the weight; for it bore a\ndreadful goddess and a very brave hero. Then Pallas Minerva seized the\nscourge and the reins. Straightway she drove the solid-hoofed steeds\nagainst Mars first. He, indeed, had just slain huge Periphas, the\nillustrious son of Ochesius, by far the bravest of the \u00c6tolians. Him\nindeed gore-stained Mars slew; but Minerva put on the helmet of Pluto\nthat impetuous Mars might not see her.\n\nBut when man-slaughtering Mars saw noble Diomede, he suffered huge\nPeriphas to lie there, where first slaying him he had taken away his\nlife, but he went straight against horse breaking Diomede. And when\nthese came near, advancing against each other, Mars first, over the\nyoke and the reins of the steeds, stretched himself forward with his\nbrazen spear, eager to take away his life. It then the azure-eyed\ngoddess Minerva having caught in her hand, turned from the chariot, so\nas to be borne away in vain. But next Diomede, valiant in the din of\nwar, made the attack with his brazen spear; and Pallas Minerva firmly\nfastened it in his lowest flank, where he was girt with his belt. In\nthat very part striking, she wounded him, and tore his beautiful skin,\nand drew out the spear again. Then roared brazen Mars, as loud as nine\nor ten thousand men roar in war, joining the strife of battle. And then\nfear seized the terrified Greeks and Trojans, so loud bellowed Mars,\ninsatiate of war.\n\nAnd as when from the clouds, a gloomy haze appears, a heavy-blowing\nwind arising from heat; such did brazen Mars appear to Diomede, son of\nTydeus, going amid the clouds into the broad heaven. Quickly he reached\nlofty Olympus, the seat of the gods, and sat near Saturnian Jove,\ngrieving in his heart, and showed the immortal blood flowing down from\nthe wound, and complaining, he spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cFather Jove, art thou not incensed beholding these violent deeds?\nEver, of a truth, are we deities suffering most grievous woes from the\nmachinations of each other, and [whilst] conferring favour upon men. We\nall are indignant with thee; 232 for thou hast begotten a mad,\npernicious daughter, to whom evil works are ever a care. For all the\nother gods, as many as are in Olympus, obey thee, and unto thee each of\nus is subject. But her thou restrainest not by words, nor by any act,\nbut dost indulge her, since thou thyself didst beget this destructive\ndaughter. Who now has urged on Diomede, the overbearing son of Tydeus,\nto rage against the immortal gods. Venus he first wounded, in close\nfight, in the hand at the wrist; and, equal to a god, he afterwards\nrushed on myself; but my swift feet withdrew me; [otherwise] I should\ncertainly for a long time have endured woes there amidst the dreadful\nheaps of slain, or living should have been exhausted by the strokes of\nthe brass.\u201d\n\nFootnote 232: (return)  Or, \u201cthrough thee we are all at variance,\u201d\ntaking \u03c3\u03bf\u03af as put for \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac \u03c3\u03ad with Lesbonax, \u03c0\u03b5\u03bf\u03af \u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc. p. 186;\nHesychius, t. ii. p. 1234, and the Scholiast.\n\nHim sternly regarding, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: \u201cComplain not\nto me, inconstant one, sitting by me: for thou art most hateful to me,\nof all the gods that possess Olympus: for to thee discord is ever\ngrateful, and wars and battles: thou hast thy mother Juno\u2019s\ninsufferable and unbending disposition, which I myself can scarcely\nrepress with words. Wherefore I think thou sufferest these things by\nher instigation. Yet no longer can I endure thy suffering pain, for\nthou art my offspring, and to me thy mother brought thee forth. But\nhadst thou, destructive as thou art, been born of any other of the\ngods, even long since hadst thou been far lower than the sons of\nUranus.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and ordered P\u00e6on to heal him: and P\u00e6on healed him,\nspreading [on his wound] pain-assuaging medicines; for he was not by\nany means mortal. As when fig-tree juice, 233 on being stirred about,\ncurdles the white milk, fluid before, and it very rapidly coagulates,\nwhile one is mixing it; thus at that time did he speedily heal\nimpetuous Mars. Hebe then washed him, and put on him beautiful\ngarments. Then, exulting in glory, near Saturnian Jove he sat down.\n\nAnd now again Argive Juno and the powerful assistant Minerva returned\nto the palace of mighty Jove, after having stayed man-slaying Mars from\nhis deeds of slaughter.\n\nFootnote 233: (return)  Used as rennet.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE SIXTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nThe gods having left the field, victory now inclines to the side of the\nGreeks, and Helenus counsels Hector to order a public supplication to\nMinerva in the citadel. While Hector is gone to the city for that\npurpose, Diomedes and Glaucus recognize the friendship which had\nformerly existed between their fathers, and exchange armour in token of\namity. Hecuba and the Trojan matrons present a robe to Minerva, and\noffer up prayers for their country. Hector reproves Paris, and brings\nhim back to the field, having first taken an affecting farewell of his\nwife and child.\n\n\nAnd now the dreadful battle of the Trojans and the Greeks was\nabandoned. Often here and there the battle raged through the plain,\n[the combatants] directing against each other their brass-tipped\nspears, between the rivers of Simois and Xanthus.\n\nFirst Telamonian Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks, broke through the\nphalanx of the Trojans, and gave light 234 to his companions, smiting\nthe good and mighty hero Acamas, son of Eyssorus, who was the bravest\namongst the Thracians. First he struck him on the ridge of the\nhorse-haired helmet; and the brazen spear fixed itself in his forehead,\nand passed on within the bone; but darkness veiled his eyes.\n\nFootnote 234: (return)  _I. e._ the light of hope. Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. ii,\n281: \u201cO _lux_ Dardani\u00e6, _spes_ \u00f4 fidissima Teucr\u00fbm.\u201d Quintus Calab.\niii. 561. \u0388\u03c0\u03b5\u1f76 \u03c3\u03cd \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u1f76\u03b5\u03c1o\u03bd \u1f97\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03d5\u03ac\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f74\u03b5\u03bb\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf \u03c0\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03c2.\n\nBut Diomede, brave in the din of war, slew Axylus, the son of Teuthras,\nwho dwelt in well-built Arisba, rich in wealth, and he was beloved by\nmen, for dwelling in a house near the public way, he was wont to afford\nentertainment to all. But none of them [his guests] coming up before\nhim, warded off sad death; but [Diomede] deprived both of life, himself\nand his attendant Calesius, who then was the charioteer of his steeds,\nand both these entered the earth.\n\nAnd Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius; and afterwards went against\n\u00c6sepus and Pedasus, whom formerly the Naiad nymph Abarbarea brought\nforth to blameless Bucolion. Bucolion was the son of illustrious\nLaomedon, eldest by birth, but him his mother brought forth secretly.\nWhile [Bucolion] was a shepherd, he was mingled in love and nuptials\nwith her amongst the sheep; but she becoming pregnant, brought forth\ntwin sons. And truly the son of Mecisteus 235 relaxed their strength\nand their illustrious limbs, and tore the armour from their shoulders.\nAnd next warlike Polyp\u0153tes slew Astyalus. Ulysses killed Percosian\nPidytes with his brazen spear; and Agamemnon, king of men, slew Elatus.\nHe dwelt at lofty Pedasus, on the banks of fair-flowing Satniois. The\nhero Le\u00eftus slew Phylacus flying; and Eurypylus killed and spoiled\nMelanthius.\n\nFootnote 235: (return)  Euryalus.\n\nIn the next place Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, took Adrastus\nalive; for his two steeds, flying bewildered over the plain, coming in\nviolent contact with a branch of tamarisk, and having broken the curved\nchariot at the extremity of the pole, themselves flew towards the city,\nwhither others also fled terrified. But he was rolled from his chariot\nnear the wheel, prone in the dust on his mouth: but near him stood\nMenelaus, the son of Atreus, holding his long-shadowed spear. Adrastus\nthen embracing his knees supplicated him:\n\n\u201cTake me alive, O son of Atreus, and receive a worthy ransom; in my\nwealthy father\u2019s [house] 236 lie abundant stores, brass and gold, and\nwell-wrought steel; out of which my sire will bestow on thee countless\nransom-gifts, if he shall hear that I am alive at the ships of the\nGreeks.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and persuaded his mind in his breast, and already he was\non the point of consigning him to the care of his attendant to conduct\nhim to the ships of the Greeks: but Agamemnon running up, met him, and\nshouting in a chiding tone, spoke:\n\n\u201cO soft one, O Menelaus, why art thou thus so much concerned for these\nmen? In sooth very kind offices were done to thee in thy family by the\nTrojans. 237 Of whom let none escape utter destruction, and our hands;\nnot even him whom the mother carries, being an infant in her womb, let\nnot even him escape; but let all the inhabitants of Ilium perish\ntotally, without burial-rites, and obscure.\u201d\n\nFootnote 236: (return)  Supply \u03bf\u03ca\u03ba\u1ff3 or \u03b4\u03cc\u03bc\u03c9.\n\nFootnote 237: (return)  Ironically spoken.\n\nThus having said, the hero changed his brother\u2019s mind, having advised\nright things: but he, with his hand, thrust back the hero Adrastus from\nhim; and him king Agamemnon smote in the belly, and he was cast supine.\nBut the son of Atreus planting his heel upon his breast, drew out the\nashen spear.\n\nThen Nestor exhorted the Greeks, exclaiming aloud: \u201cO friends, Grecian\nheroes, servants of Mars, let no one now, desirous of spoil, linger\nbehind, that he may return bringing abundance to the ships; but let us\nslay the men, and afterwards at your leisure, shall ye spoil the dead\nbodies through the plain.\u201d\n\nThus having said, he aroused the might and courage of each. And then\ntruly had the Trojans retreated into Ilium, under the influence of the\nMars-beloved Greeks, conquered through their own cowardice, had not\nHelenus, son of Priam, by far the best of augurs, standing near, spoken\nthese words to \u00c6neas and to Hector:\n\n\u201c\u00c6neas and Hector, since upon you chiefly of the Trojans and Lydians\nthe labour devolves, because ye are the bravest for every purpose, both\nto fight and to take counsel, stand here, and stay the forces before\nthe gates, running in all directions, before that, on the contrary,\nflying they fall into the arms of their wives, and become a triumph to\nthe enemies. But after ye have exhorted all the phalanxes, we remaining\nhere will fight against the Greeks, though much pressed, for necessity\nurges us. But Hector, do thou go to the city, and then speak to thy\nmother and mine; and let her, collecting together the matrons of\ndistinction 238 into the temple of azure-eyed Minerva, on the lofty\ncitadel, [and] having opened the doors of the sacred house with the\nkey, let her place on the knees of fair-haired Minerva the robe which\nseems to her the most beautiful, and the largest in her palace, and\nwhich is much the most dear to her. And let her promise to sacrifice to\nthat goddess in her temple twelve yearling heifers, as yet ungoaded, if\nshe will take compassion on the city and on the wives and infant\nchildren of the Trojans: if indeed she will avert from sacred Ilium the\nson of Tydeus, that ferocious warrior, the dire contriver of flight:\nwhom I declare to be the bravest of the Greeks; nor have we ever to\nsuch a degree dreaded Achilles, chiefest of men, whom they say is from\na goddess: but this man rages excessively, nor can any equal him in\nmight.\u201d\n\nFootnote 238: (return)  Hesych. \u0393\u03b5\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03ac\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd\u03c4\u03af\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u1f76\u03ba\u03b1\u03c2, \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03b3\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9\n\u1f10\u03c7\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2.\n\nThus he said, but Hector was by no means disobedient to his brother;\nand instantly from his chariot he leaped to the ground with his arms,\nand brandishing his sharp spears, he went in all directions through the\narmy, inciting them to fight: and he stirred up dreadful battle. But\nthey rallied round, and stood opposite the Greeks. But the Greeks\nretreated, and desisted from slaughter; for they thought that some of\nthe immortals, from the starry heaven, had descended to aid the\nTrojans, in such a way did they rally. But Hector exhorted the Trojans,\nexclaiming aloud:\n\n\u201cCourageous Trojans and far-summoned 239 allies, be men, my friends,\nand recall to mind your daring valour, whilst I go to Ilium, and tell\nto the aged counsellors, and to our wives, to pray to the gods, and to\nvow them hecatombs.\u201d\n\nFootnote 239: (return)  Or \u03c4\u03b7\u03bb\u03b5\u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03c4\u03bf\u03af, far-famed. See Anthon on v.\n491.\n\nThus having spoken, crest-tossing Hector departed; but about him the\nblack hide, the border which surrounded his bossy shield, kept striking\nhis ankles and his neck.\n\nBut Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, and the son of Tydeus met in the midst\nof both armies, eager to fight. But when now they were near, going\nagainst each other, Diomede, brave in the din of war, first addressed\nhim:\n\n\u201cWho of mortal men art thou, O most brave? For never yet have I beheld\nthee in the glorious fight: but now indeed thou hast far surpassed all\nin thy confidence, since thou hast awaited my long-shadowed spear.\nCertainly they are sons of the hapless who meet my strength. But, if\none of the immortals, thou art come from heaven, I would not fight with\nthe celestial gods. For valiant Lycurgus, the son of Dryas, did not\nlive long, who contended with the heavenly gods; he who once pursued\nthe nurses of raving Bacchus through sacred Nyssa; but they all at once\ncast their sacred implements 240 on the ground, smitten by man-slaying\nLycurgus with an ox-goad; but Bacchus, too, terrified, sunk under the\nwave of the sea, and Thetis received him affrighted in her bosom; for\ndreadful trembling had seized him, on account of the threat of the man.\nWith him the peaceful-living gods were afterwards enraged, and the son\nof Saturn rendered him blind, nor did he live much longer, for he\nbecame an object of aversion to all the immortal gods. Wherefore I\nshould not wish to fight with the blessed gods. But if thou art any one\nof mortals, who eat the fruit of the earth, come hither, that thou\nmayest speedily reach the goal of death.\u201d\n\nFootnote 240: (return)  Not merely the thyrsi. See Anthon.\n\nHim then the renowned son of Hippolochus addressed in turn:\n\u201cMagnanimous son of Tydeus, why dost thou inquire of my race? As is the\nrace of leaves, even such is the race of men. 241 Some leaves the wind\nsheds upon the ground, but the fructifying wood produces others, and\nthese grow up in the season of spring. Such is the generation of men;\none produces, another ceases [to do so]. But if thou wouldst learn even\nthese things, that thou mayest well know my lineage (for many know it),\nthere is a city, Ephyra, in a nook of horse-pasturing Argos; there\ndwelt Sisyphus, who was the most cunning of mortals, Sisyphus, son of\n\u00c6olus; and he begat a son, Glaucus. But Glaucus begat blameless\nBellerophon; to whom the gods gave beauty and agreeable manliness. But\nagainst him Pr\u0153tus devised evils in his soul: who accordingly banished\nhim from the state (since he was far the best of the Greeks; for Jove\nhad subjected them to his sceptre). With him the wife of Pr\u0153tus, noble\nAntea, 242 passionately longed to be united in secret love; but by no\nmeans could she persuade just-minded, wise-reflecting Bellerophon. She,\ntherefore, telling a falsehood, thus addressed king Pr\u0153tus: \u2018Mayest\nthou be dead, O Pr\u0153tus! or do thou slay Bellerophon, who desired to be\nunited in love with me against my will.\u2019 Thus she said: but rage\npossessed the king at what he heard. He was unwilling, indeed, to slay\nhim, for he scrupled this in his mind; but he sent him into Lycia, and\ngave to him fatal characters, writing many things of deadly purport on\na sealed tablet; and ordered him to show it to his father-in-law, to\nthe end that he might perish. He therefore went into Lycia, under the\nblameless escort of the gods; but when now he had arrived at Lycia and\nat the river Xanthus, the king of wide Lycia honoured him with a\nwilling mind. Nine days did he entertain him hospitably, and sacrificed\nnine oxen; but when the tenth rosy-fingered morn appeared, then indeed\nhe interrogated him, and desired to see the token, 243 whatever it was,\nthat he brought from his son-in-law Pr\u0153tus. But after he had received\nthe fatal token of his son-in-law, first he commanded him to slay the\ninvincible Chim\u00e6ra; but she was of divine race, not of men, in front a\nlion, behind a dragon, in the middle a goat, 244 breathing forth the\ndreadful might of gleaming fire. And her indeed he slew, relying on the\nsigns of the gods. Next he fought with the illustrious Solymi: and he\nsaid that he entered on this as the fiercest fight among men. Thirdly,\nhe slew the man-opposing Amazons. But for him returning the king wove\nanother wily plot. Selecting the bravest men from wide Lycia, he placed\nan ambuscade; but they never returned home again, for blameless\nBellerophon slew them all. But when [Iobates] knew that he was the\noffspring of a god, he detained him there, and gave him his daughter:\n245 he also gave him half of all his regal honour. The Lycians also\nseparated for him an enclosure of land, excelling all others, pleasant,\nvine-bearing, and arable, that he might cultivate it. But this woman\nbrought forth three children to warlike Bellerophon, Isandrus,\nHippolochus, and Laodamia. Provident Jove, indeed, had clandestine\nintercourse with Laodamia, and she brought forth godlike, brazen-helmed\nSarpedon. But when now even he [Bellerophon] was become odious to all\nthe gods, he, on his part, wandered alone 246 through the Ale\u00efan plain,\n247 pining in his soul, and shunning the path of men. But Mars,\ninsatiable of war, slew his son Isandrus, fighting against the\nillustrious Solymi. And golden-reined Diana, being enraged, slew his\ndaughter. But Hippolochus begat me, and from him I say that I am born;\nme he sent to Troy, and gave me very many commands, always to fight\nbravely, and to be superior to others; and not to disgrace the race of\nmy fathers, who were by far the bravest in Ephyra, and ample Lycia.\nFrom this race and blood do I boast to be.\u201d\n\nFootnote 241: (return)  On this popular Homeric proverb, see Duport,\nGnom. Hom. p. 31, sq.\n\nFootnote 242: (return)  She is more frequently called Sthenob\u0153a, or\nStheneb\u0153a, as by Apollodor. ii. 3,1; Serv. on \u00c6n. v. 118. Fulgentius,\niii. pr\u00e6f., agrees with Homer, giving a ridiculously philosophical\nexplanation of the whole story.\n\nFootnote 243: (return)  Although Apollodorus, l. c. says, \u1f14\u03b4\u03c9\u03ba\u03b5\u03bd\n\u03ad\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u1f70\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u038a\u03bf\u03b6\u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03bf\u03bc\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd, and Hygin. Fab. lvii. \u201cScripsit\ntabellas, et mittit eum ad Iobaten regem,\u201d there is no reason to\nbelieve that letters, properly so called, were yet invented. See\nKnight, Prolegg. p. lxxiv. lxxxii.; Wood, on the original genius of\nHomer, p. 249, sqq.; M\u00fcller, Lit. of Greece, iv. 5 (Bulwer, Athens, i.\n8, boldly advocates the contrary opinion); and Anthon\u2019s note. Compare\nthe similar story of Ph\u00e6dra and Hippolytus.\n\nFootnote 244: (return)  For the different descriptions of the Chim\u00e6ra,\nthe mythological student may compare Muncker on Hygin. Fab. lvii. p.\n104.\n\nFootnote 245: (return)  Philono\u00eb, the sister of Antea.\n\nFootnote 246: (return)  This \u201cmelancholy madness\u201d of Bellerophon has\nbeen well illustrated by Duport, p. 31. Burton, Anatomy, p. 259,\nobserves, \u201cThey delight in floods and waters, desert places, to walk\nalone in orchards, gardens, private walks, back lanes, averse from\ncompany, as Diogenes in his tub, or Timon Misanthropus; they abhor all\ncompanions at last, even their nearest acquaintances and most familiar\nfriends; confining themselves therefore to their private houses or\nchambers, they will diet themselves, feed and live alone.\u201d Hence\nmelancholy was called the \u201cmorbus Bellerophonteus.\u201d See Bourdelot on\nHeliodor. p. 25.\n\nFootnote 247: (return)  Properly, \u201cthe Plain of Wandering.\u201d It lay\nbetween the rivers Pyramus and Pinarus, in Cilicia. Cf. Dionys. Perieg.\n872. \u039a\u03b5\u1fd6\u03b8\u03b9 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03b5\u03b4\u03af\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f08\u03bb\u03ae\u03ca\u03bf\u03bd, \u03bf\u1f57 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03bd\u1ff6\u03c4\u03b1 \u1f08\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd \u1f00\u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd\n\u1f00\u03bb\u03ce\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03af\u03bd\u03b4\u03b9\u03ac\u03b1\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5.\n\nThus he said: and Diomede, valiant in the din of war, rejoiced. His\nspear indeed he fixed in the all-nurturing earth, and next addressed\nthe shepherd of the people in courteous words:\n\n\u201cCertainly thou art my father\u2019s ancient guest; for in his halls noble\n\u0152neus once entertained blameless Bellerophon, having detained him for\ntwenty days; and they bestowed valuable gifts of hospitality on each\nother. \u0152neus on his part gave a belt shining with purple; and\nBellerophon in turn a golden double cup; and this I left in my halls\nwhen I was coming hither. But Tydeus I remember not, for he left me\nwhilst I was yet young, when the people of the Greeks perished at\nThebes. Wherefore I am a guest friend to thee in the midst of Argos,\nand thou art the same to me in Lycia, whenever I shall visit their\nstate. But let us also in the crowd avoid even each other\u2019s spears. For\nthere are many Trojans and illustrious allies for me to slay,\nwhomsoever the deity shall present, and I shall overtake with my feet.\nAnd there are many Greeks in turn for thee to slay, whomsoever thou\ncanst. But let us exchange arms with each other, that even these may\nknow that we profess to be friends by our ancestors.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, leaping down from their steeds, they took each\nother\u2019s hand, and plighted faith. Then Saturnian Jove took away\nprudence from Glaucus, who exchanged armour with Diomede, the son of\nTydeus, [giving] golden [arms] for brazen; the value of a hundred\nbeeves 248 for the value of nine.\n\nBut when Hector arrived at the Sc\u00e6an gates and the beech-tree, around\nhim ran the Trojan wives and daughters inquiring for their sons, their\nbrothers, their friends, and husbands. But he then ordered all in order\nto supplicate the gods, for evils were impending over many.\n\nBut when now he had arrived at the very beautiful dwelling of Priam,\nbuilt with well-polished porticoes; but in it were fifty chambers 249\nof polished marble, built near one another, where lay the sons of Priam\nwith their lawful wives; and opposite, on the other side, within the\nhall, were the twelve roofed chambers of his daughters, of polished\nmarble, built near to one another, where the sons-in-law of Priam slept\nwith their chaste wives. There his fond mother met him, as she was\ngoing to Laodice, the most excellent in form of her daughters: and she\nhung upon his hand, and addressed him, and spoke:\n\nFootnote 248: (return)  See Gellius, ii. 23. It must be remembered that\nin the ancient times, when there was no money, cattle formed the\nstandard of barter.\n\nFootnote 249: (return)  Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. ii. 503; Eur. Hec. 421.\n\n\u201cMy son, why hast thou come, having left the bold fight? Certainly the\nabominable sons of the Greeks harass thee much, fighting around thy\ncity: thy mind hath urged thee to come hither, to uplift thy hands to\nJove from the lofty citadel. But wait till I bring thee genial wine,\nthat first thou mayest make a libation to Jove, and to the other\nimmortal gods, and then thou shalt refresh thyself, if thou wilt drink.\nFor to a wearied man wine greatly increases strength; since thou art\nwearied aiding thy kinsmen.\u201d\n\nBut her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered: \u201cBring me not genial\nwine, venerable mother, lest thou enervate me, and I forget my might\nand valour. But I dread to pour out dark-red wine to Jove with unwashed\nhands: nor is it by any means lawful for me, defiled with blood and\ngore, to offer vows to the cloud-compelling son of Saturn. But go thou\nto the temple of Minerva the pillager, with victims, having assembled\nthe matrons of distinction. And the robe which is the most beautiful\nand the largest in the palace, and by far the most esteemed by thyself,\nthat place on the knees of the fair-haired goddess, and vow that thou\nwilt sacrifice to her, in her temple, twelve heifers, yearlings,\nungoaded, if she will take compassion on the city, and the wives and\ninfant children of the Trojans; if she will avert from sacred Ilium the\nson of Tydeus, that fierce warrior, the valiant author of terror. Do\nthou, on thy part, go to the temple of the pillager Minerva; but I will\ngo after Paris, that I may call him, if he is willing to hear me\nspeaking. Would that the earth might there open for him, for him hath\nOlympian Jove reared as a great bane to the Trojans, to magnanimous\nPriam, and to his sons. Could I but behold him descending to Hades, I\nmight say that my soul had forgotten its joyless woe.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: but she, going to her palace, gave orders to her maids:\nand they assembled through the city the matrons of distinction. But she\ndescended into her fragrant chamber, where were her\nvariously-embroidered robes, the works of Sidonian females, which\ngodlike Alexander himself had brought from Sidon, sailing over the\nbroad ocean, in that voyage in which he carried off Helen, sprung from\na noble sire. Hecuba, taking one of these which was most beauteous with\nvarious hues, and largest, brought it as a gift to Minerva; and it\nglittered like a star, and lay the undermost of all. But she hastened\nto set out, and many venerable matrons hurried along with her.\n\nBut when they arrived at the temple of Minerva, in the lofty citadel,\nfair-cheeked Theano, the daughter of Cisseus, wife of horse-breaking\nAntenor, opened to them the gates; for the Trojans had made her\npriestess of Minerva. They all, with a loud wailing, upraised their\nhands to Minerva. But fair-cheeked Theano having received the garment,\nplaced it on the knees of fair-haired Minerva, and making vows, thus\nprayed to the daughter of mighty Jove:\n\n\u201cVenerable Minerva, guardian of the city, divine one of goddesses,\nbreak now the spear of Diomede, and grant that he may fall prostrate\nbefore the Sc\u00e6an gates, that we may forthwith sacrifice to thee in thy\ntemple twelve yearling untamed heifers, if thou wilt pity the city, and\nthe wives of the Trojans, and their infant children.\u201d\n\nSo she spake in prayer, but Pallas Minerva refused. Thus they, on their\npart, offered vows to the daughter of mighty Jove.\n\nBut Hector had gone to the beautiful halls of Alexander, which he\nhimself had built with the aid of men, who then were the most skilful\nartificers in fruitful Troy: who made for him a chamber, a\ndwelling-room, and hall, in the lofty citadel, near the palaces of\nPriam and Hector. There Jove-beloved Hector entered, and in his hand he\nheld a spear of eleven cubits; the brazen point of the spear shone in\nfront, and a golden ring encircled it. But him he found in his chamber\npreparing his very beauteous armour, his shield and corslet, and\nfitting his curved bow. Argive Helen sat amongst her female servants,\nand assigned their tasks to her maids of renowned work. But Hector,\nseeing, reproached him with foul words:\n\n\u201cInfatuate; not befittingly hast thou conceived this rage in thy mind:\nthe people are perishing, fighting around the city and the lofty wall:\nand on thy account the battle and war are blazing around the city.\nTruly thou wouldst thyself reprove another, if ever thou sawest any\nperson remiss in the hateful battle. But arise, lest perchance the city\nshould quickly blaze with hostile fire.\u201d\n\nBut him godlike Alexander then addressed: \u201cHector, since thou hast with\nreason reproved me, and not without reason, therefore will I tell thee;\nbut do thou attend and hear me. I was sitting in my chamber, neither so\nmuch from anger nor indignation against the Trojans, but [because] I\nwished to give way to grief. But now my wife, advising me with soothing\nwords, hath urged me to the battle, and to myself also it seems to be\nbetter: for victory alternates to men. But come now, wait, let me put\non my martial arms; or go on, and I will follow, and I think that I\nshall overtake thee.\u201d\n\nThus he said, but crest-tossing Hector did not answer him. But Helen\naddressed him [Hector] with soothing words: \u201cBrother-in-law of me,\nshameless authoress of mischief-devising, fearful wretch, would that,\non the day when first my mother brought me forth, a destructive tempest\nof wind had seized and borne me to a mountain, or into the waves of the\nmuch-resounding ocean, where the billow would have swept me away before\nthese doings had occurred. But since the gods have thus decreed these\nevils, I ought at least to have been the wife of a braver man, who\nunderstood both the indignation and the many reproaches of men. But\nthis man\u2019s sentiments are neither constant now, nor will they be\nhereafter; wherefore I think he will reap the fruits [of them]. But\ncome now, enter, and sit on this seat, brother-in-law, since toils have\ngreatly encompassed thy mind, on account of shameless me, and of the\nguilt of Alexander; on whom Jove hath imposed an unhappy lot, that,\neven in time to come, we should be a subject of song to future men.\u201d\n\nBut her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered: \u201cDo not bid me sit,\nHelen, though courteous, for thou wilt not persuade me. For now is my\nmind urged on, that I may aid the Trojans, who have great regret for me\nabsent. But do thou arouse him [Paris], and let him hasten, that he may\novertake me being within the city. For I will go home, that I may see\nmy domestics, my beloved wife, and my infant son. For I know not\nwhether I shall ever again return to them, or whether the gods will now\nsubdue me under the hands of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus having said, crest-tossing Hector departed; and immediately he\nthen arrived at his well-situated palace, nor did he find white-armed\nAndromache in the halls; but she stood lamenting and weeping on the\ntower, with her son and her well-robed maid. But Hector, when he found\nnot his blameless wife within, went and stood at the threshold, and\nsaid to the female servants:\n\n\u201cI pray you, maids, tell me truly whither went white-armed Andromache\nfrom the palace? Has she gone anywhere [to the dwellings] of her\nhusband\u2019s sisters, or [to those] of any of her well-robed\nbrother-in-laws\u2019 wives, or to the temple of Minerva, where the other\nfair-haired Trojan matrons are appeasing the dreadful goddess?\u201d\n\nHim then the active housewife in turn addressed: \u201cHector, since thou\nbiddest me to tell the truth, she has not gone to any of her husband\u2019s\nsisters, nor to any of her well-robed brother-in-laws\u2019 wives, nor to\nthe temple of Minerva, where the other fair-haired Trojan matrons are\nappeasing the dreadful goddess. But she went to the lofty tower of\nIlium, when she heard that the Trojans were worn out, and that the\nvalour of the Greeks was great. She is now on her way, hastening to the\nwall, like unto one frenzied, and the nurse, along with her, bears the\nchild.\u201d\n\nThus spoke the housewife, but Hector hastened away from the palace,\nback the same way through the well-built streets. When he had arrived\nat the Sc\u00e6an gates, after passing through the great city (for by this\nway he was about to pass out into the plain), there met him his\nrichly-dowered spouse running, Andromache, daughter of magnanimous\nEetion: Eetion, who dwelt in woody Hypoplacus, in Hypoplacian Thebes,\nreigning over Cilician men. His daughter then was possessed by\nbrazen-helmed Hector. She then met him; and with her came a maid,\ncarrying in her bosom the tender child, an infant quite, the only son\nof Hector, like unto a beauteous star. Him Hector had named\nScamandrius, but others Astyanax; for Hector alone protected Ilium. He\nindeed, gazing in silence upon his son, smiled. But Andromache stood\nnear to him, weeping, and she hung upon his hand, and addressed him,\nand spoke:\n\n\u201cStrange man! this thy valour will destroy thee; nor dost thou pity thy\ninfant child and unhappy me, who very soon will be bereft of thee, for\npresently the Greeks will slay thee, all attacking thee at once. For me\nmuch better it were to sink into the earth, when bereft of thee; for\nthere will no longer be any other comfort for me when thou shalt draw\non thy destruction; but sorrows only. Nor have I father or venerable\nmother. For divine Achilles slew my father, and laid waste the\nwell-inhabited city of the Cilicians, lofty-gated Thebes. He slew\nEetion, but spoiled him not, he scrupled in his mind [to do] that; but\nhe burned him together with his well-wrought arms, and heaped a tomb\nover him, and around [him] the mountain nymphs, daughters of\n\u00e6gis-bearing Jove, planted elms. Moreover, the seven brothers besides,\nwhom I had at home, all these indeed departed to Hades in one day. For\ndivine, swift-footed Achilles slew them all, amidst their crooked\nhoofed oxen and their snowy sheep. And my mother, who ruled in woody\nHypoplacus, after that he had led her hither with other treasures, he\nsent back at liberty, having received countless ransom-gifts. But her\nthe shaft-rejoicing Diana slew in my father\u2019s hall. But, \u039f Hector, to\nme thou art both father and venerable mother and brother; thou art also\nmy blooming consort. But come now, pity me, and abide here in the\ntower, nor make thy child an orphan and thy wife a widow. And place a\ncompany at the wild fig-tree, where the city is chiefly easy of ascent,\nand the wall can be scaled. For going to this very quarter, the bravest\n[of the Greeks] have thrice assaulted, the two Ajaces, and most\nrenowned Idomeneus, and the sons of Atreus, and the brave son of\nTydeus. Certainly some person well skilled in prophecy mentioned it to\nthem, or their own mind impels and orders them.\u201d\n\nBut her then in turn the mighty crest-tossing Hector addressed:\n\u201cAssuredly to me also are all these things a subject of anxiety, dear\nwife, but I am exceedingly ashamed of the Trojans and the long-robed\nTrojan dames, if I, like a dastard, [keeping] aloof, should avoid the\nbattle: nor does my mind incline me thus, for I have learned to be\nalways brave, and to fight in the foremost among the Trojans, seeking\nto gain both my father\u2019s great glory and mine own. For well I know this\nin my mind and soul; a day will arrive when sacred Ilium shall perish,\nand Priam, and the people of Priam skilled in the ashen spear. But to\nme the grief that is to come will not be so great on account of the\nTrojans, neither for Hecuba herself, nor for king Priam, nor for my\nbrothers, who, many and excellent, are destined to fall in the dust\nbeneath hostile men, as for thee, when some one of the brazen-mailed\nGreeks shall lead thee away weeping, having deprived thee of the day of\nfreedom. And, perchance, being in Argos, thou mayest weave the web at\nthe command of some other dame, and bear water from the fountain of\nMesse\u00efs, or Hyperia, very unwillingly; and hard necessity will oppress\nthee; whilst some one, hereafter beholding thee pouring forth tears,\nwill say, \u2018This was the wife of Hector, who was the bravest in battle\nof the horse-breaking Trojans, when they fought round Ilium.\u2019 Thus will\nsome one hereafter say; but fresh anguish will be thine, from the want\nof such a husband, to avert the day of servitude. But may the heaped\nearth cover me dead, before I hear of this lamentation and abduction.\u201d\n\nThus having said, illustrious Hector stretched out [his arms] for his\nson; but the child, screaming, shrunk back to the bosom of the\nwell-zoned nurse, affrighted at the aspect of his dear sire, fearing\nthe brass and the horse-haired crest, seeing it nodding dreadfully from\nthe top of the helmet: gently his loving father smiled, and his revered\nmother. Instantly illustrious Hector took the helmet from his head, and\nlaid it all-glittering on the ground; and having kissed his beloved\nchild, and fondled him in his hands, thus spoke, praying to Jove and to\nthe other gods:\n\n\u201cJove, and ye other gods, grant that this my son also may become, even\nas I am, distinguished amongst the Trojans, so powerful in might, and\nbravely to rule over Ilium. And may some one hereafter say [concerning\nhim], returning from the fight, \u2018He indeed is much braver than his\nsire.\u2019 And let him bear away the bloody spoils, having slain the foe,\nand let his mother rejoice in her soul.\u201d\n\nThus having said, he placed the boy in the hands of his beloved spouse;\nbut she smiling tearfully received him in her fragrant bosom. Her\nhusband regarding her, pitied her, and soothed her with his hand, and\naddressed her, and said:\n\n\u201cBeloved, be not at all too sad in thine heart on my account. For no\nman shall send me prematurely to the shades. But I think there is no\none of men who has escaped fate, neither the coward nor the brave man,\nafter he has once been born. But do thou, going home, take care of thy\nown works, thy web and distaff, and command thy maids to perform their\ntask; but war shall be a care to all the men who are born in Ilium, and\nparticularly to me.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, illustrious Hector took up the horse-haired helmet,\nand his beloved wife departed home, looking back from time to time, and\nshedding copious tears. Then immediately she reached the very\ncommodious palace of man-slaying Hector, and within she found many\nmaids, and in all of them she excited grief. They, indeed, bewailed in\nhis own palace Hector still alive, for they thought that he would never\nreturn back again from battle, escaping the might and the hands of the\nGreeks.\n\nNor did Paris delay in his lofty halls; but he, after he had put on his\nfamous arms, variegated with brass, then hastened through the city,\nrelying on his swift feet. And as 250 when a stabled courser, fed with\nbarley at the stall, having broken his cord, runs prancing over the\nplain, elate with joy, being accustomed to bathe in some fair-flowing\nriver. He bears aloft his head, and his mane is tossed about on his\nshoulders: but he, relying on his beauty, 251 his knees easily bear him\nto the accustomed pastures 252 of the mares. Thus Paris, the son of\nPriam, shining in arms like the sun, exulting descended down from the\ncitadel of Pergamus, but his swift feet bore him, and immediately after\nhe found his noble brother Hector, when he was now about to depart from\nthe place where he was conversing with his spouse.\n\nFootnote 250: (return)  Cf. Ennius apud Macrob. iv. 3:\n\n    \u201cEt tunc sicut equus, qui de pr\u00e6sepibus actus,\n    Vincla sueis magneis animeis abrumpit, et inde\n    Fert sese campi per c\u00e6rula, l\u00e6taque prata,\n    Celso pectore, s\u00e6pe jubam quassat simul altam;\n    Spiritus ex anima calida spumas agit albas.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 251: (return)  Observe the anacoluthon.\n\nFootnote 252: (return)  An instance of hendiadys.\n\nHim godlike Alexander first addressed: \u201cHonoured brother, assuredly now\nI am altogether detaining thee, although hastening, nor have I come in\ndue time as thou didst order.\u201d\n\nHim then crest-tossing Hector answering addressed: \u201cStrange man! not\nany man indeed, who is just, could dispraise thy deeds of war, for thou\nart brave. But willingly art thou remiss, and dost not wish [to fight];\nand my heart is saddened in my breast, when I hear dishonourable things\nof thee from the Trojans, who have much toil on thy account. But let us\naway, these things we shall arrange hereafter, if ever Jove shall grant\nus to place a free goblet in our halls to the heavenly everlasting\ngods, when we shall have repulsed the well-greaved Greeks from Troy.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE SEVENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nHector challenges the bravest of the Greeks to single combat, and nine\nof the chiefs having cast lots, Ajax is appointed to meet him. Having\nprotracted the contest till night, the combatants exchange gifts, and\nseparate. A truce is then made for the purpose of burying the dead, and\nthe Greeks fortify their camp.\n\n\nThus having said, illustrious Hector rushed forth from the gates, and\nwith him went his brother Alexander, for both were eager in soul to\nwage war and to fight. As when the deity hath given a prosperous wind\nto expecting mariners, after they have become weary, agitating the deep\nwith well-polished oars, and their limbs are relaxed with toil; thus\nthen did those two appear to the expecting Trojans. Then they slew, the\none, 253 indeed, Menesthius, son of king Areitho\u00fcs, who dwelt in Arne,\nwhom the club-bearer Areitho\u00fcs and large-eyed Philomedusa brought\nforth; but Hector smote E\u00efoneus with his sharp spear upon the neck,\nunder his well-wrought brazen helmet, 254 and relaxed his limbs. And\nGlaucus, son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian heroes, in fierce\nengagement smote Iphinous, son of Dexias, upon the shoulder with his\nspear, as he vaulted on his swift mares.\n\nFootnote 253: (return)  _I. e_. Paris. The construction is an instance\nof the \u03c3\u03c7\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u2019 \u03cc\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2. See Jelf, Gk. Gr. \u00a7478, and my note\non \u00c6sch. Prom. p. 8, ed. Bohn.\n\nFootnote 254: (return)  Apollonius, Lex. p. 734. seems to regard the\n\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c6\u03ac\u03bd\u03b7 as a distinct kind of helmet, or cap. So, also, the Schol. and\nHesych. t. ii. p. 186, and p. 1266. Others understand the rim of the\nhelmet. Paschal, de Coronis, i. 2: \u201cEam gale\u00e6 partem quam Hesychius\ndicit habere \u03b5\u03be\u03bf\u03c7\u03ac\u03c2, id quod in galea eminentissimum est. Et vero apud\nPlutarchum distinguitur \u03c4\u03bf \u03ba\u03c1\u03ac\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 galea \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c6\u03ac\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2, ab ejus parte\nqu\u00e6 est in ipsius summitate.\u201d\n\nBut he fell from his mares on the ground, and his limbs were relaxed.\n\nBut when the azure-eyed goddess Minerva saw them destroying the Greeks,\nin fierce engagement, she descended straightway, rushing down from the\ntops of Olympus to sacred Ilium. Then Apollo hastened to meet her,\nhaving perceived her from Pergamus, for he wished victory to the\nTrojans. And they met each other at the beech-tree. Her first king\nApollo, the son of Jove, addressed:\n\n\u201cWhy again dost thou, O daughter of mighty Jove, come ardently from\nOlympus, and why has thy mighty soul impelled thee? It is that thou\nmightst give to the Greeks the doubtful victory of battle, for thou\ndost not pity the Trojans perishing. But if thou obeyest me in aught,\nwhich indeed would be much better, let us now make the war and conflict\nto cease this day, afterwards shall they fight until they find an end\nof Ilium; since it is pleasing to the mind of you goddesses to\noverthrow this city.\u201d 255\n\nFootnote 255: (return)  On the partisan deities for and against Troy,\ncf. Dionys. 817.\n\n    \u201c\u0399\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd, \u1f23\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03b5   \u03bf\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f30 \u0391\u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd,\n    \u0399\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd, \u1f23\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03ac\u03c0\u03b1\u03b6\u03b1\u03bd \u1f08\u03b8\u03b7\u03bd\u03b1\u03af\u03b7 \u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f30 \u1f2b\u03c1\u03b7\u201d.\n\n\n   See Grote\u2019s Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 68.\n\nBut him in turn the azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus addressed: \u201cBe it\nso, Far-darter; for I myself, meditating the same things, came down\nfrom Olympus to the Trojans and the Greeks. But come, how dost thou\nintend to make the battle of men to cease?\u201d\n\nHer then in turn king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed: \u201cLet us\narouse the valiant spirit of horse-breaking Hector, if perchance he\nwill challenge some one of the Greeks to fight against him singly\nopposed in grievous combat. And the well-greaved Greeks enraged will\nurge on some single man to fight with noble Hector.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, nor did the azure-eyed goddess disobey. But Helenus, the\ndear son of Priam, perceived in his mind the counsel, which seemed good\nto the gods deliberating. He therefore went and stood near Hector, and\nthus accosted him:\n\n\u201cHector, son of Priam, equal to Jove in wisdom, wilt thou obey me in\naught? for I am thy brother. Cause all the rest of the Trojans and the\nGreeks to sit down, but do thou thyself challenge whoever is the\nbravest of the Greeks to fight against thee in grievous combat. For it\nis not yet thy fate to die, and draw on fate; for to this effect have I\nheard the voice of the immortal gods.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke. But Hector in turn rejoiced exceedingly, having heard\nhis advice, and accordingly advancing into the midst, grasping his\nspear in the middle, he restrained the phalanxes of the Trojans; and\nthey all sat down. Agamemnon also caused the well-greaved Greeks to sit\ndown; and Minerva also, and silver-bowed Apollo, sat like unto vulture\nbirds, on a lofty beech-tree of their sire, the \u00e6gis-bearing Jove,\ndelighted with the heroes; of these the ranks sat thick, horribly\nbristling with shields, and helmets, and spears. And as the ripple of\nthe west wind, just risen, is poured over the ocean, and the sea begins\nto darken under it, such sat the ranks of the Greeks and Trojans in the\nplain: but Hector thus spoke in the midst of both armies:\n\n\u201cHear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greaved Greeks, whilst I speak what\nthe mind in my breast commands me. Saturnian Jove, indeed, sitting\naloft, has not ratified the leagues, but devising evils against both\nsides, ordains them, till either ye take well-turreted Troy, or\nyourselves fall at your sea-traversing ships. Amongst you, indeed,\nthere are the bravest of all the Greeks, of whom whomsoever his mind\norders to fight with me, let him come hither from amongst all, to be a\nchampion against noble Hector. This then do I propose, but let Jove be\nour witness; if, on the one hand, he shall slay me with his\nlong-pointed spear, having stripped off my armour, let him bear it to\nthe hollow ships, but send my body home, that the Trojans and the wives\nof the Trojans may make me, deceased, a partaker of the funeral pyre.\nBut if, on the other hand, I shall slay him, and Apollo shall give me\nglory, having stripped off his armour, I will bear it to sacred Ilium,\nand I will hang it up on the temple of far-darting Apollo: but his body\nI will send back to the well-benched ships, that the long-haired Greeks\nmay perform his exsequies, and pile up for him a tomb on the wide\nHellespont. And hereafter will some one of future men say, as he sails\nover the sea in his many-benched ship: \u2018This, indeed, is the tomb of a\nhero long since deceased, whom once, bearing himself doughtily,\nillustrious Hector slew.\u2019 Thus hereafter will some one say; but this my\nglory shall never perish.\u201d\n\nThus he said, but all became mute in silence. Ashamed indeed they were\nto refuse, and yet they dreaded to accept [the challenge]. At length,\nhowever, Menelaus stood up, and spoke amongst them, rebuking them with\nreproaches, and he groaned greatly in spirit:\n\n\u201cAlas! ye boasters! Greek dames! no longer Grecian men! certainly will\nthese things be a disgrace, most grievously grievous, if none of the\nGreeks will now go against Hector. But may ye all become water and\nearth, sitting there each of you, faint-hearted; utterly inglorious:\nbut I myself will be armed against him. But the issues of victory are\nrested in the immortal gods.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he put on his beautiful arms. Then, indeed, \u039f\nMenelaus, would the end of life have befallen thee at the hands of\nHector, since he was much the better man, had not the princes of the\nGreeks, starting up suddenly, restrained thee, and the son of Atreus\nhimself, wide-ruling Agamemnon, seized thee by the right hand, and\naddressed thee, and spoke:\n\n\u201cThou art mad, O Menelaus! offspring of Jove, nor hast thou any need of\nsuch madness: restrain thyself, although grieved, nor wish for the sake\nof contention to fight with a braver man than thyself, Hector, the son\nof Priam, whom others also dread. Nay, even Achilles, who is much\nbraver than thou, dreads to meet him 256 in the glorious fight. But\nnow, going to the troop of thy companions, sit down. Against him the\nGreeks will set up some other champion. Although he be intrepid and\ninsatiable of battle, I think that he will gladly bend his knee, 257 if\nhe shall escape from the hostile battle and the grievous fight.\u201d\n\nFootnote 256: (return)  Lesbonax, \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03af \u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc. p. 182, reads \u03c4\u03bf\u03cd\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd\n\u03b3\u03b5\u2014\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bb\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9, which Valckenaer, and with reason, thinks a more\n_recherch\u00e9_ and genuine reading than \u03c4\u03bf\u03cd\u03c4\u1ff3. Lesbonax compares the Attic\nphrase \u03ac\u03c1\u03ad\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5 for \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 Cf. Aristoph. Ran. 103, with the Scholiast.\n\nFootnote 257: (return)  _I.e._ sit down through fatigue, \u201cde iis qui\nlongo labore seu cuisu fessi quiescunt et vires recipiunt.\u201d\u2014Heyne.\n\nThus speaking, the hero dissuaded his brother\u2019s mind, advising him\nrightly; and he obeyed. His joyful attendants then stripped the armour\nfrom his shoulders. Then Nestor arose amidst the Greeks, and said:\n\n\u201cO gods, surely great grief comes upon the Grecian land. Certainly the\naged knight Peleus, the excellent counsellor and adviser of the\nMyrmidons, will greatly lament, who formerly interrogated me, greatly\nrejoiced in his palace, inquiring the race and offspring of all the\nGreeks. If he now heard of them all crouching down under Hector, often\nindeed would he uplift his hands to the immortals, [praying] that his\nsoul, [separated] from his limbs, might depart into the house of Pluto.\nFor would, \u039f father Jove, and Minerva, and Apollo, I were young, as\nwhen the assembled Pylians and the spear-skilled Arcadians fought by\nthe rapid Celadon, at the walls of Ph\u00e6a, about the streams of Jardan.\nWith them Ereuthalion, god-like hero, stood in the van, bearing on his\nshoulders the armour of king Are\u00efthous, of noble Are\u00efthous, whom men\nand beauteous-girt women called by surname Corynetes, since he fought\nnot with a bow, nor with a long spear, but used to break the phalanxes\nwith an iron club. Him Lycurgus slew by stratagem, not by strength, in\na narrow defile, where his iron club did not ward off destruction from\nhim; for Lycurgus, anticipating, pierced him right through the waist\nwith his spear, and he was dashed to the ground on his back; and he\nspoiled him of the armour which brazen Mars had given him, and he\nindeed afterwards bore them himself in the battle of Mars. But when\nLycurgus had grown old in his palaces, he gave them to his beloved\nattendant Ereuthalion, to be borne: and he, having his armour,\nchallenged all the bravest: but these trembled and feared very much:\nnor did any one dare [to withstand him]. But my bold mind, by its\nconfidence, urged me on to fight him: now I was the youngest of them\nall; and I fought with him, and Minerva gave me glory. And I slew this\nmost mighty and valiant hero, for vast he lay stretched out on this\nside and on that. Would that [now] I were thus young, and my strength\nentire\u2014so quickly should crest-tossing Hector meet with a contest. But\nthose of you who are the bravest of all the Greeks, not even you\npromptly desire to go against Hector.\u201d\n\nThus did the old man upbraid them; and nine heroes in all arose. Much\nthe first arose Agamemnon, the king of men; after him arose brave\nDiomede, son of Tydeus, and after them the Ajaces, clad in impetuous\nvalour: after them Idomeneus, and Meriones, the armour-bearer of\nIdomeneus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. After them Eurypylus, the\ngallant son of Ev\u00e6mon. And there [also arose] Thoas, son of Andr\u00e6mon,\nand divine Ulysses. All these wished to fight with noble Hector. But\nthese again the Gerenian knight Nestor addressed:\n\n\u201cDecide now, exclusively by lot, who shall obtain [the accepting of the\nchallenge]; for he indeed will aid the well-greaved Greeks; and he will\nalso delight his own soul, if he shall escape safe from the hostile war\nand the grievous fight.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and they marked each his own lot, and they cast them\ninto the helmet of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. The people\nsupplicated, and raised their hands to the gods, and thus would one of\nthem say, looking towards the wide heaven:\n\n\u201c\u039f father Jove, grant that Ajax obtain the lot, or the son of Tydeus,\nor the king himself of rich Mycen\u00e6.\u201d\n\nThus they spake, and the Gerenian knight Nestor shook [the lots], and\nthe lot of Ajax, which indeed they wished for, leaped forth from the\nhelmet. Then a herald bearing it around through the multitude,\nbeginning at the right, showed it to all the chiefs of the Greeks. But\nthey, not recognizing it, disclaimed it severally. But, when at last\nthe herald, carrying it round through the multitude, came to him,\nillustrious Ajax, who had inscribed and cast it into the helmet, he\n[Ajax] stretched forth his hand, and the herald standing near, placed\nit in it. Having inspected it, he knew his own mark, and rejoiced in\nhis soul. He cast it on the ground at his feet, and said:\n\n\u201c\u039f friends, surely the lot is mine, and I myself rejoice in my soul,\nsince I think that I shall conquer noble Hector. But come, while I put\non my warlike arms, do ye meantime pray to Jove, the Saturnian king,\nsilently within yourselves, that the Trojans may not hear; or even\nopenly, since we fear no one at all. For no one willingly shall, by\nforce, overcome me against my will, nor through my inexperience; since\nI hope I have not been so ignorantly 258 born and bred at Salamis.\u201d\n\nFootnote 258: (return)  I. e. ignorant of arms.\n\nThus he spoke: but they prayed to Jove, the Saturnian king; and thus\nwould one of them say looking towards the wide heaven:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty, grant to\nAjax to bear away victory, and illustrious glory. But if thou lovest\nHector also, and carest for him, grant equal might and glory to both.\u201d\n\nThus they spake, and Ajax was arming himself in splendid brass. But\nwhen he had put on all his armour around his body, then he rushed\nforward: as moves mighty Mars, who goes to war amidst men, whom the son\nof Saturn has engaged to fight with the strength of soul-gnawing\nstrife, such mighty Ajax advanced, the bulwark of the Greeks, smiling\nwith grim countenance; but he advanced, taking long strides with his\nfeet beneath, brandishing his long-shadowed spear. The Greeks, on their\npart, rejoiced much on beholding him, but dire dismay seized the\nTrojans, each one as to his limbs, and the soul panted in the breast of\nHector himself. But now he could not in anywise retract through fear,\nnor retire back into the crowd of the people, since he had challenged\nto the fight. But Ajax drew near, bearing a shield, like a tower,\nbrazen, covered with seven ox-hides, which for him the artist Tychius\nlabouring had wrought, dwelling at his home in Hyla, by far the most\nexcellent of leather-cutters, who for him had made a moveable shield,\nof seven hides of very fat bulls, and drawn over it an eighth [layer]\nof brass. Carrying this before his breast, Telamonian Ajax stood very\nnear Hector, and menacing addressed him:\n\n\u201c\u039f Hector, now thou, alone with me alone, shalt plainly know, what kind\nof chiefs are present with the Greeks, even besides Achilles, the\nbreaker of ranks, the lion-hearted. But he, indeed, abides at his\nhigh-beaked sea-traversing ships, enraged against Agamemnon, the\nshepherd of the people. Yet we are such, even many of us, who can go\nagainst thee; but begin the battle and the strife.\u201d\n\nHim then in turn the mighty crest-tossing Hector addressed: \u201cThou\nJove-sprung Ajax, son of Telamon, ruler of forces, tamper not with me\nas with a weak boy, or a woman, who knows not warlike deeds. But I well\nknow both battles and man-slaughterings. I know how to shift my dry\nshield to the right and to the left; wherefore to me it belongs to\nfight unwearied. I am also skilled to rush to the battle of swift\nsteeds. I know too, how, in hostile array, to move skilfully in honour\nof glowing Mars. But I do not desire to wound thee, being such,\nwatching stealthily, but openly, if haply I may strike thee.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and brandishing hurled forth his long-shadowed spear, and\nsmote the mighty seven-hided shield of Ajax on the outside brass, which\nwas the eighth [layer] thereon. And the unwearied brass cutting\nthrough, penetrated six folds, and was stuck fast in the seventh hide.\nNext, Jove-sprung Ajax in turn sent forth his very long spear, and\nstruck the all-equal shield of Priam\u2019s son. Through the shining shield\npassed the impetuous spear, and was fastened in his very\ningeniously-wrought corslet, and from the opposite side the spear cut\nhis tunic near the flank. But he inclined himself, and avoided black\ndeath. Then they both, having drawn out their long spears with their\nhands, joined battle, like unto raw-devouring lions, or wild boars,\nwhose strength is not feeble. Then indeed the son of Priam struck the\nmidst of his [Ajax\u2019s] shield with his spear; it broke not through the\nbrass, but the point of it was bent. But Ajax, bounding forward,\npierced his shield: and the spear went right through, and repelled him\nas he rushed on: it glanced over his neck, cutting it, and black gore\ngushed forth. But not even thus did crest-tossing Hector cease from the\nbattle: but retiring back, he seized in his hand, a black, rough, huge\nstone, lying in the plain. With it he struck the mighty seven-hided\nshield of Ajax, in the midst of the boss, and the brass rang around.\nAjax next taking up a much larger stone, whirling, discharged it, and\napplied immense strength. And he broke through the shield, having\nstruck with a rock like unto a millstone, and he wounded him in the\nknee; and he was stretched supine, having come into violent contact\nwith his shield; but Apollo quickly raised him. And now in close combat\nhand to hand, they would have wounded each other with their swords, had\nnot the heralds, the messengers of gods and men, arrived, one of the\nTrojans, the other of the brazen-mailed Greeks, Talthybius and Id\u00e6us,\nboth prudent men. And between both armies they held their sceptres, but\nthe herald Id\u00e6us, skilled in prudent counsels, said:\n\n\u201cNo longer, my dear sons, war or fight, for cloud-collecting Jove loves\nyou both: ye both are warriors, and this we all know. Night is now\napproaching, and it is good to obey night.\u201d 259\n\nFootnote 259: (return)  Cf. \u00c6n. ii. 8:\u2014\n\n   \u2014\u2014\u201cet jam nox humida c\u0153lo\n   Pr\u00e6cipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos.\u201d\n\n\nBut him Telamonian Ajax answering addressed: \u201cId\u00e6us, order Hector to\nspeak these words, for he challenged all the bravest [of our side] to\nbattle. Let him begin, and I will entirely obey, if indeed he does so.\u201d\n\nBut him crest-tossing Hector addressed in turn: \u201cAjax, since some god\nhas given thee size, and might, and prudence, and thou art the most\nexcellent of the Greeks at the spear, let us now cease from battle and\ncontest for this day; hereafter will we fight again, till the Deity\nshall separate us, and give the victory to either. Now night is\napproaching, and it is good to obey night, that thou mayest gladden all\nthe Greeks at the ships, and chiefly those friends and companions which\nare thine; but I will gladden the Trojans and the train-bearing Trojan\nmatrons, through the great city of king Priam, the dames who, praying\nfor me, are entering the deities\u2019 temple. 260 But come, let us both\nmutually give very glorious gifts, that some one of the Greeks and\nTrojans may say thus: \u2018They certainly fought in a soul-gnawing strife,\nbut then again being reconciled, they parted in friendship.\u2019\u201d\n\nFootnote 260: (return)  \u1f08\u03b3\u03ce\u03bd is defined by Apollonius, p. 26, \u03cc \u03c4\u03cc\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2\n\u03b5\u03af\u03c2 \u1f43\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03ac\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9. Hesychius, p. 79, makes it equivalent to \u1f04\u03b8\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1,\nand also calls it the place where combatants fight. Porphyry, Qu\u00e6st.\nHom. p. cvii. ed. Barnes, \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bd\u03b1\u03cc\u03bd \u1f24\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 \u03d1\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u03cc\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd \u1f44\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1, \u1f22 \u03d1\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd\n\u1f04\u03b8\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03ad\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1. So, also, the Scholiast.\n\nThus then having spoken, he gave him a silver-studded sword, presenting\nit with the sheath and the well-wrought belt. But Ajax gave [to him] a\nbelt, splendid with purple. Then they twain being separated, the one\nwent to the people of the Greeks, and the other to the crowd of the\nTrojans: and they rejoiced when they saw him coming alive and safe,\nhaving escaped the strength and the invincible hands of Ajax; and led\nhim to the city, not having had any hopes that he was safe. But the\nwell-greaved Greeks, on the other hand, led away Ajax, rejoicing in\nvictory, to divine Agamemnon. When now they were in the tents of the\nson of Atreus, then Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed for them an ox,\na male, five years old, to the most powerful son of Saturn. This they\nflayed, and dressed it; made divisions of the whole of it, and\nskilfully divided these into smaller portions, and fixed them on spits,\nand roasted them very cleverly, and drew off all. But when they had\nceased from labour, and had prepared the banquet, they feasted, nor did\ntheir soul in anywise lack a due proportion of the feast. The valiant\nson of Atreus, far-ruling Agamemnon, honoured Ajax with an entire\nchine. 261 But when they had dismissed the desire of drink and of food,\nfor them the aged man Nestor first of all began to frame advice, whose\ncounsel before also had appeared the best, who, wisely counselling,\nharangued them, and said:\n\nFootnote 261: (return)  The same honour is paid to \u00c6neas in Virg. \u00c6n.\nviii. 181. Cf. Xenoph. Rep. Lac. XV. 4.\n\n\u201cSon of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of all the Greeks, many of the\nlong-haired Ach\u00e6ans have perished, whose black blood fierce Mars has\nnow shed near fair-flowing Scamander, and their souls have descended to\nthe shades! Therefore it behoves you to cause the battle of the Greeks\nto cease with the dawn, and let us, collected together, carry the\nbodies hither on chariots, with oxen and mules, and burn them at a\nlittle distance from the ships, that each may carry home the bones [of\nthe deceased] to their children, when we return again to our\nfather-land. And let us, going out, heap up in the plain one common\ntomb for all, round the pyre, and beside it let us speedily erect lofty\ntowers, as a bulwark of our ships and of ourselves; and in it let us\nmake a well-fitted gate, that through it there may be a passage for the\nchariots. But outside let us sink, near at hand, a deep trench, which,\nbeing circular, may serve as a defence to both steeds and men, lest at\nany time the war of the haughty Trojans should press sorely.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and all the princes approved of his counsel. But of the\nTrojans also was a panic-struck and turbulent council held in the lofty\ncitadel of Ilium, at the gates of Priam; and to them wise Antenor thus\nbegan to harangue:\n\n\u201cHear me, ye Trojans and Dardanians and allies, that I may tell you\nwhat the soul in my breast commands me. Come then, let us restore\nArgive Helen, and her treasures with her to the sons of Atreus to lead\naway; for now we are fighting after having violated the faithful\nleagues. Wherefore I think that nothing better will be brought to pass\nby us, unless we act thus.\u201d\n\nHe, having thus said, sat down; but to them arose divine Alexander, the\nhusband of fair-haired Helen, who answering him spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cO Antenor, thou no longer speakest these things grateful to me. Thou\nknowest how to devise another counsel better than this; but if, in\ntruth, thou speakest this seriously, the gods themselves have now\ndeprived thee of thy senses. But I will declare my opinion amidst the\nhorse-subduing Trojans; I openly declare I will not give up my wife:\nbut the treasures, whatever I have brought home from Argos, all these I\nam willing to give, and even to add others from my own home.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he sat down; but to them arose Priam, son of\nDardanus, a counsellor equal to the gods; who thus wisely harangued\nthem, and said:\n\n\u201cHear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies, that I may tell you\nwhat the soul in my breast commands. Now take repast through the army,\nas heretofore, and be attentive to the watch, and let each be mindful\nof guard. But in the morning let Id\u00e6us proceed to the hollow ships, to\nannounce to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the resolution\nof Alexander, on whose account the contention has arisen; and let him\nadd this prudent request also, whether they wish to desist from\nhorrid-sounding war, until we burn the dead; afterwards will we fight\nagain till fate separate us, and give the victory to one or other of\nus.\u201d\n\nThus he said: but they heard him very attentively, and obeyed. Then\nthey took their repast throughout the city, by companies. In the\nmorning Id\u00e6us went to the hollow ships. He found the Greeks, the\nservants of Mars, in council, at the stern of 262 Agamemnon\u2019s ship: and\nthe clear-voiced herald, standing in the midst of them, spoke thus:\n\n\u201cYe sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of all the Greeks, Priam and\nthe other illustrious Trojans command me to tell you, if it be\nagreeable and pleasing to you, the determination of Alexander, on whose\naccount this contention has arisen.\u201d\n\nFootnote 262: (return)  Dative for genitive, by the Schema Colophonium.\nSee Lesbonax, p. 181, ed. Valck.\n\n\u201cWhatever treasures Alexander brought in the hollow ships to Troy,\n(would that he first had perished,) all these is he willing to give up,\nand even to add others from his own home: but he says that he will not\nrestore the wedded spouse of glorious Menelaus: certainly the Trojans,\nat least, advise him. They also order me to make this proposal, to wit,\nwhether ye are willing to desist from dreadful-sounding war, until we\nshall burn the dead: afterwards we shall fight again, till fate\nseparate us, and give the victory to one of us.\u201d\n\nThus he said, but they all became mute in silence. At length Diomede,\nbrave in the din of war, spoke thus amongst them:\n\n\u201cLet none now receive the treasures of Alexander, nor Helen: for it is\nplain, even [to him] who is a mere infant, that the issues of\ndestruction impend over the Trojans.\u201d\n\nThus he said, and all the sons of the Greeks shouted, admiring the\nwords of horse-breaking Diomede: and then Agamemnon, king of men, thus\naddressed Id\u00e6us:\n\n\u201cId\u00e6us, thou thyself hearest, indeed, the sentiments of the Greeks, how\nthey answer thee; and such also pleases me. But concerning the dead, I\ngrudge not that [you] should burn them; for there is no grudge towards\nthe dead bodies, when they are dead, hastily to perform their obsequies\nwith fire: 263 but let loud-resounding Jove, the husband of Juno, be\nwitness of the treaties.\u201d\n\nFootnote 263: (return)  Literally, \u201cto appease [the dead].\u201d\n\nThus having said, he raised his sceptre to all the gods. But Id\u00e6us\nreturned to sacred Ilium. And the Trojans and Dardanians all sat\nassembled in council, expecting when Id\u00e6us might return. He came, and\ndeclared his message, standing in the midst of them. But they prepared\nthemselves very speedily for both purposes, some to carry away the\nbodies, and others to gather wood. The Greeks also on the other side\nhastened from their well-benched ships, some to carry away the bodies,\nand others to collect wood.\n\nThen, indeed, the sun freshly struck the fields [with its rays],\nascending heaven from the calmly-flowing, deep-moving ocean. But they\nmet one another. Then was it difficult to distinguish each man [amongst\nthe slain]; but washing off with water the bloody gore, and pouring\nover them warm tears, they placed them upon the chariots; nor did\nmighty Priam suffer them to give way to grief. In silence, therefore,\nthey heaped the bodies on the pile, grieving at heart. But when they\nhad burned them in the fire, they returned to sacred Ilium. In like\nmanner also, on the other side, the well-greaved Greeks heaped the\nbodies on the pile, grieving in their heart; and having burned them\nwith fire, they returned to the hollow ships. And when it was not yet\nmorning, but still twilight, then a chosen band of Greeks arose about\nthe pile; and going out from the plain, they made around it one common\ntomb, and near it they built a wall and lofty towers, a bulwark of\ntheir ships and of themselves. In them they made well-fitted gates,\nthat through them there might be a passage for the chariots. Without\nthey dug a deep ditch, near it, broad and large, and in it fixed\npalisades. Thus the long-haired Greeks on their part laboured.\n\nBut the gods on the contrary sitting beside the thundering Jove, were\nadmiring the mighty work of the brazen-mailed Greeks; but to them\nNeptune, the earth-shaker, thus began to speak:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, is there any mortal on the boundless earth, who will\nany more disclose his mind and counsel to the immortals? Dost thou not\nperceive how the long-haired Greeks have built a wall before their\nshipping, and have drawn a ditch all round, nor have they given\nsplendid hecatombs to the gods? The fame of this [work] will certainly\nbe wherever light is diffused: but they will forget that [wall] which I\nand Ph\u0153bus Apollo, toiling, built round the city for the hero\nLaomedon.\u201d 264\n\nHim, greatly enraged, the cloud-compelling Jove addressed:\n\n\u201cHa! thou far-ruling earth-shaker, what hast thou said? Another of the\ngods, who is much weaker than thou in hands and in might might have\ndreaded this idea; but thy glory shall assuredly extend as far as light\nis diffused. Howbeit, when the crest-waving Greeks shall have departed\nwith their ships into their dear fatherland, do thou, overthrowing this\nwall, sink it all in the deep, and again cover the great shore with\nsand. Thus may this mighty rampart of the Greeks be wholly effaced.\u201d\n\nFootnote 264: (return)  Grote, Hist. p. 78, well observes that the\n\u201csubsequent animosity of Neptune against Troy was greatly determined by\nthe sentiment of the injustice of Laomedon.\u201d On the discrepancy between\nthis passage and XXI. 442, see M\u00fcller, Dor. vol. i. p. 249\n\nThus were they conversing on such matters among themselves. But the sun\nhad set, and the work of the Greeks was finished. They slaughtered oxen\nthrough the tents, and took their repast. Many ships (which Eune\u00fcs, son\nof Jason, whom Hypsipyle bore to Jason, shepherd of the people, sent,)\narrived from Lemnos, bringing wine. The son of Jason gave of wine a\nthousand measures, to be brought separately, as a gift to the sons of\nAtreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus. Thence the long-haired Greeks bought\n265 wine, some for brass, some for shining iron, others for hides, some\nfor the oxen themselves, and some for slaves; and they prepared an\nabundant feast. Through the whole night, indeed, the long-haired Greeks\nfeasted; and the Trojans too, and their allies, through the city. And\nall night thundering fearfully, provident Jove was devising evils for\nboth parties; but pale fear seized them. And they poured wine from\ntheir cups on the earth, nor did any one dare to drink before he had\nmade a libation to the supreme son of Saturn. They then lay down, and\nenjoyed the boon of sleep.\n\nFootnote 265: (return)  Theophilus Jctus. iii. tit. xxiii. \u00a7 1. \u039a\u03b1\u1f76\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03cc \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03c0\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b8\u03c1\u03c5\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b1\u03b3\u1fc7\n\u03c0\u03c1\u1fb6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f00\u03b3\u03bf\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03b1\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03bf \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b5\u1fd6\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2\n\u1f00\u03c1\u03c7\u03b1\u03b9\u03cc\u03c4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u1f36\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9. He then alleges these lines of Homer as the earliest\nknown instance of barter.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE EIGHTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nJove assembles the gods, and forbids them to interfere between the\nGreeks and Trojans. He then repairs to Ida, where, having consulted the\nscales of destiny, he directs his lightning against the Greeks. Nestor,\nin the chariot of Diomede, goes against Hector, whose charioteer is\nslain by Diomede. Jove again interposes his thunders, and the Greeks\nseek refuge within the rampart. Upon a favourable omen accompanying the\nprayer of Agamemnon, Diomede and the rest set out, and Teucer performs\ngreat exploits, but is disabled by Hector. Juno and Minerva are\nprevented interfering by Jove, and Hector takes measures to insure the\nsafety of Troy during the night.\n\n\nNow did saffron-mantled morn diffuse herself over all the earth, and\nthunder-rejoicing Jove made an assembly of the gods on the highest peak\nof many-topped Olympus. And he himself harangued them, and all the\nother deities hearkened (to his command): 266\n\n\u201cHear me, all ye gods and all ye goddesses, that I may tell you what\nthe soul in my breast prompts me. Let no female deity, therefore, nor\nany male, attempt to infringe this my injunction; but do ye all at once\nassent, that I may very speedily bring these matters to their issue.\nWhomsoever of the gods I shall discover, having gone apart from [the\nrest], wishing to aid either the Trojans or the Greeks, disgracefully\nsmitten shall he return to Olympus: or seizing, I will hurl him into\ngloomy Tartarus, very far hence, where there is a very deep gulf\nbeneath the earth, and iron portals, and a brazen threshold, as far\nbelow Hades as heaven is from earth; 267 then shall he know by how much\nI am the most powerful of all the gods. But come, ye gods, and try me,\nthat ye may all know. Having suspended a golden chain from heaven, do\nall ye gods and goddesses suspend yourselves therefrom; yet would ye\nnot draw down from heaven to earth your supreme counsellor Jove, not\neven if ye labour ever so much: but whenever I, desiring, should wish\nto pull it, I could draw it up together, earth, and ocean, and all:\nthen, indeed, would I bind the chain around the top of Olympus, and all\nthese should hang aloft. By so much do I surpass both gods and men.\u201d\n268\n\nFootnote 266: (return)  _I. e._ dii obsequtii sunt, ut convocati\nconvenirent.\u2014Heyne.\n\nFootnote 267: (return)  See the notes of Newton on Parad. Lost, i. 74.\n\nFootnote 268: (return)  Referring to this address of Jove, Coleridge\nremarks: \u201cAlthough the supremacy of Jove comes far short of the true\nconception of almighty power, the characteristic point which seems to\nbe fairly established is, that he is the active and ruling power of the\npopular mythology, the supreme and despotic chief of an aristocracy of\nweaker divinities, accustomed to consult with them and liable to their\nopposition and even violence, yet, upon the whole, substantially\naristocratic, and independent of any recognized permanent\nsuperior.\u201d\u2014Classic Poets, p. 159.\n\nThus he said. But they all became mute in silence, wondering at his\nspeech; for he spoke very menacingly. But at length the azure-eyed\ngoddess Minerva thus spoke in the midst:\n\n\u201cO sire of ours! son of Saturn! most supreme of kings! well do we all\nknow that thy strength is irresistible: yet do we truly mourn for the\nwarlike Greeks, who are now perishing, fulfilling their evil fate. But\nnevertheless, we will refrain from war, since thus thou commandest. Yet\nwill we suggest counsel to the Greeks, which will avail them, that they\nmay not all perish because thou art wrathful.\u201d\n\nBut her the cloud-impelling Jove smiling addressed: \u201cBe of good cheer,\nTritonia, my dear daughter\u2014I speak not with a serious intent; but I am\nwilling to be lenient towards thee.\u201d\n\nThus having said, under his chariot he yoked his brazen-footed,\nswift-flying steeds, adorned with golden manes. He himself put on gold\nabout his person, and took his golden well-made whip, and ascended the\nchariot; and lashed them on to proceed, and they, not unwilling, flew\nmidway between the earth and starry heaven. He came to spring-fed Ida,\nthe mother of wild beasts, to Gargarus, where he had a consecrated\nenclosure, and a fragrant altar. There the father of gods and men\nstopped his steeds, having loosed them from the chariot, and poured a\nthick haze around. But he sat upon the summits, exulting in glory,\nlooking upon the city of the Trojans and the ships of the Greeks.\n\nMeanwhile the long-haired Greeks were taking their repast in a hurried\nmanner through the tents, and after that they put on their armour. But\nthe Trojans, on the other side, were arming themselves through the\ncity, fewer in number; yet even thus, they were eager to fight in\nbattle, compelled by necessity, in defence of their children and their\nwives. And the gates were opened wide, and the forces rushed out, both\nchariot warriors and foot, and much tumult arose. But when these\ncollecting together came into one place, they clashed together shields\nand spears, and the might of brazen-mailed men; but the bossy shields\napproached one another, and much tumult arose. There at the same time\nwere both lamentation and boasting of men destroying and destroyed, and\nthe earth flowed with blood. As long as the forenoon lasted, and the\nsacred day was in progress, so long did the weapons touch both, and the\npeople fell. But when the sun had ascended the middle heaven, then at\nlength did Father Jove raise the golden scales, and placed in them two\ndestinies of long-reposing death, [the destinies] both of the\nhorse-breaking Trojans and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and holding\nthem in the middle, he poised them; but the fatal day of the Greeks\ninclined low. The destinies of the Greeks, indeed, rested on the\nbounteous earth, but those of the Trojans on the contrary were elevated\nto the wide heaven.\n\nBut he himself mightily thundered from Ida, and sent his burning\nlightning against the army of the Greeks: they having seen it, were\namazed, and pale fear seized them all. Then neither Idomeneus, nor\nAgamemnon, nor the two Ajaces, the servants of Mars, dared to remain.\nGerenian Nestor alone, the guardian of the Greeks, remained, not\nwillingly, but one of his horses was disabled, which noble Alexander,\nhusband of fair-haired Helen, had pierced with an arrow in the top of\nthe forehead, where the forelocks of horses grow out of the head, and\nis most fatal. 269 In torture he reared, for the arrow had entered the\nbrain; and he disordered the [other] horses, writhing round the brazen\nbarb. Whilst the old man hastening, was cutting away the side reins of\nthe horse with his sword, then were the swift steeds of Hector coming\nthrough the crowd, bearing the bold charioteer Hector. And then the old\nman would certainly have lost his life, if Diomede, brave in the din of\nbattle, had not quickly observed it; and he shouted, dreadfully\nexhorting Ulysses, [thus]:\n\nFootnote 269: (return)  Or \u201copportune\u201d viz for inflicting a fatal\nwound.\u2014Kennedy.\n\n\u201cJove-born son of La\u00ebrtes, much-contriving Ulysses, whither dost thou\nfly, turning thy back in the throng, like a coward? [Beware], lest some\nman with a spear transpierce thee in the back, flying. But stay, that\nwe may repel the fierce hero from the aged man.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: but much-enduring, noble Ulysses heard him not, but\npassed by to the hollow ships of the Greeks. But the son of Tydeus,\nthough being alone, was mixed with the van, and stood before the steeds\nof the aged son of Neleus, and addressing him, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cO old man, certainly the youthful warriors greatly oppress thee: but\nthy strength is relaxed, and tiresome old age attends thee: thy servant\nis exhausted, and thy steeds are slow. But come, ascend my chariot,\nthat thou mayest see what kind are the steeds of Tros, skilled to fly\nand to pursue very rapidly, here and there, through the plain; which\nlately I took from \u00c6neas, authors of flight. Let the attendants take\ncare of those steeds [of thine], but let us direct these against the\nhorse-breaking Trojans, that even Hector may know whether my spear also\nrages madly in my hands.\u201d Thus he said: but the Gerenian knight Nestor\ndisobeyed him not. Accordingly, at once their attendants, brave\nSthenelus and valorous Eurymedon, took care of Nestor\u2019s steeds: and the\ntwo chiefs ascended the chariot of Diomede. Nestor took the shining\nreins in his hands, and lashed the steeds, and soon they came near\nHector. At him rushing impetuously forward, the son of Tydeus launched\na spear; but the weapon missed him, and struck his attendant charioteer\nin the breast, near the pap, who was holding the reins of the steeds,\nEniopeus, the son of magnanimous Theb\u00e6us: but he fell from the chariot,\nand the swift steeds started back, and there his soul and his strength\nwere dissolved. But excessive grief overshadowed Hector in his mind, on\naccount of [the loss of] his charioteer. There, though grieving for his\ncompanion, he let him lie, and sought a bold charioteer: nor did his\nsteeds long want a guide; for soon he found courageous Archeptolemus,\nthe son of Iphitus, whom then he made to mount the swift-footed steeds,\nand gave the reins into his hands.\n\nThen, indeed, had slaughter arisen, and dreadful deeds had been done,\nand [the Trojans] had been pent up in Ilium like lambs, had not the\nfather of both men and gods quickly perceived it. Therefore, dreadfully\nthundering he sent forth his glowing thunderbolt, and cast it into the\nearth before the steeds of Diomede: but there arose a terrible flame of\nburning sulphur, and the two frightened steeds crouched trembling\nbeneath the chariot. Moreover, the beautiful reins fell from the hands\nof Nestor, and he feared in his soul, and addressed Diomede:\n\n\u201cSon of Tydeus, come now, turn thy solid-hoofed steeds to flight. Dost\nthou not perceive that victory from Jove does not attend thee? For now,\nthis very day, of a truth, Saturnian Jove awards him glory; afterwards\nagain will he give it to us, if he shall be willing. By no means can a\nman impede the will of Jove, not even a very mighty one; since he is by\nfar the most powerful.\u201d\n\nBut him Diomede, brave in the din of war, then answered: \u201cOld man,\ncertainly thou hast said all this rightly: but this grievous sorrow\ninvades my heart and my soul: for Hector at some time will say,\nharanguing amongst the Trojans, \u2018The son of Tydeus, routed by me, fled\nto his ships.\u2019 Thus at some time will he boast: but then may the earth\nyawn wide for me.\u201d\n\nBut him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: \u201cAlas! warlike son of\nTydeus, what hast thou said? Even though Hector call thee coward and\nunwarlike, yet the Trojans and Dardanians, and the wives of the\nstout-hearted shield-bearing Trojans, whose vigorous husbands thou hast\nprostrated in the dust, will not believe him.\u201d\n\nThus having said, he turned the solid-hoofed steeds to flight, back\ninto the crowd. But the Trojans and Hector, with a mighty shout, poured\ndestructive missiles upon them. And then after him loud roared mighty\ncrest-tossing Hector:\n\n\u201cSon of Tydeus, the swift-horsed Greeks honoured thee, indeed, above\n[others] with a seat, with meat, and full cups; but now will they\ndishonour thee; for thou hast become like a woman. Away! timorous girl!\nsince thou shalt never climb our towers, I giving way, nor bear away\nour women in thy ships; first shall I give thee thy doom.\u201d\n\nThus he said; but the son of Tydeus debated whether to turn his steeds,\nand to fight against him. Thrice, indeed, he thought in mind and soul,\nbut thrice, on the other hand, the provident Jove thundered from the\nId\u00e6an mountains, giving a signal to the Trojans, the alternating\nsuccess of battle. But Hector exhorted the Trojans, vociferating aloud:\n\n\u201cYe Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my\nfriends, and be mindful of impetuous might! I know the son of Saturn\nhath willingly accorded me victory and great renown, but to the Greeks\ndestruction. Fools, who indeed built those weak, worthless walls, which\nshall not check my strength; but our steeds will easily overleap the\ndug trench. But when, indeed, I come to their hollow ships, then let\nthere be some memory of burning fire, that I may consume their fleet\nwith the flame, and slay the Argives themselves at the ships,\nbewildered by the smoke.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he cheered on his steeds, and said: \u201cXanthus, and\nthou Podargus, and \u00c6thon, and noble Lampus, now repay to me the\nattention, with which, in great abundance, Andromache, the daughter of\nmagnanimous Eetion, gave to you the sweet barley, mixing wine also [for\nyou] to drink, whenever your mind ordered it, even before me, who boast\nto be her vigorous husband. But follow and hasten, that we may take the\nshield of Nestor, the fame of which has now reached the heaven, that it\nis entirely golden, the handles and itself: but, from the shoulders of\nhorse-breaking Diomede, the well-made corslet, which the artist Vulcan\nwrought. If we can take these, I expect that the Greeks this very night\nwill ascend their swift ships.\u201d\n\nThus he said boasting; but venerable Juno was indignant, and shook\nherself on her throne, and made great Olympus tremble; and openly\naccosted the mighty deity, Neptune:\n\n\u201cAlas! far-ruling Earth-shaker, dost thou not in thy soul pity the\nperishing Greeks? But they bring thee many and grateful gifts to Helice\nand \u00c6g\u00e6. Do thou, therefore, will to them the victory. For if we were\nwilling, as many of us as are assistants to the Greeks, to repulse the\nTrojans and restrain far-sounding Jove, then might he grieve sitting\nalone there on Ida.\u201d\n\nBut her king Neptune, greatly excited, thus addressed: \u201cJuno, petulant\n270 in speech, what hast thou said? I would not wish, indeed, that we,\nthe other gods, should fight with Saturnian Jove, since he is by far\nmost powerful.\u201d\n\nFootnote 270: (return)  Compare the phrase \u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03ac\u03c0\u03c4\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03c0\u03b5\u03b5\u03c3\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd.\u2014Od.\nii. 240. Suidas: \u0391\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03b5\u03c0\u03ae\u03c2\u2019 \u03b1\u03c0\u03c4\u03cc\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u1fa4 \u03bb\u03ad\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd. Apollon. Lex. p. 188:\n\u201c\u0391\u03c0\u03c4\u03c9\u03c4\u03b5, \u03ae \u03b1\u03c0\u03c4\u03cc\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2, \u03ae \u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd.\u201d\n\nThus indeed were they holding such converse with each other. But\nwhatever space before the ships the trench belonging to the tower\nenclosed, was filled with horses and shielded men crowded together. 271\nBut Hector, the son of Priam, equal to swift Mars, had crowded them\nthus, when Jupiter awarded him glory. And now would he have burned the\nequal ships with blazing fire, had not venerable Juno put it into the\nsoul of Agamemnon, himself actively engaged, briskly to urge on the\nGreeks. He therefore hastened to go along the tents and ships of the\nGreeks, holding in his stout hand his great purple robe. But in the\nhuge black ship of Ulysses he stood, which was in the midst, that he\nmight shout audibly to either side, as well to the tent of Telamonian\nAjax, as to that of Achilles, for they had drawn up their equal ships\nat the extremities of the line, relying on their valour and the\nstrength of their hands. Then he shouted distinctly, calling upon the\nGreeks:\n\n\u201cShame! ye Greeks, foul subjects of disgrace! gallant in form [alone]!\nWhere are those boastings gone, when we professed ourselves the\nbravest; those which, once in Lemnos, vain braggarts! ye did utter,\neating much flesh of horned oxen, and drinking-goblets crowned with\nwine, 272 that each would in battle be equivalent to a hundred and even\ntwo hundred of the Trojans? But now, indeed, we are not equal to Hector\nalone, who shortly will burn our ships with flaming fire. \u039f father\nJove, hast thou indeed ever yet afflicted with such destruction any one\nof mighty kings, and so deprived him of high renown? And yet I say that\nI never passed by thy fair altar in my many-benched ship, coming here\nwith ill luck. 273 But on all I burned the fat of oxen and the thighs,\ndesiring to sack well-walled Troy. But, \u039f Jove, accomplish for me this\nvow, at least permit us to escape and get away; nor suffer the Greeks\nto be thus subdued by the Trojans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 271: (return)  Observe that \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd belongs to \u03af\u03c0\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd and \u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03ce\u03bd,\nand that \u03cc\u03c3\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u03ba \u03bd\u03b7\u03ce\u03bd \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c0\u03cd\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03ac\u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b5, means that \u201cthe space\nbetween the rampart and the sea was enclosed.\u201d \u0391\u03c0\u03cc does not govern\n\u03c0\u03c5\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5, but is compounded with \u03b5\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b5.\n\nFootnote 272: (return)  Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 292, sqq. who has,\nhowever, been long since anticipated by Paschal. de Coron. i. 4.\n\nFootnote 273: (return)  Schol. \u0388\u03c1\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd, \u03b5\u03c0\u03af \u03c6\u03b8\u03bf\u03c1 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bf\u03b1\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2. See\nAlberti on Hesych, s. v. t. i. p. 1445. So, also, Apollon. p. 364: \u0388\u03c0\u0390\n\u03c6\u03b8\u03bf\u03c1\u1fb4 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nThus he said: and the Sire 274 pitied him weeping, and granted to him\nthat the army should be safe, and not perish. And forthwith he sent an\neagle, the most perfect 275 of birds, holding a fawn in his talons, the\noffspring of a swift deer: and near the very beauteous altar of Jove he\ncast down the fawn, where the Greeks were sacrificing to Panomph\u00e6an 276\nJove.\n\nWhen, therefore, they saw that the bird had come from Jove, they rushed\nthe more against the Trojans, and were mindful of battle. Then none of\nthe Greeks, numerous as they were, could have boasted that he had\ndriven his swift steeds before Diomede, and urged them beyond the\nditch, and fought against [the enemy]; for far the first he slew a\nhelmeted Trojan hero, Agelaus, son of Phradmon. He, indeed, was turning\nhis horses for flight; but as he was turning, Diomede fixed his spear\nin his back, between his shoulders, and drove it through his breast. He\nfell from his chariot, and his arms rattled upon him. After him the\nsons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus; after them the Ajaces, clad in\nimpetuous valour; after them, Idomeneus and Meriones, the armour-bearer\nof Idomeneus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars; and after them Eurypylus,\nthe illustrious son of Ev\u00e6mon. Teucer came the ninth, stretching his\nbent 277 bow, and stood under the shield of Telamonian Ajax. Then Ajax,\nindeed, kept moving the shield aside, and the hero looking around, when\nshooting, he had hit any one in the crowd, the one 278 falling there,\nlost his life. But he 279 retiring like a child to his mother,\nsheltered himself beneath Ajax, and he covered him with his splendid\nshield. Then what Trojan first did blameless Teucer slay? Orsilochus\nfirst, and Ormenus, and Ophelestes, and D\u00e6tor, and Chromius, and\ngodlike Lycophontes, and Amopaon, son of Poly\u00e6mon, and Melanippus\u2014all,\none after the other, he stretched upon the bounteous earth. But\nAgamemnon, king of men, rejoiced at seeing him destroying the phalanxes\nof the Trojans with his stout bow. And advancing near him he stood, and\nthus addressed him:\n\nFootnote 274: (return)  See my note on \u00c6sch. Prom. p. 3, n. 3, ed.\nBohn.\n\nFootnote 275: (return)  _I. e_. with reference to augury. Hesych. p.\n1360, explains it by \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ce\u03c4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd (see Alberti). The eagle is said\nto have foretold Jove\u2019s own sovereignty, and hence to have been placed\namong the constellations. Cf. Hygin. Poet. Astr. ii. 16; Eratosthen.\nCatast. 30; Serv. on \u00c6n. ix. 564.\n\nFootnote 276: (return)  So called, as being the author of all augury.\n\nFootnote 277: (return)  _I. e_. prepared for action.\n\nFootnote 278: (return)  _I. e_. the wounded man.\n\nFootnote 279: (return)  Teucer.\n\n\u201cTeucer, beloved one, son of Telamon, ruler of forces, shoot thus, if\nperchance thou mayest become a light 280 to the Greeks, and to thy\nfather Telamon, who brought thee up carefully, being a little one, and\ntreated thee with care in his palace, though being a spurious son. Him,\nthough far away, do thou exalt with glory. But I will declare to thee,\nas it shall be brought to pass, if \u00e6gis-bearing Jove and Minerva shall\ngrant me to sack the well-built city of Ilium, next to myself I will\nplace an honourable reward in thy hands, either a tripod, or two steeds\nwith their chariot, or some fair one, who may ascend the same couch\nwith thee.\u201d\n\nFootnote 280: (return)  See on vi. 6.\n\nBut him blameless Teucer answering, addressed: \u201cMost glorious son of\nAtreus, why dost thou urge on me hastening; nor, as far as I have any\nstrength, do I loiter: but from the time we have driven the Trojans\ntowards Ilium, since that period have I slain men, intercepting them\nwith my shafts. Already have I discharged eight long-bearded arrows,\nand they have all been fixed in the bodies of warlike youths; but I\ncannot strike this raging dog.\u201d\n\nHe said; and another arrow from the string he shot right against\nHector, for his mind was eager to strike him; and him indeed he missed:\nbut in the breast he struck blameless Gorgythion with an arrow, the\nbrave son of Priam. Him his fair mother Castianira, like unto a goddess\nin person, brought forth, being wedded from \u00c6syma. And as a poppy,\nwhich in the garden is weighed down with fruit and vernal showers,\ndroops its head to one side, so did his head incline aside, depressed\nby the helmet. But Teucer discharged another arrow from the string\nagainst Hector, for his mind longed to strike him. Yet even then he\nmissed, for Apollo warded off the shaft: but he struck in the breast,\nnear the pap, Archeptolemus, the bold charioteer of Hector, rushing to\nbattle: and he fell from his chariot, and his swift steeds sprang back.\nThere his soul and strength were dissolved. But sad grief darkened the\nmind of Hector, on account of his charioteer. Then indeed he left him,\nalthough grieved for his companion, and ordered his brother Cebriones,\nbeing near, to take the reins of the steeds; but he was not\ndisobedient, having heard him. Then [Hector] himself leaped from his\nall-shining chariot to the ground, roaring dreadfully: and he seized a\nlarge stone in his hand, and went straight against Teucer, for his mind\nencouraged him to strike him. He on his part took out a bitter arrow\nfrom his quiver, and applied it to the string: but him, on the other\nhand, near the shoulder, where the collar-bone separates the neck and\nbreast, and it is a particularly fatal spot, there, as he was drawing\nback [the bow], the active warrior Hector 281 with a rugged stone\nstruck him earnestly rushing against him. He broke his bowstring, and\nhis hand was numbed at the wrist-joint. Falling on his knees he stood,\nand the bow dropped from his hands. But Ajax did not neglect his fallen\nbrother; for running up, he protected him, and stretched his shield\nbefore him. Afterwards his two dear companions, Mecistheus, son of\nEchius, and noble Alastor, coming up, carried him, groaning heavily, to\nthe hollow ships.\n\nFootnote 281: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 64.\n\nBut again did Olympian Jove rouse the strength of the Trojans; and they\ndrove back the Greeks straight to the deep foss. But Hector went in the\nvan, looking grim through ferocity; as when some dog, relying on his\nswift feet, seizes from the rear a wild boar or lion on the haunch and\nbuttocks, and marks him as he turns: so Hector hung on the rear of the\nlong-haired Greeks, always slaying the hindmost: and they fled. But\nwhen they flying had passed through the stakes and the foss, and many\nwere subdued beneath the hands of the Trojans, they, on the one hand,\nremaining at the ships were restrained, and having exhorted one\nanother, and raised their hands to all the gods, they prayed each with\na loud voice. But, on the other hand, Hector, having the eyes of a\nGorgon, or of man-slaughtering Mars, drove round his beauteous-maned\nsteeds in all directions.\n\nBut them [the Greeks] white-armed goddess Juno having beheld, pitied\nthem, and thus straightway to Minerva addressed winged words:\n\n\u201cAlas! daughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, shall we no longer be anxious\nabout the perishing Greeks, although in extremity;\u2014who now, indeed,\nfulfilling evil fate, are perishing by the violence of one man? for\nHector, the son of Priam, rages, no longer to be endured, and already\nhas he done many evils.\u201d\n\nBut her the azure-eyed goddess Minerva in turn addressed: \u201cAnd beyond\ndoubt this warrior would have lost his vigour and his life, destroyed\nby the hands of the Greeks in his fatherland, were it not that this my\nsire rages with no sound mind; cruel, ever unjust, a counteractor of my\nefforts. Nor does he remember aught of my services, that I have very\noften preserved his son, when oppressed by the labours of Eurystheus.\nHe truly wept to heaven; but me Jove sent down from heaven to aid him.\nBut had I known this in my prudent 282 mind, when he sent me to [the\ndwelling] of the gaoler Pluto to drag from Erebus the dog of hateful\nPluto, he had not escaped the profound stream of the Stygian wave. But\nnow, indeed, he hates me, and prefers the wish of Thetis, who kissed\nhis knees, and took his beard in her hand, beseeching him to honour\ncity-destroying Achilles, The time will be when he will again call me\nhis dear Minerva. But do thou now harness for us thy solid-hoofed\nsteeds, while I, having entered the palace of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, equip\nmyself with arms for war, that I may see whether crest-tossing Hector,\nthe son of Priam, will rejoice at us, as I appear in the walks 283 of\nwar. Certainly also some one of the Trojans will satiate the dogs and\nbirds with his fat and flesh, having fallen at the ships of the\nGreeks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 282: (return)  The Scholiast, and Apollon. Lex. p. 658,\ninterpret \u03c0\u03b5\u03c5\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03af\u03bc\u03c3\u03b9, \u03c0\u03b9\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u0390\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u1f34\u03c2. Perhaps \u201csharp devising\u201d\nwould be the best translation.\n\nFootnote 283: (return)  Literally, \u201cbridges,\u201d _i. e._ the open spaces\nbetween the different battalions.\n\nThus she said: nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey her. Juno,\non her part, venerable goddess, daughter of mighty Saturn, running in\nhaste, caparisoned the golden-bridled steeds. But Minerva, the daughter\nof \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, let fall upon the pavement of her father her\nbeauteous variegated robe, which she had wrought and laboured with her\nown hands. But she, having put on the coat of mail of cloud-compelling\nJove, was equipped in armour for the tearful war. She mounted her\nflaming chariot on her feet, and took her heavy, huge, sturdy spear,\nwith which she is wont to subdue the ranks of heroic men, with\nwhomsoever she, sprung from a powerful sire, is enraged. But Juno with\nthe lash speedily urged on the steeds. The portals of heaven opened\nspontaneously, which the Hours 284 guarded, to whom are intrusted the\ngreat heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud, or to close\nit. Then through these they guided their goaded steeds.\n\nFootnote 284: (return)  Hence the Hours also possess the office of\ntending and harnessing the horses of the sun, as is shown by Dausq. on\nQuint. Calab. i. p. 9.\n\nBut father Jove, when he beheld them from Ida, was grievously enraged,\nand roused golden-winged Iris to bear this message:\n\n\u201cAway, depart, swift Iris, turn them back, nor suffer them to come\nagainst me; for we shall not advantageously engage in battle. For thus\nI speak, and it shall moreover be accomplished, I will lame their swift\nsteeds under their chariot, dislodge them from the chariot, and break\nthe chariot; nor for ten revolving years shall ye be healed of the\nwounds which the thunderbolt shall inflict: that Minerva may know when\nshe may be fighting with her sire. But with Juno I am neither so\nindignant nor so angry; for she is ever accustomed to counteract me, in\nwhatever I intend.\u201d\n\nThus he said: but Iris, swift as the storm, hastened to bear the\nmessage. Down from the Id\u00e6an mountains she went to great Olympus:\nmeeting them in the foremost gates of many-valleyed Olympus, she\nrestrained them, and pronounced to them the message of Jove:\n\n\u201cWhere do ye go? Why does your soul rage in your breasts? The sun of\nSaturn does not suffer you to aid the Greeks. For thus has the son of\nSaturn threatened, and he will assuredly perform it, to lame your swift\nsteeds under your chariot, and dislodge yourselves from the chariot,\nand break the chariot; nor for ten revolving years shall ye be healed\nof the wounds which his thunderbolt shall inflict: that thou, \u039f\nAzure-eyed, mayest know when thou art fighting with thy sire. But with\nJuno he is neither so indignant nor so angry; for she is always\naccustomed to counteract him in whatever he devises. But thou, most\ninsolent and audacious hound! if thou in reality shalt dare to raise\nthy mighty spear against Jove\u2014\u201d 285\n\nFootnote 285: (return)  Observe the aposiopesis.\n\nThus indeed having said, swift-footed Iris departed. Then Juno\naddressed these words to Minerva:\n\n\u201cAlas! daughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, I cannot any longer suffer that\nwe ourselves shall fight against Jove, on account of mortals. Of whom\nlet one perish, and let another live, whoever may chance. But let him,\nmeditating his own affairs in his mind, adjudicate to the Trojans and\nthe Greeks as is fair.\u201d\n\nThus then having said, she turned back the solid-hoofed steeds. The\nHours unyoked for them the fair-maned steeds, and bound them to the\nambrosial mangers; but they tilted the chariots against the splendid\nwalls. But they themselves sat, mingled with the other deities, on\ntheir golden couches, sad at heart.\n\nThen father Jove drove his beauteous-wheeled chariot and steeds from\nIda to Olympus, and came to the seats of the gods. His horses, indeed,\nthe illustrious Earth-shaker loosed, but he laid the chariot on its\nsupport, spreading a linen coverlet [over it]. But loud-sounding Jove\nhimself sat on his golden throne, and mighty Olympus was shaken under\nhis feet. But Minerva and Juno by themselves sat apart from Jove, nor\ndid they at all address him, nor question him. But he knew in his mind,\nand said:\n\n\u201cWhy are ye so sad, Minerva and Juno? Indeed, ye have not laboured long\nin glorious battle to destroy the Trojans, against whom ye have taken\ngrievous hatred. Not all the gods in Olympus could altogether turn me\nto flight, such are my strength and my invincible hands. But trembling\nseized the shining limbs of both of you, before ye saw battle, and the\ndestructive deeds of war. For so I tell you, which would also have been\nperformed: no more should ye, stricken with my thunder, have returned\nin your chariots to Olympus, where are the seats of the immortals.\u201d\n\nThus he said: but Minerva and Juno murmured. They sat near each other,\nand were devising evils for the Trojans.\n\nMinerva, indeed, was silent, nor said anything, angry with father Jove,\nfor wild rage possessed her. But Juno contained not her wrath in her\nbreast, but addressed him:\n\n\u201cMost terrible son of Saturn, what hast thou said? Well do we know that\nthy might is invincible: yet do we lament the warlike Greeks, who will\nnow perish, fulfilling their evil destiny. But nevertheless, we will\ndesist from war, if thou desirest it. But we will suggest counsel to\nthe Greeks, which will avail them, that they may not all perish, thou\nbeing wrathful.\u201d\n\nBut her cloud-compelling Jove answering, addressed: \u201cTo-morrow, if thou\nwilt, O venerable, large-eyed Juno, thou shalt behold the very powerful\nson of Saturn even with greater havoc destroying the mighty army of the\nwarlike Greeks. For warlike Hector will not cease from battle before\nthat he arouse the swift-footed son of Peleus at the ships. On that\nday, when they indeed are fighting at the ships, in a very narrow pass,\nfor Patroclus fallen. For thus is it fated. But I do not make account\nof thee enraged, not if thou shouldst go to the furthest limits of land\nand ocean, where Iapetus and Saturn sitting, are delighted neither with\nthe splendour of the sun that journeys on high, nor with the winds; but\nprofound Tartarus [is] all around\u2014not even if wandering, thou shouldst\ngo there, have I regard for thee enraged, since there is nothing more\nimpudent than thou.\u201d\n\nThus he said: but white-armed Juno answered nought. And the bright\nlight of the sun fell into the ocean, drawing dark night over the\nfruitful earth. 286 The light set to the Trojans indeed unwilling; but\ngloomy and much-desired light came on, grateful to the Greeks.\n\nFootnote 286: (return)  Beautifully expressed by Ennius apud Macrob.\nSat. vi. 4: \u201cInterea fax Occidit, Oceanumque rubra tractim obruit\n\u00e6thra.\u201d See Columna on \u0395nn. p. 113, ed. Hessel.\n\nBut illustrious Hector then formed a council of the Trojans, having led\nthem apart from the ships, at the eddying river, in a clear space,\nwhere the place appeared free from dead bodies. But alighting to the\nground from their horses, they listened to the speech which Hector,\nbeloved of Jove, uttered. In his hand he held a spear of eleven cubits:\nand before him shone the golden point of the spear, and a golden ring\nsurrounded it. Leaning on this, he spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cHear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies: I lately thought that\nhaving destroyed the ships and all the Greeks, I should return back to\nwind-swept Ilium. But darkness has come on first, which has now been\nthe chief means of preserving the Greeks and their ships on the shore\nof the sea. But, however, let us now obey dark night, and make ready\nour repasts; and do ye loose from your chariots your beautiful-maned\nsteeds, and set fodder before them: and quickly bring from the city\noxen and fat sheep; bring sweet wine and bread from your homes; and\nbesides collect many fagots, that all night till Aurora, mother of\ndawn, we may kindle many fires, and the splendour may ascend to heaven:\nlest haply in the night the long-haired Greeks attempt to fly over the\nbroad ridge of the ocean. That they may not at all events without toil\nand without harm ascend their ships: but [let us] take care that each\nof them may have to heal a wound 287 at home, being stricken either\nwith an arrow, or with a sharp spear, bounding into his ship; that\nevery other too may dread to wage tearful war against the\nhorse-breaking Trojans. Let the heralds, dear to Jove, proclaim through\nthe city, that the youths at the age of puberty, and the hoary-templed\nsages, keep watch around the city, in the god-built turrets; and let\nthe females also, the feebler sex, in their halls each kindle a mighty\nfire: and let there be some strong guard, lest a secret band enter the\ncity, the people being absent. Thus let it be, magnanimous Trojans, as\nI say: and let the speech, which is now most salutary, be thus spoken.\nBut for that which will be [most expedient] in the morning, I will\n[then] speak amongst the horse-breaking Trojans. Making vows both to\nJove and to the other gods, I hope to banish hence those dogs borne\nhither by the fates, whom the fates bear in their black ships. 288 But\nlet us keep watch during the night, and in the morning, at dawn,\nequipped with arms, let us stir up sharp conflict at the hollow ships.\nI will see whether valiant Diomede, the son of Tydeus, will force me\nback from the ships to our walls, or whether I shall bear away his\nbloody spoils, having slain him with my brazen spear. To-morrow shall\nhe make manifest his valour, if he shall withstand my assaulting spear.\nBut I think that he will lie wounded amongst the first at sunrise\nto-morrow, and many companions around him. Would that I were so\ncertainly immortal, and free from old age all my days, and honoured, as\nMinerva and Apollo are honoured, as [I am certain] that this day will\nbring evil upon the Greeks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 287: (return)  Literally, \u201cdigest a weapon,\u201d _i.e._ have a\nwound to attend to. So _telum_ and _vulnus_ are used for each other in\nLatin.\n\nFootnote 288: (return)  Surely this line is a gloss upon\n\u03ba\u03b7\u03c1\u03b5\u03c3\u03c3\u03b9\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2.\n\nThus Hector harangued them; but the Trojans applauded aloud. And they\nloosed from the yoke their sweating steeds, and bound them with\nhalters, each to his own chariot. Quickly they brought from the city\noxen and fat sheep: and they brought sweet wine, and bread from their\nhomes, and also collected many fagots. But the winds raised the savour\nfrom the plain to heaven.\n\nBut they, greatly elated, sat all night in the ranks of war, and many\nfires blazed for them. As when in heaven the stars appear very\nconspicuous 289 around the lucid moon, when the \u00e6ther is wont to be\nwithout a breeze, and all the pointed rocks and lofty summits and\ngroves appear, but in heaven the immense \u00e6ther is disclosed, and all\nthe stars are seen, and the shepherd rejoices in his soul. Thus did\nmany fires of the Trojans kindling them appear before Ilium, between\nthe ships and the streams of Xanthus. A thousand fires blazed in the\nplain, and by each sat fifty men, at the light of the blazing fire. But\ntheir steeds eating white barley and oats, standing by the chariots,\nawaited beautiful-throned Aurora.\n\nFootnote 289: (return)  Cf. \u00c6sch. Ag. 6: \u039b\u03b1\u03bc\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03cd\u03c2 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03ac\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2, \u1f10\u03bc\u03c0\u03c1\u03b5\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2\n\u03b1\u03af\u03b8\u03ad\u03c1\u03b9.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE NINTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nBy advice of Nestor, Agamemnon sends Ulysses, Ph\u0153nix, and Ajax, to the\ntent of Achilles to sue for a reconciliation. Notwithstanding the\nearnest appeal of Ph\u0153nix, their errand proves fruitless.\n\n\nThus the Trojans indeed kept guard: but a mighty 290 Flight, the\ncompanion of chill Fear, seized upon the Greeks; and all the chiefs\nwere afflicted with intolerable grief. And as two winds, the north and\nsouth, which both blow from Thrace, 291 rouse the fishy deep, coming\nsuddenly [upon it]; but the black billows are elevated together; and\nthey dash much sea-weed out of the ocean; so was the mind of the Greeks\ndistracted within their bosoms.\n\nFootnote 290: (return)  \u201cIn Il. 1,2, the \u03b8\u03b5\u03c3\u03c0\u03b5\u03c3\u03af\u03b7 \u03c6\u03c5\u03b6\u03b1 of the Ach\u00e6ans\nis not to be explained as a supernatural flight, occasioned by the\ngods. It is a great and general flight, caused by Hector and the\nTrojans. For although this was approved of and encouraged by Jupiter,\nyet his was only that mediate influence of the deity without which in\ngeneral nothing took place in the Homeric battles.\u201d\u2014Buttm. Lexil. p.\n358. Cf. Coleridge, p. 160.\n\nFootnote 291: (return)  Wood, p. 46, explains this from the situation\nof Ionia. Heyne, however, observes, \u201ccomparatio e mente poet\u00e6\ninstituitur, non ex Agamemnonis persona.\u201d\n\nBut Atrides, wounded to the heart with great sorrow, kept going round,\ngiving orders to the clear-voiced heralds, to summon each man by name\nto an assembly, but not to call aloud; and he himself toiled among the\nfirst. And they sat in council, grieved, and Agamemnon arose, shedding\ntears, like a black-water fountain, which pours its gloomy stream from\na lofty rock. Thus he, deeply sighing, spoke words to the Greeks:\n\n\u201cO friends, leaders and chieftains over the Greeks, Jove, the son of\nSaturn, has greatly entangled me in a grievous calamity: cruel, who\nonce promised me, and assented, that I should return, having destroyed\nwell-built Ilium. But now has he plotted an evil fraud, and orders me\nto return inglorious to Argos, after I have lost much people. Thus,\ndoubtless, will it be agreeable to almighty Jove, who has already\noverthrown the heights of many cities, and will still overthrow them,\nfor his power is greatest. But come, let us all obey as I advise: let\nus fly with the ships to our dear fatherland, for now we shall not take\nwide-wayed Troy.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they were all still in silence, and the sons of the\nGreeks being sad, kept silent long: at length Diomede, brave in the din\nof battle, spoke:\n\n\u201cSon of Atreus, thee will I first oppose, speaking inconsiderately, as\nis lawful, in the assembly; but be not thou the least offended. First\namong the Greeks didst thou disparage my valour, saying that I was\nunwarlike and weak; 292 and all this, as well the young as the old of\nthe Greeks know. One of two things hath the son of crafty Saturn given\nthee: he has granted that thou shouldst be honoured by the sceptre\nabove all; but valour hath he not given thee, which is the greatest\nstrength. Strange man, dost thou then certainly think that the sons of\nthe Greeks are unwarlike and weak, as thou sayest? If indeed thy mind\nimpels thee, that thou shouldst return, go: the way lies open to thee,\nand thy ships stand near the sea, which very many followed thee from\nMycen\u00e6. But the other long-haired Greeks will remain until we overthrow\nTroy: but if they also [choose], let them fly with their ships to their\ndear fatherland. But we twain, I and Sthenelus, 293 will fight, until\nwe find an end of Troy; for under the auspices of the deity we came.\u201d\n\nFootnote 292: (return)  Cf. iv. 370, sqq.\n\nFootnote 293: (return)  Heyne compares Julius C\u00e6sar, Com. B. G. i. 40.\n\u201cSi pr\u00e6terea nemo sequatur (contra Ariovistum), tamen se cum sola\ndecima legione iturum dicit.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but all the sons of the Greeks applauded, admiring the\nspeech of steed-breaking Diomede. But them the knight Nestor, rising\nup, addressed:\n\n\u201cSon of Tydeus, pre-eminently indeed art thou brave in battle, and the\nbest in council amongst all thine equals. No one has censured thy\ndiscourse, nor contradicts it, as many as are the Greeks; but thou\ncomest not to an end of discussion. 294 Assuredly thou art youthful,\nand mightst be my youngest son for age, yet thou speakest prudent words\nto the kings of the Greeks, for thou hast said aright. But come, I who\nboast to be older than thou, will speak out, and discuss everything:\nnor will any one, not even king Agamemnon, disregard my speech.\nTribeless, lawless, homeless is he, who loves horrid civil war. But\nnow, however, let us obey dark night, and make ready suppers. But let\nthe respective guards lie down beside the trench, dug without the wall.\nTo the youth, indeed, I enjoin these things; but next, Atrides, do thou\nbegin, for thou art supreme. Give a banquet to the elders; it becomes\nthee, and is not unseemly. Full are thy tents of wine, which the ships\nof the Greeks daily bring over the wide sea from Thrace. Thou hast\nevery accommodation, and rulest over many people. But when many are\nassembled, do thou obey him who shall give the best advice; for there\nis great need of good and prudent [advice] to all the Greeks, since the\nenemy are burning many fires near the ships; and who can rejoice at\nthese things? But this night will either ruin the army or preserve it.\u201d\n\nFootnote 294: (return)  _I. e_. thou hast not said all that might have\nbeen said on the subject.\n\nThus he spoke; and they heard him very attentively, and obeyed. But the\nguards rushed forth with their arms, [those around] Thrasymedes, the\nson of Nestor, the shepherd of the people, Ascalaphus and Ialmenus,\nsons of Mars, Meriones, Aphareus, and De\u00efpyrus, as well as the son of\nCreon, noble Lycomedes. There were seven leaders of the guards, and a\nhundred youths marched along with each, holding long spears in their\nhands. Proceeding to the space between the trench and the wall, there\nthey sat down, and there kindled a fire, and prepared each his supper.\n\nBut Atrides conducted the assembled elders of the Greeks to his tent,\nand set before them a strength-recruiting banquet; and they laid their\nhands upon the viands placed before them. But when they had dismissed\nthe desire of eating and drinking, to them first of all did aged\nNestor, whose advice had previously appeared best, begin to interweave\nadvice; who wisely counselling, addressed them, and said:\n\n\u201cMost glorious Atrides, king of men, Agamemnon, with thee shall I end,\nand with thee shall I commence. Since thou art a king of many nations,\nand Jove hath placed in thine hands both a sceptre and laws, that thou\nmayest consult for their advantage. Therefore is it necessary that thou\nin particular shouldst deliver and hear an opinion, and also accomplish\nthat of another, when his mind urges any one to speak for the [public]\ngood; but on thee will depend whatever takes the lead. Yet will I speak\nas appears to me to be best. For no other person will propound a better\nopinion than that which I meditate, both of old and also now, from that\nperiod when thou, O nobly born, didst depart, carrying off the maid\nBrise\u00efs from the tent of the enraged Achilles; by no means according to\nmy judgment; for I very strenuously dissuaded thee from it: but having\nyielded to thy haughty temper, thou didst dishonour the bravest hero,\nwhom even the immortals have honoured; for, taking away his reward,\nthou still retainest it. Yet even now let us deliberate how we may\nsucceed in persuading him, appeasing him with agreeable gifts and\nsoothing words.\u201d\n\nBut him the king of men, Agamemnon, again addressed: \u201cOld man, thou\nhast not falsely enumerated my errors. I have erred, nor do I myself\ndeny it. That man indeed is equivalent to many troops, whom Jove loves\nin his heart, as now he hath honoured this man, and subdued the people\nof the Greeks. But since I erred, having yielded to my wayward\ndisposition, I desire again to appease him, and to give him invaluable\npresents. Before you all will I enumerate the distinguished gifts:\nseven tripods untouched by fire, 295 and ten talents of gold, and\ntwenty shining caldrons, and twelve stout steeds, victorious in the\nrace, which have borne off prizes by their feet. No pauper would the\nman be, nor in want of precious gold, to whom as many prizes belong as\n[these] solid-hoofed steeds have brought to me. I will likewise give\nseven beautiful Lesbian women, skilful in faultless works; whom I\nselected when he himself took well-inhabited Lesbos, who excel the race\nof women in beauty. These will I give him, and amongst them will be her\nwhom then I took away, the daughter of Brise\u00efs; and I will swear\nmoreover a mighty oath, that I never ascended her bed, nor embraced\nher, as is the custom of human beings\u2014of men and women. All these shall\nimmediately be ready; and if, moreover, the gods grant that we destroy\nthe great city of Priam, let him fill his ships abundantly with gold\nand brass, entering in when we the Greeks divide the spoil. Let him\nalso choose twenty Trojan women, who may be fairest next to Argive\nHelen. But if we reach Ach\u00e6an Argos, the udder of the land, 296 he may\nbecome my son-in-law; and I will honour him equally with Orestes, who\nis nurtured as my darling son, in great affluence. Now, I have three\ndaughters in my well-built palace,\u2014Chrysothemis, Laodice, and\nIphianassa. Of these let him lead the beloved one, whichsoever he may\nchoose, without marriage-dower, to the house of Peleus; but I will give\nvery many dowries, so many as no man ever yet gave to his daughter. I\nwill, moreover, give him seven well-inhabited cities,\u2014Cardamyle, Enope,\nand grassy Ira, glorious Pher\u00e6, with deep-pastured Anthea, fair \u00c6peia,\nand vine-bearing Pedasus; which are all near the sea, the last towards\nsandy Pylus. But in them dwell men rich in flocks and herds, who will\nhonour him like a god with gifts, and beneath his sceptre will pay rich\ntributes. These will I bestow upon him, ceasing from his anger. Let him\nbe prevailed upon. Pluto indeed is implacable and inexorable, wherefore\nhe is the most hateful of all the gods to men. Let him likewise yield\nto me, inasmuch as I am more kingly, and because I boast to be older\n[than he].\u201d\n\nBut him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: \u201cMost glorious son of\nAtreus, king of men, Agamemnon, thou indeed offerest gifts by no means\ndespicable to king Achilles. But come, let us urge chosen men, who may\ngo with all speed to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus. Come\nthen, these will I select, but let them obey. First of all indeed let\nPh\u0153nix, dear to Jove, be the leader; next then mighty Ajax and divine\nUlysses: and of the heralds, let Hodius and Eurybates follow with them.\nBut bring water for the hands, and command to observe well-omened\nwords, 297 that we may supplicate Saturnian Jove, if perchance he will\ntake pity.\u201d\n\nFootnote 295: (return)  _I. e_. not yet brought into common use.\n\nFootnote 296: (return)  A beautiful expression, denoting the fertility\nof the land. Cf. Albert. on Hesych. t. ii. p. 806. So \u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf \u03bc\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2 in\nCallim. II. in Del. 48.\n\nFootnote 297: (return)  The translation, \u201cfavour us with their voices,\u201d\nis nonsense, while \u201ckeep silence\u201d is by no means the meaning of\n\u03b5\u03cd\u03c6\u03b7\u03bc\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9. Kennedy rightly explains it, \u201cabstain from expressions\nunsuitable to the solemnity of the occasion, which, by offending the\ngod, might defeat the object of their supplications.\u201d See Servius on\nVirg. \u00c6n. v. 71; Lamb, on Hor. Od. iii. 1, 2; Broukhus. on Tibull. ii.\n1, 1.\n\nThus he spoke, and delivered an opinion agreeable to them all.\nImmediately indeed the heralds poured water upon their hands, and the\nyouths crowned the goblets with wine; then they distributed them to\nall, having poured the first of the wine into the cups. But when they\nhad made libations, and drunk as much as their mind desired, they\nhastened from the tent of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. To them the\nGerenian knight Nestor gave many charges, looking wistfully upon each,\nparticularly upon Ulysses, that they should endeavour to persuade the\nblameless son of Peleus.\n\nThey twain then went along the shore of the loud-sounding sea, praying\nearnestly to earth-shaking [Neptune], who encompasses the earth, that\nthey might easily persuade the great mind of the grandson of \u00c6acus. But\nthey came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons, and they found him\ndelighting his soul with his clear-toned harp, beautiful, curiously\nwrought, and upon it was a silver comb. This he had taken from amongst\nthe spoils, having destroyed the city of E\u00ebtion, and with it he was\ndelighting his soul, and singing the glorious deeds 298 of heroes.\nPatroclus alone sat opposite to him in silence, waiting upon the\ndescendant of \u00c6acus when he should cease to sing. Then they advanced\nfarther, and divine Ulysses preceded; and they stood before him; whilst\nAchilles, astonished, leaped up, with his lyre, quitting the seat where\nhe had been sitting. In like manner Patroclus, when he beheld the\nheroes, arose, and swift-footed Achilles taking them by the hand,\naddressed them:\n\n\u201cHail, warriors, ye indeed have come as friends. Surely [there is] some\ngreat necessity [when ye come], who are to me, although enraged,\ndearest of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 298: (return)  Or the renown of heroes. So Apollon. i. 1:\n\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03b1 \u03c6\u03ce\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u039c\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9.\n\nThus having spoken, divine Achilles led them forward, and seated them\nupon couches and purple coverlets; then straightway he addressed\nPatroclus, who was near:\n\n\u201cPlace a larger goblet, O son of Men\u0153tius, mix purer wine, 299 and\nprepare a cup for each, for men most dear [to me] are beneath my roof.\u201d\n\nFootnote 299: (return)  _I. e_. less diluted than usual. On this quaint\npicture of ancient manners, compared with the customs of the Hebrew\nfathers, compare Coleridge, p. 151.\n\nThus he spoke; and Patroclus obeyed his dear companion. But he\n[Achilles] placed in the flame of the fire a large dressing-block, and\nupon it he laid the chine of a sheep and of a fat goat, with the back\nof a fatted sow, abounding in fat. Automedon then held them for him,\nand noble Achilles cut them up; and divided them skilfully into small\npieces, and transfixed them with spits; whilst the son of Men\u0153tius, a\ngodlike hero, kindled a large fire. But when the fire had burned away,\nand the flame grew languid, strewing the embers, he extended the spits\nover them, and sprinkled them with sacred salt, raising them up from\nthe racks. But when he had dressed them, and had thrown them upon\nkitchen tables, Patroclus, taking bread, served it out upon the board\nin beautiful baskets: but Achilles distributed the flesh. But he\nhimself sat opposite to noble Ulysses, against the other wall, and\nordered Patroclus, his companion, to sacrifice to the gods; and he\naccordingly cast the first morsels 300 into the fire. And they\nstretched forth their hands to the prepared viands which lay before\nthem. But when they had dismissed the desire of eating and drinking,\nAjax nodded to Phoenix, but noble Ulysses observed it, and having\nfilled his goblet with wine, he pledged Achilles:\n\nFootnote 300: (return)  Hesych. and Phrynicus (for their glosses should\nprobably be joined), \u03b8\u03bd\u03b7\u03bb\u03ac\u03c2\u2019 \u03ac\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03ac\u03c2 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b5\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u1f11\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd.\n\n\u201cHealth, Achilles. We are not wanting of a complete feast, either in\nthe tent of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, or even here also, for many\nstrength-recruiting dainties are here; but the business of an agreeable\nfeast is not our care. We, O thou Jove-nurtured one, contemplating it,\nrather dread a very great disaster, as it is matter of doubt whether\nthe well-benched ships be saved or destroyed, unless thou puttest on\nthy might. For near the ships and the wall the high-minded Trojans and\ntheir far-summoned allies have pitched their camp, kindling many fires\nthroughout the host; and they say that they will no longer restrain\nthemselves, but that they will fall upon our black vessels. 301 And\nSaturnian Jove exhibiting to them propitious signs, darts his\nlightning; and Hector, looking fiercely round in valour, rages\nterribly, trusting in Jove, nor reverences at all either men or gods,\nbut great madness hath come upon him. He prays that divine morn may\nspeedily come. For he declares that he will cut off the poop-ends 302\nof the ships, and burn [the ships] themselves with ravaging fire, and\nslaughter the Greeks beside them, discomforted by the smoke. Wherefore\ndo I greatly fear in my mind lest the gods may fulfil his threats, and\nit be destined for us to perish in Troy, far from steed-nourishing\nArgos. Rise then, if thou hast the intention, although late, to defend\nthe harassed sons of the Greeks from the violent onslaught of the\nTrojans. To thyself it will hereafter be a cause of sorrow, nor is it\npossible in any manner to discover a remedy for a disaster when\nreceived; wherefore reflect much beforehand, how thou mayest avert the\nevil day from the Greeks. O my friend, surely thy father Peleus charged\nthee, on that day when he sent thee from Phthia to Agamemnon, \u2018My son,\nMinerva and Juno will bestow valour, if they choose; but restrain thy\ngreat-hearted soul within thy breast, because humanity is better; and\nabstain from injurious contention, that both the youth and elders of\nthe Greeks may honour thee the more.\u2019 Thus did the old man give charge,\nbut thou art forgetful. Yet even now desist, and lay aside thy\nmind-corroding wrath. To thee Agamemnon gives worthy gifts, ceasing\nfrom indignation. But if [thou wilt] hear from me, and I will repeat to\nthee how many presents Agamemnon in his tents hath promised thee: seven\ntripods, untouched by the fire, and ten talents of gold, twenty shining\ncaldrons, and twelve stout steeds, victorious in the race, which have\nborne off prizes by their feet. No pauper, nor in want of precious\ngold, would that man be to whom so many prizes belonged as the steeds\nof Agamemnon have borne off by their fleetness. He will likewise give\nseven beautiful women, skilful in faultless works, Lesbians, whom he\nselected when thou thyself didst take well-inhabited Lesbos, who then\nexcelled the race of women in beauty. These will he give thee, and\namongst them will be her whom once he took away, the daughter of\nBrise\u00efs; and he will moreover swear a mighty oath, that he never\nascended her bed, nor embraced her, as is the custom. O king, both of\nmen and women. All these shall immediately be in waiting; and if,\nmoreover, the gods grant that we pillage the vast city of Priam,\nentering, thou mayest fill thy ships abundantly with gold and brass,\nwhen we, the Greeks, divide the spoil. Thou shalt also choose twenty\nTrojan women, who may be fairest next to Argive Helen. But if we reach\nAch\u00e6an Argos, the udder of the land, thou mayest become his son-in-law,\nand he will honour thee equally with Orestes, who is nurtured as his\ndarling son, in great affluence. But he has three daughters in his\nwell-built palace,\u2014Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa. Of these thou\nshalt conduct the most beloved whomsoever thou mayest choose, without\nmarriage-gifts, to the house of Peleus; but he will give very many\ndowries, such as no man yet gave his daughter. He will moreover give\nthee seven well-inhabited cities,\u2014Cardamyle, Enope, and grassy Ira,\nglorious Pher\u00e6, with deep-pastured Anthea, fair \u00c6peia, and vine-bearing\nPedasus; which are all near the sea, the last towards sandy Pylus. But\nin them dwell men abounding in flocks and herds, who will honour thee\nwith gifts like a god, and under thy sceptre pay rich tributes. These\nwill he fulfil to thee ceasing from thy wrath. But if indeed the son of\nAtreus himself and his gifts be more hateful to thee from thine heart,\nat least have pity upon all the other Greeks, harassed throughout the\narmy, who will honour thee as a god; for surely thou wilt obtain very\ngreat honour among them. For now mayest thou slay Hector, since he hath\nalready come very near thee, possessing destructive fury; since he\ndeclares that no one of the Greeks whom the ships have conveyed hither\nis his equal.\u201d\n\nFootnote 301: (return)  But Heyne, \u201cnon locum tuituros [nos], sed in\nnaves fugituros et discessuros.\u201d\n\nFootnote 302: (return)  This interpretation is substantiated by Heyne,\nfrom Il. O, 717. The \u03ac\u03ba\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03bb\u03b9\u03b1, or _figure-heads_, are not meant here.\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: \u201cMost noble son of\nLaertes, much-scheming Ulysses, it behoves me indeed to speak my\nopinion without reserve, even as I think, and as will be accomplished,\nthat ye may not, sitting beside me, keep whining 303 one after another.\nHateful to me as the gates of Hades is he who conceals one thing in his\nmind and utters another. But I will speak as appears to me to be best;\nand I think that neither Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, nor the other\nGreeks will persuade me; since there is no gratitude to him who fights\never ceaselessly with hostile men. An equal portion [falls] to him who\nloiters, as if one continually fight; and the coward is in equal honour\nwith the brave. The man of no deeds, and the man of many, are wont\nequally to die; nor does anything lie by me as a store, 304 because I\nhave suffered sorrows in my soul, ever risking my life to fight. And as\nthe bird brings food to her unfledged young when she hath found it,\nalthough she fares badly herself; so have I too spent many sleepless\nnights, and gone through bloody days in combat, fighting with heroes\nfor their wives\u2019 sakes. Twelve cities indeed of men have I wasted with\nmy ships, and on foot I say eleven throughout the fertile Troad. 305\nFrom all these have I carried off many and precious spoils, and bearing\nthem, have given all to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus; whilst he,\nremaining behind at the swift ships, receiving them, hath distributed\nbut few, but retained many. To the chiefs and kings hath he given other\nprizes; to whom indeed they remain entire: but from me alone of the\nGreeks hath he taken it away, and he possesses my spouse, dear to my\nsoul, with whom reclining, let him delight himself. But why is it\nnecessary that the Greeks wage war with the Trojans? Or from what\nnecessity did the son of Atreus, assembling an army, lead it hither?\nWas it not on account of fair-haired Helen? Do the sons of Atreus\nalone, of articulate-speaking men, love their wives? [Surely not],\nsince whatever man is good and prudent loves and cherishes his spouse;\nthus I too loved her from my soul, though the captive of my spear. And\nnow since he hath snatched my reward from my hands, and deceived me,\nlet him not make trial of me, already well informed, for he will not\npersuade me; but let him consider with thee, O Ulysses, and the other\nkings, how he may repel the hostile fire from the ships. Assuredly he\nhas already accomplished many labours without me. He has already built\na rampart, and drawn a trench broad [and] large beside it; and planted\nin it palisades; but not even thus can he restrain the might of\nman-slaughtering Hector. Whilst I indeed fought amongst the Greeks,\nHector chose not to arouse the battle at a distance from the wall, but\nhe came [only] as far as the Sc\u00e6an gates, and the beech-tree. There\nonce he awaited me alone, and with difficulty escaped my attack. But\nsince I choose not to war with noble Hector, to-morrow, 306 having\nperformed sacrifices to Jove and all the gods, [and] having well laden\nmy ships, when I shall have drawn them down to the sea, thou shalt\nbehold, if thou wilt, and if such things be a care to thee, my ships\nearly in the morn sailing upon the fishy Hellespont, and men within\nthem, eager for rowing; and if glorious Neptune grant but a prosperous\nvoyage, on the third day I shall surely reach fertile Phthia. 307 Now\nthere I have very many possessions, which I left, coming hither, to my\nloss. 308 And I will carry hence other gold and ruddy brass,\nwell-girdled women, and hoary iron, which I have obtained by lot. But\nthe reward which he gave, king Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, hath\nhimself insultingly taken from me: to whom do thou tell all things as I\ncharge thee, openly, that the other Greeks also may be indignant, if\nhe, ever clad in impudence, still hope to deceive any of the Greeks;\nnor let him dare, dog-like as he is, to look in my face. I will neither\njoin in counsels nor in any action with him; for he hath already\ndeceived and offended me, nor shall he again overreach me with words.\nIt is enough for him [to do so once]: but in quiet 309 let him perish,\nfor provident Jove hath deprived him of reason. Hateful to me are his\ngifts, and himself I value not a hair. 310 Not if he were to give me\nten and twenty times as many gifts as he now has, and if others were to\nbe added from any other quarter; nor as many as arrive at Orchomenos,\nor Egyptian Thebes, 311 where numerous possessions are laid up in the\nmansions, and where are one hundred gates, 312 from each of which rush\nout two hundred men with horses and chariots. Nor if he were to give me\nas many as are the sands and dust, not even thus shall Agamemnon now\npersuade my mind, until he indemnify me for all his mind-grieving\ninsult. But I will not wed the daughter of Agamemnon, the son of\nAtreus, not if she were fit to contend in beauty with golden Venus, or\nwere equal in accomplishments to azure-eyed Minerva; not even thus will\nI wed her. Let him then select another of the Greeks who may suit him,\nand who is more the king; for if the gods preserve me, and I reach\nhome, then will Peleus himself hereafter bestow upon me a lady in\nmarriage. There are many Grecian women throughout Hellas and Phthia,\ndaughters of chieftains who defend the cities. Whomsoever of these I\nmay choose, I will make my beloved wife; and there my generous soul\nvery much desires that I, wedding a betrothed spouse, a fit partner of\nmy bed, should enjoy the possessions which aged Peleus hath acquired.\nFor not worth my life are all the [treasures] which they say the\nwell-inhabited city Ilium possessed, whilst formerly at peace, before\nthe sons of the Greeks arrived; nor all which the stony threshold of\nthe archer Ph\u0153bus Apollo contains within it, in rocky Pytho. 313 By\nplunder, oxen and fat sheep are to be procured, tripods are to be\nprocured, and the yellow heads of steeds; but the life of man cannot be\nobtained nor seized, so as to return again, when once it has passed the\nenclosure of the teeth. For my goddess mother, silver-footed Thetis,\ndeclares that double destinies lead me on to the end of death. If, on\nthe one hand, remaining here, I wage war around the city of the\nTrojans, return is lost to me, but my glory will be immortal; but if,\non the other hand, I return home to my dear fatherland, my excellent\nglory is lost, but my life will be lasting, nor will the end of death\nspeedily seize upon me. And to others also would I give advice to sail\nhome, for ye will not find an end of lofty Ilium; for far-sounding Jove\nhath stretched over it his hand, and the people have taken courage. But\ndo ye, departing, bear back this message to the chiefs of the Greeks,\nfor such is the office of ambassadors, that they devise within their\nminds some other better plan, which for them may preserve their ships,\nand the army of the Greeks in the hollow barks; since this, which they\nhave now devised, is not expedient for them, while I cherish my wrath.\nBut let Ph\u0153nix, remaining here, recline beside us, that to-morrow, if\nhe will, he may follow me in the ships to my dear fatherland, although\nI will by no means lead him away by compulsion.\u201d\n\nFootnote 303: (return)  This word is etymologically connected with\n\u03c4\u03c1\u03bd\u03b3\u03ce\u03bd. It properly signifies the moaning of the dove.\n\nFootnote 304: (return)  Schol. \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03cc\u03bd \u03c4\u03af \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9. Kennedy explains it:\n\u201cnor have all the toils which I have undergone been productive of any\nsuperior advantage to me.\u201d\n\nFootnote 305: (return)  See a list of these cities in Heyne\u2019s note.\n\nFootnote 306: (return)  Observe the broken construction, well suited to\nthe irritability of the speaker.\n\nFootnote 307: (return)  Cf. Cicero de Div. i. 25.\n\nFootnote 308: (return)  \u201c\u0395\u1fe4\u1fe5\u03c9\u03bd, \u1f10\u03c0\u03af \u03c6\u03b8\u03bf\u03c1\u1fb7.\u201d (ita etym. magn.)\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. i. p. 1445.\n\nFootnote 309: (return)  \u201c\u0395\u03ba\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 forcibly expresses the condition of one\nwho is advancing imperceptibly, though surely, to final ruin.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 310: (return)  See Kennedy, and Duport, Gnom. p. 52, who\ncompare the phrases \u201cpilo minus amare\u201d, \u201cpili facere.\u201d There is,\nhowever, much uncertainty respecting the origin and meaning of the\nproverb. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. i. p. 1246.\n\nFootnote 311: (return)  \u201cThebes was the centre of Egyptian power and\ncommerce, probably long before Memphis grew into importance, or before\nthe Delta was made suitable to the purposes of husbandry by the cutting\nof canals and the raising of embankments.\u201d\u2014Egyptian Antiquities, vol.\ni. p. 66.\n\nFootnote 312: (return)  Although Denon (see Egypt. Antt. p. 62) regards\nthis as an unmeaning expression, Heyne well observes: \u201cnumerus\ncentenarius ponitur pro magno: et portis semel memoratis, multitudo\nhominum declaratur per numerum exeuntium.\u201d\n\nFootnote 313: (return)  Cf. M\u00fcller, Dorians, vol. i. pp. 26, 268.\n\nThus he spoke; but they all became mute in silence, marvelling at his\nspeech, for he answered with much vehemence. At length, however, the\naged knight, Ph\u0153nix, addressed him, shedding tears, for he greatly\nfeared for the ships of the Greeks:\n\n\u201cIf indeed, \u039f illustrious Achilles, thou dost now meditate a return\nwithin thy mind, nor art at all willing to repel the destructive fire\nfrom the swift ships, because indignation hath fallen upon thy soul;\nhow then can I, my dear child, be left here alone by thee? for aged\nPeleus, the breaker of steeds, sent me forth with thee on that day,\nwhen he despatched thee from Phthia to Agamemnon, a boy, not yet\nskilled either in equally-destroying war, nor in counsels where men\nalso become illustrious. On which account he sent me forth to teach\nthee all these things, that thou mightest become both an orator in\nwords and a performer in deeds. Thus then, my dear child, I wish not at\nlength to be left by thee, not even if a god himself, having divested\nme of old age, should promise that he would render me a blooming youth,\nsuch as I was when first I quitted fair-damed Hellas, flying the\ncontentions of my father Amyntor, son of Ormenus; who was enraged with\nme on account of a fair-haired concubine whom he himself loved, but\ndishonoured his wife, my mother. But she continually would embrace my\nknees in supplication, that I should first have connection with the\nconcubine, that she might loathe the old man. Her I obeyed, and did so;\nbut my father immediately perceiving it, uttered many execrations, and\ninvoked the hateful Erinnys, that no dear son, sprung from me, should\never be placed upon his knees; and the gods ratified his execrations,\nboth infernal Jove and dread Proserpine. Then my soul within my mind\ncould no longer endure that I should sojourn in the palace whilst my\nfather was enraged. My friends, indeed, and relations, being much about\nme, detained me there within the halls, entreating [me to stay]. Many\nfat sheep and stamping-footed, crooked-horned oxen they slaughtered;\nmany swine abounding in fat were stretched out to be roasted in the\nflame of Vulcan, and much of the old man\u2019s wine was drunk out of\nearthen vessels. Nine nights did they sleep around me: whilst, taking\nit in turns, they kept watch; nor was the fire ever extinguished, one\nin the portico of the well-fenced hall, and another in the vestibule,\nbefore the chamber-doors. But when at length the tenth shady night had\ncome upon me, then indeed I rushed forth, having burst the\nskilfully-joined doors of the apartment, and I easily overleaped the\nfence of the hall, escaping the notice of the watchmen and the female\ndomestics. Afterwards I fled thence through spacious Hellas, and came\nto fertile Phthia, the mother of sheep, to king Peleus; who kindly\nreceived me, and loved me even as a father loves his only son, born in\nhis old age 314 to ample possessions. He made me opulent, and bestowed\nupon me much people, and I inhabited the extreme shores of Phthia,\nruling over the Dolopians. Thee too, \u039f godlike Achilles, have I\nrendered what thou art, 315 loving thee from my soul; since thou\nwouldst not go with another to the feast, nor take food in the mansion,\nuntil I, placing thee upon my knees, satisfied thee with viands,\npreviously carving them, and supplied thee with wine. Often hast thou\nwetted the tunic upon my breast, ejecting the wine in infant\npeevishness. 316 Thus have I borne very many things from thee, and much\nhave I laboured, thinking this, that since the gods have not granted an\noffspring to me from myself, I should at least make thee my son, O\nAchilles, like unto the gods, that thou mightst yet repel from me\nunworthy destiny. But O Achilles, subdue thy mighty rage; it is by no\nmeans necessary for thee to have a merciless heart. Flexible are even\nthe gods themselves, whose virtue, honour, and might are greater [than\nthine]. Even these, when any one transgresses and errs, do men divert\n[from their wrath] by sacrifices and appeasing vows, and frankincense\nand savour. For Prayers also are the daughters of supreme Jove, 317\nboth halt, and wrinkled, and squint-eyed; which following on Ate from\nbehind, are full of care. But Ate is robust and sound in limb,\nwherefore she far outstrips all, and arrives first at every land, doing\ninjury to men; whilst these afterwards cure them. 318 Whosoever will\nreverence the daughters of Jove approaching, him they are wont greatly\nto aid, and hear when praying. But whosoever will deny and obstinately\nrefuse them, then indeed, drawing near, they entreat Saturnian Jove,\nthat Ate may follow along with him, that being injured [in turn], he\nmay pay the penalty. But \u039f Achilles, do thou too yield honour to\naccompany the daughters of Jove, which bends the minds of other brave\nmen; for if Atrides brought not gifts, and did not mention others in\nfuturity, but would ever rage vehemently, I for my part would not\nadvise that, casting away wrath, thou shouldst defend the Greeks,\nalthough greatly in need. But now he at once gives both many\nimmediately, and promises others hereafter; moreover, he hath\ndespatched the best men to supplicate thee, having selected throughout\nthe Grecian army those who are dearest to thyself; whose entreaty do\nnot thou despise, nor their mission, although formerly fault was not to\nbe found with thee, because thou wert enraged. Thus also have we heard\nthe renown of heroes of former days, when vehement wrath came upon any,\n[that] they were both appeasable by gifts, and to be reconciled by\nwords. I remember this ancient and by no means modern deed, of what\nsort it was; and I will repeat it among you all, being friends. The\nCuretes and \u00c6tolians, obstinate in battle, fought around the city of\nCalydon, and slaughtered each other; the \u00c6tolians, in defence of lofty\nCalydon, the Curetes, eager to lay it waste in war; for between them\nhad golden-throned Diana excited mischief, indignant because \u0152neus had\nnot offered the first-fruits in sacrifice in the fertile spot of\nground: 319 whilst the other gods feasted on hecatombs, but to the\ndaughter of mighty Jove alone he sacrificed not. Either he forgot, 320\nor did not think of it, but he did greatly err in mind. But she, the\ndaughter of Jove, delighting in arrows, enraged, sent against [him] a\nsylvan wild boar, with white tusks, which did much detriment, as is the\nwont [of boars], to the land of \u0152neus. And many tall trees, one after\nanother, did he prostrate on the ground, with their very roots and the\nblossom of their fruit. But him Meleager, son of \u0152neus, slew,\nassembling huntsmen and dogs from many cities; for he would not have\nbeen subdued by a few mortals: so mighty was he, and he caused many to\nascend the sad funeral-pile. Still she (Diana) excited around him 321 a\ngreat tumult and war between the Curetes and magnanimous \u00c6tolians, for\nthe head and bristly skin of the boar. 322 Whilst warlike Meleager\nfought, so long were the Curetes unsuccessful; nor were they able,\nalthough numerous, to remain without the wall. But when wrath, which\nswells the minds of others, though very prudent, within their breasts,\ncame upon Meleager, for, enraged at heart with his dear mother Alth\u00e6a,\nhe remained inactive beside his wedded wife, fair Cleopatra, daughter\nof Marpessa, the handsome-footed child of Evenus and Idas, who was then\nthe bravest of earthly men, and even lifted a bow against king Ph\u0153bus\nApollo, for the sake of his fair-ankled spouse. Her [Cleopatra] then\nher father and venerable mother in the palace were accustomed to call\nby the surname of Alcyone, because her mother, having the plaintive\nnote of sad Alcyone, 323 lamented when far-darting Ph\u0153bus Apollo stole\nher away. Beside her he [Meleager] remained inactive, brooding 324 over\nhis sad anger, enraged because of the curses of his mother, who, much\ngrieving, prayed to the gods on account of the murder of her brethren.\n325 Often with her hands did she strike the fruitful earth, calling\nupon Pluto and dread Proserpine, reclining upon her knees, whilst her\nbosom was bedewed with tears, to give death to her son: but her the\nErinnys, wandering in gloom, possessing an implacable heart, heard from\nErebus. Then immediately was there noise and tumult of these 326\nexcited round the gates, the towers being battered. Then did the elders\nof the \u00c6tolians entreat him, and sent chosen priests to the gods, that\nhe would come forth and defend them, promising a great gift. Where the\nsoil of fertile Calydon was richest, there they ordered him to choose a\nbeautiful enclosure of fifty acres; the one half, of land fit for\nvines, to cut off the other half of plain land, free from wood, for\ntillage. Much did aged \u0152neus, breaker of steeds, beseech him, having\nascended to the threshold of his lofty-roofed chamber, shaking the\nwell-glued door-post, supplicating his son. And much also his sisters\nand venerable mother entreated him, but he the more refused; and much\n[prayed] the companions who were dearest and most friendly of all; but\nnot even thus did they persuade the soul within his breast, until his\nchamber was violently assailed, and the Curetes were in the act of\nscaling the ramparts, and firing the great city. Then indeed at length\nhis fair-girdled spouse, weeping, supplicated Meleager, and recounted\nall the disasters, as many as happen to men whose city may be taken. In\nthe first place, they slay the men, 327 whilst fire reduces the city to\nashes; and others carry off the children and deep-zoned women. Then was\nhis soul disturbed when he heard of evil deeds, and he hasted to go and\ngird the all-glittering armour around his body. Thus he repelled the\nevil day from the \u00c6tolians, yielding to his own inclination; but they\ndid not make good to him the many and pleasing gifts; but he\nnevertheless warded off evil. But revolve not such things within thy\nmind, O my friend, nor let the deity 328 thus turn thee, since it would\nbe more dishonourable to assist the ships [when already] set on fire.\nRather come for the gifts, for the Greeks will honour thee equally with\na god. If again without gifts thou enter the man-destroying battle,\nthou wilt not receive equal honour, although warding off the war.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: \u201cPh\u0153nix, respected\nfather, old man, Jove-nurtured, to me there is no need of this honour,\nfor I conceive that I have been honoured by the behest of Jove, which\nwill detain me at the crooked ships whilst breath remains in my bosom,\nand my knees have the power of motion. But I will tell thee something\nelse, and do thou revolve it in thy mind. Disturb not my soul, weeping\nand lamenting, gratifying the hero Atrides; it is not at all necessary\nthat thou love him, that thou mayest not be hated by me, who love thee.\nIt is proper for thee with me to give annoyance to him who hath annoyed\nme. Rule equally with me, and receive my honour in half. 329 These will\nbear back my message; but do thou, remaining here, recline upon a soft\nbed, and with morn appearing let us consult whether we shall return to\nour native land or remain.\u201d\n\nFootnote 314: (return)  See, however, Buttm. Lexil. p. 510, sqq., who\nconsiders that \u03c4\u03b7\u03bb\u03cd\u03b3\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 simply means \u201c_tenderly beloved_; only that it\nis a more forcible expression for this idea, as is evident from the bad\nsense in which the word is used at II. v. 470, where the meaning of a\nchild _spoiled_ by the love of its parents is evident.\u201d\n\nFootnote 315: (return)  _I.e._ I reared thee to thy present age. Lit.\n\u201cI made thee so great.\u201d\n\nFootnote 316: (return)  If any one should despise these natural details\nas trifling and beneath the dignity of poetry, I can only recommend a\ncomparison with \u00c6sch. Choeph. 750, sqq., and Shakspeare\u2019s nurse in\n\u201cRomeo and Juliet.\u201d In such passages, the age of the supposed speaker\nis the best apology for the poet.\n\nFootnote 317: (return)  See Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 57.\n\nFootnote 318: (return)  Perhaps it was from this passage that Sterne\ntook his sublime idea of the Recording Angel blotting out the oath\nwhich the Accusing Spirit had carried up to heaven.\n\nFootnote 319: (return)  Cf. Hesiod, Theog. 54. \u039c\u03bd\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7, \u03b3\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd\n\u1f10\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u1fc6\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b4\u03ad\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1. Like \u03bf\u1f56\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1 \u1f00\u03c1\u03bf\u03cd\u03c1\u03b7\u03c2, in ver. 141, it is an\nexpression denoting excessive fertility.\n\nFootnote 320: (return)  So Xenoph. de Venat. \u00a7 1. \u039f\u1f34\u03bd\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b4\u2019 \u1f10\u03bd \u03b3\u03ae\u03c1\u1fb3\n\u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03b8\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03d1\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6. See an excellent sketch of the story in Grote,\nvol. i. p. 195, sqq. Cf. Hygin. Fab. clxxii.; Lactant. Arg. fab. Ovid.\nviii. 4; Antonin. Lib. Met. \u00a7 2.\n\nFootnote 321: (return)  _I. e._ the boar.\n\nFootnote 322: (return)  On the legend of this war, see Apollodor. i. 8,\n2; Callimach. Ib. Dian. 216; Ovid, Met. viii. 260. A catalogue of the\nheroes who accompanied Meleager is given by Hyginus, Fab. clxxiii.\n\nFootnote 323: (return)  See Antonin. Liberal. Met. \u00a7 2. who follows\nHomer rather closely.\n\nFootnote 324: (return)  Literally, \u201cdigesting.\u201d\n\nFootnote 325: (return)  See n. 2, p. 41, and on the death of Meleager,\nby his mother burning a fatal brand, Apollodor. i. c.; Zenobius Cent.\nAdag. v. 33; Anton. Lib. Met. \u00a7 2.\n\nFootnote 326: (return)  _I. e._ the Calydonians.\n\nFootnote 327: (return)  This catalogue of the horrors of war seems to\nhave been in the minds of Sallust, Cat. \u00a7 51, and Cicero, Or. iv. in\nCatil.\n\nFootnote 328: (return)  Rudolf on Ocellus Lucan. p. 266, well observes,\n\u201cAntiquissimis temporibus, quorum repetere memoriam possumus, \u03b4\u03b1\u03af\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd\nnihil aliud erat, quam deus. Horn. Od. \u03b3, 165, 160; Il. \u03b3, 420; II. \u03bb,\n791. Neque in eo vocabuli discrimen est, si aut prosunt hominibus, aut\niis nocent; utroque enim modo \u03b4\u03b1\u03af\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 dicuntur.\u201d Kennedy and some of\nthe translators have erred on this point.\n\nFootnote 329: (return)  _I. e._ \u03ba\u03b1\u03d1\u2019 \u1f25\u03bc\u03b9\u03c3\u03c5. See Heyne.\n\nHe said, and in silence nodded to Patroclus from beneath his brows,\nthat he should strew a thick bed for Ph\u0153nix, whilst they were\nmeditating to withdraw as quickly as possible from the tent. But them\ngodlike Telamonian Ajax addressed:\n\n\u201cO Jove-born son of Laertes, crafty Ulysses, let us go, for the object\nof our address appears not to me to be attainable, in this way at\nleast, and we must report the message to the Greeks with all haste,\nalthough it be not good. They now sit expecting us; but Achilles stores\nup within his breast a fierce and haughty soul, unyielding; nor does he\nregard the friendship of his companions, with which we have honoured\nhim at the ships beyond others. Merciless one! and truly some one hath\naccepted compensation even for a brother\u2019s death, or his own son slain,\nwhilst [the murderer] remains at home among his people, having paid\nmany expiations: and the mind and noble soul of the other is appeased\nupon his having received compensation. But in thy breast the gods have\nput an unyielding and evil mind, for the sake of a maid only; whereas\nwe now offer thee seven far excelling, and many other gifts beside\nthem. Do thou then assume a propitious disposition; and have respect to\nthy house, for we are guests beneath thy roof from the multitude of the\nGreeks, and desire to be most dear and friendly to thee beyond all the\nAch\u00e6ans, as many as they are.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: \u201cMost noble Ajax,\nson of Telamon, chief of the people, thou appearest to me to have said\nall this from thy soul, yet does my heart swell with indignation as\noften as I recollect those things, how the son of Atreus hath rendered\nme dishonoured among the Greeks, as if it were some contemptible\nstranger. But go ye, and carry back my message, for I shall not think\nof bloody war, before the son of warlike Priam, noble Hector,\nslaughtering the Greeks, shall reach the ships of the Myrmidons, and\nburn the ships with fire. But about my tent and black ship, however, I\nthink that Hector, although eager, will desist from combat.\u201d\n\nThus he spake; but they, each having seized a double goblet, having\nmade libations, went back by the side of the fleet, and Ulysses led the\nway. But Patroclus gave orders to his companions and female domestics\nto strew, with all haste, a thick couch for Ph\u0153nix; and they, obedient,\nspread a bed as he desired,\u2014sheep-skins, coverlets, and the fine fabric\nof flax: there lay the old man, and awaited heavenly Morn. But Achilles\nslept in the recess of his well-made tent; and beside him lay a lady,\nfair-cheeked Diomede, daughter of Phorbas, whom he had brought from\nLesbos. And Patroclus on the other side reclined: and by him also lay\nfair-waisted Iphis, whom noble Achilles gave him, having taken lofty\nScyros, a city of Enyeus.\n\nBut when they were within the tents of Atrides, the sons of the Greeks,\nrising one after another, received them with golden cups, and\ninterrogated thus. And first the king of men, Agamemnon, inquired:\n\n\u201cCome, tell me, O Ulysses, much praised, great glory of the Greeks,\nwhether does he wish to ward off the hostile fire from the ships, or\nhas he refused, and does wrath still posses his haughty soul?\u201d\n\nBut him much-enduring, noble Ulysses then addressed: \u201cMost glorious son\nof Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, he wills not to extinguish his\nwrath, but is the more filled with anger, and despises thee as well as\nthy gifts. He bids thee thyself consult with the Greeks, in what manner\nthou mayest preserve both the ships and the army of the Greeks, but has\nhimself threatened, that with the rising dawn he will launch into the\nmain his well-benched, equally-plied vessels. And he has declared that\nhe would advise others also to sail home, since ye will not now effect\nthe destruction of lofty Ilium; for far-resounding Jove hath greatly\nstretched forth his hand [over it], and the people have taken courage.\nThus he spoke; and here are these who followed me, Ajax, and the two\nheralds, both prudent men, to tell these things. But aged Ph\u0153nix hath\nlain down there, for thus he ordered, that in the morning, if he chose,\nhe might follow him in the ships to his dear father-land; but he will\nby no means carry him off against his will.\u201d\n\nThus he spake; and they all became mute in silence, marvelling at his\nspeech, for he harangued with great vehemence. Long were the sorrowing\nsons of the Greeks mute, till at length Diomede, valiant in the din of\nbattle, addressed them:\n\n\u201cMost glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, would that thou\nhadst not supplicated the illustrious son of Peleus, offering countless\ngifts, for he is haughty even otherwise: 330 now again hast thou\nexcited him much more to insolence. Let us, however, leave him alone,\nwhether he go or remain, for he will fight again at that time when his\nmind within his breast urges, and the Deity incites him. But come, let\nus all obey as I shall advise: go now to rest, having satisfied your\nhearts with food and wine, for this is force and vigour. But when fair\nrosy-fingered morn has shone forth, draw up the infantry and cavalry\nwith all haste before the ships, cheering them: and do thou thyself\nlikewise fight in the foremost ranks.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, but all the kings approved, admiring the speech of\nDiomede, the breaker of steeds. Having then offered libations, they\ndeparted each to his tent; there they lay down to to rest, and enjoyed\nthe boon of sleep. 331\n\nFootnote 330: (return)  I am indebted to Milton.\n\nFootnote 331: (return)  Id.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE TENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nDiomede and Ulysses, as spies, penetrate the camp of the Trojans by\nnight, and first entrap and slay Dolon, who had set out on the same\nerrand for the Trojans. Having obtained from him the desired\ninformation, they then attack the Thracians, and slay their king,\nRhesus, while asleep. At the suggestion of Minerva, they then return to\nthe camp.\n\n\nThe other chiefs, indeed, of all the Greeks were sleeping the whole\nnight at the ships, overcome by soft slumber; but sweet sleep possessed\nnot Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, shepherd of the people, revolving\nmany things in his mind. As when the husband of fair-haired Juno\nthunders, preparing either an abundant, immense shower, or hail or\nsnow, when the snow whitens the fields; or somewhere [preparing] the\nwide mouth 332 of bitter war; so frequently groaned Agamemnon in his\nbreast from the bottom of his heart, and his mind was troubled within\nhim. As often indeed as he looked towards the Trojan plain, he wondered\nat the many fires which were burning before Ilium, the sound of flutes\nand pipes, and the tumult of men. But when he looked towards the ships\nand army of the Greeks, he tore up many hairs from his head by the\nroots, 333 [enraged at] Jove who dwells aloft, and deeply he groaned in\nhis noble heart. But this plan appeared best to him in his judgment; to\nrepair first to Neleian Nestor, [and see] whether with him he might\ncontrive some blameless counsel, which might be an averter of evil.\nRising, therefore, he wrapped his coat around his breast, and beneath\nhis smooth feet bound the beautiful sandals; next he threw around him\nthe blood-stained skin of a huge, tawny 334 lion, stretching to his\nankles, and grasped his spear. In like manner, a tremor possessed\nMenelaus, for neither did sleep rest upon his eyelids, [through fear]\nlest the Greeks should suffer aught, who on his account had come over\nthe wide sea to Troy, waging daring war. First with a spotted leopard\u2019s\nskin he covered his broad back; and next, lifting his brazen helmet,\nplaced it upon his head, and grasped a spear in his stout hand. But he\nwent to awaken his brother, who had the chief command of all the\nGreeks, and was honoured by the people like a god. Him he found by the\nprow of his ship, putting his bright armour around his shoulders; and\narriving, he was welcome to him. Him first Menelaus, valiant in the din\nof war, addressed: \u201cWhy arm thus, my respected brother? Or whom dost\nthou urge of thy companions to go as a spy amongst the Trojans? In\ntruth I very much fear that no one will undertake this deed, going\nalone through the dead of night to reconnoitre the enemy. Any one [who\ndoes so] will be bold-hearted indeed.\u201d\n\nFootnote 332: (return)  Cicero pro Arch. \u00a7 5, \u201cTotius belli ore ac\nfaucibus.\u201d\n\nFootnote 333: (return)  Or \u201cone after another.\u201d Schol.: \u1f10\u03c0\u2019 \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u03ae\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2, \u1f22\n\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u1fe4\u1fe5\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2. See Merrick on Tryphiodor. 388; Alberti on Hesych. t. ii.\np. 1029.\n\nFootnote 334: (return)  Or, \u201cactive, raging.\u201d The other interpretation\nis, however, favoured by Virg. \u00c6n. ii. 721: \u201cFulvique insternor pelle\nleonis.\u201d\n\nBut him king Agamemnon, answering, addressed: \u201cO Jove-nurtured\nMenelaus, need of prudent counsel [comes upon] both thee and me, which\nwill protect and preserve the Greeks and their ships, since the mind of\nJove is altered. Surely he has rather given his attention to the\nHectorean sacrifices; for never have I beheld, nor heard a person who\nrelated, that one man has devised so many arduous deeds in one day as\nHector, dear to Jove, hath performed upon the sons of the Greeks in\nsuch a manner, [although] the dear child neither of a goddess nor of a\ngod. But such deeds hath he done as I conceive will long and for many a\nday be a cause of care to the Greeks; so many evils hath he wrought\nagainst the Greeks. But go now, call Ajax and Idomeneus, running\nquickly to their ships, but I will go to noble Nestor, and exhort him\nto arise, if he be willing to go to the sacred company 335 of guards\nand give orders; for to him will they most attentively listen, because\nhis son commands the guards, along with Meriones, the armour-bearer of\nIdomeneus; for to them we intrusted the chief charge.\u201d\n\nFootnote 335: (return)  Some picked troop chosen for the especial\npurpose of keeping watch. Heyne compares \u03a3, 504: \u1f31\u03b5\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03ba\u03cd\u03ba\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2; \u03a9, 681:\n\u03bb\u03b1\u03b8\u1f7c\u03bd \u1f31\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c5\u03bb\u03b1\u03c9\u03c1\u03bf\u03cd\u03c2. Compare, also, the \u1f31\u03b5\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03bb\u03cc\u03c7\u03bf\u03c2 of the Thebans,\nPlutarch, in Pelop. t. i. p. 285; E. Athen. xiii. p. 561.\n\nBut him Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, then answered: \u201cIn what\nmanner dost thou command and exhort me in thy speech? Shall I remain\nthere with them, waiting till thou come, or shall I run back again to\nthee, after I have duly given them orders?\u201d\n\nBut him, in turn, Agamemnon, king of men, addressed: \u201cWait there, lest,\nas we come, we miss 336 one another; for there are many ways through\nthe camp. But shout aloud whithersoever thou goest, and enjoin them to\nbe watchful, accosting each man by a name from his paternal race, 337\nhonourably addressing all; nor be thou haughty in thy mind. Nay, let\neven us ourselves labour, whatever be our station, so heavy a calamity\nhath Jove laid upon us at our birth.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he dismissed his brother, having duly charged him. But he\nhastened to go to Nestor, the shepherd of the people. Him he found on\nhis soft couch beside his tent and black ship, and by him lay his\nvariegated arms, a shield, two spears, and a glittering helmet: beside\nhim also lay a flexible belt, with which the old man girded himself,\nwhen he was arming for man-destroying war, leading on his people; since\nhe by no means yielded to sad old age. Being supported on his elbow,\n338 and lifting up his head, he addressed the son of Atreus, and\nquestioned him in [these] words:\n\nFootnote 336: (return)  Buttmann, Lexil. p. 85, comes to the conclusion\nthat \u201cwe must include \u1f00\u03b8\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03ac\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd among the forms of \u03ac\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9, whose\netymological connections, as long as we are ignorant of them, we can\neasily do without.\u201d\n\nFootnote 337: (return)  Instances of this complimentary style of\naddress occur in ver. 144. \u0394\u03b9\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u1f72\u03c2 \u039b\u03b1\u03b5\u03c1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ac\u03b4\u03b7. 86: \u039d\u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1 \u039d\u03b7\u03bb\u03b7\u03ca\u03ac\u03b4\u03b7.\n\nFootnote 338: (return)  Cf. Propert. 1. 3, 34. \u201cSic ait in molli fixa\ntoro cubitum.\u201d\n\n\u201cWho art thou who comest thus alone by the ships, along the army,\nduring the gloomy night, when other mortals are asleep? Whether seeking\nany of the guards, or any of thy companions? Speak, nor approach me in\nsilence; of what is there need to thee?\u201d\n\nBut him Agamemnon, king of men, then answered: \u201cO Nestor, son of\nNeleus, great glory of the Greeks, thou wilt recognize Agamemnon, the\nson of Atreus, whom beyond all Jove hath plunged into toils\ncontinually, whilst breath remains in my breast, or my knees have the\npower of motion. I wander 339 thus, because sweet sleep sits not on\nmine eyes, but war and the calamities of the Greeks are my care. For I\ngreatly fear for the Greeks, neither is my heart firm, but I am\nconfounded. 340 My heart leaps without my breast, and my fair limbs\ntremble beneath. But if thou canst do aught (since neither doth sleep\ncome upon thee), come, let us go down to the guards, that we may see\nwhether, worn out by toil and [overpowered] 341 by sleep, they slumber,\nand are altogether forgetful of the watch. And hostile men are encamped\nnear, nor do we at all know but that they perhaps meditate in their\nminds to engage even during the night.\u201d 342\n\nBut him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: \u201cAgamemnon, most\nglorious son of Atreus, king of men, assuredly provident Jove will not\naccomplish to Hector all those devices, which now, perhaps, he expects;\nbut I think that he will labour under even more cares if Achilles shall\nbut turn away his heart from heavy wrath. Yet will I willingly follow\nthee; and let us moreover incite others, both spear-renowned Diomede,\nand Ulysses, swift Ajax, and the valiant son of Phyleus. But if any one\ngoing, would call godlike Ajax, and king Idomeneus; for their ships are\nthe farthest off, 343 and by no means near at hand. But I will chide\nMenelaus, dear and respected though he be, nor will I conceal, even if\nthou shouldst be displeased with me, since thus he sleeps, and has\npermitted thee alone to labour. For now ought he to labour,\nsupplicating among all the chiefs, for a necessity, no longer\ntolerable, invades us.\u201d\n\nFootnote 339: (return)  \u00c6sch. Ag. 12: \u0395\u1f50\u03c4\u2019 \u1f02\u03bd \u03b4\u1f72 \u03bd\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u03af\u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03b3\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u1f14\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03cc\u03bd\n\u03c4\u2019 \u1f14\u03c7\u03c9 \u0395\u03c5\u03bd\u1f74\u03bd \u1f40\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd \u1f19\u03bc\u1f74\u03bd, \u03d5\u03cc\u03b8\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b8\u2019 \u1f44\u03c0\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u1fd6.\n\nFootnote 340: (return)  Cicero ad Attic, ix. 6: \u201cNon angor, sed ardeo\ndolore; \u03bf\u1f50\u03b4\u03ad \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u1f26\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1 \u1f14\u03bc\u03c0\u03b5\u03b4\u03bf\u03bd, \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u2019 \u1f00\u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u03cd\u03ba\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9. Non sum, inquam, mihi\ncrede, mentis compos.\u201d\n\nFootnote 341: (return)  Observe the zeugma, which has been imitated by\nHor. Od. III. 4, 11: \u201cLudo fatigatumque somno.\u201d Compare the learned\ndissertation on this subject by D\u2019Orville on Chariton, iv. 4, p. 440,\nsqq. ed. Lips.\n\nFootnote 342: (return)  \u00c6sch. Sept. c. Th. 28: \u039b\u03ad\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03b6\u03bf\u03bb\u1f74\u03bd\n\u1f08\u03c7\u03b1\u0390\u03b4\u03b1 \u039d\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u03b7\u03b3\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ba\u1f00\u03c0\u03b9\u03b8\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9.\n\nFootnote 343: (return)  Soph. Aj. 3: \u039a\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bd\u1fe6\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 s\u03ba\u03b7\u03bd\u03b1\u1fd6\u03db \u03c3\u03b5 \u03bd\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u1fd6\u03db\n\u1f41\u03c1\u1ff6 \u0391\u1f34\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, \u1f14\u03bd\u03b8\u03b1 \u03c4\u03ac\u03be\u03b9\u03bd \u1f10\u03c3\u03c7\u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9.\n\nBut him Agamemnon, king of men, in turn addressed: \u201cOld man, at other\ntimes I would even bid thee blame him, for he is frequently remiss, and\nis not willing to labour, yielding neither to sloth, nor\nthoughtlessness of mind, but looking to me, and awaiting my\ncommencement. But now he arose long before me, and stood beside me; him\nI have sent before to call those whom thou seekest. But let us go, and\nwe shall find them before the gates among the guards; for there I bade\nthem be assembled.\u201d\n\nBut him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: \u201cIf so, none of the\nGreeks will be angry, nor disobey when he may exhort or give orders to\nany.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he put on his tunic around his breast, and beneath his\nshining feet he placed the beautiful sandals, and fastened about him\nhis purple cloak with a clasp, double, ample; 344 and the shaggy pile\nwas thick upon it: and he seized a doughty spear, pointed with sharp\nbrass. He proceeded first to the ships of the brazen-mailed Ach\u00e6ans;\nthen the Gerenian knight Nestor, vociferating, aroused from his sleep\nUlysses, equal to Jove in counsel. But the voice immediately penetrated\nhis mind, and he came out from the tent, and addressed them:\n\n\u201cWhy, I pray, wander ye thus alone through the ambrosial night, near\nthe ships, through the army; what so great necessity now comes upon\nyou?\u201d\n\nFootnote 344: (return)  Schol.: \u03a4\u1f74\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03ac\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd, \u03c9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b4\u03b9\u03c0\u03bb\u1fc7 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03ae\n\u03c7\u03c1\u03ce\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u1f10\u03ba\u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd. The epithet \u03c6\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03b5\u03c3\u03c3\u03b1 denotes that it was\nthe garb of royalty.\n\nBut him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: \u201cJove-sprung son of\nLaertes, much-scheming Ulysses, be not indignant, for so great a sorrow\nhath oppressed the Greeks. But follow, that we may arouse even another,\nwhomsoever it is fit, to deliberate whether to fly or fight.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, and much-counselling Ulysses returning into his tent,\nflung around his shoulders his variegated shield, and followed them.\nBut they proceeded to Diomede, the son of Tydeus, and him they found\nwithout, before his tent, with his arms; and his companions slept\naround him. Beneath their heads they had their shields, and their\nspears were fixed erect upon the nether point; 345 and afar off\nglittered the brass, like the lightning of father Jove. The hero\nhimself however slumbered, and beneath him was strewed the hide of a\nwild bull; but under his head was spread a splendid piece of tapestry.\nStanding by him, the Gerenian knight Nestor awoke him, moving him on\nthe heel with his foot, 346 he roused him, and upbraided [him] openly:\n\n\u201cArise, son of Tydeus, why dost thou indulge in sleep all night?\nHearest thou not how the Trojans are encamped upon an eminence in the\nplain near the ships, and that now but a small space keeps them off?\u201d\n\nFootnote 345: (return)  \u03a3\u03b1\u03c5\u03c1\u03c9\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u2019 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03cd\u03c1\u03b1\u03be\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bf\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c9 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd\n\u03b4\u03bf\u03c1\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd. Hesychius, who also, with reference to the present passage,\nhas \u03a3\u03b1\u03c5\u03c1\u03c9\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2\u2019 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c3\u03b9\u03b4\u03b7\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5. Pollux, x. 31, well explains it, \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\n\u03b4\u03cc\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f30\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd It is also called \u03c3\u03c4\u03cd\u03c1\u03b1\u03be and \u03c3\u03c4\u03c5\u03c1\u03ac.\n\nFootnote 346: (return)  Not \u201ccalce pedis movens.\u201d See Kennedy.\n\nThus he spoke: but he leaped up very quickly from slumber, and\naddressing him, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cIndefatigable art thou, old man: never, indeed, dost thou cease from\nlabour. Are there not even other younger sons of the Greeks, who, going\nabout in every direction, might arouse each of the kings? But, O old\nman, thou art impossible to be wearied.\u201d\n\nBut him then the Gerenian knight Nestor in turn addressed: \u201cTruly, my\nfriend, thou hast spoken all these things aright. I have to be sure\nblameless sons, and I have numerous troops, some of whom indeed, going\nround, might give the summons. But a very great necessity hath\noppressed the Greeks, and now are the affairs of all balanced on a\nrazor\u2019s edge 347, whether there be most sad destruction to the Greeks,\nor life. Yet go now, since thou art younger, arouse swift Ajax, and the\nson of Phyleus, if thou hast pity on me.\u201d\n\nFootnote 347: (return)  Herodot. vii. 11: \u0395\u03c0\u1f76 \u03be\u03c5\u03c1\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b3\u1f70p \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03ba\u03bc\u1fc6\u03c2\n\u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03ac\u03b3\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1. Soph. Antig. 996: \u03a6\u03c1\u03cc\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b2\u03b5\u03b6\u1f7c\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f56 \u03bd\u1fe6\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76\n\u03be\u03c5\u03c1\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c4\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7. Theocrit. xxii. 6: \u1f08\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd \u03c3\u03c9\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03be\u03c5\u03bf\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f24\u03b4\u03b7 \u1f10\u03cc\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd.\n\nThus he spake; but the other threw around his shoulders the skin of a\nhuge tawny lion, reaching to his feet, and took his spear. He hastened\nforth, and the hero, having aroused the rest, led them thence.\n\nBut when they now came to the assembled guards, they found not the\nleaders of the guards slumbering, but all were sitting vigilantly with\ntheir arms. As dogs with care keep watch around the sheep in a fold,\nhearing the furious wild beast, which comes through the wood from the\nmountains, but much clamour of men and dogs is against it, and sleep is\nutterly lost to them; so was sweet slumber lost to their eyelids,\nkeeping guard during the sad night, for they were ever turned towards\nthe plain, whensoever they heard the Trojans advancing. But the old man\nseeing them, rejoiced, and encouraged them with a speech, and\naddressing them, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cThus now, dear children, keep watch; nor let sleep seize upon any,\nlest we become a mockery to the enemy.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he crossed the trench; and with him followed the chiefs of\nthe Greeks, as many as had been summoned to the council. Along with\nthese went Meriones, and the illustrious son of Nestor; for they had\ninvited them, that they might consult with them. Having therefore\npassed over the dug trench, they sat down in a clear space, where a\npiece of ground appeared free from fallen dead bodies, whence impetuous\nHector had turned back, having destroyed the Greeks, when night at\nlength enveloped them. There sitting down, they addressed words to each\nother, and to them the Gerenian knight Nestor began discourse:\n\n\u201cO friends, would not now some man put such confidence in his own\ndaring mind as to go against the magnanimous Trojans, if perchance he\nmight take some of the enemy straying in the outskirts of the camp, or\nperhaps even learn some report among the Trojans, what they deliberate\namong themselves; whether they intend to remain here by the ships at a\ndistance, or are about to return to the city, since they have subdued\nthe Greeks? Could he but hear all this, and come back to us unscathed,\ngreat glory would be his under heaven amongst all men, and he shall\nhave a good reward. For as many chiefs as command the vessels, of all\nthese each will give a black sheep, a ewe, having a lamb at its udders;\nto which indeed no possession will be like; and he will ever be present\nat our banquets and feasts.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and they were all mute in silence; but to them Diomede,\nvaliant in the din of battle, said:\n\n\u201cNestor, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to enter the camp of the\nhostile Trojans, which is near; but if some other man were to go along\nwith me, there would be more pleasure, and it would be more\nencouraging. For when two go together, the one perceives before the\nother how the advantage may be. But if one being alone should observe\nanything, his perception is nevertheless more tardy, and his judgment\nweak.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: and the greater number wished to follow Diomede. The two\nAjaces wished it, servants of Mars; Meriones wished it; the son of\nNestor very earnestly desired it; the spear-renowned son of Atreus,\nMenelaus, desired it; and hardy Ulysses was eager to penetrate the\ncrowd of the Trojans; for ever daring was his mind within his breast.\nAmong them, however, Agamemnon, the king of men, spoke:\n\n\u201cDiomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, select the companion\nwhom thou desirest, the bravest of those who present themselves, since\nmany are ready. Nor do thou, paying deference in thy mind, leave indeed\nthe better, and select as follower the worse, through respect [for\nrank]; looking neither to family, nor whether one is more the king.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, for he feared for yellow-haired Menelaus; but amongst\nthem Diomede, brave in the din of battle, again spoke:\n\n\u201cIf then ye now order me to select a companion myself, how can I now\nforget godlike Ulysses, whose heart is prudent, and spirit gallant in\nall labours; and whom Pallas Minerva loves. He following, we should\nboth return even from burning fire, for he is skilled in planning\nbeyond [all others].\u201d\n\nBut him much-enduring, noble Ulysses in turn addressed: \u201cSon of Tydeus,\nneither praise me beyond measure, nor at all blame, for thou speakest\nthese things amongst Argives, who are acquainted with them already. But\nlet us go, for night hastens on, and morn is at hand. The stars have\nalready far advanced, and the greater portion of the night, by two\nparts, has gone by, but the third portion remains.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, they clad themselves in their terrible arms. To\nDiomede, Thrasymedes, firm in war, gave his two-edged sword, because\nhis own was left at the ships, and a shield. Upon his head he placed\nhis bull\u2019s-hide helmet, coneless, crestless, which is called cataityx,\n348 and protects the heads of blooming youths. And Meriones gave a bow,\nquiver, and sword to Ulysses, and put upon his head a casque of hide;\nand within, it was firmly bound with many straps; whilst without, the\nwhite teeth of an ivory-tusked boar set thick together on all sides\nfenced it well, and skilfully; and in the midst a woollen head-piece\n349 was sewed. It Autolycus once brought from Eleon, the city of\nAmyntor, son of Hormenus, having broken into his large mansion. He gave\nit, however, to Amphidamas, the Cytherian, to bear to Scandea, and\nAmphidamas bestowed it upon Molus, to be a gift of hospitality, but he\ngave it to his son Meriones to be worn. Then at last, being placed\naround, it covered the head of Ulysses. But they, when they had girt\nthemselves in dreadful arms, hastened to advance, and left all the\nchiefs at the same place. And to them near the way, Pallas Minerva sent\na heron upon the right hand: they did not discern it with their eyes,\nbecause of the gloomy night, but heard it rustling. And Ulysses was\ndelighted on account of the bird, and prayed to Minerva:\n\n\u201cHear me, thou daughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, who standest by me in all\nlabours, nor do I escape thy notice, having moved. 350 Now again do\nthou, O Minerva, especially befriend me, and grant that, covered with\nglory, we may return back to the well-benched barks, having performed a\nmighty deed, which will surely occasion care to the Trojans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 348: (return)  \u201cThe \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c4\u03c5\u03be might be termed the undress\nhelmet of the chief who wore it.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 349: (return)  Or, \u201cit was stuffed with felt.\u201d\u2014Oxford Transl.\n\u201cWool was inlaid between the straps, in order to protect the head, and\nmake the helmet fit closer.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 350: (return)  Soph. Aj. 18: \u039a\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bd\u1fe6\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03ad\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f56 \u03bc \u1f10\u03c0\u2019 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u1f76\n\u03b4\u03c5\u03c3\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6 \u0392\u03ac\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u03c5\u03ba\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd\u03c4\u2019.\n\nThen Diomede, brave in the din of battle, next prayed: \u201cNow hear me,\ntoo, O daughter of Jove, invincible. Attend me, as once thou didst\nattend my sire, the noble Tydeus, to Thebes, what time he went as an\nambassador for the Ach\u00e6ans; he left the brazen-mailed Ach\u00e6ans at the\nAsopus, and he himself bore thither a mild message to the Cadm\u00e6ans: but\nwhen returning he performed many arduous deeds, with thy aid, O noble\ngoddess, when thou propitious didst stand beside him. Thus now\nwillingly stand by and protect me; and in return I will sacrifice to\nthee a heifer of a year old, with broad forehead, untamed, which no man\nhath yet brought under the yoke. This will I sacrifice to thee,\nencircling its horns with gold.\u201d\n\nThus they spoke, praying; and Pallas Minerva heard them. But when they\nhad supplicated the daughter of mighty Jove, they hastened to advance,\nlike two lions, through the dark night, through slaughter, through\nbodies through arms, and black blood.\n\nNor did Hector allow the gallant Trojans to sleep; but he summoned all\nthe chiefs together, as many as were leaders and rulers over the\nTrojans. Having summoned them together, he framed prudent counsel:\n\n\u201cWho, undertaking it for me, will accomplish this deed for a great\nreward? And there shall be sufficient payment for him; for I will give\na chariot and two rough-maned steeds, which excel in speed at the swift\nsailing ships of the Greeks, to him whosoever would dare (he will also\nobtain glory for himself) to approach near the swift-sailing ships, and\nlearn whether the fleet ships are guarded as formerly, or whether, now\nsubdued by our hands, they meditate flight among themselves, nor wish\nto keep watch during the night, overcome with grievous toil.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they were all still in silence. But among the\nTrojans there was one Dolon, the son of Eumedes, a divine herald, rich\nin gold, and wealthy in brass, who in aspect indeed was deformed, but\n[was] swift-footed, and he was an only [son] among five sisters. Who\nthen, standing by, addressed the Trojans and Hector:\n\n\u201cHector, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to approach the\nswift-sailing ships, and gain information. But come, raise up thy\nsceptre to me, and swear that thou wilt assuredly give me the horses\nand chariot, variegated with brass, which now bear the illustrious son\nof Peleus, and I will not be a vain spy to thee, nor frustrate thy\nexpectation; for I will go so far into the camp till I reach the ship\nof Agamemnon, where the chiefs will perchance be consulting whether to\nfly or fight.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but he took the sceptre in his hand and swore to him:\n\u201cLet Jove himself now be my witness, the loudly-thundering spouse of\nJuno, that no other man of the Trojans shall be carried by these\nhorses: but I declare that thou shalt entirely have the glory of them.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and indeed swore a vain oath; 351 nevertheless he\nencouraged him. Immediately he threw around his shoulders his crooked\nbow, and put on above the hide of a grey wolf, with a casque of\nweasel-skin upon his head; and seized a sharp javelin. And he set out\nto go from the camp towards the ships: nor was he destined to bring\nback intelligence to Hector, returning from the ships. But when now he\nhad quitted the crowd of horses and men, he eagerly held on his way.\nBut him godlike Ulysses observed advancing, and addressed Diomede:\n\nFootnote 351: (return)  \u201cThere is no necessity for supposing that\nHector meditated any deceit. The poet contemplates the event, which\nfrustrated his hopes, and rendered his oath nugatory.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\n\u201cHark! Diomede, a man comes from the camp; I know not whether as a spy\nupon our vessels, or to plunder some of the dead bodies. But let us\nsuffer him first to pass by a little through the plain, and afterwards,\nhastily rushing upon him, let us take him. If, however, he surpasses us\nin speed, attacking him with the spear, let us continually drive him\nfrom the camp towards the ships, lest by chance he escape towards the\ncity.\u201d\n\nThen having thus spoken, they lay down out of the pathway among the\ndead; but he, in thoughtlessness, ran hastily past. But when now he was\nas far off as is the space ploughed at one effort 352 by mules (for\nthey are preferable to oxen in drawing the well-made plough through the\ndeep fallow), they indeed ran towards him; but he stood still, hearing\na noise; for he hoped within his mind that his companions had come from\nthe Trojans to turn him back, Hector having ordered. But when now they\nwere distant a spear\u2019s cast, or even less, he perceived that they were\nenemies, and moved his active knees to fly; and they immediately\nhastened to follow. As when two rough-toothed hounds, skilled in the\nchase, ever incessantly pursue through the woody ground either a fawn\nor hare, whilst screaming it flies before; thus did Tydides and\nUlysses, sacker of cities, pursue him ever steadily, having cut him off\nfrom his own people. But when now flying towards the ships, he would\nspeedily have mingled with the watch, then indeed Minerva infused\nstrength into Tydides, that none of the brazen-mailed Greeks might be\nbeforehand in boasting that he had wounded him, but he himself come\nsecond; then gallant Diomede, rushing on him with his spear, addressed\nhim:\n\n\u201cEither stop, or I will overtake thee with my spear; nor do I think\nthat thou wilt long escape certain destruction from my hand.\u201d\n\nFootnote 352: (return)  See the Scholiast, and Kennedy\u2019s note.\n\nHe said, and hurled his spear, but intentionally missed the man. Over\nthe right shoulder the point of the well-polished spear stuck in the\nground. Then indeed he stood still, and trembled, stammering (and there\narose a chattering of the teeth in his mouth), pale through fear.\nPanting they overtook him, and seized his hands; but he weeping, spoke\nthus:\n\n\u201cTake me alive, and I will ransom myself; for within [my house] I have\nbrass, and gold, and well-wrought iron; from which my father will\nbestow upon you countless ransoms, if he shall hear that I am alive at\nthe ships of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nBut him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed: \u201cTake courage, nor\nsuffer death at all to enter thy mind; but come, tell me this, and\nstate it correctly: Why comest thou thus alone from the camp towards\nthe fleet, through the gloomy night, when other mortals sleep? Whether\nthat thou mightst plunder any of the dead bodies, or did Hector send\nthee forth to reconnoitre everything at the hollow ships? Or did thy\nmind urge thee on?\u201d\n\nBut him Dolon then answered, and his limbs trembled under him:\n\u201cContrary to my wish, Hector hath brought me into great detriment, who\npromised that he would give me the solid-hoofed steeds of the\nillustrious son of Peleus, and his chariot adorned with brass. And he\nenjoined me, going through the dark and dangerous 353 night, to\napproach the enemy, and learn accurately whether the swift ships be\nguarded as before, or whether, already subdued by our hands, ye plan\nflight with yourselves, nor choose to keep watch during the night,\novercome by severe toil.\u201d\n\nFootnote 353: (return)  Buttm. Lexil. p. 369: \u201cI translate \u03b8\u03bf\u1f74 \u03bd\u03cd\u03be by\n_the quick and fearful_ night; and if this be once admitted as the\nestablished meaning of the Homeric epithet, it will certainly be always\nintelligible to the hearer and full of expression. \u2018Night,\u2019 says a\nGerman proverb, \u2018is no man\u2019s friend;\u2019 the dangers which threaten the\nnightly wanderer are formed into a quick, irritable, hostile goddess.\nEven the other deities are afraid of her, who is (Il. \u0398, 259) \u03b8\u03b5\u1ff6\u03bd\n\u03b4\u03bc\u03ae\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd; and Jupiter himself, in the midst of his rage,\nrefrains from doing what might be \u03bd\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u1f76 \u03b8\u03bf\u1f74 \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03b8\u03cd\u03bc\u03b9\u03b1. Nor is the\nepithet less natural when the night is not personified: for as \u1f40\u03be\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c1\u03bf\u03af are _dangerous_ times, so by this word \u03b8\u03bf\u03ae it may be intended to\nmark the swiftness and imminency of dangers which threaten men who go\n\u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03bd\u03cd\u03ba\u03c4\u03b1 \u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd.\u201d\n\nBut him crafty Ulysses smiling addressed: \u201cAssuredly thy mind aimed at\nmighty gifts, the horses of warlike \u00c6acides; but these are difficult to\nbe governed by mortal men, and to be driven by any other than Achilles,\nwhom an immortal mother bore. But come, tell me this, and state\ncorrectly; where now, when coming hither, didst thou leave Hector, the\nshepherd of the people? Where lie his martial arms, and where his\nsteeds? And how [stationed are] the watches and tents of the other\nTrojans? What do they consult among themselves? Do they meditate to\nremain there at a short distance from the ships, or will they return\nagain to the city, since, forsooth, they have subdued the Greeks?\u201d\n\nBut him Dolon, the son of Eumedes, again addressed: \u201cTherefore will I\nindeed detail these things to thee very correctly. Hector, with those,\nas many as are counsellors, is deliberating upon plans at the tomb of\ndivine Ilus, apart from the tumult: but for the watches of which thou\ninquirest, O Hero, no chosen [band] defends or watches the camp. But as\nmany as are the hearths of fires among the Trojans, those at them are\nthey to whom there is compulsion; 354 and they are both wakeful, and\nexhort one another to keep watch. But the allies, on the contrary,\nsummoned from afar, are sleeping; for they commit it to the Trojans to\nkeep watch, for their children and wives lie not near them.\u201d\n\nFootnote 354: (return)  Construe, \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u03cc\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u03c0\u03c5\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c7\u03ac\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2, \u1f45\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9\n\u1f30\u03b9\u03c3\u1f76 \u03a4\u03c1\u03ce\u03c9\u03bd, \u03bf\u1f35\u03b4\u03b5 \u03bf\u1f36\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03ac\u03b3\u03ba\u03b7 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u1f76\u03bd, \u1f10\u03b3\u03c1\u03b7\u03b3\u03cc\u03c1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9, \u03ba. \u03c4. \u03bb.\n\nBut him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed: \u201cIn what manner now\ndo they sleep: mingled with the horse-breaking Trojans, or apart? Tell\nme, that I may know.\u201d\n\nBut him Dolon, the son of Eumedes, answered: \u201cTherefore will I indeed\ndetail these things also very correctly. On the one hand, towards the\nsea, [are] the Carians and P\u0153onians, armed with crooked bows, the\nLelegans, and Cauconians, and noble Pelasgians. Towards Thymbra, on the\nother, the Lycians are allotted their place, and the haughty Mysians,\nthe horse-breaking Phrygians, and the M\u00e6onian cavalry 355 warriors. But\nwhy inquire ye of me these things separately? For if ye are now eager\nto penetrate the host of the Trojans, those Thracians lately arrived\nare apart, the last of all the others. And among them is their king\nRhesus, son of Eioneus. And his horses are the most beautiful and\nlargest I have seen. They are whiter than snow, and like to the winds\nin speed. And his chariot is well adorned with both gold and silver;\nand he himself came, wearing golden armour of mighty splendour, a\nmarvel to behold; which does not indeed suit mortal men to wear, but\nthe immortal gods. But now remove me to the swift ships, or, having\nbound me with a cruel bond, leave me here until ye return, and make\ntrial of me, whether I have indeed spoken to you truly, or not.\u201d\n\nFootnote 355: (return)  _I.e._ charioteers.\n\nBut him then valiant Diomede sternly regarding, addressed: \u201cThink not\nwithin thy mind to escape from me, O Dolon, although thou hast reported\ngood tidings, since thou hast once come into my hands. For if indeed we\nshall now release thee, or set thee at liberty, hereafter thou wouldst\nsurely return to the swift ships of the Ach\u00e6ans, either in order to\nbecome a spy, or to fight against us. But if, subdued by my hands, thou\nlose thy life, thou wilt not ever afterwards be a bane to the Greeks.\u201d\n\nHe said; and the other was preparing to supplicate him, taking him by\nthe chin with his strong hand; but he, rushing at him with his sword,\nsmote the middle of his neck, and cut through both the tendons; and the\nhead of him, still muttering, was mingled with the dust. From his head\nthey took the weasel-skin helmet, and the wolf skin, with the bent bow\nand long spear; and noble Ulysses raised them on high with his hand to\nMinerva, the goddess of plunder, and praying, spake:\n\n\u201cRejoice, O goddess, in these, for thee, first of all the immortals in\nOlympus, do we invoke; but guide us likewise to the horses and tents of\nthe Thracian men.\u201d\n\nThus he said; and raising them high above himself, he hung them on a\ntamarisk-branch. But beside it he placed a conspicuous mark, pulling up\nhandfuls of reeds, 356 and the wide-spreading branches of the tamarisk,\nlest they should escape their notice whilst they were returning through\nthe dark and dangerous night. Then both advanced onwards through arms\nand black blood; and proceeding, they came immediately to the band of\nthe Thracian heroes. But they were sleeping, overpowered with fatigue;\nand their beautiful armour lay upon the ground beside them, carefully\nin order, in three rows: and by each of them [stood] a yoke of horses.\nRhesus slept in the midst, and beside him his swift horses were\nfastened by the reins to the outer rim 357 of the chariot. And Ulysses\nfirst observing, pointed him out to Diomede:\n\n\u201cThis [is] the man, O Diomede, and these [are] the horses, which Dolon,\nwhom we slew, pointed out to us. But come now, exert thy mighty\nstrength; nor does it at all become thee to stand leisurely with thy\narmour. Loose therefore the steeds, or do thou slay the men, and the\nhorses shall be my care.\u201d\n\nFootnote 356: (return)  \u03a3\u03c5\u03bc\u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03c8\u03b1\u03c2. Ernesti says: \u201cConfregit leviter\narundines, et addidit similiter confractis myric\u00e6 frondibus.\u201d\n\nFootnote 357: (return)  Ernesti regards \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b4\u03b9\u03d5\u03c1\u03b9\u03ac\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 as an adjective,\nwith \u1f04\u03bd\u03c4\u03c5\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 understood.\n\nThus he spoke; but into him azure-eyed Minerva breathed valour, and he\nslaughtered, turning himself on every side, and a dreadful groaning\narose of those smitten with the sword; and the earth grew red with\nblood. As when a lion, coming upon unprotected flocks of goats or\nsheep, rushes upon them, designing evils, so fell the son of Tydeus\nupon the Thracian men, until he had slain twelve. But much-counselling\nUlysses\u2014whomsoever Diomede standing beside struck with the sword\u2014him\nUlysses dragged backwards, seizing by the foot; meditating these things\nin his mind, that the fair-maned steeds should pass through easily, nor\nshould tremble in spirit, treading on the corses; for as yet they were\nunused to them. But when now the son of Tydeus had reached the king,\nhim, the thirteenth, he deprived of sweet life, panting; for by the\ncounsel of Minerva an evil dream had stood over his head during the\nnight, [in likeness of] the son of \u0152neus: but in the meantime patient\nUlysses was untying the solid-hoofed steeds. With the reins he bound\nthem together and drove them from the crowd, lashing them with his bow,\nbecause he thought not of taking with his hands the splendid lash from\nthe well-wrought chariot seat; and then he whistled as a signal to\nnoble Diomede. But he remaining, was meditating what most daring deed\nhe should do; whether seizing the car, where lay the embroidered\narmour, he should drag it out by the pole 358 or bear it away, raising\nit aloft; or take away the life of more of the Thracians. Whilst he was\nrevolving these things within his mind, Minerva in the meantime\nstanding near, addressed noble Diomede:\n\n\u201cBe mindful now of a return to the hollow ships, O son of magnanimous\nTydeus, lest thou reach them, having been put to flight; or lest some\nother god perchance arouse the Trojans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 358: (return)  Understand \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u1fe5\u03c5\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6.\n\nThus she spoke; and he understood the voice of the goddess speaking,\nand he quickly ascended the chariot. And Ulysses lashed on [the horses]\nwith his bow, and they fled to the swift ships of the Greeks.\n\nNor did silver-bowed Apollo keep a vain watch. When he beheld Minerva\naccompanying the son of Tydeus, enraged with her, he descended into the\nvast army of the Trojans, and roused Hippoco\u00f6n, a counsellor of the\nThracians, the gallant cousin of Rhesus. And he, leaping up from sleep,\nwhen he beheld the place empty where the fleet horses had stood, and\nthe men panting amidst the dreadful slaughter, immediately then wept\naloud, and called upon his dear companion by name. A clamour and\nimmeasurable tumult of the Trojans running together arose, and they\nlooked with wonder at the marvellous deeds, which men having\nperpetrated, had returned to the hollow ships.\n\nBut when now they came where they had slain the spy of Hector, there\nUlysses, dear to Jove, reined in his fleet steeds. But the son of\nTydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the bloody spoils in the hands of\nUlysses, and then ascended the chariot. And he lashed on the steeds,\nand both, not unwilling, fled towards the hollow ships, for thither it\nwas agreeable to their minds [to go]. But Nestor first heard the sound,\nand said:\n\n\u201cO friends, leaders and rulers over the Greeks, shall I speak falsely,\nor say the truth? Still my mind impels me. The noise of swift-footed\nsteeds strikes upon my ears. O that now Ulysses and gallant Diomede\nwould immediately drive some solid-hoofed steeds from the Trojans! But\ngreatly do I fear in mind lest these bravest of the Greeks suffer aught\nfrom the rude host of Trojans.\u201d\n\nNot yet was the whole speech uttered, when they themselves arrived.\nThen indeed they descended to the ground, and [their friends]\nrejoicing, saluted them with the right hand and kind expressions. But\n[first] the Gerenian knight Nestor asked them:\n\n\u201cCome, tell me, most excellent Ulysses, great glory of the Greeks, how\ntook ye these horses? [Whether] penetrating the camp of the Trojans; or\ndid some god, meeting, supply you with them? They are very like unto\nthe rays of the sun. I indeed always mingle with the Trojans, nor can I\nsay that I remain at the ships, although being an old warrior: yet have\nI never beheld nor remarked such horses, but I think that some god,\nmeeting you, hath given them. For cloud-compelling Jove loves you both,\nand the daughter of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, azure-eyed Minerva.\u201d\n\nBut him crafty Ulysses answering addressed: \u201cO Nestor, offspring of\nNeleus, great glory of the Greeks, a god indeed, if willing, could\neasily have given better horses even than these, since they (the gods)\nare much more powerful. But those steeds about which thou inquirest,\nold man, are Thracian, lately arrived, and valiant Diomede slew their\nlord, and beside him twelve companions, all of the bravest. The\nthirteenth, a spy, we killed, near the ships, whom Hector sent forth,\nand the other illustrious Trojans, to be a spy, forsooth, [of our\narmy].\u201d\n\nThus saying, he drove the solid-hoofed steeds across the ditch,\nexulting, and with him went the other Greeks rejoicing. But when they\ncame to the well-constructed tent of Diomede, they tied the steeds by\nthe skilfully-cut reins to the horses\u2019 stall, where stood the\nswift-footed steeds of Diomede, eating sweet corn. In the stern of his\nvessel Ulysses laid the bloody spoils of Dolon, until they could\npresent them as a sacred gift to Minerva. Then having gone into the\nsea, they washed off the abundant sweat from around their legs, their\nneck, and thighs. But when the wave of the sea had washed away the\nabundant sweat from their bodies, and they were refreshed in their dear\nheart, entering the well-polished baths, they bathed. But having bathed\nand anointed themselves with rich oil, they sat down to a repast; and\ndrawing forth sweet wine from a full bowl, they poured it out in\nlibation to Minerva.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE ELEVENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nAgamemnon distinguishes himself, but, being wounded, retires from the\nfield. Diomede is wounded by Paris: Ulysses by Socus. Ajax and Menelaus\nthen go to the relief of Ajax, and Eurypylus, who had joined them, is\nshot in the thigh by Paris, who also wounds Machaon. Nestor conveys\nMachaon from the field. Achilles sends Patroclus to the tent of Nestor,\nwho exhorts Patroclus to engage in battle, assuming the armour of\nAchilles.\n\n\nBut Aurora was rising from her couch, from beside glorious Tithonus,\nthat she might bear light to immortals and to mortals, when Jove sent\nforth fell Discord to the swift ships of the Greeks, bearing in her\nhands the portent of war. And she stood upon the huge 359 black ship of\nUlysses, which was in the centre, to shout to both sides, as well to\nthe tents of Telamonian Ajax, as to those of Achilles; who had both\ndrawn up their equal ships at the very extremities, relying on their\nvalour and strength of hands. There standing, the goddess shouted both\nloudly and terribly, in Orthian strain, 360 to the Greeks, and\nimplanted mighty strength in the heart of each, to war and fight\nincessantly. And immediately war became more sweet to them, than to\nreturn in the hollow ships to their dear fatherland. Then the son of\nAtreus shouted aloud, and ordered the Greeks to be girded; and arrayed\nhimself, putting on his shining armour. First he put upon his legs his\nbeautiful greaves, fitted with silver clasps; next he placed around his\nbreast a corslet which Cinyras once gave him, to be a pledge of\nhospitality. For a great rumour was heard at Cyprus, that the Greeks\nwere about to sail to Troy in ships: wherefore he gave him this,\ngratifying the king. Ten bars indeed [of the corslet] were of dark\ncyanus 361, twelve of gold, and twenty of tin; and three serpents of\ncyanus stretched towards the neck on each side, like unto rainbows,\nwhich the son of Saturn hath fixed in a cloud 362, a sign to\narticulate-speaking men. Then around his shoulders he hung his sword,\non which glittered golden studs; and a silver scabbard enclosed it,\nfitted with golden rings. Next he took up his shield, mortal-covering\n363, variously wrought, strong, beautiful, around which were ten brazen\norbs. Upon it were twenty white bosses of tin, and in the midst was\n[one] of dark cyanus. On it a grim-visaged Gorgon was placed as an\nornament, looking horribly, and around [were] Terror and Flight. The\nbelt was of silver, but round it a snake of cyanus was twisted, and\nthere were three heads entwined, springing from one neck. Upon his head\nalso he placed his helmet, adorned with studs on all sides, having four\nbosses, crested with horse-hair, and dreadfully nodded the tuft from\nabove. He then took two strong spears, tipped with brass, sharp; and\nthe brass of them glittered afar, even to heaven: and Minerva and Juno\nthundered above, honouring the king of Mycen\u00e6, rich in gold.\n\nThen indeed each gave orders to his own charioteer to hold there his\nhorses in good order by the fosse; whilst they themselves on foot 364,\narrayed with their armour, rushed forth; and an inextinguishable\nclamour arose before morning. And they 365 were marshalled in the\nforeground with the cavalry at the trench; the cavalry followed at a\nlittle interval; but the son of Saturn aroused a dreadful tumult, and\nsent down dew-drops, moist with blood, from the air above, because he\nwas about to hurl many brave souls on to Hades.\n\nOn the other side, on the contrary, the Trojans [drew up] on a hill in\nthe plain around both mighty Hector, blameless Polydamas, and \u00c6neas,\nwho, among the Trojans, was honoured by the people as a god; and the\nthree sons of Antenor, Polybus, noble Agenor, and youthful Acamas, like\nunto the immortals. And Hector in the van carried his shield, equal on\nall sides. And as when a pernicious star makes its appearance from the\nclouds, at one time shining, and dark again hath entered the clouds; so\nHector, giving orders, appeared now among the first, and now among the\nlast; and he glittered all over with brass, like the lightning of\n\u00e6gis-bearing Jove.\n\nFootnote 359: (return)  Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 378, sqq.\n\nFootnote 360: (return)  _I. e._ shrill, at the full pitch of the voice.\nCf. \u00c6sch. Pers. \u039c\u03bf\u03bb\u03c0\u03b7\u03b4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b7\u1f50\u03d5\u03ae\u03bc\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd, \u1f44\u03c1\u03b8\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u03b4\u2019 \u1f04\u03bc\u03b1 \u0386\u03bd\u03c4\u03b7\u03bb\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03be\u03b5.\n\nFootnote 361: (return)  I have retained this word, as we cannot\nascertain what precise metal is meant.\n\nFootnote 362: (return)  Cf. Genes. ix. 13.\n\nFootnote 363: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 33.\n\nFootnote 364: (return)  Cf. Hesych. t. i. p. 1065, with Alberti\u2019s note.\n\nFootnote 365: (return)  I. e. the chiefs.\n\nAnd they,\u2014as when reapers opposite to each other form swathes of wheat\nor barley along the field of a rich man, and the frequent handfuls\nfall,\u2014so the Trojans and Greeks, rushing against one another, kept\nslaughtering: and neither thought of pernicious flight. And they held\ntheir heads equal in combat, and rushed on like wolves; whilst\nlamentable Discord, looking on, exulted: for she alone of the gods was\npresent with them contending. But the other gods were not present with\nthem, but sat quiet in their palaces, where beautiful mansions were\nbuilt for each, along the summits of Olympus. All however blamed the\nSaturnian collector of dark clouds, because he wished to afford glory\nto the Trojans. But the sire did not regard them, but retiring by\nhimself, sat down apart from the others, exulting in glory, looking\nboth upon the city of the Trojans, and the ships of the Greeks, and the\nbrightness of armour, and the slaying, and slain.\n\nWhilst it was morn, and the sacred day was increasing, so long the\nweapons reached both sides, and the people fell. But at the time when\nthe wood-cutter 366 has prepared his repast in the dells of a mountain,\nwhen he has wearied his hands hewing down lofty trees, and satiety\ncomes upon his mind, and the desire of sweet food seizes his breast;\nthen the Greeks, by their valour, broke the phalanxes, cheering their\ncompanions along the ranks. But Agamemnon first leaped forth, and slew\nthe hero Bianor, the shepherd of the people, and then also his\ncompanion, O\u00efleus, the goader of steeds. For he then, leaping from the\nchariot, stood against him; but he (Agamemnon) smote him, as he was\nrushing straight forward, with his sharp spear, in the forehead; nor\ndid the visor, heavy with brass, retard the weapon, but it penetrated\nboth it and the bone, and all the brain within was stained with gore.\nHim then he subdued while eagerly rushing on. And Agamemnon, king of\nmen, left them there with their bosoms all bare, for he had stripped\noff their tunics. Next he went against Isus and Anthipus, two sons of\nPriam, [the one] illegitimate, and [the other] legitimate, being both\nin one chariot, in order to slay them. The spurious [son] guided the\nchariot, whilst illustrious Antiphus fought. Them Achilles had once\nbound with tender osiers on the summits of Ida, taking them while\npasturing their sheep; and had liberated them for a ransom. Then\nhowever the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, struck one upon the\nbreast above the pap with his spear; and again he smote Antiphus beside\nthe ear with his sword, and hurled him from his chariot. Hastening up,\nhe despoiled them of their beautiful armour, recognizing them; for he\nhad formerly seen them at the swift ships, when swift-footed Achilles\nbrought them from Ida. And as a lion, returning to his lair, easily\ncrushes the little fawns of the fleet hind, seizing them in his strong\nteeth, and deprives them of their tender life, whilst she, although she\nhappen [to be] very near, cannot aid them; for a dreadful tremor comes\nupon herself; but hastening, she immediately flies through the thick\noak groves and the forest, sweating, through the attack of the wild\nbeast. Thus no one of the Trojans was then able to avert destruction\nfrom these, but they themselves were put to flight by the Greeks. Next\n[he attacked] Pisander and Hippolochus, brave in battle, the sons of\nwarlike Antimachus, who having accepted gold from Paris, rich gifts,\nwould not suffer them to restore Helen to yellow-haired Menelaus. His\ntwo sons, then, Agamemnon, king of men, seized, being in one chariot,\nfor they drove their fleet horses together; for the splendid reins had\nfallen from their hands, and they were confounded. But the son of\nAtreus rushed against them like a lion, and they, on the contrary,\nsupplicated [him] from the chariot:\n\n\u201cTake us alive, O son of Atreus, and thou shalt receive worthy ransoms.\nFor many treasures lie in the houses of Antimachus, brass, gold, and\nvariously-wrought iron. From these would our father give infinite\nransoms, if he should hear that we were alive at the ships of the\nGreeks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 366: (return)  Compare the similar allusion to rustic pursuits\nin xvi. 779, with Buttm. Lexil. p. 89.\n\nThus both weeping addressed the king with soothing words; but heard an\nunsoothing reply: \u201cIf indeed ye be the sons of warlike Antimachus, who\nonce in an assembly of the Trojans, ordered that they should there put\nto death Menelaus, coming as an ambassador along with godlike Ulysses,\nand not send him back to the Greeks\u2014now surely shall ye pay the penalty\nof the unmerited insolence of your father.\u201d\n\nHe said, and hurled Pisander from his horses to the ground, striking\nhim on the breast with his spear; and he was stretched supine upon the\nsoil. But Hippolochus leaped down, whom next he slew upon the ground,\nhaving lopped off his hands with his sword, and cut off his neck; and\nit (the head) like a cylinder, he hurled forward, to be rolled through\nthe crowd. These then he left there; and where very many phalanxes were\nthrown into confusion, there he rushed, and at the same time other\nwell-greaved Greeks. Infantry slew infantry, flying from necessity, and\nhorse [slew] horse, slaughtering with the brass (whilst the dust was\nraised by them from the plain, which the loud-sounding feet of the\nhorses excited); but king Agamemnon, constantly slaying, pursued,\ncheering on the Greeks. And as when a destructive fire falls upon a\nwoody forest, and the wind whirling carries it on all sides, whilst the\nbranches fall with the roots, overwhelmed by the violence of the flame;\nso fell the heads of the flying Trojans, at the hand of Agamemnon, son\nof Atreus, and many lofty-necked steeds rattled their empty chariots\nthrough the ranks 367 of the battle, longing for their faultless\ncharioteers; but they lay upon the earth, far more agreeable to the\nvultures than to their wives.\n\nFootnote 367: (return)  Literally, \u201cthe bridges,\u201d _i. e._ the open\nspaces between the lines.\n\nBut Jove withdrew Hector out of the reach of weapons, of dust, of\nslaughter, blood and tumult, whilst Atrides pursued, loudly cheering on\nthe Danai. [The Trojans] meanwhile rushed through the middle of the\nplain towards the wild fig-tree, near the tomb of Ilus, the descendant\nof ancient Dardanus, eager to reach the city; but Atrides still\nfollowed shouting, and stained his invincible hands with dusty gore.\nBut when now they reached the Sc\u00e6an gates and the beech-tree, there at\nlength they halted, and awaited each other. Others, however, still fled\nthrough the middle of the plain, like oxen which a lion, coming at the\ndepth of night, hath put tremblingly to flight\u2014all, but to some one\ndreadful destruction is apparent; whose neck he first completely\nbreaks, seizing it in his strong teeth; and then laps up both the blood\nand all the entrails: thus did the son of Atreus, king Agamemnon,\nfollow them, always killing the hindermost; and they kept flying. Many\nfell prone and supine from their chariots, by the hands of the son of\nAtreus; for before [all others] he raged exceedingly with the spear.\nBut when now he was about soon to reach the city and the lofty wall,\nthen indeed the father both of men and gods, descending from heaven,\nseated himself upon the tops of Ida, of many rills. And he held the\nlightning in his hands, and aroused golden-winged Iris to bear his\nmessage:\n\n\u201cCome, swift Iris, deliver this message to Hector. As long as he may\nbehold Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, raging in the van, [and]\ndestroying the ranks of men, so long let 368 him retreat, and let him\nexhort the rest of the army to fight with the enemy during the violent\ncontest. But when he (Agamemnon) shall have mounted his steeds, either\nsmitten by a spear, or wounded by an arrow, then will I supply him with\nstrength to slay, 369 until he reach the well-benched ships, and the\nsun set, and sacred darkness come on.\u201d\n\nFootnote 368: (return)  Cf. ver. 204.\n\nFootnote 369: (return)  The Greeks.\n\nThus he spake; nor did rapid Iris, swift as the wind on her feet,\ndisobey. But she descended from the mountains of Ida, towards sacred\nIlium. She found noble Hector, son of warlike Priam, standing in the\nmidst of the horses and well-joined chariots: and having approached,\nswift-footed Iris addressed him:\n\n\u201cHector, son of Priam, equal in counsel to Jove, Jove hath sent me\nforward to deliver to thee this message: As long as thou seest\nAgamemnon, the shepherd of the people, raging amongst the van, [and]\ndestroying the ranks of men, so long do thou abstain from combat, but\nexhort the rest of the army to fight with the enemy during the violent\ncontest. But when he shall have mounted his steeds, either smitten with\na spear, or wounded by an arrow, then will he supply thee with strength\nto slay, until thou reach the well-benched ships, and the sun set, and\nsacred darkness come on.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed. But Hector with his\narmour sprang from his chariot to the ground, and brandishing sharp\nspears, ranged through the army on every side, inciting them to fight,\nand stirred up the dreadful battle. They indeed rallied, and stood\nopposite to the Greeks; but the Greeks, on the other hand, strengthened\ntheir phalanxes. And the battle was renewed, and they stood front to\nfront. But Agamemnon first rushed on, for he wished to fight far before\nall.\n\nTell me now, ye muses, possessing Olympian dwellings, who first, either\nof the Trojans or illustrious allies, now came against Agamemnon?\nIphidamas, son of Antenor, both valiant and great, who was nurtured in\nfertile Thrace, the mother of flocks. Cisseus, his maternal\ngrandfather, who begat fair-cheeked Theano, reared him in his house\nwhilst yet a little boy: but when he had attained the measure of\nglorious youth, he there detained him, and gave him his own daughter.\nAnd having married her, he came from the bridal chamber, on the rumour\nof the Greeks, with twelve curved vessels which followed him. The equal\nships indeed he afterwards left at Percote, but he, proceeding on foot,\nhad arrived at Troy; and he it was who then came against Agamemnon, the\nson of Atreus. When these, advancing against each other, were now near,\nthe son of Atreus on his part missed, and his spear was turned aside.\nBut Iphidamas smote him upon the belt, under the corslet; and he put\nhis strength to it, relying on his strong hand. Yet he pierced not the\nflexible belt, but meeting with the silver long before, the point was\nturned like lead. Then indeed wide-ruling Agamemnon, seeing it in his\nhand, pulled it towards him, exasperated, like a lion, and plucked it\nfrom his hand; and he smote him on the neck with his sword, and relaxed\nhis limbs. Thus he, unhappy, while aiding his citizens, falling there,\nslept a brazen sleep, away from his lawful virgin wife, whose charms he\nhad not yet known, although he had given many presents [for her]. 370\nFirst he gave a hundred oxen, and then he promised a thousand goats and\nsheep together, which were pastured for him in countless numbers. Him\nAgamemnon, son of Atreus, at that time stripped [of his arms], and went\nthrough the army of the Greeks, bearing his rich armour. Whom when\nCoon, 371 the eldest born of Antenor, conspicuous amongst men, then\nbeheld, violent grief darkened his eyes, for his brother having fallen,\nand he stood aside with his spear, escaping the notice of noble\nAgamemnon. And he wounded him in the middle of the arm, below the\nelbow, and the point of the shining spear passed right through to the\nother side. Then indeed Agamemnon, the king of men, shuddered; but not\neven thus did he abstain from battle or from war, but he rushed upon\nCoon, holding his wind-nurtured spear. 372 He on his part was eagerly\ndragging by the foot Iphidamas his brother, and begotten by the same\nfather, and was calling upon every brave man, when [Agamemnon] wounded\nhim with his polished brazen spear below the bossy shield, whilst\ndragging him through the crowd, and relaxed his limbs; and, standing\nbeside him, cut off his head over Iphidamas. There the sons of Antenor,\nfulfilling their destiny at the hands of the king, the son of Atreus,\ndescended to the abode of Hades. But he was ranging about through the\nranks of other men, with his spear, his sword, and huge stones, whilst\nthe warm blood yet oozed from his wound. When, however, the wound grew\ndry, and the blood ceased [to flow], sharp pains possessed the strength\nof Atreus\u2019s son. And as when the sharp pang seizes a woman in travail,\npiercing, which the Ilithyi\u00e6, daughters of Juno, who preside over\nchildbirth, send forth, keeping bitter pangs in their possession; so\ndid sharp anguish enter the strength of the son of Atreus. And he\nsprang into his chariot, and ordered his charioteer to drive on to the\nhollow ships; for he was tortured at heart. And vociferating, he\nshouted aloud to the Greeks:\n\n\u201cO friends, leaders, and rulers over the Argives, repel ye now the\nsevere battle from the sea-traversing barks, since provident Jove does\nnot permit me to combat all day with the Trojans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 370: (return)  On this custom, cf. ix. 146, xviii. 593.\n\nFootnote 371: (return)  The name and fate of this hero unclassically\nremind us of the \u201cgone coon\u201d of American celebrity, immortalized in the\n\u201cat homes\u201d of the late Charles Matthews.\n\nFootnote 372: (return)  \u201cThe Scholiasts and Eustathius explain this\nepithet by the received opinion that trees in exposed situations are\nusually the strongest and most vigorous from their frequent agitation\nby the wind.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nThus he spoke; and the charioteer lashed on the fair-maned steeds\ntowards the hollow ships; and they, not unwilling, flew. They were\ncovered with foam as to their breasts, and were sprinkled beneath with\ndust, as they bore the afflicted king apart from the battle. But\nHector, when he observed Agamemnon going apart, exhorted both the\nTrojans and Lycians, shouting aloud:\n\n\u201cYe Trojans, Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my\nfriends, and be mindful of impetuous might. The bravest hero has\ndeparted, and Saturnian Jove has given great glory to me. But\nstraightway urge your solid-hoofed horses against the gallant Greeks,\nthat ye may bear off higher glory.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he aroused the courage and spirit of each. As when\nperchance some huntsman should urge his white-toothed dogs against a\nrustic wild boar or lion; so Hector, the son of Priam, equal to\nman-slaughtering Mars, urged the magnanimous Trojans against the\nGreeks. He himself, having mighty courage, advanced among the first,\nand rushed into the battle, like unto a storm blowing from above, and\nwhich rushing down, stirs up the purple deep.\n\nThen whom first and whom last, did Hector, son of Priam, slay, when\nJove gave him glory? Ass\u00e6us indeed first, and Autono\u00fcs, and Opites, and\nDolops, son of Clytis, and Opheltius, and Agelaus, and \u00c6symnus, and\nOrus, and Hippono\u00fcs, persevering in fight. These leaders of the Greeks\nhe then slew, and afterwards the common crowd; as when the west wind\ndrives to and fro the clouds of the impetuous 373 south, lashing them\nwith an impetuous blast, and many a swollen 374 billow is rolled along,\nwhilst the foam is scattered on high by the far-straying blast of the\nwind; thus were many heads of the people subdued by Hector. Then indeed\nwould there have been ruin; and inevitable deeds had been done, and the\nflying Greeks had fallen in flight into their ships, had not Ulysses\nencouraged Diomede, the son of Tydeus:\n\n\u201cSon of Tydeus, through what cause are we forgetful of impetuous might?\nBut come hither, my friend, stand by me; for surely it will be a\ndisgrace if indeed crest-tossing Hector take the ships.\u201d\n\nHim then valiant Diomede, answering, addressed: \u201cI indeed will remain,\nand be courageous; although there will be little use 375 for us, since\ncloud-compelling Jove chooses to give glory to the Trojans rather than\nto us.\u201d\n\nFootnote 373: (return)  Or \u201cserenizing, causing a clear sky.\u201d Heyne\ncompares \u201calbus notus,\u201d in Horace. But see Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 374: (return)  Neuter of the Ionic adjective \u03c4\u03c1\u03cc\u03d5\u03b9\u03c2=\u03bc\u03ad\u03b3\u03b1\u03c2,\n\u03b5\u1f50\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03d5\u03ae\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 375: (return)  Hesychius: \u1f2e\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2\u00b7 \u1f21\u03b4\u03bf\u03bd\u03ae, \u03ba\u03b1 \u1f44\u03d5\u03b5\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nHe said, and hurled Thymbr\u00e6us from his chariot to the ground, striking\nhim with his spear upon the left pap; but Ulysses [slew] Molion, the\ngodlike attendant of the king. These then they left, since they caused\nthem to cease from war. Then both, advancing through the multitude,\nexcited confusion; as when two boars, full of courage, rush upon the\nhounds; so they returning to the fight, cut down the Trojans; and the\nGreeks joyfully gained a respite, avoiding noble Hector. Next they took\na chariot and two warriors, the bravest of the people, the two sons of\nPercosian Merops, who above all was skilled in augury, nor would permit\nhis sons to march to the man-destroying war: yet did they not obey him,\nbecause the destinies of black death led them on. Them spear-renowned\nDiomede, the son of Tydeus, depriving of life and breath, despoiled of\ntheir splendid armour. And Ulysses slew Hippodamus and Hyperochus.\n\nThen the son of Saturn, looking down from Ida, stretched for them the\ncontest with equal tension, and they slaughtered one another. The son\nof Tydeus indeed wounded on the hip, with his spear, the hero\nAgastrophus, son of P\u00e6on; for his horses were not at hand for him to\ntake flight; but he had erred greatly in his mind, for his attendant\nkept them apart, whilst he rushed on foot through the foremost\ncombatants, till he lost his life. But Hector quickly perceived it\nalong the ranks, and hastened towards them, shouting; and with him\nfollowed the phalanxes of the Trojans. Diomede, brave in the din of\nbattle, beholding him, shuddered, and immediately addressed Ulysses,\nwho was near:\n\n\u201cTowards us is this great destruction, dreadful Hector, now rolled. But\ncome, let us stand firm, and awaiting, repulse [him].\u201d\n\nHe said, and brandishing his long-shadowed spear, hurled it, and smote\nhim on the summit of the helmet on his head; nor, aiming did he miss.\nBut brass wandered from brass, nor did it reach the white skin; for the\nthreefold oblong helmet stopped it, which Ph\u0153bus Apollo had given him.\nHector hastily retired to a distance, and was mingled with the crowd.\nAnd he (Hector) falling upon his knee, remained so, and supported\nhimself with his strong hand against the earth, whilst dark night\novershadowed his eyes. But whilst the son of Tydeus was following after\nthe impulse of the spear far through the foremost combatants, where it\nwas fixed in the earth, Hector, in the meantime, breathed again, and\nspringing again into his chariot, drove into the crowd, and avoided\nblack death. And valiant Diomede, rushing upon him with his spear,\naddressed him:\n\n\u201cDog, thou hast escaped indeed death at present, although destruction\napproached near thee. Now again has Ph\u0153bus Apollo rescued thee, to whom\nthou art wont to offer prayers, advancing into the clash of spears. But\nI will assuredly make an end of thee, meeting thee again, if perchance\nany one of the gods be an ally to me. Now, however, I will go against\nothers, whomsoever I can find.\u201d\n\nHe said, and slew the spear-renowned son of P\u00e6on. But Paris, the\nhusband of fair-haired Helen, leaning against a pillar, at the tomb of\nthe deceased hero, Dardanian Ilus, the aged leader of the people, bent\nhis bow against the son of Tydeus, the shepherd of the people. Whilst\nhe was removing the variegated corslet from the breast of gallant\nAgastrophus, the shield from his shoulders, and his heavy casque, he\n(Paris) in the meantime was drawing back the horn of his bow, and\nstruck him on the broad part of the right foot, nor did the weapon\nescape in vain from his hand; and the arrow went entirely into the\nground. And he, laughing very joyfully, sprang from his ambuscade, and\nboasting, spoke:\n\n\u201cThou art struck, nor has the weapon escaped me in vain. Would that,\nstriking thee in the lower part of the groin, I had deprived thee of\nlife. Thus, indeed, would the Trojans have respired from destruction,\nwho now are thrilled with horror at thee, as bleating goats at the\nlion.\u201d\n\nBut him valiant Diomede, undismayed, addressed:\n\n\u201cArcher, reviler, decked out with curls, woman\u2019s man, if now in arms\nthou wouldst make trial of me, hand to hand, thy bow should not avail\nthee, and numerous arrows 376 whereas now, having grazed the broad part\nof my foot, thou boastest thus. I regard it not, as though a woman had\nwounded me, or a silly boy: for idle is the weapon of an unwarlike,\ngood-for-nothing man. From me, indeed, it is otherwise; for if one be\ntouched but slightly, the weapon is piercing, and forthwith renders him\nlifeless; and the cheeks of his wife are furrowed on both sides, and\nhis children are orphans; but crimsoning the earth with his blood, he\nputrefies, and the birds around him are more numerous than the women.\u201d\n\nFootnote 376: (return)  Cf. iii. 39, sqq.; Hor. Od. i. 15, 13.\n\nThus he spoke; but spear-renowned Ulysses coming near, stood before\nhim, and he (Diomede) sitting down behind him, drew the swift shaft out\nof his foot, and severe agony darted through his body. Then he leaped\ninto his chariot, and commanded his charioteer to drive to the hollow\nships; for he was grieved at heart. But spear-renowned Ulysses was left\nalone, nor did any of the Greeks remain beside him, as fear had seized\nupon all. Wherefore, groaning inwardly, he addressed his own mighty\nsoul:\n\n\u201cAlas! what will become of me? Great would be the disgrace if I fly,\nalarmed at the multitude; but worse would it be if I were taken alone:\nbut the son of Saturn hath struck the rest of the Greeks with terror.\nBut wherefore does my spirit discuss these things with me? for I know\nthat cowards indeed retire from the battle; but whosoever should be\nbrave in combat, it is altogether necessary that he stand firmly,\nwhether he be wounded, or wound another.\u201d\n\nWhilst he revolved these things within his mind and soul, the ranks of\nthe shielded Trojans in the meantime came upon him, and enclosed him in\nthe midst, placing [their] bane in the midst of them. As when dogs and\nvigorous youths rush against a boar on all sides, but he comes out from\na deep thicket, sharpening his white tusk within his crooked jaws; on\nall sides they rush upon him, and a gnashing of teeth arises: but they\nremain at a distance from him, terrible as he is: so the Trojans did\nrush round Ulysses, dear to Jove. But he wounded above the shoulder\nblameless De\u00efopites, springing upon him with his sharp spear; and\nafterwards he slew Tho\u00f6n and Ennomous. With his spear he next wounded\nChersidamas, when leaping from his chariot, in the navel, below his\nbossed shield; but he, falling amid the dust, grasped the earth with\nthe hollow of his hand. These indeed he left, and next wounded with his\nspear Charops, son of Hippasus, and brother of noble Socus. But Socus,\ngodlike hero, hastened to give him aid; and approaching very near, he\nstood, and addressed him in these words:\n\n\u201cO illustrious Ulysses, insatiable in crafts and toil, to-day shalt\nthou either boast over the two sons of Hippasus, having slain such\nheroes, and stripped them of their arms, or else stricken by my spear,\nthou shalt lose thy life.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he smote him upon the shield equal on all sides. The rapid\nweapon penetrated the shining shield, and was fixed through the\ncuriously-wrought corslet, and tore off all the skin from his sides.\nBut Pallas Minerva suffered it not to be mingled with the entrails of\nthe hero. And Ulysses perceived that the weapon had not come upon him\nmortally, and retiring, he addressed [this] speech to Socus:\n\n\u201cAh! wretch; very soon indeed will dreadful destruction overtake thee.\nWithout doubt thou hast caused me to cease from fighting with the\nTrojans, but I declare that death and black fate shall be thine this\nday; and that, subdued beneath my spear, thou shalt give glory to me,\nand thy soul to steed-famed Pluto.\u201d 377\n\nFootnote 377: (return)  Probably so called from the steeds (\u201cinferni\nraptoris equos,\u201d Claud. de Rapt. Pros. i. 1) by which he stole away\nProserpine. See the Scholiast.\n\nHe said, and the other, turning again to flight, had begun to retreat,\nbut whilst he was turning, he (Ulysses) fixed his spear in his back\nbetween the shoulders, and drove it through his breast. Falling, he\nmade a crash, and noble Ulysses boasted over him:\n\n\u201cO Socus, son of warlike, horse-breaking Hippasus, the end of death has\nanticipated thee, nor hast thou escaped. Ah! wretch, neither thy father\nnor venerable mother shall close thine eyes for thee, dead as thou art,\nbut ravenous birds shall tear thee, flapping about thee with dense\nwings: but when I die, the noble Greeks will pay me funeral honours.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he plucked the strong spear of warlike Socus out of his\nflesh and bossy shield; and his blood gushed forth as he drew it out,\nand tortured his mind. But the magnanimous Trojans, when they beheld\nthe blood of Ulysses, encouraging one another through the crowd, all\nrushed on against him; whilst he kept retreating backwards, and called\nto his companions. Thrice did he then shout as much as the head of\nmortal could contain, and thrice warlike Menelaus heard him exclaiming,\nand instantly addressed Ajax, being near:\n\n\u201cMost noble Ajax, son of Telamon, chieftain of the people, the cry of\ninvincible Ulysses has come upon me, like to that, as if the Trojans\nwere greatly pressing upon him, being alone, having cut him off in the\nsharp fight. Wherefore let us go through the crowd, as it is better to\naid him. I fear lest being left alone amidst the Trojans, he suffer\naught, although being brave, and there be great want [of him] to the\nGreeks.\u201d\n\nThus speaking, he led the way, and the godlike hero followed along with\nhim. Then they found Ulysses, dear to Jove; and around him followed the\nTrojans, like tawny jackals round an antlered stag when wounded in the\nmountains, which a man hath stricken with an arrow from the bowstring.\nHim indeed, flying, it escapes on its feet, as long as the blood is\nwarm, and its knees have the power of motion. But when the swift arrow\nhath subdued it, the raw-devouring jackals destroy it in a shady grove\namong the mountains. Chance, however, brings thither the destructive\nlion: the jackals then fly in terror, and he devours. So at that time\nfollowed the Trojans, numerous and brave, round warlike, crafty\nUlysses; but the hero, rushing on with his spear, warded off the\nmerciless day. Then Ajax came near, bearing his shield, like a tower,\nand stood beside him; and the Trojans fled, terrified, different ways.\nIn the meantime warlike Menelaus, taking him by the hand, withdrew\n[him] from the throng, till his attendant drove his horses near. But\nAjax, springing upon the Trojans, slew Doryclus, son of Priam, an\nillegitimate son; and next wounded Pandocus. Lysander he wounded, and\nPyrasus, and Pylartes. And as when an overflowing river comes down on\nthe plain, a torrent from the mountains, accompanied by the shower of\nJove, and bears along with it many dry oaks and many pines, and casts\nforth the swollen torrent into the sea; so illustrious Ajax, routing\n[them], pursued [them] along the plain, slaughtering both horses and\nmen. Nor as yet had Hector heard it; for he was fighting on the left of\nthe battle, on the banks of the river Scamander; for there chiefly fell\nthe heads of men, and an inextinguishable clamour had arisen around\nmighty Nestor, and warlike Idomeneus. Among these did Hector mingle,\nperforming arduous deeds with his spear and equestrian skill, and he\nwas laying waste the phalanxes of youths. Nevertheless the noble Greeks\nwould not have retired from the way, had not Paris, the husband of\nfair-haired Helen, disabled Machaon, the shepherd of the people,\nperforming prodigies of valour, wounding him on the right shoulder with\na triple-barbed arrow. For him then the valour-breathing Greeks\ntrembled, lest perchance they should slay him, the battle giving way,\nand immediately Idomeneus addressed noble Nestor:\n\n\u201cO Neleian Nestor, great glory of the Greeks, come, ascend thy chariot,\nand let Machaon mount beside thee; and direct thy solid-hoofed horses\nwith all speed towards the ships, for a medical man is equivalent to\nmany others, both to cut out arrows, and to apply mild remedies.\u201d 378\n\nFootnote 378: (return)  Scribonius Largus, Compos. Med. cc. \u201cNeque\nchirurgia sine di\u00e6tetica, neque h\u00e6c sine chirurgia, id est, sine ea\nparte qu\u00e6 medicamentorum utilium usum habeat, perfici possunt; sed ali\u00e6\nab aliis adjuvantur, et quasi consumantur.\u201d Where John Rhodius well\nobserves: \u201cAntiquos chirurgos Homerus Chironis exemplo herbarum succis\nvulnera sanasse memorat. Hunc et sectiones adhibuisse notat Pindarus\nPyth. Od. iii. Neque ingeniorum fons \u0399\u03bb. \u039b. \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f10\u03ba\u03c4\u03ac\u03bc\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd omisit.\u201d Cf.\nCelsus, Pref. with the notes of Almeloveen, and lib. vii. pr\u00e6f., where\nthe chirurgical part of ancient medicine is amusingly discussed.\n\nThus he spoke, nor did the Gerenian knight Nestor disobey. Forthwith he\nascended his chariot, and Machaon, the son of \u00c6sculapius, blameless\nphysician, mounted beside him; but he lashed on the steeds, and they\nflew not unwillingly towards the hollow ships, for there it was\nagreeable to their inclination [to go].\n\nBut Cebriones, sitting beside Hector, perceived the Trojans in\nconfusion, and addressed him in [these] words: \u201cHector, we two are\nmingling here with the Greeks in the outskirt of evil-sounding battle,\nwhilst the other Trojans are thrown into confusion in crowds, both\ntheir horses and themselves. Telamonian Ajax is routing them, for I\nknow him well, for around his shoulders he bears a broad shield. But\nlet us also direct our horses and chariot thither, where cavalry and\ninfantry, having engaged in the evil strife, are slaughtering each\nother, and inextinguishable tumult hath arisen.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, he lashed on the fair-maned steeds with his\nshrill-cracking lash. But they, sensible of the stroke, speedily bore\nthe swift chariot through Trojans and Greeks, trampling on both corses\nand shields. With blood the whole axletree was stained beneath, and the\nrims around the chariot-seat, which the drops from the horses\u2019 hoofs,\nand from the wheel-tires, spattered. But he longed to enter the crowd\nof heroes, and to break through, springing upon them. And he sent\ndestructive tumult upon the Greeks, and abstained very little from the\nspear. Among the ranks of other men indeed he ranged with his spear,\nhis sword, and with huge stones; but he shunned the conflict of\nTelamonian Ajax.\n\nBut lofty-throned Jove excited fear within Ajax, and he stood\nconfounded, and cast behind him his shield of seven bulls\u2019 hides.\nPanic-struck he retired, gazing on all sides like a wild beast, turning\nto and fro, slowly moving knee after knee. As when dogs and rustic men\ndrive a ravening lion from the stall of oxen, who, keeping watch all\nnight, do not allow him to carry off the fat of their cattle, but he,\neager for their flesh, rushes on, but profits nought, for numerous\njavelins fly against him from daring hands, and blazing torches, at\nwhich he trembles, although furious; but in the morning he stalks away\nwith saddened mind: so Ajax, sad at heart, then retired, much against\nhis will, from the Trojans; for he feared for the ships of the Greeks.\nAnd as when a stubborn ass, upon whose sides 379 many sticks have\nalready been broken, entering in, browses on the tall crop, but the\nboys still beat him with sticks, although their strength is but feeble,\nand with difficulty drive him out, when he is satiated with food, so\nthen at length the magnanimous Trojans and far-summoned allies\ncontinually followed Ajax, the mighty son of Telamon, striking the\nmiddle of his shield with missile weapons. And Ajax, sometimes wheeling\nabout, was mindful of impetuous might, and checked the phalanxes of the\nhorse-breaking Trojans, but again he would turn himself to fly. But he\nprevented all from advancing to the swift ships, whilst standing\nhimself between the Trojans and Greeks he raged impetuously. And spears\nhurled against him from daring hands, stuck, some indeed in his ample\nshield, and many, though eager to glut themselves with his flesh, stood\nfixed in the ground between, before they could reach his fair skin.\n\nFootnote 379: (return)  Such seems to be the force of \u1f00\u03bc\u03d5\u03af\u03c2.\n\nWhom when Eurypylus, the illustrious son of Ev\u00e6mon, perceived pressed\nhard with many darts, advancing he stood beside him, and took aim with\nhis shining spear; and smote Apisaon, son of Phausias, shepherd of the\npeople, in the liver, under the diaphragm; and immediately relaxed his\nlimbs. And when godlike Alexander observed him stripping off the armour\nof Apisaon, he instantly bent his bow against Eurypylus, and smote him\nwith an arrow upon the right thigh; and the reed was broken, and pained\nhis thigh. Then he fell back into the column of his companions,\navoiding fate, and shouting, he cried with a loud voice to the Greeks:\n\n\u201cO friends, leaders, and rulers over the Greeks, rallying, stand firm,\nand ward off the merciless day from Ajax, who is hard pressed with\ndarts; nor do I think that he will escape from the dread-resounding\nbattle. But by all means stand firm round mighty Ajax, the son of\nTelamon.\u201d\n\nSo spake the wounded Eurypylus, and they stood very near him, resting\ntheir shields upon their shoulders, and lifting up their spears. But\nAjax came to meet them, and turning about, stood firm, when he reached\nthe body of his comrades. Thus they indeed combated like blazing fire.\n\nIn the meantime the Neleian steeds, sweating, bore Nestor from the\nbattle, and conveyed Machaon, the shepherd of the people. And noble\nAchilles, swift of foot, looking forth, beheld him; for he stood upon\nthe prow of his great ship, gazing at the severe labour and lamentable\nrout. Straightway he addressed Patroclus, his companion, calling [to\nhim] from the ship; and he, hearing him within the tent, came forth,\nlike unto Mars: but it was the beginning of misfortune to him. Him\nfirst the gallant son of Men\u0153tius addressed: \u201cWhy dost thou call me,\nAchilles, and what need hast thou of me?\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: \u201cNoble son of\nMen\u0153tius, most dear to my soul, soon I think that the Greeks will stand\nround my knees entreating, for a necessity no longer tolerable invades\nthem. But go now, Patroclus, dear to Jove, ask Nestor what man this is\nwhom he is carrying wounded from the battle. Behind, indeed, he wholly\nresembles Machaon, the son of \u00c6sculapius, but I have not beheld the\ncountenance of the man: for the horses passed by me, hastening onward.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and Patroclus was obedient to his dear comrade, and\nhastened to run to the tents and ships of the Greeks.\n\nBut when they came to the tent of the son of Neleus, they themselves\ndescended to the fertile earth, and Eurymedon, the attendant of the old\nman, unyoked the mares from the chariot; whilst they refreshed\nthemselves from the sweat upon their tunics, 380 standing towards the\nbreeze beside the shore of the sea, and afterwards, entering the tent,\nthey sat down upon couches. But for them fair-curled Hecamede prepared\na mixture, she whom the old man had brought from Tenedos, when Achilles\nlaid it waste, the daughter of magnanimous Arsino\u00fcs, whom the Greeks\nselected for him, because he surpassed all in counsel. First she set\nforward for them a handsome, cyanus-footed, well-polished table; then\nupon it a brazen tray, and on it an onion, a relish 381 for the\ndraught, as well as new honey, and beside it the fruit of sacred corn.\nLikewise a splendid cup 382 near them, which the old man had brought\nfrom home, studded with golden nails. Its handles were four, and around\neach were two golden pigeons feeding, and under it were two bottoms.\nAnother indeed would have removed it with difficulty from the table,\nbeing full; but aged Nestor raised it without difficulty. In it the\nwoman, like unto the goddesses, had mixed for them Pramnian wine, and\ngrated over it a goat\u2019s-milk cheese with a brazen rasp, and sprinkled\nwhite flour upon it: then bade them drink, as soon as she had prepared\nthe potion. But when drinking they had removed parching thirst, they\namused themselves, addressing each other in conversation. And Patroclus\nstood at the doors, a godlike hero.\n\nFootnote 380:(return)  \u201cConstrue \u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u03c8\u00b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b9\u03b4\u03c1\u1ff6\u03c7\u03b9\u03c4. _I.e._\nrefreshed, cooled themselves, by standing in front of the breeze and\ndrying off the perspiration with which their garments were\nsaturated.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 381:(return)  Probably the onion acted as a stimulant to\ndrinking, as anchovies and olives are now used.\n\nFootnote 382: (return)  It was an \u1f00\u03bc\u03d5\u03b9\u03ba\u03cd\u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd. Cf. i. 584, and Buttm.\nLexil. p. 93. There were two doves round each handle, making eight in\nall.\n\nBut the old man, perceiving him, rose from his splendid seat, and\ntaking him by the hand, led him, in, and bade him be seated. But\nPatroclus, on the other side, declined, and uttered [this] reply:\n\n\u201cNo seat [for me], O Jove-nurtured sage, nor wilt thou persuade me.\nRevered and irascible 383 is he who sent me forth to inquire who this\nman is whom thou leadest wounded; but even I myself know, for I\nperceive Machaon, the shepherd of the people. Now, however, in order to\ndeliver my message, I will return again an ambassador to Achilles; for\nwell dost thou know, O Jove-nurtured sage, what a terrible man he is;\nsoon would he blame even the blameless.\u201d\n\nFootnote 383: (return)  Or \u201crespected,\u201d as the Oxford translator\nrenders it.\n\nBut him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: \u201cBut why indeed does\nAchilles thus compassionate the sons of the Greeks, as many as have\nbeen wounded with weapons? Nor knows he how great sorrow hath arisen\nthroughout the army; for the bravest lie in the ships, smitten in the\ndistant or the close fight. 384 Stricken is brave Diomede, the son of\nTydeus, and wounded is spear-renowned Ulysses, as well as Agamemnon.\nEurypylus also has been wounded in the thigh with an arrow; and this\nother have I lately brought from battle, smitten with an arrow from the\nbowstring: yet Achilles, being brave, regards not the Greeks, nor\npities them. Does he wait until the swift ships near the sea, contrary\nto the will of the Greeks, be consumed with the hostile fire, and we\nourselves be slain one after the other? For my strength is not as it\nformerly was in my active members. Would that I were thus young, and my\nmight was firm, as when a contest took place between the Eleans and us,\nabout the driving away some oxen, when, driving away in reprisal, I\nslew Itymoneus, the valiant son of Hypeirochus, who dwelt in Elis: for\nhe, defending his cattle, was smitten among the first by a javelin from\nmy hand, and there fell; and his rustic troops fled on every side. And\nwe drove from the plain a very great booty, fifty droves of oxen, as\nmany flocks of sheep, as many herds of swine, and as many broad herds\nof goats, one hundred and fifty yellow steeds, all mares, and beneath\nmany there were colts. And these we drove within Neleian Pylus, at\nnight towards the city; but Neleus was delighted in his mind, because\nmany things had fallen to my lot, going as a young man to the war. But\nwith the appearing morn, heralds cried aloud for those to approach to\nwhom a debt was due in rich Elis; and the leading heroes of the Pylians\nassembling, divided [the spoil], (because the Epeans owed a debt to\nmany); for we in Pylus, [being] few, were overwhelmed with evil. For\nthe Herculean might, coming in former years, did us mischief, and as\nmany as were bravest were slain. For we, the sons of illustrious\nNeleus, were twelve; of whom I alone am left, but all the rest have\nperished. Elated at these things, the brazen-mailed Epeans, insulting\nus, devised wicked deeds. But the old man chose for himself a herd of\ncattle and a large flock of sheep, selecting three hundred and their\nshepherds; for even to him a great debt was due in rich Elis: four\nhorses, victorious in the race, with their chariots, which had gone for\nthe prizes; for they were about to run for a tripod; but Augeas, king\nof men, detained them there, and dismissed the charioteer, grieved on\naccount of his steeds. At which words and deeds the old man, being\nwroth, chose out for himself mighty numbers, and gave the rest to the\npeople to divide, that no one might go away defrauded by him of his\njust proportion. We indeed accomplished each of these things, and were\nperforming sacrifices to the gods through the city, when on the third\nday they all came at once, both the citizens themselves and their\nsolid-hoofed steeds, in full force: and with them were armed the two\nMolions, being still youths, nor as yet very skilled in impetuous\nmight. There is a certain city, a lofty hill, Thryo\u00ebssa, far away at\nthe Alpheus, the last of sandy Pylus; this they invested, eager to\noverthrow it. But when they had crossed the whole plain, Minerva,\nhastening from Olympus, came to us by night as a messenger, that we\nshould be armed; nor did she assemble an unwilling people at Pylus, but\none very eager to fight. Still Neieus would not allow me to be armed,\nbut concealed my horses, for he said that I was not at all acquainted\nwith warlike deeds. Yet even thus was I conspicuous amongst our\ncavalry, even although being on foot; for thus did Minerva conduct me\nto battle. There is a certain river, Minye\u00efus, emptying itself into the\nsea near Arena, where we, the Pylian horsemen, awaited divine Morn,\nwhilst the swarms of infantry poured in. Thence in full force, equipped\nin armour, we came at mid-day to the sacred stream of Alpheus. There\nhaving offered fair victims to almighty Jove, a bull to the Alpheus,\nand a bull to Neptune, but an untrained heifer to blue-eyed Minerva, we\nthen took supper through the army by troops; and we each slept in our\narms along the river\u2019s stream. In the meantime the magnanimous Epeans\nstood around, desirous to lay waste the city; but a mighty work of Mars\nfirst appeared to them: for as soon as the splendid sun was elevated\nabove the earth, we were engaged in the battle, praying to Jove and to\nMinerva. But when now the battle of the Pylians and Eleans began, I\nfirst slew a man, the warrior Molion, and bore away his solid-hoofed\nsteeds: he was the son-in-law of Augeas, and possessed his eldest\ndaughter, yellow-haired Agamede, who well understood as many drugs as\nthe wide earth nourishes. Him advancing against [me], I smote with my\nbrazen spear. He fell in the dust, and springing into his chariot, I\nthen stood among the foremost combatants; but the magnanimous Epeans\nfled terrified in different directions when they beheld the hero\nfallen, the leader of their cavalry, he who was the best to fight. But\nI rushed upon them like unto a black whirlwind; and I took fifty\nchariots, and in each two men bit the ground with their teeth,\nvanquished by my spear. And now indeed I should have slain the youthful\nMolions, the sons 385 of Actor, had not their sire, wide-ruling\nNeptune, covering them with a thick haze, preserved them from the war.\nThen Jove delivered into the hands of the Pylians great strength, for\nso long did we follow them through the long 386 plain, both slaying\nthem, and gathering up rich armour, until he had driven our horses to\nBuprasium, fertile in wheat, to the rock Olenia and Alesium, where it\nis called Colone: whence Minerva turned back the people. Then having\nkilled the last man, I left him; but the Greeks guided back their swift\nsteeds from Buprasium to Pylus; and all gave glory to Jove, of the\ngods, and to Nestor, of men. Thus was I, as sure as ever I existed,\namong men: but Achilles will enjoy his valour alone: surely I think\nthat he will hereafter greatly lament, when the people have bitterly\nperished. O my friend, Men\u0153tius did assuredly thus command thee on that\nday when he sent thee from Phthia to Agamemnon. For we being both\nwithin, I and noble Ulysses, distinctly heard all things in the halls,\nas he charged you: but we were come to the well-inhabited palace of\nPeleus, collecting an army through fertile Greece. There then we found\nthe hero Men\u0153tius within, as well as thee, and Achilles besides; but\nthe aged horseman, Peleus, was burning the fat thighs of an ox to\nthunder-rejoicing Jove, within the enclosure 387 of his palace, and\nheld a golden cup, pouring the dark wine over the blazing sacrifice.\nBoth of you were then employed about the flesh of the ox, whilst we\nstood in the vestibule; but Achilles, astonished, leaped up, and led us\nin, taking us by the hand, and bade us be seated: and he set in order\nbefore us the offerings of hospitality which are proper for guests. But\nwhen we were satiated with eating and drinking, I began discourse,\nexhorting you to follow along with us. Ye were both very willing, and\nthey both commanded you many things. Aged Peleus in the first place\ndirected his son Achilles ever to be the bravest, and to be conspicuous\nabove others; but to thee again Men\u0153tius, the son of Actor, thus gave\ncharge: \u2018My son, Achilles indeed is superior in birth; but thou art the\nelder. And he is much superior in strength: but still do thou\nfrequently suggest to him proper advice, and admonish and direct him,\nand he will surely be obedient in what is for [his own] good.\u2019 Thus did\nthe old man command thee; but thou art forgetful: but even now do thou\nmention these things to warlike Achilles, if perchance he may be\nobedient. Who knows if, advising him, thou mayest, with the gods\u2019\nassistance, arouse his mind? For the admonition of a friend is good.\nBut if within his mind he avoid some prophecy, and his venerable mother\nhas told him anything from Jove, let him at least send thee forth; and\nwith thee let the other forces of the Myrmidons follow, if indeed thou\nmayest be some aid to the Greeks. Let him likewise give his beautiful\narmour to thee, to be borne into battle, if perchance the Trojans,\nassimilating thee to him, may abstain from the conflict, and the\nwarlike sons of the Greeks, already afflicted, may respire; and there\nbe a little respite from fighting. 388 But you, [who are] fresh, will,\nwith fighting, easily drive back men wearied, towards the city, from\nthe ships and tents.\u201d\n\nFootnote 384: (return)  Cf iv. 540, for the distinction between\n\u03b2\u03b5\u03d1\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 and \u03bf\u1f50\u03c4\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9.\n\nFootnote 385: (return)  _I. e._ the reputed sons.\n\nFootnote 386: (return)  See Schol. Etym. M. s.v., and Alberti on\nHesych. t, ii. p. 1247\n\nFootnote 387: (return)  Properly, the fence or barrier of the\nenclosure.\n\nFootnote 388: (return)  There are several different interpretations for\nthis line: 1. Schneider explains it: \u201cThey have but short time to\nrespire; for if not at once assisted, they will be destroyed.\u201d 2.\n\u201cShort will be the cessation from war.\u201d 3. \u201cA cessation, or\nbreathing-time, from war, although short, will be agreeable.\u201d 4.\n\u201cSupply \u2018_may be_\u2019, and translate, \u2018and that there _may be_ a short\nbreathing-time from the battle;\u2019 although this last involves some\ntautology with the preceding line.\u201d\u2014Ed. Dubl.\n\nThus he spake, and he aroused the spirit within his breast; and he\nhastened to run to the ships to Achilles, the grandson of \u00c6acus. But\nwhen now Patroclus, running, arrived at the ships of godlike Ulysses,\nwhere were their forum and seat of justice, and there the altars of\ntheir gods also were erected, there Eurypylus, the noble son of Ev\u00e6mon,\nwounded with an arrow in the thigh, limping from the battle, met him.\nDown his back ran the copious sweat from his shoulders and head, and\nfrom the grievous wound oozed the black blood; nevertheless his mind\nwas firm. Seeing him, the gallant son of Men\u0153tius pitied him, and,\ngrieving, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cAlas! unhappy men, leaders and rulers over the Greeks, are ye then\nthus destined, far away from your friends and native land, to satiate\nthe swift dogs at Troy with your white fat? But come, tell me this, O\nJove-nurtured hero, Eurypylus, will the Greeks still at all sustain\nmighty Hector, or will they now be destroyed, subdued by his spear?\u201d\n\nBut him prudent Eurypylus in turn addressed: \u201cNo longer, Jove-nurtured\nPatroclus, will there be aid for the Greeks, but they will fall back\nupon the black ships. For already all, as many as were once bravest,\nlie at the ships, stricken or wounded by the hands of the Trojans,\nwhose strength ever increases. But do thou now, indeed, save me,\nleading me to my black ship; and cut out the arrow from my thigh, and\nwash the black blood 389 from it with warm water; then sprinkle upon it\nmild drugs, salubrious, which they say thou wert taught by Achilles,\nwhom Chiron instructed, the most just of the Centaurs. For the\nphysicians, Podalirius and Machaon, the one, I think, having a wound,\nlies at the tents, and himself in want of a faultless physician, and\nthe other awaits the sharp battle of the Trojans upon the plain.\u201d\n\nFootnote 389: (return)  Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. x. 834: \u201cVulnera siccabat\nlymphis.\u201d The manner in which this was done is described by Celsus, v.\n26: \u201cSi profusionem timemus, siccis lineamentis vulnus implendum est,\nsupraque imponenda gpongia ex aqua frigida expressa, ac manu super\ncomprimenda.\u201d Cf. Athen. ii. 4.\n\nBut him again the brave son of Men\u0153tius addressed: \u201cHow then will these\nthings turn out? What shall we do, O hero Eurypylus? I go that I may\ndeliver a message to warlike Achilles, with which venerable Nestor,\nguardian of the Greeks, has intrusted me: but even thus I cannot\nneglect thee, afflicted.\u201d\n\nHe said, and having laid hold of the shepherd of the people under his\nbreast, bore him to the tent, and his attendant, when he saw him,\nspread under him bulls\u2019 hides. There [Patroclus] laying him at length,\ncut out with a knife the bitter, sharp arrow from his thigh, and washed\nthe black blood from it with warm water. Then he applied a bitter,\npain-assuaging root, rubbing it in his hands, which checked all his\npangs: the wound, indeed, was dried up, and the bleeding ceased.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE TWELFTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nThe Trojans assail the rampart, and Hector, despite an omen, which\nPolydamas interprets unfavourably, attacks and forces the gate, and\nopens a way to the ships.\n\n\nThus then at the tents the valiant son of Men\u0153tius was healing the\nwounded Eurypylus: but the Greeks and Trojans kept fighting in masses;\nnor was the ditch of the Greeks destined to prove a barrier any longer,\nand the wide wall from above, which they had erected in defence of the\nships; but they had drawn a foss around (nor had they given splendid\nhecatombs to the gods); that it enclosing within, might defend the\nswift ships and the great booty. But it was built against the will of\nthe immortal gods, therefore it remained not perfect for any long\nperiod. 390 As long as Hector was alive, and Achilles indignant, and\nthe city of king Priam unravaged, so long was the mighty wall of the\nGreeks firm. But when all the bravest of the Trojans were dead, and\nmany of the Greeks were subdued, but others left surviving, when in the\ntenth year the city of Priam was sacked, and the Greeks went in their\nships to their dear fatherland; then at length Neptune and Apollo took\ncounsel to demolish the wall, introducing the strength of rivers, as\nmany as flow into the sea from the Id\u00e6an mountains, both the Rhesus and\nthe Heptaporus, the Caresus and the Rhodius, the Granicus and the\n\u00c6sepus, the divine Scamander and the Simo\u00efs, where many shields and\nhelmets fell in the dust, and the race of demigod men. The mouths of\nall these Ph\u0153bus Apollo turned to the same spot, and for nine days he\ndirected their streams against the wall; and Jove in the meantime\nrained continually, that he might the sooner render the walls\noverwhelmed by the sea. But the Earth-shaker [Neptune] himself, holding\nthe trident in his hands, led them on; and then dispersed among the\nbillows all the foundations of beams and stones which the Greeks had\nlaid with toil. And he made [all] level along the rapid Hellespont, and\nagain covered the vast shore with sands, having demolished the wall:\nbut then he turned the rivers to go back into their own channels, in\nwhich they had formerly poured their sweet-flowing water. 391\n\nFootnote 390: (return)  Cf. Pseudo-Socrat. Epist. i.  \u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70\n\u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f04\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03b5\u1f34\u03c1\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03b8\u03b5\u1ff6\u03bd\u2019 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd\n\u03b2\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03c4\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1 \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bb\u03ce\u03ca\u03bf\u03bd \u1f10\u03ba\u03b8\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9, \u03c4\u1f70 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f70 \u03b8\u03b5\u1f78\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u1fc6\n\u1f51\u03c0\u03ac\u03c1\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03ac\u03be\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9, where Duport, p. 72, thinks there is a reference\nto the present passage.\n\nFootnote 391: (return)  On the present state of the Troad, which\nappears, from physical facts, to justify the mythical description of\nHomer,\u2014see Heyne and Kennedy. Compare Virg. \u00c6n. ii. 610, sqq.;\nTryphiodor. 566, sqq. and 680, sqq.\n\nThus were Neptune and Apollo about to act hereafter; but then the\nbattle and clamour burned around the well-built wall, and the stricken\njoists of the towers resounded: but the Greeks, subdued by the scourge\n392 of Jove, were detained, hemmed in at the hollow ships, dreading\nHector, the furious cause of flight; for he fought, as formerly, equal\nto a whirlwind. And as when a boar or lion is occupied amongst the dogs\nand huntsmen, looking dreadfully with strength, and they, drawing\nthemselves up in a square form, 393 stand against him, and hurl\nfrequent javelins from their hands; but never is his noble heart\nalarmed, nor is he put to flight; but his courage proves his death. And\nfrequently he turns round, trying the ranks of men; and wheresoever he\nhas directed his attack, there the ranks of men give way: so Hector,\ngoing through the crowd, rolled along, inciting his companions to cross\nthe trench. Nor did the swift-footed horses dare [it]; 394 but they\nloudly neighed, standing upon the precipitous brink; for the wide ditch\naffrighted [them], nor was it easy to leap across, [by standing] near,\n395 or to pass it, for overhanging brinks stood round it on both sides,\nand beneath it was fortified with sharp palisades, which the sons of\nthe Greeks had fixed, close-set and large, as a defence against hostile\nmen. There a horse, drawing a swift-rolling chariot, could not readily\nenter, but the infantry eagerly desired it, if they could accomplish\nit. Then indeed Polydamas, standing near, addressed daring Hector:\n\nFootnote 392: (return)  Heyne compares Il. xiii. 812; Pseud.\u2014Eur. Rhes.\n37; Find. Pyth. iv. 390; Tryphiod. 596. The Scholiast on both passages,\nHesychius, t. i. p. 1006, and the Schol. on Oppian. Hal. v. 282,\nsuppose that the lightning is meant; but it is far better to\nunderstand, with Heyne, \u201cterrore divinitus immisso.\u201d\n\nFootnote 393: (return)  See Heyne, and Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p.\n1083.\n\nFootnote 394: (return)  Cf. Statius, Theb. x. 517:\u2014\n\n   \u201c\u2014\u2014ut patulas saltu transmittere fossas\n   Horror equis; h\u00e6rent trepidi, atque immane paventes\n   Abruptum mirantur agi.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 395: (return)  Understand \u1f10\u03ba \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c3\u03c7\u03b5\u03b4\u1f78\u03bd, \u201cadstando prope ad\nfoss\u00e6 oram, ut saltu facilius transilias.\u201d\u2014Heyne.\n\n\u201cHector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans, and allies, unwisely do\nwe drive our fleet steeds through the trench, which is very difficult\nto pass; since sharp palisades stand in it, and near them is the wall\nof the Greeks. Wherefore it is by no means possible for the cavalry to\ndescend, or to fight, for it is a narrow place, where I think they\nwould be wounded. For if indeed lofty-thundering Jove, designing evil,\ndestroys the Greeks, but wishes to assist the Trojans, certainly I\nwould wish this to take place even immediately, that the Greeks perish\nhere inglorious, away from Argos. If, however, they rally, and a\nrepulse from the ships take place, and we be entangled in the dug\ntrench, I do not suppose that then even a messenger will return back to\nthe city from the Greeks. But come, let us all be persuaded as I shall\nadvise. Let the servants keep our horses at the trench, and let us, all\non foot, clad in armour, follow Hector in a close body; but the Greeks\nwill not withstand us, if indeed the end of destruction hang over\nthem.\u201d\n\nThus spake Polydamas; but the safe counsel pleased Hector; and\nimmediately he leaped with his armour from his chariot on the ground.\nNor did the other Trojans assemble on horseback, but dismounting, they\nrushed on, when they beheld noble Hector. Then each commanded his own\ncharioteer to rein his steeds in good order there at the trench, and\nthey, separating, drawing themselves up, and being arranged in five\ncolumns, followed along with their leaders. Some then went with Hector\nand illustrious Polydamas, who were most numerous and brave, and who\nwere most resolutely desirous, having broken down the wall, to fight at\nthe hollow ships. And Cebriones followed as a third; for Hector left\nanother, inferior to Cebriones, with his chariot. Others Paris\ncommanded, and Alcathous, and Agenor. The third band Helenus and\ngodlike De\u00efphobus, two sons of Priam; but the third [commander] was the\nhero Asius, Asius son of Hyrtacus, whom fiery, tall steeds brought from\nArisba, from the river Selle\u00efs. But the fourth, \u00c6neas, the brave son of\nAnchises, led; along with him were the two sons of Antenor, Archilochus\nand Acamas, well skilled in every kind of fight. But Sarpedon commanded\nthe illustrious allies, and chose to himself Glaucus and warlike\nAsterop\u00e6us; for they appeared to him, next to himself decidedly the\nbravest of the rest: for he, indeed, excelled among all. When they then\nhad fitted each other together 396 with interlaced ox-hide bucklers,\nthey advanced, full of courage, direct against the Greeks, nor expected\nthat they would sustain them, but that they would fall in flight into\ntheir black ships.\n\nThen the other Trojans and far-summoned allies obeyed the counsel of\nblameless Polydamas; but Asius, son of Hyrtacus, leader of heroes, was\nunwilling to relinquish his horses and attendant charioteer, but with\nthem advanced to the swift ships,\u2014foolish! Nor was he destined to\nreturn again, borne on his steeds and chariot from the ships to\nwind-swept Ilium, having avoided evil destiny. For him unlucky fate\nfirst encircled from the spear of Idomeneus, the illustrious son of\nDeucalion. For he rushed towards the left of the ships, by the way in\nwhich the Greeks were returning from the plain with their horses and\nchariots. Thither he drove his horses and his chariot, nor did he find\nthe gates closed 397 in the portal, or the long bar up, but the men\nheld them wide open, that they might safely receive at the ships any of\ntheir companions flying from the battle. He designedly guided his\nsteeds right onward in that way, and [his troops], shrilly shouting,\nfollowed along with him; for they supposed that the Greeks could no\nlonger sustain them, but would fall in flight into the black\nships\u2014fools! for at the gates they found two very brave heroes, the\nmagnanimous sons of the warlike Lapith\u00e6, the one the son of Pirithous,\ngallant Polyp\u0153tes, the other Leonteus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars.\nThese two then stood before the lofty gates, as tall oaks on the\nmountains, which abide the wind and rain at all seasons, remaining\nfirmly fixed by their great and wide-spreading roots; so they too,\ntrusting to their hands and strength, awaited mighty Asius coming on,\nnor fled. But the troops, lifting high their well-seasoned bucklers,\nadvanced with loud shouting directly towards the well-built wall, round\ntheir king Asius, and I\u00e4menus, and Orestes, Acamas, the son of Asius,\nThoon, and \u0152nom\u00e4us. Hitherto indeed these, remaining within, were\nexhorting the well-armed Greeks to fight for the ships; but when they\nperceived the Trojans rushing against the wall, and confusion and\nflight of the Greeks arose, both darting out, fought before the gates,\nlike unto wild boars, which await the approaching tumult of men and\ndogs in the mountains, and, advancing obliquely to the attack, break\ndown the wood around them, cutting it to the root; and a gnashing of\nteeth arises from beneath, till some one, having taken aim, deprive\nthem of life. So resounded the shining brass upon their breasts,\nsmitten in front, for very valiantly they fought, trusting to the\ntroops above, and to their own valour. But they hurled stones down from\nthe well-built towers, defending themselves, their tents, and the\nswift-voyaging ships. And as snow-flakes fall upon the earth, which the\nviolent wind, having disturbed the shady clouds, pours down thick upon\nthe fertile soil; thus poured the weapons from the hands as well of the\nGreeks as of the Trojans; and the helmets and bossy shields, smitten\nwith large stones, sounded drily around. Then indeed Asius, son of\nHyrtacus, groaned, and smote both his thighs, and indignant exclaimed:\n\n\u201cFather Jove, surely now at least thou also hast become utterly\ndeceitful; for I did not expect that the Grecian heroes would abide our\nstrength and invincible hands. But they, as wasps flexible 398 in the\nmiddle, and bees, [which] make their dwellings in a rugged path, nor\nquit their hollow mansion; but awaiting the huntsmen, fight for their\noffspring; so are these unwilling to retire from the gates, though\nbeing only two, until they be either killed or taken.\u201d\n\nFootnote 396: (return)  \u201cPut for \u1f04\u03c1\u03b1\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c3\u03c0\u03af\u03b4\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u03ae\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd, \u1f10\u03c0\u2019\n\u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u03ae\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2, _clipeos consertos_ manibus ante se tenebant, \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c3\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u1ff7\nfacto.\u201d\u2014Heyne. Kennedy well observes that \u201cwe may trace here the rude\noutline of the celebrated phalanx, which formed so prominent a feature\nof the Macedonian tactics.\u201d\n\nFootnote 397: (return)  From this passage, Heyne observes that the\ngates must have opened inwards, being secured from within by a double\nbolt (cf. ver. 455, sqq.). See D\u2019Orville on Chariton, i. xii. p. 274,\ned. Lips. On the \u1f40\u03c7\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2, on bars, cf. Pollux, x. 4.\n\nFootnote 398: (return)  Or \u201cstreaked.\u201d See Porphyr. Qu\u00e6st. iii. But\nButtmann, Lexil. p. 64, dwells much upon the force of \u03bc\u03ad\u03c3\u03bf\u03bd, observing,\n\u201cin no insect is _flexibility_ more evident than in the wasp, where the\nlower part of its body is joined as it were by a point with the upper.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, nor did he persuade the mind of Jove, saying these\nthings: for his soul designed to bestow glory upon Hector. In the\nmeantime others were waging the battle at other gates; but difficult\nwould it be for me, as if I were a god, to enumerate all these things;\nfor around the wall in every direction a furiously-raging fire of\nstones was aroused, 399 and the Greeks, although grieving, fought from\nnecessity for their ships; and all the gods were sorrowful in their\nminds; as many as were allies to the Greeks in battle.\n\nFootnote 399: (return)\n\n   \u201cThrough the long walls the stony showers were heard,\n   The blaze of flames, the flash of arms appeared.\u201d\u2014Pope.\n\n\nBut the Lapith\u00e6 began the battle and contest. Then the son of\nPirithous, brave Polyp\u0153tes, smote Damasus with his spear, through his\nbrazen-cheeked helmet; nor did the brazen casque withstand, but the\nbrazen blade burst quite through the bone, and all the brain within was\nshattered. Thus he subdued him, rushing on, and afterwards he slew\nPylon and Ormenus. And Leonteus, a branch of Mars, wounded Hippomachus,\nthe son of Antimachus, with his spear, striking him at the belt. Next,\ndrawing his sharp sword from the sheath, he, rushing through the crowd,\nsmote Antiphates first, hand to hand, and he was dashed on his back to\nthe ground; then Menon and I\u00e4menus, and Orestes, all one over another\nhe brought to the fertile earth.\n\nWhilst they were stripping off their glittering armour, those youths,\nmeantime, who were most numerous and most brave, and who were most\neager to break down the wall, and burn the ships with fire, followed\nPolydamas and Hector, and they anxiously deliberated, standing at the\ntrench. For an augury had appeared on the left to them while eager to\ncross, a high-flying eagle dividing the people, 400 bearing in his\ntalons a monstrous blood-stained serpent, alive, still panting; nor was\nit yet forgetful of fighting; for, while holding it, writhing\nbackwards, it wounded him upon the breast near the neck; but he let it\ndrop from him to the ground, afflicted with anguish, and threw it into\nthe midst of the crowd, and, flapping his wings, he fled away with the\nbreeze of the wind. And the Trojans shuddered as they beheld the\nspotted serpent lying in the midst, a prodigy of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove.\nThen Polydamas, standing near, addressed gallant Hector:\n\n\u201cHector, somehow or other thou art ever chiding me in the assemblies,\nalthough proposing good counsels; because it is by no means becoming\nfor a man, being a citizen, to harangue contrary to thee, either in\ncouncil or at any time in war; but ever to increase thy authority. Yet\nwill I again speak as appears to me to be best. Let us not go about to\nfight with the Greeks for their ships; for thus do I think it will end,\nas sure as this augury has come to the Trojans desiring to cross, the\nhigh-flying eagle upon the left dividing the army, bearing in its\ntalons a huge blood-stained serpent, [still] living; but presently it\ndropped it, before it reached its dear home, nor succeeded in carrying\nit to give it to its young: so we, if even we shall with great force\nbreak through the gates and wall of the Greeks, and the Greeks shall\ngive way,\u2014not in order shall we return by the same way from the ships:\nfor we shall leave many Trojans, whom the Greeks, fighting for the\nships, will subdue with the brass. Thus indeed would the diviner, who\ntruly kens omens in his mind, interpret, and the people would obey\nhim.\u201d\n\nFootnote 400: (return)  Either flying between the ranks of the Trojans,\nor between the two opposing armies. Compare Cicero\u2019s translation, de\nDivin. i. 47, and Virg. \u00c6n. xi. 751, sqq. (with Macrob. Sat. v. 13),\nand xii. 247, sqq. The event of the Trojan war proved that Polydamas\nwas right in his interpretation.\n\nBut him sternly regarding, crest-tossing Hector thus addressed: \u201cO\nPolydamas, thou dost not say things agreeable to me: besides, thou\nknowest how to devise other counsel better than this. If, however, thou\nreally speakest this with seriousness, then truly have the gods\ndestroyed thy judgment from thee, who advisest me to be forgetful of\nthe counsels of lofty-thundering Jove, which he hath himself undertaken\nfor me, and confirmed. And thou exhortest me to obey the wing-expanding\nbirds; which I very little regard, nor do I care for them, whether they\nfly to the right towards the Morn and the Sun, or to the left towards\nthe darkening west; but let us obey the will of mighty Jove, who rules\nover all mortals and immortals. There is one augury, the best, to fight\nfor our country. 401 Why dost thou dread the war and conflict? For\nalthough all the rest of us should perish round the ships of the\nGreeks, there is no fear that thou wilt perish, for thy heart is not\npersevering in the fight, nor warlike. But if thou darest to abstain\nfrom the combat, or dissuading, dost avert another from the battle,\nimmediately stricken by my spear, shalt thou lose thy life.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, he led the way, but they followed him with an\nimmense clamour. Then thunder-delighting Jove raised a storm of wind\nfrom the Id\u00e6an mountains, which bore the dust directly towards the\nships; moreover, he weakened the courage of the Greeks, but bestowed\nglory upon the Trojans and Hector: so that, relying upon his prodigies,\nand [their own] strength, they endeavoured to break through the mighty\nwall of the Greeks. They tore down the niched battlements of the\ntowers, and demolished the breast-works, 402 and with levers they\nupheaved the projecting buttresses, which the Greeks had planted first\nin the earth, as supporters of the towers. These then they tore down,\nand hoped to break through the wall of the Greeks.\n\nYet did not the Greeks retire as yet from the way; but fencing up the\nembrazures with their ox-hide shields, they wounded from behind them\nthe enemy coming up under the wall. And both the Ajaces ranged in every\ndirection upon the towers, cheering on, rousing the valour of the\nGreeks. One [they addressed] 403 with soothing, another they rebuked\nwith harsh expressions, whomsoever they beheld totally neglectful of\nbattle:\n\nFootnote 401: (return)  Cf. Aristot. Rhet. ii. 22; Cicero Ep. ad Attic,\nii. 3. See, also, Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 73.\n\nFootnote 402: (return)  Observe the zeugma, and compare Il. \u03a9. 8, \u0393.\n327; Od. \u039e. 291; and the most elaborate and accurate note on this\nconstruction of D\u2019Orville on Charit. iv. 4, p. 440, sqq. ed. Lips.,\nwith Burm. and Schwabe on Ph\u00e6dr. iv. 17, 31; Duker on Flor. iii. 21,\n26.\n\nFootnote 403: (return)  Id.\n\n\u201cO friends, whoever of the Greeks is excelling, or moderate, or\ninferior (since all men are not alike in war), now is there work for\nall; and ye yourselves, I ween, know this. Let not any one be turned\nback towards the ships, hearing the threatener [Hector], but advance\nonwards, and exhort each other, if perchance Olympic Jove, the darter\nof lightning, may grant that, having repulsed the conflict, we may\npursue the enemy to the city.\u201d\n\nThus they, shouting in front, cheered on the attack of the Greeks. But\nof them\u2014as when frequent flakes of snow fall upon a winter\u2019s day, when\nprovident Jove has begun to snow, displaying his weapons in the sight\nof men, and, having lulled the winds, pours it down incessantly, till\nhe covers the tops and highest peaks of the lofty mountains, and the\nlotus plains and rich husbandry of men: and likewise it is poured out\nupon the havens and shores of the hoary sea; but the approaching wave\nrestrains its progress, whilst all other things are covered beneath it,\nwhen the shower of Jove comes down heavily; so flew the frequent stones\nfrom those hurling on both sides, some indeed towards the Trojans, and\nothers from the Trojans towards the Greeks. And along the whole wall a\ntumult arose.\n\nYet never would the Trojans and illustrious Hector have burst open the\ngates of the wall, and the long bolt, had not provident Jove urged on\nhis son, Sarpedon, against the Greeks, like a lion against\ncrooked-horned oxen. But he immediately held before him his shield,\nequal on all sides, beautiful, brazen, plated; which the brazier indeed\nhad plated over, and underneath had sewed together thick bulls\u2019 hides,\nwith successive golden wires round its orb. He then, holding this\nbefore him, advanced, brandishing two spears, like a lion reared in the\nmountains, which hath been long in want of flesh, and whose valiant\nmind impels him to go even to the well-fenced fold, about to make an\nattempt upon the sheep. And although he there find the shepherds\nkeeping watch about their flocks with dogs and spears, still he cannot\nbear to be driven away, without having made trial of the fold, but,\nspringing in, he either carries [one] off, or is himself wounded among\nthe first by a javelin from a quick hand. Thus then did his mind impel\ngodlike Sarpedon to attack the wall, and to burst through the barriers;\nand instantly he addressed Glaucus, son of Hippolochus:\n\n\u201cGlaucus, 404 why are we especially honoured in Lycia, both with the\n[first] seat in banquet, and with full goblets, and why do all look to\nus as to gods? Why do we also possess a great and beautiful enclosure\nof the vine-bearing and corn-bearing land on the banks of Xanthus? Now,\ntherefore, it behoves us, advancing among the foremost Lycians, to\nstand firm, and to bear the brunt of the raging fight; so that some one\nof the closely-armed Lycians may say, \u2018By no means inglorious do our\nkings govern Lycia, and eat the fat sheep, and [drink] 405 the choice\nsweet wine; but their valour likewise is excelling, because they fight\namong the foremost Lycians.\u2019 O dear friend, if indeed, by escaping from\nthis war, we were destined to be ever free from old age, and immortal,\nneither would I combat myself in the van, nor send thee into the\nglorious battle. But now\u2014for of a truth ten thousand Fates of death\npress upon us, which it is not possible for a mortal to escape or\navoid\u2014let us on: either we shall give glory to some one, or some one to\nus.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, nor did Glaucus turn aside or disobey, but both advanced\nstraight forward, leading a numerous band of Lycians. But Menestheus,\nthe son of Peteus, beholding them, shuddered, for they were advancing\ntowards his company, bearing destruction. He looked round along the\nline of the Greeks, if he might see any of the leaders who could ward\noff the fight from his companions, and perceived the two Ajaces,\ninsatiable of war, standing, and Teucer, lately come from his tent,\nnear at hand. Yet was it not possible for him to be heard when\nshouting, so great was the din; and the crash of stricken shields, and\nof horse-hair crested helmets, and of the gates, reached to heaven. For\nthey had assailed all, 406 and they, standing beside them, endeavoured\nto enter, bursting them open by force. But immediately he despatched\nthe herald Tho\u00f6tes to Ajax:\n\nFootnote 404: (return)  Milton, P.L. ii. 450:\u2014-\n\n              \u201c\u2014\u2014 wherefore do I assume\n   These royalties, and not refuse to reign,\n   Refusing to accept as great a share\n   Of hazard as of honour, due alike\n   To him who reigns, and so much to him due\n   Of hazard more, as he above the rest\n   High honoured sits?\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 405: (return)  Zeugma. See on ver. 268.\n\nFootnote 406: (return)  Three interpretations are given for this\nline:\u20141. \u201cAll the gates were attacked.\u201d 2. \u201cAll the gates were\nbolted.\u201d\u2014Butt. 3. Change the nominative case to the accusative, and\ntranslate\u2014\u201cThey (the Lycians) had attacked all the gates.\u201d\u2014Ed. Dubl.\n\n\u201cGo, noble Tho\u00f6tes, running, call Ajax, rather indeed both: for this\nwould be by far the best of all, since in a short while heavy\ndestruction will arise here. For so vigorously do the leaders of the\nLycians press on, who even before were impetuous in the sharp contest.\nIf, however, labour and contest have arisen to them there, at least let\nbrave Telamonian Ajax come, and with him let Teucer follow, well\nskilled in archery.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, nor did the herald, having heard him, disobey, but he\nhastened to run along the wall of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and\nproceeding, he stood beside the Ajaces and immediately addressed them:\n\n\u201cYe Ajaces, leaders of the brazen-mailed Greeks, the beloved son of\nJove-nourished Peteus adjures you to come thither, that ye may\nparticipate in his toil, though for a short time. Both indeed in\npreference, for this would be by far the best of all things, since soon\nwill heavy destruction arise there. For so vigorously do the leaders of\nthe Lycians press on, who even before were impetuous in the sharp\ncontest. But if here also war and contest have arisen, at least let\nbrave Telamonian Ajax come alone, and with him let Teucer follow, well\nskilled in archery.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, nor did mighty Telamonian Ajax disobey. Instantly he\naddressed to the son of O\u00efleus winged words:\n\n\u201cAjax, do thou and gallant Lycomedes, standing here, incite the Greeks\nto fight bravely, whilst I go thither and oppose the battle; but I will\nreturn again instantly, after I shall have assisted them.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, Telamonian Ajax departed, and with him went\nTeucer, his brother, sprung from the same father; and Pandion, along\nwith them, carried the bent bow of Teucer. As soon as they reached the\ntower of magnanimous Menestheus, going within the wall (for they came\nto [their friends] being hard pressed: and the brave leaders and chiefs\nof the Lycians were mounting upon the breast-works like unto a dark\nwhirlwind), but they engaged to fight in opposition, and a clamour\narose. Telamonian Ajax first slew a man, the companion of Sarpedon,\nmagnanimous Epicles, striking him with a rugged stone, which, mighty in\nsize, lay highest up against a pinnacle within the wall. Not easily\nwould a man support it with both hands, such as mortals now are, not\nalthough being very youthful; but he, raising it aloft, hurled it, and\nburst the four-coned helmet, and along with it crushed all the bones of\nthe skull: but he, like unto a diver, fell from the lofty tower, and\nlife deserted his bones. Teucer likewise with a shaft wounded Glaucus,\nthe brave son of Hippolochus, as he was rushing on, against the lofty\nwall, in a part where he perceived his arm naked; and made him cease\nfrom combat. But he sprang back from the wall, concealing himself, that\nnone of the Greeks might perceive him wounded, and insult him with\nwords. Then grief came upon Sarpedon on account of Glaucus departing,\nas soon as he observed it; though he nevertheless was not neglectful of\nthe contest: but he taking aim, wounded Alcmaon, son of Thestor, with\nhis spear, and extracted the spear; but he. following the weapon, fell\nprone, and his armour, variously decked with brass, resounded upon him.\nSarpedon then seizing the buttress with his sturdy hands, pulled, and\nit all followed entirely; but the wall was stripped away from above,\nand he formed a way for many. Then Ajax and Teucer aiming at him\ntogether, the one smote him with an arrow in the splendid belt of his\nmortal-girding shield, around his breast; but Jove averted the fate\nfrom his son, that he might not be slain at the sterns of the ships.\nBut Ajax, springing upon him, struck his shield, and pierced him quite\nthrough with his spear, and forcibly checked him eager. And then he\nfell back for a little from the buttress, but did not altogether\nretreat, because his spirit hoped to bear off glory. And turning round,\nhe encouraged the godlike Lycians:\n\n\u201cO Lycians, why are ye thus remiss in your impetuous force? It is\ndifficult for me, although being brave, having alone burst through, to\nform a way to the ships. But follow along with me; for the labour of\nthe greater number is better.\u201d\n\nThus he spake; and they, reverencing the exhortation of their king,\npressed on with more alacrity round their counsel-giving king. And the\nGreeks, on the other side, strengthened their phalanxes within the\nwall, because a great work presented itself to them. For neither could\nthe gallant Lycians, bursting through the wall of the Greeks, make\ntheir way to the ships, nor could the warlike Greeks repulse the\nLycians from the wall, since first they approached it. But as two men,\nholding measures in their hands, dispute, in a common field, 407\nconcerning their boundaries, who in a small space contend for their\nequitable right; thus did the buttresses separate these [warriors],\nand, for them, each smote the well-rounded ox-hide shields around each\nother\u2019s breasts, and the light bucklers of each other. And many were\nwounded upon the body with the merciless brass, whether the back of any\ncombatant, averted, was laid bare, and many right through the shield\nitself. Everywhere the towers and buttresses were sprinkled, on both\nsides, with the blood of heroes, from the Trojans and the Greeks. Yet\nnot even thus could they cause a flight of the Greeks, but they held\nthemselves, as a just woman, who labours with her hands, does the\nscales, 408 who, poising both the weight and the wool, draws them on\neither side to equalize them, that she may procure a scanty pittance\nfor the support of her children. Thus equally was their battle and war\nextended, before the time when Jove gave superior glory to Hector, the\nson of Priam, who first leaped within the wall of the Greeks, and\nshouted with a penetrating voice, calling out to the Trojans:\n\n\u201cPush on, ye horse-breaking Trojans, burst through the wall of the\nGreeks, and hurl the fiercely-blazing fire against the ships.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, cheering them on; but they all heard him with their\nears, and rushed against the wall in great numbers, and then mounted\nthe battlements, carrying their pointed spears. But Hector seizing it,\ntook up a stone, which stood before the gates, widening out at the\nbase, 409 but sharp above; which two men, the strongest of the people,\nsuch as mortals now are, could not easily raise from the ground upon a\nwaggon. He, however, brandished it easily and alone, because the son of\nwise Saturn had rendered it light to him.\n\nFootnote 407: (return)  _I.e._ a field, to part of which each lays\nclaim. \u039c\u03ad\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1 seem to be the lines used in measuring ground (\u201clinea\nmensuralis,\u201d Siculus Flaccus, p. 23, ed. Goes.)\n\nFootnote 408: (return)  Milton, P.L. vi. 245:\u2014-\n\n           \u2014\u2014\u201clong time in even scale\n   The battle hung.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 409: (return)  See Eustathius.\n\nAs when a shepherd without difficulty carries the fleece of a male\nsheep, taking it in either hand, and but a small weight oppresses him;\nso Hector, raising the stone, bore it right against the beams which\nstrengthened the closely-jointed gates, double and lofty; but two\ncross-bars secured them within, and one key fitted them. But advancing,\nhe stood very near, and exerting his strength, struck them in the\nmiddle, standing with his legs wide asunder, that the blow of the\nweapon might not be weak. And he tore away both hinges, and the stone\nfell within with a great weight; and the gates crashed around; nor did\nthe bars withstand it, but the beams were rent asunder in different\ndirections by the impulse of the stone. There illustrious Hector rushed\nin, in aspect like unto the dreadful night; and he glittered in\nterrible brass, with which he was girt around his body. And he held two\nspears in his hands, nor could any one, opposing, restrain him, except\nthe gods, after he had leaped within the gates; but his eyes gleamed\nwith fire. And turning to the crowd, he cheered on the Trojans to\nascend the wall, and they obeyed him encouraging. Straightway indeed\nsome crossed the wall, and others were poured in through the\nwell-wrought gates, but the Greeks were routed towards the hollow\nbarks, and an unyielding 410 tumult ensued.\n\nFootnote 410: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 405.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE THIRTEENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nNeptune engages on the Grecian side, and the battle proceeds. De\u00efphobus\nis repulsed by Meriones. Teucer kills Imbrius, and Hector Amphimachus.\nNeptune, assuming the likeness of Thoas, exhorts Idomeneus, who goes\nforth with Meriones to battle, when the former slays Othryoneus and\nAsius. De\u00efphobus attacks Idomeneus, but misses him, and slays Hypsenor.\nIdomeneus slays Alcathous, over whose body a sharp contest ensues.\n\n\nBut after Jove, then, had brought the Trojans and Hector near the\nships, he left them to endure labour and toil at them incessantly; but\nhe himself turned back his shining eyes apart, looking towards the land\nof the equestrian Thracians and the close-fighting Mysians, and the\nillustrious Hippomolgi, milk-nourished, simple in living, and most just\nmen. 411 But to Troy he no longer now turned his bright eyes; for he\ndid not suppose in his mind that any one of the immortals, going, would\naid either the Trojans or the Greeks.\n\nFootnote 411: (return)  Arrian, Exp. Alex. iv. p. 239, referring to\nthis passage of Homer, observes, \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b9 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc7 \u1f08\u03c3\u03af\u1fb3 \u03bf\u1f57\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9,\n\u03bf\u1f50\u03c7 \u1f25\u03ba\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c0\u03b5\u03bd\u03af\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1. Dionysius, Perieg. 309, seems,\nas Hill observes, to consider the name \u1f31\u03c0\u03c0\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03b3\u03bf\u03af as applicable not to\none single clan, but to the whole of the Sarmatian nomads, milk being\none of the principal articles of their diet, as among the Suevi (C\u00e6sar,\nB.G. iv. 1), and the ancient Germans (id. vi. 22). Callimachus, Hymn\niii., applies the epithet to the Cimmerians. The epithet \u1f00\u03b2\u03af\u03c9\u03bd (or\n\u1f00\u03b2\u03b9\u1ff6\u03bd=_bowless_, not living by archery: cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. i.\npp. 17, 794) is involved in doubt, and the ancients themselves were\nuncertain whether to regard it as a proper name or an epithet. (Cf.\nSteph. Byz. s. v., p. 7, ed. Pined.; Villois on Apoll. Lex. p. 14;\nDuport, Gnom. Horn. p. 74, sqq.) It seems best to understand with\nStrabo, vii. p. 460, nations \u1f00\u03c0\u2019 \u1f40\u03bb\u03af\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd \u03b5\u1f50\u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c2 \u03b6\u1f67\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2. Knight wished\nto throw out these verses altogether, alleging that allusion is made in\nthem to the discipline of Zamolxis, with which Homer must have been\nwholly unacquainted.\n\nNor did king Neptune keep a vain watch; for he sat aloft upon the\nhighest summit of the woody Thracian Samos, admiring the war and the\nbattle. For from thence all Ida was visible, and the city of Priam was\nvisible, and the ships of the Greeks. Then coming out of the sea, he\nsat down, and he pitied the Greeks, subdued by the Trojans, and was\nvery indignant with Jove. But presently he descended down, from the\nrugged mountain, rapidly advancing on foot, and the high hills and\nwoods trembled beneath the immortal feet of Neptune, advancing. Thrice\nindeed he strode, advancing, and with the fourth step he reached \u00c6g\u00e6,\nhis destined goal. There distinguished mansions, golden, glittering,\never incorruptible, were erected to him in the depths of the sea.\nComing thither, he yoked beneath his chariot the brazen-footed steeds,\nswiftly flying, crested with golden manes. But he himself placed gold\naround his person, took his golden lash, well wrought, and ascended his\nchariot. He proceeded to drive over the billows, and the monsters of\nthe deep 412 sported beneath him on all sides from their recesses, nor\nwere ignorant of their king. For joy the sea separated; and they flew\nvery rapidly, nor was the brazen axle moist beneath. And his\nwell-bounding steeds bore him to the ships of the Greeks.\n\nNow there is an ample cave 413 in the recesses of the deep sea, between\nTenedos and rugged Imbrus. There earth-shaking Neptune stopped his\nhorses, loosing them from the chariot, and cast beside [them] ambrosial\nfodder to eat. And round their feet he threw golden fetters,\nirrefragable, indissoluble, that they might there steadily await their\nking returning, but he departed towards the army of the Greeks.\n\nFootnote 412: (return)  So I have ventured to render \u03ba\u03ae\u03c4\u03b5\u03b1. Nonius\nMarcell. v. Cetarii\u2014\u201ccete in mari majora sunt piscium genera.\u201d Thus\nQuintus Calaber, v. 94, imitating this passage, has \u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03b9\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2, and\nHesychius defines \u03ba\u03b7\u03c4\u03ce\u03bd by \u03b8\u03cd\u03bd\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd \u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03ac, the word evidently meaning any\nhuge fish. Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 378, sq.\n\nFootnote 413: (return)  Compare the description of the cave of Nereus,\nin Apoll. Rhod. iv. 771, sqq., and of the river Peneus, in Virg. Georg.\niv. 359, sqq., with my note on \u00c6sch. Prom. p. 11, ed. Bohn.\n\nThe Trojans, however, in crowds, like unto a flame or a whirlwind,\nfollowed Hector, the son of Priam, with insatiable ardour, shouting\nloudly, and exclaiming; for they hoped to capture the ships of the\nGreeks, and slay all the Greeks beside them. But earth-ruling,\nearth-shaking Neptune, coming from the deep sea, aroused the Greeks,\nassimilating his person and indefatigable voice to Calchas. The Ajaces\nhe first addressed, though themselves were earnest:\n\n\u201cYe Ajaces, ye indeed, mindful of valour, not of direful flight, will\npreserve the people of the Greeks. For in any other place, indeed, I do\nnot dread the audacious hands of the Trojans, who in great numbers have\nsurmounted the great wall, because the well-greaved Greeks will sustain\nthem all. But in that place I grievously fear lest we suffer any thing,\nwhere infuriated Hector, like unto a flame, leads on who boasts to be\nthe son of almighty Jove. But may some of the gods thus put it in your\nminds, that ye stand firmly yourselves, and exhort others; thus may ye\ndrive him, although impetuous, from the swift-sailing ships, even if\nJove himself excites him.\u201d\n\nHe said, and earth-ruling Neptune, striking both with his sceptre,\nfilled them with violent might, and made their limbs light and their\nfeet and hands above. But he, like as a swift-winged hawk is impelled\nto fly, which, lifted up from a rugged, lofty rock, has hastened to\npursue another bird over the plain; so darted earth-shaking Neptune\nfrom them. But fleet Ajax, the son of O\u00efleus, recognized him first of\nthe two, and straightway addressed Ajax, the son of Telamon:\n\n\u201cO Ajax, since some one of the gods, who possess Olympus, likening\nhimself to the soothsayer, exhorts us to fight beside the ships\n(neither is this Calchas, the prophesying augur; for I readily\nrecognized the traces of his feet and legs when departing; for the gods\nare easily distinguished), even to myself, the soul within my bosom is\nmore incited to war and to fight, and my feet beneath and hands above\neagerly desire it.\u201d\n\nBut him Telamonian Ajax answering, addressed: \u201cSo also to me are my\nstrong hands upon my spear eager, and my courage is aroused, and I am\nhurried along by both my feet under me; and I eagerly long, even alone,\nto combat with Hector, the son of Priam, insatiably raging.\u201d\n\nThus they addressed these words to each other, joyful in the desire of\nbattle 414 which the god had infused into their minds. In the meanwhile\nthe Earth-ruler (Neptune) aroused the Ach\u00e6ans in the rear, who were\nrecruiting their spirit at the swift ships; whose limbs were at the\nsame time relaxed with toilsome labour, and grief was arising in their\nminds, beholding the Trojans, who with a tumult had surmounted the vast\nwall. But beholding them, they poured forth tears from beneath their\neyebrows, for they expected not to escape destruction: but the\nEarth-shaker intervening, easily aroused the brave phalanxes. To Teucer\nand Leius he first came, exhorting them, and to the hero Peneleus, and\nThoas, and Deipyrus, and to Meriones and Antilochus, skilful in war.\nThese he encouraging, spoke winged words:\n\nFootnote 414: (return)  See Heyne, who compares the Latin _gestire_.\nHesych.: \u03a7\u03ac\u03c1\u03bc\u03b7, \u03b7 \u03c1\u03b5\u03c4\u03ac \u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac\u03c2 \u03bc\u03ac\u03c7\u03b7.\n\n\u201cO shame! Argives, young men, I trust that our ships will be preserved\nby your fighting; but if ye be remiss in the destructive battle, the\nday is now come [for us] to be subdued by the Trojans. Ye gods, surely\nI behold with my eyes a great marvel, terrible, which I never expected\nwould be brought to pass, that the Trojans should approach our ships;\nwho formerly, like unto timid stags, which through the wood are the\nprey of lynxes, pards, and wolves, foolishly straying about, weak, nor\nfit for combat: so the Trojans formerly would not stand even for a\nlittle against the might and prowess of the Greeks. But now, far away\nfrom the city, they combat at the hollow ships, through the\nperverseness of our general, and the indifference of the troops; who,\ndisputing with him, are unwilling to defend the swift ships, but are\nslain among them. Yet although in reality the hero, the son of Atreus,\nwide-ruling Agamemnon, be altogether in fault, in that he hath\ndishonoured the swift-footed son of Peleus, still it is by no means our\nduty to be remiss in battle, but let us the sooner repair [the\nmischief]; 415 the minds of the brave are easily appeased. But they by\nno means honourably remit your impetuous valour, being all the bravest\nin the army: I indeed would not quarrel with a man who should desist\nfrom combat, being unwarlike; but with you I am indignant from my\nheart. O soft ones! surely will ye soon create some greater evil by\nthis inertness: but do each of you in his mind ponder on the shame and\nreproach; for certainly a mighty contest hath arisen. Now indeed brave\nHector, good in the din of war, combats at the ships, and hath burst\nthrough the gates and the long bar.\u201d\n\nFootnote 415: (return)  \u03a4\u1f78 \u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1: Schol. For the\nmetaphorical use of \u03ac\u03ba\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03af, cf. Soph. Ant. 1026. \u1f4d\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd  \u03b5\u03c3\u1f7c\u03bd\n\u1f00\u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b7\u03b4\u2019 \u1f00\u03ba\u03af\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9 So \u03b5\u1f50\u03b9\u03b1\u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b8\u1fc6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f04\u03bd,\nAristot. Eth. vii. 2.\n\nThus then Neptune, exhorting, aroused the Greeks. But round the two\nAjaces firm phalanxes stood, which not even Mars, coming amongst them,\nwould have found fault with, nor Minerva, the confounder of armies; for\nthe bravest selected awaited the Trojans and noble Hector; knitting\nspear with spear, shield with shield, 416 one upon another, 417 so that\nshield pressed upon shield, helmet upon helmet, and man upon man. And\nthe horse-haired helmets of them, nodding, touched each other with\ntheir splendid ridges, 418 so closely stood they to one another; and\nspears in the act of being hurled, were brandishing from their daring\nhands, whilst they wished [to go] straight [against the enemy], and\nwere eager to fight. But the combined Trojans first made the attack,\nand impetuous Hector first rushed against them: as a\ndestructively-rolling stone from a rock, which a wintry torrent drives\ndown the brow, having burst with a mighty shower the stays of the\nrugged rock, and bounding along, it rolls, and the forest resounds\nbeneath it: but straightway it runs on uninterruptedly until it reach\nthe plain, but then it rolls no longer, though impelled; so Hector for\na while threatened that he would easily come as far as the sea, to the\ntents and ships of the Greeks, slaughtering. But when now he met the\nfirm phalanxes, he stopped, being come into close contact; and the sons\nof the Greeks, opposing, repulsed him from them, striking him with\ntheir swords and two-edged spears; but retiring, he was compelled to\nwithdraw; and he cried out shouting audibly to the Trojans:\n\n\u201cYe Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, stand firm. Not\nlong will the Greeks withstand me, although they have drawn themselves\nup in very dense array. 419 But, I conceive, they will retire from my\nspear, if in truth the most powerful of the gods, the high-thundering\nhusband of Juno, hath urged me on.\u201d\n\nFootnote 416: (return)  See the learned remarks of Duport, p. 76, sq.\nTo quote parallel passages would be endless.\n\nFootnote 417: (return)  Literally, \u201cfrom the roots.\u201d So\n\u03bf\u03af\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u2014\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b8\u03b5\u03bb\u03c5\u03bc\u03bd\u03b1, Tryphiodor. 388. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p.\n1029; Apoll. Lex. p. 676.\n\nFootnote 418: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 523. The \u03c6\u03ac\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 formed a\nsocket for the plume.\n\nFootnote 419: (return)  Lit. \u201ctower-wise,\u201d forming a solid square.\n\nSo saying, he aroused the might and courage of each. But De\u00efphobus, the\nson of Priam, walked amongst them, high-minded, and he held his shield\nequal on all sides before him, proceeding with light step, and\nadvancing under protection of his shield. Then Meriones took aim with\nhis shining spear, and struck him (nor did he miss) upon the\nbull\u2019s-hide shield, equal on all sides, which he did not pierce; for\nthe long spear, far before was broken at the socket. But De\u00efphobus held\nhis bull\u2019s-hide shield far from him, for he dreaded in his mind the\nspear of warlike Meriones; but that hero fell back into the column of\nhis companions, for he was grievously enraged on both accounts, both\nfor [the loss] of the victory, and of the spear which he had broken.\nAccordingly he proceeded to pass by the tents and ships of the Greeks,\nto bring a long spear which had been left in his tent; whilst the\nothers fought, and a mighty tumult arose.\n\nThen Telamonian Teucer first slew a hero, the warrior Imbrius, son of\nMentor, rich in steeds; and he dwelt at Ped\u00e6um before the sons of the\nGreeks arrived, and had married Medesicaste, the illegitimate daughter\nof Priam. But when the equally-plied ships of the Greeks arrived, he\ncame back to Ilium, and excelled among the Trojans; and dwelt with\nPriam, who honoured him equally with his sons. Him the son of Telamon\nsmote under the ear with his long javelin, and plucked out the spear;\nbut he indeed fell, like an ash, which, on the summit of a mountain\nconspicuous from afar, cut down with a brazen axe, strews its tender\nfoliage on the earth. Thus he fell, and his armour, variegated with\nbrass, rang about him. Then Teucer rushed on, eager to strip him of his\narmour; but Hector hurled his shining spear at him, hastening. He,\nhowever, seeing it from the opposite side, avoided, by a small space,\nthe brazen spear; and [Hector] wounded with his javelin, on the breast,\nAmphimachus, son of Cteas, the son of Actor, advancing to the battle;\nand, falling, he gave a crash, and his arms rang upon him. Then Hector\nrushed to tear from the head of magnanimous Amphimachus the helmet\nfitted to his temples, but Ajax hurled with his shining spear at\nHector, rushing on. Yet it never reached his body, for he was protected\nall over with terrible brass; but he smote him upon the boss of the\nshield, and repulsed him with great violence; and he retired from both\nbodies, and the Greeks drew them away. Then Stichius and noble\nMenestheus, the leaders of the Athenians, carried Amphimachus to the\narmy of the Greeks, but the two Ajaces, eager for impetuous combat,\n[carried] Imbrius. As two lions bear a goat through the thick\ncopse-wood, snatching it from the sharp-toothed dogs, holding it high\nabove the earth in their jaws; so the two warriors, the Ajaces, holding\nhim [Imbrius] aloft, stripped off his armour; but the son of O\u00efleus,\nenraged on account of Amphimachus, severed his head from his tender\nneck, and sent it rolling like a ball through the crowd; but it fell\nbefore the feet of Hector in the dust.\n\nThen indeed was Neptune grieved at heart for his grandson, slain in the\ngrievous fight; and he proceeded to go along the tents and ships of the\nGreeks, exhorting the Greeks, and prepared disasters for the Trojans.\nBut spear-renowned Idomeneus then met him, returning from a companion\nwho had lately come to him from the battle, wounded in the ham with the\nsharp brass, whom his comrades had carried in, and he, having given\ndirections to the surgeons, was returning from his tent; for he still\ndesired to participate in the fight. Him king Neptune addressed,\nassimilating himself, as to his voice, to Thoas, son of Andr\u00e6mon, who\ngoverned the \u00c6tolians throughout all Pleuron and lofty Calydon, and who\nwas honoured by the people as a god:\n\n\u201cIdomeneus, thou counsellor of the Cretans, where indeed are the\nthreats gone, with which the sons of the Greeks threatened the\nTrojans?\u201d Whom again in return, Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans,\naddressed: \u201cNo man, O Thoas, as far as I know, is at present to blame;\nfor we are all skilled in warring. Neither does disheartening fear\ndetain any one, nor does any one, yielding to sloth, shirk evil strife;\nbut thus, doubtless, it will be agreeable to the all-powerful son of\nSaturn, that here, far away from Argos, the Greeks shall perish\ninglorious. But, Thoas\u2014for formerly thou wast warlike, and urged on\nothers when thou didst behold them negligent\u2014so now desist not thyself,\nbut exhort each man.\u201d\n\nBut him earth-shaking Neptune then answered: \u201cNever may that man, O\nIdomeneus, return from Troy, but let him here be the sport of the dogs,\nwhosoever voluntarily this day shall relax from fighting. But come,\ntaking up arms, advance hither; for it behoves us to hasten these\nthings, if we may be of any service, although but two; for useful is\nthe valour of men, even the very pusillanimous, if combined, whereas we\nboth understand how to fight even with the brave.\u201d\n\nSo saying, the god departed again to the toil of heroes. But Idomeneus,\nwhen now he had reached his well-made tent, put on his rich armour\naround his body, and seized two spears, and hastened to go, like unto\nthe lightning, which the son of Saturn, seizing in his hand, brandishes\nfrom glittering Olympus, showing a sign to mortals; and brilliant are\nits rays: so shone the brass around the breast of him running. Then\nMeriones, his good attendant, met him yet near the tent,\u2014for he was\ngoing to fetch a brazen spear; and the strength of Idomeneus addressed\nhim:\n\n\u201cMeriones, son of Molus, swift of foot, dearest of my companions, why\ncomest thou thus, quitting the war and the contest? Art thou at all\nwounded, and does the point of a spear afflict thee? Or comest thou to\nme on any message? For I myself am not desirous to sit within my tent,\nbut to fight.\u201d\n\nBut him prudent Meriones in turn answered: \u201cIdomeneus, thou counsellor\nof the brazen-mailed Cretans, I come, if there be any spear left within\nthy tents, to take it: because I indeed have broken that which I\nformerly had, having struck the shield of ferocious De\u00efphobus.\u201d Whom\nagain in turn Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed: \u201cThou wilt\nfind, if thou desirest [to select from them], one-and-twenty spears\nstanding in my tent against the shining walls, which I have taken from\nthe slain Trojans; for I affirm that I do not fight with hostile men,\nstanding at a distance from them. Hence I have both spears, and bossy\nshields, and helmets, and corslets, brightly polished.\u201d\n\nBut him again prudent Meriones addressed in turn: \u201cAt my tent also and\nblack ship are there many spoils of the Trojans; but they are not near,\nso that I might take them. For neither do I conceive that I am\nforgetful of valour, but I stand among the foremost in glory-giving\nbattle, whenever the contest of war has arisen. I am rather unobserved\nperhaps, when fighting by some other of the brazen-mailed Greeks; but I\nthink that thou knowest me.\u201d\n\nWhom again Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed in turn: \u201cI know\nwhat thou art as to valour: what necessity is there for thee to\nenumerate these things? For if now all we the bravest at the ships\nshould be selected for an ambuscade, where the courage of men is\nespecially distinguished, where both the coward as well as the brave\nman is made apparent\u2014for the complexion of the coward on the one hand\nis changed from this to that, nor is his heart calm within his bosom,\nso that he can rest without trembling, but he shifts his position, and\nsits upon both his feet, whilst his heart greatly palpitates within his\nbreast, as he is expecting death; and a chattering of his teeth arises.\nBut neither is the complexion of the brave man changed, nor is he at\nall disturbed, after he first sits down in the ambush of heroes; but he\nburns to be mingled with all haste in direful fight\u2014[no one], in that\ncase, would find fault with thy courage and might. For if, labouring\n[in the battle], thou wert wounded from a distance, or smitten in close\nfight, the weapon would not fall upon thy neck behind, nor upon thy\nback; but it would pierce through either thy breast, or thy stomach, as\nthou wast rushing forward amid the conflict 420 of foremost combatants.\nBut come, no longer let us speak of these things, standing like\ninfatuated persons, lest perhaps some one chide us inordinately; but do\nthou, going to the tent, take a strong spear.\u201d\n\nFootnote 420: (return)  Hesych. \u038c\u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03c5\u03bd \u03bc\u03ac\u03c7\u03b7\u03bd. Etym. \u039c. fol. 131, \u0392.\n2. \u2018\u0391\u03bd\u03c4\u03af \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5v \u03c4\u03b7 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u03c1\u03c9\u03c4\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd o\u03bc\u03b9\u03bb\u03af\u1fb3 (which is its proper\nmeaning, as derived from oa\u03c1) \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1o\u03c6\u03b7.\n\nThus be spake, and Meriones, equal to swift Mars, quickly took from the\ntent a brazen spear; and he went along with Idomeneus, very eager for\nwar. But as man-destroying Mars enters the battle\u2014with whom Terror, his\ndear son, at the same time powerful and undismayed, follows, who\nstrikes fear into the warrior even of resolute soul: these indeed are\narmed from Thrace, along with the Ephyri or with the magnanimous\nPhlegyans; neither do they hear both, but they give glory to one or the\nother\u2014so Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of heroes, advanced to battle\nequipped with helmets of glittering brass; and Meriones first addressed\nhim in these words:\n\n\u201cSon of Deucalion, where dost thou meditate to enter the throng? To the\nright of all the army, or at the centre, or upon the left? Since\nnowhere [else] 421 in the battle do I conceive that the long-haired\nGreeks so much require support.\u201d\n\nFootnote 421: (return)  _I.e._ nowhere so much as on the left.\n\nBut him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn addressed: \u201cAmong\nthe centre ships indeed there are others to aid them, both the Ajaces\nand Teucer, who is the most skilful of the Greeks in archery, and brave\nalso in standing fight; who will sufficiently harass, even to satiety,\nHector, the son of Priam, although most urgent of battle, and although\nbeing very gallant. Hard will it be for him, although very desirous of\nfighting, having overpowered their strength and invincible hands, to\nfire the ships, unless the son of Saturn himself cast a flaming torch\nupon the swift ships. Nor indeed will mighty Telamonian Ajax yield to\nany man who may be a mortal, and who may eat the fruit of Ceres, who is\nvulnerable by brass and by large stones. Not even to warlike Achilles\nwould he give way, at least in standing fight; but in speed he is by no\nmeans able to contend with him. Guide us, therefore, to the left of the\narmy that we may quickly know whether we shall afford glory to any one,\nor any one to us.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke. But Meriones, equal to rapid Mars, began to proceed,\nuntil he came to [that part of] the army whither he had ordered him.\nBut they, when they beheld Idomeneus, like unto a flame in might, both\nhim and his attendant, in variously-wrought armour, they all, exhorting\none another along the crowd, advanced against him, and an equal contest\narose at the sterns of their ships. And as when storms sweep along,\n[driven] by the shrill winds, on a day when the dust around the roads\n[is] very abundant, and they at the same time raise up a large cloud of\ndust; so came on the battle of these together, and they were eager in\ntheir minds to slaughter one another throughout the throng with the\nsharp brass. And the mortal-destroying combat bristles with the long\nspears which they held, flesh-rending; and the brazen splendour from\nthe gleaming helmets, the newly-burnished corslets, and the shining\nshields, coming together, dazzled their eyes. Very brave-hearted would\nhe be who, when beholding their toil, could have rejoiced, and would\nnot be disturbed.\n\nBut the two powerful sons of Saturn, favouring different sides, planned\ngrievous toils for the heroes. On the one hand, Jove willed victory to\nthe Trojans and to Hector, glorifying swift-footed Achilles; yet he\ndesired not entirely to destroy the Grecian people before Ilium, but\nwas honouring Thetis and her magnanimous son. On the other hand,\nNeptune, coming amongst them, encouraged the Greeks, having secretly\nemerged from the hoary deep; for he grieved that they should be subdued\nby the Trojans, and he was greatly indignant with Jove. The same race\nindeed was to both, and the same lineage, but Jove was born first, 422\nand knew more. For this reason [Neptune] avoided aiding them openly,\nbut always kept privately inciting them through the army, assimilated\nto a man. They indeed alternately stretched over both the cord of\nvehement contest and equally destructive war, irrefragable and\nindissoluble, which relaxed the knees of many. Then, although\nhalf-hoary Idomeneus, encouraging the Greeks, rushing upon the Trojans,\ncreated night; for he slew Othryoneus, who had come from Cabesus,\nstaying within [Priam\u2019s house]. 423 He had lately come after the rumour\nof the war, and demanded Cassandra, the most beautiful in form of the\ndaughters of Priam, without a dowry; and he had promised a mighty deed,\nto repulse in spite of themselves the sons of the Greeks from Troy. But\nto him aged Priam had promised her, and pledged himself 424 to give\nher; therefore he fought, trusting in these promises. But Idomeneus\ntook aim at him with his shining spear, and hurling it, struck him,\nstrutting proudly; nor did the brazen corslet which he wore resist it,\nbut he fixed it in the middle of his stomach. And falling, he gave a\ncrash, and [the other] boasted and said:\n\n\u201cOthryoneus! above all men indeed do I praise thee, if thou wilt now in\ntruth accomplish all which thou hast undertaken for Dardanian Priam:\nbut he also promised thee his daughter. We likewise, promising these\nthings, will accomplish them to thee. We will give thee the most\nbeautiful in form of the daughters of the son of Atreus to wed,\nbringing her from Argos, if along with us thou wilt destroy the\nwell-inhabited city of Ilium. But follow, that we may treat with thee\nrespecting the marriage of the sea-traversing ships; since we are by no\nmeans bad brothers-in-law.\u201d\n\nFootnote 422: (return)  Heyne compares xiv. 204. The Erinnys were\nsupposed to avenge any disrespect offered to an elder brother by a\nyounger.\n\nFootnote 423: (return)  Literally, \u201cbeing within from Cabesus.\u201d\n\nFootnote 424: (return)  Lit. \u201cbowed assent.\u201d\n\nSo saying, the hero Idomeneus dragged him by the foot through the brisk\nbattle. But to him Asius came as an avenger, on foot, before his\nsteeds; which his attendant charioteer always kept breathing over his\nshoulders; 425 and in his mind he longed to strike Idomeneus, but he\n(Idomeneus) anticipating him, smote him with his spear in the throat,\nbelow the chin, and drove the brass quite through. And he fell, as when\nsome oak falls, or white poplar, 426 or towering 427 pine, which\ntimber-workers have cut down upon the mountains with lately-whetted\naxes, to become ship timber. So he lay, stretched out before his horses\nand chariot, gnashing his teeth, grasping the bloody dust. But the\ncharioteer was deprived of the senses which he previously had, nor\ndared he turn back the horses that he might escape from the hands of\nthe enemy: but him warlike Antilochus, striking, transfixed in the\nmiddle with his spear; nor did the brazen corslet which he wore resist,\nbut he fixed it in the centre of his stomach. Then, panting, he fell\nfrom the well-made chariot-seat, and Antilochus, the son of magnanimous\nNestor, drove away the horses from the Trojans to the well-armed\nGreeks. But De\u00efphobus, enraged on account of Asius, drew very near to\nIdomeneus, and hurled with his shining spear. Idomeneus, however,\nhaving perceived it opposite, avoided the brazen spear, for he was\nconcealed behind his shield equal on all sides, which he bore,\nconstructed of the hides of bulls, and glittering brass, fitted with\ntwo handles. Behind this he collected himself entirely, and the brazen\nspear flew over him. But the shield returned a dry 428 sound, the spear\ngrazing it obliquely. Yet he (De\u00efphobus) sent it not in vain from his\nheavy hand, but he struck Hypsenor, son of Hippasus. the shepherd of\nthe people, upon the liver, below the breast, and straightway relaxed\nhis knees under him. But De\u00efphobus vainly boasted over him, loudly\nexclaiming:\n\nFootnote 425: (return)  _I.e._ close by Asius (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u2019 \u03ce\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd), he having\ndescended for the purpose of rescuing the body of Othryoneus.\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 426: (return)  \u201c\u1f28 \u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03ba\u03b7, populus alba.\u201d\u2014Heyne.\n\nFootnote 427: (return)  \u0392\u03bb\u03c9\u03b8\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2 is connected with \u03b2\u03bb\u03ce\u03c3\u03ba\u03c9, as \u03b2\u03bb\u03b7\u03c7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2\nwith \u03b2\u03bb\u03af\u03c4\u03c4\u03c9. See Buttm. Lexil. p. 194. Hesych.: \u0392\u03bb\u03c9\u03b8\u03c1\u03ae\u2019 \u03b5\u03cd\u03b1\u03c5\u03b6\u03ae\u03c2, \u03ae\n\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b6\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u0390 \u03ac\u03bd\u03c9 \u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1. Schol. on Apoll. Rhod. i. 322: \u03af\u03c4\u03c5\u03bd\n\u03b2\u03bb\u03c9\u03b8\u03c1\u03ae\u03bd \u038c\u03bc\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2, \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ac\u03c7\u03c1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03b9\u03b8\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03af\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 428: (return)  So v. 441: \u03b1\u03c5\u03bf\u03bd \u03ac\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd. So \u201caridus sonus,\u201d in\nLucret. vi, 113; \u201caridus fragor,\u201d Virg. Georg. I. 357, noticed by\nQuintil. I.O. viii. 3. A dry, grating, half-crackling sound is meant.\n\n\u201cSurely not unavenged lies Asius; I rather think that he will rejoice\nin his mind, though going into the strong-gated, massy [dwelling] of\nHades, since I have given him a guide.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but grief came upon the Greeks at his boasting, and it\nparticularly agitated the mind of warlike Antilochus. Yet, grieved as\nhe was, he neglected not his companion, but running, he protected him,\nand covered him over with his shield. Him then his two dear companions,\nMecisteus, son of Echius, and noble Alastor, supporting, bore to the\nhollow ships, deeply groaning. In the meantime Idomeneus ceased not his\nmighty valour; but always burned either to cover some of the Trojans\nwith pitchy night, 429 or himself to fall with a crash, repelling\ndestruction from the Greeks. Then the hero Alcathous, the beloved son\nof \u00c6syetas (and he was the son-in-law of Anchises, for he had married\nHippodamia, the eldest of his daughters, whom her father and venerable\nmother loved from their hearts, whilst in their home, because she\nexcelled all of her age in beauty, in accomplishments, and prudence,\nfor which reason also the most distinguished man in wide Troy had\nwedded her), him Neptune subdued under Idomeneus, having dimmed his\nshining eyes, and fettered his fair limbs. For he was able neither to\nfly back nor to turn aside, but him, standing motionless, like a pillar\nor lofty-branching tree, the hero Idomeneus wounded with his spear in\nthe middle of the breast, and burst the brazen coat around him, which\nformerly warded off destruction from his body: but then it sent forth a\ndry sound, severed by the spear. Falling, he gave a crash, and the\nspear was fixed in his heart, which, palpitating, shook even the\nextremity of the spear; and there at length the impetuous Mars 430\nspent its force. But Idomeneus boasted prodigiously over him, loudly\nexclaiming:\n\nFootnote 429: (return)  _I.e._ death.\n\nFootnote 430: (return)  Here put for the weapon.\n\n\u201cDe\u00efphobus! do we judge rightly that it is a fair return, that three\nshould be slain for one, since thus thou boastest? But do thou thyself\nalso, wretch, stand against me, that thou mayest know of what nature I\nam, who have come hither the offspring of Jove, who first begat Minos,\nthe guardian of Crete. Minos again begat Deucalion, his blameless son,\nand Deucalion begat me, king over many men in wide Crete. But now the\nships have brought me hither, an evil both to thee and to thy father,\nand the other Trojans.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, but De\u00efphobus hesitated between two opinions, whether,\nfalling back, he should join to himself some one of the magnanimous\nTrojans, or make trial although alone. But to him, thus deliberating,\nit appeared preferable to go in search of \u00c6neas; whom he found standing\nat the rear of the army, for he was ever indignant with noble Priam,\nbecause he by no means honoured him, though being valiant among heroes.\nAnd, standing near, he addressed to him winged words:\n\n\u201c\u00c6neas, thou counsellor of the Trojans, now does it greatly behove thee\nto aid thy brother-in-law, if indeed any regard reaches thee. But\nfollow, let us bring aid to Alcathous, who, being thy brother-in-law,\nnourished thee whilst very young, in his palace, and whom spear-famed\nIdomeneus hath slain.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and roused the courage in his breast, and he, greatly\ndesirous of battle, went to meet Idomeneus. Yet fear seized not\nIdomeneus like a tender boy, but he stood still, like a boar in the\nmountains, confident in his prowess, and who abides the mighty din of\nmen advancing against him, in a desert place, 431 and bristles up his\nback; his eyes, too, gleam with fire, and he whets his teeth, eager to\nkeep at bay both dogs and men. So spear-renowned Idomeneus awaited\n\u00c6neas, swift in the battle-din, coming against him, nor retired; but he\nshouted to his companions, looking to Ascalaphus, and Aphareus, and\nDe\u00efpyrus, and Meriones, and Antilochus, skilful in fight. Exhorting\nthese, he addressed to them winged words:\n\nFootnote 431: (return)  Or, \u201cin the sheep-pasture.\u201d\n\n\u201cHither, my friends, and aid me alone, for I greatly dread swift-footed\n\u00c6neas, rushing on, who is coming upon me; who is very powerful to slay\nmen in battle, and possesses the bloom of youth, which is the greatest\nstrength. For if we were of the same age, with the spirit that I now\npossess, quickly would either he bear off great glory, or I would.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they all, having one determination in their minds,\nstood near him, inclining their shields upon their shoulders. \u00c6neas, on\nthe other hand, animated his companions, looking towards De\u00efphobus,\nParis, and noble Agenor, who, together with himself, were leaders of\nthe Trojans. These also the people followed, as sheep follow from their\npasture after the ram in order to drink; and the shepherd then is\nrejoiced in his mind. So was the soul of \u00c6neas gladdened in his breast,\nwhen he beheld a body of troops following himself. These therefore\nengaged in close fight round Alcathous with long spears, whilst the\nbrass resounded horribly on the breasts of them, aiming at each other\nthrough the crowd. But two warlike men, conspicuous among the rest,\n\u00c6neas and Idomeneus, equal to Mars, longed to lacerate each other\u2019s\nflesh with the ruthless brass. But \u00c6neas first hurled his javelin at\nIdomeneus; but he, perceiving it opposite, avoided the brazen spear;\nand the spear of \u00c6neas sank quivering into the earth; for it fled in\nvain from his sturdy hand. Idomeneus next smote \u0152nomaus in the middle\nof the stomach, and the spear burst the cavity of his corslet, and\npenetrating, drank his entrails through; but falling amid the dust, he\ngrasped the earth with the hollow of his hand. Then Idomeneus plucked\nout the long spear from his body, but was unable to tear off the other\nrich armour from his shoulders, for he was pressed hard by weapons. For\nno longer were the sinews of his feet firm as he rushed, either to\nhasten on after his own dart, 432 or avoid [that of another]. Wherefore\nalso in standing fight, he warded off the fatal day, nor did his feet\nany longer bear him with ease in retreating from the battle. But\nagainst him, gradually retiring, De\u00efphobus took aim with his glittering\nspear, for he ever had a rooted hatred towards him. But then too he\nmissed, and struck with his javelin Ascalaphus, the son of Mars, and\ndrove the stout spear through his shoulder; and tailing amid the dust,\nhe grasped the earth with his hand.\n\nFootnote 432: (return)  So as to recover it.\n\nNot yet, however, had loudly-roaring, 433 impetuous Mars heard that his\nson had fallen in the violent fight; but he sat upon the summit of\nOlympus, beneath golden clouds, excluded [from the battle] by the will\nof Jove, where also the other immortal gods were restrained from the\nwar. In the meantime they engaged in close fight round Ascalaphus.\nDe\u00efphobus indeed tore the shining helmet from Ascalaphus; and Meriones,\nequal to swift Mars, springing [upon him], smote [him] with his spear\nin the arm, and the crested 434 casque, falling from his hand, rang\nupon the earth. Immediately Meriones, leaping upon him like a vulture,\nplucked out the tough spear from the lower part of his arm, and retired\nback again into the crowd of his comrades. But him Polites, his own\nbrother, throwing his hands round his waist, carried out of the\ndread-sounding battle, till he reached his fleet steeds, which awaited\nhim in the rear of the combat and the war, having both a charioteer and\na variegated car; which then carried him towards the city, groaning\nheavily [and] afflicted; and the blood flowed from his recently-wounded\nhand: but the others kept fighting, and an unquenchable clamour arose.\nThen \u00c6neas rushing upon Aphareus, the son of Caletor, smote him with\nhis sharp spear upon the throat, when turned towards him. And his head\nwas bent to one side, then his shield clung to him, and his helmet; and\naround him life-destroying death was spread. Antilochus, however,\nobserving Thoas turning around, attacking, wounded him; and cut away\nall the vein, which, running quite along the back, reaches to the neck.\nAll this he cut off; but he fell on his back in the dust, stretching\nout both hands to his beloved companions. Then Antilochus sprang upon\nhim, and stripped the armour from his shoulders, looking around; for\nthe Trojans surrounding him, struck his wide and ornamented shield with\ntheir darts, nor were they able to graze with the dire brass the tender\nbody of Antilochus within it; because earth-shaking Neptune protected\nthe son of Nestor all round, even amongst many weapons. For never\nindeed was he apart from the enemy, but he turned himself about among\nthem: nor did he hold his spear without motion, but continually moving,\nit was whirled about; and he prepared within his mind, either to hurl\nit at some one afar off, or to rush upon some one close at hand. But\nmeditating these things amid the throng, he escaped not the notice of\nAdamas, the son of Asias, who smote him in the middle of his shield\nwith the sharp brass, attacking him in close combat; but azure-haired\nNeptune weakened the spear, grudging 435 him the life [of Antilochus].\nPart of it remained there, like a stake burned in the fire, 436 in the\nshield of Antilochus, and the other half lay upon the ground; whilst he\ngave backwards into the crowd of his companions, shunning death.\nMeriones, however, following him departing, smote him with his spear\nbetween the private parts and the navel, where a wound 437 is\nparticularly painful to miserable mortals. There he fixed the spear in\nhim; and he falling, struggled panting around the spear, as an ox, when\ncowherds in the mountains, forcibly binding him with twisted cords,\nlead [him] away unwilling. So he, wounded, throbbed, though but for a\nshort time, and not very long, until the hero Meriones coming near,\nplucked the spear from his body; and darkness veiled his eyes. But\nHelenas, close at hand, struck De\u00efpyrus upon the temple with his huge\nThracian sword, and cut away the three-coned helmet; which, being\ndashed off, fell upon the ground; and some one of the combating Greeks\nlifted it up, having rolled between his feet; whilst dim night\nenveloped his eyes. Then grief seized the son of Atreus, Menelaus,\nbrave in the din of battle, and he advanced, threatening the hero, king\nHelenus; brandishing his sharp spear, whilst the other drew the horn of\nhis bow. Together then they darted, the one eager to launch his\nfir-tree spear, and the other an arrow from the string. Then indeed the\nson of Priam smote him in the breast with an arrow, on the cavity of\nthe corslet, but the bitter shaft rebounded. As when from the broad\nwinnowing-fan in a large threshing-floor, the black-coated beans or\nvetches leap at the shrill blast, and the force of the winnower; so,\nstrongly repulsed by the corslet of glorious Menelaus, the bitter arrow\nflew afar. But Menelaus, the son of Atreus, brave in the din of battle,\nsmote him upon the hand which held his well-polished bow; and in the\nbow the brazen spear was fixed from the opposite side, through his\nhand. Then he retired back into the crowd of his companions, avoiding\ndeath, hanging down his hand at his side, but the ashen spear was\ntrailed along with him. And then magnanimous Agenor extracted it from\nhis hand, and bound [the hand] itself sling-ways in well-twisted\nsheep\u2019s wool, which his attendant carried for the shepherd of the\npeople.\n\nFootnote 433: (return)  \u0392\u03c1\u03b9\u03ae\u03c0\u03c5\u03bf\u03c2=\u03ad\u03c1\u03af\u03b3\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2. The Schol. on Apoll. Rh.\niii. 860, observes: \u0392\u03c1\u03af, \u03ad\u03c0\u03b9\u03c4\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03bd, \u1f61\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f41 \u0392\u03c1\u03b9\u03ae\u03c0\u03c5\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 434: (return)  The meaning of \u03b1\u1f50\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c0\u03b9\u03c2 is rather uncertain.\nAccording to the Schol. and Hesychius, it means a helmet that has the\nopenings for the eyes oblong (\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03ae\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f14\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f40\u03c6\u03b8\u03b1\u03bb\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f40\u03c0\u03ac\u03c2),\nor a helmet with a long crest (\u03ad\u03ba\u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03cc\u03c6\u03bf\u03bd).\n\nFootnote 435: (return)  \u03a6\u03b8\u03bf\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2 \u0386\u03b4\u03ac\u03bc\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9, \u03bc\u1f74 \u03c4\u1f41\u03bd \u03b2\u03af\u03bf\u03bd \u0386\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03bb\u03cc\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5\n\u1f00\u03c6\u03ad\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9.\n\nFootnote 436: (return)  The \u201cpr\u00e6ust\u00e6 sudes\u201d of C\u00e6sar, \u0392.G. \u03bd. 40. These\nwere among the rustic weapons of antiquity, as may be seen from Virg.\n\u00c6n. vii. 523.\n\n                    \u201cNon jam certamine agresti\n   Stipitibus duris agitur, sudibusve pr\u00e6ustis;\n   Sed ferro ancipiti decernunt.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 437: (return)  Cf. vs. 444.\n\nBut Pisander went direct against glorious Menelaus, because evil Fate\nled him towards the end of death, to be subdued by thee, O Menelaus, in\nthe dire battle. When therefore they were near, advancing against each\nother, the son of Atreus indeed missed, and his spear was turned aside\nfrom him; but Pisander smote the shield of glorious Menelaus, nor could\nhe drive the spear quite through; because the broad shield kept it off,\nand the spear was broken at the extremity: still he rejoiced in his\nmind, and hoped for victory. The son of Atreus, however, drawing his\nsilver-studded sword, sprang upon Pisander; but he drew from beneath\nhis shield a handsome battle-axe of well-wrought brass, fixed upon\neither side of an olive handle, long, well-polished; and at once they\nstruck each other. Then he (Pisander) cut away the cone of the helmet,\nthick with horse-hair, under the very crest, but (Menelaus smote) him,\napproaching, upon the forehead, above the root of the nose. And the\nbones crashed, and his blood-stained eyes fell at his feet upon the\nground in the dust: and falling, he writhed. Then he (Menelaus) placing\nhis heel upon his breast, despoiled him of his armour, and boasting,\nspoke [this] speech:\n\n\u201cThus, 438 then, shall ye abandon the ships of the Greeks, who possess\nswift steeds, ye treaty-breaking Trojans, insatiate of dire battle. Of\nother injury and disgrace ye indeed lack nothing with which ye have\ninjured me, vile dogs, nor have ye at all dreaded in your minds the\nheavy wrath of high-thundering, hospitable Jove, who will yet destroy\nfor you your lofty city; ye who unprovoked departed, carrying off my\nvirgin spouse, and much wealth, after ye had been hospitably received\nby her. Now again do ye eagerly desire to hurl destructive fire upon\nthe sea-traversing ships, and to slay the Grecian heroes. But ye shall\nyet be restrained, impetuous as ye be, from war. O father Jove,\nassuredly they say that thou excellest all others, men and gods, in\nprudence, yet from thee do all these things proceed. How much dost thou\ngratify these insolent Trojan men, whose violence is ever pernicious,\nand who cannot be satisfied with war, equally destructive to all! Of\nall things is there satiety,\u2014of sleep, of love, of sweet singing, and\nof faultless dancing, with which one would much more readily satisfy\nhis desire, than with war; but the Trojans are insatiate of battle.\u201d\n\nFootnote 438: (return)  _I.e._ by being slain one after another.\n\nSo saying, having stripped the bloody armour from the body, illustrious\nMenelaus gave it to his companions, whilst he, advancing, was again\nmixed with the foremost combatants. Then Harpalion, the son of king\nPyl\u00e6menes, who had then followed his dear father to wage war at Troy,\nleaped upon him; nor returned he back to his native land. [He it was]\nwho then, close at hand, struck the middle of Atrides\u2019 shield with his\nlance, nor was he able to drive quite through the brass; but he retired\nback into the crowd of his companions, avoiding death, looking around\non all sides, lest any one should touch his body 439 with a spear.\nMeriones, however, shot a brazen-pointed arrow at him retreating, and\nstruck him upon the right hip, and the arrow penetrated to the other\nside, through the bladder, below the bone. Sinking down, therefore, in\nthe same place, breathing out his life in the arms of his beloved\ncompanions, like a worm, he lay stretched upon the ground, whilst his\nblack blood flowed, and moistened the earth. Around him the magnanimous\nPaphlagonians were employed, and, lifting him upon a chariot, they bore\nhim to sacred Ilium, grieving; and with them went his father, shedding\ntears: but no vengeance was taken for his dead son.\n\nFootnote 439: (return)  As the usual construction of \u03ad\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c1\u03b5\u0390\u03bd is with a\ngenitive, Heyne would supply \u03bc\u03ae \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03ad\u03c0\u03b1\u03cd\u03c1\u03b7 \u03b1\u03cd\u03c4\u03bf\u03cd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03ac \u03c7\u03c1\u03cc\u03b1.\n\nBut Paris was greatly enraged in his soul on account of his being\nslain, for he had been his guest among many Paphlagonians; wherefore,\nenraged on his account, he sent forth a brazen arrow. Now there was one\nEuchenor, son of the diviner Poly\u00efdus, wealthy and brave, inhabiting a\ndwelling at Corinth, who, well knowing his fatal destiny, had arrived\nin a ship. For often had Poly\u00efdus, good old man, told him, that he\nwould perish in his halls of a grievous disease, or be subdued by the\nTrojans among the ships of the Greeks; wherefore he avoided at once the\nsevere mulct 440 of the Ach\u00e6ans, and odious disease, that he might not\nsuffer sorrows in his mind. Him he (Paris) smote below the jaw and the\near; and his spirit quickly departed from his members, and hateful\ndarkness seized him.\n\nThus indeed they fought like 441 unto a burning fire. But Hector, dear\nto Jove, had not learned, nor knew at all, how at the left of the ships\nhis people were being slaughtered by the Greeks, for the victory was on\nthe point of being the Grecians\u2019; so much did earth-shaking Neptune\nencourage the Greeks, and moreover himself assisted with his strength;\nbut he (Hector) pressed on where first he had sprung within the gates\nand wall, breaking the thick ranks of the shielded Greeks. There were\nthe ships of Ajax and Protesilaus, drawn up upon the shore of the hoary\nsea; but above 442 them the wall was built very low; there themselves\nand their horses were most impetuous in the combat. There 443 the\nB\u0153otians and long-robed Iaonians, the Locrians, the Phthians, and the\nillustrious Epeans, restrained him from the ships, fiercely rushing on;\nbut were unable to drive away from them noble Hector, like unto a\nflame. The chosen men of the Athenians stood in the van; among whom\nMenestheus, son of Peteus, had the command; and with him followed\nPhidas, Stichius, and brave Bias, Meges, the son of Phyieus, Amphion,\nand Dracius, led the Epeans, and over the Phthians were Medon and\nPodarces, steady in fight (Medon indeed was the spurious offspring of\ngodlike O\u00efleus, and the brother of Ajax; but he dwelt at Phylace, away\nfrom his native country, 444 having slain a man, the brother of his\nstepmother Eriopis, whom O\u00efleus had married. But the other was the son\nof Iphiclus, of Phylace). These in arms before the magnanimous\nPhthians, fought among the B\u0153otians, defending the ships.\n\nFootnote 440: (return)  As Corinth was under the authority of\nAgamemnon, he would have been compelled to pay a fine for refusing the\nservice. Compare the \u1f00\u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03af\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 at Athens. See Potter,\nAntiq. i. 23.\n\nFootnote 441: (return)  Cf. xi. 595, with the note.\n\nFootnote 442: (return)  _I.e._ before them.\n\nFootnote 443: (return)  _I.e._ where Hector broke in.\n\nFootnote 444: (return)  See my note on ii. p. 42, n. 2.\n\nBut Ajax, the swift son of O\u00efleus, never separated from Telamonian\nAjax, not even for a little time; but as in a fallow field two black\nbullocks possessing equal spirit, draw a well-joined plough,\u2014but\nmeanwhile copious sweat breaks forth around the roots of their horns;\nand them the well-polished yoke alone separates on either side,\nadvancing along the furrows, and [the plough] cuts 445 up the bottom of\nthe soil; so they twain, joined together, stood very near to each\nother. And then many and brave troops followed the son of Telamon as\ncompanions, who received from him his shield, whenever fatigue and\nsweat came upon his limbs. But the Locrians followed not the\ngreat-souled son of O\u00efleus, for their heart remained not firm to them\nin the standing fight, because they had not brazen helmets crested with\nhorse-hair, nor had they well-orbed shields and ashen spears; but they\nfollowed along with him to Ilium, trusting in the bows and the\nwell-twisted sheep\u2019s wool, with which, frequently hurling, they broke\nthe phalanxes of the Trojans. At that time indeed these (the Ajaces) in\nthe van, with their variously-wrought armour, fought against the\nTrojans and brazen-armed Hector, whilst (the Locrians) shooting from\nthe rear, lay concealed; nor were the Trojans any longer mindful of\ncombat, for the arrows put them in confusion.\n\nThen surely would the Trojans have retreated with loss from the ships\nand tents to lofty Ilium, had not Polydamas, standing near, addressed\nbold Hector:\n\n\u201cHector, thou art impossible to be persuaded by advice. 446 Because\nindeed a god hath given thee, above others, warlike deeds, for this\nreason dost thou also desire to be more skilled than others in counsel?\nBut by no means canst thou thyself obtain all things at once. 447 To\none indeed hath the deity given warlike deeds; to another dancing; and\nto another the harp and singing. To another again far-sounding Jove\nimplants a prudent mind in his bosom, of which many men reap the\nadvantage, as it (prudence) even preserves cities; and he himself (who\npossesses it) especially knows (its value). Yet will I speak as appears\nto me best; because the encircling host 448 of war burns round thee on\nall sides, and the magnanimous Trojans, since they have crossed the\nwalls, some indeed stand apart with their arms, and others fight, the\nfewer against the greater number, scattered amongst the ships. But\nretiring back, summon hither all the chiefs. And then we can better\ndiscuss the whole plan; whether we shall enter upon the many-benched\nships, if indeed the deity will give us victory; or depart uninjured\nfrom the barks; because of a truth I fear lest the Greeks repay their\ndebt of yesterday, since a man, insatiate in war, still remains at the\nships, who I conceive will no longer abstain entirely from battle.\u201d\nThus spoke Polydamas, but the faultless advice pleased Hector; and\nimmediately he leaped with his armour from his chariot to the ground,\nand, addressing him, spoke winged words:\n\nFootnote 445: (return)  \u03a4\u03ad\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9 refers to \u1f04\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd in v. 703, not to\n\u03b6\u03c5\u03b3\u03cc\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 446: (return)  Put for \u1f00\u03bc\u03ae\u03c7\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc\u03bd \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b5\u03af\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03c3\u03b5.\n\nFootnote 447: (return)  A favourite proverb. Cf. Duport, Gnom. p. 81.\n\nFootnote 448: (return)  So \u201ccorona,\u201d in Latin.\n\n\u201cPolydamas, do thou retain here all the bravest, whilst I will come\nback again immediately after I have given proper orders to the\n[troops].\u201d He said, and shouting, he rushed on, like unto a snowy\nmountain, and flew through the Trojans and the allies. But they all\ncrowded round valour-loving Polydamas, the son of Panthous, as soon as\nthey heard the voice of Hector. He, however, ranged through the\nforemost combatants, seeking if he could anywhere find De\u00efphobus, the\nmight of king Helenus, and Adamas, the son of Asias, and Asius, the son\nof Hyrtacus. Some he found no longer quite unhurt, nor yet destroyed,\nwhilst others again lay at the sterns of the ships of the Greeks,\nhaving lost their lives by the hands of the Greeks; and others were\nstricken or wounded within the wall. But he quickly found noble\nAlexander, the husband of fair-haired Helen, on the left of the\nlamentable battle, cheering of his companions, and encouraging them to\nfight; and, standing near, he addressed him with reproachful words:\n\n\u201cAccursed Paris, fine only in person, woman-mad, seducer, where are\nDe\u00efphobus and the might of king Helenus, and Adamas, the son of Asias,\nand Asius, the son of Hyrtacus? Where also is Othryoneus? Now lofty\nIlium all perishes from its summit, 449 now is its final destruction\ncertain.\u201d\n\nFootnote 449: (return)  The Latin \u201ca culmine,\u201d as in Virg. \u00c6n. ii. 290,\n603. So \u00c6sch.\n\nBut him godlike Alexander in turn addressed: \u201cHector, since it is thy\nintention to find fault with me when innocent, at some other time\nperhaps, I may be more neglectful of the fight; [but not now], since\nneither did my mother bear me altogether unwarlike. For from the time\nwhen thou didst stir up the battle of thy companions at the ships, from\nthat time, remaining here, have we engaged incessantly with the Greeks;\nand those comrades are dead for whom thou inquirest. De\u00efphobus and the\nmight of king Helenus alone have withdrawn, both wounded in the hand\nwith long spears; but the son of Saturn hath warded off death [from\nthem]. But now lead on, wheresoever thy heart and soul urge thee; and\nwe will follow with determined minds, nor do I think that thou wilt be\nat all in want of valour, as much strength as is in us. It is not\npossible even for one, although keenly desirous, to fight beyond his\nstrength.\u201d\n\nSo saying, the hero persuaded the mind of his brother, and they\nhastened to advance towards that place where especially was the battle\nand contest; round Cebriones and excellent Polydamas, Phalces and\nOrth\u00e6us, and godlike Polyph\u0153tes, and Palmys, and Ascanius and Morys,\nthe sons of Hippotion, who the day before had come as a relief guard\n450 from fertile Ascania: and Jove then urged them to fight. But they\nmarched like unto the blast of boisterous winds, which rushes down to\nthe plain, urged by the thunder of father Jove, and with a dreadful\ntumult 451 is mingled with the ocean; and in it [rise] many boiling\nbillows of the much-resounding sea, swollen, whitened with foam, first\nindeed some and then others following.\n\nFootnote 450: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 358. Choeph. 679: \u039a\u03b1\u03c4\u2019\n\u1f04\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ad\u03bd\u03b8\u03ac\u03b4\u2019 \u1f61\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b8\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1. Soph. Ant. 206: \u1f28\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u03c0\u03c5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03c1\u1fc6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u2019 \u1f04\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2. Eurip. Ph\u0153n. 1192: \u039a\u03b1\u03c4\u2019 \u1f04\u03ba\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03ac\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd \u1f11\u03bb\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd \u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03b9\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 451: (return)   \u03bf\u03bb\u03ad\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac\u03b4\u03bf\u03c7\u03bf\u03b9, \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2\n\u1f37\u03c3\u03bf\u03b9.\u2014Eustathius.\n\nSo the Trojans, first indeed some in battle array, and then others\nglittering in brass, followed along with their leaders. But Hector, the\nson of Priam, equal to man-slaughtering Mars, led the van, and held\nbefore him his shield, equal on all sides, thick with skins; and much\nbrass was laid over it: and round his temples his gleaming helmet was\nshaken. Stepping forward, he tried the phalanxes around on every side,\nif perchance they would give way to him, advancing under cover of his\nshield. Yet he disturbed not the courage of the Greeks in their\nbreasts: but Ajax, far-striding, first challenged him:\n\n\u201cO noble Sir, draw nearer: why dost thou thus frighten the Greeks? We\nGreeks are by no means unskilful in battle, although we are subdued by\nthe evil scourge 452 of Jove. Thy soul, forsooth, hopes, I suppose, to\nplunder the ships; but we also have hands ready to repulse thee\nimmediately. Assuredly, long before shall thy well-inhabited city be\ntaken and destroyed by our hands. But to thee thyself, I say, the time\ndraws near, when, flying, thou shalt pray to father Jove and the other\nimmortals, that thy fair-maned steeds, which shall bear thee to the\ncity, raising dust over the plain, may become swifter than hawks.\u201d\n\nFootnote 452: (return)  See note on xii. 37.\n\nWhilst he was thus speaking, a bird flew over him on the right\u2014a\nlofty-flying eagle; upon which the people of the Greeks shouted,\nencouraged by the omen; but illustrious Hector replied:\n\n\u201cO babbling and vain-boasting Ajax, what hast thou said? Would that I\nwere as sure of becoming for ever the child of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, that\nthe venerable Juno had borne me, and that I were honoured as Minerva\nand Apollo are honoured, as that this day now certainly brings\ndestruction upon all the Greeks; and among others thou shalt be slain,\nif thou wilt dare to abide my long spear, which shall tear for thee thy\ndainty person, and thou shalt satiate the dogs and birds of the Trojans\nwith thy fat and flesh, falling at the ships of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, he led on; and they followed along with him\nwith a mighty shout, and the troops likewise shouted in the rear. The\nGreeks, on the other side, raised a shout, nor were they forgetful of\ntheir valour, but they awaited the bravest of the Trojans, assaulting.\nBut the clamour of both reached to the \u00e6ther and the shining splendour\n453 of Jove.\n\nFootnote 453: (return)  Cf. Pind. Ol. iii. 43: \u0391\u1f50\u03b3\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f01\u03bb\u03af\u03bf\u03c5. So \u201cauras\n\u00e6therias,\u201d Virg. Georg. ii. 291. Lucret. i. 208, \u201cDias-luminis\nauras.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE FOURTEENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nAgamemnon and the other wounded chiefs visit the battle with Nestor.\nJuno, having borrowed the cestus of Venus, first obtains the assistance\nof Sleep, and then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails, Jove\nsleeps, and Neptune seizes the opportunity to aid the Trojans.\n\n\nBut the shouting did not entirely escape the notice of Nestor, although\ndrinking, but he addressed winged words to the son of \u00c6sculapius:\n\u201cConsider, noble Machaon, how these things will be; greater, certainly,\n[grows] the shouting of the blooming youths at the ships. But sitting\nhere at present, drink indeed the dark wine, until fair-haired Hecamede\nhas warmed the tepid baths, and washed away the bloody gore; whilst I,\ngoing with speed to a watchtower, will gain information.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he took the well-made shield of his own son, horse-breaking\nThrasymedes, [which was] lying in the tent, all shining with brass (for\nhe had the shield of his sire); and seized a strong spear, pointed with\nsharp brass; and stood without the tent, and soon beheld an unseemly\ndeed,\u2014these [the Greeks] in confusion, and those, the haughty Trojans,\nrouting them in the rear; but the wall of the Greeks had fallen. And as\nwhen the vast deep blackens with the noiseless 454 wave, foreboding\nwith no effect, the rapid courses of the shrill blasts, nor yet is it\nrolled forwards or backwards, before some decisive blast comes down\nfrom Jove: so meditated the old man, distracted in his mind between two\nopinions: whether he should go amongst the throng of fleet-horsed\nGreeks, or to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, shepherd of the people. But\nto him thus reflecting, it appeared better to go in quest of the son of\nAtreus. Meanwhile they kept slaughtering each other, contending, and\nthe solid brass around their bodies rang, as they were stricken with\nthe swords and two-edged spears.\n\nFootnote 454: (return)  Literally, \u201cdeaf.\u201d So \u201csurdi fluctus,\u201d Ovid,\nEpist. xviii. 211; \u201cOmnia surda tacent,\u201d Propert. iv. 3, 53; \u201cSurdaque\nvota condidit Ionio,\u201d Pers. Sat. vi. 28.\n\nBut the Jove-cherished kings, coming up from the vessels, met Nestor,\nas many as had been wounded with the brass,\u2014Tydides, and Ulysses, and\nAgamemnon, the son of Atreus. Their ships indeed were drawn up upon the\nshore of the hoary deep, very far away from the battle; for they had\ndrawn the first as far as the plain, and had built a wall at their\nsterns. For, broad as it was, the shore was by no means able to contain\ntheir vessels, and the people were crowded. Wherefore they drew them up\nin rows one behind the other, and filled the wide mouth of the whole\nshore, as much as the promontories enclosed. There then were they\nwalking together, leaning upon the spear, in order to behold the tumult\nand the battle; and the heart in their bosoms was grieved. But aged\nNestor met them, and terrified the souls in the breasts of the Greeks:\nwhom first king Agamemnon addressing, said:\n\n\u201cO Nele\u00efan Nestor, great glory of the Greeks, why, leaving the\nman-destroying battle, comest thou hither? Truly I fear lest impetuous\nHector make good his speech, as once he threatened, haranguing among\nthe Trojans, that he would not return to Ilium from the ships, before\nthat he had burned the ships with fire, and slain us also: thus indeed\nhe harangued; and now are all things fulfilling. Ye gods, surely the\nother well-greaved Greeks, as well as Achilles, store up wrath against\nme in their minds; nor are they willing to fight at the sterns of the\nships.\u201d\n\nBut him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: \u201cAssuredly these\nthings are in active accomplishment, nor could even lofty-thundering\nJove himself contrive them otherwise; for the wall, in which we trusted\nthat it would be an impregnable defence to the ships and to ourselves,\nhas now fallen. But they are sustaining an obstinate contest at the\nswift ships; nor couldst thou any longer distinguish, though examining\nparticularly, on which side the Greeks, confounded, are routed; so\npromiscuously are they slain, whilst the shout reaches heaven. Let us,\nhowever, deliberate how these things will be, if counsel avail\nanything; although I advise not that we enter the battle; for it is by\nno means proper that a wounded man should fight.\u201d\n\nBut him then answered Agamemnon, king of men. \u201cNestor, since they are\ncombating at the sterns of the ships, and the constructed rampart\navails not, nor the ditch, at which the Greeks suffered much, and hoped\nin their minds that it would be an impregnable defence to the ships and\nto themselves, surely it will be agreeable to all-powerful Jove that\nthe Greeks perish here, inglorious, far away from Argos. For I was\nconscious when he willingly gave assistance to the Greeks, and I now\nknow that he honours those [the Trojans] equally with the happy gods,\nbut hath fettered our courage and our hands. But come, let us all obey\nas I shall advise. Let us draw down the ships, as many as are drawn up\nfirst near the sea, and launch them all into the vast ocean. Let us\nmoor them at anchor in the deep, till mortal-deceiving 455 night\narrive, if even then the Trojans may abstain from battle, and then we\nmay perhaps draw down all the vessels; for there is no disgrace in\nflying from evil, not even during the night. It is better for a flying\nman to escape from evil, than to be taken.\u201d\n\nFootnote 455: (return)  \u2018\u0391\u03b2\u03c1\u03cc\u03c4\u03b7 is akin to \u1f24\u03bc\u03b2\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd from \u03ac\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9, and\ntherefore = \u201cmaking mortals go astray,\u201d or else = \u03ac\u03bc\u03b2\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03b9\u03b7 in ii. 57.\nSee Buttm. Lexil. p. 82. Or it may be regarded as the \u201cnox intempesta,\u201d\n_i.e._ \u201cmuita nox, qua nihil agi tempestivum est,\u201d Censorinus de Die\nNat. xxiv.\n\nBut him sternly regarding, wise Ulysses then addressed: \u201cSon of Atreus,\nwhat speech hath escaped thy lips? Lost man! thou shouldst command some\nworthless army, and not rule over us, to whom Jove hath granted, from\nyouth even unto old age, to accomplish toilsome wars, until we, each of\nus, shall perish. Dost thou then desire thus to leave wide-wayed Troy,\non account of which we have endured so many woes? Be silent, lest some\nother of the Greeks hear a speech, which a man ought not to have\nbrought through his mouth, whoever understands in his mind how to speak\nprudent things, who is a sceptre-bearer, and whom so many people obey,\nas many as thou dost govern among the Greeks. For now do I reprobate\nthy judgment, in what thou hast said; who commandest us, whilst the war\nand battle are waged, to draw down the well-benched ships to the sea,\nin order that the wishes of the Trojans may be still better fulfilled,\nvictorious though they be, and dire destruction fall upon us: for the\nGreeks will not maintain the fight whilst the ships are being dragged\nto the sea, but will look back, and retire from the combat. Then will\nthy counsel be injurious, O leader of the people.\u201d\n\nBut him Agamemnon, the king of men, then answered: \u201cMuch, O Ulysses,\nhast thou touched me to the soul with thy severe reproof; yet I\ncommanded not the sons of the Greeks against their will to draw the\nwell-benched ships down to the sea. But now would that there were one,\neither young or old, who would deliver an opinion better than this; it\nwould be to my joy.\u201d 456\n\nBut among them Diomede, valiant in the din of battle, also spoke: \u201cThe\nman is near, we need not seek far, if indeed ye are willing to be\npersuaded; and do not find fault each through wrath, because I am by\nbirth the youngest amongst you; for I boast that my race is from a\nnoble sire, Tydeus, whom the heaped-up earth 457 covers at Thebes. For\nto Portheus were born three distinguished sons, and they dwelt in\nPleuron and lofty Calydon: Agrius and Melas, but the third was the\nknight \u0152neus, the father of my father, who was conspicuous among them\nfor valour. He indeed remained there, but my father, as an exile, dwelt\nat Argos, for so Jove willed and the other gods. But he married [one]\nof the daughters 458 of Adrastus, and he inhabited a mansion opulent in\nresources, and corn-bearing fields were his in abundance, and there\nwere many rows 459 of plants around him. Numerous were his herds, and\nhe surpassed the Greeks in the use of the spear; but these things ye\nought to know, since it is a truth. Do not, therefore, dispute the\nopinion freely delivered, which I give advisedly, deeming that I am\nbase by birth, and unwarlike. Come, then, let us go to battle, wounded\nas we are, from necessity. There, then, let us ourselves approach the\ncombat, out [of the reach] of weapons, lest any one receive wound upon\nwound; and, encouraging others, we will urge them on, who hitherto,\ngratifying their souls, have stood apart, nor fought.\u201d\n\nFootnote 456: (return)  For this use of the dative, cf. Plato Ph\u00e6don, \u00a7\n24. So Tacit. Agric. \u201cQuibus bellum volentibus erat.\u201d\u2014Kennedy. Cf.\n\u00c6sch. Prom. s.i., \u1f00\u03c3\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u1ff3 \u03b4\u03ad \u03c3\u03bf\u03b9 \u1f29 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ba\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd \u03bd\u1fe6\u03b6 \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03ba\u03c1\u03cd\u03c8\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c6\u03ac\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 457: (return)  See my note on Od. ii. p. 21, n. 35, ed. Bohn,\nand an admirable dissertation on these classic barrow-tombs in\nStephen\u2019s notes on Saxo-Grammaticus, pp. 90-92.\n\nFootnote 458: (return)  Deipyle. See Scholiast.\n\nFootnote 459: (return)  Not \u201cgardens.\u201d Schol. Theocrit. i. 48. \u1f4c\u03c1\u03c7\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd \u03c6\u03c5\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03bd ... \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u0391\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c6\u03ac\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03be\u1f7a \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c6\u03c5\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd\n\u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03cc\u03c1\u03c7\u03bc\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u1f10\u03ba\u03ac\u03bb\u03b5\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2\u2019 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f29\u03c3\u03af\u03bf\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f44\u03c1\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd \u03bb\u03ad\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd\n\u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03bc\u03c0\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03c6\u03c5\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03bd. Cf. Schol. on Lycophr. 857; Hesych. t.\nii. p. 792.\n\nThus he spoke; and to him they all listened readily, and obeyed.\nWherefore they hastened to advance, and the king of men, Agamemnon, led\nthem.\n\nNor did the illustrious Earth-shaker keep a negligent look-out, but he\nwent amongst them like unto an aged man, and he caught the right hand\nof Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, and addressing him, spoke winged\nwords:\n\n\u201cSon of Atreus, now perchance the revengeful heart of Achilles rejoices\nin his breast, beholding the slaughter and rout of the Greeks; since\nthere is no feeling in him, not even a little. May he, however, thus\nperish, and may a god cover him with disgrace. But with thee the\nblessed gods are not yet altogether enraged, but again the leaders and\nchiefs of the Trojans will perchance raise the dust upon the wide\nplain, and thou wilt behold them flying towards the city from the ships\nand the tents.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he shouted aloud, rushing over the plain. As loud as nine or\nten thousand men shout, beginning the contest of Mars, so loud a cry\ndid king Neptune send forth from his breast; and he cast great\nresolution into every heart among the Greeks, to war and to fight\nincessantly.\n\nBut golden-throned Juno, standing, looked down with her eyes from the\nsummit of Olympus, and immediately recognized her own brother, [who\nwas] also her brother-in-law, exerting himself through the glorious\nbattle, and she rejoiced in her mind. She also beheld Jove sitting upon\nthe highest top of many-rilled Ida, and he was hateful to her soul.\nThen the venerable large-eyed Juno next anxiously considered how she\ncould beguile the mind of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove. And now this plan appeared\nbest to her mind, to proceed to Ida, having well arrayed herself, if\nperchance he might desire to lie beside her form 460 in dalliance, so\nthat she might pour upon his eyelids and vigilant mind careless and\ngenial sleep. And she proceeded to her chamber, which Vulcan, her dear\nson, had made for her, and had fitted the thick doors to the lintels\nwith a secret bolt; 461 and this no other god could remove. There\nentering in, she closed the shining doors. First she washed all\nimpurities from her lovely person with rich oil, ambrosial, 462 and\nanointed herself with rich oil, ambrosial and agreeable, 463 which was\nodoriferous to her; and the perfume of which, when shaken in the\nbrazen-floored 464 mansion of Jove, reached even to earth and to\nheaven. With this having anointed her body, and having also combed her\nhair, with her hands she arranged her shining locks, beautiful,\nambrosial, [which flowed] from her immortal head. Next she threw around\nher an ambrosial robe, which Minerva had wrought 465 for her in\nneedlework, and had embroidered much varied work upon it, and she\nfastened it upon her breast with golden clasps. Then she girded herself\nwith a zone, adorned with a hundred fringes, and in her well-perforated\nears placed her triple-gemmed, elaborate, 466earrings, and much grace\nshone from [her]. From above she, divine of goddesses, covered herself\nwith a veil, beautiful, newly wrought, and it was bright as the sun;\nand beneath her shining feet she fastened her beautiful sandals. But\nwhen she had arranged all her ornaments around her person, she\nproceeded straight from her chamber; and having called Venus apart from\nthe other gods, addressed her in speech:\n\nFootnote 460: (return)  Construe \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b8\u03ad\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u1f96 \u03c7\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u1fc7.\n\nFootnote 461: (return)  Respecting the different meanings of \u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u1f76\u03c2, see\nKennedy.\n\nFootnote 462: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p 81, 3.\n\nFootnote 463: (return)  Buttmann, p. 242, regards \u03ad\u03b4\u03b1\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2 as \u201cperhaps a\nstronger and higher meaning of \u1f10\u03cc\u03c2, or \u1f12\u03cc\u03c2, _good_, which may be\ncompared with \u03bf\u1f50\u03c4\u03b9\u03b4\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc\u03c2, \u03bc\u03b7\u03ba\u03b5\u03b4\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc\u03c2.\u201d\n\nFootnote 464: (return)  See my note on Od. ii. 2.\n\nFootnote 465: (return)  \u201cThe proper sense of \u1f14\u03be\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5 is, _scraped_ or\n_rubbed over_ and its use here is best explained by supposing a\nreference to some process among the ancients whereby a shining\nappearance was given to their vestments, as by _calendering_ or\n_glazing_ with us.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 466: (return)  \u039c\u03bf\u03c1\u03cc\u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1, \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u1f03 \u1f10\u03bc\u03cc\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u1f41 \u03c4\u03b5\u03c7\u03bd\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2.\u2014Schol.\n\n\u201cWilt thou now be at all obedient to me, dear child, in what I shall\nsay? Or wilt thou refuse, enraged in thy mind on this account, because\nI aid the Greeks whilst thou [aidest] the Trojans?\u201d\n\nBut her Venus, the daughter of Jove, then answered: \u201cJuno, venerable\ngoddess, daughter of mighty Saturn, declare whatsoever thou dost\nmeditate; for my mind urges me to accomplish it, if indeed I can\naccomplish it, and if it be practicable.\u201d\n\nBut her the venerable Juno, meditating guile, addressed: \u201cGive now to\nme that loveliness and desire with which thou dost subdue all,\nimmortals, and mortal men; for I go to visit the limits of the fertile\nearth, and Oceanus, the parent of the gods, and mother Tethys; who,\nreceiving me from Rhea, nurtured and educated me with care in their\nabodes, when far-resounding Jove cast down Saturn beneath the earth and\nthe fruitless sea. These I go to visit, and I will put an end to\neternal quarrels. 467 For already have they abstained for a length of\ntime from the couch and embrace of each other, since anger fell upon\ntheir mind. But if, by persuading their hearts by my words, I should\nlead them back to the bed, to be united in love, then should I always\nbe called by them beloved and revered.\u201d\n\nFootnote 467: (return)  These passages were regarded by the ancients as\nreferring to the perpetual strife of the elements. Thus Plato, in\nThe\u00e6tet. says: \u1f4d\u03bc\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c0\u1f7c\u03bd, \u1f68\u03ba\u03b5\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc\u03bd \u03c4\u03b5 \u03b8\u03b5\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bc\u03b7\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1 \u03a4\u03b7\u03b8\u1f7a\u03bd,\n\u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b5\u1f34\u03c1\u03b7\u03ba\u03b5\u03bd \u1f14\u03ba\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c1\u03bf\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2. See Sextus Empir. adv.\nGrammat. i. 13, p. 280, ed. Fabr.; Stob\u00e6us, Ecl. i. 11. Grote, vol. i.\np. 16, note, observes that, \u201cOceanus and Tethys seem to be presented in\nthe Iliad as the primitive father and mother of the gods,\u201d although he\nsays that \u201cUranos and G\u00e6a, like Oceanus, Tethys, and Nyx, are with\nHomer great and venerable gods, but neither the one nor the other\npresent the character of predecessors of Kronos and Zeus.\u201d\n\nBut her laughter-loving Venus in turn addressed: \u201cIt is not possible\nnor becoming to refuse thy request, for thou reclinest in the arms of\nmightiest Jove.\u201d\n\nShe said, and loosed from her bosom the embroidered, variegated cestus;\n468 where all allurements were enclosed. In it were love, and desire,\nconverse, seductive speech, which steals away the mind even of the very\nprudent. This then she placed in her hands, spoke, and addressed her:\n\n\u201cTake 469 this, now place in thy bosom this variegated belt, in which\nall things are contained; and I think that thou wilt not return with\nthy object unaccomplished, whatsoever thou desirest in thy mind.\u201d\n\nFootnote 468: (return)  I have avoided translating \u201ccestus,\u201d as it is\nvery doubtful what is meant by it. It could not have been an ordinary\ngirdle, since it was to be hidden in the bosom (ver. 219), and since\nits power appears to have been secret. See Heyne\u2019s note.\n\nFootnote 469: (return)  \u03a4\u1fc6 is an old imperative from a root \u03a4\u0391\u2014\u201cformed\nlike \u03b6\u1fc6\u03bd, according to Doric analogy.... In all cases it stands either\nquite absolute, that is, with the object understood, or the accusative\nbelongs to a verb immediately following.\u201d\u2014Buttm. Lexil. pp. 505, sq.\n\nThus she spake, and the large-eyed, venerable Juno smiled, and smiling,\nthen placed it in her bosom. But Venus, the daughter of Jove, departed\nto the palace; and Juno, hastening, quitted the summit of Olympus, and,\nhaving passed over Pieria and fertile Emathia, she hastened over the\nsnowy mountains of equestrian Thrace, most lofty summits, nor did she\ntouch the ground with her feet. From Athos she descended to the foaming\ndeep, and came to Lemnos, the city of divine Thoas, where she met\nSleep, the brother of Death; to whose hand she then clung, and spoke,\nand addressed him:\n\n\u201cO Sleep, 470 king of all gods and all men, 471 if ever indeed thou\ndidst listen to my entreaty, now too be persuaded; and I will\nacknowledge gratitude to thee all my days. Close immediately in sleep\nfor me the bright eyes of Jove under his eyelids, after I couch with\nhim in love; and I will give thee, as gifts, a handsome golden throne,\nfor ever incorruptible. And my limping son, Vulcan, adorning it, shall\nmake it, and below thy feet he shall place a footstool, upon which thou\nmayest rest thy shining feet while feasting.\u201d\n\nFootnote 470: (return)  Cf. Hesiod, Theog. 214. The dying words of\nGorgias of Leontium are very elegant: \u1f2c\u03b4\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b5 \u1f41 \u1f55\u03c0\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f04\u03c1\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c4\u03af\u03b8\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1ff6 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u1ff3.\u2014\u00c6lian, Var. Hist. ii. 35.\n\nFootnote 471: (return)  So in the Orphic hymn: \u1f5d\u03c0\u03bd\u03b5, \u1f04\u03bd\u03b1\u03be \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd\n\u03bc\u03b1\u03ba\u03ac\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd \u03b8\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c4\u2019 \u03ac\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd.\n\nBut her sweet Sleep answering, addressed: \u201cJuno, venerable goddess,\ndaughter of great Saturn, any other of the everlasting gods could I\neasily lull to sleep, and even the flowing of rapid Ocean, who is the\nparent of all; but I could not approach Saturnian Jove, nor lull him to\nsleep, unless, at least, he himself command me. For once already, at\nleast, has he terrified me by his threats, on that day when the\nmagnanimous son of Jove (Hercules) sailed from Ilium, having sacked the\ncity of the Trojans. Then I lulled the mind of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, being\npoured gently around him, whilst thou wast planning evils in thy mind\n[against the hero], rousing the blasts of bitter winds over the deep;\nand thou didst afterwards carry him away apart from all his friends to\nwell-inhabited Cos. But he, when awakened, was enraged, hurling about\nthe gods through his mansion, and me chiefly of all he sought, and\nwould have cast me down, a lost one, from the \u00e6ther into the deep, had\nnot Night, vanquisher of gods and men, preserved me, to whom I came\nflying. So he restrained himself, angry as he was; for he dreaded lest\nhe should do things which were disagreeable to swift 472 Night. And now\nagain dost thou urge me to perform this another dangerous deed.\u201d\n\nBut him the venerable large-eyed Juno in turn answered: \u201c\u039f Sleep, why\nthinkest thou these things within thy mind? Canst thou suppose that\nfar-sounding Jove favours the Trojans, as he was enraged on account of\nHercules, his own son? But come, [do this], and I will give thee one of\nthe younger Graces to wed, and to be called thy spouse, Pasithea, 473\nwhom thou fondly desirest day after day.\u201d\n\nFootnote 472: (return)  But see Buttm. Lexil. p. 369. Translate, \u201cquick\nand fearful night.\u201d\n\nFootnote 473: (return)  The most beautiful of the Graces,\u2014\u201cblandarum\nprima sororum,\u201d according to Statius, Theb. ii. 286. Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. i.\n267, sqq.\n\nThus she spoke; but Sleep was delighted, and, answering, addressed her:\n\u201cCome now, swear to me by the inviolable water of the Styx, and touch\nwith one hand the fertile earth, and with the other the marble sea; so\nthat all the gods beneath, around Saturn, may be witnesses between us,\nthat thou wilt surely give me one of the younger Graces, Pasithea, whom\nI will desire all my days.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey, but she\nswore as he desired, and named all gods who dwell under Tartarus, which\nare called Titans. 474 When then she had sworn, and performed her oath,\nthey both proceeded, leaving the city of Lemnos and Imbrus, mantled in\nhaze, quickly making their way; and they came to Ida of many rills, the\nmother of wild beasts, to Lectos, where first they quitted the sea: but\nthey both advanced over the land, and the summit of the wood was shaken\nbeneath their feet. There Sleep on his part remained, before the eyes\nof Jove should perceive him; ascending a lofty fir, which then growing\nthe highest upon Ida, sprung up through the air to the clouds. There he\nsat, thickly covered with the fir branches, like unto a shrill bird,\nwhich, living in the mountains, the gods call Chalcis, and men\nCymindis.\n\nFootnote 474: (return)  On this oath, see Grote, vol. i. p. 17.\n\nBut Juno proceeded hastily to Gargarus, the summit of lofty Ida, and\ncloud-compelling Jove beheld her. But the instant he beheld her, that\ninstant 475 desire entirely shadowed around his august mind, just as\nwhen they first were united in love, retiring to the bed, without the\nknowledge of their dear parents. And he stood before her, and spoke,\nand addressed her:\n\n\u201cWherefore hastening from Olympus, Juno, comest thou hither, but thy\nhorses and chariot are not near, which thou mayest ascend.\u201d\n\nFootnote 475: (return)  Cf. Theocrit. ii. 82: \u1f69\u03c2 \u1f34\u03b4\u03bf\u03bd, \u03ce\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bc\u03ac\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd, \u03ce\u03c2\n\u03bc\u03b5\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f34\u03ac\u03c6\u03b8\u03b7. iii. 42: \u1f69\u03c2 \u1f34\u03b4\u03bf\u03bd, \u1f61\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bc\u03ac\u03bd\u03b7. Ovid, Epist. xii. 33:\n\u201cUt vidi, ut perii, nec notis ignibus arsi.\u201d\n\nBut him the venerable Juno, meditating guiles, addressed; \u201cI go to\nvisit the limits of the fertile earth, and Oceanus, the parent of the\ngods, and mother Tethys, who nurtured and trained me with care in their\npalaces. Them I go to see, and will take away their bitter quarrels.\nFor already they abstain a long while from the couch and embrace of\neach other; since anger has invaded their minds. But my steeds, which\nwill bear me over dry and wet, stand near the base of Ida with many\nrills. Now, however, on thy account have I come hither from Olympus,\nlest perchance thou shouldst afterwards be angry with me, were I to\ndepart in secret to the abode of deep-flowing Oceanus?\u201d\n\nBut her cloud-collecting Jove answering, addressed: \u201cJuno, thither thou\ncanst go even by-and-by, but come [now], let us, reclining, be\ndelighted with love; for never at any time did the love of a goddess or\na woman, poured around the heart within my breast, so subdue me:\nneither when I loved the wife of Ixion, who bore Pirithous, a\ncounsellor equal to the gods; nor when [I loved] fair-ankled Dana\u00eb, the\ndaughter of Acrisius, who bore Perseus, most illustrious of all men;\nnor when with that of the celebrated daughter of Phoenix, 476 who bore\nto me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthus: 477 nor yet when [I loved]\nSemele, nor Alcmena in Thebes, who brought forth my valiant son\nHercules: but Semele bore [me] Bacchus, a joy to mortals: nor when [I\nloved] Ceres, the fair-haired queen: nor when glorious Latona nor\nthyself; as I now love thee, and sweet desire seizes me.\u201d\n\nFootnote 476: (return)  But Europa is generally considered to be the\ndaughter of Agenor. See Grote, vol. i. p. 350.\n\nFootnote 477: (return)  On the career of Rhadamanthus, who is \u201cafter\ndeath promoted to an abode of undisturbed bliss in the Elysian plain at\nthe extremity of the earth,\u201d see Grote, vol. i. p. 300.\n\nBut him venerable Juno, meditating guiles, addressed: \u201cMost shameless\nson of Saturn, what word hast thou spoken? If now thou desire to\nrecline in love upon the summit of Ida, where all places are exposed,\nhow will it be, if any of the immortal gods should perceive us\nsleeping, and, going amongst all the gods, disclose it? I for my part\ncould never return to thy mansion, arising from the couch; for surely\nit would be unbecoming. But if in truth thou desirest it, and it be\nagreeable to thy soul, there is a chamber of thine which Vulcan, thy\nbeloved son, formed for thee, and fitted its secure doors to its\nlintels. Thither let us repair, about to recline, since an embrace is\nindeed thy desire.\u201d\n\nBut her cloud-collecting Jove, answering, addressed:\n\n\u201cFear not, O Juno, that any of either gods or men shall behold this.\nSuch a golden cloud will I spread around, that not even the Sun may see\nus through it, although his eye is very keen to behold.\u201d 478\n\nThus he spake, and the son of Saturn encircled his wife in his arms.\nAnd the divine earth produced 479 fresh herbage under them, the dewy\nlotus, and the crocus, and the hyacinth, close and soft, which elevated\nthem from the earth. Upon this [couch] they reclined, and clothed\nthemselves above with a beautiful golden cloud; and lucid dew-drops\nfell from it.\n\nFootnote 478: (return)  On the god H\u00ealios, and his overseeing\ninfluence, the student should compare Grote, vol. i. p. 466.\n\nFootnote 479: (return)  So Milton, describing the couch of our first\nparents, P. L. iv. 700:\u2014-\n\n         \u2014\u2014 \u201cunderfoot the violet,\n   Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay,\n   Broider\u2019d the ground.\u201d\n\n\nThus quietly slumbered the sire upon the summit of Gargarus, subdued by\nsleep and love, and held his spouse in his arms. But sweet Sleep\nhastened to run to the ships of the Greeks, that he might deliver a\nmessage to Neptune, the shaker of the earth. And, standing near, he\naddressed to him winged words:\n\n\u201cNow, Neptune, heartily give aid to the Greeks, and bestow glory upon\nthem, at least for a little, whilst yet Jove sleeps; since I have\nenveloped him in a veil 480 of soft slumber, and Juno hath deceived\n[him], that he might sleep in love.\u201d\n\nFootnote 480: (return)  Observe the force of \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03ba\u03ac\u03bb\u03c5\u03c8\u03b1.\n\nSo saying, he indeed departed to the illustrious tribes of men; but he\nstill more impelled [Neptune] to assist the Greeks, and immediately\nspringing forward far into the van, he exhorted them:\n\n\u201cO Greeks, yet again do we yield the victory to Hector, the son of\nPriam, that he may seize the ships and bear away glory? For so indeed\nhe supposes and boasts, because Achilles remains at the hollow ships,\nenraged at heart. However, there would not be a great need of him, if\nthe rest of us were incited to assist one another. But come? let us all\nobey as I shall advise. Let us, clad with shields, as many as are best\nand greatest in the army, who are covered as to our heads with\nglittering helmets, and hold the longest spears in our hands, advance,\nand I will lead the way; nor do I think that Hector, the son of Priam,\nwill await us, though very eager. Whatsoever man also is obstinate in\nthe fight, and bears but a small shield upon his shoulder, let him give\nit to an inferior man, and let him clothe himself in a larger shield.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they listened to him readily, and obeyed. The kings\nthemselves, Tydides, Ulysses, and Agamemnon, son of Atreus, marshalled\n[the troops], wounded as they were; and, going about among them all,\nexchanged their martial arms, the brave [soldier] put on the good\n[armour], and the worse they gave to the inferior man. But when they\nhad girded the splendid brass around their bodies, they began to\nadvance; and earth-shaking Neptune led them on, grasping in his firm\nhand a dreadful tapering sword, like unto a thunderbolt, with which\n[sword] it is not possible to engage in destructive battle, for the\nfear [of it] restrains men.\n\nOn the other side again illustrious Hector drew up the Trojans. Then\ntruly azure-haired Neptune and illustrious Hector drew forth the\nseverest struggle of war, the one indeed aiding the Trojans, and the\nother the Greeks. But the sea was dashed up to the tents and ships of\nthe Greeks and they engaged with a mighty shout. Not so loudly does the\nbillow of the ocean roar against the main land, when driven from the\ndeep by the rough blast of Boreas; nor so great is the crackling of\nblazing fire in the glens of a mountain, when it is raised aloft to\nconsume the wood; nor so loud howls the wind amidst the high-foliaged\noaks (which, in particular, loudly roars in its wrath), as was the cry\nof the Trojans and Greeks shouting dreadfully, when they rushed one\nupon the other.\n\nAt Ajax illustrious Hector first took aim with his spear, as he was\nturned right against him; nor did he miss. [He struck him] where the\ntwo belts were crossed upon his breast, both that of the shield and\nthat of the silver-studded sword; for these protected the tender skin:\nbut Hector was enraged because his swift weapon had fled from his hand\nin vain, and he retired back into the crowd of his companions, shunning\ndeath. At him then, retiring, mighty Telamonian Ajax [threw] with a\nstone, for [stones] in great numbers were rolled about among the feet\nof the combatants, props for the fleet barks; lifting up one of these,\nhe struck him upon the breast, above the orb of the shield, near the\nneck. And, throwing, he twirled it like a top, and it (the stone)\nrolled round on all sides. As when, beneath a violent stroke from\nfather Jove, an oak falls uprooted, and a terrible smell of sulphur\narises from it; but confidence no longer possesses the man, whosoever\nbeing near beholds it, because the thunderbolt of mighty Jove is\nterrible: so rapidly upon the ground fell the might of Hector in the\ndust. And he dropped his spear from his hand, his shield and helmet\nfollowed above him, and his armour, variegated with brass, rang upon\nhim. Then the sons of the Greeks, loudly shouting, rushed in, hoping to\ndraw him off, and they hurled numerous javelins; but no one was able\neither to strike from a distance, or to smite close at hand, the\nshepherd of the people, for the bravest [of the warriors], Polydamas,\n\u00c6neas, and noble Agenor, Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, and\nillustrious Glaucus, first threw themselves round him. And no one of\nthe rest neglected him, but they held their well-orbed shields before\nhim. But his companions, up-raising him in their hands, bore him out of\nthe conflict, till they reached his fleet horses, which stood for him\nin rear of the combat and the war, holding both the charioteer and the\nvariegated car; which then carried him towards the city, groaning\nheavily. 481\n\nFootnote 481: (return)  Milton, P.L. vi. 335:\u2014\n\n\u201cForthwith on all sides to his aid was run\n By angels many and strong, who interposed\n Defence, while others bore him on their shields\n Back to his chariot, where it stood retired\n From off the files of war; there they him laid,\n Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame.\u201d\n\n\nBut when now they came to the ford of the rapid-flowing current of\neddying Xanthus, whom immortal Jove begat, there they removed him from\nhis car to the ground, and poured water over him; but he breathed\nagain, and looked up with his eyes; and, sitting upon his knees,\ndisgorged black blood. Again he fell back upon the ground, and dark\nnight overshadowed his eyes; for the blow still subdued his spirits.\n\nBut when the Greeks saw Hector going apart, they pressed the more on\nthe Trojans, and were mindful of contest. Then swift O\u00eflean Ajax before\nothers, leaping forward with his fir-tree spear, wounded Satnius, son\nof Enops, whom a Naiad, the fairest nymph, bore to Enops, when keeping\nhis flocks by the banks of Satnio. Him the spear-renowned son of\nO\u00efleus, drawing near, wounded in the flank; but he fell supine, and\nround him the Trojans and Greeks engaged in a valiant battle. But to\nhim spear-brandishing Polydamas, son of Panthous, came as an avenger,\nand smote Protho\u00ebnor, son of Are\u00eflochus, upon the right shoulder. The\ntough spear passed on through his shoulder, but falling in the dust, he\ngrasped the earth with his hand. And Polydamas boasted mightily over\nhim, shouting aloud:\n\n\u201cI do not think, indeed, that the weapon hath fled vainly from the\nsturdy hand of the magnanimous son of Panthous, but some one of the\nGreeks has received it in his body; and I think that he, leaning upon\nit, will descend to the mansion of Pluto.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, but grief arose among the Greeks at his boasting, and\nparticularly agitated the mind of warlike Ajax, the son of Telamon, for\nhe had fallen very near him; and he immediately hurled with his shining\nspear at him departing. Polydamas himself indeed avoided black fate,\nspringing off obliquely; but Archilochus, son of Antenor, received [the\nblow], for to him the gods had doomed destruction. Him then he struck\nupon the last vertebra, in the joining of the head and neck, and he\ndisjoined both tendons; but the head, the mouth, and the nostrils of\nhim falling, met the ground much sooner than his legs and knees. Then\nAjax in turn cried out to blameless Polydamas:\n\n\u201cReflect, O Polydamas, and tell me the truth; is not this man worthy to\nbe slain in exchange of Protho\u00ebnor? He appears not to me indeed a\ncoward, nor [sprung] from cowards, but [to be] the brother or the son\nof horse-breaking Antenor, for he seems most like him as to his race.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, well knowing [him], but grief possessed the minds of the\nTrojans. Then Acamas, stalking round his brother, wounded with his\nspear Promachus, the B\u0153otian; whilst he was dragging him off by the\nfeet. But over him Acamas greatly boasted, calling out aloud:\n\n\u201cYe Argive archers, 482 insatiable in threats, assuredly not to us\nalone will toil and sorrow accrue, but thus thou also wilt at some time\nbe slain. Consider how your Promachus sleeps, subdued by my spear, that\na requital for my brother might not be long unpaid. Therefore should a\nman wish a brother to be left in his family, as an avenger of his\ndeath.\u201d\n\nFootnote 482: (return)  See note on iv. 242.\n\nThus he spoke; but grief arose among the Greeks as he boasted, and he\nparticularly agitated the mind of warlike Peneleus. Accordingly he\nrushed upon Acamas, who awaited not the charge of king Peneleus; but he\nwounded Ilioneus, son of Phorbas, rich in flocks, whom Mercury loved\nmost of all the Trojans, and had presented with possessions; and to\nwhom his mother bore Ilioneus alone. Him then he wounded below the\nbrow, in the socket of the eye, and he forced out the pupil: but the\nspear went forward through the eye, and through the back of the head;\nand he sat down, stretching out both his hands. But Peneleus, drawing\nhis sharp sword, smote him upon the middle of the neck, and lopped off\nhis head with its helmet to the ground, and the strong spear still\nremained in his eye. But he (Peneleus), holding it up like a poppy,\nshouted to the Trojans, and boasting spoke thus:\n\n\u201cTell for me, ye Trojans, the beloved father and mother of illustrious\nIlioneus, that they may lament him in their halls; for neither shall\nthe wife of Promachus, the son of Alegenor, present herself with joy to\nher dear husband coming [back], when we, sons of the Greeks, return\nfrom Troy with our ships.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but pale fear seized upon them all, and each gazed\nabout, [seeking] where he might escape utter destruction.\n\nTell me now, ye muses, possessing Olympian dwellings, which of the\nGreeks now first bore away gore-stained spoils of men, when the\nillustrious Earth-shaker turned the [tide of] battle.\n\nTelamonian Ajax then first wounded Hyrtius, son of Gyrtias, leader of\nthe undaunted Mysians; and Antilochus spoiled Phalces and Mermerus;\nMeriones slew Morys and Hippotion; and Teucer slew Prothous and\nPeriph\u0153tes. But the son of Atreus next wounded upon the flank\nHyperenor, the shepherd of the people, and the spear, cutting its way,\ndrank his entrails; and his soul, expelled, fled in haste through the\ninflicted wound, and darkness veiled his eyes. But Ajax, the swift son\nof O\u00efleus, slew the most; because there was not one equal to him on\nfoot, to follow the flying men, when Jove had excited flight amongst\nthem.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE FIFTEENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nJove awaking, and finding the Trojans routed, menaces Juno. He then\nsends Iris to desire Neptune to relinquish the battle, and Apollo to\nrestore Hector to health. Armed with the \u00e6gis, Apollo puts the Greeks\nto flight; who are pursued home to their fleet, while Telamonian Ajax\nslays twelve Trojans who were bringing fire to burn it.\n\n\nBut after the fugitives had crossed both the ramparts and the trench,\nand many were subdued by the hands of the Greeks, the rest were at\nlength detained, waiting beside their chariots, pallid with fear, and\nterrified. But Jove arose on the summits of Ida, from beside\ngolden-throned Juno; and starting up, he stood and beheld the Trojans\nand Greeks, those indeed in confusion, and the Greeks throwing them\ninto confusion in the rear; and amongst them king Neptune. Hector he\nbeheld lying upon the plain, and his companions sat round him: 483 but\nhe was afflicted with grievous difficulty of respiration, and devoid of\nhis senses, 484 vomiting blood, for it was not the weakest of the\nGreeks who had wounded him. The father of men and gods, seeing, pitied\nhim, and sternly regarding Juno, severely addressed her:\n\n\u201cO Juno, of evil arts, impracticable, thy stratagem has made noble\nHector cease from battle, and put his troops to flight. Indeed I know\nnot whether again thou mayest not be the first to reap the fruits of\nthy pernicious machinations, and I may chastise thee with stripes. Dost\nthou not remember when thou didst swing from on high, and I hung two\nanvils from thy feet, and bound a golden chain around thy hands, that\ncould not be broken? And thou didst hang in the air and clouds, and the\ngods commiserated thee throughout lofty Olympus; but standing around,\nthey were not able to release thee; but whomsoever I caught, seizing, I\nhurled from the threshold [of heaven], till he reached the earth,\nhardly breathing. Nor even thus did my vehement anger, through grief\nfor divine Hercules, leave me; whom thou, prevailing upon the storms,\nwith the north wind, didst send over the unfruitful sea, designing\nevils, and afterwards bore him out of his course, to well-inhabited\nCos. I liberated him, indeed, and brought him back thence to\nsteed-nourishing Argos, although having accomplished many toils. These\nthings will I again recall to thy memory, that thou mayest cease from\ndeceits; in order that thou mayest know whether the intercourse and a\ncouch will avail thee, in which thou wast mingled, coming apart from\nthe gods, and having deceived me.\u201d\n\nFootnote 483: (return)  \u0394\u1f74 here has the force of _demum_.\n\nFootnote 484: (return)  \u1f18\u03be\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03ba\u1f7c\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c8\u03c5\u03c7\u1fc7.\u2014Scholiast.\n\nThus he spoke; but venerable large-eyed Juno shuddered, and, addressing\nhim, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cBe witness now, Earth, and boundless Heaven above, and the water of\nStyx gliding beneath, which is the greatest and most dreaded oath\namongst the blessed gods; likewise thy sacred head, and our own nuptial\ncouch, by which I would not rashly swear at any time, that it is not by\nmy instigation that earth-shaking Neptune harasses the Trojans and\nHector, and aids the other side; but certainly his own mind incites and\norders him; for, beholding the Greeks oppressed at the ships, he took\ncompassion on them. And even him would I advise to go there, where\nthou, O Cloud-collector, mayest command.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; but the father of men and gods smiled, and answering\nher, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cIf indeed thou from henceforth, O venerable, large-eyed Juno, wouldst\nsit amongst the immortals, being of the same mind with me, then truly\nwould Neptune, even although he very much wishes otherwise, immediately\nchange his mind to the same point, to thy wish and mine. But if indeed\nthou speakest in sincerity and truly, go now to the assemblies of the\ngods, and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, renowned in archery,\nthat she may go to the people of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and tell\nking Neptune, ceasing from battle, to repair to his own palaces; but\nlet Ph\u0153bus Apollo excite Hector to battle, and breathe strength into\nhim again, and make him forgetful of the pains which now afflict him in\nhis mind: but let him again put the Greeks to flight, exciting\nunwarlike panic [amongst them], and, flying, let them fall back upon\nthe many-benched ships of Achilles, the son of Peleus. Then shall he\nstimulate his companion Patroclus, whom illustrious Hector shall slay\nwith his spear before Ilium, [Patroclus] having slain many other\nyouths, and with them my son, noble Sarpedon; but noble Achilles shall\nslay Hector. From this time forward will I always continually effect\nfor thee, that there shall be a retreat [of the Trojans] from the\nships, until the Greeks, by the counsels of Minerva, shall take lofty\nIlium. However, I shall not abate my anger, nor will I here permit any\nof the immortals to assist the Greeks, before that the request of the\nson of Peleus be completed; as first I promised to him, and nodded\nassent with my head, on that day when the goddess Thetis touched my\nknees, beseeching me that I would honour Achilles, the destroyer of\ncities.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey, but went\ndown from the Id\u00e6an mountains to lofty Olympus. And as when the mind of\na man flashes swiftly [in thought], who, having traversed over many a\nland, thinks within his prudent heart, \u201cI was here, I was there,\u201d and\ndeliberates much: thus quickly hastening, up sprung venerable Juno. But\nshe reached lofty Olympus, and came in upon the immortal gods,\nassembled in the house of Jove but they beholding her, all rose up and\nwelcomed her with their cups. The rest, however, she neglected, but\nreceived a goblet from fair-cheeked Themis; for she first running, came\nto meet her, and addressing her, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cWhy, O Juno, hast thou come [hither], and art like unto one in\nconsternation? Has then the son of Saturn, who is thy husband, greatly\nterrified thee?\u201d\n\nBut her the white-armed goddess Juno then answered: \u201cDo not, O goddess\nThemis, ask me these things; even thou thyself knowest how overbearing\nand cruel a spirit is his. But do thou preside over the equal feast, in\nthe palaces of the gods, and thou shalt hear these things along with\nall the immortals, what evil deeds Jove denounces. Nor do I at all\nthink that the mind will equally rejoice to all, neither to mortals nor\nto the gods, although some one even yet be feasting pleasantly.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, venerable Juno sat down; but the gods were grieved\nthroughout the palace of Jove. But she laughed with her lips [only],\nnor was her forehead above her dark brows exhilarated; 485 and,\nindignant, she spoke amongst them all:\n\n\u201cSenseless we, who are thus foolishly enraged with father Jove! Of a\ntruth we still desire to restrain him, approaching near, either by\npersuasion or by force; whilst he, sitting apart, does not regard, nor\nis moved, for he says he is decidedly the most mighty in strength and\npower among the immortal gods. Wherefore endure whatever evil he may\nplease to send upon each of you; for now already, I think, misfortune\nhath been inflicted upon Mars, since his son has perished in the fight,\nthe dearest of mortals, Ascalaphus, whom impetuous Mars calls his own.\u201d\n\nFootnote 485: (return)  Compare Virg. \u00c6n. i. 211: \u201cSpem vultu simulat,\npremit altum corde dolorem\u201d with Seneca ad Pol. 24. Nemesian. Eclog.\niv. 17. \u201cQuid vultu mentem premis, ac spem fronte serenas.\u201d Liv.\nxxviii. 8: \u201cM\u0153rebat quidem et angebatur.... in concilio tamen\ndissimulans \u00e6gritudinem, elato nimo disseruit.\u201d\n\nThus she spake; but Mars smote his brawny thighs with his dropped\nhands, and sorrowing, addressed them:\n\n\u201cDo not now blame me, ye who possess the Olympic mansions, repairing to\nthe ships of the Greeks, to avenge the slaughter of my son, even\nalthough it should be my fate, smitten with the thunderbolt of Jove, to\nlie together with the dead bodies in blood and dust.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, and he commanded Fear and Flight to yoke his steeds, but\nhe himself girded on his shining armour. Then indeed some other greater\nand more grievous wrath and indignation had fallen upon the immortals\nfrom Jove, had not Minerva, greatly fearing for all the gods, leaped\nforth from the vestibule, and left the throne where she sat. From his\nhead she snatched the helmet, and the shield from his shoulders, and\ntaking the brazen spear out of his strong hand, she placed it upright;\nand rebuked impetuous Mars with [these] words:\n\n\u201cInfuriated one, infatuated in mind, thou art undone! are thy ears\nindeed useless for hearing, and have thy sense and shame perished? Dost\nthou not hear what the white-armed goddess Juno says, and she has just\nnow come from Olympian Jove? Dost thou thyself wish, having fulfilled\nmany misfortunes, to return to Olympus very much grieved, and by\ncompulsion, and also to create a great evil to all the rest? For he\nwill immediately leave the Trojans and magnanimous Greeks, and will\ncome against us, about to disturb us in Olympus; and will seize us one\nafter the other, whoever is culpable and who is not. Wherefore I exhort\nthee now to lay aside thy wrath on account of thy son, for already some\none, even superior to him in strength and in hands, either is slain, or\nwill be hereafter; for it would be a difficult task to liberate [from\ndeath] the race and offspring of all men.\u201d\n\nSo saying, she seated impetuous Mars upon his throne. But Juno called\nApollo outside the house, and Iris, who is the messenger among the\nimmortal gods, and addressing them, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cJove orders you twain to repair with all haste to Ida, but when ye\narrive, and look upon the countenance of Jove, do whatsoever he may\nurge and command.\u201d\n\nThen indeed, having thus spoken, venerable Juno retired, and sat down\nupon her throne; but they, hastening, flew and arrived at Ida of many\nrills, the mother of wild beasts. They found the far-seeing son of\nSaturn sitting upon lofty Gargarus, and an odoriferous cloud encircled\nhim around. But coming before cloud-compelling Jove, they stood; nor\nwas he enraged in his mind, beholding them, because they quickly obeyed\nthe commands of his dear wife. And first to Iris he addressed winged\nwords:\n\n\u201cHaste, begone, fleet Iris, tell all these things to king Neptune, nor\nbe thou a false messenger. Order him, having ceased from the battle and\nthe war, to repair to the assemblies of the gods, or to the vast sea.\nIf, however, he will not obey my words, but shall despise them, let him\nthen consider in his mind and soul, lest, however powerful he may be,\nhe may not be able to withstand me coming against him; for I say that I\nam superior to him in strength, and elder in birth; but his heart fears\nriot to assert himself equal to me, whom even the others dread.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, nor was wind-footed, swift Iris disobedient: but she\ndescended from the Id\u00e6an mountains to sacred Ilium. And as when snow\ndrifts from the clouds, or cold hail, by the impulse of\ncloud-dispelling 486 Boreas, so quickly swift Iris with eagerness flew\nalong, and standing near illustrious Neptune, she addressed him:\n\n\u201cO azure-haired Earth-shaker, I have come hither, bringing a certain\nmessage to thee from \u00e6gis-bearing Jove. He has commanded thee, having\nceased from the battle and the war, to repair either to the assemblies\nof the gods or to the vast sea. But if thou wilt not obey his words,\nbut shalt despise them, he threatens that he will come hither himself\nto fight against thee; and advises thee to avoid his hands, because he\nasserts that he is greatly superior to thee in strength, and elder in\nbirth: but thy heart does not fear to profess that thou art equal to\nhim, whom even the others dread.\u201d\n\nBut her illustrious Neptune, greatly indignant, then addressed: \u201cGods!\npowerful though he be, he surely has spoken proudly, if he will by\nforce restrain me unwilling, who am of equal honour. For we are three\nbrothers [descended] from Saturn, whom Rhea brought forth: Jupiter and\nI, and Pluto, governing the infernal regions, the third; all things\nwere divided into three parts, and each was allotted his dignity. 487 I\nin the first place, the lots being shaken, was allotted to inhabit for\never the hoary sea, and Pluto next obtained the pitchy darkness; but\nJove in the third place had allotted to him the wide heaven in the air\nand in the clouds. Nevertheless the earth is still the common property\nof all, and lofty Olympus. Wherefore I shall not live according to the\nwill of Jove, but although being very powerful, let him remain quiet in\nhis third part; and let him by no means terrify me as a coward with his\nhands. For it would be better for him to insult with terrific language\nthe daughters and sons whom he hath begotten, who will also through\nnecessity attend to him, exhorting them.\u201d\n\nBut him the fleet wind-footed Iris then answered: \u201cO 488 azure-haired\nEarth-shaker, shall I really thus bear back from thee to Jove this\nrelentless and violent reply? Or wilt thou change it at all? The minds\nof the prudent indeed are flexible. Thou knowest that the Furies are\never attendant on the elders.\u201d 489\n\nFootnote 486: (return)  More literalty, \u201cproducing clear air.\u201d So\nEustathius, or Eumathius, Erotic. ii. p. 14: \u0391\u1f30\u03b8\u03c1\u03b7\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u0392\u03bf\u1fe4\u1fe5\u03ac\u03c2. Heyne\nprefers \u201cin aere genitus.\u201d\n\nFootnote 487: (return)  On this division of things, see Servius on\nVirg. \u00c6n. i. 143; Fulgent Myth. i. 1, 3. The Scholiasts attempt to\nrefer it to the ancient theory of the elements.\n\nFootnote 488: (return)  These three verses were elegantly applied by\nSostrates in mitigating the intemperate language which Antigonus would\nfain have addressed to Ptolemy Philadelphus. See Sextus Emp. adv.\nGramm. i. 13, p. 276.\n\nFootnote 489: (return)  The Furies are said to wait on men in a double\nsense; either for evil, as upon Orestes after he had slain his mother;\nor else for good, as upon elders when they are injured, to protect them\nand avenge their wrongs. This is an instance that the pagans looked\nupon birthright as a right divine. Eustath. quoted in ed. Dubl. cf. ix.\n507.\n\nBut her again earth-shaking Neptune in turn addressed: \u201cGoddess Iris,\nvery rightly hast thou delivered this opinion; moreover, it is good\nwhen a messenger knows fitting things. But on this account severe\nindignation comes upon my heart and soul, because he wishes to chide\nwith angry words me, equal to him by lot, and doomed to an equal\ndestiny. Nevertheless, at present, although being indignant, I will\ngive way. But another thing will I tell thee, and I will threaten this\nfrom my soul; if indeed, without me and prey-hunting Minerva, Juno,\nMercury, and king Vulcan, he shall spare lofty Ilium, nor shall wish to\ndestroy it, and give great glory to the Greeks; let him know this, that\nendless animosity shall arise between us.\u201d\n\nSo saying, the Earth-shaker quitted the Grecian army, and proceeding,\nhe plunged into the deep; but the Grecian heroes longed for him. And\nthen cloud-compelling Jove addressed Apollo:\n\n\u201cGo now, dear Ph\u0153bus, to brazen-helmed Hector; for already hath\nearth-encircling Neptune departed to the vast sea, avoiding our\ndreadful anger; for otherwise the rest, who are infernal gods, being\naround Saturn, would surely have heard our quarrel. This, however, is\nmuch better for me as well as for himself, that he hath first yielded\nto my hands, accounting himself worthy of blame, because the matter\nwould not have been accomplished without sweat. But do thou take the\nfringed \u00e6gis in thy hands, with which, by violently shaking it, do thou\ngreatly terrify the Grecian heroes. To thyself, however, O far-darting\n[Apollo], let illustrious Hector be a care. So long then arouse his\ngreat might unto him, until the Greeks in flight reach the ships and\nthe Hellespont. Thenceforth I shall myself deliberate in deed and word,\nhow the Greeks also may revive from labour.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, nor did Apollo disobey his sire, but he descended from\nthe Id\u00e6an mountains like unto a swift hawk the dove-destroyer, the\nswiftest of birds. He found the son of warlike Priam, noble Hector,\nsitting; for he no longer lay [on the ground], but had just collected\nhis senses, recognizing his friends around him. But the panting and\nperspiration had ceased, since the will of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove had\naroused him. Then far-darting Apollo, standing near, addressed him:\n\n\u201cHector, son of Priam, why sittest thou apart from the rest, failing in\nstrength? Has any grief invaded thee?\u201d\n\nBut him then crest-tossing Hector languidly addressed: \u201cAnd who art\nthou, best of the gods, who inquirest face to face? Hast thou not heard\nthat Ajax, brave in the din of battle, smote me with a stone upon the\nbreast, and caused me to cease from impetuous valour, when slaying his\ncompanions at the sterns of the Grecian ships? And truly I thought that\nI should this day behold the dead, and the mansion of Pluto, since I\nwas [on the point of] breathing out my dear life.\u201d\n\nBut him far-darting king Apollo addressed in turn: \u201cBe of good courage\nnow, so great an assistant has the son of Saturn sent forth from Ida to\nstand up and help thee, Ph\u0153bus Apollo, of the golden sword: who am\naccustomed to defend at the same time thyself and the lofty city. But\ncome, encourage now thy numerous cavalry to drive their fleet steeds\ntowards the hollow ships; but I, going before, will level the whole way\nfor the horses, and I will turn to flight the Grecian heroes.\u201d\n\nThus speaking, he inspired great strength into the shepherd of the\npeople. As when some stalled horse, fed on barley 490 at the manger,\nhaving snapped his halter, runs over the plain, striking the earth with\nhis feet (accustomed to bathe in the smooth-flowing river), exulting,\nhe holds his head on high, and around his shoulders his mane is\ndishevelled; and, trusting to his beauty 491\u2014his knees easily bear him\nto the accustomed places and pasture of the mares: so Hector swiftly\nmoved his feet and knees, encouraging the horsemen, after he had heard\nthe voice of the god. But they\u2014as dogs and rustic men rush against\neither a horned stag or wild goat; which however a lofty rock and shady\nforest protect, nor is it destined for them to catch it; but at their\nclamour 492 a bushy-bearded lion appears in the way, and turns them all\nback, although ardently pursuing: thus the Greeks hitherto indeed ever\nkept following in troops, striking with their swords and double-edged\nspears. But when they beheld Hector entering the ranks of heroes, they\nwere troubled, and the courage of all fell at their feet.\n\nFootnote 490: (return)  Cf. vi. 508; and on \u03ac\u03ba\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2, Buttm. Lexil. p.\n75, sq.\n\nFootnote 491: (return)  Observe the abrupt change of construction.\n\nFootnote 492: (return)  \u1f5d\u03c0\u1f78 \u1f30\u03b1\u03c7\u1fc6\u03c2, attracted by their shouting.\n\nThen Thoas, the son of Andr\u00e6mon, addressed them, by far the bravest of\nthe \u00c6tolians, skilled in the use of the javelin, and brave in the\nstanding fight; few also of the Greeks excelled him in the council when\nthe youths contended in eloquence. Who wisely counselling, harangued\nthem, and said:\n\n\u201cO gods, surely I behold with mine eyes this mighty miracle, since\nHector has thus risen again, having escaped death. Certainly the mind\nof each was in great hopes that he had died by the hands of Telamonian\nAjax. But some one of the gods has again liberated and preserved\nHector, who hath already relaxed the knees of many Greeks; as I think\nis about [to occur] now also, for not without far-sounding Jove does he\nstand in the van, thus earnest. But come, let us all obey as I shall\ndesire. Let us order the multitude to retreat towards the ships. But\nlet us, as many as boast ourselves to be the best in the army, take a\nstand, if indeed, opposing, we may at the outset interrupt him,\nupraising our spears; and I think that he, although raging, will dread\nin mind to enter the band of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but all heard him attentively, and obeyed. Those around\nthe Ajaces and king Idomeneus, Teucer, Meriones, and Meges, equal to\nMars, calling the chiefs together, marshalled their lines against\nHector and the Trojans; whilst the multitude in the rear retreated to\nthe ships of the Greeks. But the Trojans in close array pressed\nforward; and Hector, taking long strides, led the way; but before him\nwalked Ph\u0153bus Apollo, clad as to his shoulders with a cloud, 493 and he\nheld the mighty, dreadful, fringed, 494 dazzling \u00e6gis, which the artist\nVulcan had given to Jove, to be borne along for the routing of men.\nHolding this in his hands, he led on the people. But the Greeks\nremained in close array, and a shrill shout arose on both sides. [Many]\narrows bounded from the strings, and many spears from gallant hands:\nsome were fixed in the bodies of warlike youths, but many half way,\nbefore they had touched the fair body, stuck in the earth, longing to\nsatiate themselves with flesh. As long as Ph\u0153bus Apollo held the \u00e6gis\nunmoved in his hands, so long did the weapons reach both sides, and the\npeople fell. But when, looking full in the faces of the swift-horsed\nGreeks, he shook it, and he himself besides shouted very loudly, then\nhe checked the courage in their breasts, and they became forgetful of\nimpetuous valour. But they, as when two wild beasts, in the depth of\nthe dark night, 495 disturb a drove of oxen or a great flock of sheep,\ncoming suddenly upon them, the keeper not being present\u2014so the\nenfeebled Greeks were routed; for amongst them Apollo sent terror, and\ngave glory to the Trojans and to Hector. Then indeed man slew man, when\nthe battle gave way. Hector slew Stichius and Arcesilaus; the one the\nleader of the brazen-mailed B\u0153otians; but the other the faithful\ncompanion of magnanimous Menestheus. But \u00c6neas slew Medon and Iasus:\nMedon indeed was the illegitimate son of godlike O\u00efleus, and brother of\nAjax; and he dwelt in Phylace, away from his father-land, having slain\na man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom O\u00efleus had\nbetrothed. Iasus, however, was appointed leader of the Athenians, and\nwas called the son of Sphelus, the son of Bucolus. But Polydamas slew\nMecistis, and Polites Echius, in the van, and noble Agenor slew\nKlonius. Paris also wounded D\u00ebiochous in the extremity of the shoulder\nfrom behind, whilst he was flying amongst the foremost combatants; and\ndrove the brass quite through.\n\nFootnote 493: (return)  \u201cNube candentes humeros amictus, Augur\nApollo.\u201d\u2014Hor. Od. 2, 31.\n\nFootnote 494: (return)  Cf. ii. 448. Literally, \u201cshaggy, rugged, with\nfringes around.\u201d\n\nFootnote 495: (return)  Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 89, whose translation of\n\u03bd\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03b3\u1ff7 I have followed.\n\nWhilst they were spoiling these of their armour, the Greeks in the\nmeantime falling into the dug trench and stakes, fled here and there;\nand from necessity entered within the rampart. But Hector, shouting\naloud, exhorted the Trojans to rush upon the ships, and to let go the\nbloody spoils: \u201cAnd whatever person I 496 shall perceive apart from the\nships anywhere, there will I cause his death; nor indeed shall his male\nand female relatives make him when dead partaker of a funeral pile, but\ndogs shall tear him before our city.\u201d\n\nFootnote 496: (return)  Observe this sudden and animated change of\nperson, which has been noticed by Longinus, xxvii. and Dionys. Halic.\nde Hom. Poes. \u00a7 8. This irregularity is very common in the Greek\nTestament. Cf. Luke v. 14; Acts i. 4; xvii. 3; xxiii. 22; xxv. 8; with\nthe notes of Kuinoel and Pric\u00e6us.\n\nSo saying, with the lash upon the shoulder he drove on his horses\nagainst the ranks, cheering on the Trojans; but they all shouting along\nwith him, directed their car-drawing steeds with a mighty clamour. But\nPh\u0153bus Apollo in front of them, easily overthrowing the banks of the\ndeep ditch with his feet, cast [them] into the middle; and bridged a\ncauseway long and wide, as far as the cast of a spear reaches, when a\nman, making trial of his strength, hurls it. In that way they poured\nonward by troops, and Apollo [went] before them, holding the\nhighly-prized \u00e6gis. But he overthrew the wall of the Greeks very\neasily, as when any boy does the sand from the shore; who, when amusing\nhimself in childishness he has made playthings, again destroys them\nwith his feet and hands. Thus, O archer Ph\u0153bus, didst thou destroy the\ngreat labour and toil of the Greeks, and didst excite flight amongst\nthemselves. In this manner indeed, remaining, they were penned up at\nthe ships; animating each other, and raising up their hands to all the\ngods, they each loudly offered vows. But the guardian of the Greeks,\nGerenian Nestor, most particularly prayed, stretching forth his hands\nto the starry heaven: \u201cO father Jove, if ever any one in fruitful\nArgos, to thee burning the fat thighs of either oxen or sheep,\nsupplicated that he might return, and thou didst promise and assent; be\nmindful of these things, O Olympian, and avert the cruel day; nor thus\npermit the Greeks to be subdued by the Trojans.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, praying: but provident Jove loudly thundered, hearing\nthe prayers of the Nele\u00efan old man. But the Trojans, when they\nunderstood the will of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove, rushed the more against the\nGreeks, and were mindful of battle. And as a mighty wave of the\nwide-flowing ocean dashes over the sides of a ship, when the force of\nthe wind impels it (for that most of all increases waves); so the\nTrojans with a mighty shout mounted over the wall. And having driven in\ntheir horses, they fought at the sterns, hand to hand with two-edged\nspears, the one party from their chariots, but the other on high from\ntheir black ships, having ascended them with long poles which lay in\ntheir vessels, for fighting by sea, well glued, and clad on the tip\nwith brass.\n\nBut Patroclus, as long indeed as the Greeks and Trojans fought round\nthe wall, without the swift ships, so long he sat in the tent of\nvalour-loving Eurypylus, and delighted him with his discourse; and to\nthe severe wound he applied medicines, assuagers of dark pains. But\nwhen he perceived that the Trojans had burst within the walls, and\nmoreover that a clamour and flight of the Greeks had arisen, then\nindeed he groaned, and smote both his thighs with his downward-bent\nhands; and lamenting spoke:\n\n\u201cO Eurypylus, I cannot any longer remain here with thee, although\nneeding much, for now has a mighty contest arisen. But let thy\nattendant entertain thee, and I will hasten to Achilles, that I may\nencourage him to fight. And who knows whether, with God\u2019s assistance,\npersuading, I may move his soul? for the admonition of a companion is\neffectual.\u201d But him his feet then bore away thus speaking. Meanwhile\nthe Greeks firmly withstood the Trojans rushing on, nor were they able\nto repel them from the ships, although being fewer; nor could the\nTrojans, breaking through the phalanxes of the Greeks, be mingled with\nthe tents or ships. But as a plumb-line in the hands of a skilful\nshipwright (who knows well the whole art by the precepts of Minerva)\ncorrectly adjusts the naval plank, so was the battle and war equally\nextended. Some indeed supported the conflict round one ship, and others\nround another, but Hector advanced against glorious Ajax. Thus these\ntwo undertook the task round one ship, nor were they able, the one to\ndrive the other away and burn the ship with fire, nor the other to\nrepulse him, since a divinity had brought him near. Then illustrious\nAjax smote upon the breast with his spear Caletor, son of Clytius,\nbearing fire against the ship; and falling, he resounded, and the torch\nfell from his hand. But when Hector perceived with his eyes his cousin\nfallen in the dust before the black ship, he cheered on the Trojans and\nLycians, loudly exclaiming:\n\n\u201cYe Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, do not now\nretire from the fight in this narrow pass. But preserve the son of\nClytius, lest the Greeks despoil him of his armour, having fallen in\nthe contest at the ships.\u201d Thus having spoken, he took aim with his\nshining spear at Ajax, whom he missed; but [he smote] Lycophron, the\nson of Mastor, the servant of Ajax, a Cytherean, who dwelt with him,\nsince he had killed a man amongst the celebrated Cythereans. He struck\nhim on the head over the ear, with the sharp brass, whilst he was\nstanding near Ajax: but he fell supine to the ground from the stern of\nthe ship in the dust, and his limbs were relaxed. Then Ajax shuddered,\nand accosted his brother: \u201cDear Teucer, now is our faithful companion,\nthe son of Mastor, whom being domesticated in Cythera, we honoured\nequally with our beloved parents in our palaces; but him magnanimous\nHector has slain. Where now are thy death-bearing arrows and bow, which\nPh\u0153bus Apollo gave thee?\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but he understood; and running, he stood near him,\nholding in his hand his bent bow, and arrow-bearing quiver; and very\nquickly he shot his arrows amongst the Trojans. He struck Clitus, the\nillustrious son of Pisenor, the companion of Polydamas, the renowned\nson of Panthous, holding the reins in his hands. He indeed was employed\nin [guiding] the horses; for he directed them there, where the most\nnumerous phalanxes were thrown in confusion, gratifying Hector and the\nTrojans. But soon came evil upon him, which no one averted from him,\nalthough eager; for the bitter shaft fell upon his neck from behind,\nand he fell from the chariot, whilst his horses started back, rattling\nthe empty car. But king Polydamas very quickly perceived it, and first\ncame to meet his horses. Them he intrusted to Astynous, son of\nProtiaon, and exhorted him much to keep the horses near him within\nsight; but he himself returning was mingled with the foremost\ncombatants. Teucer, however, drew another arrow against brazen-armed\nHector, and would have made him cease from battle, at the ships of the\nGreeks, if striking him while bravely fighting, he had taken away his\nlife. But it did not escape the prudent mind of Jove, who protected\nHector, and deprived Teucer, the son of Telamon, of glory; and who\n(Jove) broke the well-twisted string, in his blameless bow, as he was\ndrawing against [Hector]; but the brass-laden arrow was turned off in\nanother direction, and the bow fell from his hand. Then Teucer\nshuddered, and addressed his brother:\n\n\u201cYe gods! a deity, without doubt, cuts short the plans of our battle,\nwho has shaken the bow from my hand, and has snapped asunder the\nnewly-twisted string which I tied to it this morning, that it might\nsustain the shafts frequently bounding from it.\u201d\n\nBut him the mighty Telamonian Ajax then answered: \u201cO my friend, permit\nthen thy bow and numerous arrows to lie aside, since a god has\nconfounded them, envying the Greeks; but, taking a long spear in thy\nhands, and a shield upon thy shoulder, fight against the Trojans, and\nencourage the other forces. Nor let them take the well-benched ships\nwithout labour at least, although having subdued us, but let us be\nmindful of the fight.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and he placed his bow within the tents. Then around his\nshoulders he hung a four-fold shield, and upon his brave head fixed a\nwell-made helmet, crested with horse-hair, and the plume nodded\ndreadfully from above. And he grasped a stout spear, tipped with sharp\nbrass, and hastened to advance, and running very quickly, stood beside\nAjax. But when Hector perceived the arrows of Teucer frustrated, he\nencouraged the Trojans and Lycians, calling aloud:\n\n\u201cYe Trojans, Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my\nfriends, and be mindful of impetuous valour at the hollow ships; for I\nhave beheld with my eyes the arrows of their chief warrior rendered\nvain by Jove. Easily recognizable amongst men is the power of Jove, as\nwell among those into whose hands he has delivered superior glory, as\nthose whom he deteriorates, and does not wish to defend. As now he\ndiminishes the might of the Greeks, and aids us. But fight in close\narray at the ships, and whichever of you, wounded or stricken, shall\ndraw on his death and fate, let him die; it is not inglorious to him to\ndie fighting for his country; but his wife shall be safe, and his\nchildren left behind him, his house and patrimony unimpaired, if indeed\nthe Greeks depart with their ships to their dear father-land.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he kindled the strength and spirit of each: and Ajax again,\non the other side, animated his companions:\n\n\u201cShame, oh Argives! now is the moment for us either to perish, or to be\npreserved and to repel destruction from the ships. Do ye expect that if\ncrest-tossing Hector capture the ships, ye will reach on foot each his\nnative land? Do ye not hear Hector, who now rages to fire the ships,\ninciting all his people? Nor indeed does he invite them to come to a\ndance, but to battle. But for us there is no opinion or design better\nthan this, to join in close fight our hands and strength. Better,\neither to perish at once, or live, rather than thus uselessly to be\nwasted away 497 for a length of time in dire contention at the ships,\nby inferior men.\u201d\n\nFootnote 497: (return)  The verb \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b5\u03cd\u03b3\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, which may be compared\nwith \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03b2\u03ac\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd in Od. xii. 351, is interpreted by Apollonius\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9. Cf. Hesych. t. i. p. 1603, t. ii. p. 1278.\n\nSo saying, he aroused the strength and courage of each. Then Hector\nindeed slew Schedius, son of Perimedes, prince of the Phoceans; and\nAjax slew Laodamas, leader of the infantry, the illustrious son of\nAntenor. Polydamas slew Cyllenian Otus, the companion of the son of\nPhyleus, chief of the magnanimous Epeans. Meges rushed upon him,\nperceiving it, but Polydamas stooped obliquely, and he missed him; for\nApollo did not suffer the son of Panthous to be subdued among the\nforemost warriors. But he wounded Cr\u0153smus in the middle of the breast\nwith his spear, but falling, he resounded; and he stripped the arms\nfrom his shoulders. In the meantime Dolops, the descendant of Lampus,\nwell skilled in the spear, leaped upon him (he whom Lampus, son of\nLaomedon, the best of men, begat, skilled in impetuous fight), who then\nattacking him in close fight, struck the middle of Meges\u2019s shield with\nhis spear: but the thick corslet defended him, which he wore, compact\nin its cavities. This Phyleus formerly brought from Ephyre, from the\nriver Selle\u00efs: for his host, Euphetes, king of men, had given it to\nhim, to bear into the battle as a defence against the enemy; and which\nthen warded off destruction from the body of his son. But Meges with\nhis sharp spear smote the base of the highest cone of his brazen\nhorse-haired helmet, and struck off his horse-haired crest; and the\nwhole fell on the ground in the dust, lately shining with purple.\nWhilst the one (Meges) standing firm, fought with the other (Dolops),\nand still expected victory; meanwhile, warlike Menelaus came as an\nassistant to him (Meges), and stood at his side with his spear,\nescaping notice, and wounded him from behind in the shoulder; but the\nspear, driven with violence, passed through his breast, proceeding\nfarther; and he fell on his face. Both then rushed on, about to tear\nthe brazen armour from his shoulders; but Hector strenuously exhorted\nall his relations, and rebuked the gallant Melanippus first, the son of\nHicetaon. He till then had fed his curved-footed oxen at Percote, the\nenemy being yet at a distance; but when the equally-plied barks of the\nGreeks had arrived, he came back to Troy, and was distinguished amongst\nthe Trojans; and he dwelt near Priam, and he honoured him equally with\nhis sons. But Hector rebuked him; and spoke and addressed him:\n\n\u201cShall we be thus remiss, O Melanippus? Is not thy heart moved, thy\nkinsman being slain? Dost thou not perceive how busy they are about the\narms of Dolops? But follow; for it is no longer justifiable to fight at\na distance with the Greeks, before that either we slay them, or that\nthey tear lofty Ilium from its summit, and slay its citizens.\u201d So\nsaying, he led on, and the godlike hero followed with him. But mighty\nTelamonian Ajax aroused the Greeks.\n\n\u201cO my friends, be men, and set honour 498 in your hearts, and have\nreverence for each other during the vehement conflicts. For more of\nthose men who reverence [each other] are saved than slain; but of the\nfugitives, neither glory arises, nor any defence.\u201d\n\nFootnote 498: (return)  Cf. v. 530, xiii. 121, with the notes.\n\nThus he spoke, but they too were eager to repel [the enemy]. And they\nfixed his advice in their mind, and enclosed the ships with a brazen\nfence; but Jove urged on the Trojans. And Menelaus, brave in the din of\nbattle, incited Antilochus:\n\n\u201cO Antilochus, no other of the Greeks is younger than thou, nor swifter\nof foot, nor strong, as thou [art], to fight. Would 499 that, attacking\nsome hero of the Trojans, thou couldst wound him.\u201d\n\nFootnote 499: (return)  \u0395\u1f30 is put for \u03b5\u1f34\u03b8\u03b5.\n\nSo saying, he on his part withdrew again, and he aroused him. But he\n(Antilochus) leaped forth from amongst the foremost warriors, and took\naim with his shining spear, gazing around him; but the Trojans retired,\nthe hero hurling. But he did not cast his weapon in vain, for he struck\nmagnanimous Melanippus, the son of Hicetaon, in the breast, near the\npap, advancing to the battle. And falling, he made a crash, and his\narms rang upon him. But Antilochus sprang upon him, as a dog that\nrushes on a wounded fawn, which the huntsman aiming at, has wounded,\nleaping from its lair, and relaxed its limbs under it. Thus, O\nMelanippus, did warlike Antilochus spring on thee, about to despoil\nthee of thy armour: but he did not escape noble Hector, who came\nagainst him, running through the battle. But Antilochus did not await\nhim, though being an expert warrior, but he fled, like unto a wild\nbeast that has done some mischief, which, having slain a dog or\nherdsman in charge of oxen, flies, before a crowd of men is assembled:\nso fled the son of Nestor; but the Trojans and Hector, with great\nclamour, poured forth their deadly weapons. Yet when he reached the\nband of his own companions, being turned round, he stood. But the\nTrojans, like raw-devouring lions, rushed upon the ships, and were\nfulfilling the commands of Jove; who ever kept exciting their great\nstrength, and enervated the courage of the Greeks, and took away their\nglory; but encouraged those. For his mind wished to bestow glory on\nHector, the son of Priam, that he might cast the dreadfully-burning,\nindefatigable fire upon the crooked barks; and accomplish all the\nunseasonable prayer of Thetis.\n\nFor this did provident Jove await, till he should behold with his eyes\nthe flame of a burning vessel; for from that time he was about to make\na retreat of the Trojans from the ships, and to afford glory to the\nGreeks. Designing these things, he aroused Hector, the son of Priam,\nagainst the hollow ships, although himself very eager. But he raged, as\nwhen Mars [rages], brandishing his spear, or [when] a destructive fire\nrages in the mountains, in the thickets of a deep wood. And foam arose\nabout his mouth, and his eyes flashed from beneath his grim eyebrows;\nand the helm was shaken awfully upon the temples of Hector, fighting;\nfor Jove himself from the \u00e6ther was an assistant to him, and honoured\nand glorified him alone amongst many men; because he was destined to be\nshort-lived: for Pallas Minerva already impelled him towards the fatal\nday, by the might of the son of Peleus. And he wished to break the\nranks of heroes, trying them, wheresoever he beheld the greatest crowd\nand the best arms. But not thus was he able to break through them,\nalthough very eager; for they, compact in squares, sustained his\nattack, as a lofty, huge cliff, being near the hoary deep, which abides\nthe impetuous inroads of the shrill winds, and the swollen billows\nwhich are dashed against it. Thus the Greeks firmly awaited the\nTrojans, nor fled. But he, gleaming with fire on all sides, rushed upon\nthe crowd; and fell upon them, as when an impetuous wave, wind-nurtured\nfrom the clouds, dashes against a swift ship, and it [the ship] is\nwholly enveloped with the spray, and a dreadful blast of wind roars\nwithin the sail: but the sailors tremble in mind, fearing, because they\nare borne but a little way from death: thus was the mind of the Greeks\ndivided in their breasts. He, however, like a destructive lion coming\nupon oxen which feed in myriads in the moist ground of a spacious\nmarsh, and amongst them a keeper not very skilful in fighting with a\nwild beast for the slaughter of a crooked-horned ox; 500 he indeed\nalways accompanies the foremost or the hindmost cattle, whilst [the\nlion] springing into the midst, devours an ox, and all the rest fly in\nterror; thus then were the Greeks wondrously put to flight by Hector\nand father Jove, all\u2014but [Hector] slew only Mycen\u00e6an Periphetes, the\ndear son of Copreus, who went with a messenger of king Eurystheus to\nmighty Hercules. From this far inferior father sprung a son superior in\nall kinds of accomplishments, as well in the race as in the combat, and\nwho in prudence was among the first of the Mycen\u00e6ans, who at that time\ngave into the hands of Hector superior glory. For, turning backwards,\nhe trod upon the rim of his shield which he bore, a fence against\njavelins, which reached to his feet; by this incommoded, he fell upon\nhis back, and the helmet terribly sounded round the temples of him\nfallen. But Hector quickly perceived, and running, stood near him, and\nfixed his spear in his breast, and slew him near his beloved\ncompanions, nor indeed were they able, although grieved for their\ncomrade, to avail him, for they themselves greatly feared noble Hector.\nBut they retreated within the line of their ships, 501 and the extreme\nships enclosed them, which were first drawn up: and the others were\npoured in. The Argives, therefore, from necessity, retreated from the\nforemost vessels, and remained there at their tents in close array, and\nwere not dispersed through the camp, for shame and fear restrained\nthem, and they unceasingly exhorted one another with shouting. More\nparticularly did Gerenian Nestor, the guardian of the Greeks, adjure\nthem by their parents, earnestly supplicating each man:\n\n\u201cO my friends, be men, and place a sense of reverence 502 of other men\nin your minds. Call to memory, each of you, your children, wives,\nproperty, and parents, as well he to whom they survive as he to whom\nthey are dead; for by those not present I here supplicate you to stand\nbravely, nor be ye turned to flight.\u201d So saying, he aroused the might\nand spirit of each. But for them Minerva removed the heaven-sent cloud\nof darkness from their eyes; and abundant light arose to them on both\nsides, both towards the ships and towards the equally destructive\nbattle. Then they observed Hector, brave in the din of battle, and his\ncompanions, as well whatever of them stood behind and did not fight as\nthose who fought the battle at the swift ships. Nor was it longer\npleasing to the mind of great-hearted Ajax to stand there where the\nother sons of the Greeks stood together; but he went about upon the\ndecks of the vessels, taking long strides, and wielding in his hands a\ngreat sea-fighting pole, studded with iron nails, twenty-two cubits\nlong. And as when a man well skilled in vaulting upon steeds, who,\nafter he has selected four horses out of a greater number, driving them\nfrom the plain, urges them towards a mighty city, along the public way;\nand him many men and women behold with admiration; but he, always\nleaping up firmly and safely, changes alternately from one to the\nother, 503 whilst they are flying along: so went Ajax along many decks\nof swift ships, shouting loudly, and his voice reached to the sky; and,\nalways terribly shouting, he ordered the Greeks to defend their ships\nand tents. Nor, indeed, did Hector remain among the crowd of\nwell-corsleted Trojans; but as the tawny eagle pounces upon a flock of\nwinged birds, feeding on a river\u2019s bank, either geese or cranes, or\nlong-necked swans, so did Hector direct his course towards an\nazure-prowed vessel, rushing against it; but Jove, with a very mighty\nhand, impelled him from behind, and animated his forces along with him.\nAgain was a sharp contest waged at the ships. You would have said that\nunwearied and indefatigable they met each other in battle, so furiously\nthey fought. And to them fighting this was the opinion: the Greeks,\nindeed, thought that they could not escape from destruction, but must\nperish. But the soul of each within his breast, to the Trojans, hoped\nto burn the ships, and slay the Grecian heroes. They thinking these\nthings, opposed one another.\n\nFootnote 500: (return)  _I.e._ about its carcase. The Scholiast also\ngives another interpretation, viz. \u201cto prevent his killing an ox;\u201d but\nKennedy, with reason, prefers the former one.\n\nFootnote 501: (return)  \u201c_They now held their ships in view_, which\nwere arranged in a two-fold line, from the outermost whereof the Greeks\nwere driven in upon their tents, disposed in the intermediate position\nbetween the lines of the vessels.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 502: (return)  Cf. v. 530.\n\nFootnote 503: (return)  As the \u201cdesultores\u201d (Liv. xxiii. 29). Hence\n\u201cdesultor amoris,\u201d in Ovid, Amor. i. 3, 15, to denote an inconstant\nlover; \u201cdesultoria scientia,\u201d Apuleius, Met. i. pr\u00e6f., speaking of his\nown varied fable.\n\nBut Hector seized the stern of a sea-traversing bark, beautiful, swift,\nwhich had carried Protesilaus 504 to Troy, but did not bear him back\nagain to his father-land. Round his ship the Greeks and Trojans were\nnow slaying one another in close combat; nor did they indeed at a\ndistance await the attacks of arrows and of javelins, but standing\nnear, having one mind, they fought with sharp battle-axes and hatchets,\nwith large swords and two-edged spears. And many fair swords,\nblack-hilted, with massive handles, fell to the ground, some indeed\nfrom the hands, and others from the shoulders of the contending heroes;\nand the dark earth streamed with gore. But Hector, after he had seized\n[the vessel] by the stern, did not let go, holding the furthest 505\nedge with his hands, and he cheered on the Trojans:\n\n\u201cBring fire, and at the same time do yourselves together excite the\nbattle. Now hath Jove vouchsafed us a day worth all, 506 to take the\nships, which, coming hither against the will of the gods, brought many\nevils upon us through the cowardice of our elders, who kept me back\nwhen desirous myself to fight at the sterns of the ships, and\nrestrained the people. But if, indeed, far-sounding Jove then injured\n507 our minds, he now impels and orders us.\u201d Thus he spoke, but they\nrushed the more against the Greeks. Even Ajax no longer sustained them,\nfor he was overwhelmed with darts; but, thinking he should fall,\nretired back a short space to the seven-feet bench, and deserted the\ndeck of his equal ship. There he stood watching, and with his spear\ncontinually repulsed the Trojans from the ships, whoever might bring\nthe indefatigable fire; and always shouting dreadfully, he animated the\nGreeks:\n\n\u201cO my friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, be men, my friends,\nand be mindful of impetuous strength. Whether do we think that we have\nany assistants in the rear, or any stronger rampart which may avert\ndestruction from the men? Indeed there is not any other city near,\nfortified with towers, where we may be defended, having a reinforcing\narmy; but bordering on the sea, we sit in the plain of the well-armed\nTrojans, far away from our native land; therefore safety is in our\nexertions, not in remission of battle.\u201d\n\nHe said, and furious, charged with his sharp spear whoever of the\nTrojans was borne towards the hollow ships with burning fire, for the\nsake of Hector who incited them;\u2014him Ajax wounded, receiving him with\nhis long spear; and he slew twelve in close fight before the ships.\n\nFootnote 504: (return)  The reader will do well to read the beautiful\nsketch of this hero\u2019s deification after death in Philostratus\u2019s preface\nto the Heroica. He was the first of the Greeks who fell, being slain by\nHector as he leaped from the vessel (Hygin. Fab. ciii.; Auson. Epigr.\nxx.). He was buried on the Chersonese, near the city Plagusa. Hygin.\nP.A. ii. 40.\n\nFootnote 505: (return)  The Oxford translator renders \u1f04\u03c6\u03bb\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u201cthe\ntafferel.\u201d\n\nFootnote 506: (return)  This is, I think, much more spirited than the\nScholiast\u2019s \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c0\u03cc\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd \u1f30\u03c3\u03cc\u1fe4\u1fe5\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd, or \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03bc\u03b7\u03b8\u03ad\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd. Supply,\ntherefore, \u03ae\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 507: (return)  _I.e._ befooled our senses, taking away our\nproper spirit. So Theogn\u03b9\u03c3 has \u03c5\u03bf\u03bf\u1fd6 \u03b2\u03b5\u03b2\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c3\u03b8\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE SIXTEENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nPatroclus at length obtains permission from Achilles, and enters the\nfight, on condition that he should return after liberating the Greeks\nfrom their immediate peril. He comes opportunely to the assistance of\nAjax, routs the Trojans, and kills Sarpedon, whose body, but without\nthe armour, is rescued by Hector and Glaucus. Forgetful of his promise\nto Achilles, Patroclus pursues the Trojans to their very walls. He is\ndriven back by Apollo, but slays the charioteer of Hector, Cebriones.\nHe is suddenly afflicted with stupor by Apollo, and dies by the hand of\nHector, whose death he foretells. Hector pursues Automedon with the\nchariot of Achilles towards the ships.\n\n\nThus, then, they were fighting for the well-benched ship. But Patroclus\nstood beside Achilles, the shepherd of the people, shedding warm 508\ntears; as a black-water fountain, which pours its sable tide down from\na lofty rock. But swift-footed noble Achilles, seeing, pitied him, and\naddressing him, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cWhy weepest thou, O Patroclus, as an infant girl, who, running along\nwith her mother, importunes to be taken up, catching her by the robe,\nand detains her hastening; and weeping, looks at her [mother] till she\nis taken up?\u2014like unto her, O Patroclus, dost thou shed the tender\ntear. Dost thou bear any tidings to the Myrmidons, or to me myself? Or\nhast thou alone heard any news from Phthia? They say that, indeed,\nMen\u0153tius, the son of Actor, still lives, and that Peleus, the son of\n\u00c6acus, lives amongst the Myrmidons: for deeply should we lament for\neither of them dying. Or dost thou mourn for the Greeks, because they\nthus perish at their hollow ships, on account of their injustice? Speak\nout, nor conceal it in thy mind, that we both may know.\u201d\n\nFootnote 508: (return)  Longus, iv. 7: \u0394\u03ac\u03ba\u03c1\u03c5\u03b1 \u1f26\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u03cd\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03bc\u03cc\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b1,\nwhich Mollus, referring to Homer, thus explains: \u201cLacrym\u00e6, qu\u00e6 ex magno\nimpetu, et animi affectu quasi calido, neutiquam simulat\u00e6\nprosiliebant.\u201d\n\nBut deeply sighing, O knight Patroclus, him thou didst address: \u201cO\nAchilles, son of Peleus, by far the bravest of the Greeks, be not\nindignant; since a grief so heavy does oppress the Greeks: for now all\nthey, as many as were formerly most valiant, lie in the ships, wounded\nor stricken. Brave Diomede, indeed, the son of Tydeus, is wounded, and\nspear-renowned Ulysses is stricken, as also Agamemnon; and Eurypylus is\nalso wounded in the thigh with an arrow. About these, indeed,\nphysicians skilled in many remedies are employed healing their wounds:\nbut thou, O Achilles, art inexorable. Never may such anger seize me at\nleast, as thee, O cruelly brave, dost preserve. What other after-born\nman will be defended by thee, if thou will not avert unworthy ruin from\nthe Greeks? merciless one! Certainly the knight Peleus was not thy\nfather, nor Thetis thy mother; but the grey 509 Ocean produced thee,\nand the lofty rocks; for thy mind is cruel. But if thou wouldst avoid\nany oracle in thy mind, and thy venerable mother has told any to thee\nfrom Jove, at least send me quickly, and at the same time give me the\nrest of the army of the Myrmidons, if perchance I may become any aid to\nthe Greeks. Grant me also to be armed on my shoulders with thy armour,\nif perchance the Trojans, likening me to thee, may cease from battle,\nand the warlike sons of the Greeks, now fatigued, breathe again; and\nthere be a short respite from war. 510 But we [who are] fresh, can\neasily repulse men worn out with battle from our ships and tents\ntowards the city.\u201d\n\nFootnote 509: (return)  Alluding to the colour of the ocean when\nruffled by a storm. With the following passage compare Theocrit. iii.\n15, sqq.; Eurip. Bacch. 971, sqq.; Virg. \u00c6n. iv. 365, sqq.; E\u03c8l. viii.\n43, sqq., with Macrob. Sat. v. 11.\n\nFootnote 510: (return)  Cf. xi. 800, with the note.\n\nThus he spoke, supplicating, very rash; for, assuredly, he was about to\nsupplicate for himself evil death and fate. Whom, deeply sighing,\nswift-footed Achilles addressed:\n\n\u201cAlas! most noble Patroclus, what hast thou said? I neither regard any\noracle which I have heard, nor has my venerable mother told anything to\nme from Jove. But this bitter grief comes upon my heart and soul, when\na man who excels in power, wishes to deprive his equal 511 of his\nportion, and to take back his reward because he excels in power.\u201d\n\nFootnote 511: (return)  _I.e._ in dignity.\n\n\u201cThis to me is a bitter grief, since I have suffered sorrows in my\nmind. The maid whom the sons of the Greeks selected as a reward for me,\nand [whom] I won by my spear, having sacked a well-fortified city, her\nhas king Agamemnon, son of Atreus, taken back out of my hands, as from\nsome dishonoured alien. But we shall allow these things to be among the\nthings that were; 512 nor is it right, indeed, to be continually\nenraged in one\u2019s mind. Certainly I affirmed that I would not put a stop\nto my wrath, before that clamour and war should reach my ships. But do\nthou put on thy shoulders my famous armour, and lead on the war-loving\nMyrmidons to battle; since now a black cloud of Trojans hath strongly\nsurrounded the ships, and the Greeks are hemmed in by the shore of the\nsea, possessing now but a small portion of land. And the whole city of\nthe Trojans has rushed on, confident, because they behold not the front\nof my helmet gleaming near. Certainly, quickly flying, would they have\nfilled the trenches with their bodies, if king Agamemnon had known\nmildness to me: but now they are fighting around the army. For the\nspear does not rage in the hands of Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to\navert destruction from the Greeks: nor do I at all hear the voice of\nAgamemnon shouting from his odious head; but [the voice] of\nman-slaughtering Hector, animating the Trojans, resounds: whilst they\nwith a shout possess the whole plain, conquering the Greeks in battle.\nYet even thus, Patroclus, do thou fall on them bravely, warding off\ndestruction from the ships; nor let them consume the vessels with\nblazing fire, and cut off thy own return. But obey, as I shall lay the\nsum of my advice in thy mind, in order that thou mayest obtain for me\ngreat honour and glory from all the Greeks; and they may send back to\nme the beautiful maid, and afford [me] besides rich presents. Having\nrepulsed the enemy from the ships, return back: and if, indeed, the\nloud-thundering husband of Juno permit thee to obtain glory, do not be\ndesirous of fighting with the warlike Trojans apart from me; for thou\nwouldst render me more dishonoured; nor, exulting in the battle and\nhavoc, lead on as far as Ilium, slaughtering the Trojans, lest some of\nthe immortal gods come down from Olympus [against thee]; for\nfar-darting Apollo greatly loves them. But return after thou hast given\nsafety to the ships, and allow the others to contend through the plain.\nFor would that, O father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, not one of the\nTrojans, as many as there are, may escape death, nor any of the Greeks:\nwhilst to us two it [may be granted] to avoid destruction, that we\nalone might overthrow the sacred bulwarks of Troy.\u201d\n\nFootnote 512: (return)  _I.e._ \u201cLet bygones be bygones.\u201d\u2014Dublin Ed.\n\nThus they indeed discussed these matters with each other. But Ajax no\nlonger remained firm, 513 for he was pressed hard with weapons; because\nthe counsel of Jove overpowered him, and the fierce Trojans hurling.\nAnd a dreadful clang did his glittering helmet round his temples emit,\nbeing struck, and he was constantly smitten upon the well-made studs of\nhis casque. He was fatigued in the left shoulder, by always firmly\nholding his moveable shield; nor could they, pressing him all around\nwith their weapons, drive him [from his place]. Unceasingly afflicted\nwas he with severe panting, and everywhere from his limbs poured\ncopious perspiration, nor was he able to respire; for everywhere evil\nwas heaped upon evil.\n\nFootnote 513: (return)  Compare the splendid description in Ennius apud\nMacrob. Sat. vi. 3:\u2014\n\n   Undique conveniunt, vel imber, tela Tribuno.\n   Configunt parmam, tinnit hastilibus umbo,\n   \u00c6rat\u00e6 sonitant gale\u00e6: sed nec pote quisquam\n   Undique nitendo corpus discerpere ferro.\n   Semper abundanteis hastas frangitque, quatitque,\n   Totum sudor habet corpus, multumque laborat:\n   Nec respirandi fit copia pr\u00e6pete ferro.\n\n\nCf. Virg. \u00c6n. ix. 806, sqq.; Stat. Theb. ii. 668, sqq.\n\nDeclare now to me, ye Muses, possessing Olympic habitations, how first\nthe fire fell upon the ships of the Greeks!\n\nHector, standing near, struck the ashen spear of Ajax with his great\nsword, at the socket of the blade behind, and cut it quite off;\nTelamonian Ajax indeed vainly brandished the mutilated spear in his\nhand; but the brazen blade rang, falling upon the earth at a distance\nfrom him. Then Ajax knew in his blameless soul, and shuddered at the\ndeeds of the gods; because the lofty thundering Jove cut off his plans\nof war, and willed the victory to the Trojans. Wherefore he retired out\nof the reach of the weapons, and they hurled the indefatigable fire at\nthe swift ships, the inextinguishable flame of which was immediately\ndiffused around. Thus indeed the flame surrounded the stern; but\nAchilles, smiting his thighs, addressed Patroclus:\n\n\u201cHaste, O most noble steed-directing Patroclus (I perceive, indeed, the\nfury of the hostile fire at the ships), lest they now take the vessels,\nand there be not an opportunity of flying; put on thy armour very\nquickly, and I shall assemble the forces.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but Patroclus armed himself in glittering brass. First,\nindeed, he put the beautiful greaves around his legs, fitted with\nclasps; next he placed the corslet of the swift-footed descendant of\n\u00c6acus upon his breast, variegated, and studded with stars; and\nsuspended from his shoulders his silver-studded sword, brazen, and then\nthe great and sturdy shield. But upon his gallant head he placed the\nwell-made helmet, crested with horse-hair; and dreadfully the plume\nnodded from above. He took besides two strong spears, which well fitted\nhis hands; but the spear alone of blameless \u00c6acides, ponderous, large,\nand strong, he did not take; which, indeed, no other of the Greeks\ncould brandish, but Achilles alone knew how to wield it; a Pelian ash\nwhich Chiron had given to his sire, [cut] from the tops of Pelion,\nabout to be death to heroes. He also commanded Automedon quickly to\nyoke the steeds, whom, next to rank-breaking Achilles, he most\nhonoured, because he was most faithful to him in battle, to stand the\ncharge. Wherefore Automedon yoked the fleet horses, Xanthus and Balius,\nwhich kept pace with the winds. Them the Harpy Podarg\u00e9 bore to\nZephyrus, the wind, while feeding in the meadows by the stream of\nOceanus. And in the outer harness he fastened illustrious Pedasus, whom\nAchilles led away long since, having sacked the city of E\u00ebtion; and\nwhich [steed], though being mortal, accompanied immortal steeds. But\nAchilles, going about, armed all the Myrmidons through the tents with\ntheir armour; but they, like carnivorous wolves, in whose hearts is\nimmense strength, and which, having slain a great horned stag in the\nmountains, tearing, devour it; but the jaws of all are red with blood:\nand then they rush in a pack, lapping with slender tongues the surface\nof the dark water from a black-water fountain, vomiting forth clots of\nblood; but the courage in their breasts is dauntless, and their stomach\nis distended: so rushed the leaders and chiefs of the Myrmidons round\nthe brave attendant of swift-footed \u00c6acides, and amongst them stood\nwarlike Achilles, animating both the steeds and the shield-bearing\nwarriors.\n\nFifty were the swift galleys which Achilles, dear to Jove, led to Troy;\nand in each were fifty men, companions at the benches. But he had\nappointed five leaders, in whom he put trust, to command them; and he\nhimself, being very powerful, governed. One troop indeed Menesthius,\nwith flexible corslet, commanded, the son of Sperchius, a\nJove-descended river; whom the daughter of Peleus, fair Polydora, bore\nto indefatigable Sperchius, a woman having been embraced by a god;\nalthough, according to report, to Borus, son of Perieres, who openly\nespoused her, giving infinite marriage gifts. But warlike Eudorus\ncommanded another [company], clandestinely begotten, whom Polymela, the\ndaughter of Phylas, graceful in the dance, bore. Her the powerful\nslayer of Argus 514 loved, beholding her with his eyes among the\ndancers at a choir of golden-bowed Diana, huntress-maid; and\nimmediately ascending to an upper chamber, pacific Mercury secretly lay\nwith her: whence she bore to him a son, Eudorus, swift to run, and also\na warrior. But after that birth-presiding Ilithyia had brought him into\nlight, and he beheld the splendour of the sun, the mighty strength of\nEchecleus, son of Actor, led her to his house when he had given\ninnumerable marriage-gifts; whilst aged Phylas carefully nurtured and\neducated him, tenderly loving him, as if being his own son. The third,\nwarlike Pisander led, the son of M\u00e6malus, who, after the companion of\nthe son of Peleus, surpassed all the Myrmidons in fighting with the\nspear. The fourth, the aged knight Ph\u0153nix commanded; and Alcimedon, the\nillustrious son of La\u00ebrceus, the fifth. But when Achilles, marshalling\nthem well, had placed all with their leaders, he enjoined this strict\ncommand:\n\n\u201cYe Myrmidons, let none of you be forgetful of the threats with which,\nat the swift ships, ye did threaten the Trojans, during all my\nindignation, and blamed me, each of you [in this manner]: \u2018O cruel son\nof Peleus! surely thy mother nurtured thee in wrath: relentless! thou\nwho at the ships detainest thy companions against their will. Let us at\nleast return home again in our sea-traversing barks, since pernicious\nwrath has thus fallen upon thy mind.\u2019 These things ye frequently said\nto me, when assembled; and now the great task of war appears, of which\nye were hitherto desirous. Let each one here, having a valiant heart,\nfight against the Trojans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 514: (return)  Mercury.\n\nThus speaking, he aroused the might and spirit of each, and their ranks\nwere condensed the more when they heard the king. As when a man\nconstructs the wall of a lofty mansion with closely-joined stones,\nguarding against the violence of the winds, so closely were their\nhelmets and bossed shields linked: then shield pressed upon shield,\nhelmet upon helmet, and man upon man; and the horse-hair crests upon\nthe shining cones of [their helmets] nodding, touched each other; so\nclose stood they to each other. Before all were armed two warriors.\nPatroclus and Automedon, having one mind, to fight in the front of the\nMyrmidons. But Achilles hastened to go into his tent; and he opened the\nlid of a chest, beautiful, variously adorned, which silver-footed\nThetis placed, to be carried in his ship, having filled it well with\ngarments, and wind-resisting cloaks, and napped tapestry. And in it was\na cup curiously wrought, nor did any other of men drink dark wine from\nit, nor did he pour out [from it] libations to any of the gods, except\nto father Jove. This then, taking from the coffer, he first purified\nwith sulphur, and then washed in a crystal rivulet of water; but he\nhimself washed his hands, and drew off the dark wine. Next, standing in\nthe middle of the area, he prayed, and offered a libation of wine,\nlooking up to heaven; nor did he escape the notice of thunder-rejoicing\nJove:\n\n\u201cO king Jove, Dodonean, Pelasgian, dwelling afar off, presiding over\nwintry Dodona; but around dwell thy priests, the Selli, with unwashed\nfeet, and sleeping upon the ground; certainly thou didst formerly hear\nmy voice when praying: thou hast honoured me, and hast greatly injured\nthe people of the Greeks; wherefore now also accomplish this additional\nrequest for me; for I myself will remain in the assemblage 515 of\nships, but I am sending forth my companion with the numerous Myrmidons\nto battle; along with him, do thou send forth glory, O far-sounding\nJove! embolden his heart within his breast, that even Hector may know\nwhether my attendant, even when alone, knows how to wage war, or [only]\nwhen these invincible hands rage with him, when I likewise go forth to\nthe slaughter of Mars. But after he has repelled the contest and the\ntumult from the ships, unscathed let him return to me, to the swift\nbarks, with all his armour and his close-fighting companions.\u201d\n\nFootnote 515: (return)  So \u03b8\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd \u1f00\u03b3\u1ff6\u03bd\u03b1, vi. 298. The Scholiast\ninterprets it \u1f10\u03bd \u03bd\u03b1\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03b8\u03bc\u1ff3.\n\nThus he spoke, praying; and provident Jove heard him. One part indeed\nthe Sire granted him, but refused the other. He granted that he should\nrepel the conflict and tumult from the ships, but he refused that he\nshould return safe from the battle. He, on his part, having made a\nlibation and prayed to father Jove, again entered his tent, and\nreplaced the cup in the chest. Then coming out, he stood before the\ntent, for he still wished in his mind to behold the grievous conflict\nof Trojans and Greeks.\n\nBut those that were armed at the same time with magnanimous Patroclus,\nmarched orderly, till they rushed upon the Trojans, with high hopes.\nImmediately they were poured out, like unto wasps dwelling by the\nroad-side, which silly boys are wont to irritate, incessantly harassing\nthem, possessing cells by the way-side; and cause a common evil to\nmany. And if by chance any traveller, passing by, unintentionally\ndisturb them, then they, possessing a valiant heart, all fly forth, and\nfight for their young. The Myrmidons then, having the heart and courage\nof these, poured out from the ships, and an inextinguishable tumult\narose. But Patroclus cheered on his companions, loudly shouting:\n\n\u201cYe Myrmidons, companions of Achilles, the son of Peleus, be men, my\nfriends, and be mindful of impetuous valour; that we, his\nclose-fighting servants, may honour the son of Peleus, who is by far\nthe bravest of the Greeks at the ships; and that the son of Atreus,\nwide-ruling Agamemnon, may know his fault, that he nothing honoured the\nbravest of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus speaking, he aroused the might and spirits of each: and in dense\narray they fell upon the Trojans: but the ships re-echoed dreadfully\naround from the Greeks shouting. But the Trojans, when they beheld the\nbrave son of Men\u0153tius, himself and his attendant glittering in arms,\nthe mind to all of them was disturbed, and the phalanxes were deranged,\ndeeming that the swift-footed son of Peleus at the ships had cast away\nhis wrath, and resumed friendship: then each one gazed about where he\nmight escape utter destruction.\n\nBut Patroclus first took aim with his shining spear from the opposite\nside right into the midst, where they were huddled together in greatest\nnumbers at the stern of the ship of magnanimous Protesilaus, and\nwounded Pyr\u00e6chmes, who led the P\u00e6onian equestrian warriors from Amydon,\nfrom the wide-flowing Axius. Him he smote upon the right shoulder, and\nhe fell on his back in the dust groaning; but the P\u00e6onians, his\ncompanions, were put to flight around him, for Patroclus caused fear to\nthem all, having slain their leader, who was very brave to fight. And\nhe drove them from the ships, and extinguished the blazing fire. But\nthe ship was left there half-burnt, whilst the Trojans were routed with\na prodigious tumult: and the Greeks were poured forth amongst the\nhollow ships; and mighty confusion was created. And as when, from the\nlofty summit of a great mountain, 516 lightning-driving Jove dislodges\na dense cloud, and all the eminences and highest ridges and glens\nappear, whilst the boundless \u00e6ther is burst open 517 throughout the\nheaven; so the Greeks respired for a little, having repelled the\nhostile fire from their vessels. But of battle there was no cessation:\nfor the Trojans were by no means yet totally routed from the black\nships by the warlike Greeks, but still resisted, and retreated from the\nships from necessity. Then of the generals, man slew man, the fight\nbeing scattered; and first, the brave son of Men\u0153tius forthwith with\nhis sharp spear smote the thigh of Are\u00eflochus when turned about, and\ndrove the brass quite through: but the spear broke the bone, and he\nfell prone upon the earth. But warlike Menelaus then wounded Thoas in\nthe breast, exposed near the shield, and relaxed his limbs. But\nPhylides, perceiving Amphiclus rushing against him, anticipated him,\ntaking aim at the extremity of his leg, where the calf of a man is\nthickest; the tendons were severed all round 518 by the point of the\nspear, and darkness overshadowed his eyes. Then the sons of Nestor, the\none, Antilochus, struck Atymnius with his sharp spear, and drove the\nbrazen lance through his flank; and he fell before him: but Maris,\nstanding before the carcase, rushed upon Antilochus hand to hand with\nhis spear, enraged on account of his brother; but godlike Thrasymedes,\ntaking aim, anticipated him before he had wounded [Antilochus], nor did\nhe miss him, [but wounded him] immediately near the shoulder; and the\npoint of the spear cut off the extremity of the arm from the muscles,\nand completely tore away the bone. Falling, he made a crash, and\ndarkness veiled his eyes. Thus to Erebus went these two, subdued by two\nbrothers, the brave companions of Sarpedon, the spear-renowned sons of\nAmisodarus, who nourished the invincible 519 Chim\u00e6ra, a destruction to\nmany men. But Ajax, the son of O\u00efleus, rushing upon Cleobulus, took him\nalive, impeded in the crowd; and there relaxed his strength, striking\nhim upon the neck with his hilted sword. And the whole sword was warmed\nover with blood, and purple 520 death and stern fate possessed his\neyes.\n\nFootnote 516: (return)  Milton, P.L. ii. 488:\u2014\n\n   \u201cAs when from mountain tops the dusky clouds\n    Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o\u2019er-spread\n    Heav\u2019n\u2019s cheerful face, the louring element\n    Scowls o\u2019er the darkened landskip snow, or shower;\n    If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet\n    Extend his evening beam, the fields revive,\n    The birds their notes renew and bleating herds\n    Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 517: (return)  Virg. \u00c6n. i. 591:\u2014\n\n   \u201cVix ea fatus erat, cum circumfusa repente\n    Scindit se nubes, et in \u00e6thera purgat apertum.\u201d\n\n\n   Cf. Drakenb. on Silius, iii. 196; Kuinoel on Matth. iii. 16; Acts\n   vii. 55.\n\nFootnote 518: (return)  Heyne would construe \u03b1\u1f30\u03c7\u03bc\u1fc7 with \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76, referring\nto viii. 86; xiii. 441, 570; Pind. Nem. viii. 40.\n\nFootnote 519: (return)  On the adjective \u1f00\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1\u03ba\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd, see intpp. on\nSoph. \u0152d. R. 176; \u0152d. Col. 127.\n\nFootnote 520: (return)  _I.e._ \u201catra mors,\u201d Tibull. i. 3, 5. Cf. vs.\n370: \u0398\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd \u03bd\u03ad\u03c6\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nThen Peneleus and Lycon engaged in close combat, for they had missed\neach other with their spears, and both had hurled in vain; 521\ntherefore they ran on again with their swords; then Lycon on his part\nstruck the cone of the horse-hair-crested helmet, and the sword was\nbroken at the hilt.\n\nFootnote 521: (return)  On \u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2 see Kennedy. Suidas: \u1f49 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd  \u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03c4\u1f74\u03c2\n(_i.e._ Homer) \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f10\u03bd\u03b4\u03ad\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78 \u039c\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f31 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u1f76, \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u1fe6\u00b7 So Hesych. \u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2\u2019 \u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nBut Peneleus smote him in the neck below the ear, and the whole sword\nentered, and the skin alone retained it: the head hung down, and his\nlimbs were relaxed.\n\nMeriones also, overtaking him with rapid feet, wounded Acamas in the\nright shoulder, as he was about to ascend his chariot; and he fell from\nhis chariot, and darkness was poured over his eyes.\n\nBut Idomeneus struck Erymas in the mouth with the pitiless brass; and\nthe brazen weapon passed right through from the opposite side down\nunder the brain, and then cleft the white bones. And his teeth were\ndashed out, and both eyes were filled with gore, which, gaping, he\nforced 522 out from his mouth and from his nostrils; and the black\ncloud of death enveloped him. Thus these leaders of the Greeks slew\neach a man. And as destructive wolves impetuously rush on lambs or\nkids, snatching them from the flocks, which are dispersed upon the\nmountains by the negligence of the shepherd; but they, perceiving them,\nimmediately tear in pieces them, having an unwarlike heart: so did the\nGreeks rush upon the Trojans, but they were mindful of dire-sounding\nflight, and forgot resolute valour. But mighty Ajax ever longed to aim\nhis javelin at brazen-armed Hector; but he, from his skill in war,\ncovering himself as to his broad shoulders with a bull\u2019s-hide shield,\nwatched the hissing of the arrows and the whizzing of the javelins.\nAlready indeed he knew the victory of battle was inclining to the other\nside; yet even thus he remained, and saved his beloved companions.\n\nFootnote 522: (return)  Made to rush with a bubbling noise, the verb\nhere \u201cexpressing the _violent streaming_ of a liquid.\u201d See Buttm.\nLexil. p. 484; and compare my note on \u00c6sch. Ag. p. 137, n. 2, ed. Bohn.\n\nAnd as when from Olympus comes a cloud into heaven, 523 after a clear\nsky, when Jove stretches forth a whirlwind, thus was the clamour and\nrout of those [flying] from the ships. Nor did they repass [the trench]\nin seemly plight, but his fleet-footed steeds bore away Hector with his\narms; and he deserted the Trojan people, whom against their will the\ndeep trench detained. And many fleet car-drawing steeds left in the\nfoss the chariots of their masters, broken at the extremity of the\npole. But Patroclus pursued, vehemently cheering on 524 the Greeks, and\ndevising destruction for the Trojans; but they, with clamour and rout,\nfilled all the ways after they were dispersed. A storm [of dust] was\ntossed up beneath the clouds, and the solid-hoofed horses pressed back\ntowards the city, from the ships and tents. But Patroclus, wherever he\nperceived the army in greatest confusion, thither directed [his\nsteeds], exclaiming in a threatening manner; whilst beneath his axles\nmen fell prone from their chariots, and the chariots were overturned.\nThen, from the opposite side, the fleet immortal steeds, which the gods\nhad given as splendid presents to Peleus, eagerly pressing on, bounded\nquite across the trench; for his mind urged him against Hector, for he\nlonged to strike him, but his swift horses kept bearing him away.\n\nFootnote 523: (return)  Heaven is here distinguished from Olympus, as\nin i. 597, and Tibull. iv. i. 131:\u2014\n\n   \u201cJupiter ipse levi vectus per inania curru\n    Adfuit, et c\u0153lo vicinum liquit Olympum.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 524: (return)  From this sense of \u03ba\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9 arises its nautical\nmeaning, also \u03ba\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u1f74\u03c2, the man who gives the signal and cheers on the\nrowers. See Mollus on Long. Past. iii. 14. So Athen\u00e6us, xii. p. 535:\n\u03a7\u03c1\u03c5\u03c3\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u1f24\u03c5\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03b7\u03c1\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03bd. \u039a\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b9\u03c0\u03af\u03b4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f41 \u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u1ff3\u03b4\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f10\u03ba\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03b5.\n\nAnd as beneath a whirlwind the whole dark earth is oppressed on an\nautumnal day, when Jove pours forth his most violent stream; when,\nforsooth, enraged he gives vent to his wrath against men, who by\nviolence decree perverse judgments in the assembly, and drive out\njustice, not regarding the vengeance of the gods; and all their rivers\nare flooded as they flow, and the torrents sever asunder many\nmountains, and flowing headlong into the dark sea, roar mightily, and\nthe husbandry-works 525 of men are diminished; so loudly moaned the\nTrojan mares running along. But Patroclus, when he had cut off the\nfirst phalanxes, drove them back again towards the ships, and did not\npermit them, desiring it, to ascend towards the city; but, pressing on,\nhe slew them between the ships, and the river, and the lofty wall, and\nhe exacted revenge for many. Then indeed he smote with his shining\nspear Pronous first, bared as to his breast beside the shield, and\nrelaxed his limbs: and falling, he gave a crash. But next, attacking\nThestor, son of Enops (who indeed sat huddled in his well-polished\nchariot, for he was panic-struck in his mind, and the reins had then\ndropped from his hands), he standing near, smote him with his spear on\nthe right cheek, and drove it through his teeth. Then catching the\nspear, he dragged him over the rim [of the chariot]; as when a man,\nsitting upon a jutting rock, [draws] with a line and shining brass 526\na large fish entirely out of the sea; so he dragged from his chariot\nwith his shining spear, him gaping. Then he hurled him upon his mouth,\nand life left him as he fell. Then next he struck with a stone on the\nmiddle of the head, Eryalus, rushing against him, and it was totally\nsplit asunder into two parts in his strong helmet. He therefore fell\nprone upon the earth, and fatal death was diffused around him.\nAfterwards Erymas, and Amphoterus, Epaltes, and Tlepolemus, son of\nDamastor, Echius and Pyris, Icheus, Eu\u00efppus, and Polymelus, son of\nArgeus, all one over the other he heaped upon the fertile earth.\n\nFootnote 525: (return)  For this agricultural use of \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1 cf. Oppian,\nCyn. ii. 151:  \u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b7 \u03b4\u2019 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1 \u03b2\u03bf\u1ff6\u03bd. Nicander, Ther. 473: \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1 \u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03c9\u03bd.\nVirg. Georg. i. 325: \u201cEt pluvia ingenti sata l\u00e6ta, boumque labores\ndiluit.\u201d\n\nFootnote 526: (return)  _I.e._ the hook. So \u201c\u00e6re, the brass cutwater,\u201d\nVirg. \u00c6n. i. 35.\n\nBut when Sarpedon perceived his loose-girt 527 companions subdued by\nthe hands of Patroclus, the son of Men\u0153tius, exhorting, he shouted to\nthe godlike Lycians:\n\n\u201cOh shame! Lycians, where do ye fly? 528 Now be strenuous: for I will\noppose this man, that I may know who he is who is victorious: and\ncertainly he has done many evils to the Trojans, since he has relaxed\nthe limbs of many and brave men.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and leaped from his chariot with his armour to the ground;\nbut Patroclus, on the other side, when he beheld him, sprang from his\ncar. Then they, as bent-taloned, crook-beaked vultures, loudly\nscreaming, fight upon a lofty rock, so they, shouting, rushed against\neach other. But the son of the wily Saturn, beholding them, felt\ncompassion, and addressed Juno, his sister and wife: 529\n\n\u201cO woe is me, because it is fated that Sarpedon, most dear to me of\nmen, shall be subdued by Patroclus, the son of Men\u0153tius. But to me,\nrevolving it in my mind, my heart is impelled with a twofold anxiety,\n530 either that having snatched him alive from the mournful battle, I\nmay place him among the rich people of Lycia, or now subdue him beneath\nthe hands of the son of Men\u0153tius.\u201d\n\nFootnote 527: (return)  \u03a4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03bc\u1f74 \u1f51\u03c0\u03bf\u03b6\u03c9\u03bd\u03bd\u03c5\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03bc\u03af\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2\n\u03c7\u03b9\u03c4\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd.\u2014Eustath.\n\nFootnote 528: (return)  Tzetzes on Hesiod, Opp. 184, reads \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd,\nobserving that it is \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b4\u03c5\u03ca\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u1fe6.\n\nFootnote 529: (return)  Virg. \u00c6n. i. 50: \u201cJovisque et soror et conjux.\u201d\nHor. Od. iii. 3, 64: \u201cConjuge me Jovis et sorore.\u201d A\u03b8son. 343, 4: \u201cEt\nsoror et conjux fratris regina dearum.\u201d\n\nFootnote 530: (return)  Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. iv. 285:\u2014\n\n  \u201cAtque animum nunc huc celerem, nune dividit illuc,\n    In partesque rapit varias, perque omnia versat.\u201d\n\n\n   x. 680. Ter. Andr. i. 5, 25. Ovid, Met. vii. 19; x. 373. Plato, Rep.\n   iii. p. 433, B. ed. L\u00e6m. finds great fault with Homer for thus\n   debasing the character of Jove. His remarks are reiterated by\n   Clemens Alexandr. Protr. p. 16, 50, and Minucius Felix, \u00a7 22.\n\nThen the large-eyed, venerable Juno answered: \u201cMost dread son of\nSaturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Whether dost thou wish to\nliberate from sad death a mortal man long since doomed to fate? Do so;\nbut all we, the other gods, will not assent to it. But another thing I\nwill tell thee, and do thou revolve it in thy mind. If indeed thou\nsendest this Sarpedon safe home, reflect whether some other of the gods\nmay not also wish to send his beloved son [safe home] from the violent\nconflict; for many sons of immortals fight round the great city of\nPriam, upon whom thou wilt bring heavy wrath. If, however, he be dear\nto thee, and thy heart pities him, let him indeed be subdued in the\nviolent conflict, beneath the hands of Patroclus, the son of Men\u0153tius:\nbut when his spirit and life shall have left him, send death and sweet\nsleep to bear him until they reach the people of expansive Lycia. There\nwill his brethren and friends perform his obsequies with a tomb and a\npillar; for this is the honour of the dead.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, nor did the father of gods and men disobey; but he\npoured down upon the earth bloody dew-drops, 531 honouring his beloved\nson, whom Patroclus was about to slay in fertile-soiled Troy, far away\nfrom his native land.\n\nFootnote 531: (return)  There is a similar prodigy in Hesiod, Scut.\nHere. 384: \u039a\u03ac\u03b4\u03b4\u2019 \u1f04\u03c1\u2019 \u1f00\u03c0\u2019 \u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03c8\u03b9\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b2\u03ac\u03bb\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u1f31\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03ad\u03c3\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2, \u03a3\u1fc6\u03bc\u03b1\n\u03c4\u03b9\u03b8\u03b5\u1f76\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03ad\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf \u1f11\u1ff7 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u03c3\u03ad\u03ca \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03af. Tzetzes there refers to the\npresent passage, regarding it as ominous of the death of Sarpedon. Cf.\nLomeier, De Lustrationibus, xii. p. 143.\n\nBut when, advancing, they were now near each other, then indeed\nPatroclus [struck] illustrious Thrasymelus, who was the brave companion\nof king Sarpedon, him he struck upon the lower part of the belly, and\nrelaxed his limbs. Then Sarpedon, attacking second, missed him with his\nsplendid javelin; but he wounded his horse Pedasus, with his spear, in\nthe right shoulder; but he groaned, breathing out his life, and fell in\nthe dust, moaning, and his spirit fled from him. But the two [other\nsteeds] leaped asunder, and the yoke crashed, and the reins were\nentangled about them, when the side horse lay in the dust. But\nspear-renowned Automedon found an end of this. Drawing his long sword\nfrom his robust thigh, rising, he cut away the farther horse, nor did\nhe act slothfully. And the two [remaining horses] were set aright, and\nwere directed by the reins; and they [the men] again engage in\nlife-devouring combat.\n\nThen again Sarpedon missed [him] with his shining spear, and the point\nof the weapon passed over the left shoulder of Patroclus, nor did it\nwound him. But Patroclus rushed on with his javelin, and the weapon did\nnot escape in vain from his hand, for he struck him where the midriff\nencloses the compact 532 heart. And he fell, as when falls some oak, or\npoplar, or lofty pine, which the workmen fell in the mountains with\nnewly-sharpened axes, to be a naval timber: so he lay stretched out\nbefore his horses and chariot, gnashing with his teeth, grasping the\nbloody dust. As a lion slays a bull, coming among a herd, tawny,\nnoble-spirited, among the stamping 533 oxen, and he perishes,\nbellowing, beneath the jaws of the lion; so the leader of the shielded\nLycians was indignant, 534 being slain by Patroclus, and addressed his\ndear companion by name:\n\nFootnote 532: (return)  \u201cBy comparing the different uses of \u1f00\u03b4\u03b9\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2\ntogether, one thing is clear, that all the meanings which can occur in\nthem, proceed from one, which is that in the epithet of the heart,\n_dense_ or _compact_, which physical idea the word retains, according\nto the Homeric usage, in Od. \u03c4. 516, as a fixed epithet of the heart,\nalthough there its physical state has nothing to do with the context.\u201d\nButtm. Lexil. p. 33.\n\nFootnote 533: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 267.\n\nFootnote 534: (return)  \u201cIndignata anima gemebat,\u201d\u2014Heyne, comparing \u00c6n.\nxii. Ult. \u201cVitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras.\u201d\n\n\u201cGlaucus, dear friend, warrior amongst heroes, now it greatly behoves\nthee to be a hero and a bold warrior; now if thou art impetuous, let\ndestructive battle be thy desire. First indeed, going in every\ndirection, exhort the leaders of the Lycians to fight around Sarpedon,\nand do thou thyself also fight for me with thy spear. For I will\nhereafter be a cause of shame and disgrace to thee, all thy days,\nthroughout, if indeed the Greeks despoil me of my armour, falling in\nthe conflict at the ships. But persevere, and animate all the army.\u201d\n\nWhile he was thus speaking, the end of death covered him as to his eyes\nand nostrils; but Patroclus, trampling with his heel upon his breast,\ndrew out the spear from his body, and the midriff 535 followed with it;\nand he drew out at the same time his life and the point of the weapon.\nBut the Myrmidons there held his panting steeds, eager to fly along,\nsince they had quitted the chariots of their lords. Then bitter grief\narose to Glaucus, hearing the voice [of his friend], and his heart was\ngrieved because he could not aid him. But grasping his own arm in his\nhand, he compressed it; for grievously the wound pained him, which\nTeucer, with an arrow, had inflicted upon him, as he was rushing\nagainst the lofty wall, warding off the battle from his companions.\nWherefore, praying, he addressed far-darting Apollo:\n\nFootnote 535: (return)  Probably the _pericardium_ is meant.\n\n\u201cHear, O king, thou who art somewhere in the rich state of Lycia, or in\nTroy; for thou canst everywhere hear a man afflicted, as sorrow now\ncomes upon me. For indeed I have this grievous wound, and my hand is\npenetrated on every side with acute pains, nor can the blood be\nstanched, but my shoulder is oppressed with it. For neither can I\nfirmly I hold my spear, nor, advancing, fight with the enemy; moreover\na very brave hero has fallen, Sarpedon, the son of Jove; but he aids\nnot even his own son. But heal for me this severe wound, O king;\nassuage my pains, and grant me strength, that, cheering on my\ncompanions, the Lycians, I may urge them to fight; and may myself fight\nfor the dead body.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke praying; but Ph\u0153bus Apollo heard him. Immediately he\nallayed the pains, and dried the black gore from the grievous wound,\nand instilled strength into his soul. But Glaucus knew in his mind, and\nrejoiced because the mighty god had quickly heard him praying. First\nthen, going about in all directions, he aroused the heroes, leaders of\nthe Lycians, to fight for Sarpedon; and then he went to the Trojans,\nadvancing with long strides to Polydamas, son of Panthous, and noble\nAgenor. He also went after \u00c6neas and brazen-armed Hector, and, standing\nnear, addressed to him winged words:\n\n\u201cO Hector, now hast thou altogether neglected thine allies, who are\nlosing their lives for thy sake, far away from their friends and\nfather-land; but thou dost not wish to aid them. Sarpedon lies low, the\nleader of the shield-bearing Lycians, who protected Lycia by his\njustice and his valour. Him hath brazen Mars subdued with a spear at\nthe hands of Patroclus. But stand near, my friends, and be indignant in\nyour minds, lest the Myrmidons spoil his armour, and unworthily treat\nthe body, enraged on account of the Greeks, as many as have perished,\nwhom we have slain with our spears at the ships.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but intolerable, unyielding grief wholly possessed the\nTrojans, for he had been a pillar of their city, though being a\nforeigner; for many forces followed along with him, among whom he\nhimself was the most valiant in battle. They therefore advanced eagerly\nstraight against the Greeks, ardent with desire; but Hector led the\nway, enraged on account of Sarpedon. But the valiant heart of\nPatroclus, son of Men\u0153tius, aroused the Greeks. First he addressed the\nAjaces, though they themselves were also eager:\n\n\u201cO Ajaces, now let it be a delightful thing to you both to repel [the\nfoe]; be ye such as of old ye were amongst heroes, or even braver.\nSarpedon lies low, the man who first broke through 536 the wall of the\nGreeks. But oh! that taking him, we could treat him with indignity, and\nspoil the armour from his shoulders, and subdue with the cruel brass\nsome one of his companions keeping [us] off from him.\u201d\n\nFootnote 536: (return)  We must understand him as having done so in\ncompany with Hector, otherwise this passage would be at variance with\nxii. 290, 437.\n\nThus he spoke; but they also themselves were ready to repel [the foe].\nBut when they had strengthened their phalanxes on both sides, the\nTrojans and Lycians, as well as the Myrmidons and Ach\u00e6ans, they closed\nto fight round the dead body, shouting dreadfully, and loudly rattled\nthe arms of men. But Jove stretched pernicious night over the violent\ncontest, that there might be a destructive toil of battle around his\ndear son. The Trojans first drove back the rolling-eyed Greeks; for a\nman was smitten, by no means the most inferior among the Myrmidons,\nnoble Epigeus, son of magnanimous Agacles, who formerly ruled in\nwell-inhabited Budium; but then having slain a noble kinsman, he came\nas a suppliant to Peleus and silver-footed Thetis: they sent him to\nfollow with the rank-breaker Achilles, to steed-renowned Ilium, that he\nmight fight with the Trojans. Him then, while seizing the body,\nillustrious Hector struck upon the head with a stone; and it was\nentirely split in two in his strong helmet; and he fell prone upon the\ncorpse, and soul-destroying death was diffused around him. Then to\nPatroclus grief arose, on account of his companion slain; and he rushed\nright through the foremost warriors, like unto a swift hawk, which has\nput to flight jackdaws or starlings; so, O equestrian Patroclus, didst\nthou rush right against the Lycians and Trojans; for thou wert enraged\nin thine heart for thy companion. And he struck Sthenelaus, the beloved\nson of Ith\u00e6meneus, on the neck with a stone, and broke his tendons: and\nthe foremost warriors and illustrious Hector gave back. And as far as\nis the cast of a long javelin, which a man may have sent forth striving\neither in the game, or even in war, on account of life-destroying\nenemies; so far did the Trojans retire, and the Greeks repelled them.\nBut Glaucus, the leader of the shield-bearing Lycians, first turned,\nand slew magnanimous Bathycles, the beloved son of Chalcon, who,\ninhabiting dwellings in Hellas, was conspicuous among the Myrmidons for\nhis riches and wealth. Him then Glaucus, turning suddenly round,\nwounded in the middle of the breast with his spear, when, pursuing, he\nhad overtaken him. But he made a crash as he fell; and deep grief\npossessed the Greeks, because a brave warrior had thus fallen; but the\nTrojans greatly rejoiced, and, advancing in crowds, stood round him;\nnor were the Greeks forgetful of valour, but they directed their\nstrength straight against them. Then again Meriones slew a hero of the\nTrojans, the warrior Laogonus, the gallant son of Onetor, who was the\npriest of Id\u00e6an Jove, and was honoured like a god by the people. He\nsmote him under the jaw and ear, and his soul immediately departed from\nhis limbs, and dreadful darkness overshadowed him. 537 But \u00c6neas hurled\na brazen spear at Meriones, for he hoped to hit him, advancing under\nprotection of his shield. He, however, observing it in front, avoided\nthe brazen spear; for he stooped forward, and the long javelin was\nfixed in the ground behind him, and the nether point 538 of the spear\nwas shaken; then the rapid weapon spent its force. Thus the javelin of\n\u00c6neas, quivering entered the earth, for it had fled in vain from his\nstrong hand. Then \u00c6neas was enraged in his mind, and said:\n\n\u201cMeriones, quickly indeed, although being a dancer, 539 would my spear\nhave made thee cease for ever, if I had struck thee.\u201d\n\nFootnote 537: (return)  It has been well observed that Homer never\ndescribes a wound as mortal, except when it is inflicted in a part\nreally vital.\n\nFootnote 538: (return)  The \u03bf\u1f50\u03c1\u03af\u03b1\u03c7\u03bf\u03c2 was the same as the \u03c3\u03b1\u03c5\u03c1\u03c9\u03c4\u1f74\u03c1. See\nGloss\u00e6 Herodote\u00e6, and Hesych. p. 820.\n\nFootnote 539: (return)  A probable allusion to the Pyrrhic dance, which\nwas in use among the Cretans, from whose country Meriones had come. See\nthe Scholiast, and M\u00fcller, Dorians, vol. ii, p. 349.\n\nBut him then in turn spear-renowned Meriones answered: \u201c\u00c6neas, it were\ndifficult for thee, although being brave, to extinguish the valour of\nall men, whosoever may come against thee about to repulse thee; for\nthou too art mortal. And if I, taking aim, should strike thee in the\nmiddle with my sharp spear, although being brave, and confiding in thy\nmight, thou wouldst give glory to me, but thy soul to steed-famed\nPluto.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but him the brave son of Men\u0153tius rebuked: \u201cMeriones,\nwhy dost thou, although being brave, harangue thus? O, my friend, the\nTrojans will not retire from the corse by opprobrious words: first will\nthe earth possess some of them; for the emergency of battle is placed\nin the hands, but of counsel in words; wherefore it is by no means\nnecessary to multiply words, but to fight.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he on his part led the way, and along with him the godlike\nhero followed. And as the crash of woodcutting men arises in the dells\nof a mountain, and the sound is heard from afar; so the noise of these,\nsmitten with swords and two-edged spears, arose from the wide-extended\nplain, from brass, from leather, and from well-prepared bull\u2019s-hide\nshields. Nor would a man, although very discerning, have recognized\nnoble Sarpedon, since he was totally involved, from his head to the\nsoles of his feet, with weapons, and blood, and dust. But they still\ncrowded round the corse, as when flies in the stall hum around the\npails full of milk, during the spring season, when the milk makes moist\nthe vessel. So they still crowded round the body: nor did Jove ever\nturn his bright eyes from the violent conflict; but he ever beheld\nthem, and meditated many evil things in his mind concerning the death\nof Patroclus, anxiously deliberating whether now illustrious Hector\nshould kill him with his spear in the brave battle, over godlike\nSarpedon, and spoil the armour from his shoulders, or whether he should\nstill increase the severe labour to the multitude. To him, thus\nreflecting, it appeared better that the brave servant of Achilles, the\nson of Peleus, should repulse the Trojans and brazen-armed Hector,\ntowards the city, and take away the life of many. Into Hector,\ntherefore, first [of all], he sent unwarlike flight, and ascending his\nchariot, he turned himself to flight, and advised the other Trojans to\nfly, for he recognized the sacred scales of Jove. 540 Then not even the\nbrave Lycians remained, but were all turned in flight, when they beheld\ntheir king wounded to the heart, lying in the heap of dead; for many\nhad fallen over him, whilst the son of Saturn stretched on the violent\nstrife. But after they had taken from the shoulders of Sarpedon the\nbrazen and glittering armour, the gallant son of Men\u0153tius gave them to\nhis companions to carry to the hollow ships; and then cloud-compelling\nJove addressed Apollo:\n\n\u201cCome now, dear Ph\u0153bus, going, cleanse Sarpedon, [withdrawn] from among\nthe heap of weapons, of sable gore, and afterwards bearing him far\naway, lave him in the stream of the river, and anoint him with\nambrosia, and put around him immortal garments, then give him in charge\nto the twin-brothers. Sleep and Death, swift conductors, to be borne\naway, who will quickly place him in the rich state of wide Lycia. There\nwill his brethren and kindred perform his obsequies with a tomb and a\npillar, 541 for this is the honour of the dead.\u201d\n\nFootnote 540: (return)  _I.e._ He perceived that the fortune of the\nbattle was changed by the will of Jove.\n\nFootnote 541: (return)  _I.e._ A cippus, or column reared upon the\ntomb. See Pollux, viii. 14, and the Scriptores Rei Agrim. p. 88, ed.\nGoes.\n\nThus he spoke; nor was Apollo inattentive to his father, but he\ndescended from the Id\u00e6an mountains to the grievous conflict.\nImmediately removing noble Sarpedon out of [the reach of] weapons, and\nbearing him far away, he laved him in the stream of the river, anointed\nhim with ambrosia, and placed around him immortal garments, then gave\nhim in charge to the twin-brothers, Sleep and Death, swift conductors,\nto be borne away with them; who accordingly quickly placed him in the\nrich state of wide Lycia.\n\nIn the meantime Patroclus, cheering on his steeds, and Automedon,\nfollowed upon the Trojans and Lycians, and came to great\nharm,\u2014infatuate one!\u2014but if he had observed the direction of the son of\nPeleus, he had certainly escaped the evil fate of black death. But the\ncounsel of Jove is ever better than that of men, who puts to flight\neven the valiant man, and easily deprives him of victory, even when he\nhimself has impelled him to fight; who then also excited courage in his\nbreast. Then whom first, and whom last, didst thou slay, O Patroclus,\nwhen the gods now called thee on to death? Adrastus indeed first,\nAutonous and Echeclus, and Perimus, son of Megas, and Epistor and\nMelanippus; but then Elasus, and Mulius, and Pylartes. These he slew,\nbut the others were, each of them, mindful of flight. Then indeed had\nthe sons of the Greeks taken lofty-gated Troy, by the hands of\nPatroclus, for he raged greatly beyond [others] with his spear, had not\nPh\u0153bus Apollo stood upon a well-built tower, meditating destructive\nthings to him, and assisting the Trojans. Thrice indeed Patroclus\nmounted a buttress of the lofty wall, and thrice did Apollo repel him\nwith violence, striking his glittering shield with his immortal hands.\nBut when now, godlike, he rushed on the fourth time, far-casting\nApollo, threatening fearfully, addressed him:\n\n\u201cRetire, thou Jove-sprung Patroclus; by no means is it destined that\nthe city of the magnanimous Trojans should be destroyed by thy spear,\nnor by Achilles, who is much better than thou.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, but Patroclus retired far back, avoiding the wrath of\nfar-darting Apollo. But Hector detained his steeds at the Sc\u00e6an 542\ngates; for he doubted whether, having driven again into the crowd, he\nshould fight, or should loudly command the people to be collected\nwithin the walls. To him then, meditating these things, Ph\u0153bus Apollo\nstood near, having assimilated himself to a hero youthful and brave, to\nAsius, who was the maternal uncle of horse-breaking Hector, own brother\nof Hecuba, and the son of Dymas, who dwelt in Phrygia, by the streams\nof the Sangarius: to him Ph\u0153bus Apollo, assimilating himself, spoke:\n\nFootnote 542: (return)  Schneider on Nicander, Ther. 264-9, p. 229,\nobserves: \u201cIn Homerica Iliade fuerunt olim qui \u03a3\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u1f70\u03c2 \u03c0\u03cd\u03bb\u03b1\u03c2, qu\u00e6 alibi\nDardani\u00e6 dicuntur, interpretabantur obliquas, teste Hesychio: \u1f22 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78\n\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u1f70\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f36\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c3\u03b2\u03bf\u03bb\u03ae\u03bd. Plane uti Servius ad \u00c6n. iii. 351:\n\u2018Sc\u00e6a porta dicta est\u2014nec ab itinere ingressis sc\u00e6vo id est sinistro,\nquod ingressi non recto sed sinistro eunt itinere, sed a cadavere\nLaomedontis, hoc est sc\u00e6omate, quod in ejus fuerit superliminio.\u2019 Ita\nVitruvius, i. 5, 2; unde vides, quomodo notio _sinistri_ et _obliqui_\nin hac voce coaluerit. Notio ipsa serius tandem invaluisse videtur:\nantiquiorem enim Nicandreo locum ignore.\u201d\n\n\u201cHector, why dost thou cease from battle? Nor does it at all become\nthee. Would that I were so much superior to thee as I am inferior; then\nindeed wouldst thou quickly have retired from the battle to thy loss.\nBut come, direct thy solid-hoofed steeds against Patroclus, if\nperchance thou mayest slay him, and Apollo may give thee glory.\u201d So\nsaying, the god on his part went again through the labour of men; but\nillustrious Hector on his part commanded warlike Cebriones to lash on\nhis steeds to the battle, whilst Apollo, proceeding, entered the\nthrong; and sent an evil tumult among the Greeks; but gave glory to the\nTrojans and Hector. Then indeed did Hector neglect the other Greeks,\nnor slew them; but directed his solid-hoofed horses against Patroclus.\nBut Patroclus, on the other side, leaped from his chariot to the\nground, in his left hand holding his spear; but in the other he seized\na stone, white, rugged, which his hand embraced around. Putting his\nforce to it, he hurled it; nor did it err far from the man, nor was the\nweapon hurled in vain, 543 for in the forehead with the sharp stone he\nsmote the charioteer of Hector, Cebriones, the illegitimate son of\nillustrious Priam, whilst holding the reins of the horses. But the\nstone crushed both his eyebrows, nor did the bone sustain it, and his\neyes fell amid the dust upon the ground before his feet. But he then,\nlike unto a diver, fell from the well-formed chariot-seat, and life\nleft his bones. But him insulting, thou didst address, O equestrian\nPatroclus:\n\nFootnote 543: (return)  See Kennedy. Others make \u03b2\u03ad\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 the accusative,\nand take \u1f01\u03bb\u03af\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5 transitively.\n\n\u201cO gods! truly he is a very active man! how nimbly he dives! if indeed\nhe were anywhere in the fishy sea, this man, groping for oysters, might\nhave satisfied many, plunging from his ship, although it might be\nstormy; so easily now in the plain does he dive from his chariot!\nWithout doubt there are divers among the Trojans.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he advanced against the hero Cebriones, having the force of\na lion, which, ravaging the folds, is wounded in the breast, and his\nown courage destroys him; thus, O Patroclus, ardent, didst thou spring\nupon Cebriones; whilst Hector, on the other side, leaped from his\nchariot to the ground. These two, as lions, fought for Cebriones, when\nboth being hungry fight with utmost courage for a slaughtered stag in\nmountain tops. So, for Cebriones, these two masters of the fight,\nPatroclus, son of Men\u0153tius, and illustrious Hector, wished to rend each\nother\u2019s body with the pitiless brass. Hector indeed, after he seized\nhim by the head, did not let him go; but Patroclus, on the other side,\nheld [him by the] foot; and now the rest of the Trojans and Greeks\nengaged in the violent conflict.\n\nAnd as the East and South winds strive with each other, in the dells of\na mountain, to shake a deep wood, beech, ash, and rugged cornel, but\nthey strike their long-extended boughs against each other with an\nimmense sound, and a crash of them breaking [arises]; thus the Trojans\nand Greeks, leaping upon each other, slaughtered, but neither were\nmindful of pernicious flight. And many sharp spears were fixed round\nCebriones, and winged arrows bounding from the string; and many huge\nstones smote the shields of those fighting round him; but he, mighty\nover mighty space, lay in a whirlwind of dust, forgetful of his\nequestrian skill.\n\nAs long indeed as the sun was ascending the middle heaven, so long did\nthe weapons reach both sides effectually, and the people kept falling.\nBut when the sun had passed over towards the west, then indeed the\nGreeks were superior, contrary to fate. They drew the hero Cebriones\nfrom the weapons, out of the tumult of Trojans, and took the armour\nfrom his shoulders. But Patroclus, devising evils against the Trojans,\nrushed on. Thrice then he charged, equal to swift Mars, shouting\nhorridly, and thrice he slew nine heroes. But when, like unto a god, he\nmade the attack for the fourth time, then indeed, O Patroclus, was the\nend of thy life manifest; for Ph\u0153bus, terrible in the dire battle, met\nthee. He did not indeed perceive him coming through the crowd, for he\nadvanced against him covered with much darkness; but he stood behind,\nand smote him with his flat hand upon the back and broad shoulders, and\nhis eyes were seized with giddiness. 544 And from his head Ph\u0153bus\nApollo struck the helmet, and the oblong helmet rattled, rolling under\nthe horses\u2019 feet, and the crest was defiled with blood and dust;\nalthough before this it was not permitted that [this] helmet, crested\nwith horse-hair, should be contaminated by the dust; for it protected\nthe head of a godlike hero, even the venerable forehead of Achilles;\nbut Jove then gave it to Hector to wear upon his head; but his\ndestruction was near. But the long-shadowed spear, great, sturdy,\npointed [with brass], was utterly shattered in his hands; whilst the\nshield, which reached to his heels, with its belt, fell to the ground;\nand king Apollo, the son of Jove, unbound his corslet. But stupor\nseized his brain, and his fair limbs were relaxed under him, and he\nstood astounded. But a Trojan, hero, Euphorbus, the son of Panthous,\nwho excelled those of his own age in the spear, in horsemanship, and in\nswiftness of foot, smote him close at hand with his sharp spear, in the\nback between the shoulders. For even before this he had hurled twenty\nmen from their horses, at first coming with his chariot, learning [the\nart] of war. He [it was] who first hurled a weapon at thee, O knight\nPatroclus, nor did he subdue thee; for he ran back, and was mingled\nwith the crowd, having plucked the ashen spear out of thy body; nor did\nhe await Patroclus, though being unarmed, in the fight. Patroclus,\nhowever, subdued by the blow of the god, and by the spear, retired into\nthe crowd of his companions, avoiding death. But Hector, when he\nperceived magnanimous Patroclus retiring, wounded with a sharp spear,\nwent through the ranks near him, and smote him with his javelin in the\nlowest part of the groin, and drove the brass quite through. Falling,\nhe gave a crash, and greatly grieved the people of the Greeks. As when\na lion presses on an unwearied boar in fight, and they twain, high\nspirited, contend upon the mountain tops for a small rill, for they\nboth desire to drink, but the lion subdues him by force, panting much;\nso Hector, the son of Priam, in close fight with his spear, deprived\nthe gallant son of Men\u0153tius of life, having slain many; and, boasting\nover him, spoke winged words:\n\nFootnote 544: (return)  Swam round, probably from exhaustion. Celsus;\ni. 3: \u201cSi quando insuetus aliquis laboravit, aut si multo plus, quam\nsolet, etiam is qui assuevit...... oculi caligant.\u201d The affection is\nwell described by C\u00e6lius Aurol. Chron. i. 2: \u201cRepentina visus\ntenebratio, atque nebula, cum capitis vertigine.\u201d\n\n\u201cPatroclus, doubtless thou didst think to waste our city, and to carry\noff in thy ships the Trojan women to thy dear father-land, having taken\naway their day of freedom,\u2014infatuated one! But in defence of these, the\nfleet steeds of Hector hasten with their feet to war, and I myself, who\navert the day of slavery 545 from them, am conspicuous amongst the\nwar-loving Trojans in [the use of] the spear. But the vultures shall\ndevour thee here. Unhappy man! Nor indeed did Achilles, although being\nbrave, aid thee, who remaining behind, doubtless enjoined many things\nto thee, going forth: \u2018Do not return to me, O equestrian Patroclus, to\nthe hollow barks, before thou rendest the blood-stained garment around\nthe breast of man-slaughtering Hector.\u2019 Thus, doubtless, he addressed\nthee, and persuaded the mind of foolish thee.\u201d\n\nBut him, O knight Patroclus, breathing faintly, thou didst address:\n\u201cEven now, Hector, vaunt greatly, for Jove, the son of Saturn, and\nApollo, have given thee the victory, who subdued me easily; for they\nstripped the armour from my shoulders. But if even twenty such [as\nthou] had opposed me, they had all perished here, subdued by my spear.\nBut destructive fate, and the son of Latona, have slain me, and of men,\nEuphorbus; whilst thou, the third, dost despoil me slain. Another thing\nwill I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thy soul. 546 Not long,\nindeed, shalt thou thyself advance in life, but death and violent fate\nalready stand near thee, subdued by the hands of Achilles, the\nblameless descendant of \u00c6acus.\u201d\n\nFootnote 545: (return)  So \u1f10\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u1f27\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1 in ver. 830. Thus \u1f00\u03bd\u03ac\u03b3\u03ba\u03b7\n\u1f00\u03bc\u03c6\u03af\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03c2, \u201cslavery caused by the capture of a city,\u201d \u00c6sch. Choeph.\n75.\n\nFootnote 546: (return)  This prophecy of the dying Patroclus seems to\nhave attracted the notice of Aristotle, if we may believe Sextus,\nEmpir. adv. Phys. ix. p. 553: \u201c\u039f\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd \u03b3\u03ac\u03c1, \u03c6\u03b7\u03c3\u03af\u03bd, \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f51\u03c0\u03bd\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u2019\n\u1f11\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f21 \u03c8\u03c5\u03c7\u03ae, \u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f34\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b1\u03b2\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c6\u03cd\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b5\n\u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u2019 \u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03b1\u03cd\u03c4\u03b7 \u03b4\u03ad \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\n\u03c7\u03c9\u03c1\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c3\u03c9\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd.\u201d He then refers to the similar example of\nHector prophesying the death of Achilles, xxiii. 358, sqq.\n\nHim then, having thus spoken, the end of death then overshadowed. But\nhis soul flying from his members, departed to Hades, bewailing its lot,\n547 relinquishing manliness and youth. But him dead illustrious Hector\naddressed:\n\n\u201cWhy now, Patroclus, dost thou prophesy cruel destruction to me? Who\nknows whether Achilles, the son of fair-haired Thetis, stricken by my\nspear, may not be the first to lose his life?\u201d\n\nFootnote 547: (return)  See my note on \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u1fd6\u03b1\u03c8\u03b5\u03bd, II. i. 3. and Heyne.\n\nThus having spoken, he extracted the brazen spear from the wound,\npressing on him with his heel; and thrust him prostrate from the spear.\nThen immediately, with the spear, he went against Automedon, the\ngodlike servant of swift-footed \u00c6acides, for he was anxious to strike\nhim. But the fleet immortal steeds, which the gods bestowed on Peleus,\nsplendid gifts, bore him away.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE SEVENTEENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nEuphorbus, attempting to despoil Patroclus of his armour, is slain by\nMenelaus. It falls to the lot of Hector, but he retires on the approach\nof Ajax. Being rebuked by Glaucus, he returns, and a fierce contest is\nrenewed over the body of Patroclus. The chariot of Achilles is bravely\ndefended by Automedon, but the Greeks at last begin to give way, even\nAjax being seized with consternation. Meriones and Menelaus, however,\nsucceed in carrying off the body of Patroclus, although the Greeks are\ncompletely routed.\n\n\nNor did Patroclus, subdued in fight by the Trojans, escape the notice\nof the son of Atreus, Mars-beloved Menelaus; but he advanced through\nthe foremost warriors, armed in glittering brass. And round him he\nwalked, like a dam around its calf, having brought forth for the first\ntime, moaning, not being before conscious of parturition: thus did\nyellow-haired Menelaus walk around Patroclus. But before him he\nextended his spear, and his shield on all sides equal, anxious to slay\nhim, whoever indeed should come against him. Nor was the son of\nPanthus, of the good ashen spear, neglectful of blameless Patroclus,\nfallen; but he stood near him, and addressed warlike Menelaus:\n\n\u201cO Menelaus! son of Atreus, Jove-nurtured one, leader of the people,\nretire, and leave the body, and let alone the bloody spoils; for not\nany of the illustrious Trojans or allies smote Patroclus with the spear\nin the violent conflict before me. Wherefore permit me to bear away the\ngreat glory amongst the Trojans, lest I should strike thee, and take\naway thy sweet life.\u201d\n\nBut him yellow-haired Menelaus, very indignant, addressed:\n\n\u201cFather Jove, certainly it is not fitting to boast inordinately. Not so\ngreat is the might of a panther, nor a lion, nor of a destructive wild\nboar, whose most mighty courage rages in his heart, violently in its\nstrength, as much as the sons of Panthus, of the good ashen spear,\nbreathe forth. Nor did the might of horse-breaking Hyperenor enjoy his\nyouth, when he reproached me, and withstood me; and said that I was the\nmost reproachful warrior amongst the Greeks; nor did he, I think,\nreturning upon his feet, gratify his dear wife and respected parents.\nThus certainly will I dissolve thy strength, if thou wilt stand against\nme. But I advise thee, retiring, to go back into the crowd; nor do thou\nstand against me, before thou suffer any harm: for it is a fool that\nperceives a thing when it is done.\u201d 548\n\nFootnote 548: (return)  Cf. Hesiod, Opp. 216:  \u03b1\u03b8\u1f7c\u03bd \u03b4\u03ad \u03c4\u03b5 \u03bd\u03ae\u03c0\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f14\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9.\nPlato, Sympos. p. 336, A.: \u1f08\u03bb\u03bb\u2019 \u1f00\u03c0\u1f78 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03b8\u03b7\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03b3\u03bd\u03cc\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1,\n\u03b5\u1f50\u03bb\u03b1\u03b2\u03b7\u03b8\u1fc6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bc\u1f74, \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03bc\u03af\u03b1\u03bd, \u1f65\u03c3\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1 \u03bd\u03ae\u03c0\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd, \u03c0\u03b1\u03b8\u03cc\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b3\u03bd\u1ff6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9.\n\u00c6sch. Ag. 177: \u03a4\u1f78\u03bd \u03c0\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bc\u03ac\u03b8\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b8\u03ad\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u03c9\u03c2 \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u2014\u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u2019 \u1f04\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f24\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\n\u03c3\u03c9\u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd. See Proclus on Hesiod, Opp. 89.\n\nThus he spoke, but persuaded him not; but he answering, spoke:\n\n\u201cNow indeed, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, shalt thou make atonement for my\nbrother, whom thou hast slain, and [over whom] thou speakest\nboastingly; and thou hast widowed his wife in the recess of her new\nbridal chamber, and caused accursed mourning and sorrow to his parents.\nCertainly I should be some alleviation of woe to them wretched, if\nindeed, bearing back thy head and armour, I should place them in the\nhands of Panthus and noble Phrontis. Nor shall the labour of valour or\nflight be untried or invincible any longer.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he smote [him] upon the shield equal on all sides, nor did\nthe brass break through, for the point was bent in the stout shield:\nand Menelaus, the son of Atreus, next made the attack with his brazen\nspear, having prayed to father Jove. He smote him upon the lowest part\nof the gullet as he retired, and he himself forcibly impressed [the\nspear], relying on his strong hand; and the point went quite through\nhis soft neck. And falling, he made a crash, and his armour rang upon\nhim. And his locks, like unto the Graces, were bedewed with blood, and\nhis curls, which were bound with gold and silver. And as a man rears a\nwidely-blooming plant of olive, fair budding, in a solitary place,\nwhere water is wont to spring 549 up in abundance, and which the\nbreezes of every wind agitate, and it buds forth with a white flower;\nbut a wind, suddenly coming on with a mighty blast, overturns it from\nthe furrow, and stretches it upon the earth: so the son of Panthus,\nEuphorbus, skilled in [the use of] the ashen spear, Menelaus, son of\nAtreus, when he had slain [him], spoiled of his armour. As when any\nmountain-nurtured lion, relying on his strength, has carried off from\nthe pasturing herd a heifer, which is the best; but first he breaks its\nneck, seizing it in his strong teeth, and then tearing it in pieces,\nlaps up the blood and all the entrails; whilst around him dogs and\nherdsmen shout very frequently from a distance, nor do they wish to go\nagainst him, for pale fear violently seizes them: thus the soul of no\none within his breast dared to advance against glorious Menelaus. Then\nindeed the son of Atreus had easily borne off the celebrated arms of\nthe son of Panthus, had not Ph\u0153bus Apollo envied him, who immediately\naroused Hector, equal to fleet Mars, against him, assimilating himself\nto the hero Mentes, leader of the Cicones; and addressing him, he spoke\nwinged words:\n\n\u201cHector, now indeed thou art thus running, pursuing things not to be\novertaken, the steeds of warlike Achilles; they indeed are difficult to\nbe managed by mortal men, or to be driven by any other than Achilles,\nwhom an immortal mother bore. In the meanwhile Menelaus, the warlike\nson of Atreus, protecting Patroclus, has slain the bravest of the\nTrojans, Euphorbus, the son of Panthus, and made him cease from\nimpetuous valour.\u201d\n\nFootnote 549: (return)  This perfect has much the same usage as\n\u1f10\u03c0\u03b5\u03bd\u03ae\u03bd\u03bf\u03b8\u03b5, 219.\n\nThus having spoken, the god on his part again departed into the labour\nof the men; but heavy grief oppressed Hector as to his dark soul. Then,\nindeed, he looked around through the ranks, and immediately observed\nthe one bearing away the famous armour, and the other lying upon the\nground; and the blood flowed through the inflicted wound. But he\nadvanced through the foremost warriors, armed in shining brass, shrilly\nshouting, like unto the inextinguishable flame of Vulcan. Nor did he\nescape the notice of the son of Atreus, loudly exclaiming; but he,\ndeeply sighing, thus communed with his own great-hearted soul:\n\n\u201cAh me! if I leave the beautiful armour and Patroclus, who lies here\nfor the sake of my honour, [I dread] lest some one of the Greeks,\nwhoever perceives it, will be indignant; but if, being alone, I fight\nwith Hector and the Trojans, from shame, [I fear] lest many surround\nme, [being] alone. But crest-tossing Hector is leading all the Trojans\nhither. But wherefore has my soul been thus debating? Whenever a man\ndesires, in opposition to a deity, to fight with a hero whom a god\nhonours, soon is a great destruction hurled upon him; wherefore no one\nof the Greeks will blame me, who may perceive me retiring from Hector,\nsince he wars under the impulse of a god. But if I could hear Ajax,\nbrave in the din of war, both of us, again returning, would be mindful\nof battle even against a god, if by any means we could draw off the\nbody for the sake of Achilles, the son of Peleus: of evils, certainly\nit would be the better.\u201d 550\n\nFootnote 550: (return)  \u201cThe evil here spoken of, and of which a choice\nis presented to Menelaus, are loss of both the body and the armour of\nPatroclus, or of either separately. The first alternative he is\nresolved on guarding against by summoning Ajax to his aid; of the last\ntwo, he prefers the abandonment of the arms, _i.e._ \u03c3\u03cd\u03bb\u03b7, spoliation of\nthe corpse, to \u1f00\u03b5\u03af\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1, its disfigurement.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nWhile he was thus deliberating these things in his mind and soul, the\nranks of the Trojans were meanwhile advancing; and Hector led the way.\nBut he retired back, and quitted the corpse, turning round as a\nshaggy-bearded lion, which dogs and men drive from the stall with\nspears and clamour; out his valiant heart within his breast is shaken,\nand he, unwilling, departs from the fold: thus did yellow-haired\nMenelaus retire from Patroclus. And being turned round, he stood, when\nhe had reached the band of his companions, looking all around for\nmighty Ajax, the son of Telamon; whom he very quickly perceived upon\nthe left of the whole battle, encouraging his companions, and urging\nthem to fight: for Ph\u0153bus Apollo had cast a heaven-sent panic amongst\nthem. But he made haste to run, and, immediately standing near, spoke:\n\n\u201cAjax, hither, friend, let us hasten in defence of slain Patroclus, if\nwe can bear his naked corse at least to Achilles; for his armour\ncrest-tossing Hector possesses.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, but he roused the courage of warlike Ajax, and he\nadvanced through the foremost warriors, and with him yellow-haired\nMenelaus. Hector on his part, after he had despoiled him of his\nbeautiful armour, was dragging Patroclus, that he might sever the head\nfrom the shoulders with the sharp brass, and, carrying off the body,\nmight give it to the Trojan dogs, when Ajax came near, bearing his\nshield, like a tower. Then Hector, retiring back, retreated into the\nthrong of his companions, and sprung up into his chariot; but he gave\nthe handsome armour to the Trojans to carry to the city, to be a great\nglory to him. But Ajax, with his broad shield covering around the son\nof Men\u0153tius, stood like a lion over her young; against which, when\nleading her whelps, the huntsmen rush together in the wood; whilst he\nlooks dreadful in his might, and draws down all his eyebrows,\nconcealing his eyes: so strode Ajax round the hero Patroclus. On the\nother side stood the son of Atreus, warlike Menelaus, augmenting the\ngreat grief in his bosom.\n\nBut Glaucus, the son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian heroes,\nlooking sternly at Hector, upbraided him with harsh language: \u201cHector,\nmost excellent as to appearance, certainly thou art greatly deficient\nin fighting; doubtless good fame possesses thee without reason, since\nthou art a fugitive. Consider now, how alone with the people [who are]\nborn in Ilium, thou mayest preserve the state and city, for none of the\nLycians, at all events, will go to fight with the Greeks for thy city;\nsince indeed there is no gratitude for fighting ever incessantly with\nhostile men. How indeed, inglorious one, hast thou preserved an\ninferior man in the throng, and suffered Sarpedon, at once thy guest\nand companion, to become a prey and booty to the Greeks; who, when\nalive, was a great advantage to thy city and thyself; but now thou\ndidst not attempt to drive away the dogs from him. Wherefore if any of\nthe Lycian warriors will now obey me, go home, 551 and utter\ndestruction will be manifest to Troy. For if now that confident,\nintrepid strength, was in the Trojans, which enters heroes who in the\ndefence of their country undertake toil, and conflict with hostile men,\nimmediately might we draw Patroclus into Ilium. But if he, lifeless,\nshould come to the great city of king Priam, and we had drawn him away\nfrom the battle, quickly indeed would the Greeks ransom [to us] the\nbeautiful armour of Sarpedon, and we might bear himself also into Troy;\nfor the attendant of that man is slain, who is by far the bravest of\nthe Greeks at the ships, and whose servants are close-fighting\nwarriors. But thou, forsooth, hast not dared to stand against\nmagnanimous Ajax, beholding his eyes in the battle of the enemy, nor to\nfight against him; for he is more brave than thou.\u201d\n\nFootnote 551: (return)  Take \u1f34\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd (\u1f30\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9) imperatively, or understand\n\u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c0\u03b5\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f10\u03bc\u03bf\u1f76 \u1f64\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u1f30\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f37\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd, \u1f04\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u1f02\u03bd \u03b5\u1f34\u03b7 \u03bf\u1f55\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2 \u1f04\u03c1\u03b1\n\u1f44\u03bb\u03b5\u03b8\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2, \u03ba. \u03c4. \u03bb. See Kennedy.\n\nBut him sternly regarding, crest-tossing Hector addressed: \u201cO Glaucus,\nwhy hast thou, being such as thou art, spoken haughtily? I\u2019 faith,\nfriend, I thought that thou didst excel in judgment the others, as many\nas inhabit fertile Lycia; but now I altogether blame thy understanding,\nsince thou hast thus spoken, thou who sayest that I do not withstand\nmighty Ajax. Neither have I dreaded the battle, nor the tumult of\nsteeds; but the counsel of \u00e6gis-bearing Jove is ever superior, who puts\neven the valiant man to flight, and easily takes away the victory; but\nat another time he himself impels him to fight. But come hither, my\nfriend, stand by me, and behold my conduct. Truly I shall always be a\ncoward, as thou sayest, or I will restrain even some of the Greeks,\nalthough very eager, from keeping defence over dead Patroclus.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he cheered on the Trojans, loudly shouting, \u201cYe Trojans\nand Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my friends, and be\nmindful of impetuous valour, whilst I put on the armour of illustrious\nAchilles, beautiful, of which I despoiled mighty Patroclus, having\nslain him.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, crest-tossing Hector departed from the glowing\nbattle, and, running very quickly, overtook his companions, not far\noff, following with swift feet those who were bearing towards the city\nthe renowned arms of Achilles. Then standing apart from the mournful\nbattle, he changed his armour. His own indeed he gave to the warlike\nTrojans to bear to sacred Ilium; but he put on the immortal arms of\nAchilles, the son of Peleus, which the heavenly gods had bestowed on\nhis dear father; but he indeed, growing old, presented them to his son;\nbut the son grew not old in the armour of his father.\n\nBut when cloud-compelling Jove beheld him apart, accoutred in the\narmour of divine Pelides, then shaking his head, he said to his own\nsoul:\n\n\u201cAh! luckless one; nor is death at all in thy thoughts, which is now\nnear thee; but thou puttest on the immortal armour of the bravest hero,\nat whom others also tremble; and thou hast slain his companion, both\ngentle and brave, and thou hast taken the armour from his head and\nshoulders not according to propriety. But now will I give into thy\nhands a great victory, a compensation for this, that Andromache shall\nnever receive from thee, having returned from the battle, the\nillustrious arms of the son of Peleus.\u201d\n\nThe son of Saturn spoke, and moreover nodded with his sable brows. But\nthe armour fitted the person of Hector, and Mars, the dreadful warrior,\nentered him. And his limbs were inwardly filled with might and\nstrength, and he went after the illustrious allies, exclaiming aloud;\nand glittering in his armour, to all of them he presented the\nappearance of the magnanimous son of Peleus. But going among them, he\nanimated each with his words,\u2014Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, and\nThersilochus, Asterop\u00e6us, Disenor, and Hippotho\u00fcs, Phorcys, Chromius,\nand Ennomus the augur. Exhorting these, he spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cHear, ye countless troops of allies dwelling around, for I did not\nassemble you here, each from his own city, seeking or wanting a crowd,\nbut that ye might willingly defend for me the wives and infant children\nof the Trojans from the warlike Greeks. Thinking these things, I wear\naway my people by gifts and provisions [to you], and I satisfy the\ndesire of each of you. Wherefore now let some one, being turned round\nstraight, either perish or be saved; for these are the chances of war.\n552 Nevertheless, whoever will drag Patroclus, although dead, to the\nhorse-breaking Trojans, and to whom Ajax shall yield, [to him] will I\npresent one-half of the spoils, but I myself will keep the other half;\nand glory shall be to him as much as to me.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they, lifting up their spears, advanced with\ncondensed might 553 direct against the Greeks; and their mind eagerly\nhoped to draw away the dead body from Telamonian Ajax:\u2014fools! truly\nover it he took away the life from many. And then Ajax addressed\nMenelaus, good in the din of war:\n\nFootnote 552: (return)  See Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 97.\n\nFootnote 553: (return)  Schol.: \u03a3\u03c4\u03af\u03c6\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c3\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u03b1\u03cd\u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f41\u03c1\u03bc\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2. A curious interpretation is given in the\nGlossaries: \u201c\u0392\u03bf\u03af\u03b6\u03c9, _post cibum denuo impetum facio.\u201d_ See Alberti on\nHesych. p. 766.\n\n\u201cO my friend, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, no longer do I expect that even\nwe ourselves will return from battle. Nor do I fear so much about the\ndead body of Patroclus, which will quickly satiate the dogs and birds\nof the Trojans, as much as I fear for my own head, lest it suffer\nanything, and for thine, for Hector, that cloud of war, overshadows all\nthings; whilst to us, on the other hand, utter destruction appears. But\ncome, call the bravest of the Greeks, if any one will hear.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; nor did Menelaus, good in the din of war, disobey; but\nhe shouted, crying with a loud voice to the Greeks:\n\n\u201c\u039f friends, leaders and chieftains of the Greeks, ye who with\nAgamemnon, the son of Atreus, and Menelaus, drink the public wine, 554\nand command each his forces; but honour and glory follows from Jove.\nDifficult would it be for me to look to each of the leaders, for so\ngreat a strife of battle burns. But let some one advance, and let him\nbe indignant in his mind, that Patroclus should become a sport to\nTrojan dogs.\u201d\n\nFootnote 554: (return)  _I.e._ who are supplied from the public\nresources,\u2014\u03c4\u1f70 \u1f10\u03ba \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u1ff6\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b4\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c3\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u03c7\u03c1\u03b7\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c7\u03bf\u03c1\u03b7\u03b3\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2\n\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b9.\u2014Schol.\n\nThus he spoke; but quickly the swift O\u00eflean Ajax heard, and first\nadvanced opposite, running through the battle; after him Idomeneus, and\nMeriones, the armour-bearer of Idomeneus, equal to man-slaughtering\nMars. But who in his mind could recount the names of the others as many\nas afterwards aroused the battle of the Greeks? But the Trojans, in\nclose array, first made the onset, and Hector led them on.\n\nBut as when, at the mouths 555 of a river flowing from Jove, the great\nwave roars against the stream, while around the lofty shores resound,\nthe wave being ejected [upon the beach], with so loud a clamour did the\nTrojans advance: but the Greeks stood round the son of Men\u0153tius, having\none spirit, protected by their brazen shields; whilst over their\nshining helmets the son of Saturn poured a thick haze; for he did not\nformerly hate the son of Men\u0153tius when, being alive, he was the\nattendant of Achilles, therefore he was loth that he should become a\nprey to the Trojan dogs of the enemy; and so he excited his companions\nto defend him. The Trojans, however, first dislodged the dark-eyed\nGreeks, and they, leaving the dead body, retreated; nor did the\nmagnanimous Trojans slay any of them with their spears, although\ndesirous, but drew off the body. But the Greeks were about to be absent\nfrom him a very short while, for very quickly did Ajax rally them, who,\nnext to the renowned son of Peleus, excelled the other Greeks in beauty\nand in deeds. And he broke through the front ranks, resembling a wild\nboar in strength, which amongst the mountains easily disperses the dogs\nand blooming youths through the woods, turning to bay; so the son of\nillustrious Telamon, noble Ajax, having made the attack, easily routed\nthe phalanxes of the Trojans who had surrounded Patroclus, and mostly\nexpected to drag him to their city, and bear away glory. Meanwhile\nHippothous, the illustrious son of Pelasgian Lethus, was dragging him\nby the foot through the violent conflict, having bound him with a strap\nat the ancle round the tendons, gratifying Hector and the Trojans. But\nsoon came evil upon him, which no one, even of those desiring it,\naverted from him. Him the son of Telamon, rushing through the crowd,\nsmote in close fight through the brazen-cheeked helmet. The\nhorse-haired helmet was cleft by the point of the weapon, stricken by\nthe great spear and strong hand; and the brain, bloody, gushed out of\nthe wound at the cone of the helmet; 556 and his strength was there\nrelaxed. Then he let fall from his hands the foot of magnanimous\nPatroclus, to lie upon the earth, and near him he himself fell, prone\nupon the dead body, far away from fertile Larissa: nor did he repay the\ndebt of nourishment to his beloved parents, for his life was short,\nsubdued by the spear of magnanimous Ajax. But Hector again aimed at\nAjax with his shining spear; he, however, seeing it opposite, avoided\nthe brazen spear by a little; but he struck Schedius, the magnanimous\nson of Iphitus, by far the bravest of the Phoceans, who inhabited\ndwellings in renowned Panop\u00ebus, ruling over many men. Him he smote\nunder the middle of the clavicle, and the brazen point of the weapon\nwent quite through, near the extremity of the shoulder. Falling, he\nmade a crash, and his arms rang upon him. Then Ajax again smote warlike\nPhorcys, the son of Ph\u00e6nops, in the middle of the belly, while\ndefending Hippothous. And he broke the cavity of the corslet, and the\nbrazen weapon drank his entrails through; and falling in the dust, he\nseized the earth with the palm of his hand. The foremost warriors and\nillustrious Hector retreated; but the Greeks shouted loudly, and drew\noff the bodies, both Phorcys and Hippothous, and they loosed the armour\nfrom their shoulders.\n\nFootnote 555: (return)  Schol. Apoll. Rhod. i. 11: \u03a4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bf\u1f31\n\u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03b2\u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03cc\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b8\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac\u03c3\u03c3\u1fc3, \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c7\u03bf\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bb\u03ad\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, where he quotes this\ninstance from Homer.\n\nFootnote 556: (return)  See iii. 372, \u201cthe part of the helmet in which\nthe crest was inserted\u2014unless \u03b1\u1f30\u03bb\u1f78\u03bd be taken metaphorically, and by\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u2019 \u03b1\u1f50\u03bb\u1f78\u03bd be meant the _stream_ of blood, as from a pipe.\u201d\u2014Oxford\nTransl.\n\nThen again would the Trojans, [routed] by the warlike Greeks, have gone\nup to Ilium, subdued through cowardice; but the Argives on their part,\nby their valour and might, would have obtained glory, even contrary to\nthe destined will of Jove, had not Apollo himself excited \u00c6neas, in\nbody like unto Periphas the herald, son of Epytis, who knowing prudent\ncounsels in his mind, had grown old, as a herald, with his aged sire.\nAssimilating himself to him, Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed him:\n\n\u201cO \u00c6neas, how could ye preserve lofty Ilium against the deity, since I\nbehold these other men relying on their bravery, and might, and valour,\nand their number, and possessing a dauntless host? Yet Jove wills the\nvictory to us, rather than to the Danai; yet ye greatly tremble, nor\nfight.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but \u00c6neas, seeing him before him, recognized far-darting\nApollo; and loudly shouting, addressed Hector:\n\n\u201cO Hector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans and allies, this now\nindeed is a shame, that we, subdued by cowardice, should go up to\nIlium, [driven] by the warlike Ach\u00e6ans. For already even now some one\nof the gods, having stood near to me, declared that Jove, the highest\ncounsellor, is an ally of the battle [to us]. Wherefore let us go\ndirect against the Greeks, nor let them quietly move the dead Patroclus\nto the ships.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and then springing forth, stood far before the front\nranks. But they rallied, and stood opposed to the Greeks. Then \u00c6neas\nwounded with his spear Leocritus, son of Arisbas, the brave companion\nof Lycomedes. Him falling, warlike Lycomedes pitied, and advancing very\nnear, he stood, and hurled with his shining spear, and struck Apisaon,\nthe son of Hippasis, shepherd of the people, in the liver, beneath the\ndiaphragm, and immediately relaxed his limbs. He had come from fertile\nP\u00e6onia, and next to Asterop\u00e6us, was the bravest to fight. Warlike\nAsterop\u00e6us pitied him-fallen, and he rushed forward, willing to fight\nwith the Greeks. But not yet could he [do so], for [those] standing\naround Patroclus were fenced in on every side with shields, and held\ntheir spears before them; for Ajax went eagerly among all, greatly\ncheering them on. He suffered not any one either to retire from the\nbody, nor any of the Greeks to fight in front, excelling the others,\nbut vigorously to stalk around for defence, and to combat in close\nfight. Thus did mighty Ajax command; but the earth was moistened with\npurple gore, whilst upon each other fell the dead bodies of the Trojans\nand courageous allies, and of the Greeks; for neither did they fight\nbloodlessly, although far fewer perished, because they were ever\nmindful throughout the tumult to repel severe labour from each other.\n\nThus indeed they fought, like a fire; nor would you say that the Sun\nwas safe, or the Moon, for they were wrapt in dark haze in the combat,\nas many of the bravest as stood around the dead son of Men\u0153tius. The\nother Trojans and well-armed Greeks, however, fought at ease 557\nbeneath the atmosphere; the piercing splendour of the sun was expanded\nover them, and a cloud did not appear over all the earth, nor the\nmountains. Resting at intervals, they fought, avoiding the cruel\nweapons of each other, standing far asunder; whilst those in the middle\nsuffered hardships from darkness and from war, and were afflicted by\nthe ruthless brass, as many as were most brave. But two heroes,\nillustrious men, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard that\nblameless Patroclus was dead; but thought that, still alive, he was\nfighting with the Trojans in the foremost tumult. But these, watching\nthe slaughter and flight of their companions, fought apart, since\nNestor had so ordered, urging [them] on to battle from the black ships.\nBut to these all day a mighty contest of severe strife arose, and ever\nincessantly the knees, the legs, and the feet of each under him, the\nhands and the eyes of those fighting around the brave companion of\nswift-footed \u00c6acides, were defiled with fatigue and perspiration. And\nas when a man gives the hide of a huge ox, saturated with grease, to\nhis people to stretch, but they, having received, stretch it, standing\napart from each other in a circle, and straightway the moisture exudes,\nand the oily matter enters, many pulling it, till it is stretched in\nevery direction; so they, on both sides, dragged the body here and\nthere in a small space; for the mind of the Trojans, on the one hand,\neagerly hoped to draw him to Ilium, but of the Greeks, on the other, to\nthe hollow ships. Around him arose a fierce tumult; nor could Mars, the\nexciter of troops, nor Minerva, having beheld it, have found fault, not\neven if wrath had particularly come upon her; such an evil labour of\nmen and horses did Jove extend over Patroclus on that day. Nor as yet\ndid noble Achilles at all know that Patroclus was dead, because they\nfought far from the swift ships, beneath the wall of the Trojans. He\nnever thought in his mind that he was dead; but that alive, having\napproached the gates, he would return back, since he did not at all\nsuppose that he could sack the city without him, for he had often heard\nthis from his mother, hearing it apart, who used to tell him the design\nof mighty Jove. Yet his mother had not then told him so great an evil\nas had happened, that the companion by far most dear to him had\nperished.\n\nFootnote 557: (return)  _I.e._ resting at intervals, as it is explained\nin ver. 373.\n\nBut they, ever around the dead body, holding their sharp spears,\ncharged incessantly, and slaughtered one another, and thus would some\nof the brazen-mailed Greeks say:\n\n\u201cO friends, surely it will not be honourable for us to retreat to the\nhollow ships; but [rather] let the black earth here gape for all. This\nindeed would at once be better for us, than that we should permit the\nhorse-breaking Trojans to drag him to their city, and obtain glory.\u201d\n\nAnd thus also would some one of the magnanimous Trojans say:\n\n\u201c\u039f friends, although it be our destiny that all be equally subdued\nbeside this man, never let any one retire from the battle.\u201d\n\nThus, then, some one said, and aroused the spirit of each. Thus indeed\nwere they fighting; and the iron clangour 558 reached the brazen heaven\nthrough the unfruitful air. But the horses of \u00c6acides being apart from\nthe combat, wept, when first they perceived that their charioteer had\nfallen in the dust, beneath man-slaughtering Hector. Automedon, indeed,\nthe brave son of Diores, frequently urged them on, beating them with\nthe sharp lash, and frequently addressed them in mild terms and in\nthreats; but they chose neither to go back to the ships towards the\nwide Hellespont nor into the battle among the Greeks; but, as a pillar\nremains firm, which stands at the tomb of a dead man or woman, so they\nremained detaining the splendid chariot motionless, and drooping their\nheads to the earth. But warm tears 559 flowed from their eyelids to the\nearth, complaining from desire of their charioteer; and their thick\nmane was defiled, flowing down on both sides from the collar at the\nyoke. But the son of Saturn beholding them lamenting, felt compassion,\nand shaking his head, communed with his own mind:\n\n\u201cAh! luckless pair, why did we give you to king Peleus, a mortal; for\nye are free from old age, and immortal? Was it that ye might endure\ngriefs with unhappy men? For there is not anything at all more wretched\nthan man, 560 of all, as many as breathe and move over the earth. But\nHector, the son of Priam, shall not be borne by you, even in the\ncuriously-wrought chariot, for I will not permit it. Is it not enough\nthat he both possesses those arms, and vainly boasts? But into your\nknees and spirit will I cast vigour, that ye may safely bear Automedon\nfrom the battle to the hollow ships; for still will I give glory to\nthem (the Trojans), to slay, until they reach the well-benched ships,\ntill the sun set, and sacred darkness come on.\u201d\n\nFootnote 558: (return)  Clarke compares \u00c6n. xii. 284, from Ennius, apud\nMacrob. vi. 1: \u201cHastati spargunt hastas, fit ferreus imber.\u201d See\nColumna\u2019s notes. p. 82, ed. Hessel. The Scholiast rather interprets it,\nof a strong and violent shout, \u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u1f78\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u1f7a \u1f30\u03c3\u03c7\u03c5\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 559: (return)  See Virg. \u00c6n. xi. 89, sqq. with Servius,\nQuintus Calab. iii. 740: \u039f\u03cd\u03b4\u1f72 \u03bc\u03b9\u03bd \u1f04\u03bc\u03b2\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 \u1f35\u03c0\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9 \u1f00\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03b2\u03ad\u03bf\u03c2 \u0391\u1f30\u03b1\u03ba\u03af\u03b4\u03b1\u03bf\n\u039c\u03af\u03bc\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u1f00\u03b4\u03ac\u03ba\u03c1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f70 \u03bd\u03ae\u03b5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd\u2019 \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1f76 \u039c\u03cd\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf \u03c3\u03c6\u03b5\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\n\u03b4\u03b1\u03ca\u03ba\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u1fc6\u03bf\u03c2. \u039f\u1f50\u03b4\u2019 \u1f14\u03b8\u03b5\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd \u03bc\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u1f14\u03c4\u2019 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03ac\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, \u03bf\u1f50\u03b4\u1f72 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u2019\n\u1f35\u03c0\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u039c\u03af\u03c3\u03b3\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u2019 \u1f08\u03c1\u03b3\u03b5\u03af\u03c9\u03bd, \u1f40\u03bb\u03bf\u1f78\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03ad\u03bd\u03b8\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f14\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 560: (return)  On this comfortable and satisfactory sentiment,\nsee the lugubrious collection of parallel passages in Duport, p. 98.\n\nSo saying, he breathed strong vigour into the steeds; and they, shaking\nthe dust from their manes to the ground, quickly bore the rapid car\namongst the Trojans and Greeks. And against them 561 fought Automedon,\nthough grieved for his companion, rushing along in his chariot like a\nvulture among the geese. For he fled easily from the tumult of the\nTrojans, and easily did he rush on, pursuing through the dense throng.\nYet did he not slay the men when he pressed onward to pursue; for it\nwas by no means possible for him, being alone in the sacred 562 car, to\nassault with the spear and to rein in the fleet steeds. At length,\nhowever, a companion, the hero Alcimedon, son of La\u00ebrceus, the son of\n\u00c6mon, beheld him with his eyes, and stood behind his chariot, and\naddressed Automedon:\n\nFootnote 561: (return)  The Trojans.\n\nFootnote 562: (return)  _I.e._ splendid, of surpassing workmanship.\nOthers refer the epithet to the divine gift mentioned in ver. 443, to\nthe fabrication of the chariot by the god Vulcan, or to the origin of\nAchilles himself from a goddess.\n\n\u201cWhich of the gods, O Automedon, has placed a foolish counsel in thy\nbosom, and taken from thee sound judgment; inasmuch as alone thou\nfightest in the foremost ranks with the Trojans? Thy companion indeed\nis slain; and Hector himself vaunts, having upon his shoulders the\narmour of \u00c6acides.\u201d\n\nHim then Automedon, the son of Diores, addressed:\n\n\u201cAlcimedon, what other of the Greeks, then, is like thee, to subdue and\nrestrain the spirit of immortal steeds, unless Patroclus, whilst alive,\na counsellor equal to the gods? Now, however, death and fate possess\nhim. Nevertheless, do thou take the lash and beautiful reins; but I\nwill descend from the chariot, that I may fight.\u201d 563\n\nFootnote 563: (return)  Alcimedon in this address condemns the\nimprudence of his friend, who, in this moment of imminent danger, takes\nupon him the joint offices of warrior (\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2) and charioteer\n(\u1f21\u03bd\u03af\u03bf\u03c7\u03bf\u03c2).\n\nThus he spoke, but Alcimedon, ascending the chariot, swift in war,\ninstantly took in his hands the lash and reins, whilst Automedon leaped\ndown; but illustrious Hector perceived this, and immediately addressed\n\u00c6neas, being near:\n\n\u201c\u00c6neas, counsellor of the brazen-mailed Trojans, I have observed these\ntwo steeds of Achilles proceeding through the battle with unskilful\ncharioteers. I therefore may hope to capture them, if thou, at least,\ndesire it in thy mind; for standing opposite, they will not dare to\nwithstand us, rushing on to fight in battle.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; nor did the brave son of Anchises disobey. Both advanced\ndirect, covered as to their shoulders with bulls\u2019 hides, dry, thick;\nand upon them much brass was plated. But along with them went both\nChromius and god-like Aretus: and their mind greatly hoped to slay\nthem, and to drive away the long-necked steeds. Foolish, 564 for they\nwere not destined to return back bloodlessly from Automedon, for he,\nhaving prayed to father Jove, was filled with fortitude and valour, as\nto his dark mind, and immediately addressed Alcimedon, his faithful\ncomrade:\n\nFootnote 564: (return)  Cf. \u00c6n. x. 501, sqq. So Milton, P.L. ix. 404:\u2014\n\n   \u201cO much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,\n    Of thy presumed return! event perverse!\u201d\n\n\n\u201cO Alcimedon, do not now detain the steeds far from me; but [keep them]\nbreathing closely at my back; for I do not think that Hector, the son\nof Priam, will abstain from violence, before that he has mounted the\nbeautiful-maned horses of Achilles, having slain both of us, and put to\nrout the ranks of Grecian heroes; or himself be slain among the first.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he called upon the Ajaces, and Menelaus: \u201cYe Ajaces,\nleaders of the Greeks, and Menelaus, leave then the dead body to those,\nas many as are bravest, to defend it on all sides, and to repulse the\nranks of men; but from us who are alive avert the merciless day. For\nhither violently rush through the lamentable fight Hector and \u00c6neas,\nwho are the best of the Trojans. But all these things rest upon the\nknees of the gods; for I also will hurl, and all these things will be a\ncare to Jove.\u201d\n\nHe said; and, brandishing, hurled his long-shadowed spear, and struck\nupon the shield of Aretus, equal on all sides; it however did not repel\nthe spear, but the brass went entirely through, and passed through the\nbelt into the bottom of his belly. And as when a man in youthful\nvigour, holding a sharp axe, cuts through the whole tendon, striking\nbehind the horns of a wild bull; but it, leaping forward, falls; so he,\nspringing forward, fell supine; and the sharp spear, quivering in his\nentrails, relaxed his limbs. Then Hector took aim at Automedon with his\nshining spear, but he, seeing it in front of him, avoided the brazen\nweapon; for he bent forward. But the long spear was fixed in the ground\nbehind him; and moreover the nether end of the spear was shaken; but\nthere then the strong weapon spent its force. Then truly they would\nhave engaged hand to hand with their swords, had not the eager Ajaces,\nwho came through the crowd, at the call of their companion, separated\nthem. But Hector, \u00c6neas, and godlike Chromius, greatly dreading them,\nretired back again, and left Aretus lying there, lacerated as to his\nheart; but him Automedon, equal to swift Mars, despoiled of his armour,\nand, boasting, uttered this speech:\n\n\u201cSurely now I have a little relieved my heart of sorrow for the dead\nson of Men\u0153tius, although having slain but an inferior man.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, seizing the gore-stained spoils, he placed them in\nthe chariot, and mounted himself, bloody as to his feet and hands\nabove, like some lion which has fed upon a bull. Again over Patroclus\nwas the direful battle extended, grievous, lamentable; and Minerva\nexcited the contention, descending from heaven; for far-sounding Jove\nsent her forth to encourage the Greeks, as his intention was now\nchanged. As Jove extends a purple rainbow from heaven to mortals, to be\na signal either of war, or of a chilling storm, which causes men to\ncease from their works upon the earth, and afflicts the cattle; so she,\nhaving obscured herself in a purple cloud, entered the army of the\nGreeks, and aroused every man. First, however, she addressed the son of\nAtreus, gallant Menelaus, inciting him, for he was near her,\nassimilating herself, in her form and unwearied voice, to Ph\u0153nix:\n\n\u201cThine, of a truth, will shame and disgrace now be, O Menelaus, if the\nswift dogs tear the faithful companion of illustrious Achilles beneath\nthe wall of the Trojans; therefore bravely hold on, and urge on all the\npeople.\u201d Whom, in return, Menelaus, good in the din of war, addressed:\n\u201cPh\u0153nix, father, old man long since born, would that Minerva would give\nme strength, and ward off the force of the weapons. Then indeed would I\nbe willing to stand by and defend Patroclus; for dying, he greatly\naffected my mind with grief. But Hector has the dreadful force of fire,\nnor does he cease slaying with his spear; for to him Jove affords\nglory.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but the azure-eyed goddess Minerva rejoiced, because to\nher he had prayed first of all the gods. But in his shoulders and knees\nshe put strength, and placed in his bosom the boldness of a fly, which,\nalthough frequently driven away from a human body, persists in\nbiting,\u2014and the blood of man is sweet to it. With such confidence she\nfilled his dark soul: and he advanced towards Patroclus, and took aim\nwith his splendid spear. Now there was among the Trojans one Podes, the\nson of E\u00ebtion, rich and brave; whom of his people Hector chiefly\nhonoured, for he was his dear companion in the banquet. Him\nyellow-haired Menelaus smote upon the belt while hastening to flight,\nand drove the brazen weapon quite through. He, falling, gave a crash,\nand Menelaus, the son of Atreus, dragged away the body from the Trojans\nto the crowd of his companions. But Apollo, standing near, excited\nHector in the likeness of Ph\u0153nops, son of Asias, who, inhabiting\ndwellings at Abydos, was most dear to him of all his guests.\nAssimilating himself to him, far-darting Apollo spoke:\n\n\u201cHector, what other of the Greeks will any more fear thee, since now\nthou dreadest Menelaus, who indeed before was but an effeminate\nwarrior, but now departs done, bearing off the dead corse from the\nTrojans? He has slain, in the front ranks, Podes, the son of E\u00ebtion,\nthy comrade, faithful and brave.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but him a dark cloud of grief overshadowed, and he went\nthrough the front ranks, armed in glittering brass. And then the son of\nSaturn took his \u00e6gis, fringed and splendid, and covered Ida with\nclouds; but having flashed his lightning, he thundered very loudly, and\nshook it (the mountain); and (he) gave victory to the Trojans, but put\nthe Greeks to flight.\n\nPeneleus, the B\u0153otian, first was leader of the flight; for he was\nwounded slightly 565 on the tip of the shoulder with a spear, being\nalways turned frontwards; but the spear of Polydamas grazed even to the\nbone, for he, coming close, had wounded him. Next Hector wounded\nLe\u00eftus, son of magnanimous Alectryon, on the hand at the wrist, and\ncaused him to cease from battle. Then looking around him, he trembled,\nsince he no longer hoped in his mind [to be able] to fight with the\nTrojans, holding his spear in his hand. But Idomeneus had struck, on\nthe corslet, upon the breast near the pap, Hector rushing after Le\u00eftus:\nthe long spear, however, was broken at the socket; and the Trojans\nshouted. But he [Hector] discharged his javelin at Idomeneus, the son\nof Deucalion, as he was standing in his car: him he missed by a little,\nbut struck Coeranus, the attendant and charioteer of Meriones, who had\nfollowed him from well-situated Lyctus. For at first on foot, having\nleft his equally-plied ships, he came, and would have secured a decided\nvictory to the Trojans, had not Coeranus quickly driven on his\nswift-footed steeds: to him then he (Coeranus) came as a help, and\nwarded off the merciless day; but he himself lost his life beneath\nman-slaughtering Hector. Him he smote beneath the jaw-bone and ear, and\nthe extremity of the spear forced out his teeth and cut through the\nmiddle of his tongue. He fell from his chariot, and the reins dropped\nto the ground; and Meriones, stooping, lifted them from the plain in\nhis own hands, and addressed Idomeneus:\n\n\u201cLash on, now, until thou reach the swift ships; for even thou thyself\nperceivest that victory is no longer on the side of the Ach\u00e6ans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 565: (return)  \u1f18\u03c0\u03b9\u03bb\u03af\u03b3\u03b4\u03b7\u03bd, _on the surface_, \u03b4\u03b9\u2019\n\u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u1fc6\u03c2\u00b7\u2014Kennedy.\n\nThus he spake; and Idomeneus lashed on the beautiful-maned steeds to\nthe hollow ships; for fear now seized his mind.\n\nNor did Jove escape notice of magnanimous Ajax and Menelaus, when he\nfor the present gave the dubious victory to the Trojans; but to them\nthe mighty Ajax, son of Telamon, began to speak:\n\n\u201cAlas! even he who is very stupid might now know that father Jove\nhimself is aiding the Trojans; for the weapons of them all take effect,\nwhoever may throw them, whether coward or brave man. Jove certainly\ndirects them all. But the weapons of all of us fall to the earth in\nvain. Come, however, let us devise the best plan, both how we may drag\noff the corse, and how we ourselves may be a source of joy to our\nbeloved comrades, having returned home. They, of a truth, beholding us\nhere, are grieved, and think that we shall no longer resist the might\nand invincible hands of man-slaughtering Hector. But, would there were\nsome companion who would quickly bring word to Achilles, since I think\nhe has not yet heard the mournful tidings, that his dear comrade has\ndied. But nowhere can I see such a person among the Greeks, for they\nand their steeds are together enveloped in darkness. O father Jove,\nliberate at least the sons of the Greeks from darkness; make a clear\natmosphere, and grant us to see with our eyes; then destroy us in the\nlight, 566 if thus it be pleasing to thee.\u201d\n\nFootnote 566: (return)  A prayer well worthy of Ajax. Ammian. Marcell.\nxxviii.: \u201cPer horrorem tenebrarum\u2014quo tempore hebetari solent obstrict\u00e6\nterroribus mentes; ut inter innumera multa Ajax quoque Homericus docet,\noptans perire potius luce, quam pati formidinis augmenta nocturn\u00e6.\u201d Cf.\nLongin. ix.\n\nThus he spoke; but the Sire felt compassion for him weeping, and\nimmediately dissipated the haze, and removed the cloud. And the sun\nshone forth, and the whole battle was displayed, and then Ajax\naddressed Menelaus, good in the din of war:\n\n\u201cLook around now, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, if anywhere thou canst\nperceive, yet alive, Antilochus, the son of magnanimous Nestor. Urge\nhim, going speedily, to tell to warlike Achilles, that the comrade, by\nfar most dear to him, has perished.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; nor did Menelaus, good in the din of war, disobey. But\nhe hastened to go, like some lion from a fold, which after that he is\nfatigued, harassing both dogs and men, who watching all night, suffer\nhim not to carry off the fat of the oxen; but he, desirous of flesh,\nrushes on, but nothing profits; for many javelins fly against him from\ndaring hands, and blazing torches, which, eager as he is, he dreads;\nbut early in the morning he goes apart with saddened mind. So, most\nunwilling, from Patroclus went Menelaus, brave in the din of war;\nbecause he greatly feared lest the Greeks, through grievous terror,\nshould leave him a prey to the enemy. And much, therefore, he exhorted\nMeriones and the Ajaces:\n\n\u201cYe Ajaces, leaders of the Greeks, and Meriones, now let each one be\nmindful of the gentleness of wretched Patroclus; for when alive, he\nknew how to be mild to all; but now, indeed, Death and Fate overtake\nhim.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, yellow-haired Menelaus departed, gazing round\nin all directions, like an eagle, which, they say, sees most acutely of\nbirds beneath the sky, and which, though being aloft, the swift-footed\nhare does not escape, when lying beneath the dense-foliaged thicket;\nbut he pounces upon it, and quickly seizing it, deprives it of life.\nThus, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, were thy shining eyes turned round in\nall directions through the band of thy numerous companions, if anywhere\nthou mightst behold the son of Nestor, yet living. But him he very soon\nperceived upon the left of all the battle, encouraging his companions,\nand inciting them to fight; and standing near, yellow-haired Menelaus\naddressed [him]:\n\n\u201cHo! hither come, Antilochus, Jove-nurtured, that thou mayest hear the\nsad message which\u2014would that it had not happened. I think, indeed, that\nthou thyself looking, perceivest that a god rolls disaster upon the\nGreeks, but that victory is on the side of the Trojans; for Patroclus,\nthe bravest of the Greeks, is slain; and a great longing [after him]\nhas befallen the Greeks. But do thou quickly tell it to Achilles,\nrunning to the ships of the Greeks, if perchance quickly he may bring\nin safety to his ships the unarmed body; for crest-tossing Hector\npossesses the armour.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but Antilochus shuddered, hearing the news; and long did\na want of words possess him; and his eyes were filled with tears, and\nhis liquid voice was interrupted. Yet not even thus did he neglect the\ncommand of Menelaus; but he hastened to run, and gave his armour to\nLaodocus, his blameless companion, who, near him, managed the\nsolid-hoofed steeds. Him, however, his feet bore, weeping, from the\nbattle, about to communicate the evil news to Achilles, son of Peleus.\n\nNor, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, was thy mind willing to aid the harassed\ncomrades, in the place whence Antilochus had departed, and great\nlonging after him was caused to the Pylians; but to them he sent noble\nThrasymedes, and he himself went again towards the hero Patroclus; but\narriving, he stood beside the Ajaces, and immediately addressed them:\n\n\u201cHim, indeed, I have now despatched to the swift ships, to go to\nswift-footed Achilles: yet I do not think that he will come, although\ngreatly enraged with noble Hector; for being unarmed, he could by no\nmeans fight with the Trojans. Let even us then ourselves deliberate\nupon the best plan, as well how we shall draw off the body, as also how\nwe ourselves may escape Death and Fate from the clamour of the\nTrojans.\u201d\n\nBut him mighty Telamonian Ajax then answered:\n\n\u201cAll things correctly hast thou spoken, O illustrious Menelaus. But do\nthou, and Meriones, stooping quickly under it, having lifted it up,\nbear the body from the fight; whilst we two of like name, possessing\nequal courage, will fight with the Trojans and with noble Hector, we\nwho even formerly have sustained the sharp conflict, remaining by each\nother.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they with great exertion lifted up the body in their\narms from the ground: but the Trojan army shouted in their rear when\nthey saw the Greeks raising up the dead body, and rushed on like dogs,\nwhich spring upon a wounded boar, before the youthful hunters. One\nwhile indeed they run, eager to tear him asunder, but again, when he\nturns upon them, relying on his strength, then they retreat, and fly in\ndifferent directions hither and thither: so the Trojans sometimes\nsteadily pursued in a body, striking with their swords and two-edged\nspears; but when again the Ajaces, turning round upon them, stood, then\nwas their colour changed, nor dared any one, rushing forward, to combat\nfor the corpse.\n\nThus they with alacrity bore the body from the fight towards the hollow\nships; but the fierce battle was extended to them like a flame, which\nassailing, [and] being suddenly excited, sets fire to a city of men,\nand the houses diminish in the mighty blaze; whilst the force of the\nwind roars through it: so a horrid tumult of steeds and warlike heroes\nfollowed them departing. But as mules, exerting vast strength, 567 drag\nfrom a mountain along a rugged path either a beam or a large piece of\ntimber for ship-building, but the spirit within them, as they hasten,\nis wearied equally with fatigue and perspiration; so they with alacrity\nbore away the body, whilst the Ajaces behind them checked [the enemy];\nas a barrier of wood, stretched straight across a plain, restrains\nwater; which checks the furious courses even of rapid rivers, and\nimmediately turning them, directs the streams of all into the plain;\nnor can they at all burst through it, though flowing with violence. So\nthe Ajaces in the rear always repulsed the attack of the Trojans, who,\nhowever, followed along with them; but two amongst them in particular,\n\u00c6neas, son of Anchises, and illustrious Hector. And as a cloud of\nstarlings or jackdaws, shrilly chattering, 568 flies away when they\nperceive a hawk advancing, which brings death to small birds; so then\nfrom \u00c6neas and Hector departed the sons of the Greeks, loudly\nclamouring, and were forgetful of the fight. And much beautiful armour\nof the flying Greeks fell both in and about the trench; but there was\nno cessation from the battle.\n\nFootnote 567: (return)  Literally, \u201cgirding themselves with strength.\u201d\n\nFootnote 568: (return)  Or, \u201cshouting in presage of their doom,\u201d as\nHeyne and Kennedy would take it, a meaning borne out by \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u0390\u03b4\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd. Cf.\nLongus. Past. ii. 12: \u039f\u1f31 \u03ba\u03c9\u03bc\u1fc6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c7\u03b8\u03ad\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c0\u03ae\u03b4\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f61\u03c3\u03b5\u1f76\n\u03c8\u1fb6\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2, \u1f22 \u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf \u03bf\u03af.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE EIGHTEENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nThetis comforts her son for the death of Patroclus, and promises to\nprocure him new armour from Vulcan. At the command of Juno, Achilles\ncomes forth and strikes terror into the enemy. The body of Patroclus is\nrescued, and prepared for funeral rites, and Vulcan forges a suit of\narmour and a splendid shield for Achilles.\n\n\nThus they, then, 569 were fighting, like a blazing fire; but\nswift-footed Antilochus came as a messenger to Achilles. Him he found\nin front of his lofty-prowed ships, revolving in his mind those things\nwhich had already been accomplished; and then groaning, he communed\nwith his own mind:\n\nFootnote 569: (return)  This is to be taken in connection with ver. 148\nof the last book, as the regular narrative is interrupted by the\nmessage of Antilochus and the grief of Achilles.\n\n\u201cAh me! why are the long-haired Ach\u00e6ans driven back in confusion to the\nships, routed through the plain? [I fear] lest the gods have\naccomplished evil sorrows to my soul, as my mother once informed me,\nand told me that the bravest of the Myrmidons, I being yet alive, would\nleave the light of the sun, by the hands of the Trojans. Too surely now\nthe valiant son of Men\u0153tius is dead,\u2014obstinate one! certainly I desired\nhim, having repelled the hostile fire, to return to the ships, nor to\nfight bravely with Hector.\u201d\n\nWhilst he was revolving these things in his mind and in his soul, in\nthe meantime the son of illustrious Nestor drew near, shedding warm\ntears, and delivered his sad message:\n\n\u201cAlas! O son of warlike Peleus, surely thou wilt hear a very grievous\nmessage, which\u2014would that it had not taken place. Patroclus lies low;\nand around his unarmed corse they are now fighting, whilst\ncrest-tossing Hector possesses his armour.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but him a black cloud of grief overshadowed, and taking\nthe burnt ashes with both hands, he poured them on his head, and denied\nhis comely countenance; but the dark ashes everywhere adhered to his\nrich 570 tunic. But he, mighty, lay extended at great length in the\ndust, and tearing, he disordered his hair with his hands. The\nhandmaids, whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken, grieved in their\nsouls, shrieked aloud, and ran out of the door round warlike Achilles;\nand all smote their breasts with their hands, 571 and the limbs of each\nwere relaxed. Antilochus, on the other side, lamented, shedding tears,\nholding the hands of Achilles; (and he kept groaning within his\ngenerous heart,) for he feared lest he should cut his throat with his\nsword. Then he moaned dreadfully, and his venerable mother heard him,\nsitting in the depths of the sea, beside her aged father, and\nimmediately lamented: and all the goddesses assembled around her, as\nmany Nere\u00efdes as were at the bottom of the sea. There were Glauce,\nThaleia, and Cymodoce, Nes\u00e6a, Spio, Thoa, and large-eyed Halia,\nCymotho\u00eb, Act\u00e6a, and Limnorea, Melita, I\u00e6ra, Amphitho\u00eb, and Agave,\nDoto, Proto, Pherusa, and Dynamene, Dexamene, Amphinome, and\nCallianira, Doris, Panope, and distinguished Galatea, Nemertes,\nApseudes, and Callianassa. There were also Clymene, Ianira, and\nIanassa, M\u00e6ra, Orithya, and fair-haired Amathea, and other Nere\u00efdes\nwhich were in the depths of the sea. But the resplendent cave was full\nof them, and all at once they beat their breasts; but Thetis began the\nlamentation:\n\nFootnote 570: (return)  So \u03bd\u03b5\u03ba\u03c4\u03ac\u03c1\u03b5\u03bf\u03bd \u1f11\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc\u03bd, iii. 385.\u2014Heyne.\n\nFootnote 571: (return)  In illustration of this custom of mourners, cf.\nVirg. \u00c6n. i. 484:\u2014\n\n   \u201cCrinibus Iliades passis, peplumque ferebant\n   Suppliciter tristes, et tuns\u00e6 pectora palmis.\u201d\n\n\n   Ovid, Fast. iv. 454: \u201cEt feriunt m\u0153st\u00e6 pectora nuda manus.\u201d Silius,\n   xii. 528. Petronius, ciii. p. 509, ed. Burm.: \u201cSparsis prosequi\n   crinibus, aut nudatum pectus plangere;\u201d cxv.: \u201cPercussi semel\n   iterumque pectus.\u201d See Westerhov, on Ter. Hec. ii. 3, 49; Northmore\n   on Tryphiodor. 34; and Blomf. on \u00c6sch. Choeph. 27.\n\n\u201cHear, sister Nere\u00efdes, that hearing ye may all well know what griefs\nare in my mind. Woe is me wretched! woe is me who have in an evil hour\nbrought forth the bravest [of men], I who, after having borne a son,\nblameless and valiant, the chief of heroes, and he grew up 572 like a\nyoung tree: having reared him like a sapling in a fruitful spot of a\nfield, I afterwards sent him forth in the curved ships to Ilium, to\nfight against the Trojans; but I shall not receive him again, having\nreturned home to the palace of Peleus. But whilst he lives and beholds\nthe light of the sun, he grieves, 573 nor can I, going to him, avail\nhim aught. Yet will I go, that I may see my beloved son, and hear what\ngrief comes upon him remaining away from the battle.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, she left the cave; but they all went along with\nher, weeping, and the wave of the ocean was cleft around for them. 574\nBut when they reached fertile Troy, they in order ascended the shore,\nwhere the fleet ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up round swift\nAchilles. Then his venerable mother, shrilly wailing, stood near to him\ndeeply lamenting, and took the head of her son, and, mourning,\naddressed to him winged words:\n\nFootnote 572: (return)  \u1f08\u03bd\u03ad\u03b4\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd is used in the same way by Herodot.\nvii. 156, viii. 55; Theocrit. xviii. 29. It corresponds to our English\nphrase \u201cto run up.\u201d\n\nFootnote 573: (return)  _I.e._ he continues to do so, and will, till\nhis death.\n\nFootnote 574: (return)  \u03a3\u03c6\u03af\u03c3\u03b9 is the dativus commodi.\n\n\u201cO son, why weepest thou, and what sorrow has come upon thy mind? Speak\nout, nor conceal it. Those things indeed are fulfilled for thee from\nJove, as thou didst formerly pray, lifting up thy hands\u2014that all the\nsons of the Greeks, wanting thee, should, be collected at the ships,\nand suffer disgraceful deeds.\u201d\n\nBut her swift-footed Achilles addressed, deeply groaning:\n\n\u201cMother mine, these things indeed the Olympian king hath accomplished\nfor me; but what pleasure is there in them to me, since Patroclus, my\ndear companion, is dead, whom I honoured beyond all my companions,\nequally with my own head? Him have I lost; and Hector, having slain\nhim, has stripped off his mighty armour, a wonder to be seen,\nbeautiful; which the other gods gave to Peleus, splendid gifts, on that\nday when they laid thee in the bed of a mortal man. Would that thou\nhadst dwelt there among the immortal marine inhabitants, and that\nPeleus had wedded a mortal spouse. But now [thou hast been wedded, to\nthe end] that immeasurable grief may be upon thy mind for thy son\nslain, whom thou shalt not again receive, having returned home. Since\neven my mind urges me not to live nor have intercourse with men, unless\nHector first lose his life, smitten by my spear, and pay the penalty\nfor the slaughter 575 of Patroclus, the son of Men\u0153tius.\u201d\n\nBut him Thetis in turn addressed, pouring forth tears: \u201cShort-lived\nthou wilt be, O my son, as thou sayest, for fate is ready for thee\nimmediately after Hector.\u201d Then, heavily sighing, swift-footed Achilles\naddressed her: \u201cMay I die then immediately, since it was not destined\nthat I should aid my companion now slain; but he indeed hath perished\nfar away from his native land, and longed for me to be an averter of\nhis doom. But now 576\u2014since I shall not return to my dear father-land,\nnor have been a preservation 577 to Patroclus, or to my other\ncompanions, who have been subdued in great numbers by noble Hector; but\nsit beside the ships, an useless weight on the earth, being such as is\nnone of the brazen-mailed Ach\u00e6ans in war, though in council there are\nothers superior; would that therefore contention might be extinguished\nfrom gods and men; and anger, which is wont to impel even the very\nwisest to be harsh; and which, much sweeter than distilling honey, like\nsmoke, rises in the breasts of men; so now did Agamemnon, king of men,\nenrage me: but although greatly grieved, let us leave these things to\npass by as done, subduing, from necessity, our own spirit within our\nbosoms: but now will I go, that I may find Hector, the destroyer of my\ndear friend, and I will accept death whensoever Jove and the other\nimmortal gods shall please to accomplish it. For not even the might of\nHercules escaped death, who was very dear to king Jove, the son of\nSaturn; but fate subdued him, and the grievous wrath of Juno. So also\nshall I lie, when I am dead, if a similar fate be destined for me; but\nnow may I bear away illustrious glory, and compel some one of the\nTrojan women and deep-robed Dardanians to sigh frequently, wiping away\nthe tears from her tender cheeks with both hands; and may they know\nthat I have long ceased from battle. 578 Wherefore do not hinder me\nfrom the combat, although loving me, for thou wilt not persuade me.\u201d\n\nFootnote 575: (return)  \u0395\u03bb\u03ce\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1 is the more usual form, but \u1f14\u03bb\u03c9\u03c1\u03b1 is\nrecognized by Hesychius. \u201cIf correct,\u201d Kennedy says, \u201cit may be\nexplained by the existence of \u1f14\u03bb\u03c9\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd from \u1f14\u03bb\u03c9\u03c1 (Hesych. t.i. p. 1186,\nfrom Il. v. 488), signifying the _price of slaughter_, by the same\nanalogy as \u03b8\u03c1\u03ad\u03c0\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd (iv. 478) the _price of nutrition_.\u201d\n\nFootnote 576: (return)  Observe the long hyperbaton, resulting from the\nexcitement of the speaker.\n\nFootnote 577: (return)  Literally, \u201clight.\u201d\n\nFootnote 578: (return)  _I.e._ they shall find out the difference when\nI make my appearance\n\nHim then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered: \u201cCertainly this is\ntrue, O son, nor is it an evil thing to avert utter destruction from\nour friends when afflicted. But thy beautiful arms, brazen and shining,\nare detained among the Trojans, which crest-tossing Hector himself,\nhaving on his shoulders, boasts of: yet I suspect that he will not long\nglory in them, for death is near to him. But do thou by no means enter\nthe slaughter of Mars before thou beholdest me with thine eyes coming\nhither. For at dawn I will return with the rising sun, bearing\nbeautiful armour from king Vulcan.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, she turned round from her son, and being turned,\naddressed her marine sisters: \u201cEnter ye now the broad bosom of the\ndeep, about to behold the marine old man, and the mansions of my sire,\nand tell him all things; but I go to lofty Olympus, to Vulcan, the\nskilful artist, to try if he is willing to give my son illustrious,\nglittering armour.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, but they immediately sank beneath the wave of the sea.\nBut Thetis, the silver-footed goddess, again departed to Olympus, that\nshe might bear the illustrious armour to her beloved son. Her, on the\none hand, her feet bore towards Olympus: but the Greeks, flying with a\nheaven-sent uproar from man-slaughtering Hector, reached the ships and\nthe Hellespont. Nor had the well-greaved Greeks drawn off the dead body\nof Patroclus, the attendant of Achilles, out of the reach of weapons;\nfor now again both infantry and cavalry pursued him, and Hector, the\nson of Priam, like unto a flame in violence. Thrice did illustrious\nHector seize him behind by the feet, eager to draw him away, and loudly\nshouted to the Trojans; and thrice did the two Ajaces, clad in\nimpetuous might, forcibly repulse him from the corse; whilst he, with\nsteady purpose, ever relying on his might, sometimes charged through\nthe crowd, and sometimes again stopped, loudly shouting; but never\nretreated altogether. But as night-watching 579 shepherds are by no\nmeans able to drive away from a carcase a tawny lion, greatly\nhungering; so were the two warriors, the Ajaces, unable to drive away\nHector, the son of Priam, from the body. And now indeed would he have\ndragged it off, and obtained great glory, had not fleet wind-footed\nIris come as a messenger to the son of Peleus, running down from\nOlympus, that he should arm himself unknown to Jove and the other gods;\nfor Juno sent her forth; and standing near, she addressed to him winged\nwords:\n\nFootnote 579: (return)  Cf. Luke ii. 8, with the notes of Wetstein and\nKypke. Although \u1f04\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c5\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9 may simply mean \u201cdwelling in the fields,\u201d as\nin Apollon. Rh. iv. 317, it is better to follow the interpretation of\nHesychius: \u039f\u1f31 \u1f10\u03bd \u1f00\u03b3\u03c1\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u03cd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2. But cf. Alberti, t.i. p. 64.\n\n\u201cArise, son of Peleus, most terrible of all men; defend Patroclus, for\nwhom 580 a dire contest is maintained before the ships. But they are\nslaughtering each other, the one party fighting for the slain corpse,\nwhilst the other, the Trojans, rush on, that they may drag him away to\nwind-swept Ilium; and above all, illustrious Hector desires to seize\nhim, for his mind prompts him to fix his head upon stakes, having cut\nit from the tender neck. But up, nor lie longer; but let reverence 581\ntouch thy soul, that Patroclus should be a source of delight to Trojan\ndogs. A disgrace would be to thee, if the dead body should come at all\ndefiled.\u201d\n\nFootnote 580: (return)  _I.e._ for whose body.\n\nFootnote 581: (return)  \u201c\u03a3\u03ad\u03b2\u03b1\u03c2 is commonly rendered _pudor_, nearly\nsynonymous with \u03b1\u1f30\u03b4\u03ce\u03c2. Its meaning is however more forcible, viz.\n_esteem it as an act of impiety to abandon the body to\ninsult_.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nBut her noble, swift-footed Achilles, then answered: \u201cWhich of the\ngods, O goddess Iris, sent thee as a messenger to me?\u201d\n\nBut him fleet, wind-footed Iris, again addressed: \u201cJuno sent me forth,\nthe glorious spouse of Jove, nor does the lofty-throned son of Saturn\nknow it, nor any other of the immortals who inhabit snowy Olympus.\u201d\n\nBut her swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: \u201cAnd how can I go\nto the slaughter? for they possess my armour. Besides, my dear mother\ndoes not permit me to be armed, before that with my eyes I behold her\ncoming, for she hath promised that she will bear me beautiful armour\nfrom Vulcan. But I indeed know not of another, whose splendid armour I\ncould put on, 582 except the shield of Ajax, son of Telamon.\u201d\n\nFootnote 582: (return)  \u1f08\u03bb\u03bb\u2019 \u03bf\u1f50\u03b4\u03b5\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f36\u03b4\u03b1 \u1f00\u03c1\u03bc\u03cc\u03b6\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03ac\u03bd \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c0\u03bb\u03af\u03b1\u03bd.\u2014Schol.\n\n\u201cBut he, I hope, mingles in the front ranks, slaying with his spear\nround the head of Patroclus.\u201d\n\nBut him fleet-footed Iris again addressed: \u201cWell too do we know that\nthey possess thy distinguished armour: yet even thus, going towards the\nditch, show thyself to the Trojans, if perchance the Trojans,\nterrified, may desist from battle, and the warlike, harassed sons of\nthe Greeks may breathe again; and there be a short respite from\nfighting.\u201d 583\n\nFootnote 583: (return)  Cf. xv. 42.\n\nThus indeed having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed; but Achilles,\ndear to Jove, arose; and around his strong shoulders Minerva threw her\nfringed \u00e6gis. And the divine one of goddesses crowned his head around\nwith a golden cloud, and from it she kindled a shining flame. And as\nwhen smoke, ascending from a city, reaches the \u00e6ther from an island\nafar off, which foes invest, who [pouring out] from their city, contend\nall day in hateful fight: but with the setting sun torches blaze one\nafter another, 584 and the splendour arises, rushing upwards, for\n[their] neighbours to behold, if perchance they may come with ships, as\nrepellers of the war; thus did the flame from the head of Achilles\nreach the sky. He stood, having advanced from the wall to the trench,\nnor mingled with the Greeks, for he reverenced the prudent advice of\nhis mother. There standing, he shouted, and Pallas Minerva, on the\nother side, vociferated, and stirred up immense tumult among the\nTrojans. And as the tone is very clear, when a trumpet sounds, while\ndeadly foes are investing a city; so distinct then was the voice of the\ndescendant of \u00c6acus. But when they heard the brazen voice of Achilles,\nthe soul was disturbed to all, whilst the beautiful-maned steeds turned\nthe chariots backwards, for they presaged sorrows in their mind. The\ncharioteers were panic-struck when they beheld the terrific,\nindefatigable flame, blazing over the head of magnanimous Pelides; for\nthe azure-eyed goddess Minerva lighted it. Thrice over the trench\nloudly shouted noble Achilles, and thrice were the Trojans and their\nillustrious allies thrown into confusion. There then perished twelve\nbravest heroes by their chariots and spears, whilst the Greeks,\ndragging Patroclus with joy out of the reach of weapons, stretched him\non a bier; but his beloved companions stood round him mourning, and\nwith them followed swift-footed Achilles, shedding warm tears, when he\nbeheld his faithful comrade lying upon a bier, lacerated with the sharp\nbrass: whom indeed he had sent forth with his horses and chariots to\nbattle, but did not receive him again, having returned.\n\nFootnote 584: (return)  Hesychius: \u1f10\u03c0\u03ae\u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9, \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u03b5\u03c0\u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9. Cf. Oppian,\nCyn. i. 321; iii. 275. The orthography \u1f10\u03c0\u03af\u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 is equally correct,\naccording to Abresch.\n\nBut the large-eyed, venerable Juno sent the unwearied sun, to return to\nthe flowing of the ocean, against his inclination. The sun then set,\nand the noble Greeks desisted from the violent conflict, and the\nequally destructive battle. The Trojans again, on the other side,\nretiring from the violent combat, loosed their fleet steeds from their\nchariots. But they assembled in the council before they bethought them\nof their banquet. The assembly consisted of persons standing up, nor\ndid any one dare to sit; for fear possessed all, because Achilles had\nappeared, who had long abstained from the direful combat. Among them\nprudent Polydamas, the son of Panthus, began to speak, for he alone saw\nboth the future and the past. He was the companion of Hector, and they\nwere born in one night, but the one excelled in counsel, and the other\ngreatly in the spear. He wisely counselling, harangued them, and spoke:\n\n\u201cMy friends, consider well on both sides; for I advise that we now\nreturn to the city, nor await the sacred Morn in the plain near the\nships; for we are far away from the wall. As long indeed as this man\nwas wroth with noble Agamemnon, so long were the Greeks more easy to\nfight with. For even I was delighted, passing the night by the swift\nbarks, expecting that we should take the equally-plied barks; but now\ngreatly do I fear swift-footed Pelides: so violent is his soul, nor\nwill he be content to remain in the plain, where usually the Trojans\nand Greeks in the intervening space divide 585 the force of war, but he\nwill combat for the city and our wives. We will go, then, towards the\ncity\u2014be persuaded by me\u2014for so it must be. Ambrosial night at present\nhath made swift-footed Pelides cease; but if, rushing forth to-morrow\nwith his arms, he shall find us here, then will some one know him; for\ngladly will he reach sacred Ilium, whosoever shall escape: but dogs and\nvultures will devour many of the Trojans. O that such [tidings] may be\nfar from our ears. 586 But if we be obedient to my words, although sad,\nwe shall have protection 587 in the assembly during the night, and the\ntowers and lofty gates, and the valves fitted to them, long, well\npolished, fastened together, will protect the city. But to-morrow, at\nearly dawn, we will stand on the towers, arrayed in armour; and it\nwould be difficult for him, even if he should wish it, coming from the\nships, to fight with us around the wall. Back again will he go to the\nships, after he has satiated his high-necked steeds with a varied\ncourse, driving beneath the city. But his mind will not permit him to\nrush within, nor will he ever lay it waste; sooner shall the fleet dogs\ndevour him.\u201d\n\nFootnote 585: (return)  This is expressive of the vicissitudes of the\nconflict.\n\nFootnote 586: (return)  E\u1f34\u03b8\u03b5 \u03b4\u03ad \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03bf \u03bf\u1f50 \u03bc\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03bc\u1f74 \u1f40\u03c6\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03b7, \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70 \u03bc\u03b7\u03b4\u1f72\n\u1f00\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03b7.\u2014Schol.\n\nFootnote 587: (return)  One of the Scholiasts, however, would take\n\u03c3\u03b8\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 as=\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u1f70\u03bd, i.e. we shall keep the troops in a body. But see\nKennedy.\n\nHim, then, crest-tossing Hector sternly regarding, addressed:\n\n\u201cNo longer, O Polydamas, dost thou speak these things agreeable to me,\nthou who advisest us, returning, to be cooped up in the city. Are ye\nnot yet satiated with being shut up within the towers? Formerly indeed\nall articulate-speaking men pronounced the city of Priam rich in gold\nand in brass; but now have the rich treasures of our houses perished,\nand many possessions have already departed to Phrygia and agreeable\nM\u0153onia, to be sold, since mighty Jove was enraged. But at this crisis,\nwhen the son of politic Saturn has granted me to obtain glory at the\nships, and to hem in the Greeks by the sea, no longer, foolish man,\ndisclose these counsels to the people: for none of the Trojans will\nobey; nor will I permit them. But come, let us all obey as I shall\nadvise. At present take supper in your ranks throughout the army; be\nmindful of the watch, and keep guard each [of you]; but whosoever of\nthe Trojans is particularly anxious about his possessions, collecting\nthem together, let him give them to the people to be publicly consumed;\nit is better that any of them should enjoy them than the Greeks. But\nto-morrow, with the dawn, arrayed in armour, let us excite sharp\nconflict at the hollow ships, and if truly noble Achilles has arisen at\nthe ships, it will be the worse for him, if he wishes [to fight]: I\nindeed will not fly him from the horrid-sounding battle, but will stand\nvery obstinately against him, whether he bear away great glory, or I\nbear it away. Mars [is] common, 588 and even slays the slayer.\u201d\n\nFootnote 588: (return)  See Duport, p. 104, and Clarke\u2019s note. Livy\ntranslates it, \u201ccommunis Mars belli;\u201d observing, \u201ccommunis Mars, et\nincertus belli eventus.\u201d\n\nThus Hector harangued, and the Trojans shouted in applause: foolish\nmen, for Pallas Minerva had taken their senses away from them. For they\nassented to Hector, advising destructive things, whilst no one\n[assented to] Polydamas, who advised prudent counsel. Then they took\nsupper through the army. But the Greeks, lamenting all night, wept over\nPatroclus, but among them Pelides led the ceaseless lamentation,\nplacing his man-slaying hands upon the breast of his companion, very\nfrequently sighing; as the well-bearded lion, from whom the stag-hunter\nhas stolen the cubs out of the thick forest; and he is grieved, coming\nafterwards. And through many valleys he goes, tracking the footsteps of\nthe man, if anywhere he may find him; for very keen rage possesses him.\nSo, deeply sighing, he addressed the Myrmidons:\n\n\u201cAlas! vain indeed was the promise I uttered on that day, encouraging\nthe hero Men\u0153tius in our halls; for I said that I would bring back his\nillustrious son to Opus, having wasted Troy, and obtained a share of\nthe spoil. But Jove fulfils not for men all their intentions; for it is\nfated that we shall both stain with blood the same earth here in Troy;\nbut neither shall aged horse-driving Peleus receive me in his palaces,\nreturning, nor my mother Thetis, but the earth shall here hold me. Now,\nhowever, O Patroclus! since after thee I go beneath the earth, I shall\nnot perform thy funeral rites, before that I bring hither the arms and\nhead of magnanimous Hector, thy murderer, and behead twelve illustrious\nsons of the Trojans, before thy pile, enraged on account of thee slain.\nMeanwhile thou shall lie thus at the crooked ships; and round thee\nTrojan [dames] and deep-bosomed Dardanians shall weep and shed tears\nnight and day; whom we ourselves have toiled to get by our valour and\nthe long spear, laying waste the rich cities of articulate-speaking\nmen.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, noble Achilles ordered his companions to surround\na large tripod with fire, that as soon as possible they might wash away\nthe bloody gore from Patroclus. They then placed a bathing tripod on\nthe blazing fire, and poured water into it, and taking fagots, lighted\nthem under it. The fire indeed encircled the belly of the tripod, and\nthe water was warmed. But when the water boiled in the sonorous brass,\nthen they both washed him, and anointed him with rich oil. And they\nfilled up his wounds with ointment nine years old; and laying him upon\na bed, they covered him with fine linen from head to foot; and over\nall, with a white mantle. 589 All night then the Myrmidons, lamenting\nPatroclus, wept around swift-footed Achilles. But Jove addressed Juno,\nhis sister and wife:\n\n\u201cAnd at length thou hast accomplished thy object, O large-eyed,\nvenerable Juno, having aroused swift-fooled Achilles. Surely the\nwaving-crested Greeks are born from thy very self.\u201d\n\nFootnote 589: (return)  Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. vi. 218, sqq.; xi. 36, sqq. I\nshall defer discussing the heroic funeral-rites till the twenty-third\nbook.\n\nBut him large-eyed, venerable Juno then answered:\n\n\u201cMost imperious son of Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Surely now\nany man who is mortal, and knows not so many designs, might accomplish\nthis against a man. How therefore ought not I, who boast myself to be\nchief of the goddesses, both from birth and also because I am called\nthy wife (and thou rulest over all the immortals), being enraged with\nthe Trojans, to [be able to] design evils against them.\u201d\n\nThus indeed they conversed with one another. But silver-footed Thetis\nreached the abode of Vulcan, incorruptible, starry, remarkable amongst\nthe immortals, brazen, which the lame-footed himself had constructed.\nHim she found sweating, exerting himself at the bellows, earnestly\nworking; for he was making full twenty tripods to stand around the wall\nof his well-built palace. Under the base of each he placed golden\nwheels, that of their own accord they might enter the heavenly council,\nand again return home\u2014a wonder to be seen. So much finish had they, but\nhe had not yet added the well-made handles, which he was preparing; and\nhe was forging the rivets. Whilst he was toiling at these things with,\nskilful mind, meanwhile Thetis, the silver-footed goddess, came to him.\nBut the beautiful and fair-veiled Charis, whom illustrious Vulcan had\nespoused, advancing, beheld her; and hung upon her hand, and addressed\nher, and spoke:\n\n\u201cWhy, O long-robed Thetis, venerable, beloved, dost thou visit our\nabode? Formerly thou wast not in the habit of coming frequently. 590\nBut follow farther onwards, that I may set before thee hospitable\nfare.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, the divine of goddesses led on. Then indeed she\nplaced her upon a silver-studded throne, beautiful, variously wrought,\nand there was a stool under her feet. But she called Vulcan, the\ndistinguished artist, and spoke this word:\n\n\u201cCome hither, Vulcan, Thetis now has need of thee.\u201d\n\nBut her illustrious Vulcan then answered: \u201cAssuredly then an awful and\nrevered goddess is within, who saved me when distress came upon me,\nfallen down far by the contrivance of my shameless mother, who wished\nto conceal me, being lame. 591 Then should I have suffered sorrows in\nmy mind, had not Eurynome and Thetis received me in their bosom;\nEurynome, daughter of the refluent Ocean. With them for nine years\nwrought I in brass many ingenious works of art, buckles, twisted\nbracelets, and clasp-tubes, in the hollow cave; whilst round us flowed\nthe immense stream of Ocean, murmuring with foam: nor did any other\neither of gods or mortal men know it; but Thetis and Eurynome, who\npreserved me, knew it. She now comes to my house; wherefore there is\nneed that I should repay all the rewards of my safety to fair-haired\nThetis. But set now before her good hospitable fare, whilst I lay aside\nmy bellows and all my tools.\u201d\n\nFootnote 590: (return)  \u0398\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd answers to the Latin \u201cvisere,\u201d\n\u201cfrequentare.\u201d Suidas, \u0398\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2\u00b7 \u03c0\u03c5\u03ba\u03bd\u03ac\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2, \u03c3\u03c5\u03c7\u03bd\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2. Plato, Rep. i.\np. 410, B.: \u039f\u1f50\u03b4\u1f72 \u03b8\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b2\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u1fb6. Themist. Or.\nv. p. 152: \u039c\u03b7\u03b4\u1f72 \u03b8\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b4\u03bf\u03c1\u03c5\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1. Philostr. Vit.\nSoph. i. 7, p. 254: \u0398\u03b1\u03bc\u03af\u03b6\u03c9\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03cc\u03c0\u03b5\u03b4\u03b1. Cf. Alciphron, Ep. i. 4,\np. 20, iii. 5, p. 286.\n\nFootnote 591: (return)  \u201cHeph\u00e6stos is the son of H\u00ear\u00ea without a father,\nand stands to her in the same relation as Ath\u00ean\u00ea to Zeus: her pride and\nwant of sympathy are manifested by her casting him out at once, in\nconsequence of his deformity.\u201d\u2014Grote, vol. i. p. 79.\n\nHe spoke and rose, a wondrous bulk, 592 from his anvil-block, limping,\nand his weak legs moved actively beneath him. The bellows he laid apart\nfrom the fire, and all the tools with which he laboured he collected\ninto a silver chest. With a sponge he wiped, all over, his face and\nboth his hands, his strong neck and shaggy breast; then put on his\ntunic and seized his stout sceptre. But he went out of the doors\nlimping, and golden handmaids, like unto living maidens, moved briskly\nabout the king; and in their bosoms was prudence with understanding,\nand within them was voice and strength; and they are instructed in\nworks by the immortal gods. These were busily occupied 593 by the\nking\u2019s side; but he, hobbling along, sat down upon a splendid throne\nnear where Thetis was, and hung upon her hand, and spoke, and addressed\nher:\n\n\u201cWhy, long-robed Thetis, venerable and dear, hast thou come to our\nabode? For indeed thou didst not often come before. Make known what\nthou desirest, for my mind orders me to perform it, 594 if in truth I\ncan perform it, and if it is to be performed.\u201d\n\nFootnote 592: (return)  I have endeavoured to express Buttmann\u2019s idea\nrespecting the meaning of _\u03b1\u1f34\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd_. See Lexil. p. 44-7. He concludes\nthat it simply means _great_, but with a collateral notion of\n_astonishment_ implied, connecting it with \u1f00\u03b3\u03b7\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 593: (return)  See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 481.\n\nFootnote 594: (return)  Virg. \u00c6n. i. 80:\n\n                      \u201c\u2014\u2014Tuus, \u00f4 regina, quid optes, Explorare labor:\n                      mini jussa capessere fas est.\u201d\n\n\nHim then Thetis, pouring forth tears, answered: \u201cO Vulcan, has any\nthen, as many as are the goddesses in Olympus, endured so many bitter\ngriefs in her mind, as, to me above all, Jove, the son of Saturn, has\ngiven sorrows? Me, from among the other marine inhabitants, has he\nsubjected to a man, to Peleus, son of \u00c6acus; and I have endured the\ncouch of a man very much against my will. He, indeed, now lies in his\npalaces, afflicted with grievous old age; but now other [woes] are my\nlot. After he had granted me to bring forth aud nurture a son,\ndistinguished among heroes, and who grew up like a plant; him having\nreared, as a plant in a fertile spot of the field, I sent forth in the\ncrooked barks to Ilium, to fight with the Trojans; but him I shall not\nreceive again, having returned home to the mansion of Peleus. As long,\nhowever, as he lives to me, and beholds the light of the sun, he\nsuffers sorrow, nor am I, going to him, able to avail him aught. The\nmaid whom the sons of the Greeks selected as a reward for him, her hath\nking Agamemnon taken back again from his hands. Certainly, grieving for\nher, he has been wasting his soul; whilst the Trojans were hemming in\nthe Greeks at the ships, nor suffered them to go beyond the gates: but\nthe elders of the Greeks supplicated him, and named many distinguished\npresents. But then he refused to avert destruction, yet he clad\nPatroclus in his own armour, and sent him forth to the battle, and he\ngave with him much people. All day they fought round the Sc\u00e6an gates,\nand certainly on that day had overturned Troy, had not Apollo slain,\namong the foremost warriors, the gallant son of Men\u0153tius, after having\ndone much mischief, and given glory to Hector. On this account do I now\napproach thy knees, if thou wilt give to my short-lived son a shield\nand helmet, and beautiful greaves, joined with clasps, and a corslet:\nfor what were his, his faithful companion has lost, subdued by the\nTrojans; and he (Achilles) lies upon the ground, grieving in his soul.\u201d\n\nHer then illustrious Vulcan answered: \u201cTake courage, nor let these\nthings be cause of uneasiness in thy mind; for would that I could so\nsurely conceal him from dread-sounding death, when grievous fate\napproaches him, as that beautiful armour shall be ready for him, such\nas any one of many men shall hereafter admire, whosoever may behold\nit.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he left her there, and went towards the bellows, which he\nturned towards the fire, and commanded them to work. And full twenty\nbellows blew in the furnaces, exciting a varied well-regulated 595\nblast, to be ready for him, at one time busy, at another the reverse,\nas Vulcan pleased, and that the work might be complete. He cast into\nthe fire impenetrable brass, and tin, precious gold and silver; but\nnext he placed the mighty anvil on the stock, and took in [one] hand\nhis strong hammer, and with the other grasped the forceps.\n\nFootnote 595: (return)  _I.e._ one that would either blow, or not,\naccording as the progress of the work required. The student will do\nwell to compare Virg. Georg. iv. 171, sqq., \u00c6n. viii. 449, sqq., and\nCallimach. in Dian. 59, sqq.\n\nFirst of all he formed a shield, 596 both large and solid, decorating\nit all over, and around it he threw a shining border, triple and\nglittering, and from it [there hung] a silver belt. Of the shield\nitself, there were five folds; but on it he formed many curious works,\nwith cunning skill. On it he wrought the earth, and the heaven, and the\nsea, the unwearied sun, and the full moon. On it also [he represented]\nall the constellations with which the heaven is crowned, the Pleiades,\nthe Hyades, and the strength of Orion, and the Bear, 597 which they\nalso call by the appellation of the Wain, which there revolves, and\nwatches Orion; 598 but it alone is free 599 from the baths of the\nocean.\n\nFootnote 596: (return)  See Coleridge, Classic Poets, p. 182, sqq.;\nRiccius, Dissert. Hom. t.i.p. 216; Feith, Antiq. Hom. iv. 10, 4. In\nreading this whole description, care must be taken to allow for the\nfreedom of poetic description, as well as for the skill of the supposed\nartificer.\n\nFootnote 597: (return)  Cf. Virg. Georg. i. 137; \u00c6n. i. 748, iii. 516.\n\nFootnote 598: (return)  Orion ascends above the horizon, as though in\npursuit of the Wain, which in return seems to observe his movements.\nManilius, i. 500: \u201cArctos et Orion adversis frontibus ibant,\u201d which is\ncompared by Scaliger, p. 28.\n\nFootnote 599: (return)  Aratus, Dios. 48: \u1f0c\u03c1\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 \u03ba\u03c5\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c6\u03c5\u03bb\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\n\u03ba\u03b5\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u1fd6\u03bf. Virg. Georg. i. 246: \u201cArctos Oceani metuentes \u00e6quore tingi.\u201d\nThe student of ancient astronomy will do well to compare Scaliger on\nManil. i, p. 43, 2; Casaub. on Strabo, i. init.\n\nIn it likewise he wrought two fair cities 600 of articulate-speaking\nmen. In the one, indeed, there were marriages and feasts; and they were\nconducting the brides from their chambers through the city with\nbrilliant torches, 601 and many a bridal song 602 was raised. The\nyouthful dancers were wheeling round, and amongst them pipes and lyres\nuttered a sound; and the women standing, each at her portals, admired.\nAnd people were crowded together in an assembly, and there a contest\nhad arisen; for two men contended for the ransom-money of a slain man:\nthe one affirmed that he had paid all, appealing to the people; but the\nother denied, [averring] that he had received nought: and both wished\nto find an end [of the dispute] before a judge. 603 The people were\napplauding both,\u2014supporters of either party, and the heralds were\nkeeping back the people; but the elders sat upon polished stones, in a\nsacred 604 circle, and [the pleaders 605] held in their hands the\nstaves of the clear-voiced heralds; with these then they arose, and\nalternately pleaded their cause. Moreover, in the midst lay two talents\nof gold, to give to him who should best establish his claim among them.\nBut round the other city sat two armies of people glittering in arms;\nand one of two plans was agreeable to them, 606 either to waste it, or\nto divide all things into two parts,\u2014the wealth, whatever the pleasant\ncity contained within it. They, however, had not yet complied, but were\nsecretly arming themselves for an ambuscade. Meanwhile, their beloved\nwives and young children kept watch, standing above, and amongst them\nthe men whom old age possessed. But they (the younger men) advanced;\nbut Mars was their leader, and Pallas Minerva, both golden, and clad in\ngolden dresses, beautiful and large, along with their armour, radiant\nall round, and indeed like gods; but the people were of humbler size.\n607 But when they now had reached a place where it appeared fit to lay\nan ambuscade, by a river, where there was a watering-place for all\nsorts of cattle, there then they settled, clad in shining steel. There,\napart from the people, sat two spies, watching when they might perceive\nthe sheep and crooked-horned oxen. These, however, soon advanced, and\ntwo shepherds accompanied them, amusing themselves with their pipes,\nfor they had not yet perceived the stratagem. Then they, discerning\nthem, ran in upon them, and immediately slaughtered on all sides the\nherds of oxen, and the beautiful flocks of snow-white sheep; and slew\nthe shepherds besides. But they, when they heard the great tumult\namongst the oxen, previously sitting in front of the assembly, 608\nmounting their nimble-footed steeds, pursued; and soon came up with\nthem. Then, having marshalled themselves, they fought a battle on the\nbanks of the river, and wounded one another with their brazen spears.\nAmongst them mingled Discord and Tumult, and destructive Fate, holding\none alive, recently wounded, another unwounded, but a third, slain, she\ndrew by the feet through the battle; and had the garment around her\nshoulders crimsoned with the gore of men. 609 But they turned about,\nlike living mortals, and fought, and drew away the slaughtered bodies\nof each other.\n\nFootnote 600: (return)  Cf. Hesiod, Scut. Herc. 270, sqq.\n\nFootnote 601: (return)  The escort took place at even-tide.\n\nFootnote 602: (return)  On the origin of this term, see Serv. on Virg.\n\u00c6n. i. 655.\n\nFootnote 603: (return)  Or, \u201con the testimony of witnesses.\u201d See\nKennedy.\n\nFootnote 604: (return)  See Heyne on x. 56. So \u03c3\u03ad\u03bb\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c3\u03b5\u03bc\u03bd\u1f78\u03bd, \u201cthe seat\nof justice.\u201d\u2014\u00c6sch. Ag. 183.\n\nFootnote 605: (return)  See Kennedy, who has collected the Homeric\npassages concerning lawsuits.\n\nFootnote 606: (return)  _I.e._ the enemy. The alternative was that the\ntownsmen should either surrender half their possessions, or submit to\nindiscriminate pillage. See Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 607: (return)  This custom of representing gods and heroes of\nlarger stature than ordinary folk prevails almost universally in the\nEgyptian monuments and sculptures.\n\nFootnote 608: (return)  \u201c\u0395\u1f34\u03c1\u03b1 vel \u1f34\u03c1\u03b1 est locus concionis, et ipse\nc\u0153tus.\u201d\u2014Heyns.\n\nFootnote 609: (return)  Cf. \u00c6n. vi.: \u201cTisiphoneque sedens, palla\nsuccincta cruenta.\u201d Stat. Theb. i. 109: \u201cRiget horrida tergo Palla, et\nc\u00e6rulei redeunt in pectore nodi.\u201d\n\nOn it he also placed a soft fallow field, 610 rich glebe, wide,\nthrice-ploughed; and in it many ploughmen drove hither and thither,\nturning round their teams. But when, returning, they reached the end of\nthe field, then a man, advancing, gave into their hands a cup of very\nsweet wine; but they turned themselves in series, 611 eager to reach\nthe [other] end of the deep fallow. But it was all black behind,\nsimilar to ploughed land, which indeed was a marvel beyond [all\nothers].\n\nOn it likewise he placed a field of deep corn, where reapers were\ncutting, having sharp sickles in their hands. Some handfuls fell one\nafter the other upon the ground along the furrow, and the binders of\nsheaves tied others with bands. Three binders followed [the reapers],\nwhilst behind them boys gathering the handfuls, [and] bearing them in\ntheir arms, continually supplied them; and amongst them the master\nstood by the swathe 612 in silence, holding a sceptre, delighted in\nheart. But apart, beneath an oak, servants were preparing a banquet,\nand sacrificing a huge ox, they ministered; whilst women sprinkled much\nwhite barley 613 [on the meat], as a supper for the reapers.\n\nFootnote 610: (return)  With the whole of this description of the\nshield of Achilles, the lover of poetry should compare Milton, P.L. xi.\n638, sqq. with the remarks of Bishop Newton.\n\nFootnote 611: (return)  But Hesychius by \u1f44\u03b3\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 understood \u03b1\u1f54\u03bb\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03c2,\n\u201cthe furrows.\u201d See Schneid. on Nicand. Ther. 371.\n\nFootnote 612: (return)  I here follow the Oxford translator. The term\n\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u1f7a\u03c2 is well in accordance with the simple manners of the early\nages, when kings were farmers on a large scale. Many of our Saviour\u2019s\nparables present a similar association of agriculture with the regal\ndignity.\n\nFootnote 613: (return)  Probably a religious rite. Cf. i. 449, 458.\n\nOn it likewise he placed a vineyard, heavily laden with grapes,\nbeautiful, golden; but the clusters throughout were black; and it was\nsupported throughout by silver poles. Round it he drew an azure trench,\nand about it a hedge 614 of tin; but there was only one path to it, by\nwhich the gatherers went when they collected the vintage. Young virgins\nand youths, of tender minds, bore the luscious fruit in woven baskets,\n615 in the midst of whom a boy played sweetly on a shrill harp; and\nwith tender voice sang gracefully to the chord; whilst they, beating\n[the ground] in unison with dancing and shouts, followed, skipping with\ntheir feet.\n\nFootnote 614: (return)  \u1f18\u03c6\u03cd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u1f00\u03bc\u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u1ff6\u03bd\u03b1, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c6\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u1f78\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03ad\u03b8\u03b7\u03ba\u03b5.\nMatt, xxi 33. See Rosem\u00fcller on Jer. v. 5.\n\nFootnote 615: (return)  \u201cVimineis calathis,\u201d Copa, 16. Propert. iii.\n11, 31.\n\nIn it he also wrought a herd of oxen with horns erect. But the kine\nwere made of gold and of tin, and rushed out with a lowing from the\nstall to the pasture, beside a murmuring stream, along the\nbreeze-waving reeds. 616 Four golden herdsmen accompanied the oxen, and\nnine dogs, swift of foot, followed. But two terrible lions detained the\nbull, roaring among the foremost oxen, and he was dragged away, loudly\nbellowing, and the dogs and youths followed for a rescue. They indeed,\nhaving torn off the skin of the great ox, lapped up his entrails and\nblack blood; and the shepherds vainly pressed upon them, urging on\ntheir fleet dogs. These however refused to bite the lions, but,\nstanding very near, barked, and shunned them.\n\nOn it illustrious Vulcan also formed a pasture in a beautiful grove\nfull of white sheep, and folds, and covered huts and cottages.\n\nIllustrious Vulcan likewise adorned it with a dance, like unto that\nwhich, in wide Gnossus, D\u00e6dalus contrived for fair-haired Ariadne.\nThere danced youths and alluring 617 virgins, holding each other\u2019s\nhands at the wrist. These wore fine linen robes, but those were dressed\nin well-woven tunics, shining 618 as with oil; these also had beautiful\ngarlands, and those wore golden swords, [hanging] from silver belts.\nSometimes, with skilful feet, they nimbly bounded [round]; as when a\npotter, sitting, shall make trial of a wheel fitted to his hands,\nwhether it will run: and at other times again they ran back to their\nplaces through one another. But a great crowd surrounded the pleasing\ndance, amusing themselves; and amongst them two tumblers, beginning\ntheir song, spun round through the midst.\n\nFootnote 616: (return)  See Knight and Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 617: (return)  Literally, \u201cfinders of oxen,\u201d i.e. so\nattractive as to be certain of receiving a good dowry, paid, after the\nancient custom, in cattle.\n\nFootnote 618: (return)  This must have been some kind of oil-cloth,\nunless we read \u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03bb\u03b2\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 with Kennedy. The meaning is very obscure.\n\nBut in it he also formed the vast strength of the river Oceanus, near\nthe last border of the well-formed shield.\n\nBut when he had finished the shield, large and solid, he next formed\nfor him a corslet, brighter than the splendour of fire. He also made\nfor him a strong helmet, fitted to his temples, beautiful and variously\nornamented, and on it placed a golden crest; and made greaves for him\nof ductile tin.\n\nBut when renowned Vulcan had with toil made all the armour, lifting it\nup, he laid it before the mother of Achilles; but she, like a hawk,\ndarted down from snowy Olympus, bearing from Vulcan the shining armour.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE NINETEENTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nThetis, having brought Achilles his new armour, and promised to\npreserve the body of Patroclus from corruption, he is reconciled to\nAgamemnon, and being miraculously invigorated by Minerva, goes forth to\nbattle, regardless of the prediction of his fate by his horse Xanthus.\n\n\nSaffron-robed Morn was rising from the streams of ocean, that she might\nbear light to immortals and mortals; 619 but she (Thetis) came to the\nships, bearing the gifts from the god. Her dear son she found lying\nupon Patroclus, bitterly lamenting, and his numerous companions were\nlamenting around him. But near to him stood the divine of goddesses,\nand hung upon his hand and spoke, and addressed him:\n\nFootnote 619: (return)\n\n   \u201cTo resalute the world with sacred light\n    Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalm\u2019d\n    The earth.\u201d\u2014Par. Lost. xi. 132.\n\n\n\u201cMy son, let us suffer him now to lie, grieved although we be, since\nfirst he has been laid low by the counsel of the gods: but do thou\nreceive these distinguished arms from Vulcan, very beautiful, such as\nno man has ever worn upon his shoulders.\u201d\n\nHaving thus spoken, the goddess placed the armour before Achilles; and\nthey, all curiously wrought, clashed aloud. Then tremor seized all the\nMyrmidons, nor did any one dare to look directly at them, but they fled\nin fear. But when Achilles saw them, the more rage entered him; and his\neyes shone terribly beneath his eyelids, like a flame; and he was\ndelighted, holding in his hands the splendid gifts of the god. But\nafter he had delighted his mind, beholding these artificial works, he\nimmediately addressed to his mother winged words:\n\n\u201cMother mine, the god hath indeed given arms, such as are fit to be\nworks of immortals, nor that a mortal man could make. Truly now will I\narm myself; but I very much fear lest, in the meantime, the flies,\nhaving entered the gallant son of Men\u0153tius, by his spear-inflicted\nwounds, create maggots, and pollute the corse, (for life in it is\ndestroyed,) and all the parts of the body grow putrid.\u201d\n\nBut him the silver-footed goddess Thetis then answered:\n\n\u201cMy child, let not these things be a care to thy mind. I will endeavour\nto drive away from him the fierce swarms, the flies which devour heroes\nslain in battle. For although he lie an entire year, his body shall\nalways be uncorrupted, or even better. But do thou, having summoned the\nGrecian heroes to an assembly, having renounced thy wrath towards\nAgamemnon, the shepherd of the people, arm thyself quickly for war, and\nput on thy might.\u201d\n\nThus, therefore, having spoken, she infused into him the most daring\ncourage, and then instilled into Patroclus, through the nostrils,\nambrosia and ruby nectar, 620 that his body might be uncorrupted.\n\nFootnote 620: (return)  Milton, P.L. v. 633: \u201cwith angels\u2019 food, and\nrubied nectar flows.\u201d\n\nBut noble Achilles went along the shore of the sea, shouting fearfully,\nand aroused the Grecian heroes; so that even those who used formerly to\nremain in the assemblage of the ships, both those who were pilots, and\nwho held the rudders of the ships, and the pursers [who] were at the\nships, dispensers of food, even these then indeed went to the assembly,\nbecause Achilles appeared, for he had long abstained from the grievous\nbattle. And two servants of Mars, the warlike son of Tydeus, and noble\nUlysses, went limping, leaning upon a spear; for they still had painful\nwounds; and advancing, they sat in the front seats. But last came the\nking of men, Agamemnon, having a wound; for him also, in the sharp\nbattle, Coon, son of Antenor, had wounded with his brazen spear. Then\nwhen all the Greeks were assembled, swift-footed Achilles, rising up\namongst them, said:\n\n\u201cSon of Atreus, this would surely have been somewhat better for both\nthee and me, 621 when we two, grieved at heart, raged with\nsoul-devouring contention for the sake of a girl. Would that Diana had\nslain her with an arrow in the ships on that day, when wasting, I took\nLyrnessus; then indeed so many Greeks had not seized the mighty ground\nin their teeth under the hands of the enemy, I being continually\nenraged. This however was better for Hector and the Trojans, but I\nthink the Greeks will long remember the contention of you and me. But\nlet us leave these things as passed, although grieved, subduing from\nnecessity the soul within our bosoms. And now I terminate my wrath, nor\nis it at all fit that I always obstinately be enraged; but come\nquickly, incite the long-haired Ach\u00e6ans to battle, in order that still\nI may make trial of the Trojans, going against them; if they wish to\npass the night at the ships; but of them I think that any will very\ngladly bend the knee, whoever shall escape out of the destructive fight\nfrom my spear.\u201d\n\nFootnote 621: (return)  _I.e._ it would have been better for us to have\nbeen friends, as we now are, than enemies. The construction is\ninterrupted, to suit the agitation of the speaker.\n\nThus he spoke; but the well-greaved Greeks rejoiced, the magnanimous\nson of Peleus renouncing his wrath. But them, the king of men,\nAgamemnon, also addressed out of the same place, from his seat, nor\nadvancing into the midst:\n\n\u201cO friends! heroes of the Greeks, servants of Mars, it is becoming\nindeed that ye should hearken to me, thus rising, nor is it convenient\nthat thou shouldst interrupt; for [it is] difficult, even for one being\nskilled. 622 But in a great uproar of men, how can any one hear or\nspeak? but he is interrupted, although being a clear-toned orator. I\nindeed will direct myself to the son of Peleus; but do ye, the other\nGreeks, understand, and carefully learn my meaning. Often already have\nthe Greeks spoken this saying to me, and have rebuked me; but I am not\nto blame, 623 but Jove, and Fate, and Erinnys, roaming amid the shades,\nwho, during the assembly, cast into my mind a sad injury, on that day,\nwhen I myself took away the reward of Achilles. But what could I do?\nfor the deity accomplishes all things; pernicious At\u00e9, the venerable\ndaughter of Jove, who injures all. Her feet are tender, for she does\nnot approach the ground, but she walks over the heads of men, injuring\nmankind, and one at least 624 [she] fetters. For at one time she\ninjured even Jove, who, they say, is the most powerful of men and gods;\nbut him Juno, being a female, deceived by her guile on that day when\nAlemene was about to bring forth mighty Hercules in well-walled Thebes.\nHe indeed, boasting, had said among all the gods:\n\n\u201cHear me, 625 all ye gods and all ye goddesses, whilst I speak those\nthings which the mind within my bosom urges. This day Ilithyia,\npresiding over births, shall bring into the light a certain man, who\nshall be ruler over all his neighbours,\u2014[one] of those men of the blood\nof my race!\u201d\n\nFootnote 622: (return)  _I.e._ even a good speaker can do nothing\nwithout a fair hearing.\n\nFootnote 623: (return)  Cf. iii. 164. Seneca, (Ed. 1019) \u201cFati ista\nculpa est.\u201d Cf. Duport. p. 106. \u00c6sch. Choeph. 910: \u1f29 \u03bc\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c1\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03cd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd, \u1f67\n\u03c4\u03ad\u03ba\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd, \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c4\u03af\u03b1.\n\nFootnote 624: (return)  \u201cA delicate censure of Achilles.\u201d\u2014Oxford\nTransl.\n\nFootnote 625: (return)  Cf. Pindar, Ol. iii. 50-105, and Il. v. iii. I\nhave followed Heyne\u2019s construing, supplying \u03c4\u03b9\u03bd\u03b1.\n\nBut him the august Juno addressed, devising guile: \u201cThou shalt lie, nor\nshalt thou insure accomplishment to thy speech. But come, swear a firm\noath to me, O Olympian! that he shall indeed be ruler over all his\nneighbours, who shall this day fall between the feet of a woman, among\nthose men, who are of the blood of thy family.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, but Jove perceived not her crafty design, but he swore\nthe mighty oath, and afterwards was much befooled. 626 Then Juno\nspringing forth, quitted the top of Olympus, and came speedily to\nAchaean Argos, where she knew the noble spouse of Sthenelus, the son of\nPerseus. And she, indeed, was pregnant of her beloved son; and the\nseventh month was at hand; and she brought him into light, being\ndeficient the number of months; but kept back the delivery of Alemene,\nand restrained the Ilithyi\u00e6; and herself bearing the message, addressed\nJove, the son of Saturn:\n\nFootnote 626: (return)  Injured, vexed by his infatuation. Juno was\nthinking of Eurystheus but Jove of Hercules.\n\n\u201cFather Jove, hurler of the red lightning, I will put a certain matter\nin thy mind. A noble man is now born, who shall rule the Argives,\nEurystheus, the son of Perseus, thy offspring; nor is it unbecoming\nthat he should govern the Argives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThus she spoke; but sharp grief smote him in his deep mind; and\nimmediately he seized At\u00e9 by her head of shining curls, enraged in his\nmind, and swore a powerful oath, that At\u00e9, who injures all, should\nnever again return to Olympus and the starry heaven.\n\n\u201cThus saying, he cast her from the starry heaven, whirling her round in\nhis hand, but she quickly reached the works of men. On her account he\nalways groaned, 627 when he beheld his beloved son suffering unworthy\ntoil under the labours of 628 Eurystheus.\n\n\u201cSo I also, when the great crest-tossing Hector was thus 629 destroying\nthe Greeks at the sterns of the ships, was not able to forget the wrong\nwhich I had formerly foolishly committed. But since I have suffered\nharm, and Jove has taken away my reason, I am willing again to appease\nthee, and to give infinite presents. But arise to the battle, and\nincite the other people, and I myself [will pledge myself] to furnish\nall the presents, as many as noble Ulysses yesterday, going to thee,\npromised in thy tents. Yet, if thou wilt, wait a little, although\nhastening to battle, and my servants, taking the presents from my ship,\nshall bring them, that thou mayest see that I will present [thee] with\nappeasing offerings.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed; \u201cMost glorious son\nof Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, whether thou wilt furnish gifts, as\nis meet, or keep them with thee, [will be seen]; but now let us very\nquickly be mindful of the contest; for it is not fitting to waste time\nin idle talk, 630 nor to delay; as a mighty work is yet undone. But as\nsome one may again behold Achilles among the front ranks, destroying\nthe phalanxes of the Trojans with his brazen spear, so also let some\none of you, keeping this in mind, fight with [his] man.\u201d\n\nFootnote 627: (return)  On the servitude of Hercules, see Grote, vol.\ni. p. 128.\n\nFootnote 628: (return)  _I.e._ imposed by.\n\nFootnote 629: (return)  \u201cThe parallel implied here is of the havoc\noccasioned by Hector, and the laborious tasks imposed by Eurystheus.\nSuch appears to be the force of the particle.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 630: (return)  Hesych.; \u039a\u03bb\u03bf\u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03b5\u03cd\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u00b7 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03af\u03b6\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9......\n\u03bf\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03cd\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9.\n\nBut him Ulysses, of many wiles, answering, addressed: \u201cNot thus, brave\nas thou art, O godlike Achilles, urge on the sons of the Greeks,\nfasting, towards Ilium, about to fight with the Trojans; for the\nconflict will not be for a short time only, when once the phalanxes of\nmen shall mingle, and a god breathe might into both. But command the\nGreeks to be fed at the ships with food and wine, for this is might and\nvigour. For a man, unrefreshed by food, would not be able to fight\nagainst [the enemy] all day to the setting sun; for although he might\ndesire in his mind to fight, yet his limbs gradually grow languid, and\nthirst and hunger come upon him, and his knees fail him as he goes. The\nman, on the other hand, who is satiated with wine and food, fights all\nday with hostile men, the heart within his breast is daring, nor are\nhis limbs at all fatigued before that all retire from battle. But come,\ndismiss the people, and order a repast to be made ready; and let the\nking of men, Agamemnon, bring the gifts into the midst of the assembly,\nthat all the Greeks may see them with their eyes, and thou mayest be\ndelighted in thy mind. Let him, moreover, swear an oath to thee,\nstanding up among the Greeks, that he has never ascended her bed, nor\nhas been mingled with her, as is the custom, O king, of men and wives;\nand to thee thyself, also, let the soul within thy breast be placid.\nThen let him next conciliate thee by a rich banquet within his tents,\nthat thou mayest not have aught wanting of redress. And for the future,\nO son of Atreus, thou wilt be more just towards another; for it is by\nno means unworthy that a king should appease a man, when he 631 may\nfirst have given offence.\u201d\n\nFootnote 631: (return)  Understand \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03c2.\n\nBut him the king of men, Agamemnon, in return addressed:\n\n\u201cI rejoice, O son of La\u00ebrtes, having heard thy speech, for with\npropriety hast thou gone through and enumerated all things. These\nthings I am willing to swear, and my mind orders me, in presence of a\ngod, nor will I perjure myself. But let Achilles remain here, at least\nfor a little while, though hastening to battle, and do all ye others\nremain assembled, until they bring the gifts from my tent, and we\nstrike faithful leagues. To thyself, however, [O Ulysses], I give this\ncharge, and order thee, selecting the principal youths of all the\nGreeks, to bear from my ship the gifts, as many as we yesterday\npromised that we should give to Achilles, and to lead [hither] the\nwomen. But let Talthybius also quickly prepare for me through the wide\narmy of the Greeks, a boar to sacrifice to Jove and the sun.\u201d\n\nHim answering, swift-footed Achilles then addressed:\n\n\u201cMost glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, at some other\ntime ought they rather to attend to these things, when any cessation of\nbattle hereafter be, and so much ardour be not in my bosom: but at\npresent those lie mangled, whom Hector, son of Priam, subdued, when\nJove gave him the glory: but ye urge [them] to food! Now indeed I\nshould excite the sons of the Greeks to fight, fasting, but with the\nsetting sun, to prepare a large supper, after we have revenged our\ndisgrace. Before that neither drink nor food shall pass down my throat,\nmy companion being slain, who lies in my tent, torn with the sharp\nbrass, turned towards the vestibule, whilst his comrades mourn around\nthese things are not a care to my mind, but slaughter and bloodshed,\nand the dreadful groans of heroes.\u201d\n\nBut him much-scheming Ulysses answering, addressed:\n\n\u201cO Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the bravest of the Greeks, thou art\nsuperior indeed to me, and not a little more valiant with the spear,\nbut I indeed excel thee much in prudence; because I was born before\nthee, and know more: wherefore let thy mind be restrained by my words.\nSoon is there a satiety of contest to the men, a most abundant crop of\nwhom the brass pours upon the earth; but the harvest is very small,\nwhen Jove, who is the umpire of the battle of men, inclines his scales.\nIt is by no means fit that the Greeks should lament the dead with the\nstomach, for in great numbers and one upon another are they every day\nfalling; when therefore could any one respire from toil? But it is\nnecessary to bury him, whosoever may die, having a patient mind,\nweeping for a day. 632 But as many as survive the hateful combat should\nbe mindful of drinking and of food, in order that we may ever the more\nceaselessly contend with our enemies, clad as to our bodies in\nimpenetrable brass; nor let any of the troops lie by awaiting another\nexhortation. For evilly will that exhortation come upon him, whoever\nmay be left at the ships of the Greeks; but advancing in a body, let us\nstir up the keen battle against the horse-breaking Trojans.\u201d\n\nFootnote 632: (return)  Libanius, Or. ix. in Julian.: \u1f6c \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70\n\u03c3\u03c5\u03b3\u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c3\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03b4\u03ac\u03ba\u03c1\u03c5\u03b1, \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f10\u03c0\u2019 \u1f24\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f14\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2, \u1f40\u03bb\u03bf\u03c6\u03c5\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\n\u03c4\u03c5\u03c7\u1ff6\u03bd. See Duport, p. 111.\n\nHe said, and chose as his companions the sons of glorious Nestor, and\nMeges, son of Phyleus, Thoas, and Meriones, Lycomedes, son of Creon,\nand Melanippus; and they proceeded to go towards the tent of Agamemnon,\nson of Atreus. Immediately after the word was spoken, and the work was\nperfected. Seven tripods they bore from the tent, which he had promised\nhim, and twenty splendid goblets, and twelve steeds; and straightway\nled forth seven blameless women, skilled in works, but the eighth was\nfair-cheeked Brise\u00efs. But Ulysses, placing 633 ten whole talents of\ngold, led the way, and with him the other youths of the Greeks bore the\npresents, and placed them in the midst of the assembly; but Agamemnon\nrose up; and Talthybius, like unto a god in his voice, stood beside the\nshepherd of the people, holding a boar in his hands. Then the son of\nAtreus, drawing the knife with his hands, which always hung by the\ngreat scabbard of his sword, cutting off the forelock of the boar,\nprayed, lifting up his hands to Jove; but all the Greeks sat in silence\nin the same spot, listening in a becoming manner to the king. But\npraying, he spoke, looking towards the wide heaven:\n\nFootnote 633: (return)  _I.e._ in the scale, in order to be weighed.\n\n\u201cNow first let Jove be witness, the most supreme and best of gods, and\nEarth, and Sun, and ye Furies, who beneath the earth chastise men,\nwhoever may swear a falsehood; never have I laid hands upon the maid\nBrise\u00efs, needing her for the sake of the couch, or any other purpose;\nbut inviolate has she remained in my tents. But if any of these things\nbe false, may the gods inflict on me those very many distresses which\nthey inflict when men sin in swearing.\u201d\n\nHe said, and cut the throat of the boar with the ruthless brass; which\nTalthybius, whirling round, cast into the mighty water of the hoary\nsea, as food for fishes. But Achilles, rising, said among the\nwar-loving Greeks:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, certainly thou givest great calamities to men; for\nnever could Atrides have so thoroughly aroused the indignation in my\nbosom, nor foolish, led away the girl, I being unwilling, but Jove for\nsome intent wished death should happen to many Greeks. But now go to\nthe repast, that we may join battle.\u201d\n\nThus then he spoke, and dissolved the assembly in haste. 634\n\nFootnote 634: (return)  So Od. viii. 38: \u0398\u03bf\u1f74\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1, i.e.\n\u03b8\u03bf\u1ff6\u03c2. Virg. \u00c6n. iv. 226: \u201cCeleres defer mea dicta per auras,\u201d which\nServius interprets, \u201cceler, vel celeriter.\u201d\n\nThey indeed were separated, each to his own ship; but the magnanimous\nMyrmidons were occupied about the gifts, and, bearing them, went to the\nship of godlike Achilles. These they laid up in the tents, and placed\nthe women in seats; but the illustrious attendants drove the horses to\nthe stud. But afterwards Brise\u00efs, like unto golden Venus, when she\nbeheld Patroclus lacerated with the sharp spear, throwing herself about\nhim, wept aloud, and with her hands tore her breast and tender neck,\nand fair countenance. 635 Then the woman, like unto the goddesses,\nweeping, said:\n\n\u201cO Patroclus! most dear to my wretched soul, I left thee indeed alive,\ndeparting from my tent, but now returning, I find thee dead, O\nchieftain of the people! How in my case evil ever succeeds evil. The\nhero indeed to whom my father and venerable mother had given me, 636 I\nsaw pierced with the sharp brass before the city; and three beloved\nbrothers whom the same mother had brought forth to me, all drew on the\ndestructive day. Nevertheless, thou didst not suffer me to weep, when\nswift Achilles slew my husband, and laid waste the city of divine\nMynes, but thou saidst thou wouldst render me the wedded wife 637 of\nnoble Achilles, lead me in the ships to Phthia, and prepare the nuptial\nfeast amongst the Myrmidons. Therefore do I insatiably lament thee\ndead, being ever gentle.\u201d\n\nFootnote 635: (return)  On these ancient signs of lamentation cf. Virg.\n\u00c6n. iv. 672; xii. 605; Silius, viii. 153; Tusc. Qu\u00e6st. iii. 26. \u00c6sch.\nChoeph. 22:  \u03c1\u03ad\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ae\u03ca\u03c2 \u03c6\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bc\u03c5\u03b3\u03bc\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2. Eur. Hel. 1098:  \u03b1\u03c1\u1fc7\u03b4\u03b9 \u03c4\u2019\n\u1f44\u03bd\u03c5\u03c7\u03b1 \u03c6\u03cc\u03bd\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u1f10\u03bc\u03b2\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6 \u03c7\u03c1\u03bf\u03cc\u03c2. Orest. 950: \u03a4\u03b9\u03b8\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b1 \u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd \u1f44\u03bd\u03c5\u03c7\u03b1 \u03b4\u03af\u1f70\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b7\u0390\u03b4\u03c9\u03bd, \u03b1\u1f31\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1f78\u03bd \u1f04\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd. Artemidor. i. \u1f18\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03ad\u03bd\u03b8\u03b5\u03c3\u03b9 \u03bb\u03ac\u03b2\u03c9\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2\n\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f31 \u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9. See Comm. on Petron. cxi.\n\nFootnote 636: (return)  The consent of both parents was necessary to a\ncontract of marriage. See Feith, Antiq. Hom. ii. 13, 3.\n\nFootnote 637: (return)  She appears to have been, at present, only\nbetrothed.\n\nThus she spoke, weeping; and the women lamented for Patroclus, as a\npretext, but [really] each for her own ills. And around him (Achilles)\nwere collected the elders of the Greeks, entreating him to take\nrefreshment; but he, moaning, refused:\n\n\u201cI entreat [you], if any of my beloved companions would be obedient to\nme, bid me not satiate my heart with food or drink, since heavy grief\nhath invaded me; but I will wait entirely till the setting sun, and\nwill endure.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he dismissed the other kings: but two sons of Atreus\nremained; and noble Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the aged knight\nPh\u0153nix, constantly endeavouring to delight him sorrowing; nor was he at\nall delighted, before he should enter the mouth 638] of bloody war. But\nremembering [Patroclus], he frequently heaved [a sigh], and said:\n\nFootnote 638: (return)  So Ennius, p. 128. Hessel.: \u201cBelli ferratos\nposteis portasque refregit.\u201d Virg. \u00c6n. i. 298: \u201cClaudentur belli\nport\u00e6.\u201d Stat. Theb. v. 136: \u201cMovet ostia belli.\u201d\n\n\u201cSurely once, thou too, O unhappy one! dearest of my companions,\nwouldst thyself have set before me a plentiful feast, within my tent,\nspeedily and diligently, when the Greeks hastened to make tearful war\nupon the horse-breaking Trojans. But now thou liest mangled; but my\nheart is without drink and food, though they are within, from regret\nfor thee; for I could not suffer anything worse, not even if I were to\nhear of my father being dead, who now perhaps sheds the tender tear in\nPhthia from the want of such a son; while I, in a foreign people, wage\nwar against the Trojans, for the sake of detested Helen: or him, my\nbeloved son, who is nurtured for me at Scyros, if indeed he still\nlives, godlike Neoptolemus. For formerly the mind within my bosom hoped\nthat I alone should perish here in Troy, far from steed-nourishing\nArgos, and that thou shouldst return to Phthia, that thou mightst lead\nback my son in thy black ship from Scyros, and mightst show him\neverything, my property, my servants, and my great, lofty-domed abode.\nFor now I suppose that Peleus is either totally deceased, or that he,\nbarely alive, suffers pain from hateful old age, and that he is\ncontinually expecting bad news respecting me, when he shall hear of my\nbeing dead.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, weeping; and the elders also groaned, remembering, each\nof them, the things which they had left in their dwellings. But the son\nof Saturn felt compassion, seeing them weeping, and immediately to\nMinerva addressed winged words:\n\n\u201cO daughter mine, thou entirely now desertest thy valiant hero. Is\nAchilles then no longer at all a care to thee in thy mind? He himself\nis sitting before his lofty-beaked ships, bewailing his dear companion;\nwhile the others have gone to a banquet; but he is unrefreshed and\nunfed. Go, therefore, instil into his breast nectar and delightful\nambrosia, that hunger may come not upon him.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he urged on Minerva, who was before eager. But she, like\nunto a broad-winged, shrill-voiced harpy, leaped down from the heavens\nthrough the air. The Greeks, however, were then arming themselves\nthroughout the camp, when she instilled into the bosom of Achilles\nnectar and delightful ambrosia, that unpleasant hunger might not come\nupon his limbs. Then she went to the solid mansion of her powerful\nsire, and they, apart, poured forth from the swift ships.\n\nAnd as when thick snow-flakes fly down from Jove, beneath the force of\nthe cold, air-clearing Boreas; so from the ships were borne out crowded\nhelmets, shining brightly, and bossed shields, strong-cavitied\ncorslets, and ashen spears. But the sheen reached to heaven, and all\nthe earth around smiled beneath the splendour of the brass; and a\ntrampling of the feet of men arose beneath. In the midst noble Achilles\nwas armed, and there was a gnashing of his teeth, and his eyes shone\nlike a blaze of fire; but intolerable grief entered his heart within\nhim, and, enraged against the Trojans, he put on the gifts of the god,\nwhich Vulcan, toiling, had fabricated for him. First around his legs he\nplaced the beautiful greaves, joined with silver clasps, next he put on\nthe corslet round his breast, and suspended from his shoulders the\nbrazen, silver-studded sword; then he seized the shield, large and\nsolid, the sheen of which went to a great distance, as of the moon. 639\nAnd as when from the sea the blaze of a burning fire shines to\nmariners, which is lit aloft amongst the mountains in a solitary place;\nbut the storm bears them against their inclination away from their\nfriends over the fishy deep; so from the shield of Achilles, beautiful\nand skilfully made, the brightness reached the sky. But raising it, he\nplaced the strong helmet upon his head; and the helmet, crested with\nhorse-hair, shone like a star; and the golden tufts which Vulcan had\ndiffused thick around the cone were shaken. Then noble Achilles tried\nhimself in his arms if they would fit him, and if his fair limbs would\nmove freely in them; but they were like wings to him, and lifted up the\nshepherd of the people. And from its sheath he drew forth his paternal\nspear, heavy, great, and stout, which no other of the Greeks was able\nto brandish, but Achilles alone knew how to hurl it\u2014a Pelian ash, which\nChiron had cut for his father from the top of Pelion, to be a\ndestruction to heroes. But Automedon and Alcimus, harnessing the\nsteeds, yoked them; and beautiful collars were upon them. They put the\nbridles into their jaws, and drew back the reins towards the well-glued\ncar, when Automedon, seizing the shining lash, fitted to his hand,\nleaped into the car; Achilles, armed for battle, mounted behind him,\nglittering in his armour like the shining sun; and terribly he gave\ncommand to the horses of his sire:\n\nFootnote 639: (return)  Milton, P. L. i. 284:\n\n           \u201c........ his pond\u2019rous shield\n   Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round,\n   Behind him cast; the broad circumference\n   Hung on his shoulders like the moon.\u201d\n\n\n\u201cXanthus, and Balius, illustrious offspring of Podarges, resolve now in\na different manner to bring back your charioteer in safety to the body\nof the Greeks, after we are satiated with battle, nor leave him there\ndead, like Patroclus.\u201d\n\nBut from beneath the yoke, Xanthus, his swift-footed steed, addressed\nhim, and immediately hung down his head, and his whole mane, drooping\nfrom the ring which was near the yoke, reached the ground. But the\nwhite-armed goddess Juno gave him the power of speech:\n\n\u201cNow, at least, we will bear thee safe, O impetuous Achilles: but the\nfatal day draws nigh to thee; nor are we to blame, but a mighty deity\nand violent destiny. For not by our laziness, or sloth, have the\nTrojans stripped the armour from the shoulders of Patroclus; but the\nbravest of the gods, whom fair-haired Latona brought forth, slew him\namong the front ranks, and gave glory to Hector. And [though] we can\nrun even with the blast of Zephyrus, which they say is the most fleet,\nyet to thyself it is fated that thou shouldst be violently subdued by a\ngod and a man.\u201d\n\nOf him, having thus spoken, the Furies restrained the voice: but him\nswift-footed Achilles, greatly indignant, addressed:\n\n\u201cO Xanthus, why dost thou predict my death to me? For it is not at all\nnecessary for thee. Well do I myself know that it is my fate to perish\nhere, far away from my dear father and mother. Nevertheless I will not\ncease before the Trojans are abundantly satiated with war.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and shouting amongst the front ranks, directed on his\nsolid-hoofed steeds.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE TWENTIETH\n\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nJove permits the gods to join in the battle, and they take their\nrespective places on either side. \u00c6neas engages Achilles, but is\nrescued by Neptune. Hector, in revenge for the death of his brother\nPolydorus, also attacks Achilles, and is only saved from death by the\nintervention of Apollo. Achilles then slays many Trojans.\n\n\n\nThus around thee, O son of Peleus, were the Ach\u00e6ans armed, insatiable\nin fight, beside their crooked ships; and the Trojans, on the other\nside, on the acclivity 640 of the plain. But Jove ordered Themis to\nsummon the gods to an assembly, from the top of many-valleyed Olympus,\nand she, going round, ordered them to proceed to the palace of Jove.\nNor was any one of the rivers absent, save Oceanus, nor of the nymphs\nwho inhabit the pleasant groves and springs of rivers, and the grassy\nmeads. Then, coming to the habitation of cloud-compelling Jove, they\nsat down upon shining polished benches, which Vulcan with cunning skill\nhad made for father Jove. Thus were they assembled within the palace of\nJove: nor did Neptune disobey the goddess, but he came to them from the\nsea. Then he sat in the midst, and inquired the design of Jove:\n\nFootnote 640: (return)  See x. 160; xi. 56.\n\n\u201cWhy again, O hurler of the glowing lightning, hast thou summoned the\ngods to an assembly? Dost thou deliberate anything respecting the\nTrojans and Greeks? For now their combat and the battle are on the\npoint of being kindled.\u201d\n\nBut him cloud-compelling Jove answering, addressed:\n\n\u201cThou knowest, O earth-shaker, my design within my breast, [and] for\nwhose sake I have assembled you; for though about to perish, they are a\ncare to me. I will, however, remain sitting on the top of Olympus,\nwhence looking, I shall delight my soul; but depart the rest of you,\nthat ye may go to the Trojans and Greeks. Give aid to both, according\nas is the inclination of each. For if Achilles alone shall fight\nagainst the Trojans, they will not even for a little sustain the\nswift-footed son of Peleus. Formerly even beholding him, they fled\nterrified; but now when he is grievously enraged in his mind on account\nof his companion, I fear lest he overthrow the wall, even contrary to\nfate.\u201d\n\nThus spoke Saturnian Jove, and he stirred up the unyielding 641\ncontest; and the gods hastened to proceed to the battle, having\ndiscordant minds. Juno, indeed, and Pallas Minerva [went] to the\nassemblage of the ships, as well as earth-shaking Neptune, and useful\nMercury, who excelled in a prudent mind, with whom went Vulcan, looking\nsavage in his might, limping, and under him his weak limbs moved with\nall their force. But to the Trojans [went] crest-tossing Mars, and with\nhim unshorn Ph\u0153bus, 642 and Diana, delighting in archery, Latona,\nXanthus, and laughter-loving Venus. As long as the gods were apart from\nmortal men, so long the Greeks were greatly elated, because Achilles\nappeared, for he had long abstained from the dire battle; and a violent\ntremor came upon the Trojans, upon each of them as to their limbs,\nfearing because they beheld the swift-footed son of Peleus glittering\nin arms, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. But after the Olympians had\ncome to the crowd of men, then arose fierce Contention, the exciter of\nthe people, and Minerva shouted, sometimes standing beside the trench,\noutside the wall, at other times she loudly shouted along the echoing\nshores. But Mars yelled aloud on the other side, like unto a dark\nwhirlwind, keenly animating the Trojans from the lofty city, at other\ntimes running along the Simo\u00efs over Callicolone. 643\n\nThus the blessed gods, inciting both sides, engaged, and among them\nmade severe contention to break out. But dreadfully from above\nthundered the father of gods and men; whilst beneath Neptune shook the\nboundless earth and the lofty summits of the mountains. The roots and\nall the summits of many-rilled Ida were shaken, and the city of the\nTrojans, and the ships of the Greeks. Pluto himself, king of the nether\nworld, trembled beneath, and leaped up from his throne, terrified, and\nshouted aloud, lest earth-shaking Neptune should rend asunder the earth\nover him, and disclose to mortals and immortals his mansions, terrible,\nsqualid, which even the gods loathe. So great a tumult arose from the\ngods engaging in combat. Against king Neptune, indeed, stood Ph\u0153bus\nApollo, having his winged shafts, and against Mars the azure-eyed\ngoddess Minerva. Opposed to Juno stood the goddess of the golden bow,\nhuntress Diana, rejoicing in archery, the sister of Apollo; and\nopposite Latona, the preserver, 644 useful Mercury. Against Vulcan also\nwas the great deep-eddying river, which the gods call Xanthus, and men\nthe Scamander.\n\nFootnote 641: (return)  Buttm. Lexil. p. 406, 3: \u201cThe adjective\n\u03b1\u03bb\u03af\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, literally _unbending, unyielding, not to be turned_, became\nthe epithet of a violent, uncontrollable, incessant tumult, battle,\nlamentation, &c, as at I\u03bb. M. 471; B. 797; \u03a9. 760; and as an adverb at\n\u03a9. 549.\u201d\n\nFootnote 642: (return)  Hor. Od. i. xxii. 2: \u201cIntonsum, pueri, dicite\nCynthium.\u201d Tibull. i. 4, 37: \u201cSolis \u00e6terna est Ph\u0153bo, Bacchoque\njuventa: hanc decet intonsus crinis utrumque Deum.\u201d Various reasons are\nassigned for this; such as, \u201cquia occidendo et renascendo semper est\njuvenior,\u201d Fulgent. Myth. i. 17; or, \u201cquod ipse sit sol, et sol ignis\nest, qui nunquam senescit,\u201d Lutat. on Stat. Theb. i. 694. The\ninhabitants of Hieropolis, however, worshipped a bearded Apollo.\u2014Macr.\nSat. i. 17.\n\nFootnote 643: (return)  A rising ground which lay on the road from Troy\ntowards the sea-coast, on the other side of the Simo\u00efs, commanding the\nentire plain. Hence it is the rendezvous of the gods who favoured the\nTrojans.\n\nFootnote 644: (return)  We find a collateral verb \u03c3\u03c9\u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03b9\u03bd=_valere_, in\n\u00c6sch. Eum. 36. Apollon. Lex. p. 762; Hesych. t. ii. p. 1334, derive\n\u03c3\u1ff6\u03ba\u03c9\u03c2 from \u03c3\u03c9\u03c3\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2, the former connecting it with \u1f10\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03cd\u03bd\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2, \u1f41\n\u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03ac\u03bb\u03c9\u03c2 \u1f40\u03bd\u03af\u03c3\u03ba\u03c9\u03bd, \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u2019 \u1f14\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9 \u1f40\u03c6\u03b5\u03bb\u1ff6\u03bd.\n\nThus indeed gods went against gods; but Achilles chiefly longed to\npenetrate through the crowd against Hector, the son of Priam; for with\nhis blood his mind particularly ordered him to satiate Mars, the\ninvincible warrior. But Apollo, exciter of troops, immediately aroused\n\u00c6neas against the son of Peleus, and infused into him strong courage.\nAnd he likened himself in voice to Lycaon, the son of Priam, and having\nlikened himself to him, Apollo, the son of Jove, said:\n\n\u201cO \u00c6neas, counsellor of the Trojans, where are thy threats which,\nwhilst carousing, thou didst promise to the leaders of the Trojans,\nthat thou wouldst fight against Achilles, the son of Peleus?\u201d\n\nBut him \u00c6neas, answering, addressed in turn:\n\n\u201cSon of Priam, why dost thou order me, not wishing it, these things, to\nfight against magnanimous Pelides? For shall I not now for the first\ntime stand against swift-footed Achilles, but already, on another\noccasion, he chased me with his spear from Ida, when he attacked our\ncattle, and laid waste Lyrnessus and Pedasus: but Jove preserved me,\nwho excited my strength and nimble limbs. Certainly I should have been\nsubdued beneath the hands of Achilles, and Minerva, who, preceding,\ngave him victory, and encouraged him to slay the Lelegans and Trojans\nwith his brazen spear. Wherefore it is not possible that a man should\nfight against Achilles, because one of the gods is ever beside him, who\naverts destruction. Besides, also, his weapon flies direct, nor stops\nbefore it has pierced through human flesh; though if the deity would\nextend an equal scale of victory, not very easily would he conquer me,\nalthough he boasts himself to be all brazen.\u201d\n\nBut him again king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed:\n\n\u201cBut do thou also pray, O hero, to the immortal gods, for they say that\nthou too art sprung from Venus, the daughter of Jove, but he from an\ninferior goddess; for the one is from Jove, and the other from the aged\nsea-god. But direct thy invincible brass right against him, nor let him\nat all avert thee by haughty words and threats.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he breathed great courage into the shepherd of the people;\nand he advanced through the front ranks, accoutred in shining brass.\nNor did the son of Anchises escape the notice of white-armed Juno,\ngoing against the son of Peleus through the ranks of men; but, calling\nthe gods together, she addressed them:\n\n\u201cConsider now, both Neptune and Minerva, in your minds, how these\nthings shall be. This \u00c6neas, accoutred in shining brass, has advanced\nagainst the son of Peleus; and Ph\u0153bus Apollo has urged him on. But\ncome, let us, however, turn him back again; or let some one of us stand\nby Achilles, and give him great strength, nor let him at all be wanting\nin courage; that he may know that the mightiest of the immortals love\nhim; and that those, on the contrary, are vain, who hitherto avert war\nand slaughter from the Trojans. But we have all come down from Olympus,\nabout to participate in this battle, lest he should suffer anything\namong the Trojans to-day; but hereafter he shall suffer those things,\nas many as Fate at his birth wove in his thread [of destiny], 645 to\nhim, what time his mother brought him forth. But if Achilles shall not\nlearn these things from the voice of a god, he will afterwards be\nafraid when any god comes against him in battle; for the gods, when\nmade manifest, are terrible to be seen manifestly.\u201d 646\n\nBut her then earth-shaking Neptune answered:\n\n\u201cJuno, be not beyond reason enraged; nor is it at all necessary. I,\nindeed, would not desire that we should engage the other gods in a\nbattle, since we are much more powerful. 647 Rather let us, going out\nof the way, sit down upon a place of observation, 648 but the war shall\nbe a care to mortals. But if Mars shall begin the combat, or Apollo, or\nshall restrain Achilles, and not suffer him to fight, then immediately\nshall the strife of contention there arise to us; and I think that\nthey, having very speedily decided it, will return to Olympus, and mix\nwith the assembly of other gods, violently subdued by necessity under\nour hands.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, the azure-haired [god] led the way to the\nlofty mound-raised wall of divine Hercules, which the Trojans and\nPallas Minerva had made, that, flying, he might escape from the\nsea-monster, when pursued from the shore to the plain. There then\nNeptune sat down, and the other gods, and drew an indissoluble cloud\naround their shoulders; whilst on the other side they sat upon the tops\nof Callicolone, around thee, O archer Apollo, and Mars, the sacker of\ncities. Thus they sat on both sides, planning designs, yet both were\nunwilling to commence grievous war; but Jove, sitting aloft, cheered\nthem on. All the plain, however, was filled with them, and glittered\nwith the brass of men and horses, and the earth echoed under the feet\nof them rushing together. But two heroes, by far the most valiant,\nadvanced towards [each other] into the midst of both armies, eager to\nfight,\u2014\u00c6neas, the son of Anchises, and noble Achilles. And first \u00c6neas,\nthreatening, advanced, nodding with his strong casque; and before his\nbreast he held his impetuous shield, and shook his brazen spear. But on\nthe other side Pelides rushed against him like a destructive lion,\nwhich men assembled together, a whole village, are anxious to kill. He,\nhowever, at first despising them, proceeds; but when some one of\nvigorous youths has wounded him with a dart, yawning, he collects\nhimself [for a spring], 649 and the foam arises round his teeth, and\nhis valiant soul groans within his breast, and he lashes his sides and\nthighs on both sides with his tail, and rouses himself to battle; then,\ngrimly glaring, he is borne straight on by his strength, if he can kill\nsome of the men, or is himself destroyed in the first crowd. Thus did\nhis might and noble soul urge Achilles to go against magnanimous \u00c6neas.\nBut when now, advancing, they approached each other, swift-footed,\nnoble Achilles first addressed the other:\n\nFootnote 645: (return)  See Duport, p. 114. On the web woven by the\nFates for man\u2019s life, see Virg. Ecl. iv. 46; Catullus, lxiv. 328. But\nthis passage of Homer seems to imply the ancient notion, that the Fates\nmight be delayed, but never set aside. Cf. Nemes. de Nat. Horn. i. 36;\nCensorin. de die Nat. xiv.; Serv. on \u00c6n. vii. 398.\n\nFootnote 646: (return)  \u201cDeos _manifesto_ in lumine vidi.\u201d\u2014Virg. \u00c6n.\niv. 358. On the belief that the sight of a god was attended with\ndanger, cf. Liv. i. xvi. where Proculus beseeches the apparition of\nRomulus \u201cut contra intueri fas esset.\u201d See intpp. on Exod. xxxiii. 20;\nJudges xiii. 22.\n\nFootnote 647: (return)  I am half inclined to condemn this verse as\nspurious, with Ernesti. It is wanting in MS. Lips, and ed. Rom., and\ndoes not appear to have been read by Eustathius.\n\nFootnote 648: (return)  Compare the \u201cContemplantes\u201d of Lucan, sub\ninit., where the gods seek a similar place of observation.\n\nFootnote 649: (return)  So \u1f00\u03bb\u03b5\u1f76\u03c2 in xv. 403. \u201cIt is also used in the\nsame way of a warrior, who, whilst he is preparing to rush on his\nenemy, or expecting his attack, draws himself up together, or, as we\nsay, puts himself in an attitude of attack or defence.\u201d\u2014Buttm. Lexil.\np. 258.\n\n\u201cWhy, O \u00c6neas, coming through so great a length of crowd, dost thou\nstand against me? Does then thy soul urge thee to fight with me, hoping\nthat thou wilt govern the horse-breaking Trojans in the place 650 of\nPriam? Yet even if thou shalt slay me, not thus will Priam place this\nreward in thy hand: for he has sons; and he is himself steady, nor\ninconstant. Or, if thou slayest me, have the Trojans cut off for thee\nan enclosure 651 of soil surpassing others, suited to vines and the\nplough, that thou mayest cultivate it? Still I hope thou wilt effect it\nwith difficulty. For I think I have at some other time put thee to\nflight with my spear. Dost thou not remember when I impetuously drove\nthee, when alone, from the oxen, with rapid feet, down the Id\u00e6an\nmountains? Then indeed thou didst never turn round while flying, but\ndidst escape thence into Lyrnessus; but I wasted it, having attacked it\nwith the aid of Minerva and father Jove. The women also I led away\ncaptives, having taken away their day of freedom; but Jove and the\nother gods preserved thee. However, I do not think they will protect\nthee now, as thou castest in thy mind; but I exhort thee, retiring, to\ngo into the crowd, nor stand against me, before thou suffer some evil;\nbut [it is] a fool [who] knows a thing [only] when it is done.\u201d\n\nFootnote 650: (return)  \u0386\u03b3\u03c4\u1f76..... \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 is Gaza\u2019s correct\nparaphrase.\n\nFootnote 651: (return)  Cf 194.\n\nBut him \u00c6neas answered in turn, and said:\n\n\u201cDo not think, O son of Peleus, to affright me, like an infant boy,\nwith words; since I also well know how to utter both threats and\nreproaches. But we know each other\u2019s race, and we know our parents,\nhearing the words of mortal men long since uttered; although by sight,\nindeed, neither dost thou know mine, nor I thine. They say, indeed,\nthat thou art the offspring of renowned Peleus, and of thy mother\nThetis, the fair-haired sea-nymph; whereas I boast myself to be sprung\nfrom magnanimous Anchises, and Venus is my mother. Of these the one or\nthe other shall this day lament their beloved son; for I think we shall\nnot return from the battle thus separated by childish words. But if\nthou desirest to be taught these matters, that thou mayest well know\nour race (for many men know it), cloud-compelling Jove indeed first\nbegat Dardanus. 652 And he built Dardania, for sacred Ilium, the city\nof articulate-speaking men, was not as yet built in the plain, and they\nstill dwelt at the foot of many-rilled Ida. Dardanus again begat a son,\nking Erichthonius, who was then the richest of mortal men; whose three\nthousand mares pastured through the marsh, rejoicing in their tender\nfoals. Boreas, however, was enamoured of some of these when pasturing,\nand having likened himself to an azure-maned steed, covered them; and\nthey, becoming pregnant, brought forth twelve female foals; which when\nthey bounded upon the fruitful earth, ran over the highest fruit of the\nstalks of corn, nor did they break them: 653 but when they sported over\nthe broad back of the ocean, they ran along the surface of the ridge of\nthe hoary sea. But Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans. From\nTros again were descended three illustrious sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and\ngodlike Ganymede, who indeed was the handsomest of mortal men; and whom\nthe gods caught up into heaven, to pour out wine for Jove, 654 that, on\naccount of his beauty, he might be with the immortals. Ilus again begat\nhis renowned son Laomedon; but Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam,\nLampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, a branch of Mars; and Assaracus Capys,\nwho also begat his son Anchises. But Anchises begat me, and Priam noble\nHector. Of this race and blood do I boast myself to be. But Jove\nincreases and diminishes valour to men, as he pleases; for he is the\nmost powerful of all. But come, let us no longer talk of these things,\nlike little boys, standing in the middle combat of the strife. For it\nis possible for both to utter very many reproaches, so that a\nhundred-oared galley 655 would not contain the burthen; for the\nlanguage of mortals is voluble, 656 and the discourses in it numerous\nand varied: and vast is the distribution 657 of words here and there.\nWhatsoever word thou mayest speak, such also wilt thou hear. But what\nneed is there to us of disputes and railing, that we should quarrel\nwith each other like women, who, being angry with a soul-destroying\nstrife, proceeding into the middle of the way, chide each other with\nmany things true and not true: for rage also suggests those things? 658\nWith words, however, thou shalt not turn me, courageous, from my\nvalour, before thou lightest against me with thy brass; but come,\nquickly let us make trial of each other with brazen spears.\u201d\n\nFootnote 652: (return)  On Dardanus, the eponymus of Dardania, see\nGrote, vol. i. p. 387, where the whole legend of Troy is admirably\ndiscussed. Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. i. 292; iii. 167, where the Roman poet has\nmade use of Homer in tracing the pedigree of \u00c6neas to Jove.\n\nFootnote 653: (return)  This hyperbole has been emulated by numberless\npoets. Cf. Oppian, Cyn. i. 231; Apollon. Rh. i. 183; Quintus Calab.\nviii. 156; Virg. \u00c6n. vii. 808; Claudian in 3rd Cons. Hon. i. 97.\n\nFootnote 654: (return)  Cf. Pindar, Ol. i. 69, and Serv. on \u00c6n. i. 32.\n\nFootnote 655: (return)  Compare the Latin phrase, \u201cplaustra\nconvitiorum,\u201d and Duport, p. 116.]\n\nFootnote 656: (return)  \u03a3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c0\u03c4\u03ae\u2014\u1f51y\u03c1a \u03ba\u03b1\u03af \u03b5\u03cd\u03bb\u03cd\u03b3\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2.\u2014Eustath.\n\nFootnote 657: (return)  \u039d\u03bf\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2, \u03ad\u03c0\u03b9\u03bd\u03ad\u03bc\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2 \u03ad\u03c6\u2019 \u03ad\u03ba\u03ac\u03c4\u03b5\u03bf\u03b1.\u2014Eustath. See\nKennedy.\n\nFootnote 658: (return)  \u201c_I.e._ prompts to utter all sorts of things,\ntrue and false.\u201d\u2014Oxf. Tr.\n\nHe spoke, and hurled his brazen spear against the dreadful shield,\nterrible [to be seen], and the huge buckler resounded with the stroke\nof the javelin. But the son of Peleus, alarmed, held the shield from\nhim with his strong hand, for he supposed that the long spear of\ngreat-hearted \u00c6neas would easily penetrate; foolish! nor did he reflect\nin his mind and soul, that the glorious gifts of the gods are not easy\nto be subdued by mortal men, nor to yield. Nor then did the heavy spear\nof warlike \u00c6neas penetrate the shield; but the gold stopped it, the\ngift of the god. It penetrated, however, through two folds, but there\nwere still three; since Vulcan had drawn five folds over it, two\nbrazen, two inside of tin, and one golden; in which the brazen spear\nwas stopped. But Achilles next sent forth his long-shadowed spear, and\nstruck against the shield of \u00c6neas, equal on all sides, at the outside\nedge, where the thinnest brass ran round it, and the ox-hide was\nthinnest upon it; but the Pelian ash broke through, and the shield was\ncrushed by it. But \u00c6neas crouched, 659 and being terrified, held the\nshield from him; whilst the spear [passing] over his back, stuck in the\nearth eager [to go on], for it had burst through both orbs of the\nmighty 660 shield. But he, having escaped the long spear, stood still,\nbut immoderate sadness was poured over his eyes, terrified, because the\nweapon had stuck so near him. But Achilles eagerly sprang upon him,\ndrawing his sharp sword, and shouting dreadfully. Then \u00c6neas seized in\nhis hand a stone, a great weight, which not two men could bear, such as\nmen now are; but he, though alone, easily wielded it. Then indeed had\n\u00c6neas smitten him, rushing on, with the stone, either upon the helmet\nor the shield, which kept off grievous destruction from him; and\nPelides, in close fight, had taken away his life with the sword, had\nnot earth-shaking Neptune quickly perceived it, and immediately\naddressed this speech to the immortal gods:\n\nFootnote 659: (return)  See on ver. 168.\n\nFootnote 660: (return)  Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 83. The Schol. and Hesych.\nt. i. p. 296, interpret it \u201cman-encircling.\u201d\n\n\u201cYe gods! certainly there now is grief to me, on account of magnanimous\n\u00c6neas, 661 who will quickly descend to Hades, subdued by the son of\nPeleus, foolish, being persuaded by the words of far-darting Apollo;\nnor can he by any means avert 662 sad destruction from him. But why now\nshould this guiltless 663 man suffer evils gratuitously, on account of\nsorrows due to others, for he always presents gifts agreeable to the\ngods who inhabit the wide heaven? But come, let us withdraw him from\ndeath, lest even the son of Saturn be angry, if indeed Achilles slay\nthis man: moreover, it is fated that he should escape, that the race of\nDardanus, whom Jove loved above all the children that were descended\nfrom him and mortal women, may not perish without offspring, and become\nextinct. For already hath the son of Saturn hated the race of Priam,\nand the might of \u00c6neas shall now rule over the Trojans, and the sons of\nhis sons, who may be born in after-times.\u201d\n\nFootnote 661: (return)  The remarks of Grote, vol. i. p. 428, sqq. on\nthe character and position of \u00c6neas throughout the Iliad, deserve much\nattention.\n\nFootnote 662: (return)  \u201cThe examples of \u03c7\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd are frequent enough\nin Homer to enable us safely to assert, from a comparison of them, that\nit never has (at least in his writings) the more general meaning of _to\nbe useful, to help_, but, without an exception, the more definite sense\nof _to ward off_..... by examining passages we find, that even where no\naccusative is expressed, the evil to be warded off may always be\ninferred from the context.\u201d\u2014Buttm. Lexil. p. 542.\n\nFootnote 663: (return)  He had wished to restore Helen. See Liv. i. 1.\n\nBut him large-eyed venerable Juno then answered:\n\n\u201cO earth-shaker! do thou thyself reflect within thy mind, with respect\nto \u00c6neas, whether thou wilt withdraw him, or suffer him, being brave,\nto be subdued by Achilles, the son of Peleus. For already we two, I and\nPallas Minerva, have sworn many oaths amongst all the immortals, that\nwe will never help to avert the evil day from the Trojans, not even\nwhen all Troy, fired, shall burn with consuming flame, and the warlike\nsons of the Greeks fire it.\u201d\n\nBut when earth-shaking Neptune heard this, he hastened to go through\nthe battle and the clash of spears; and came where were \u00c6neas and\nrenowned Achilles. And immediately he shed a darkness upon the eyes of\nAchilles, son of Peleus, and he drew out the ashen spear, well guarded\nwith brass, from the shield of magnanimous \u00c6neas; and laid it before\nthe feet of Achilles, and pushed on \u00c6neas, lifting him high up from the\nground. But \u00c6neas leaped over many ranks of men and many of horses,\nimpelled by the hand of the god, and came to the rear of the troubled\nfight, where the Caucones were arrayed for war. But very near him came\nearth-shaking Neptune, and addressing him, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cO \u00c6neas, which of the gods commanded thee, thus mad, to combat against\nAchilles, who is at once more valiant than thou, and more dear to the\nimmortals? But retire whenever thou shalt be opposed to him, lest, even\ncontrary to fate, thou arrive at the habitation of Pluto. But when\nAchilles shall have attained his death and destiny, then again, being\nconfident, fight among the front ranks, because no other of the Greeks\nshall slay thee.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he left him there, when he had told him all, and immediately\nafterwards dissipated the thick darkness from the eyes of Achilles, and\nhe then saw very clearly with his eyes; whereupon groaning, he\naddressed his magnanimous soul:\n\n\u201cYe gods! certainly I behold this, a great marvel with mine eyes. The\nspear indeed lies upon the ground, nor do I at all perceive the man at\nwhom I hurled it, desiring to kill him. Undoubtedly \u00c6neas, too, was\ndear to the immortal gods, although I supposed that he boasted thus\nidly. Let him go; there will be no spirit in him hereafter to make\ntrial of me, who even now rejoicing, has escaped from death. But come,\nhaving encouraged the warlike Greeks, I will make trial of the other\nTrojans, going against them.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and sprang into the ranks, and cheered on every man:\n\n\u201cNo longer now stand off from the Trojans, O noble Greeks, but on! let\nman advance against man, and let him be eager to engage. Difficult is\nit for me, although being valiant, to attack so many warriors, and to\nfight with them all. Not even Mars, who is an immortal god, nor yet\nMinerva, could charge and toil against the force of such a conflict.\nYet whatever I can do with hands, with feet, and with strength, I\ndeclare that I will no longer be remiss, not ever so little; but I will\ngo right through their line, nor do I think that any Trojan will\nrejoice, whoever may come near my javelin.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, encouraging them; but illustrious Hector, upbraiding,\nanimated the Trojans, and said that he would go against Achilles:\n\n\u201cYe magnanimous Trojans, fear not the son of Peleus. I, too, could\nfight with words even with the immortals, but with the spear it is\ndifficult, for they are far more powerful. Nor shall Achilles give\neffect to all his words; but one part he shall fulfil, and the other\nleave half imperfect. Against him will I go, even though he were like\nto fire as to his hands; and to shining iron, as to his might.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, inciting them; but the Trojans opposite quickly raised\ntheir spears; their strength was mingled together, and a shout arose.\nThen also Ph\u0153bus Apollo, standing near, addressed Hector:\n\n\u201cHector, do not at all fight in the van with Achilles, but receive him\nin the crowd, and from the tumult, lest by any chance he hit thee, or\nstrike thee with the sword in close combat.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, and Hector sunk back again into the thick body of men,\ndismayed when he heard the voice of the god speaking. But Achilles\nleaped among the Trojans, clad with courage as to his soul, shouting\ndreadfully; and first slew gallant Iphition, son of Otrynteus, the\nleader of many people, whom the nymph Na\u00efs bore to Otrynteus, the\nsacker of cities, under snowy Tmolus, in the rich district of Hyda. 664\nHim, eagerly rushing straight forward, noble Achilles struck with his\njavelin in the middle of the head; and it was entirely split in two. He\ngave a crash as he fell, and noble Achilles boasted over him:\n\nFootnote 664: (return)  A town of M\u00e6onia in Lydia. See Steph. Byz. s.\nv.\n\n\u201cO son of Otrynteus, most terrible of all men, thou liest; death is\nhere upon thee. Thy birth, however, is at the Gyg\u00e6an lake, where is thy\npaternal land, beside fishy Hyllus, and eddying Hermus.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, boasting; but darkness covered his (Iphition\u2019s) eyes,\nbut the horses of the Greeks tore him with the tires of the wheels in\nthe front ranks. After him Achilles smote Demoleon, son of Antenor, a\nbrave repeller of the fight, in the temples, through his brazen-cheeked\nhelmet. Nor indeed did the brazen casque resist it, but through it the\neager javelin broke the bone, and the whole brain within was defiled;\nand he subdued him, ardent. Next he wounded with his spear in the back,\nHippodamas, as he was leaping down from his chariot, while flying\nbefore him. But he breathed out his soul, and groaned, like as when a\nbull, dragged round the Heliconian king, 665 bellows, as the youths\ndrag him; and the earth-shaker is delighted with them: so, as he\nmoaned, his fierce soul left his bones. But he went with his spear\nagainst godlike Polydorus, 666 the son of Priam; but him his father did\nnot permit to fight, because he was the youngest among all, and dearest\nto him, and surpassed all in speed. Then, indeed, through youthful\nfolly, exhibiting the excellence of his speed, he ran among the front\nranks till he lost his life. Him noble swift-footed Achilles smote\nrushing by, in the middle of the back, where the golden rings of his\nbelt clasped together, and the doubled corslet met. Right through at\nthe navel pierced the point of the spear, and uttering a groan, he fell\nupon his knees; a black cloud enveloped him, and stooping down, he\ngathered his intestines in his hands. But when Hector perceived his\nbrother Polydorus holding his intestines in his hands, and rolled on\nthe earth, a darkness was immediately poured over his eyes, nor could\nhe any longer be employed afar off, but advanced towards Achilles, like\nunto a flame, brandishing his sharp spear. On the other hand, Achilles,\nas soon as he saw him, leaped up, and boasting, spoke:\n\n\u201cNear is the man who has most stung my soul, who has slain my cherished\ncompanion; no longer indeed let us dread each other through the bridges\n667 of war.\u201d\n\nFootnote 665: (return)  Neptune was a favourite god among the Ionians\n(cf. M\u00fcller, Dor. vol. i. p. 417), but derived this name from Helice, a\ntown in the northern coast of the Peloponnese, out of which the\nprincipal Ach\u00e6an families were driven by Tisamenus, whose tomb was\nshown there. See M\u00fcller, id. p. 74.\n\nFootnote 666: (return)  This is not the Polydorus of Virgil and\nEuripides, but the son of Laothoe, daughter of Altas, king of the\nLelegans.\n\nFootnote 667: (return)  See iv. 371.\n\nHe spoke, and sternly regarding [him], addressed noble Hector:\n\n\u201cCome nearer, that thou mayest the sooner reach the end of death.\u201d\n\nBut him, not daunted, crest-tossing Hector addressed:\n\n\u201cO son of Peleus, do not expect to terrify me now like a little boy, at\nleast with words; since I myself also well know how to speak both\nrevilings and reproaches. I know that thou indeed art brave, and that I\nam inferior to thee. But these things indeed are placed at the knees of\nthe gods, whether, although being inferior, I shall take away thy life,\nstriking thee with my spear, since my weapon also is sharp at the\npoint.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and, brandishing, sent forth his spear; and Minerva with a\nbreath turned it back from glorious Achilles, having breathed very\ngently; but it came back to noble Hector, and lay before his feet. But\nAchilles, eager to slay him, rushed furiously on, shouting dreadfully;\nbut Apollo, as a god, very easily snatched him away, and covered him\nwith abundant haze. Thrice indeed swift-footed noble Achilles rushed on\nwith his brazen spear, and thrice he smote the deep haze. But when he\nrushed on the fourth time, like unto a god, he, dreadfully chiding,\naddressed to him winged words:\n\n\u201cDog, now again hast thou escaped death. Assuredly evil came very near\nthee, but Ph\u0153bus Apollo has now again preserved thee, to whom thou art\nwont to pray, when going into the clang of spears. Yet will I certainly\nfinish thee, meeting thee hereafter, if indeed any of the gods be an\nally to me also. At present, however, I will go after others of the\nTrojans, whomsoever I can.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he struck Dryops with his spear in the middle of the neck,\nand he fell before his feet. Him then he left, and then detained\nDemuchus, son of Philetor, brave and great, wounding [him] in the knee,\nwith his spear, whom then striking with his great sword, he deprived of\nlife. But attacking both, he pushed Laogonus and Dardanus, the sons of\nBias, from their chariot to the ground, wounding one with his spear,\nand striking the other in close combat with his sword. Also Tros, the\nson of Alastor, who came towards him, taking him by the knees, if on\nany terms he would spare him, and dismiss him alive, nor slay him,\ntaking pity on their equal age: fool! who knew not that he would not be\npersuaded. For he was by no means a tender-minded nor gentle man, but\nvery ferocious. He (Tros) indeed clasped his knees with his hands,\ndesiring to supplicate him, but he (Achilles) wounded him in the liver\nwith his sword; and his liver fell out, and the black blood from it\nfilled his bosom, and darkness veiled his eyes, wanting life. But\nstanding near Mulius, he smote him with his javelin on the ear, and\nimmediately the brazen blade went through the other ear. Then, with his\nlarge-hilted sword, he smote Echeclus, son of Antenor, in the centre of\nthe head, and the whole sword became tepid with blood; but purple Death\nand violent Fate seized his eyes. Then Deucalion, where the tendons of\nthe elbow unite, there he pierced him through his hand with his brazen\nspear; but he, weighed down as to his hand, awaited him, perceiving\ndeath before him. But he (Achilles) smiting his neck with his sword,\nknocked the head off afar with its helmet, and the marrow sprang forth\nfrom the spine; and Deucalion lay extended on the ground. Then he\nhastened to go towards Rigmus, the renowned son of Pireus, who had come\nfrom fertile Thrace; whom he smote in the middle with his javelin, and\nthe brass was fixed in his stomach; and he fell from his chariot: and\nAchilles wounded in the back, with his sharp javelin, Are\u00eftho\u00fcs, the\nattendant, while turning back the steeds, and threw him from the\nchariot: and the horses were thrown into confusion. And as the blazing\nfire burns through the deep dells of a dry mountain, and the dense\nforest is consumed, and the wind agitating, turns round the flame on\nall sides; thus he raged in every direction with his spear, like unto a\ndeity, following those that were to be slain; and the black earth\nflowed with blood. As when any one yokes broad fore-headed bulls to\ntrample out white barley on the well-levelled floor, and it easily\nbecomes small beneath the feet of the bellowing oxen; so the\nsolid-hoofed horses, driven by magnanimous Achilles, trod down together\nboth corses and shields. And the whole axletree beneath was polluted\nwith gore, and the rings which were round the chariot seat, which the\ndrops from the horses\u2019 hoofs spattered, as well as from the felloes.\nBut the son of Peleus was eager to bear away glory, and was polluted\nwith gore as to his invincible hands.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE TWENTY-FIRST.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nHaving divided the Trojan army, Achilles drives one part towards the\ncity, and the other into the Xanthus, where he takes twelve youths\nalive, in order to sacrifice them at the tomb of Patroclus. He then\nslays Lycaon and Asterop\u00e6us, deriding the river-god, Xanthus, as unable\nto aid his friends. The river endeavours to overwhelm him by the aid of\nSimo\u00efs, but Vulcan defends him from the danger. Single combats of the\ngods then follow, but they afterwards retire to Olympus. Apollo then\nleads Achilles away, assuming the form of Agenor, and the Trojans are\nthus enabled to regain the city.\n\n\nBut when they at last reached the course of the fairly-flowing river,\nthe eddying Xanthus, which immortal Jove begat; there separating them,\nhe pursued some indeed through the plain towards the city, by the\n[same] way that the Greeks, on the preceding day, being astounded, had\nfled, when illustrious Hector raged. By that way were they poured forth\nterrified; but Juno expanded a dense cloud before them, to check them:\nbut the other half were rolled into the deep-flowing river, with silver\neddies. But they fell in with a great noise; and the deep streams\nresounded, and the banks around murmured; but they, with clamour, swam\nhere and there, whirled about in the eddies. 668 As when locusts,\ndriven by the force of fire, fly into the air, to escape to a river,\nbut the indefatigable fire, suddenly kindled, blazes, and they fall,\nthrough terror into the water: thus, by Achilles, was the resounding\nriver of deep-eddied Xanthus filled promiscuously with horses and men.\nBut the Jove-sprung [hero] left his spear upon the banks, leaning\nagainst a tamarisk; and he leaped in, like unto a god, having only his\nsword, and meditated destructive deeds in his mind. And he smote on all\nsides, and a shocking lamentation arose of those who were stricken by\nthe sword, and the water was reddened with blood. And, as when the\nother fish, flying from a mighty dolphin, fill the inmost recesses of a\nsafe-anchoring harbour, frightened; for he totally devours whatever he\ncan catch; so the Trojans hid themselves in caves along the streams of\nthe terrible river. But he, when he was wearied as to his hands,\nslaying, chose twelve youths alive out of the river, a penalty for dead\nPatroclus, the son of Men\u0153tius. These he led out [of the river],\nstupified, like fawns. And he bound their hands behind them 669 with\nwell-cut straps, which they themselves bore upon their twisted tunics;\nand gave them to his companions to conduct to the hollow ships. But he\nrushed on again, desiring to slay.\n\nFootnote 668: (return)  Virg. \u00c6n. i. 118: \u201cApparent rari nantes in\ngurgite vasto.\u201d With the following description may be compared \u00c6sch.\nAg. 670: \u1f49\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03b8\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd \u03c0\u03ad\u03bb\u03b1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 \u0391\u1f30\u03b3\u03b1\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd \u03bd\u03b5\u03ba\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f08\u03c7\u03b1\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u03bd\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c4\u2019\n\u1f10\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03c0\u03af\u03c9\u03bd. Aristid. Panath. p. 142: \u1f69\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f11\u03ce\u03c1\u03b1 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b8\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03c4\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd \u03b1\u1f35\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76\n\u1fe5\u03bf\u03b8\u03af\u1ff3 \u1fe5\u03ad\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03bd\u03ad\u03ba\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bd\u03b1\u03c5\u03b1\u03b3\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac.\n\nFootnote 669: (return)  As was customary with captives. Cf. Virg. \u00c6n.\nii. 57, and Moll. on Longus, ii. 9.\n\nThen did he encounter the son of Dardanian Priam, Lycaon, escaping from\nthe river, whom he himself had formerly led away, taking him unwilling\nfrom his father\u2019s farm, having come upon him by night: but he, with the\nsharp brass, was trimming a wild fig-tree of its tender branches, that\nthey might become the cinctures of a chariot. But upon him came noble\nAchilles, an unexpected evil; and then, conveying him in his ships, he\nsold him into well-inhabited Lemnos; but the son of Jason gave his\nprice. 670 And from thence his guest, Imbrian E\u00ebtion, ransomed him, and\ngave him many things, and sent him to noble Arisbe; whence, secretly\nescaping, he reached his father\u2019s house. Returning from Lemnos, for\neleven days he was delighted in his soul, with his friends; but on the\ntwelfth the deity again placed him in the hands of Achilles, who was\nabout to send him into the [habitation] of Hades, although not willing\nto go. But when swift-footed, noble Achilles perceived him naked,\nwithout helmet and shield, neither had he a spear, for all these,\nindeed, he had thrown to the ground, for the sweat overcame him, flying\nfrom the river, and fatigue subdued his limbs beneath; but [Achilles]\nindignant, thus addressed his own great-hearted soul:\n\nFootnote 670: (return)  _I.e._ purchase him as a slave.\n\n\u201c\u039f gods! surely I perceive this, a great marvel, with mine eyes.\nDoubtless the magnanimous Trojans whom I have slain will rise again\nfrom the murky darkness, as now this man has returned, escaping the\nmerciless day, having been sold in sacred Lemnos; nor has the depth of\nthe sea restrained him, which restrains many against their will. But\ncome now, he shall taste the point of my spear, that I may know in my\nmind, and learn, whether he will in like manner return thence, or\nwhether the fruitful earth will detain him, which detains even the\nmighty.\u201d\n\nThus he pondered, remaining still; but near him came Lycaon, in\nconsternation, anxious to touch his knees; for he very much wished in\nhis mind to escape evil death and black fate. Meanwhile noble Achilles\nraised his long spear, desiring to wound him; but he ran in under it,\nand, stooping, seized his knees, but the spear stuck fixed in the earth\nover his back, eager to be satiated with human flesh. But he, having\ngrasped his knees with one hand, supplicated him, and with the other\nheld the sharp spear, nor did he let it go; and, supplicating,\naddressed to him winged words:\n\n\u201cO Achilles, embracing thy knees, I supplicate thee; but do thou\nrespect and pity me. I am to thee in place of a suppliant, to be\nrevered, O Jove-nurtured one! For with thee I first tasted the fruit of\nCeres on that day when thou tookest me in the well-cultivated field,\nand didst sell 671 me, leading me away from my father and friends, to\nsacred Lemnos; and I brought thee the price of a hundred oxen. But now\nwill I redeem myself, giving thrice as many. This is already the\ntwelfth morning to me since I came to Troy, having suffered much, and\nnow again pernicious fate has placed me in thy hands. Certainly I must\nbe hated by father Jove, who has again given me to thee. For my mother\nLaotho\u00eb, the daughter of aged Altes, brought forth short-lived me, of\nAltes, who rules over the warlike Lelegans, possessing lofty Padasus,\nnear the Satnio: and Priam possessed his daughter, as well as many\nothers; but from her we two were born, but thou wilt slay both. Him,\ngodlike Polydorus, thou hast subdued already among the foremost\ninfantry, when thou smotest him with the sharp spear, and now will evil\nbe to me here; for I do not think that I shall escape thy hands, since\na deity has brought me near thee. Yet another thing will I tell thee,\nand do thou store it in thy mind. Do not slay me, for I am not of the\nsame womb with Hector, who killed thy companion, both gentle and\nbrave.\u201d Thus then, indeed, the noble son of Priam addressed him,\nsupplicating with words; but he heard a stern reply.\n\nFootnote 671: (return)  Hesych. \u03ad\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03af\u03c2\u03c4\u03bf \u03c0\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac\u03c3\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2\n\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c0\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2, \u03ad\u03c0\u03ce\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2. See Schol. on ver. 40.\n\n\u201cFool, talk not to me of ransom, nor, indeed, mention it. Before\nPatroclus fulfilled the fatal day, so long to me was it more agreeable\nin my mind to spare the Trojans, and many I took alive and sold. But\nnow there is not [one] of all the Trojans, whom the deity shall put\ninto my hands before Ilium, who shall escape death; but above all of\nthe sons of Priam. But die thou also, my friend; why weepest thou thus?\nPatroclus likewise died, who was much better than thou. Seest thou not\nhow great I am? both fair and great; and I am from a noble sire, and a\ngoddess mother bore me; but Death and violent Fate will come upon thee\nand me, whether [it be] morning, evening, or mid-day; 672 whenever any\none shall take away my life with a weapon, either wounding me with a\nspear, or with an arrow from the string.\u201d\n\nFootnote 672: (return)  See Kennedy.\n\nThus he spoke; but his knees and dear heart were relaxed. He let go the\nspear, indeed, and sat down, stretching out both hands. But Achilles,\ndrawing his sharp sword, smote [him] at the clavicle, near the neck.\nThe two-edged sword penetrated totally, and he, prone upon the ground,\nlay stretched out, but the black blood flowed out, and moistened the\nearth. Then Achilles, seizing him by the foot, threw him into the\nriver, to be carried along, and, boasting, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cLie there now with the fishes, 673 which, without concern, will lap\nthe blood of thy wound; nor shall thy mother 674 weep, placing thee\nupon the funeral couch, but the eddying Scamander shall bear thee into\nthe wide bosom of the ocean. Some fish, bounding through the wave, will\nescape to the dark ripple, 675 in order that he may devour the white\nfat of Lycaon. Perish [ye Trojans], till we attain to the city of\nsacred Ilium, you flying, and I slaughtering in the rear: nor shall the\nwide-flowing, silver-eddying river, profit you, to which ye have\nalready sacrificed many bulls, and cast solid-hoofed steeds alive into\nits eddies. But even thus shall ye die an evil death, until ye all\natone for the death of Patroclus, and the slaughter of the Greeks, whom\nye have killed at the swift ships, I being absent.\u201d\n\nFootnote 673: (return)  Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. x. 555, sqq.; Longus, ii. 20:\n\u0386\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70 \u03b2\u03bf\u03c1\u1f70\u03bd [\u03cd\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2] \u03af\u03c7\u03b8\u03cd\u03c9\u03bd \u03b8\u03ae\u03c3\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b4\u03cd\u03c3\u03b1\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 674: (return)  Cf. Soph. Electr. 1138, sqq. with my note.\n\nFootnote 675: (return)  _I.e._ the surface.\n\nThus he spoke; but the River was the more enraged at heart, and\nrevolved in his mind how he might make noble Achilles cease from\nlabour, and avert destruction from the Trojans. But meanwhile the son\nof Peleus, holding his long-shadowed spear, leaped upon Asterop\u00e6us, son\nof Pelegon, desirous to kill him whom the wide-flowing Axius begat, and\nPerib\u0153a, eldest of the daughters of Accessamenus; for with her had the\ndeep-eddying river been mingled. Against him Achilles rushed; but he,\n[emerging] from the river, stood opposite, holding two spears; for\nXanthus had placed courage in his mind, because he was enraged on\naccount of the youths slain in battle, whom Achilles had slain in the\nstream, nor pitied them. But when they were now near, advancing towards\neach other, him first swift-footed, noble Achilles addressed:\n\n\u201cWho, and whence art thou of men, thou who darest to come against me?\nTruly they are the sons of unhappy men who encounter my might.\u201d Him\nagain the illustrious son of Pelegon addressed: \u201cO magnanimous son of\nPeleus, why dost thou ask my race? I am from fruitful P\u00e6onia, being far\noff, leading the long-speared P\u00e6onian heroes; and this is now the\neleventh morning to me since I came to Troy. But my descent is from the\nwide-flowing Axius, who pours the fairest flood upon the earth, he who\nbegat Pelegon, renowned for the spear; who, men say, begat me. But now,\nO illustrious Achilles, let us fight.\u201d\n\nThus he spake, threatening: but noble Achilles raised the Pelian ash;\nbut the hero Asterop\u00e6us [took aim] with both spears at the same time,\n676 for he was ambidexter. 677 With the one spear he struck the shield,\nnor did it pierce the shield completely through; for the gold\nrestrained it, the gift of a god; and the other slightly wounded him\nupon the elbow of the right arm; and the black blood gushed out: but\nthe [spear passing] over him, was fixed in the earth, longing to\nsatiate itself with his body. But second Achilles hurled his\nstraight-flying ashen spear at Asterop\u00e6us, anxiously desiring to slay\nhim. From him indeed he erred, and struck the lofty bank, and drove the\nashen spear up to the middle in the bank. Then the son of Peleus,\ndrawing his sharp sword from his thigh, eagerly leaped upon him; but he\nwas not able to pluck out, with his strong hand, the ashen spear of\nAchilles, from the bank. Thrice, indeed, he shook it, desiring to pluck\nit out, and thrice he failed in strength. And the fourth time he had\ndetermined in his mind, bending, to snap the ashen spear of \u00c6acides;\nbut Achilles first, close at hand, took away his life with the sword;\nfor he smote him upon the belly at the navel, and all his bowels were\npoured out upon the ground, and darkness veiled him, dying, as to his\neyes. Then Achilles, leaping upon his breast, despoiled him of his\narms, and boasting, spoke:\n\nFootnote 676: (return)  \u1f09\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u1fc7 is here an adverb.\n\nFootnote 677: (return)  Symmachus, Epist. ix. 105: \u201cPari nitore atque\ngravitate senatorias actiones et Roman\u00e6 rei monumenta limasti, ut plane\nHomerica appellatione \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b4\u03ad\u03be\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd, id est, \u00e6quimanum, te esse\npronunciem.\u201d\n\n\u201cLie so: it is a difficult thing for thee, though descended from a\nRiver, to contend with the sons of the most mighty Saturnian [Jove].\nThou saidst thou wert of the race of a wide-flowing River, but I boast\nmyself to be of the race of mighty Jove. The hero ruling over many\nMyrmidons begat me, Peleus, son of \u00c6acus; but \u00c6acus was from Jove;\nwherefore Jove is more powerful than Rivers flowing into the sea, and\nthe race of Jove again is more powerful than that of a river. Besides,\na very great River is at hand to thee, if it can aught defend thee; but\nit is not lawful to fight with Jove, the son of Saturn. With him\nneither does king Achelo\u00fcs vie, nor the mighty strength of deep-flowing\nOceanus, from which flow all rivers, and every sea, and all fountains,\nand deep wells; but even he dreads the bolt of the great Jove, and the\ndreadful thunder, when it bellows from heaven.\u201d\n\nHe said, and plucked his brazen spear from the bank. But him he left\nthere, after he had taken away his life, lying in the sand, and the\ndark water laved him. About him, indeed, the eels and fishes were\nbusied, eating [and] nibbling the fat around his kidneys. But he\n(Achilles) hastened to go against the P\u00e6onian equestrian warriors, who\nwere already turned to flight beside the eddying river, when they saw\nthe bravest in the violent conflict bravely subdued by the hands and\nsword of the son of Peleus. Then he slew Thersilochus, Mydon,\nAstypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, \u00c6nius, and Ophelestes. And now had swift\nAchilles slain even more P\u00e6onians, had not the deep-eddying River,\nenraged, addressed him, likening itself to a man, and uttered a voice\nfrom its deep vortex:\n\n\u201cO Achilles, thou excellest, it is true, in strength, but thou doest\nunworthy acts above [others], for the gods themselves always aid thee.\nIf indeed the son of Saturn has granted to thee to destroy all the\nTrojans, at least having driven them from me, perform these arduous\nenterprises along the plain. For now are my agreeable streams full of\ndead bodies, nor can I any longer pour my tide into the vast sea,\nchoked up by the dead; whilst thou slayest unsparingly. But come, even\ncease\u2014a stupor seizes me\u2014O chieftain of the people.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed:\n\n\u201cThese things shall be as thou desirest, O Jove-nurtured Scamander. But\nI will not cease slaughtering the treaty-breaking 678 Trojans, before\nthat I enclose them in the city, and make trial of Hector, face to\nface, whether he shall slay me, or I him.\u201d\n\nFootnote 678: (return)  Although this meaning of \u03cd\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03c6\u03af\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 is well\nsuited to this passage, yet Buttmann, Lexil. p. 616, \u00a7 6, is against\nany such particular explanation of the word. See his whole\ndissertation.\n\nThus speaking, he rushed upon the Trojans like unto a god; and the\ndeep-eddying River then addressed Apollo:\n\n\u201cAlas! O god of the silver bow, child of Jove, thou hast not observed\nthe counsels of Jove, who very much enjoined thee to stand by and aid\nthe Trojans, till the late setting evening 679 sun should come, and\novershadow the fruitful earth.\u201d\n\nFootnote 679: (return)  \u0394\u03b5\u03af\u03b5\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 has been shown by Buttmann to be really\nthe _afternoon_; but he observes, p. 223, that in the present passage,\n\u201cit is not the Attic \u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03bb\u03b7 \u1f40\u03c8\u03af\u03b1, with which it has been compared, but\nby the force of \u03b4\u03cd\u03c9\u03bd, the actual sunset of evening. The \u1f40\u03c8\u03ad is\ntherefore, strictly speaking, redundant, and appears to be used with\nreference only to the time past, something in this way: \u2018Thou shouldst\nassist the Trojans until the sun sinks late in the west.\u2019\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and spear-renowned Achilles leaped into the midst, rushing\ndown from the bank. But he (the River) rushed on, raging with a swoln\nflood, and, turbid, excited all his waves. And it pushed along the\nnumerous corpses, which were in him 680 in abundance, whom Achilles had\nslain. These he cast out, roaring like a bull, upon the shore; but the\nliving he preserved in his fair streams, concealing them among his\nmighty deep gulfs. And terrible around Achilles stood the disturbed\nwave, and the stream, falling upon his shield, oppressed him, nor could\nhe stand steady on his feet. But he seized with his hands a thriving,\nlarge elm; and it, falling from its roots, dislodged the whole bank,\nand interrupted the beautiful streams with its thick branches, and\nbridged over the river itself, 681 falling completely in. Then leaping\nup from the gulf, he hastened to fly over the plain on his rapid feet,\nterrified. Nor yet did the mighty god desist, but rushed after him,\nblackening on the surface, that he might make noble Achilles cease from\ntoil, and avert destruction from the Trojans. But the son of Peleus\nleaped back as far as is the cast of a spear, having the impetuosity of\na dark eagle, a hunter, which is at once the strongest and the swiftest\nof birds. Like unto it he rushed, but the brass clanked dreadfully upon\nhis breast; but he, inclining obliquely, fled from it, and it, flowing\nfrom behind, followed with a mighty noise. As when a ditch-worker leads\na stream of water from a black-flowing fountain through plantations and\ngardens, holding a spade in his hands, and throwing out the\nobstructions from the channel; all the pebbles beneath are agitated as\nit flows along, and, rapidly descending, it murmurs down a sloping\ndeclivity, and outstrips even him who directs it: so the water of the\nriver always overtook Achilles, though being nimble; for the gods are\nmore powerful than mortals. As often as swift-footed, noble Achilles\nattempted to oppose it, and to know whether all the immortals who\npossess the wide heaven put him to flight, so often did a great billow\nof the river, flowing from Jove, lave his shoulders from above; whilst\nhe leaped up with his feet, sad in mind, and the rapid stream subdued\nhis knees under him, and withdrew the sand from beneath his feet. But\nPelides groaned, looking toward the wide heaven:\n\nFootnote 680: (return)  _I.e._ in the river. One translator absurdly\nrenders it \u201cthrough him,\u201d _i.e._ through Achilles.\n\nFootnote 681: (return)  \u201cThe circumstance of a fallen tree, which is by\nHomer described as reaching from one of its banks to the other, affords\na very just idea of the breadth of the Scamander at the season when we\nsaw it.\u201d\u2014Wood on Homer, p. 328.\n\n\u201cO father Jove, how does none of the gods undertake to save me,\nmiserable, from the river! Hereafter, indeed, I would suffer anything.\n682 But no other of the heavenly inhabitants is so culpable to me as my\nmother, who soothed me with falsehoods, and said that I should perish\nby the fleet arrows of Apollo, under the wall of the armed Trojans.\nWould that Hector had slain me, who here was nurtured the bravest; then\na brave man would he have slain, and have despoiled a brave man. But\nnow it is decreed that I be destroyed by an inglorious death,\noverwhelmed in a mighty river, like a swine-herd\u2019s boy, whom, as he is\nfording it, the torrent overwhelms in wintry weather.\u201d\n\nFootnote 682: (return)  _I.e._ grant that I may but escape a\ndisgraceful death by drowning, and I care not how I perish afterwards.\nThe Scholiast compares the prayer of Ajax in p. 647: \u1f18\u03bd \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c6\u03ac\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76\n\u1f44\u03bb\u03b5\u03c3\u03c3\u03bf\u03bd. Cf. \u00c6n, i. 100, sqq. \u00c6sch. Choeph 340; Eur. Andr. 1184.\n\nThus he spoke; but Neptune and Minerva, very quickly advancing, stood\nnear him (but in body they had likened themselves to men), and, taking\nhis hand in their hands, strengthened him with words. But to them\nearth-shaking Neptune began discourse:\n\n\u201cO son of Peleus, neither now greatly fear, nor yet be at all dismayed;\nso great allies from among the gods are we to thee, Jove approving it,\nI and Pallas Minerva, so that it is not decreed that thou shouldst be\novercome by a river. It, indeed, shall soon cease, and thou thyself\nshalt see it. But let us prudently suggest, if thou be obedient, not to\nstop thy hands from equally destructive war, before thou shalt have\nenclosed the Trojan army within the renowned walls of Troy, whoever,\nindeed, can escape: but do thou, having taken away the life of Hector,\nreturn again to the ships; for we grant to thee to bear away glory.\u201d\n\nThey indeed having thus spoken, departed to the immortals. But he\nproceeded towards the plain (for the command of the gods strongly\nimpelled him), and it was all filled with the overflowed water. Much\nbeautiful armour and corpses of youths slain in battle, floated along;\nbut his knees bounded up against the course of it rushing straight\nforward; for Minerva had put great strength into him. Nor did Scamander\nremit his strength, but was the more enraged with the son of Peleus.\nAnd he swelled the wave of the stream, and, shouting, animated Simo\u00efs:\n\n\u201cO dear brother, let us both, at least, restrain the force of the man,\nsince he will quickly destroy the great city of king Priam, for the\nTrojans resist him not in battle. But aid me very quickly, and fill thy\nstreams of water from thy fountains, and rouse all thy rivulets, raise\na great wave, and stir up a mighty confusion of stems and stones, that\nwe may restrain this furious man, who now already is victorious, and is\nbent on deeds equal to the gods. For I think that neither his strength\nwill defend him, nor his beauty at all, nor those beautiful arms, which\nshall lie everywhere in the very bottom of my gulf, covered with mud.\nHimself also will I involve in sand, pouring vast abundant silt around\nhim; nor shall the Greeks know where to gather his bones, so much slime\nwill I spread over him. And there forthwith shall be 683 his tomb, nor\nshall there be any want to him of entombing, when the Greeks perform\nhis obsequies.\u201d\n\nFootnote 683: (return)  Observe the force of \u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03be\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9.\n\nHe spoke, and raging aloft, turbid, he rushed upon Achilles, murmuring\nwith foam, with blood, and with dead bodies. Immediately the purple\nwater of the Jove-descended river being raised up, stood, and seized\nthe son of Peleus. But Juno cried aloud, fearing for Achilles, lest the\nmighty deep-eddying river should sweep him away; and immediately\naddressed Vulcan, her beloved son:\n\n\u201cArise, Vulcan, my son; for we supposed that eddying Xanthus was\nequally matched in battle against thee; but give aid with all haste,\nand exhibit thy abundant flame. But I will go to excite a severe storm\nof Zephyrus, and rapid Notus from the sea, which bearing a destructive\nconflagration, may consume the heads and armour of the Trojans. Do\nthou, therefore, burn the trees upon the banks of Xanthus, and hurl at\nhimself with fire, nor let him at all avert thee by kind words or\nthreats: neither do thou previously restrain thy might; but when I,\nshouting, shall give the signal, then restrain thy indefatigable fire.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; but Vulcan darted forth his fierce-burning fire. First,\nindeed, he kindled a fire in the plain, and burned many dead bodies,\nwhich were in abundance, over it, whom Achilles had slain; so that the\nwhole plain was dried up, and the clear water restrained. And as when\nan autumnal north wind immediately dries a newly-watered garden, and\ngratifies him whoever cultivates it, so was the whole plain dried, and\nit consumed the dead; whereupon he turned his all-resplendent flame\nagainst the river. The elms were burned up, and the willows and\ntamarisks; the lotus was consumed, and the rushes and reeds, which grew\nin great abundance round the beautiful streams of the river. Harassed\nwere the eels and the fishes, which through the whirlpools, [and] which\nthrough the fair streams dived here and there, exhausted by the breath\nof the various artificer Vulcan. The might of the river was burnt up,\nand he spake, and addressed him:\n\n\u201cNone of the gods, O Vulcan, can oppose thee on equal terms, nor can I\ncontend with thee, thus burning with fire. Cease from combat, and let\nnoble Achilles instantly expel the Trojans from their city; what have I\nto do with contest and assistance?\u201d\n\nHe spoke, scorched; and his fair streams boiled up. As a caldron\npressed by much fire, glows, bubbling up within on all sides, while\nmelting the fat of a delicately-fed sow, whilst the dry wood lies\nbeneath it; so were his fair streams dried up with fire, and the water\nboiled; nor could he flow on, but was restrained, and the vapour\n[raised] by the might of crafty Vulcan harassed him. At length,\nsupplicating much, he addressed to Juno winged words:\n\n\u201cO Juno, why does thy son press upon my stream, to annoy [me] beyond\nothers? nor truly am I so much to blame as all the others, as many as\nare assistants to the Trojans, But I will, however, desist, if thou\nbiddest it; and let him also cease; and I moreover will swear this,\nthat I never will avert the evil day from the Trojans, not even when\nall burning Troy shall be consumed with destructive fire, and the\nwarlike sons of the Greeks shall burn it.\u201d\n\nBut when the white-armed goddess Juno heard this, she straightway\naddressed her beloved son Vulcan: \u201cVulcan, my illustrious son, abstain;\nfor it is not fitting thus to persecute an immortal god for the sake of\nmortals.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; and Vulcan extinguished his glowing fire, and the\nrefluent water immediately lowered its fair streams. But when the might\nof Xanthus was subdued, then indeed they rested; for Juno restrained\nherself, though enraged.\n\nAmong the other gods, however, grievous, troublesome contention fell\nout, and the inclination in their minds was borne in opposite\ndirections. They engaged with a great tumult, and the wide earth\nre-echoed, and the mighty heaven resounded around. And Jove heard it,\nsitting upon Olympus, and his heart laughed with joy, when he beheld\nthe gods engaging in contest. Then they did not long stand apart; for\nshield-piercing Mars began, and rushed first against Minerva, holding\nhis brazen spear, and uttered an opprobrious speech:\n\n\u201cWhy thus, O most impudent, having boundless audacity, dost thou join\nthe gods in battle? Has thy great soul incited thee? Dost thou not\nremember when thou didst urge Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to strike me?\nAnd taking the spear thyself, thou didst direct it right against me,\nand didst lacerate my fair flesh. Now, therefore, I think that I will\nchastise thee, for all that thou hast done against me.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he struck [her] on the fringed \u00e6gis, horrible, which not\neven the thunderbolt of Jove will subdue; on it gore-tainted Mars smote\nher with the long spear. But she, retiring, seized in her stout hand a\nstone lying in the plain, black, rugged, and great, which men of former\ndays had set to be the boundary of a field. 684 With this she struck\nfierce Mars upon the neck, and relaxed his knees. Seven acres he\ncovered, falling; as to his hair he was defiled with dust; and his\narmour rang round him. But Pallas Minerva laughed, and, boasting over\nhim, addressed to him winged words:\n\nFootnote 684: (return)  The student will find some rude representations\nof these boundary-stones at page 212, sqq. of Van Goes\u2019 edition of the\nRei Agrimensoria scriptores.\n\n\u201cFool, hast thou not yet perceived how much I boast myself to be\nsuperior, that thou opposest thy strength to me? Thus indeed dost thou\nexpiate the Erinnys of thy mother, who designs mischiefs against thee,\nenraged because thou hast deserted the Greeks, and dost aid the\ntreaty-breaking Trojans.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, she turned back her bright eyes. But Venus, the\ndaughter of Jove, taking him by the hand, led him away, groaning very\nfrequently; but he with difficulty collected his spirit. But when the\nwhite-armed goddess Juno perceived him, immediately to Minerva she\naddressed winged words:\n\n\u201cAlas! O child of aegis-bearing Jove, invincible, see how again she,\nmost impudent, leads man-slaughtering Mars through the tumult, from the\nglowing battle. But follow.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; but Minerva rushed after, and rejoiced in her mind; and\nspringing upon her, smote her with her stout hand on the breast, and\ndissolved her knees and dear heart. Then both of them lay upon the\nfruitful earth; but she, boasting over them, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cWould that all, as many as are allies to the Trojans, when they fight\nagainst the armed Greeks, were so bold and daring, as Venus came an\nassistant to Mars, to oppose my strength; then had we long since ceased\nfrom battle, having overthrown the well-built city of Ilium.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; but the white-armed goddess Juno smiled. And the\nearth-shaking king addressed Apollo:\n\n\u201cPhoebus, why do we two stand apart? Nor is it becoming, since the\nothers have begun. This would be disgraceful, if we return without\nfight to Olympus, and to the brazen-floored mansion of Jove. Commence,\nfor thou art younger by birth; for it would not be proper for me, since\nI am elder, and know more things. Fool, since thou possessest a\nsenseless heart; nor dost at all remember those things, how many evils\nwe suffered round Ilium, when we alone of the gods, coming from Jove to\nhaughty Laomedon, laboured for a year for a stipulated hire, and he,\ncommanding, gave orders? I indeed built a city and wall for the\nTrojans, extensive and very beautiful, that the city might be\nimpregnable; whilst thou, O Phoebus, didst feed, his stamping-footed,\ncurved-horned oxen, among the lawns of many-valed, woody Ida. 685 But\nwhen now the jocund Hours had brought round the period of payment, then\ndid violent Laomedon forcibly defraud us both of all reward, and having\nthreatened, dismissed us. And beside, 686 he threatened that he would\nbind our feet and hands from above, and sell us into distant islands;\nand affirmed that he would cut off the ears of both with the brass: but\nwe immediately returned back with indignant mind, enraged on account of\nthe rewards which, having promised, he did not make good. Is it for\nthis thou dost now gratify the people? Why dost thou not strive along\nwith us, that the treaty-breaking Trojans may basely perish from the\nroot, with their children and modest 687 wives?\u201d\n\nFootnote 685: (return)  On this slavery of Apollo, see my note, p. 43,\nn. 2. Longus, Past. iv. 10: \u0395\u1fd6\u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b5 \u1f08\u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u039b\u03b1\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03b4\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b8\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9\u03bd\n\u1f10\u03b2\u03bf\u03cd\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5, \u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03cc\u03c3\u03b4\u03b5 \u1f26\u03bd, \u03bf\u1f37\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03cc\u03c4\u03b5 \u1f10\u03c6\u03ac\u03bd\u03b8\u03b7 \u0394\u03ac\u03c6\u03bd\u03b9\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 686: (return)  \u03a3\u1f7a\u03bd \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd. I almost prefer \u03c3\u03bf\u1f76 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd, with other\nMSS. and Clarke.\n\nFootnote 687: (return)  Perhaps intended as a covert sneer at Helen.\n\nBut him the far-darting king, Apollo, in turn addressed:\n\n\u201cO Neptune, thou wouldst not say that I am prudent, if I should now\ncontend with thee, for the sake of miserable mortals, who, like the\nleaves, are at one time very blooming, feeding on the fruit of the soil\nand at another again, perish without life. Rather let us cease from\ncombat as soon as possible; and let them decide the matter themselves.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he turned himself back; for he was afraid to come\nto strife of hands with his uncle. But him his sister, rustic Diana,\nthe mistress of wild beasts, harshly rebuked, and uttered this\nupbraiding speech:\n\n\u201cFliest thou, Far-darter? and hast thou yielded the whole victory to\nNeptune? and dost thou give easy glory to him? O Fool, why in vain dost\nthou hold an useless bow? No longer now shall I hear thee boasting in\nthe halls of our sire, as formerly amongst the immortal gods, that thou\nwouldst fight in opposition to Neptune.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; but her the far-darting Apollo by no means addressed.\nBut the venerable spouse of Jove, enraged, rebuked [her] who rejoices\nin arrows, with reproaching words:\n\n\u201cHow darest thou now, fearless wretch, stand against me? A difficult\nmatch am I for thee to be opposed to my strength, although thou art a\nbow-bearer; for Jove has made thee a lioness among women, and suffered\nthee to kill whatever woman thou wilt. Certainly it is better to slay\nwild beasts among the mountains, or rustic stags, than to fight bravely\nwith thy betters. But if thou desirest to have a knowledge of battle,\ncome on, that thou mayest well know how much the better I am; since\nthou opposest strength to me.\u201d\n\nShe spoke, and with her left hand seized both her (Diana\u2019s) hands at\nthe wrist, and with her right plucked the bow 688 from her shoulders.\nSmiling, she beat her about the ears with it, while she writhed\nherself; and the fleet arrows fell out [of her quiver, as she moved].\nThen the goddess fled, weeping, like a dove which flies from a hawk to\na hollow rock, her hiding-place, (for neither was it fated that she\nshould be taken by it;) so she fled, weeping, and left her arrows\nthere.\n\nFootnote 688: (return)  I have followed Kennedy, who says: \u201cThe\npreferable meaning of \u03c4\u03cc\u03be\u03b1 is _arcus_. This Juno employs as an\ninstrument of chastisement, to avoid the infliction of which, her\nantagonist turns from side to side, and whilst thus shifting her\nposition lets fall her arrows, \u1f40\u03ca\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03af, ver. 492.\u201d Others by \u03c4\u03cc\u03be\u03b1\nunderstood both bow and arrows.\n\nBut the messenger [Mercury], the slayer of Argos, addressed Latona:\n\n\u201cO Latona, I will by no means fight with thee; for difficult indeed\nwould it be to combat with the wives of cloud-compelling Jove; but\nrather, very forward among the immortal gods, boast that thou hast\nconquered me by violent force.\u201d\n\nThus indeed he spoke; but Latona collected together the bent bow and\nthe arrows 689 which had fallen here and there amid the whirl of dust.\nShe, having taken the arrows, followed her daughter. But the daughter\nhad arrived at Olympus, and at the brazen-floored palace of Jove, and\nhad sat down at the knees of her father, weeping, whilst her ambrosial\nrobe trembled around; and her the Saturnian father drew towards him,\nand, sweetly smiling, interrogated her:\n\n\u201cWhich now of the heavenly inhabitants, my dear child, has rashly done\nsuch things to thee, as if having done some evil openly?\u201d\n\nBut him the fair-crowned mistress of the chase 690 addressed in turn:\n\u201cThy spouse, the white-armed Juno, has injured me, O father, from whom\ncontention and strife await 691 the immortals.\u201d\n\nFootnote 689: (return)  \u03a4\u03cc\u03be\u03b1 here means both bow and arrows.\n\nFootnote 690: (return)  A more literal version would be, \u201cthe fair\ncrowned mistress of the cry,\u201d i.e. the hunting cry.\n\nFootnote 691: (return)  \u0388\u03c6\u1fc6\u03c0\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, \u201cimmitti solet.\u201d\u2014Heyne. See D\u2019Orville\non Chariton, vii. 5, p. 582, ed. Lips.\n\nThus they indeed spoke such things with one another. But Phoebus Apollo\ncame to sacred Ilium; for the wall of the well-built city was a care to\nhim, lest the Greeks, contrary to fate, should overthrow it that day.\nThe other ever-existing gods, however, repaired to Olympus, some indeed\nindignant, but others greatly boasting. And they sat down beside their\nfather, the collector of dark clouds: but Achilles slew at once the\nTrojans themselves, and their solid-hoofed steeds. And as when a smoke,\nascending from a burning city, reaches the wide heaven, but the wrath\nof the gods has excited it; it creates toil to all, and sends griefs\nupon many; so did Achilles cause toil and griefs to the Trojans.\n\nMeanwhile aged Priam stood upon a lofty tower, and observed huge\nAchilles: but by him the routed Trojans were easily thrown into\nconfusion, nor was there any might in them. Then groaning, he descended\nfrom the tower to the ground, in order to direct the illustrious guards\nat the gates along the wall:\n\n\u201cHold the gates open in your hands until the people, flying, come into\nthe city, for Achilles is at hand routing them. Now I think that\ndestructive deeds will be. But, as soon as they revive, hemmed in\nwithin the wall, put to again the well-fitted doors, for I tremble lest\nthis destructive man rush within the wall.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they opened the gates and pushed back the bolts; and\nthey being opened, afforded safety. But Apollo leaped out to meet them,\nthat he might avert destruction from the Trojans. Then they, parched\nwith thirst, and covered with dust, fled from the plain directly\ntowards the city and the lofty wall; but he furiously pursued with his\nspear; for fierce madness constantly possessed his heart, and he burned\nto bear away glory. Then indeed the sons of the Greeks had taken\nlofty-gated Troy, had not Phoebus Apollo excited noble Agenor, a hero,\nthe son of Antenor, both blameless and brave. And into his heart he\nthrew courage, and he himself stood beside him, leaning against a\nbeech-tree, that he might avert the heavy hands of death; but he was\novershadowed by much darkness. But he, when he perceived Achilles, the\ndestroyer of cities, stood still, and much his heart was darkened 692\nas he remained; and sighing, he thus addressed his own great-hearted\nsoul:\n\n\u201cAlas, me! if indeed I fly from terrible Achilles, in the way by which\nthe others, routed, are flying, even thus will he seize me, and will\nslay me unwarlike; but if I suffer these to be thrown into confusion by\nAchilles, the son of Peleus, and fly in another direction on my feet\nfrom the wall through the Ilian plain, until I reach the lawns of Ida,\nand enter its thickets; then indeed, having bathed myself at evening in\nthe river, I may return back to Troy, cleansed from sweat. But why does\nmy mind commune these things? Truly he may observe me departing from\nthe city towards the plain, and, quickly pursuing, may overtake me on\nhis swift feet; then will it no longer be possible to escape Death and\nFate; for he is very powerful beyond all men. But if I go against him\nin front of the city\u2014for his body also is without doubt vulnerable by\nthe sharp brass, there is one soul in it, and men say that he is\nmortal; although Jove, the son of Saturn, affords him glory.\u201d\n\nSo saying, gathering himself up, 693 he awaited Achilles; and his\nvaliant heart within him burned to combat and to fight. As a panther\nadvances from a deep thicket against a huntsman, 694 nor is aught\ntroubled in mind, nor put to flight, although it hears the yelling; and\nalthough anticipating it, he may have wounded, or stricken it,\nnevertheless, although pierced with a spear, it desists not from the\ncombat, till either it be engaged in close fight, or be subdued. Thus\nnoble Agenor, the son of renowned Antenor, would not fly till he had\nmade trial of Achilles; but, on the contrary, held before him his\nshield, equal on all sides, and took aim at him with his spear, and\nshouted aloud:\n\nFootnote 692: (return)  Cf. Donalson on Soph. Antig. 20, where there is\na similar use of \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03c7\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd. The present metaphor is taken from the\ntroubled and darkling aspect of the sea before a storm.\n\nFootnote 693: (return)  Cf. xvi. 403, 714.\n\nFootnote 694: (return)  This pleonasm of \u1f00\u03bd\u1f74\u03c1 is very common; ii. 474,\n\u1f04\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f34\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03b9; iv. 187, \u1f04\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c7\u03b1\u03bb\u03ba\u1fc6\u03b5\u03c2. Cf. iii. 170; xii. 41. So\n\u1f04\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, Phlegon. Trall, p. 26. \u1f0c\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b7\u03bc\u03cc\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, Aristoph. Plut.\n254. \u1f08\u03bd\u1f74\u03c1 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u1f7a\u03c2, Pal\u00e6phatus, 39. \u1f08\u03bd\u1f74\u03c1 \u03bf\u1f30\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2, Manetho, iv. 610.\n\n\u201cCertainly now thou art great in hopes in thy mind, O illustrious\nAchilles, that thou wilt this day devastate the city of the magnanimous\nTrojans. Fool! certainly many griefs will be effected over it, for in\nit we are numerous and valiant men, who will defend Ilium for our\nbeloved parents, our wives, and our children. But thou shalt here\nfulfil thy destiny, although being so terrible, and a daring warrior.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and hurled the sharp javelin from his heavy hand, and struck\nhim in the shin below the knee, nor missed: but the greave of\nnewly-wrought tin around [it] horribly resounded; and the brazen weapon\nrecoiled from it stricken, nor penetrated: for the gifts of the god\nprevented it. Then the son of Peleus next attacked godlike Agenor; nor\ndid Apollo permit him to obtain glory; but snatched him away, and\ncovered him with much haze; and sent him to return peacefully from the\nbattle.\n\nBut he by a stratagem averted the son of Peleus from the people; for\nthe Far-darter, having likened himself in every respect to Agenor,\nstood before his feet; and he hastened to pursue him with his feet.\nWhilst he was pursuing him, running before at a small interval, over\nthe corn-bearing plain, turned towards the deep-eddying river\nScamander; (for Apollo beguiled him by deceit, so that he always\nexpected to overtake him on his feet;) meanwhile the other Trojans\nbeing routed, came delighted in a crowd to the city; and the city was\nfull of them shut in. Nor did they any longer dare to wait for each\nother without the city and the wall, and to inquire who had escaped,\nand who had fallen in the battle; but gladly they were poured into the\ncity, whomsoever of them the feet and knees preserved.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE TWENTY-SECOND.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nHector persists in remaining outside the walls, despite the entreaties\nof his father. He flies thrice round Troy, fights, and is slain by\nAchilles, who drags his body to the fleet at the wheels of his chariot.\nThe lamentations of his wife and parents follow.\n\n\nThus they, indeed, driven by fright through the city, like fawns, were\nrefreshing themselves from sweat, and were drinking and allaying their\nthirst, leaning against the handsome battlements; but the Greeks were\ncoming near the wall, resting their shields upon their shoulders. But\nHector his destructive fate fettered to remain there, before Ilium and\nthe Sc\u00e6an gates. And Ph\u0153bus Apollo thus addressed the son of Peleus:\n\n\u201cWhy, O son of Peleus, dost thou pursue me, an immortal god, with swift\nfeet, thyself being a mortal? Nor yet hast thou at all discovered that\nI am a god; but thou incessantly ragest. For certainly the labour of\nthe Trojans is not now a care to thee, whom thou hast routed, and who\nare now enclosed within their city, while thou art turned aside hither.\nNeither canst thou slay me, since I am not mortal.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, greatly indignant, 695 addressed:\n\nFootnote 695: (return)  Milton, P.L. ii. 708:\u2014\n\n   \u2014\u201cOn th\u2019 other side\n   Incensed with indignation Satan stood\n   Unterrified, and like a comet burn\u2019d,\n   That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge\n   In th\u2019 arctic sky, and from his horrid hair\n   Shakes pestilence and war.\u201d\n\n\n\n\u201cThou hast injured me, O Far-darter, most destructive of all gods,\nhaving now turned me away hither from the wall; certainly many had now\nseized the earth with their teeth, before they had arrived at Ilium.\nBut now hast thou deprived me of great glory, and hast preserved them\neasily, for thou didst not at all dread vengeance after. Certainly I\nwould punish thee, if the power at least were mine.\u201d\n\nThus saying, he went towards the city greatly elate, hastening like a\nsteed which bears away the prize, with his chariot, which striving\nhard, runs swiftly over the plain. So Achilles briskly moved his feet\nand his knees.\n\nBut him aged Priam first beheld with his eyes, rushing over the plain,\nall shining like a star which rises in autumn; and its resplendent rays\nshine among many stars in the depth of the night, which by name they\ncall the dog of Orion. Very bright indeed is this, but it is a baleful\nsign, and brings violent heat upon miserable mortals. So shone the\nbrass round the breast of him running. But the old man groaned, and\nsmote his head with his hands, raising them on high, 696 and, groaning,\nhe cried out greatly, supplicating his dear son. But he stood before\nthe Sc\u00e6an gates, insatiably eager to fight with Achilles; but the old\nman piteously addressed him, stretching out his hands:\n\nFootnote 696: (return)  On this gesture of grief, see Gorius, Monum.\nColumb. p. 12.\n\n\u201cO Hector, do not, my beloved son, await this man alone, without\nothers; lest that thou shouldst speedily draw on fate, subdued by the\nson of Peleus; since he is much more powerful. Cruel! would that he\nwere [only] as dear to the gods as he is to me; quickly then would the\ndogs and vultures devour him lying low; surely sad grief would then\ndepart from my heart. He who has made me deprived of many and brave\nsons, slaying, and selling them into far-distant islands. For even now\nthe Trojans being shut up in the city, I cannot see my two sons, Lycaon\nand Polydorus, whom Laotho\u00eb bore to me, queen among women. But if\nindeed they live at the camp, surely we will afterwards redeem them\nwith brass and with gold; for it is within; for aged Altes, renowned by\nfame, gave many things to his daughter. But if they are already dead,\nand in the mansions of Hades, grief will be to my soul, and to their\nmother, we who gave them birth. But to the other people the grief will\nbe shorter, if thou shouldst not die, subdued by Achilles. But come\ninside the wall, O my son, that thou mayest save the Trojan men and\nwomen, nor afford great glory to the son of Peleus, and thou thyself be\ndeprived of thy dear life. Moreover, pity me, wretched, yet still\npreserving my senses, 697 unhappy, whom the Saturnian sire will destroy\nby grievous fate, upon the threshold of old age, having seen many\nevils, 698 my sons slain, my daughters dragged captives, their chambers\nplundered, and my infant children dashed upon the earth in dire\nhostility, and my daughters-in-law torn away by the pernicious hands of\nthe Greeks. And myself perhaps the last\u2014the raw-devouring dogs, whom I\nhave nourished in my palaces, the attendants of my table, the guards of\nmy portals, will tear at the entrance of the gates, 699 after some one,\nhaving stricken or wounded me with the sharp brass, shall take away my\nsoul from my limbs; and who, drinking my blood, will lie in the porch,\ninfuriated in mind. To a young man, indeed, slain in battle, lacerated\nwith the sharp brass, it is altogether becoming to lie, for all things\nare honourable to him dead, whatever may appear; but when dogs\ndishonour the grey head, the hoary beard, and privy members of an old\nman slain, that is indeed most pitiable among wretched mortals.\u201d\n\nFootnote 697: (return)  _I.e._ alive. Cf. xxiii.\n\nFootnote 698: (return)  On the proverbial woes of Priam, cf. Aristotle\nEth. i. 9, 10; and Ennius, fragm. Andromach. p. 236\u20149, with the notes\nof Columna, ed. Hessel.\n\nFootnote 699: (return)  Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. ii. 550, sqq., who has imitated\nthis passage in his description of the death of Priam.\n\nThe old man spoke, and tore out the hoary locks with his hands,\nplucking them from his head; nor did he persuade the mind of Hector.\nBut his mother, then on the other side, wailing, shed tears, laying\nbare her bosom, whilst with the other hand she laid forth her breast;\nand shedding tears, addressed to him winged words: \u201c\u039f Hector, my son,\nreverence these things, and pity me myself. If ever I afforded thee the\ngrief-lulling breast, remember these things, O dear son; and being\nwithin the wall, repel [this] hostile man; nor stand a foremost\nadversary to him. Wretched one! for if he shall slay thee, neither\nshall I mourn thee on the couch, my dear offspring, whom I myself\nbrought forth, nor will thy rich-dowered wife; but far away from us\nboth, the swift dogs will devour thee at the ships of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus weeping, they twain addressed their dear son, supplicating him\nmuch; nor did they persuade the mind of Hector; but he awaited huge\nAchilles, coming near. And as a fierce serpent at its den, fed on evil\npoisons, awaits 700 a man, but direful rage enters it, and it glares\nhorribly, coiling itself around its den; so Hector, possessing\ninextinguishable courage, retired not, leaning his splendid shield\nagainst a projecting tower; but, indignant, he thus addressed his own\ngreat-hearted soul: 701\n\n\u201cAh me, if indeed I enter the gates and the wall, Polydamas will first\ncast reproach upon me, 702 he who advised me to lead the Trojans\ntowards the city in this disastrous night, when noble Achilles arose to\nbattle. But I did not obey; certainly it would have been much better.\nAnd now, since by my injurious obstinacy I have destroyed the people, I\nfear the Trojan men, and the long-robed Trojan women, lest some one\ninferior to me should say, \u2018Hector, relying on his own strength, has\ndestroyed the people.\u2019 Thus will they say; but it would have been far\nbetter for me, slaying Achilles in the encounter, 703 to return, or\ngloriously to be slain by him for the city. But if now I shall lay down\nmy bossed shield and stout helmet, and, resting my spear against the\nwall, I myself going, shall come before renowned Achilles, and promise\nthat we will give to the Atrides to lead away Helen, and all the\nnumerous possessions along with her, whatever Paris brought to Troy in\nhis hollow barks, and who was the origin of the contention, and at the\nsame time that we will divide others, as many as this city contains,\namong the Greeks,\u2014but again I should exact an oath from the elders of\nthe Trojans, 704 that they would conceal nothing, but divide all things\ninto two portions, whatever treasure this delightful city contains\nwithin it. Yet why does my soul discuss such things? [I dread] lest I,\ngoing, should reach him, but he pity me not, nor at all respect me, but\nslay me, being thus naked, as a woman, after I have put off my armour.\nNor, indeed, is it now allowed to converse with him from an oak, or\nfrom a rock, as a virgin and a youth; a virgin and youth converse with\none another. But it is better to engage him in strife; that as soon as\npossible we may know to which, indeed, the Olympian [Jove] will give\nglory.\u201d\n\nFootnote 700: (return)  Hesych. \u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03ac\u2019 \u03ae \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03ac\u03b4\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03bf\u03c6\u03b5\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\n\u03b4\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03cc\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 701: (return)  Milton, P.L. \u03bdi. III:\u2014\n\n    \u201cAbdiel that sight endured not, where he stood\n     Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,\n     And thus his own undaunted heart explores.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 702: (return)  Cf. Aristot. Eth. iii. 8, and Casaub. on Pers.\nSat. i. 4. \u201cNe mihi Polydamas, et Troiades Labeonem Pr\u00e6tulerint.\u201d\n\nFootnote 703: (return)  \u0391\u03bd\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd.\n\nFootnote 704: (return)  This is perhaps the easiest way of expressing\n\u03b3\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u00f6\u03bf\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd. It means an oath to be solemnly kept, an oath to\nwhich the elders might with propriety pledge themselves.\n\nThus he pondered, remaining; but near him came Achilles, like unto the\nhelmet-shaking warrior, Mars, brandishing upon his right shoulder the\ndreadful Pelian ash; but the brass shone around, like unto the\nsplendour either of a blazing fire, or of the rising sun. Then, as\ntremor seized Hector, he perceived him, nor could he remain there any\nlonger, but he left the gates behind him, and fled affrighted; but the\nson of Peleus rushed on, trusting to his swift feet. As a falcon in the\nmountains, the swiftest of birds, easily dashes after a timid pigeon;\nshe, indeed, flies away obliquely; but he, close at hand, shrilly\nscreaming, frequently assails, and his spirit orders him to seize her:\nthus, eager, he flew right on; but Hector fled in terror under the wall\nof the Trojans, and moved his fleet limbs. Then they rushed by the\nprospect-ground and the wind-waving fig-tree, always under the wall\nalong the public way, and reached the two fair-flowing springs, where\nthe two springs of the eddying Scamander rise. The one, indeed, flows\nwith tepid water, and a steam arises from it around, as of burning\nfire; whilst the other flows forth in the summer time, like unto hail,\nor cold snow, or ice from water. There, at them, are the wide, handsome\nstone basins, where the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to\nwash their splendid garments formerly in time of peace, before the sons\nof the Greeks arrived. In this direction they ran past [the one]\nflying, but the other pursuing from behind. A brave man, indeed, fled\nbefore, but a much braver swiftly pursued him; since they did not seek\nto obtain a victim or a bull\u2019s hide, such as are the rewards of men for\nspeed, but they ran for the life of horse-breaking Hector. And as when\nprize-winning 705 solid-hoofed steeds ran very swiftly round the\ncourse, and a great reward is proposed, either a tripod, or a woman [in\nhonour] of a deceased hero; so they thrice made the circuit of the city\nof Priam with their swift feet: and all the gods beheld. Then to them\nthe father of men and gods commenced an address:\n\nFootnote 705: (return)  _I.e._ race horses.\n\n\u201cAlas! certainly I behold with mine eyes a beloved hero pursued round\nthe wall; and my heart is grieved on account of Hector, who has\nsacrificed many thighs of oxen to me, upon the tops of many-valed Ida,\nand at other times again in the highest [places of] the city; but now,\nindeed, noble Achilles pursues him, on swift feet, around the city of\nPriam. But come, deliberate, O ye gods, and consider, whether we shall\npreserve him from death, or shall subdue him now, being brave [at the\nhands of] Achilles, the son of Peleus.\u201d\n\nBut him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva then addressed:\n\n\u201cO father, hurler of the white thunder, [collector] of dark clouds,\nwhat a word hast thou spoken! Dost thou wish to liberate from sad death\na man, being mortal, long ago destined to fate? Do it: but all we, the\nother gods, will not assent to thee.\u201d\n\nHer, then, the cloud-compelling Jupiter, answering, addressed: \u201cTake\ncourage, Tritonia, beloved child: I by no means speak with serious\nmind, but I wish to be mild to thee. Do as is the inclination, nor\ndelay at all.\u201d\n\nThus speaking, he incited Minerva, already prepared; and, springing\nforth, she descended down from the heights of Olympus.\n\nBut swift Achilles pursued Hector, incessantly pressing upon him. And\nas when a dog pursues the fawn of a deer in the mountains, having\nroused it from its lair, through both glens and thickets; and, although\npanic-stricken, it crouches down beneath a brake; yet tracking it, he\nruns continually on until he finds it; so Hector eluded not the\nswift-footed son of Peleus. As often as he would rush against the\nDardanian gates, towards under the well-built towers, if perchance they\nmight aid him with missile weapons from above, so often, previously\nanticipating him, he turned him away towards the plain; whilst he\nhimself always flew on the side of the city. And as in a dream one\ncannot pursue a fugitive; neither can the one escape the other, nor the\nother pursue: so the one could not overtake the other in his speed, nor\nthe other escape him. But how, then, could Hector have escaped the\nfates of death, if Apollo had not, for the very last time, met him, who\naroused for him his courage and swift knees? But noble Achilles nodded\nto the people with his head, nor permitted them to cast their bitter\nweapons at Hector, lest some one, wounding him, should obtain the\nglory, and he himself come second. But when for the fourth time they\narrived at the fountains, then, indeed, the Sire raised aloft his\ngolden scales, and placed in them the two fates of death, bearing long\nsleep, this of Achilles, but that of horse-breaking Hector. Holding\nthem by the middle, he poised them, and the fatal day of Hector\ninclined and sunk to Hades; but Ph\u0153bus Apollo left him.\n\nThen the blue-eyed goddess Minerva approached the son of Peleus, and,\nstanding near, addressed to him winged words:\n\n\u201cNow, O illustrious Achilles, dear to Jove, I hope that we two shall\nbear back great glory to the Greeks at the ships, having slain Hector,\nalthough being insatiate of war. Now, certainly, it is no longer\npossible for him to escape us, not even if far-darting Apollo should\ntoil much, throwing himself at the feet of the \u00e6gis-bearing father\nJove. But do thou now stand and revive; but I, approaching with thee,\nwill persuade him to engage thee face to face.\u201d\n\nThus spoke Minerva; but he obeyed, and rejoiced in his mind; and stood,\nleaning upon his ashen, brass-pointed spear. But she then left him, and\novertook noble Hector, likening herself to De\u00efphobus, unwearied in her\nbody and voice; and, standing near, she addressed to him winged words:\n\u201cO brother dear, certainly swift Achilles now greatly presses on thee,\npursuing thee with rapid feet round the city of Priam. But come now,\nlet us stand, and, awaiting, repulse him.\u201d\n\nBut her mighty crest-tossing Hector in turn addressed:\n\n\u201cDe\u00efphobus, surely thou wert ever before by far the dearest to me of my\nbrothers, the sons whom Hecuba and Priam produced. But now I think in\nmy mind that I honour thee still more, since thou hast dared for my\nsake, when thou dost behold [me] with thine eyes, to come out of the\ncity; while others remain within.\u201d\n\nBut him the azure-eyed goddess Minerva in turn addressed:\n\n\u201cMy brother dear, my father and venerable mother indeed greatly\nsupplicated me, by turn embracing my knees and my companions around, to\nremain there (so much do all tremble with fear); but my mind within was\nharassed with sad grief. But now let us forthwith eagerly engage, nor\nlet there any longer be a sparing of our spears, that we may know\nwhether Achilles, having slain us both, shall bear our bloody spoils to\nthe hollow barks, or be subdued by thy spear.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, Minerva also with deception led on. But when they\nwere near advancing towards each other, him mighty crest-tossing Hector\nfirst addressed:\n\n\u201cNo longer, O son of Peleus, will I fly thee as before. Thrice have I\nfled round the great city of Priam, nor ever dared to await thee coming\non; but now my mind urges me to stand against thee: certainly I shall\nslay, or be slain. But come, let us attest the gods; for they will be\nthe best witnesses and observers of agreements. For neither will I\ncruelly insult thee, if indeed Jove shall give me the victory, and I\ntake away thy life; but after I shall despoil thy beautiful armour, O\nAchilles, I will give back thy body to the Greeks; and so also do\nthou.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles sternly regarding, addressed:\n\n\u201cTalk not to me of covenants, O most cursed Hector. As there are not\nfaithful leagues between lions and men, nor yet have wolves and lambs\nan according mind, 706 but ever meditate evils against each other; so\nit is not possible for thee and me to contract a friendship, nor shall\nthere at all be leagues between us,\u2014first shall one, falling, satiate\nthe invincible warrior Mars with his blood. Call to mind all thy\nvalour; now it is very necessary for thee to be both a spearman and a\ndaring warrior. Nor is there any longer any escape for thee, for Pallas\nMinerva at once subdues thee beneath my spear, and thou shalt now pay\nfor all the accumulated sorrows of my companions, whom thou hast slain,\nraging with the spear.\u201d\n\nFootnote 706: (return)  See Duport, p. 127; and cf. Hor. Epod. iv. 1.\n\nHe spoke, and brandishing it, sent forth his long-shadowed spear, and\nillustrious Hector, seeing it opposite, avoided it; for, looking before\nhim, he sunk down, and the brazen spear passed over him, and was fixed\nin the earth. But Pallas Minerva plucked it out, and gave it back to\nAchilles, and escaped the notice of Hector, the shepherd of the people.\nThen Hector addressed the illustrious son of Peleus:\n\n\u201cThou hast erred, O godlike Achilles, nor art thou yet acquainted with\nmy fate from Jove; certainly thou didst say so, but thou art a prater,\nand very subtle in words, in order that, dreading thee, I may be\nforgetful of my strength and courage. But not in my back, whilst\nflying, shalt thou thrust thy spear, but shalt drive it through my\nbreast, rushing right on, if God grants this to thee. But now in turn\navoid my brazen spear! would that thou mightst now receive it all in\nthy body. Then truly would the war become lighter to the Trojans, thou\nbeing slain; for thou art the greatest bane to them.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and, brandishing, sent forth his long-shadowed spear, and\nstruck the centre of Pelides\u2019 shield, nor missed; but the spear was\nrepelled far away from the shield. But Hector was enraged because his\nswift weapon had fled in vain from his hand; and stood dejected, for he\nhad not another ashen spear. Then he called upon the white-shielded\nDe\u00efphobus, greatly shouting, [and] he asked him for a long spear; but\nhe was not near him; and Hector perceived in his mind, and said:\n\n\u201cAlas! without doubt, now the gods have summoned me to death. For I\nindeed thought the hero De\u00efphobus was by my side; but he is within the\nwall, and Minerva has deceived me. But now is evil death near me, nor\nfar away, neither is there escape. Certainly this long since was more\nagreeable to Jove and to the far-darting son of Jove, who formerly,\npropitious, preserved me; but now, on the contrary, Fate overtakes me.\nNevertheless I will not perish cowardly and ingloriously at least, but\nhaving done some great deed to be heard of even by posterity.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he drew his sharp sword, which hung below his\nloins, both huge and strong, and, with collected might, rushed forward,\nlike a lofty-soaring eagle, which swoops to the plain through the\ngloomy clouds, about to snatch either a tender lamb, or a timid hare;\nthus Hector rushed forward, brandishing his sharp sword. Achilles also\nrushed on, and filled his soul with fierce rage. He sheltered his\nbreast in front with his shield, beautiful, curiously wrought and\nnodded with his shining helmet, four-coned; but the beautiful golden\ntufts, which Vulcan had diffused in great abundance round the cone,\nwere shaken. As the star Hesperus, which is placed the brightest star\nin heaven, 707 proceeds amongst other stars in the unseasonable time of\nnight, so it shone from the well-sharpened spear which Achilles,\ndesigning mischief to noble Hector, brandished in his right hand,\neyeing his fair person, where it would best yield. But the beautiful\nbrazen armour, of which he had despoiled great Patroclus, having slain\nhim, covered the rest of his body so much; yet did there appear [a\npart] where the collar-bones separate the neck from the shoulders, and\nwhere the destruction of life is most speedy. There noble Achilles,\neager, drove into him with the spear, and the point went out quite\nthrough his tender neck. However the ash, heavy with brass, did not cut\naway the windpipe, so that, answering in words, he could address him.\nBut he fell in the dust, and noble Achilles vaunted over him:\n\n\u201cHector, thou didst once suppose, when spoiling Patroclus, that thou be\nsafe, nor dreaded me, being absent. Fool! for I apart, a much braver\navenger of him, was left behind at the hollow ships, I who have relaxed\nthy knees. The dogs, indeed, and birds shall dishonourably tear thee,\nbut the Greeks shall perform his funeral rites.\u201d\n\nBut him crest-tossing Hector, growing languid, then addressed:\n\n\u201cI supplicate thee by thy soul, thy knees, thy parents, suffer not the\ndogs to tear me at the ships of the Greeks; but do thou indeed receive\nbrass in abundance, and gold, which my father and venerable mother will\ngive thee; and send my body home, that the Trojans and wives of the\nTrojans may make me, dead, partaker of a funeral pyre.\u201d 708\n\nFootnote 707: (return)  Milton, P.L. v. 166:\u2014\n\n   \u201cFairest of stars, last in the train of night,\n   If better thou belong not to the dawn.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 708: (return)  Cf. \u00c6n. x. 903; xii. 930, sqq.\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, sternly regarding, addressed;\n\n\u201cDog, supplicate me not by my knees, nor by my parents; for would that\nmy might and mind in any manner urge me myself, tearing thy raw flesh\nto pieces, to devour it, such things hast thou done to me. So that\nthere is not any one who can drive away the dogs from thy head, not\neven if they should place ten-fold and twenty-times such ransoms,\nbringing them hither, and even promise others; not even if Dardanian\nPriam should wish to compensate for thee with gold: 709 not even thus\nshall thy venerable mother lament [thee] whom she has borne, having\nlaid thee upon a bier, but dogs and fowl shall entirely tear thee in\npieces.\u201d\n\nBut him crest-tossing Hector, dying, addressed:\n\n\u201cSurely well knowing thee, I foresaw this, nor was I destined to\npersuade thee; for truly within thee there is an iron soul. Reflect\nnow, lest to thee I be some cause of the wrath of the gods, on that day\nwhen Paris and Ph\u0153bus Apollo 710 shall kill thee, though being brave,\nat the Sc\u00e6an gates.\u201d\n\nAs he spoke thus, the end of death overshadowed him; and his soul\nflying from his limbs, descended to Hades, bewailing its destiny,\nrelinquishing vigour and youth. But him, although dead, noble Achilles\naddressed:\n\n\u201cDie: but I will then receive my fate whensoever Jove may please to\naccomplish it, 711 and the other immortal gods.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and plucked the spear from the corpse; and then laid it\naside, but he spoiled the bloody armour from his shoulders. But the\nother sons of the Greeks ran round, who also admired the stature and\nwondrous form, of Hector; 712 nor did any stand by without inflicting a\nwound. And thus would some one say, looking to his neighbour: \u201cOh,\nstrange! surely Hector is now much more gentle to be touched, than when\nhe burned the ships with glowing fire.\u201d\n\nFootnote 709: (return)  _I.e._ to give thy weight in gold. Theognis,\n77: \u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f00\u03bd\u1f74\u03c1 \u03c7\u03c1\u03c5\u03c3\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03ac\u03c1\u03b3\u03cd\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5 \u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03cd\u03c3\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f0c\u03be\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nFootnote 710: (return)  Grote, vol. i. p. 406, observes: \u201cAfter routing\nthe Trojans, and chasing them into the town, Achilles was slain near\nthe Sk\u00e6an gate by an arrow from the quiver of Paris, directed under the\nunerring auspices of Apollo,\u201d referring to Soph. Phil. 334; Virg. \u00c6n.\nvi. 56.\n\nFootnote 711: (return)  \u201cI have conversed with some men who rejoiced in\nthe death or calamity of others, and accounted it as a judgment upon\nthem for being on the other side, and against them in the contention:\nbut within the revolution of a few months, the same man met with a more\nuneasy and unhandsome death; which when I saw, I wept, and was afraid;\nfor I knew that it must be so with all men; for we also die, and end\nour quarrels and contentions by passing to a final sentence.\u201d\u2014Taylor,\nHoly Dying, i. p. 305, ed. Bohn.\n\nFootnote 712: (return)  Herodot. ix. 25: \u1f49 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03bd\u03b5\u03ba\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f14\u03b7\u03bd \u03b8\u03ad\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f04\u03be\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2\n\u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f35\u03bd\u03b5\u03ba\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1 \u03ba\u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2.\n\nThus would some one say, and, standing by, would wound him. But\nswift-footed Achilles, after he had despoiled him, standing amongst the\nGreeks, spoke winged words:\n\n\u201cO friends, leaders and princes of the Greeks, since the gods have\ngranted us to subdue this hero, he who did as many mischiefs, as did\nnot all the others together; come! let us make trial round the city\nwith our arms, that we may learn concerning the Trojans, what mind they\nhave; whether they are about to desert the citadel, he being slain, or\nintend to remain, Hector being no more. But why does my mind within me\ndeliberate these things? Patroclus lies at the ships, an unwept,\nunburied corse; and him I shall never forget, as long as I am amongst\nthe living, and my dear knees move for me; and though they forget the\ndead in Hades, yet will I remember my beloved comrade even there. But\ncome now, ye youths of the Greeks, singing a p\u00e6an, 713 let us return to\nthe hollow ships, and let us bring him; we bear back great glory: we\nhave slain noble Hector, whom the Trojans, throughout the city,\nworshipped as a god.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and was meditating unseemly deeds against noble Hector. He\nperforated the tendons of both his feet behind, from the heel to the\ninstep, and fastened in them leather thongs, and bound him from the\nchariot; but left his head to be trailed along. Then ascending his\nchariot, and taking up the splendid armour, he lashed (the horses) to\ngo on, and they, not unwilling, flew. But the dust arose from him while\ntrailed along, and his azure locks around approached [the ground], 714\nand his entire head, once graceful, lay in the dust; for Jupiter had\nthen granted to his enemies, to dishonour him in his own father-land.\nThus indeed his whole head was defiled with dust; but his mother plucked\nout her hair, and cast away her shining veil, and wept very loudly,\nhaving beheld her son. And his dear father groaned piteously, and all\nthe people around were occupied in wailing and lamentation through the\ncity; and it was very like to this, as if all Ilium, from its summit,\nwere smouldering in fire. With difficulty indeed did the people detain\nthe old man, indignant with grief anxious to rush out from the\nDardanian gates: for rolling in the mud, he was supplicating all,\naddressing each man by name:\n\nFootnote 713: (return)  \u201cThis hymn consisted in a repetition, cf. v.\n393, 4, which Quintus Smyrn\u00e6us has imitated in \u0399\u03b4. 117, and Abronius\nSilo translated ap. _Senec. Suas_. c. 2. The most ancient hymn of this\nkind on record is that in the first book of Samuel, xviii. 7.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 714: (return)  Supply \u03bf\u1f54\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9 or \u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03af\u03b7.\n\n\u201cDesist, my friends, and permit me alone, grieved as I am, going out of\nthe city, to approach the ships of the Greeks. I will supplicate this\nreckless, violent man, if perchance he may respect my time of life, and\nhave compassion on my old age; for such is his father Peleus to him, he\nwho begat and nurtured him a destruction to the Trojans; but\nparticularly to me above all has he caused sorrows. For so many\nblooming youths has he slain to me, for all of whom I do not lament so\nmuch, although grieved, as for this one, Hector, keen grief for whom\nwill bear me down even into Hades. 715 Would that he had died in my\nhands; for thus we should have been satisfied, weeping and lamenting,\nboth his unhappy mother who bore him, and I myself.\u201d Thus he spoke,\nweeping, but the citizens also groaned. But among the Trojan dames,\nHecuba began her continued lamentation:\n\nFootnote 715: (return)  \u201cThen shall ye bring down my grey hairs with\nsorrow to the grave.\u201d \u2014Genes, xlii. 38\n\n\u201cO my son, why do wretched I live, having suffered grievous things,\nthou being dead? Thou who by night and day wast my boast throughout the\ntown, and an advantage to the Trojan men and women throughout the city,\nwho received thee as a god. For assuredly thou wast a very great glory\nto them when alive now, on the contrary, death and fate possess thee.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, weeping; but the wife of Hector had not yet learned\nanything: no certain messenger going, informed her that her husband had\nremained without the gates; but she was weaving a web in a retired part\nof her lofty house; double, splendid, and was spreading on it various\npainted works. 716 And she had ordered her fair-haired attendants\nthrough the palace, to place a large tripod on the fire, that there\nmight be a warm bath for Hector, returning from the battle. Foolish!\nnor knew she that, far away from baths, azure-eyed Minerva had subdued\nhim by the hands of Achilles. But she heard the shriek and wailing from\nthe tower, and her limbs were shaken, and the shuttle fell from her to\nthe ground; and immediately she addressed her fair-haired attendants:\n\nFootnote 716: (return)   \u03bf\u03b9\u03ba\u03af\u03bb\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 is similarly used in vi. 294.\n\n\u201cCome hither, let two follow me, that I may see what deeds have been\ndone. I heard the voice of my venerable mother-in-law, and to myself\nthe heart within my breast leaps up to my mouth, and the limbs under me\nare benumbed. Surely some evil is now near the sons of Priam. O that\nthe word may be [far] from my ear! I dread lest brave Achilles, having\nalready cut off noble Hector alone from the city, may drive him towards\nthe plain, and even now have made him desist from the fatal valour\nwhich possessed him; for he never remained among the throng of\nwarriors, but leaped out far before, yielding in his valour to none.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, she rushed through the palace like unto one\nderanged, greatly palpitating in heart; and her attendants went along\nwith her. But when she reached the tower and the crowd of men, she\nstood looking round over the wall, and beheld him dragged before the\ncity; but the fleet steeds drew him ruthlessly towards the ships of the\nGreeks. Then gloomy night veiled her over her eyes, and she fell\nbackwards, and breathed out her soul in a swoon. But from her head fell\nthe beautiful head-gear, the garland, the net, and the twisted fillet,\nand the veil which golden Venus had given to her on that day when\ncrest-tossing Hector led her from the palace of E\u00ebtion, after he had\npresented many marriage-gifts. Around her in great numbers stood her\nsisters-in-law and sisters, who supported her amongst them, seized with\nstupor unto death. 717 But when she again revived, and her soul was\ncollected in her breast, sobbing at intervals, she spoke among the\nTrojan dames:\n\nFootnote 717: (return)  See Kennedy: \u1f65\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 is to be understood before\n\u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03ad\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9.\n\n\u201cHector, O wretched me! then we were both born to a like fate, thou\nindeed in Troy, in the mansion of Priam, but I in Thebe, beneath woody\nPlacus, in the palace of E\u00ebtion; who, himself ill-fated, reared me,\nill-fated, being yet a little child;\u2014would that he had not begotten me!\nNow, however, thou goest to the mansions of Hades beneath the recesses\nof the earth, but leavest me, in hateful grief, a widow in the\ndwelling; and thy boy, yet such an infant, to whom thou and I\nunfortunate gave birth; nor wilt thou be an advantage to him, O Hector,\nfor thou art dead; nor he to thee. For even if he shall escape the\nmournful war of the Greeks, still will labour and hardship ever be to\nhim hereafter; for others will deprive him of his fields by changing\nthe landmarks. But the bereaving day renders a boy destitute of his\ncontemporaries; he is ever dejected, and his cheeks are bedewed with\ntears. The boy in want shall go to the companions of his father,\npulling one by the cloak, another by the tunic; and some of these\npitying, shall present him with a very small cup; and he shall moisten\nhis lips, but not wet his palate. Him also some one, enjoying both\n[parents], 718 shall push away from the banquet, striking him with his\nhands, and reviling him with reproaches: \u2018A murrain on thee! even thy\nfather feasts not with us.\u2019 Then shall the boy Astyanax return weeping\nto his widowed mother,\u2014he who formerly, indeed, upon the knees of his\nown father, ate marrow alone, and the rich fat of sheep; but when sleep\ncame upon him, and he ceased childishly crying, used to sleep on\ncouches in the arms of a nurse, in a soft bed, full as to his heart\nwith delicacies. But now, indeed, Astyanax, 719 whom the Trojans call\nby surname (because thou alone didst defend their gates and lofty walls\nfor them), shall suffer many things, missing his dear father. But now\nshall the crawling worms devour thee, naked, at the curved ships, far\naway from thy parents, after the dogs shall have satiated themselves:\nbut thy robes, fine and graceful, woven by the hands of women, lie in\nthy palaces. Truly all these will I consume with burning fire, being of\nno use to thee, for thou wilt not lie on them; but let them be a glory\n[to thee] before the Trojans and the Trojan dames.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, weeping, and the females also mourned.\n\nFootnote 718: (return)  \u1f08\u03bc\u03c6\u03b9\u03b8\u03b1\u03bb\u1f74\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f78 \u1f00\u03bc\u03c6\u03bf\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03b8\u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd, \u1f24\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd \u1fa6\n\u1f04\u03bc\u03c6\u03c9 \u03bf\u1f76 \u03b3ov\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03af\u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9.\n\nFootnote 719: (return)  Playing on the signification of the name,\u2014\u201cking\nof the city.\u201d This piece of twaddle has not been omitted by Plato in\nhis ridiculous Cratylus.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE TWENTY-THIRD.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nAchilles, admonished in a dream by the ghost of his friend, celebrates\nthe funeral of Patroclus.\n\n\nThus they indeed were mourning through the city; but the Greeks, as\nsoon as they reached the ships and the Hellespont, were separated each\nto his own ship. But Achilles did not permit the Myrmidons to be\ndispersed, but he spoke amongst his warlike companions [thus]:\n\n\u201cYe swift-horsed Myrmidons, comrades dear to me, let us not yet loose\nthe solid-hoofed steeds from under our chariots, but with the very\nhorses and chariots, going near, let us bewail Patroclus; for this is\nthe honour of the dead. But when we have indulged 720 sad lamentation,\nunyoking our steeds, we will all sup here.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they mourned in a body; and Achilles led the way.\nThrice they drove their fair-maned steeds around the body, 721\ngrieving; and among them Thetis kindled a longing for lamentation.\nMoistened were the sands, and moistened were the arms of the men with\ntears; for so brave a master of the flight they longed. But among them\nthe son of Peleus led the abundant lamentation, laying his\nman-slaughtering hands upon the breast of his companion:\n\nFootnote 720: (return)  Excellently paraphrased by Gaza: \u1f18\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03b4\u1f70\u03bd \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\n\u1f44\u03bb\u03b5\u03b8\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b8\u03c1\u03ae\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b1\u03cd\u03c3\u03c9\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd. Ernesti well observes that \u03c4\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03ce\u03bc\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\nimplies \u201cdelight mingled with satiety.\u201d\n\nFootnote 721: (return)  This was a frequent rite at funerals. Cf.\nApollon. Rh. i. 1059; Virg. \u00c6n. xi. 188, sqq.; Heliodor. Ethiop. iii.\np. 136: \u1f18\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03b4\u1f74 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bc\u03bd\u1fc6\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u039d\u03b5\u03bf\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03ad\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03ae\u03c3\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf \u1f21 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bc\u03c0\u1f74, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76\n\u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf\u1f31 \u1f14\u03c6\u03b7\u03b2\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f35\u03c0\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03ae\u03bb\u03b1\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd,  \u03bb\u03bf\u03bb\u03cd\u03be\u03b1\u03bd \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u03b1\u1f31 \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u1fd6\u03ba\u03b5\u03c2,\n\u03bb\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03be\u03b1\u03bd \u03b4\u1f72 \u03bf\u1f31 \u1f04\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2. Among the Romans this rite was called _decursio_.\nCf. Liv. xxv. 17: Tacit. Ann. ii. 7; Sueton. Claud. \u00a7 i. According to\nPlutarch, Alexander the Great performed the same honours at the tomb of\nAchilles, that Achilles had bestowed upon the manes of his friend\nPatroclus. See also Bernart on Stat. Theb. vi. 217.\n\n\u201cHail! O Patroclus, even in the dwellings of Hades; for now shall I\naccomplish all those things which formerly I promised, that having\ndragged Hector hither, I would give him to the dogs to be devoured raw;\nand that before thy pile I would cut the necks of twelve illustrious\nsons of the Trojans, enraged on account of thee slain.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and meditated unworthy deeds against noble Hector, having\nstretched him prone in the dust before the bier of Men\u0153tiades; but they\neach stripped off his brazen, glittering armour, and unyoked their\nhigh-sounding steeds. They sat also in crowds at the ship of\nswift-footed \u00c6acides; but he afforded to them an agreeable funeral\nfeast. 722 Many white bulls 723 were stretched around by the axe,\nhaving their throats cut, and many sheep and bleating goats. Many\nwhite-tusked swine also, abounding in fat, were extended for roasting\nin the flame of Vulcan; and on every side around the dead body flowed\nabundant blood. But the chiefs of the Greeks led the king, the\nswift-footed son of Peleus, to noble Agamemnon, hardly persuading him\nenraged at heart on account of his companion. But when advancing they\nreached the tent of Agamemnon, he straightway ordered the clear-voiced\nheralds to place a large tripod on the fire, if he could persuade the\nson of Peleus to wash away the bloody gore. But he sternly refused, and\nbesides swore an oath: 724\n\nFootnote 722: (return)  \u03a4\u03ac\u03c6\u03bf\u03c2\u00b7 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03af\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03c0\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u1fc7.\u2014Hesych.\n\nFootnote 723: (return)  On these funeral sacrifices, see Comm. on \u00c6n.\nxi. l. c.; and Lomeier de Lustrationibus, \u00a7 xxxi.\n\nFootnote 724: (return)  Buttm. Lexil. p. 436, after insisting strongly\non the _personification_ of \u1f4d\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2, observes on this passage: \u201cI see no\nreason why we should not suppose that in the poet\u2019s mind Jupiter was\nput in opposition to \u1f45\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd, exactly in the same sense as \u1f44\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2 is\nactually found in opposition to \u0396\u03b5\u03cd\u03c2 in Pindar, Pyth. iv. 297. \u039a\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2\n\u1f45\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f04\u03bc\u03bc\u03b9 \u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03c5\u03c2 \u1f14\u03c3\u03c4\u03c9 \u0396\u03b5\u1f7a\u03c2 \u1f41 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03ad\u03b8\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ac\u03bc\u03c6\u03bf\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2. Further, the\nexpressions \u03bc\u03ad\u03b3\u03b1\u03c2 \u03cc\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2, \u03ba\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2 suit much better the idea of\nthe witness or pledge of the oath, than they do the oath itself.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, by Jove, who is both the supreme and the best of gods, it is not\nlawful that ablutions should come near my head, before I place\nPatroclus on the pile, and have thrown up a mound, and shorn my hair;\nfor not to such a degree will sorrow a second time invade my heart,\nwhilst I am among the living. But nevertheless let us now yield to the\nloathsome banquet. But on the morrow, \u039f king of men, Agamemnon, give\norders to bring wood, and dispose it so as is proper that a dead body\nenjoying it, should descend beneath the obscure darkness; so that the\nindefatigable fire may consume him very quickly from our eyes, and the\npeople may return to their occupations.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they indeed readily listened to him, and obeyed.\nThen they, each sedulously preparing supper, feasted; nor did their\nmind lack aught of an equal feast. But when they had dismissed the\ndesire of food and drink, some departed in order to lie down, each to\nhis tent. But the son of Peleus, on the contrary, amid his many\nMyrmidons, lay near the shore of the far-sounding sea, heavily moaning,\nin a clear spot, where the waves plashed against the shore; when sweet\n725 sleep, diffused around, took possession of him, relaxing the cares\nof his mind; for he was very much fatigued as to his fair knees,\nchasing Hector at wind-swept Ilium. But to him came the spirit of\nwretched Patroclus, like unto him in all things, as to bulk, and\nbeautiful eyes, and his voice; and like garments also were around his\nbody; and he stood over his head, and addressed him:\n\n\u201cSleepest thou, O Achilles, and art thou forgetful of me? Thou didst\nnot indeed neglect me when alive, but [now that I am] dead. Bury me,\nthat I may as soon as possible pass the gates of Hades. The spirits,\nthe images of the deceased, 726 drive me far away, nor by any means\npermit me to be mingled with them beyond the river; but thus I do\nwander round the ample-gated dwelling of Hades. But give me thy hand,\n727 I beseech thee, for I shall not again return from Hades after thou\nhast made me a partaker of the fire. For by no means shall we, being\nalive, sitting apart from our dear companions, deliberate counsels; but\nthe hateful fate which befel me when born, has snatched me away. And to\nthyself also, O godlike Achilles, thy fate is to perish beneath the\nwall of the noble Trojans. But another thing I bid, and will command, O\nAchilles, if thou wilt obey, not to lay my bones apart from thine; but\nas we were nurtured together in thy palaces, when Men\u0153tius led me from\nOpus, a little boy, to thy home, on account of a melancholy homicide,\non that day when, imprudent, I slew the son of Amphidamas, not wishing\nit, enraged about the dice: 728 then Peleus received me in his abode,\ncarefully reared me, and named me thy attendant. So may the same tomb\ncontain our bones, the golden vase which thy venerable mother gave\nthee.\u201d\n\nFootnote 725: (return)  On the epithet \u03bd\u03ae\u03b4\u03bd\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2, cf. Buttm. p. 414, sqq.\n\nFootnote 726: (return)  Buttm. Lexil. p. 372, in a very interesting\ndiscussion, regards \u03ba\u03b1\u03bc\u03cc\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 as an euphemism, \u201cby which the dead, whom\nwe consider as still acting and feeling, and consequently as the\nobjects of our kind offices, of which they are conscious, are\nrepresented as still living in another state, but deprived of their\nearthly powers.\u201d\n\nFootnote 727: (return)  Virg. \u00c6n. vi. 370: \u201cDa dextram misero.\u201d\n\nFootnote 728: (return)  See the Quaint remarks of Jeremy Taylor, Holy\nLiving, p. 224, ed. Bohn.\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed:\n\n\u201cWhy, O venerable friend, hast thou come to me, and commandest each of\nthese things to me? Yet will I readily accomplish all these things for\nthee, and obey as thou commandest. But stand nearer to me, that\nembracing each other even for a little while, we may indulge in sad\nlamentation.\u201d\n\nThus then having spoken, he stretched out with his friendly arms, nor\ncaught him; 729 for the spirit went gibbering 730 beneath the earth,\nlike smoke. Then Achilles sprang up astonished, and clapped together\nhis hands, and spoke this doleful speech:\n\n\u201cAlas! there is indeed then, even in the dwellings of Hades, a certain\nspirit and image, but there is no body 731 in it at all; for all night\nthe spirit of miserable Patroclus stood by me, groaning and lamenting,\nand enjoined to me each particular, and was wonderfully like unto\nhimself.\u201d\n\nFootnote 729: (return)  Cf. Georg. iv. 499; \u00c6n. ii. 790, iv. 276;\nLucan, iii. 34.\n\nFootnote 730: (return)  See Odyss. xxiv. sub init, where the same word\nis applied to the shades of the suitors of Penelope.\n\nFootnote 731: (return)  By \u03c6\u03c1\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 we may understand the power of using\nreason and judgment, with Duport, Gnom. p. 128, and Jeremy Taylor, Holy\nDying, p. 524, ed. Bohn. But ver. 100 seems to require the\ninterpretation which I have followed; Clarke rendering it \u201cpr\u00e6cordia.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and excited among them all a longing for lamentation;\nand rosy-fingered Morn appeared to them while weeping around the\nmiserable corpse. But king Agamemnon incited everywhere from the tents\nboth mules and men to bring wood; and for this a brave man was roused,\nMeriones, the servant of valour-loving Idomeneus. And they went,\nholding in their hands wood-lopping axes and well-twisted ropes; and\nbefore them went the mules. They passed over many ascents, 732\ndescents, and straight ways and crossways. But when they reached the\nforests of many-rilled Ida, hastening, they cut down the towering oaks\nwith the keen-edged brass. These greatly resounding, fell; and the\nGreeks then splitting them, tied [them] upon the mules, but they pained\nthe ground with their hoofs, eager to reach the plain through the close\nthickets. But all the wood-cutters carried trunks of trees, for so\nMeriones, the servant of valour-loving Idomeneus, ordered; and\nafterwards threw them in order upon the shore, where Achilles designed\na mighty tomb for Patroclus, and for himself.\n\nBut when they had thrown on all sides immense quantities of wood,\nremaining there in a body, they sat down; but Achilles immediately\nordered the warlike Myrmidons to gird on the brass, and to yoke each\nhis horses to his chariot; but they arose, and were arrayed in their\narmour. And both the combatants and the charioteers ascended their\nchariots; the cavalry indeed first, but a cloud of infantry followed\nafter in myriads; and in the midst his companions bore Patroclus. They\ncovered all the dead body over with hair, which, cutting off, 733 they\nthrew upon it; but noble Achilles held his head behind, grieving, for\nhe was sending a blameless companion to Hades.\n\nFootnote 732: (return)  A most remarkable and beautiful example of the\nappropriation of sound to sense. Pope has admirably imitated the\noriginal by the following translation:\u2014\n\n   \u201cO\u2019er hills, o\u2019er dales, o\u2019er crags, o\u2019er rocks, they go.\u201d\n\n\n   Cowper less successfully:\u2014\n\n\n             \u201cThey measured hill and dale,\n   Right onward now, and now circuitous.\u201d\n\n\n   Cf. Milton, P.L. ii. 948:\u2014\n\n\n           \u201cSo eagerly the fiend\n   O\u2019er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare,\n   With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way,\n   And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies.\u201d\n\n\nFootnote 733: (return)  So in Senec. Hippol. 1176, \u201cPlacemus umbras,\ncapitis exuvias cape, lacer\u00e6que frontis accipe abscissam comam.\u201d The\ncustom is learnedly illustrated by Bernart on Stat. Theb. vi. 195,\nLomeier de Lustrat. \u00a7 xxv.\n\nBut they, when they reached the place where Achilles pointed out to\nthem, laid him down; and immediately heaped on abundant wood for him.\nThen again swift-footed Achilles remembered another thing. Standing\napart from the pile, he cut off his yellow hair, which he had nurtured,\nblooming, for the river Sperchius; 734 and, moaning, he spake, looking\nupon the dark sea:\n\nFootnote 734: (return)  On this custom, cf. Schol. Hesiod. Theog. 348:\n\u1f08\u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f76 \u03bd\u03ad\u03bf\u03b9 \u1f00\u03c0\u03ad\u03c4\u03b5\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03ba\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2, \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b1\u03cd\u03be\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76\n\u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f30\u03c4\u03af\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f37\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9. See Lindenbrog on Censorin. de Die Nat. i. p.\n6, and Blomf. on \u00c6sch. Choeph. s. init., with my own note. Statius,\nAchill. i. 628, \u201cQu\u00e6risne meos, Sperchie, natatus, Promissasque comas?\u201d\nCf. Pausan. i. 43, 4; Philostrat. Her. xi.\n\n\u201cIn vain, O Sperchius, did my father Peleus vow to thee, that I,\nreturning to my dear native land, should there cut off my hair for\nthee, and offer a sacred hecatomb; and besides, that I would in the\nsame place sacrifice fifty male sheep at the fountains, where are a\ngrove and fragrant altar to thee. Thus the old man spake, but thou hast\nnot fulfilled his will. And now, since I return not to my dear\nfatherland, I will give my hair to the hero Patroclus, to be borne\n[with him].\u201d Thus saying, he placed his hair in the hands of his dear\ncompanion; and excited amongst them all a longing for weeping. And the\nlight of the sun had certainly set upon them, mourning, had not\nAchilles, standing beside, straightway addressed Agamemnon:\n\n\u201cO son of Atreus (for to thy words the people of the Greeks most\nespecially hearken), it is possible to satiate oneself even with\nweeping; 735 but now do thou dismiss them from the pile, and order them\nto prepare supper. We, to whom the corpse is chiefly a care, will\nlabour concerning these things; but let the chiefs remain with us.\u201d\n\nBut when the king of men, Agamemnon, heard this, he immediately\ndispersed the people among the equal ships; but the mourners remained\nthere, and heaped up the wood. They formed a pile 736 a hundred feet\nthis way and that, and laid the body upon the summit of the pile,\ngrieving at heart.\n\nFootnote 735: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. p. 25. \u201cAchilles speaks of\nthe expediency of terminating the lamentations of the army at large,\nand leaving what remains to be performed in honour of the deceased to\nhis more particular friends.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 736: (return)  In illustration of the following rites, cf.\nVirg. \u00c6n. iii. 62; v. 96; vi. 215; x. 517; xi. 80, 197, sqq.; and the\nnotes of Stephens on Saxo Grammat. p. 92.\n\nMany fat sheep, and stamping-footed, bent-horned oxen, they skinned and\ndressed before the pile; from all of which magnanimous Achilles, taking\nthe fat, covered over the dead body [with it] from head to feet, and\nheaped around the skinned carcases. Leaning towards the bier, he\nlikewise placed vessels of honey and oil, 737 and, sighing deeply,\nhastily threw upon the pyre four high-necked steeds. There were nine\ndogs, companions at the table of the [departed] king, and, slaying two\nof them, he cast them upon the pile; also twelve gallant sons 738 of\nthe magnanimous Trojans, slaying them with the brass; and he designed\nevil deeds in his mind. Next he applied to it the iron strength of\nfire, that it might feed upon it: then he groaned aloud, and addressed\nhis beloved companion by name: 739\n\nFootnote 737: (return)  Cf. Alc\u00e6us apud Brunck, Ann. i. p. 490: \u039a\u03b1\u1f76\n\u03c4\u03ac\u03c6\u03bf\u03bd \u1f51\u03c8\u03ce\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf, \u03b3\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03ba\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f30\u03b3\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f1c\u1fe4\u1fe5\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd \u03be\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u1ff7 \u03bc\u03b9\u03be\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\n\u03bc\u03ad\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9. Compare the similar libations to the dead in Eur. Orest. 114;\nHeliodor. Eth. vi.; Apul. Met. 3; Stat. Theb. vi. 209; Virg. \u00c6n. iii.\n66.\n\nFootnote 738: (return)  This cruel custom was in vogue amongst the\nfollowers of Odin. See Olaus Magnus, iii. 3, and Mallet, Northern\nAntiquities, p. 213, sq., ed. Bohn.\n\nFootnote 739: (return)  On this \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c6\u03ce\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2, or last address to the\ndeceased, see my note on Eurip. Alcest. 625, t. i. p. 231, ed. Bohn;\nand Suppl. 773, 804; Virg. \u00c6n. iii. 68, v. 79; Propert. i. 17; Auson.\nParent. 159, 10.\n\n\u201cHail! O Patroclus, even in the dwellings of Hades: for I now fulfil\nall things which I formerly promised thee; twelve brave sons of the\nmagnanimous Trojans, all these, along with thee, shall the fire\nconsume; but I will not suffer Hector, the son of Priam, to be devoured\nby fire, but by the dogs.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, threatening; but about him the dogs were not busied; for\nVenus, the daughter of Jove, drove off the dogs both days and nights,\nand anointed him with a rosy unguent, ambrosial, that he might not\nlacerate him dragging him along. Over him also Ph\u0153bus Apollo drew a\ndark cloud from heaven to the plain, and overshadowed the whole space,\nas much as the dead body occupied, lest the influence of the sun should\npreviously dry the body all around, with the nerves and limbs.\n\nYet the pile of dead Patroclus burnt not. Then again noble Achilles\nmeditated other things. Standing apart from the pile, he prayed to two\nwinds, Boreas and Zephyrus, and promised fair sacrifices; and, pouring\nout many libations with a golden goblet, he supplicated them to come,\nthat they might burn the body with fire as soon as possible, and the\nwood might hasten to be burned. But swift Iris, hearing his prayers,\nwent as a messenger to the winds. They, indeed, together at home with\nfierce-breathing Zephyrus, were celebrating a feast, when Iris,\nhastening, stood upon the stone threshold. But when they beheld her\nwith their eyes, they rose up, and invited her to him, each of them.\nBut she, on the contrary, refused to sit down, and spoke [this] speech:\n\n\u201cNo seat [for me]; for I return again to the flowings of the ocean, to\nthe land of the \u00c6thiopians, where they sacrifice hecatombs to the\nimmortals, that now I, too, may have a share in their offerings. But\nAchilles now supplicates Boreas, and sonorous Zephyrus, to come, that\nye may kindle the pile to be consumed, on which lies Patroclus, whom\nall the Greeks bewail.\u201d\n\nShe, indeed, thus having spoken, departed; but they hastened to go with\na great tumult, driving on the clouds before them. Immediately they\nreached the sea, blowing, and the billow was raised up beneath their\nsonorous blast: but they reached the very fertile Troad, and fell upon\nthe pile, and mightily resounded the fiercely-burning fire. All night,\nindeed, did they together toss about the blaze of the pyre, shrilly\nblowing; and all night swift Achilles, holding a double cup, poured\nwine upon the ground, drawing it from a golden goblet, and moistened\nthe earth, invoking the manes of wretched Patroclus. And as a father\nmourns, consuming the bones of his son, a bridegroom who, dying, has\nafflicted his unhappy parents, so mourned Achilles, burning the bones\nof his companion, pacing pensively beside the pile, groaning\ncontinually. But when Lucifer arrived, proclaiming light over the\nearth, after whom saffron-vested Morn is diffused over the sea, then\nthe pyre grew languid, and the flame decayed; and the Winds departed\nagain, to return home through the Thracian sea; but it (the sea)\ngroaned indeed, raging with swelling billow.\n\nBut Pelides, going apart 740 from the pile, reclined fatigued, and upon\nhim fell sweet sleep. The others, however, were assembling in crowds\nround the son of Atreus, the noise and tumult of whom, approaching,\nawoke him; and, being raised up, he sat, and addressed them:\n\nFootnote 740: (return)  On \u03bb\u03b9\u03ac\u03b6\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9, cf. Buttm. Lex. p. 404.\n\n\u201cO son of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of the Greeks, first, indeed,\nextinguish the whole pile, as much as the fire has seized, with dark\nwine; and then let us collect the bones of Patroclus, the son of\nMen\u0153tius, well discriminating them (for they are readily distinguished;\nfor he lay in the centre of the pyre, but the others, both horses and\nmen, were burned promiscuously at the extremity), and let us place them\nin a golden vessel, and with a double [layer of] fat, till I myself be\nhidden in Hades. And I wish that a tomb should be made, not very large,\nbut of such 741 a size as is becoming; but do ye, O Ach\u00e6ans, hereafter,\nmake it both broad and lofty, you who may be left behind me at the\nmany-benched barks.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and they obeyed the swift-footed son of Peleus. First of\nall, indeed, they totally extinguished the pyre with dark wine, as much\nas the fire had invaded, and the deep ashes fell in; and, weeping, they\ncollected the white bones of their mild companion into a golden vessel,\nand a double [layer of] fat; then, laying them in the tent, they\ncovered them with soft 742 linen. Next they marked out the area for the\ntomb, and laid the foundations around the pile; and immediately\nupraised a mound of earth; and, heaping up the tomb, returned. But\nAchilles detained the people there, and made the wide assembly sit\ndown; but from the ships he brought forth prizes, goblets, tripods,\nhorses, mules, and sturdy heads of oxen, and slender-waisted women, and\nhoary 743 iron. First he staked as prizes for swift-footed steeds, a\nwoman to be borne away, faultless, skilled in works, as well as a\nhandled tripod of two-and-twenty measures, for the first; but for the\nsecond he staked a mare six years old, unbroken, pregnant with a young\nmule; for the third he staked a fireless tripod, beautiful, containing\nfour measures, yet quite untarnished; 744 for the fourth he staked two\ntalents of gold; and for the fifth he staked a double vessel, untouched\nby the fire. Erect he stood, and spoke this speech to the Greeks:\n\nFootnote 741: (return)  Ernesti considers that \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd is here added to\nindicate _magnitude_, and Heyne accordingly renders it: \u201cmagnitudine\nfere hac,\u201d the speaker being supposed to use a gesture while thus\nspeaking.\n\nFootnote 742: (return)  See Buttm. Lexil. pp. 236\u20149.\n\nFootnote 743: (return)  \u201cErnesti conceives that the colour is here\nmaintained to express, not merely the _shining aspect_, but the newness\nof the metal; as \u03bb\u03b5\u03bd\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd in 268. This is ingenious; but why not receive\nit as expressive of colour, and borrowed from that to which the metal\nitself supplies a well-known epithet, viz., the hair of age?\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 744: (return)  \u0391\u1f55\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2 here designates \u201c_that which is original,\nunchanged_, in opposition to common changes, \u03bb\u03b5\u03bd\u03ba\u1f78\u03bd \u1f14\u03b8\u0384 \u03b1\u1f55\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2, still in\n_that_ its original state, completely unblackened with fire; and \u03c9.\n413; of the body of Hector, \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u2019 \u1f14\u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9. \u0391\u1f55\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2, in _that_\nstate in which he was before, still free from corruption.\u201d\u2014Buttm.\nLexil. p. 173.\n\n\u201cO son of Atreus, and ye other well-greaved Greeks, these prizes lie in\nthe circus, awaiting the charioteers. If now, indeed, in honour of\nanother, we Grecians were contending, then truly would I, receiving,\nbear the first [prizes] to my tent. For ye know how much my steeds\nsurpass in excellence; for they are both immortal, and Neptune gave\nthem to my father Peleus, who, again, delivered them to me. But\nnevertheless I and my solid-hoofed steeds will remain apart [from the\ncontest]; because they have lost the excellent might of such a\ncharioteer, who very often poured the moist oil over their manes,\nhaving washed them with limpid water. They, indeed, standing, lament\nhim, but their manes hang down upon the ground, and they stand, grieved\nat heart. However, do ye others through the army prepare, whoever of\nthe Greeks confides in his steeds and well-fastened chariots.\u201d\n\nThus spoke the son of Peleus; but the swift charioteers arose. But, far\nthe first, arose Eumelus, king of men, the dear son of Admetus, who\nsurpassed in equestrian skill. After him arose the son of Tydeus,\nvaliant Diomede, and led under the yoke the horses of Tros, which he\nformerly took from \u00c6neas; but Apollo preserved himself 745 alive; next\nto whom arose the most noble son of yellow-haired Atreus, Menelaus, and\nled beneath the yoke fleet steeds, Agamemnon\u2019s mare \u00c6the, and his own\nstallion, Podargus. Her Echepolus, the son of Anchises, had presented\nas a gift to Agamemnon, that he need not follow him to wind-swept\nIlium, but staying there might be delighted; for Jove had given him\ngreat wealth, and he dwelt in wise Sicyon. Her, persevering in the\nrace, he led under the yoke. But Antilochus, the fourth, harnessed his\nbeautiful-maned steeds (the illustrious son of the magnanimous king\nNestor, the son of Neleus), and swift-footed Pelian-born steeds drew\nhis chariot for him; but his father, standing near, spoke for his good,\nadvising him, though himself prudent:\n\nFootnote 745: (return)  \u00c6neas.\n\n\u201cO Antilochus, assuredly indeed both Jove and Neptune have loved thee,\nalthough being young, and have taught thee all kinds of equestrian\nexercise; wherefore there is no great need to instruct thee. For thou\nknowest how to turn the goals with safety; but thy horses are very slow\nto run, wherefore I think that disasters may happen. Their horses,\nindeed, are more fleet, but they themselves know not how to manoeuvre\nbetter than thou thyself. But come now, beloved one, contrive every\nmanner of contrivance in thy mind, lest the prizes by any chance escape\nthee. By skill is the wood-cutter much better than by strength; and,\nagain, by skill the pilot directs upon the dark sea the swift ship,\ntossed about by the winds; and by skill charioteer excels charioteer.\nOne man who is confident in his steeds and chariot, turns imprudently\nhither and thither over much [ground], and his steeds wander through\nthe course, nor does he rein them in. But he, on the contrary, who is\nacquainted with stratagem [though] driving inferior steeds, always\nlooking at the goal, turns it close, nor does it escape him in what\nmanner he may first turn [the course] 746 with his leathern reins; but\nhe holds on steadily, and watches the one who is before him. But I will\nshow thee the goal, easily distinguished, nor shall it escape thy\nnotice. A piece of dry wood, as much as a cubit, stands over the\nground, either of oak or of larch, which is not rotted by rain; and two\nwhite stones are placed on either side, in the narrow part of the way;\n747 but the racecourse around is level: either it is the monument 748\nof some man long since dead, or perhaps it has been a goal in the time\nof former men, and now swift-footed noble Achilles has appointed it the\ngoal. Approaching this very closely, drive thy chariot and horses near;\nbut incline thyself gently towards the left of them (the steeds), in\nthe well-joined chariot-seat; and, cheering on the right-hand horse,\napply the whip, and give him the rein with thy hands. Let thy left-hand\nhorse, however, be moved close to the goal, so that the nave of the\nwell-made wheel may appear to touch, the top [of the post]; but avoid\nto touch upon the stone, lest thou both wound thy horses, and break thy\nchariot in pieces, and be a joy to the others, and a disgrace to\nthyself. But, my beloved son, mind to be on thy guard; for if at the\ngoal thou couldst pass by in the course, there will not be one who\ncould overtake thee in pursuit, nor pass thee by; not if behind he\ndrives noble Arion, the swift steed of Adrastus, 749 which was from a\ngod in race; or those of Laomedon, which, excellent, have here been\nreared.\u201d\n\nFootnote 746: (return)  Or \u201cpull with his leathern reins.\u201d\u2014Oxf. Transl.\n\u201c\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd\u03cd\u03c3\u1fc3, viz. \u03b4\u03c1\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd \u03c3\u1f7a\u03bd \u1f31\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd. Thus \u03c4\u03ac\u03b8\u03b7 \u03b4\u03c1\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2, ver. 375. The same\nellipsis occurs in the following verse, in the case of \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9, which,\nhowever, admits also of the construction \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u1f11\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd, one usual in the\nlatter language.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 747: (return)  \u201cThe old interpreter explained \u1f10\u03bd \u03be\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c7\u1fc7\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd\n\u1f41\u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6, and I think correctly, of a wide track in the open plain becoming\nsomewhat narrower at the point where the old monument stood; but \u1f00\u03bc\u03c6\u03af\u03c2\nthey took in the opposite sense of \u03c7\u03c9\u03c1\u03af\u03c2, or still more forced. Heyne,\nhowever, understood it quite correctly of the wide plain around, which\nwas so suited to a chariot-race, and within which, in the distance,\nstood also the mark chosen by Achilles, ver. 359. Others see in this\npassage the course winding round the monument; but then it must have\nbeen an old course regularly drawn out for the purpose; whereas this\nmonument was selected by Achilles for the goal or mark quite\narbitrarily, and by his own choice; and Nestor, ver. 332, only\nconjectures that it might have formerly served for a goal.\u201d\u2014Buttm.\nLexil. p. 95.\n\nFootnote 748: (return)  Such monumental stones were frequently placed\nin public places. Cf. Theocrit. vi. 10; Virg. Eel. ix. 55; Dic\u00e6archus\nin Athen. xiii. p. 594.\n\nFootnote 749: (return)  According to many authors, this horse was\nproduced from the earth by a stroke of Neptune\u2019s trident. See Serv. on\nVirg. Georg. i. 12; Pausan. viii. p. 650; Apollodor. iii. 6, 8; and\nBernart. on Stat. Theb. iv. 43.\n\nThus speaking, Neleian Nestor sat down again in his own place, when he\nhad mentioned the most important points of each matter to his son; and\nMeriones, fifth, harnessed his beautiful-maned steeds. Then they\nascended their chariots, and cast lots into [the helmet]. Achilles\nshook, and the lot of Antilochus, son of Nestor, leaped forth; after\nhim king Eumelus was allotted; but after him spear-renowned Menelaus,\nson of Atreus, and Meriones was allotted to drive after him. But the\nson of Tydeus, by far the bravest, was allotted to drive his coursers\nlast. Then they stood in order; and Achilles pointed out the goals, 750\nfar off in the level plain; and near it placed godlike Phoenix as an\numpire, the armour-bearer of his own sire, that he might attend to the\nrace, and report the truth.\n\nFootnote 750: (return)  Cf. \u00c6n. v. 129; Quintus Calab. iv. 193: \u03a4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b9\n\u03b4\u1f72 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5 \u03b4\u03c1\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03ad\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2  \u03ba\u03c5\u03c4\u03ac\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf \u1f08\u03c4\u03c1\u03b5\u03af\u03b4\u03b7\u03c2.\n\nThen they all at once raised their lashes over their steeds, and struck\nthem with the reins, and cheered them on with words incessantly; but\nthey rapidly flew over the plain, far away from the ships, swiftly, and\nbeneath their breasts the excited dust stood up, raised like a cloud or\na whirlwind; whilst their manes were tossed about by the breath of the\nwind. Sometimes, indeed, the chariots approached the fruitful earth,\nand at others bounded aloft; but the drivers stood erect in their\nchariots, and the heart of each of them, eager for victory, palpitated:\nand each animated his own steeds, but they flew along, stirring up dust\nfrom the plain. But when now the fleet steeds were performing the last\ncourse, back towards the hoary deep, then appeared the excellence of\neach, and the course was immediately extended to the horses; 751 and\nthen the swift-footed steeds of the son of Pheres 752 swiftly bore him\naway. The male Trojan steeds of Diomede, however, bore [themselves]\nnext to them; nor were they at all far distant, but very near; for they\nalways seemed as if about to mount into the chariot. And with their\nbreathing the back and broad shoulders of Eumelus were warmed; for they\nflew along, leaning their heads over him. And certainly he had either\npassed, or made [the victory] doubtful, had not Ph\u0153bus Apollo been\nenraged with the son of Tydeus, and accordingly shaken out of his hands\nthe shining lash. Then from the eyes of him indignant tears poured,\nbecause indeed he beheld the others now going much swifter, whilst his\n[steeds] were injured, running without a goad. Neither did Apollo,\nfraudulently injuring Tydides, escape the notice of Minerva, but she\nvery quickly overtook the shepherd of the people, and gave him his\nlash, and put vigour into his steeds. And to the son of Admetus, the\ngoddess, indignant, advanced, and broke for him his horse-yoke; and so\nhis mares ran on both sides out of the way, and the pole was dashed\nupon the ground. He himself was thrown from the driving-seat close by\nthe wheel, and was lacerated all round in his arms, his mouth, and\nnostrils, and his forehead was bruised near the eyebrows; but his eyes\nwere filled with tears, and his liquid voice was clogged. Then Diomede\npassing by, directed his hollow-hoofed steeds, bounding far before the\nothers; for Minerva had put vigour into his steeds, and given him\nglory. But after him, however, the son of Atreus, yellow-haired\nMenelaus, drove; but Antilochus cheered on the steeds of his father:\n\nFootnote 751: (return)  _I.e._ \u201cthe speed of the horses was immediately\nput to the stretch,\u201d as the Oxford Translator well, but freely, renders\nit.\n\nFootnote 752: (return)  Eumelus.\n\n\u201cPush on! and exert yourselves, both of you, as fast as possible. I\nindeed do not order you to contend with the steeds of warlike Diomede,\nto which Minerva has now given speed, and given glory to him; but\nquickly overtake the horses of Atrides, nor be left behind, lest \u00c6the,\nbeing a mare, shed disgrace upon you both. Why should ye be left\ninferior, O best [of steeds]? For thus I tell you, and it shall surely\nbe accomplished; attention will not be paid to you by Nestor, the\nshepherd of the people, but he will immediately slay you with the sharp\nbrass, if we, remiss, bear off the less worthy prize. But follow, and\nhasten as fast as possible. These things will I myself manage and look\nto, to pass him by in the narrow way; nor shall it escape me.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they, dreading the threat of their master, ran\nfaster for a short time: but immediately then warlike Antilochus\nperceived the narrow of the hollow way. It was a fissure of the earth,\nwhere the wintry torrent collected, had broken away [part] of the road,\nand gullied the whole place; thither drove Menelaus, avoiding the clash\nof wheels. But Antilochus, deviating, guided his solid-hoofed horses\nout of the way, and turning aside, pursued him a little. But the son of\nAtreus feared, and shouted to Antilochus:\n\n\u201cAntilochus, rashly art thou driving thy horses; but check thy steeds\nfor the road is narrow, and thou wilt soon drive past in a wider lest\nthou damage both [of us], running foul of [my] chariot.\u201d Thus he spoke;\nbut Antilochus drove even much faster, urging [them] on with the lash,\nlike unto one not hearing. As far as is the cast of a quoit, hurled\nfrom the shoulder, which a vigorous youth has thrown, making\nexperiments of his youthful strength; so far they ran abreast; but\nthose of Atrides fell back: for he himself voluntarily ceased to drive,\nlest the solid-hoofed steeds should clash in the road, and overturn the\nwell-joined chariots, and they themselves should fall in the dust,\nwhile contending for the victory. And him yellow-haired Menelaus,\nchiding, addressed:\n\n\u201cO Antilochus, no other mortal is more pernicious than thou. Avaunt!\nfor we Greeks untruly said that thou wast prudent. Yet not even thus\nshalt thou bear away the prize without an oath.\u201d 753 Thus saying, he\ncheered on his steeds, and spoke to them:\n\n\u201cBe not kept back, nor stand, grieving in your hearts: sooner will the\nfeet and knees grow weary to them than to you; for they are both\ndeprived of vigour.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but they, dreading the exhortation of their master, ran\nmore fleetly, and became very near the others. But the Greeks sitting\nin assembly, 754 beheld the steeds, and they flew along, raising dust\nover the plain. Then first Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans,\ndistinguished the horses; for he sat outside the circus, very high up,\non an observatory; and hearing him, being far off, encouraging [his\nsteeds], knew him. He also perceived a remarkable steed outstripping,\nwhich in every other part indeed was chesnut, but in its forehead was a\nwhite round spot, like the moon. And he stood erect, and delivered this\nspeech amongst the Greeks:\n\nFootnote 753: (return)  \u201cVidetur proverbii loco dictum in eos, qui non\nfacile, non sine gravi labore ac difficultate consequi possent, quod\npeterent, sive qui rem valde difficilem peterent.\u201d\u2014Ernesti.\n\nFootnote 754: (return)  See note on vii. p. 129, n. 2.\n\n\u201cO friends, leaders and chieftains of the Greeks, do I alone recognize\nthe horses, or do ye also? Different steeds indeed appear to me to be\nforemost, and there seems a different charioteer; but those [mares]\nwhich hitherto were successful, are probably hurt upon the plain\nsomewhere: for surely I first saw them turning round the goal, but now\nI can no longer see them, although my eyes survey the Trojan plain as I\ngaze around. Surely the reins have fled the charioteer, and he could\nnot rein well round the goal, and did not succeed in turning. There I\nimagine he fell out, and at the same time broke his chariot, whilst\nthey (the mares) bolted, when fury seized their mind. But do ye also,\nstanding up, look, for I cannot well distinguish; it appears to me to\nbe an \u00c6tolian hero by birth, and [who] rules amongst the Argives, the\nson of horse-breaking Tydeus, gallant Diomede.\u201d\n\nBut him swift Ajax, the son of O\u00efleus, bitterly reproached:\n\n\u201cIdomeneus, why dost thou prate endlessly? 755 Those high-prancing\nmares run over the vast plain afar. Neither art thou so much the\nyoungest amongst the Greeks, nor do thine eyes see most sharply from\nthy head: but thou art always prating with words. Nor is it at all\nnecessary for thee to be a prater, for others better than thou are\npresent. For the mares of Eumelus are still 756 foremost, which were so\nbefore, and he himself is advancing, holding the reins.\u201d\n\nBut him the leader of the Cretans, indignant, answered in turn:\n\n\u201cAjax, best at abuse, reviler, but in all other things thou art\ninferior to the Greeks, because thy temper is morose; come now, let us\nstake a tripod 757 or a goblet, and let us both appoint Agamemnon, the\nson of Atreus, arbiter, which horses are foremost; that paying, thou\nmayest learn.\u201d\n\nFootnote 755: (return)  \u201c \u03ac\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 implies habit, as in i. 553,\nparticularly in connection with a verb of such import, as in xviii.\n425.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 756: (return)  This is implied in \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1.\n\nFootnote 757: (return)  \u201cUt supra, xxii. 254, erat \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b4\u03cc\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, pro\n\u03b4\u03cc\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03c5\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u03af \u03c4\u03b9\u03bd\u03b9 \u03c7\u03c1\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9, sic nunc \u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u03c0\u03bf\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b4\u03ce\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1 est\n\u03b4\u03ce\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1 \u1f45\u03c1\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u03c0\u03bf\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2, quem p\u0153n\u00e6 loco daturus erit uter nostrum\ntemere contenderit.\u201d\u2014Heyne.\n\nThus he spoke; but swift Ajax, son of O\u00efleus, immediately rose to reply\nin harsh words. And now doubtless the strife would have proceeded\nfarther to both, had not Achilles himself risen up, and spoke:\n\n\u201cNo longer now, O Ajax and Idomeneus, hold altercation in evil, angry\nwords, for it is not fitting, and ye also would blame another, whoever\nshould do such things; but, sitting down in the circus, look towards\nthe steeds, which themselves will soon arrive, contending for victory;\nand then will ye know, each of you, the horses of the Greeks, which are\nsecond, and which first.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but the son of Tydeus came very near, pursuing, and\nalways drove on [his horses] with the lash across the shoulders; whilst\nthe steeds were raised up aloft into the air, quickly completing their\ncourse, and the drops of dust kept always bespattering their\ncharioteer. The chariot, adorned with gold and tin, rolled on close to\nthe swift-footed steeds; nor was there a deep trace of the tires behind\nin the fine dust, but they, hastening, flew. But he stood in the midst\nof the circus, and much perspiration exuded from the steeds, from their\nnecks and chest to the ground. But he himself leaped to the ground from\nhis all-shining chariot, and rested his scourge against the yoke; nor\nwas gallant Sthenelus dilatory, but he eagerly seized the prize, and\ngave the woman to his magnanimous companions to escort, and the handled\ntripod to bear away; whilst he himself unyoked the steeds.\n\nNext to him Nelcian Antilochus drove his steeds, outstripping Menelaus\nby stratagem, not indeed by speed. Yet even thus Menelaus drove his\nswift horses near; but as far as a horse is distant from the wheel,\nwhich, exerting its speed with the chariot, draws its master through\nthe plain, and the extreme hairs of its tail touch the wheel-tire, but\nit rolls very near, nor is there much space between, while it runs over\nthe vast plain; so far was illustrious Menelaus left behind by\nAntilochus: although at first he was left behind as much as the cast of\na quoit, yet he quickly overtook him; for the doughty strength of\nAgamemnon\u2019s mare, the beautiful-maned \u00c6the, was increased. And if the\ncourse had been still longer to both, he would surely have passed him\nby, nor left it doubtful. Meriones again, the good attendant of\nIdomeneus, was left behind a spear\u2019s throw by the illustrious Menelaus,\nfor his fair-maned steeds were the slowest, and he himself least\nskilful in driving a chariot in the contest. But the son of Admetus\ncame last of others, dragging his beauteous chariot, driving his steeds\nbefore him. But him swift-footed, noble Achilles seeing, pitied, and\nstanding amongst the Greeks, spoke [to him] winged words:\n\n\u201cThe best man drives his solid-hoofed steeds the last. But come, let us\ngive him, as is right, the second prize; and let the son of Tydeus bear\naway the first.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and all approved as he ordered. And now truly he had\ngiven the mare to him (for the Greeks approved it), had not Antilochus,\nthe son of magnanimous Nestor, rising up, replied to Achilles, the son\nof Peleus, on the question of justice: 758\n\nFootnote 758: (return)  Not \u201cwith justice,\u201d as the translators,\nfollowing the Scholiast, have interpreted \u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7. That would have\nrequired \u03c3\u1f7a\u03bd \u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b7, as in Soph. Antig. 23.\n\n\u201c\u039f Achilles, I shall be very indignant with thee, if thou fulfillest\nthis promise; for thou art about to deprive me of my reward,\nconsidering these things, that his chariot and fleet steeds were\ninjured, he himself being skilful; but he should have prayed to the\nimmortals, then would he by no means have come up driving the last. But\nif thou pitiest him, and it be agreeable to thy mind, thou hast much\ngold and brass in thy tent, and cattle and maidens, and solid-hoofed\nsteeds are thine. Taking from these, give him afterwards even a greater\nreward, or even now forthwith, that the Greeks may applaud thee. This,\nhowever, I will not resign, but let him of the warriors strive for her,\nwhoever wishes to contend with me in strength of hands.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and swift-footed, noble Achilles smiled, favouring\nAntilochus, for he was a dear companion to him; and, answering,\naddressed to him winged words:\n\n\u201cO Antilochus, since thou now biddest me give something else to Eumelus\nfrom my house, this will I indeed accomplish. I will give him the\ncorslet which I took from Asterop\u00e6us, brazen, around which there is\nentwined a rim of shining tin; and it is of great value.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; and ordered his dear comrade, Automedon, to bear it from the\ntent: and he went and brought it to him; then he placed it in the hands\nof Eumelus, and he received it rejoicing. But Menelaus also arose\namongst them, grieving in his mind, vehemently enraged with Antilochus.\nThen a herald placed the sceptre in his hands, and ordered the Greeks\nto be silent; and then the godlike hero spoke:\n\n\u201cO Antilochus, hitherto prudent, what hast thou done? Thou hast\ndisgraced my skill, and injured my steeds, driving thine before them,\nwhich indeed are greatly inferior. But come, ye leaders and chiefs of\nthe Greeks, judge between us both, and not for favour; lest some one of\nthe brazen-mailed Greeks should say: \u2018Menelaus having overcome\nAntilochus by falsehoods, came off, leading the mare [as a prize], for\nhis steeds were very inferior, but he himself superior in skill and\nstrength.\u2019 759 But come, I myself will decide, and I think that no\nother of the Greeks will blame me, for it will be just.\u201d\n\n\u201cO Antilochus, nurtured of Jove, come hither, I pray, as it is just,\nstanding before thy horses and chariot, and holding in thy hands the\npliant lash with which thou didst formerly drive, touching thy steeds,\nswear by earth-encompassing Neptune, that thou didst not willingly\nimpede my chariot by stratagem.\u201d 760\n\nFootnote 759: (return)  Cf. vers. 571, sq.\n\nFootnote 760: (return)  See ver. 441.\n\nBut him prudent Antilochus in turn answered:\n\n\u201cHave patience now, since I am much younger than thou, O king Menelaus,\nand thou art older and superior. Thou knowest of what sort are the\nerrors of a youth; for his mind is indeed more volatile, and his\ncounsel weak. Therefore let thy heart endure, and I myself will give\nthee the steed which I have received. And if indeed thou demandest\nanything else greater from my house, I should be willing to give it\nimmediately rather than fall for ever, \u039f Jove-nurtured, from thy good\nopinion, and be sinful towards the gods.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; and the son of magnanimous Nestor, leading the mare, placed\nit in the hands of Menelaus; but his 761 mind was cheered 762 as the\ndew [is diffused] over the ears of growing corn, when the fields are\nbristling. Thus indeed, \u039f Menelaus, was thy soul in thy breast cheered;\nand speaking, he addressed to him winged words:\n\nFootnote 761: (return)  _I.e._ Menelaus.\n\nFootnote 762: (return)  Or softened, melted. See Heyne.\n\n\u201cAntilochus, now indeed will I cease being enraged with thee, for\nformerly thou wert neither foolish nor volatile; though now youth has\nsubdued reason. Avoid a second time overreaching thy superiors; for not\nanother man of the Greeks would have easily appeased me. But thou hast\nalready suffered much, and accomplished many deeds, as well as thy good\nfather and brother, for my sake: therefore will I be persuaded by thee,\nsupplicating, and will give the mare also, although being mine; that\nthese too may perceive that my soul is never overbearing or\nunrelenting.\u201d\n\nHe spoke, and gave the steed to No\u00ebmon, the comrade of Antilochus, to\nlead away; and then he received the shining goblet [himself]. But\nMeriones, the fourth, took up the two talents of gold, in which order\nhe drove; but the fifth prize was left, 763 which Achilles, bearing\nthrough the assembly of the Greeks, gave to Nestor, and standing by\nhim, said:\n\n\u201cReceive now, and let this be a keepsake to thee, a memorial of the\nburial of Patroclus; for never more shalt thou behold him among the\nGreeks. I give this prize to thee even thus; 764 for thou indeed wilt\nnot fight with the c\u00e6stus, nor wrestle, nor engage in the contest of\nhurling the javelin, nor run on the feet, for grievous old age now\noppresses thee.\u201d\n\nFootnote 763: (return) Because Eumelus had received an extraordinary\nprize.\n\nFootnote 764: (return) _I.e._ although thou hast not shared the\ncontests. See Kennedy.\n\nThus speaking, he placed it in his hands; but he rejoicing, accepted\nit, and addressing him, spoke in winged words:\n\n\u201cAssuredly, O my son, thou hast spoken all these things aright; for no\nlonger are my limbs firm, my friend, nor my feet, nor yet do my hands\nmove pliant on each side from my shoulders. Would that I were as young,\nand my strength was firm to me, as when the Epeans buried king\nAmarynceus at Byprasium, and his sons staked the prizes of the king.\nThere no man was equal to me, neither of the Epeans, nor of the Pelians\nthemselves, nor of the magnanimous \u00c6tolians. In the c\u00e6stus I conquered\nClytomedes, the son of Enops; and in wrestling, Anc\u00e6us, the Pleuronian,\nwho rose up against me; and on foot I outstripped Iphiclus, though\nbeing excellent; and with the spear hurled beyond Phyleus and\nPolydorus. The two sons of Actor drove by me by their steeds only,\nexceeding me in number, envying me the victory, for the greatest\nrewards were left for that contest. But they were two; the one indeed\nsteadily directed the reins, whilst the other urged on with the lash.\nThus I formerly was, but now let younger men undertake such deeds, as\nit becomes me to obey sad old age, though I then excelled amongst\nheroes. But go, and celebrate thy comrade\u2019s obsequies with games. This,\nindeed, I willingly accept, and my soul rejoices that thou art ever\nmindful of me; nor am I forgotten by thee, with what honour it becomes\nme to be honoured among the Greeks. And for these things may the gods\ngive thee a proper return.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but the son of Peleus went through the great assemblage\nof the Greeks, when he had heard all the praise of Nestor. Then he\nproposed prizes for a laborious boxing-match. 765 Leading a mule,\npatient of toil, six years old, unbroken, which is most difficult to be\ntamed, he tied it in the circus; and for the conquered again he staked\na two-handled cup: then he stood up, and spoke amongst the Greeks:\n\nFootnote 765: (return)  Cf. Virg. \u00c6n. v. 365.\n\n\u201cO ye sons of Atreus, and other well-greaved Greeks, we invite two men,\nwho are very expert, raising their hands aloft, to strike for these\nwith the fist. But to whom Apollo indeed may give victory, and all the\nGreeks approve, leading away the mule, patient of labour, let him\nconduct it to his tent; but the vanquished shall bear away a double\ncup.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and immediately arose a man brave and great, skilled in\nthe art of boxing, Ep\u00ebus, son of Panopeus; and grasping the\npatient-toiling mule, said:\n\n\u201cLet him draw near, whosoever will bear away the double cup; but I\nthink that no other of the Greeks having conquered in boxing, will lead\naway the mule; for I boast myself to be the best man. Is it not enough\nthat I am inferior in battle? 766 For it is by no means possible for a\nman to be skilled in every work. For thus I tell you, and it shall be\naccomplished, I will utterly fracture his body, and also break his\nbones. And let his friends remain here assembled, who may carry him\naway vanquished by my hands.\u201d\n\nFootnote 766: (return)  \u201c_I.e._ is it not enough, that, though I am\ninferior in battle, I am superior in boxing?\u201d\u2014Oxford Transl.\n\nThus he spoke; but they were all mute, in silence. But Euryalus alone\nstood up against him, a godlike hero, son of king Mecisteus, a\ndescendant of Tala\u00efon, who formerly came to Thebes to the funeral of\nthe deceased \u0152dipus, and there vanquished all the Cadmeans. About him\nthe spear-renowned son of Tydeus was busied, encouraging him with\nwords, for he greatly wished victory to him. And first he threw around\nhim his girdle, and then gave him the well-cut thongs [made of the\nhide] of a rustic ox. But they twain, having girded themselves,\nproceeded into the middle of the circus, and both at the same time\nengaged, with their strong hands opposite, raising [them up], and their\nheavy hands were mingled. Then a horrid crashing of jaws ensued, and\nthe sweat flowed on all sides from their limbs. Then noble Ep\u00ebus rushed\nin, and smote him upon the cheek, while looking round, nor could he\nstand any longer; but his fair limbs tottered under him. And as when,\nfrom beneath the surface, rippled 767 by the north wind, a fish leaps\nout upon the weedy shore, and the dark billow covers it, so he,\nstricken, sprang up. But magnanimous Ep\u00ebus, taking [him] in his hands,\nlifted him up; and his dear comrades stood around, who conducted him\nthrough the circus on tottering feet, spitting out clotted gore, [and]\ndrooping his head on each side; and then, leading, placed him among\nthem, insensible, while they, departing, received the double cup.\n\nBut the son of Peleus quickly staked other third prizes for laborious\nwrestling, exhibiting [them] to the Greeks; for the conqueror, indeed,\na large tripod, ready for the fire, 768 which the Greeks estimated\namongst themselves at twelve oxen; and for the conquered person he\nplaced a female in the midst. She understood various works, and they\nreckoned her at four oxen. But he stood up, and spoke this speech among\nthe Greeks:\n\n\u201cArise, ye who will make trial of this contest.\u201d Thus he spoke; but\nthen arose mighty Telamonian Ajax, and wise Ulysses stood up, skilled\nin stratagems. But these two, having girded themselves, advanced into\nthe midst of the circus, and grasped each other\u2019s arms with their\nstrong hands, like the rafters 769 of a lofty dome, which a renowned\narchitect has fitted, guarding off the violence of the winds. Then\ntheir backs creaked, forcibly dragged by their powerful hands, and the\ncopious 770 sweat poured down; and thick welds, purple with blood,\narose upon their sides and shoulders. Yet always eagerly they sought\ndesired victory, for the sake of the well-made tripod. Neither could\nUlysses trip, nor throw him to the ground, nor could Ajax him, for the\nvaliant might of Ulysses hindered him. But when at length they were\nwearying the well-greaved Greeks, then mighty Telamonian Ajax addressed\nhim:\n\nFootnote 767: (return)  See Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 768: (return)  _I.e._ intended for domestic purposes, not a\nmere votive offering or ornament.\n\nFootnote 769: (return)  \u2018\u0391\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03b2\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b4\u03cc\u03ba\u03bf\u03b9 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9, \u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03ae\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2\n\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c0\u03af\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9, \u1f65\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03ae\u03bd \u1f40\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03ae\u03bd\u00b7 \u03b1\u1f35\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9.\u2014Schol.\n\nFootnote 770: (return)  See Kennedy.\n\n\u201c\u039f most noble son of La\u00ebrtes, Ulysses of many wiles, either lift up me,\nor I thee, and all these things will be a care to Jove.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he lifted him up: but yet was not Ulysses unmindful of a\nstratagem. Aiming at his ham, he struck him behind, and relaxed his\nlimbs, and threw him on his back; but Ulysses fell upon his breast;\nthen the people admiring gazed, and were stupified. Next noble,\nmuch-enduring Ulysses, lifted him in turn, and moved him a little from\nthe ground, nor did he lift him up completely; but he bent his knee;\nand both fell upon the ground near to each other, and were defiled with\ndust. And, getting up, they had surely wrestled for the third time, had\nnot Achilles himself stood up and restrained them:\n\n\u201cNo longer contend, nor exhaust yourselves with evils; for there is\nvictory to both: so depart, receiving equal rewards, in order that the\nother Greeks also may contend.\u201d Thus he spoke; but they indeed heard\nhim willingly, and obeyed; and, wiping off the dust, put on their\ntunics. But the son of Peleus immediately staked other rewards of\nswiftness, a wrought silver cup, which contained, indeed, six measures,\nbut in beauty much excelled [all] upon the whole earth, for the\ningenious Sidonians had wrought it cunningly, and Ph\u0153nician men had\ncarried it over the shadowy sea, and exposed it for sale in the\nharbours, and presented it as a gift to Thoas. Euneus, son of Jason,\nhowever, had given it to the hero Patroclus, as a ransom for Lycaon,\nson of Priam. This also Achilles offered as a new prize, to be\ncontended for, in honour of his companion, whoever should be the\nnimblest on swift feet; for the second, again, he proposed an ox, large\nand luxuriant in fat; and for the last he staked half a talent of gold.\nBut he stood upright, and spoke amongst the Greeks:\n\n\u201cArise, ye who will make trial of this contest also.\u201d Thus he spoke;\nand immediately swift Ajax, son of O\u00efleus, arose, and much-enduring\nUlysses; and after them Antilochus, son of Nestor; for he, indeed,\nexcelled all the youths in fleetness. But they stood in order, and\nAchilles pointed out the goal; and their course was stretched out from\nthe goal. 771 Then swiftly leaped forth the son of O\u00efleus; but very\nclose after him rushed noble Ulysses; as when a shuttle is at the\nbreast of a well-girdled dame, which she throws very skilfully with her\nhands, drawing out the woof, [and inserting them] into the warp, and\nholds it near her breast: so ran Ulysses near him; and with his feet\ntrod on his footsteps behind, before the dust was shed over them. But\nnoble Ulysses, constantly running swiftly, exhaled his breath upon his\nhead; and all the Greeks shouted to him, eager for victory, and\nencouraged him, hastening rapidly. But when they were now completing\ntheir last course, Ulysses forthwith prayed in his mind to azure-eyed\nMinerva:\n\nFootnote 771: (return)  See Kennedy, and on the race of the \u03b4\u03af\u03b1\u03c5\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2,\nSmith\u2019s Dict. of Antiquities.\n\n\u201cHear, O goddess, come a propitious assistant to my feet.\u201d Thus he\nspoke, praying; but Pallas Minerva heard him; and she made his limbs\nnimble, his feet and his hands above. But when they were just about to\nfly in upon the prize, then Ajax slipped, while running (for Minerva\ndid the mischief), where the dung of the deep-lowing slaughtered oxen\nwas around, which swift-footed Achilles had slain in honour of\nPatroclus. Then much-enduring, noble Ulysses took up the goblet, as he\ncame running the first; and illustrious Ajax received the ox. But he\nstood, holding the horn of the rustic ox in his hands; and, spitting\nout the dung, spoke amongst the Greeks:\n\n\u201cAlas! surely a goddess injured my feet, who ever of old stands by\nUlysses as a mother, and assists him.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and they all then laughed heartily at him. But\nAntilochus next bore away the last prize, smiling, and spoke among the\nGreeks:\n\n\u201cI will tell you all, my friends, though now knowing it, that even\nstill the immortals honour the aged. For Ajax, indeed, is a little\nolder than I am: but he is of a former generation, and former men; and\nthey say that he is of crude old age, and it is difficult for the\nGreeks to contend in swiftness with him, except for Achilles.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and praised the swift-footed son of Peleus. But\nAchilles, answering, addressed him with words:\n\n\u201cThy praise, O Antilochus, shall not be spoken in vain, but for thee I\nwill add half a talent of gold.\u201d\n\nSo saying, he placed it in his hands; and he, rejoicing, received it.\nBut the son of Peleus, bearing into the circus, laid down a long spear,\nand a shield, and helmet, the arms of Sarpedon, which Patroclus had\nstripped him of; and stood upright, and spoke amongst the Greeks:\n\n\u201cWe invite two warriors, whoever are bravest, having put; on these\narms, [and] seizing the flesh-rending brass, to make trial of each\nother before the host for these. Whoever shall be the first to wound\nthe fair flesh, and touch the entrails through the armour and black\nblood, to him, indeed, will I give this silver-studded, beautiful\nThracian sword, which I formerly took from Asterop\u00e6us. But let both\nbear away these arms in common, and before them I will place a splendid\nbanquet in my tents.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but then arose mighty Telamonian Ajax, and the son of\nTydeus, valiant Diomede rose up. But they, after they had armed apart\non either side from the ground, both came together into the midst,\neager to fight, looking dreadfully; and stupor possessed all the\nGreeks. But when approaching each other, they were near, thrice indeed\nthey rushed on, and thrice made the attack hand to hand. Then Ajax,\nindeed, pierced through his shield, equal on all sides, nor reached the\nflesh; for the corslet inside protected him. But next the son of\nTydeus, with the point of his shining spear, endeavoured to reach the\nneck, over his great shield. And then, indeed, the Greeks, fearing for\nAjax, desired them, ceasing, to take up equal rewards. The hero,\nhowever, gave the great sword to Diomede, bearing it both with the\nsheath and the well-cut belt.\n\nThen the son of Peleus deposited a rudely-molten mass of iron, which\nthe great might of E\u00ebtion used formerly to hurl. But when swift-footed,\nnoble Achilles slew him, he brought this also, with other possessions,\nin his ships. Then he stood up, and spoke amongst the Greeks:\n\n\u201cArise, you who will make trial of this contest also. Even if his rich\nfields be of very far and wide extent, using this he will have it even\nfor five revolving years; for indeed neither will his shepherd nor his\nploughman go into the city wanting iron, but [this] will furnish it.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; then up arose warlike Polyp\u0153tes, and the valiant might\nof godlike Leonteus arose; also Telamonian Ajax, and noble Ep\u00ebus arose.\nThen they stood in order; but noble Ep\u00ebus seized the mass, and,\nwhirling it round, threw it; but all the Greeks laughed at him. Next\nLeonteus, a branch of Mars, threw second; but third, mighty Telamonian\nAjax hurled with his strong hand, and cast beyond the marks of all. But\nwhen now warlike Polyp\u0153tes had seized the mass, as far as a\ncow-herdsman throws his crook, which, whirled around, flies through the\nherds of oxen, so far, through the whole stadium, did he cast beyond;\nbut they shouted aloud; and the companions of brave Polyp\u0153tes, rising\nup, bore away the prize of the king to the hollow ships.\n\nNext, for the archers, he staked iron fit for making arrows, 772 and\nlaid down ten battle-axes, and also ten demi-axes. He also set upright\nthe mast of an azure-prowed vessel, afar upon the sands; from [this] he\nfastened a timid dove by a slender cord, by the foot, at which he\nordered [them] to shoot:\n\nFootnote 772: (return)  _I.e._ well-tempered.\n\n\u201cWhosoever indeed shall strike the timid dove, taking up all the\nbattle-axes, may bear [them] to his tent; but whosoever shall hit the\ncord, missing the bird (for he is inferior), let him bear off the\ndemi-axes.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but then up rose the might of king Teucer, and up rose\nMeriones, the active attendant of Idomeneus; and taking the lots, they\nshook them in a brazen helmet. But Teucer was appointed first by lot;\nand straightway he shot an arrow strenuously, nor did he vow to\nsacrifice a celebrated hecatomb of firstling lambs to king [Apollo]. He\nmissed the bird indeed, because Apollo envied him this, but he hit the\nstring with which the bird was fastened, close to its foot; and the\nbitter arrow cut the cord quite through. Then indeed the bird ascended\ntowards heaven, but the cord was sent down towards the earth: and the\nGreeks shouted applause. But Meriones, hastening, snatched the bow from\nhis hand; and now held the arrow for a long time, as he had directed\nit; and immediately vowed to sacrifice to far-darting Apollo a noble\nhecatomb of firstling lambs. But he saw the timid dove on high beneath\nthe clouds, which, as she was turning round, he hit in the middle under\nthe wing, and the arrow pierced quite through. And it indeed again was\nfixed in the ground at the foot of Meriones: but the bird, alighting\nupon the mast of the azure-beaked galley, drooped its neck, and its\nclose wings were at the same time expanded. And swift its soul flitted\nfrom its members, and it fell far from [the mast]; but the people\nwondering, beheld, and were stupified. Then Meriones took up all the\nten battle-axes, and Teucer carried off the demi-axes to the hollow\nbarks.\n\nThen the son of Peleus indeed, bearing it into the circus, staked a\nlong spear, and also a caldron, untouched by fire, worth an ox, adorned\nwith flowers; and immediately the spearmen arose. The son of Atreus\nrose up, wide-ruling Agamemnon, and Meriones, the expert attendant of\nIdomeneus; whom also swift-footed, noble Achilles addressed:\n\n\u201cO son of Atreus, for we know how much thou dost surpass all, as well\nas how much thou excellest in strength and in the javelin, wherefore\nthou indeed mayest repair to the hollow barks, possessing this reward;\nbut let us give the spear to the hero Meriones, if, truly, thou dost\nthus wish it in thy mind; for I on my part advise it.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; nor did the king of men, Agamemnon, disobey; but he gave\nthe brazen spear to Meriones; and the hero himself gave the very\nsplendid prize to the herald Talthybius.\n\n\n\n\nBOOK THE TWENTY-FOURTH.\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nJove orders Thetis to go to Achilles, and demand the restoration of\nHector\u2019s body. Mercury is also sent to Priam, whom he guides in safety\nthrough the Grecian camp, to the tent of Achilles. A pathetic interview\nfollows, and Priam ransoms the body of his son, and obtains a twelve\ndays\u2019 truce, during which he performs his funeral obsequies.\n\n\nThe assembly was dissolved, and the people were dispersed, to go each\nto their hollow barks. They indeed took care to indulge in the banquet\nand sweet slumber; but Achilles wept, remembering his dear companion,\nnor did all-subduing sleep possess him, but he was rolled here and\nthere, longing for the vigour and valiant might of Patroclus. And\nwhatever things he had accomplished with him, and hardships he had\nsuffered, both [encountering] the battles of heroes, and measuring the\ngrievous waves, remembering these things, he shed the warm tear, lying\nat one time upon his sides, 773 at others again on his back, and at\nother times on his face; but again starting up, he wandered about in\nsadness along the shore of the sea; nor did Morn, appearing over the\nsea and the shores, escape his notice. But he, when he had harnessed\nhis fleet steeds to his chariot, bound Hector to be dragged after his\nchariot; and having drawn him thrice around the tomb of the dead son of\nMen\u0153tius, again rested in his tent; and left him there, having\nstretched him on his face in the dust. But Apollo kept off all\npollution from his body, pitying the hero, although dead; and encircled\nhim with the golden \u00e6gis, lest that, dragging, he might lacerate him.\n\nFootnote 773: (return)  Cf. Heliodor. Ethiop. vii. p. 325:  \u03b1\u03bd\u03bd\u03cd\u03c7\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2\n\u03b3\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd \u1f14\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03c4\u03bf, \u03c0\u03c5\u03ba\u03bd\u1f70 \u03bc\u1f72\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03ad\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd \u03c0\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c1\u1f70\u03bd \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c3\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c6\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1.\nChariton quotes the line of Homer, when describing the uneasy rest of a\nlove-stricken being.\n\nThus he indeed, raging, was insulting noble Hector, but the blessed\ngods, looking towards him, commiserated, and incited the watchful\nslayer of Argus to steal him away. Now, to all the rest it was\ncertainly pleasing, but by no means so to Juno, to Neptune, nor to the\nazure-eyed maid; but they were obstinate, 774 for sacred Ilium was\nodious to them from the first, and Priam and his people, on account of\nthe infatuation of Paris, who had insulted the goddesses, when they\ncame to his cottage, and preferred her who gratified his destructive\nlust. 775 But when the twelfth morning from that had arisen, then\nindeed Ph\u0153bus Apollo spoke amongst the immortals:\n\nFootnote 774: (return)  After \u1f14\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd supply \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac\u03b8\u03b5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd (with\nSchol.)=\u201c_kept their determination_.\u201d\n\nFootnote 775: (return)  Payne Knight would reject vers. 23\u201430,\nconsidering the word \u03bc\u03b1\u03c7\u03bb\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd as un-Homeric. If they are genuine,\nthey furnish the earliest mention of the judgment of Paris. Cf. Mollus\non Longus, Past. iii. 27; Intpp. on Hygin. Fab. xcii.\n\n\u201cCruel ye are, O gods, [and] injurious. Has not Hector indeed formerly\nburned for you the thighs of bulls and chosen goats? whom now, although\nbeing dead, ye will not venture to take away for his wife, and mother,\nhis son, and his father Priam, and the people to behold; who would\nquickly burn him with fire, and perform his funeral rites. But ye wish\nto bestow favour, O gods, upon destructive Achilles, to whom there is\nneither just disposition, nor flexible feelings in his breast; who is\nskilled in savage deeds, as a lion, which, yielding to the impulse of\nhis mighty strength and haughty soul, attacks the flocks of men, that\nhe may take a repast. Thus has Achilles lost all compassion, nor in him\nis there sense of shame, which greatly hurts and profits men. For\nperhaps some one will lose another more dear, either a brother, or a\nson; yet does he cease weeping and lamenting, for the Destinies have\nplaced in men an enduring mind. But this man drags godlike Hector\naround the tomb of his dear companion, binding him to his chariot,\nafter he has taken away his dear life; yet truly this is neither more\nhonourable, nor better for him. [Let him beware] lest we be indignant\nwith him, brave as he is, because, raging, he insults even the\nsenseless clay.\u201d\n\nBut him the white-armed Juno, indignant, addressed: \u201cThis truly might\nbe our language, O God of the silver bow, if now thou assignest equal\nhonour to Achilles and to Hector. Hector indeed is a mortal, and sucked\na woman\u2019s breast; but Achilles is the offspring of a goddess, whom I\nmyself both nurtured and educated, and gave as a wife to the hero\nPeleus, who is dear to the immortals in their heart: and ye were all\npresent at the nuptials, 776 O gods; and thou didst feast amongst them,\nholding thy lyre, O companion of the evil, ever faithless.\u201d\n\nBut her cloud-compelling Jove, answering, addressed:\n\n\u201c\u039f Juno, be not now completely enraged with the gods; for their honour\nshall not be at all equal: but Hector also was the dearest of mortals\nto the gods, of [those] who are in Ilium; for thus was he to me; for\nnever did he miss [offering] pleasing gifts. For never did my altar\nlack the fitting banquet, or incense, or odour: for this honour are we\nallotted. Yet let us forego to steal away bold Hector; (nor is it at\nall practicable without the knowledge of Achilles;) for he is ever by\nhim both by night and day, like as a mother. But let some of the gods\ncall Thetis near me, that to her I may tell prudent advice, in order\nthat Achilles may receive gifts from Priam, and ransom Hector.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but Iris, swift as the whirlwind, rose up, about to bear\nhis message. Half way between Samos and rugged Imbrus she plunged into\nthe dark sea, and the ocean groaned. She sank to the bottom like unto a\nleaden ball, 777 which, [placed] along the horn of a wild bull,\nentering, descends, bearing death to the raw-devouring fishes. But she\nfound Thetis in her hollow cave, and the other sea goddesses sat around\nher, assembled together; she indeed, in the midst, lamented the fate of\nher own blameless son, who was about to perish in fertile Troy, far\naway from his native land. But her swift-footed Iris, standing near,\naddressed:\n\nFootnote 776: (return)  See Grote, vol. i. p. 257.\n\nFootnote 777: (return)  The only clear explanation of this passage\nseems to be that of the traveller Clarke, quoted by Kennedy, as\nfollows: \u201cThe Greeks in fishing let their line, with the lead at the\nend, run over a piece of horn fixed at the side of the boat,\u201d to\nprevent, as Kennedy remarks, the wear from friction. Pollux, x. 30, 31,\nmerely mentions the \u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03c5\u03b2\u03b4\u03b1\u03af\u03bd\u03b7 among the implements of fishermen; but\nsays nothing of the manner in which it was used.\n\n\u201cRise, O Thetis; Jove, skilled in imperishable counsels, calls thee.\u201d\n\nHer then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered:\n\n\u201cWhy does that mighty god call me? I am ashamed to mix with the\nimmortals, for I have innumerable griefs in my soul. Yet must I go; for\nthe word which he utters will not be in vain.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, the divine one of goddesses took her dark robe,\nthan which no garment is blacker. And she set out to go, whilst\nwind-footed, fleet Iris led the way; and the water of the sea retired\non each side of them. 778 Next ascending the shore, they were impelled\nup to heaven. They found the far-sounding son of Saturn; and all the\nother blessed immortal gods sat assembled around him; but she then sat\ndown beside father Jove, and Minerva gave place to her. Then Juno\nplaced a beautiful golden goblet in her hand, and consoled her with\nwords; and Thetis having drunk, returned it. But to them the father of\nmen and gods began discourse:\n\n\u201cThou hast come to Olympus, although sad, \u039f goddess Thetis, having in\nthy mind a grief not to be forgotten; and I know it. Yet even thus will\nI speak, and on this account have I called thee hither. Nine days has a\ncontest already been excited amongst the immortals respecting the body\nof Hector, and Achilles the destroyer of cities, and they have urged\nthe watchful slayer of Argus to steal him. But I bestow this glory 779\non Achilles, securing for the future thy respect and love. Descend very\nspeedily to the camp, and give orders to thy son. Tell him that the\ngods are offended, and that I am angry above all the immortals, because\nwith infuriated mind he detains Hector at the crooked barks, nor has\nreleased him: if perchance he will revere me, and restore Hector.\nMeanwhile I will despatch Iris to magnanimous Priam, that, going to the\nships of the Greeks, he may ransom his beloved son, and carry offerings\nto Achilles, which may melt his soul.\u201d\n\nFootnote 778: (return)  \u201cAt Il. \u03c8. 231:  \u03b7\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03b4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b4\u2019 \u03ac\u03c0\u1f78 \u03c0\u03c5\u03c1\u03ba\u03b1\u0390\u03b7\u03c2\n\u1f11\u03c4\u03ad\u03c1\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5 \u03bb\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03c2, _going away, or aside from the pyre_. And so \u03bd\u03cc\u03c3\u03c6\u03b9\n\u03bb\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5\u03af\u03c2, II. \u03b1. 349, \u03bb. 80. One of the plainest instances of the same\nsense is at Il. \u03c9. 96, of the waves, which _make way_ for the goddesses\nas they rise from the depths of the sea, which _turn aside_, and yield\nthem a passage.\u201d\u2014Buttm. Lexil. p. 404.\n\nFootnote 779: (return)  \u201cThe sense is: _I have not sanctioned the\nproposal that the body of Hector should be removed furtively, in order\nthat an opportunity might be offered to Achilles of receiving a ransom\nfor it, which would redound to his glory_.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\nThus he spoke; nor did the silver-footed goddess Thetis disobey; but,\nrushing impetuously, she descended down from the tops of Olympus. Then\nshe came to the tent of her son, and found him within, moaning\ncontinually, whilst around him his dear comrades were busily occupied,\nand prepared a feast, for a great thick-fleeced sheep had been\nslaughtered by them in the tent. But his venerable mother sat down very\nnear him, and caressed him with her hand, and spoke, and addressed him:\n\n\u201cO my son, how long, grieving and bewailing, wilt thou afflict thine\nheart, being not at all mindful of either food or bed? But it is good\nto be mingled in love with a woman; for thou shalt not live long for\nme, but Death and stern Fate already stand near thee. But quickly\nattend to me, for I am a messenger to thee from Jove. He says that the\ngods are angry with thee, and that he himself above all the immortals\nis enraged, because with furious mind thou detainest Hector at the\nhollow ships, nor dost release him. But come, release him, and receive\nransoms for the dead body.\u201d\n\nBut her swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed:\n\n\u201cLet him approach hither, who may bear the ransoms, and bear away the\nbody, if indeed the Olympian himself now commands it with a serious\nmind.\u201d Thus they indeed, the mother and the son, amongst the assemblage\nof the ships, spoke many winged words to each other; but the son of\nSaturn impelled Iris towards sacred Ilium:\n\n\u201cGo quickly, fleet Iris, having left the seat of Olympus, order\nmagnanimous Priam to ransom his dear son to Ilium, going to the ships\nof the Greeks; and to carry gifts to Achilles, which may appease his\nmind, alone; nor let another man of the Trojans go with him. Let some\naged herald accompany him, who may guide his mules and well-wheeled\nchariot, and may bear back to the city the dead body which noble\nAchilles has slain; nor let death at all be a cause of anxiety to his\nmind, nor at all a terror; such a conductor, the slayer of Argus, will\nwe give to him, who shall lead him, until, directing, he shall place\nhim beside Achilles. But when he shall have conducted him into the tent\nof Achilles, he will not kill him himself, and he will ward off all\nothers; for he is neither imprudent, nor rash, nor profane; but will\nvery humanely spare a suppliant man.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but wind-footed Iris rushed on, about to carry her\nmessage. She came to [the palace] of Priam, and found wailing and\nlamentation. His sons, sitting around their father within the hall,\nwere drenching their robes with tears; whilst the old man sat in the\nmidst, covered entirely 780 with a cloak; but much filth was around\nupon the head and neck of the aged man, which, while rolling [on the\nground], he had abundantly collected 781 with his own hands. But his\ndaughters and daughters-in-law throughout the dwelling lamented,\nremembering those who, many and brave, lay, having lost their lives by\nthe hands of the Greeks. Then the ambassadress of Jove stood beside\nPriam, and addressed him in an under-tone; and tremor seized him as to\nhis limbs:\n\n\u201cTake courage, O Dardanian Priam, in thy mind, nor fear at all; for\nindeed I come not hither boding 782 evil to thee, but meditating good;\nfor I am an ambassadress from Jove to thee, who, though being far off,\ngreatly cares for and pities thee. The Olympian bids thee ransom noble\nHector, and bear presents to Achilles, which may melt his soul; thee\nalone, nor let another man of the Trojans go with thee. But let some\naged herald accompany thee, who may guide thy mules and well-wheeled\nchariot, and bring back to the city the dead which noble Achilles has\nslain. Nor let death be a cause of anxiety to thy mind, nor fear at all\nsuch a conductor; the slayer of Argus shall attend thee, who shall lead\nthee, until, guiding, he shall bring thee near Achilles. But when he\nshall have led thee into the tent of Achilles, he will not slay thee\nhimself, and he will ward off all others; for he is neither imprudent,\nnor rash, nor profane; but will very humanely spare a suppliant man.\u201d\n\nFootnote 780: (return)  I take \u03ad\u03bd\u03c4\u03c5\u03c0\u1f70\u03c2 adverbially, with Eustathius, p.\n1474, and understand that he was \u201cso completely enfolded, as to exhibit\nthe entire contour of his person\u201d (Kennedy), with the Schol. Hesych.\nt.i.p. 1264. Phavorinus, Suidas, and the Schol. on Appoll. Rh. 264.\nErnesti well expresses the idea: \u201c\u1f18\u03bd\u03c4\u03c5\u03c0\u1f70\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b5\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03c5\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 est, qui ita\nadstrinxit vestem, eique se involvit, ut tota corporis figura appareat,\nquod secus est in toga et pallio aut stola.\u201d\n\nFootnote 781: (return)  Literally, \u201creaped, cropped.\u201d\n\nFootnote 782: (return)  See Buttmann, Lexii. p. 445\n\nThus having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed. But he ordered his sons\nto prepare his well-wheeled mule-drawn chariot, and to tie a chest upon\nit; but he descended into an odoriferous chamber of cedar,\nlofty-roofed, which contained many rarities, and called in his wife\nHecuba, and said:\n\n\u201cUnhappy one, an Olympian messenger has come to me from Jove, [that I\nshould] ransom my dear son, going to the ships of the Greeks, and\nshould bear gifts to Achilles, which may melt his soul. But come, tell\nthis to me, what does it appear to thee in thy mind? For my strength\nand courage vehemently urge me myself to go thither to the ships, into\nthe wide army of the Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke: but his spouse wept, and answered him in words:\n\n\u201cAh me, where now is thy prudence gone, for which thou wast formerly\ndistinguished among foreigners, and among those whom thou dost govern?\nWhy dost thou wish to go alone to the ships of the Greeks, before the\neyes of the man who slew thy many and brave sons? Certainly an iron\nheart is thine. For if this cruel and perfidious man shall take and\nbehold 783 thee with his eyes, he will not pity thee, nor will he at\nall respect thee. But let us now lament him apart, 784 sitting in the\nhall; but [let it be] as formerly to him, at his birth violent fate\nspun his thread, when I brought him forth, that he should satiate the\nswift-footed dogs at a distance from his own parents, with that fierce\nman, the very middle of whose liver I wish that I had hold of, that,\nclinging to it, I might devour it; then would the deeds done against my\nson be repaid; for he did not slay him behaving as a coward, but\nstanding forth in defence of the Trojan men and deep-bosomed Trojan\ndames, neither mindful of flight nor of receding.\u201d\n\nFootnote 783: (return)  A somewhat awkward inversion of the sense.\n\nFootnote 784: (return)  _I.e._ without the body of Hector being at\nhand.\n\nBut her again the aged, godlike Priam addressed:\n\n\u201cDo not detain me, desirous to go, nor be thou thyself an evil-omen\nbird in my palaces; nor shalt thou persuade me. For if indeed any other\nof earthly beings had ordered me, whether they be prophets,\nsoothsayers, or priests, we might have pronounced it a falsehood, and\nbeen the more averse. But now since I myself have heard it from a\ndeity, and have beheld her face to face, I will go, nor shall this word\nbe vain and if it be my fate to die at the ships of the brazen-mailed\nGreeks, I am willing; for Achilles will forthwith, slay me, embracing\nmy son in my arms, after I have taken away the desire of weeping.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; and opened the beautiful lids of the chests, and took out\nthence twelve beautiful mantles, twelve single cloaks, as many\ntapestried rugs, and, in addition to these, as many tunics; and having\nweighed it, he took out ten whole talents of gold. He took out beside\ntwo glittering tripods, and four goblets, and a very beautiful cup,\nwhich the Thracian men had given him when going on an embassy, a mighty\npossession. Nor now did the old man spare even this in his palaces; for\nhe greatly wished in his mind to ransom his dear son. And he drove away\nall the Trojans from his porch, chiding them with reproachful words:\n\n\u201cDepart, wretched, reproachful [creatures]; is there not indeed grief\nto you at home, that ye should come fretting me? Or do ye esteem it of\nlittle consequence that Jove, the son of Saturn, has sent sorrows upon\nme, that I should have lost my bravest son? But ye too shall perceive\nit, for ye will be much more easy for the Greeks to destroy now, he\nbeing dead; but I will descend even to the abode of Hades, before I\nbehold with mine eyes the city sacked and plundered.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; and chased away the men with his staff; but they went out,\nthe old man driving [them]. He indeed rebuked his own sons, reviling\nHelenus, Paris, and godlike Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonus, and Polites,\nbrave in the din of battle, De\u00efphobus, Hippothous, and renowned Dius.\nTo these nine the old man, reproaching, gave orders:\n\n\u201cHaste for me, O slothful children, disgraceful; would that you had all\nbeen slain at the swift ships, instead of Hector. Ah me! the most\nunhappy of all, since I have begotten the bravest sons in wide Troy;\nbut none of whom I think is left: godlike Mestor, and Troulus, who\nfought from his chariot, and Hector, who was a god among men, for he\ndid not appear to be the son of a mortal man, but of a god. These\nindeed has Mars destroyed to me; but all these disgraces remain, liars,\ndancers, 785 most skilled in the choirs, and public robbers of lambs\nand kids. Will ye not with all haste get ready my chariot, and place\nall these things upon it, that we may perform our journey?\u201d\n\nFootnote 785: (return)  Cicero pro Mur\u00e6na, vi., \u201cSaltatorem appellat L.\nMur\u00e6nam Cato Maledictum est, si vere objicitur, vehementis\naccusatoris.\u201d Cf. \u00c6n. ix. 614.\n\nThus he spoke; but they, dreading the reproach of their father, lifted\nout the well-wheeled, mule-drawn chariot, beautiful, newly built, and\ntied the chest 786 upon it. They then took down the yoke for the mules\nfrom the pin, made of box-wood, and embossed, well fitted with rings,\nand then they brought out the yoke-band, nine cubits in length, along\nwith the yoke. And this indeed they adjusted carefully to the pole at\nits extremity, and threw the ring over the bolt. Thrice they lapped it\non either side to the boss; and when they had fastened, they turned it\nevenly under the bend; then, bearing the inestimable ransoms of\nHector\u2019s head from the chamber, they piled them upon the well-polished\ncar. Then they yoked the strong-hoofed mules, patient in labour, which\nthe Mysians formerly gave to Priam, splendid gifts. They also led under\nthe yoke for Priam, the horses, which the old man himself had fed at\nthe well-polished manger. These indeed the herald and Priam yoked in\nthe lofty palace, having prudent counsels in their minds. But near them\ncame Hecuba, with sad mind, bearing sweet wine in her right hand, in a\ngolden goblet, in order that having made libations, they might depart.\nBut she stood before the steeds, and spoke, and addressed them:\n\n\u201cTake, 787 offer a libation to father Jove, and pray that thou mayest\nreturn home again from the hostile men; since indeed thy mind urges\nthee to the ships, I at least not being willing. But do thou pray now\nto the dark, cloud-compelling Id\u00e6an son of Saturn, who looks down upon\nall Troy; but seek the fleet bird, his messenger, which to him is the\nmost pleasing of birds, and whose strength is very great, on thy right\nhand, so that, marking him thyself with thine eyes, thou mayest go,\nrelying on him, to the ships of the fleet-horsed Greeks. But if\nwide-viewing Jove will not give thee his own messenger, I would not at\nall then, urging, advise thee to go to the ships of the Greeks, though\nvery eager.\u201d\n\nFootnote 786: (return)  A kind of wicker hamper. Cf. Hesych. t. ii. p.\n921.\n\nFootnote 787: (return)  See \u03be. 219.\n\nBut her godlike Priam answering, addressed:\n\n\u201cO spouse, certainly I will not disobey thee, advising this; for it is\ngood to raise one\u2019s hands to Jove, if perchance he may compassionate\nme.\u201d\n\nThe old man spoke, and bade the attending servant pour pure water upon\nhis hands; for a handmaid stood by, holding in her hands a basin, and\nalso an ewer; and having washed himself, he took the goblet from his\nwife. Then he prayed, standing in the midst of the enclosure, and\npoured out a libation of wine, looking towards heaven; and raising his\nvoice, spoke:\n\n\u201cO father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most great, grant me to\ncome acceptable and pitied to [the tent] of Achilles; and send the\nswift bird, thy messenger, which is the most agreeable of birds to\nthee, and whose strength is very great, on my right hand; that I\nmyself, perceiving him with my eyes, may go, relying on him, to the\nships of the fleet-horsed Greeks.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke, praying; but to him provident Jove hearkened, and\nimmediately sent an eagle, the Black Hunter, the most certain augury of\nbirds, which they also call Percnos. 788 As large as the well-bolted,\nclosely-fitted door of the lofty-roofed chamber of a wealthy man, so\ngreat were its wings on each side; and it appeared to them, rushing on\nthe right hand over the city. But they, having seen it, rejoiced, and\nthe soul was overjoyed in their bosoms. Then the old man, hastening,\nmounted his polished car, and drove out of the vestibule and\nmuch-echoing porch. Before, indeed, the mules drew the four-wheeled\ncar, which prudent Id\u00e6us drove; but after [came] the horses, which the\nold man cheered on, driving briskly through the city with his lash; but\nall his friends accompanied, greatly weeping for him, as if going to\ndeath. But when they had descended from the city, and reached the\nplain, his sons and sons-in-law then returned to Ilium. Nor did these\ntwo, advancing on the plain, escape the notice of far-seeing Jove; but,\nseeing the old man, he pitied him, and straightway addressed his\nbeloved son:\n\nFootnote 788: (return)  See Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. pp. 622, 941;\nVillois on Apoll. Lex. p. 556.\n\n\u201cO Mercury (for to thee it is peculiarly grateful to associate with\nman, and thou hearest whomsoever thou art willing), go now, and so\nconvey Priam to the hollow ships of the Greeks, that neither any one\nmay see him, nor indeed any of the other Greeks perceive him until he\nreach the son of Peleus.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; nor did the messenger, the son of Argus. disobey. 789\nImmediately then he fastened under his feet his beautiful sandals,\nambrosial, golden, which carry him as well over the sea, as over the\nboundless earth, with the blasts of the wind. He also took his rod,\nwith which he soothes the eyes of those men whom he wishes, and again\nexcites others who are asleep; holding this in his hands, the powerful\nslayer of Argus flew along. But he immediately reached the Troad and\nthe Hellespont, and hastened to go, like unto a princely youth, first\nspringing into youth, whose youth is very graceful. And they, when they\nhad driven by the great tomb of Ilus, stopped their mules and horses,\nthat they might drink in the river; for even now twilight had come over\nthe earth. But the herald, spying, observed Mercury near, and addressed\nPriam, and said:\n\nFootnote 789: (return)  Compare Milton, P.L. v. 285, sqq., with\nNewton\u2019s note.\n\n\u201cBeware, O descendant of Dardanus; this is matter for prudent thought.\nI perceive a warrior, and I think that he will soon destroy us. But\ncome, let us fly upon our steeds; or let us now, grasping his knees,\nentreat him, if he would pity us.\u201d Thus he spoke, but the mind of the\nold man was confounded, and he greatly feared; but the hair stood\nupright on his bending limbs. And he stood stupified; but Mercury\nhimself coming near, taking the old man\u2019s hand, interrogated, and\naddressed him:\n\n\u201cWhither, O father, dost thou this way direct thy horses and mules\nduring the ambrosial night, when other mortals are asleep? Dost thou\nnot fear the valour-breathing Greeks, who, enemies and hostile to thee,\nare at hand? If any one of these should see thee in the dark and\ndangerous night, bearing off so many valuables, what intention would\nthen be towards thee? Neither art thou young thyself, and this [is] an\nold man who accompanies thee, to repel a warrior when first any may\nmolest thee. But I will not do thee injury, but will avert another from\nthee, for I think thee like my dear father.\u201d\n\nBut him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered:\n\n\u201cSurely these things are as thou sayest, my dear son. But hitherto some\none of the gods has protected me with his hand, who has sent such a\nfavourable conductor to meet me, so beautiful art thou in form and\nappearance. And thou art also prudent in mind, and of blessed parents.\u201d\nBut him again the messenger, the slayer of Argus, addressed: \u201cO old\nman, thou hast certainly spoken all these things with propriety. But\ncome, tell me this, and relate it truly; whither now dost thou send so\nmany and such valuable treasures amongst foreigners? Whether that\nthese, at least, may remain safe to thee? Or do ye all, now fearing,\ndesert sacred Ilium? For so brave a hero, was he who died, thy son; he\nwas not in aught inferior to the Greeks in battle.\u201d\n\nBut him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered:\n\n\u201cBut who art thou, O best one, and of what parents art thou, who\nspeakest so honourably to me of the death of my luckless son?\u201d\n\nBut him again the messenger, the slayer of Argus, addressed:\n\n\u201cThou triest me, old man. and inquirest concerning noble Hector; whom\nI, indeed, have very often beheld with mine eyes in the glorious fight,\nwhen, routing the Greeks, he slew them at their ships, destroying\n[them] with his sharp spear; but we, standing, marvelled; for Achilles,\nenraged with the son of Atreus, did not permit us to fight. But I am\nhis attendant, and the same well-made vessel brought us. I am [one] of\nthe Myrmidons; Polyetor is my father, who, indeed, is rich, but now old\nas thou. To him there are six sons, but I am his seventh; with whom\ncasting lots, the lot occurred to me to follow [Achilles] hither. And I\ncame to the plain from the ships, for at dawn the rolling-eyed Greeks\nwill raise a fight around the city. For they are indignant sitting\nquiet, nor can the chiefs of the Greeks restrain them, longing for\nwar.\u201d\n\nBut him then Priam, the godlike old man, answered:\n\n\u201cIf indeed thou art one of the servants of Achilles, the son of Peleus,\ncome now, tell all the truth to me, whether is my son still at the\nships, or has Achilles, tearing him limb from limb, cast him to the\ndogs?\u201d\n\nBut him the messenger, the slayer of Argus, again addressed:\n\n\u201cO old man, neither have the dogs yet devoured him, nor the birds, but\nhe still lies at the ship of Achilles, in the same plight as before, at\nhis tents; and it is [now] the twelfth morning him lying, yet his body\nis not at all putrid, nor do the worms devour him, which consume men\nslain in battle. Doubtless he will drag him cruelly around the tomb of\nhis dear companion when divine morn appears; but he does not defile\nhim. Approaching, thou indeed thyself wouldst wonder how fresh 790 he\nlies, while the blood is washed away from around, nor [is he] polluted\nin any part. But all his wounds are closed, whatever were inflicted;\nfor many thrust a spear into him. Thus do the happy gods regard thy\nson, though dead; for he was dear to them in their heart.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but the old man rejoiced, and answered in words:\n\n\u201cO son, surely it is good to give due gifts to the immortals, for my\nson, while he was yet in being, never neglected the gods who possess\nOlympus, in his palace; therefore are they mindful of him, although in\nthe fate of death. But come now, accept from me this beautiful goblet;\nprotect myself, 791 and, with the favour of the gods, conduct me until\nI come into the tent of the son of Peleus.\u201d\n\nFootnote 790: (return)  Literally, \u201cdew-like,\u201d See Kennedy.\n\nFootnote 791: (return)  Heyne prefers, \u201ceffect for me the ransom of the\nbody,\u201d quoting Hesych., \u1fe5\u03cd\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, \u03bb\u03bf\u03c4\u03c1\u03ce\u03c3\u03b1\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9.\n\nBut him the slayer of Argus again addressed: \u201cOld man, thou triest me,\n[being] younger; nor wilt thou now persuade me; thou who orderest me to\naccept thy gifts unknown to Achilles; whom indeed I dread, and scruple\nin my heart to plunder, lest some evil should afterwards come upon me.\nYet would I go as a conductor to thee even to renowned Argos,\nsedulously, in a swift ship, or accompanying thee on foot; nor, indeed,\nwould any one contend with thee, despising thy guide.\u201d\n\nMercury spoke, and, leaping upon the chariot and horses, quickly took\nthe scourge and the reins in his hands, and breathed bold vigour into\nthe horses and mules. But when they had now reached the ramparts and\ntrench of the ships, then the guards were just employed about their\nfeast, and the messenger, the slayer of Argus, poured sleep upon them\nall; and immediately he opened the gates and pushed back the bars, and\nled in Priam, and the splendid gifts upon the car. But when they\nreached the lofty tent of Achilles which the Myrmidons had reared for\ntheir king, lopping fir timbers; and they roofed it over with a\nthatched roof, mowing it from the mead, and made a great fence around,\nwith thick-set stakes, for their king: one bar only of fir held the\ndoor, which, indeed, three Greeks used to fasten, and three used to\nopen the great fastening of the gates; but Achilles even alone used to\nshoot it. Then, indeed, profitable Mercury opened it for the old man,\nand led in the splendid presents to swift-footed Achilles; then he\ndescended to the ground, from the chariot, and said:\n\n\u201cO old man, I indeed come, an immortal god, Mercury, to thee; for to\nthee my father sent me as companion. Yet shall I return indeed, nor be\npresent before the eyes of Achilles; for it would indeed be invidious\nfor an immortal god so openly to aid mortals. But do thou, entering,\nclasp the knees of the son of Peleus, and supplicate him by his father,\nand fair-haired mother, and his son; that thou mayest effect his mind.\u201d\n\nThus, indeed, having spoken, Mercury went to lofty Olympus; and Priam\nleaped from his chariot to the ground, and left Id\u00e6us there: but he\nremained, guarding the steeds and mules; while the old man went\nstraight into the tent, where Achilles, dear to Jove, was sitting.\nHimself he found within; but his companions sat apart; but two alone,\nthe hero Automedon, and Alcimus, a branch of Mars, standing near, were\nministering to him (for, eating and drinking, he had just ceased from\nfood, and the table still remained); but great Priam, entering, escaped\nhis notice, and, standing near, he clasped the knees of Achilles with\nhis hands, and kissed his dreadful man-slaughtering hands, which had\nslain many sons to him. And as when a dread sense of guilt has seized a\nman, who, having killed a man in his own country, comes to another\npeople, to [the abode of] some wealthy man, 792 and stupor possesses\nthe spectators; so Achilles wondered, seeing godlike Priam; and the\nothers also wondered, and looked at one another. And Priam,\nsupplicating, spoke [this] speech:\n\nFootnote 792: (return)  Probably for the purpose of purification,\nalthough, as has been before observed, Homer does not mention this.\nCompare my note on \u00c6sch. Eum. p. 187, n. 5, and p. 187, n. 1, ed. Bonn.\n\n\u201cRemember thy own father, O Achilles, like unto the gods, of equal age\nwith me, upon the sad threshold of old age. And perhaps indeed his\nneighbours around are perplexing him, nor is there any one to ward off\nwar and destruction. Yet he indeed, hearing of thee being alive, both\nrejoices in his mind, and every day expects to see his dear son\nreturned from Troy. But I [am] every way unhappy, for I begat the\nbravest sons in wide Troy, of whom I say that none are left. Fifty\nthere were to me, when the sons of the Greeks arrived; nineteen indeed\nfrom one womb, but the others women bore to me in my palaces. And of\nthe greater number fierce Mars indeed has relaxed the knees under them;\nbut Hector, who was my favourite, 793 and defended the city and\nourselves, thou hast lately slain, fighting for his country; on account\nof whom I now come to the ships of the Greeks, and bring countless\nransoms, in order to redeem him from thee. But revere the gods, O\nAchilles, and have pity on myself, remembering thy father; for I am\neven more miserable, for I have endured what no other earthly mortal\n[has], to put to my mouth the hand of a man, the slayer of my son.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but in him he excited the desire of mourning for his\nfather; and taking him by the hand, he gently pushed the old man from\nhim. But they indeed, calling to mind, the one 794 wept copiously [for]\nman-slaughtering Hector, rolling [on the ground] before the feet of\nAchilles; but Achilles bewailed his father, and again in turn\nPatroclus; and their lamentation was aroused throughout the house. But\nwhen noble Achilles had satiated himself with grief, and the desire\n[for weeping] had departed from his heart and limbs, immediately rising\nfrom his seat, he lifted up the old man with his hand, compassionating\nboth his hoary head and hoary chin; and, addressing him, spoke winged\nwords:\n\nFootnote 793: (return)  Literally, \u201cmy only son.\u201d\n\nFootnote 794: (return)  Priam.\n\n\u201cAlas! wretched one, thou hast certainly suffered many evils in thy\nmind. How hast thou dared to come alone to the ships of the Greeks,\ninto the sight of the man who slew thy many and brave sons? Assuredly\nthy heart is iron. But come now, sit upon a seat; and let us permit\nsorrows to sink to rest within thy mind, although grieved; for there is\nnot any use in chill grief. For so have the gods destined to unhappy\nmortals, that they should live wretched; but they themselves are free\nfrom care. 795 Two casks of gifts, 796which he bestows, lie at the\nthreshold of Jupiter, [the one] of evils, and the other of good. To\nwhom thunder-rejoicing Jove, mingling, may give them, sometimes he\nfalls into evil, but sometimes into good; but to whomsoever he gives of\nthe evil, he makes him exposed to injury; and hungry calamity pursues\nhim over the bounteous earth; and he wanders about, honoured neither by\ngods nor men. So indeed have the gods given illustrious gifts to Peleus\nfrom his birth; for he was conspicuous among men, both for riches and\nwealth, and he ruled over the Myrmidons, and to him, being a mortal,\nthey gave a goddess for a wife. 797 But upon him also has a deity\ninflicted evil, for there was not to him in his palaces an offspring of\nkingly sons; but he begat one short-lived son; nor indeed do I cherish\nhim, being old, for I remain in Troy, far away from my country, causing\nsorrow to thee and to thy sons. Thee too, old man, we learn to have\nbeen formerly wealthy: as much as Lesbos, above the seat of Macar, cuts\noff on the north, and Phrygia beneath, and the boundless Hellespont:\namong these, O old man, they say that thou wast conspicuous for thy\nwealth and thy sons. But since the heavenly inhabitants have brought\nthis bane upon thee, wars and the slaying of men are constantly around\nthy city. Arise, nor grieve incessantly in thy mind; for thou wilt not\nprofit aught, afflicting thyself for thy son, nor wilt thou resuscitate\nhim before thou hast suffered another misfortune.\u201d\n\nFootnote 795: (return)  This Epicurean sentiment is illustrated with\ngreat learning by Duport, pp. 140, sqq.\n\nFootnote 796: (return)  See Duport, pp. 142, sqq.\n\nFootnote 797: (return)  Catullus, lxii. 25: \u201cTeque adeo eximie t\u00e6dis\nfelicibus aucte Thessali\u00e6 columen Peleu, quoi Juppiter ipse, Ipse suos\ndiv\u00fbm genitor concessit amores.\u201d\n\nBut him Priam, the godlike old man, then, answered:\n\n\u201cDo not at all place me on a seat, \u039f Jove-nurtured, whilst Hector lies\nunburied in thy tents; but redeem him as soon as possible, that I may\nbehold him with mine eyes; and do thou receive the many ransoms which\nwe bring thee; and mayest thou enjoy them, and reach thy father-land,\nsince thou hast suffered me in the first place to live, and to behold\nthe light of the sun.\u201d\n\nBut him swift-footed Achilles, sternly regarding, then addressed:\n\n\u201cDo not irritate me further, old man, for I also myself meditate\nransoming Hector to thee; for the mother who bore me, the daughter of\nthe marine old man, came as a messenger from Jove to me. And I perceive\nthee also, O Priam, in my mind, nor do thou deceive me, that some one\nof the gods has led thee to the swift ships of the Greeks; for a mortal\nwould not have dared to come into the camp, not even in very blooming\nyouth, for he could not have escaped the guards, nor indeed pushed back\nthe bars of our gates. Wherefore do not move my mind more to sorrows,\nlest I leave thee not unharmed, old man, in my tents, though being a\nsuppliant, and violate the commands of Jove.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but the old man feared, and obeyed. But the son of\nPeleus leaped forth, like a lion, from the door of the house, not\nalone; for two attendants accompanied him, the hero Automedon, and\nAlcimus, whom Achilles honoured most of his companions next after the\ndeceased Patroclus. These then unharnessed the horses and mules from\nthe yoke, and led in the clear-voiced herald of the old man, and placed\nhim upon a seat. They also took down from the well-polished car the\ncountless ransoms of Hector\u2019s head. But they left two cloaks and a\nwell-woven tunic, in order that, having covered the body, he might give\nit to be borne home. But having called his female attendants, he\nordered them to wash and anoint all round, taking it apart, that Priam\nmight not see his son; lest, seeing his son, he might not restrain the\nwrath in his grieving heart, and might arouse the soul of Achilles, and\nhe might slay him, and violate the commands of Jove. But when the\nservants had washed and anointed it with oil, they then threw over him\na beautiful cloak, and a tunic; then Achilles himself, having raised\nhim up, placed him upon a litter, and his companions, together with\n[him], lifted him upon the well-polished chariot. But he moaned, and\ncalled upon his dear companion by name:\n\n\u201cO Patroclus, be not wrathful with me, if thou shouldst hear, although\nbeing in Hades, that I have ransomed noble Hector to his beloved\nfather, since he has not given me unworthy ransoms. Besides even of\nthese will I give thee a share, whatever is just.\u201d\n\nNoble Achilles spoke, and returned into the tent, and sat down upon a\nwell-made couch, whence he had risen, at the opposite wall, and\naddressed Priam:\n\n\u201cThy son is indeed redeemed to thee, as thou didst desire, and lies\nupon a bier; and with the early dawn thou shalt behold him, conveying\n[him away]: but now let us be mindful of the feast; for even\nfair-haired Niobe was mindful of food, although twelve children\nperished in her palaces, six daughters and six youthful sons; these\nindeed Apollo slew with his silver bow, enraged with Niobe; but those,\narrow-rejoicing Diana, because, forsooth, she had compared herself with\nfair-cheeked Latona. She said that [Latona] had borne [only] two,\nwhereas she had borne many; yet those, though being only two, destroyed\nall [her own]. Nine days indeed they lay in blood, nor was there any\none to bury them, for the son of Saturn had made the people stones; but\nupon the tenth day the heavenly gods interred them. Still was she\nmindful of food, when she was fatigued with weeping. Now, indeed, ever\namidst the rocks, in the desert mountains, in Sipylus, where, they say,\nthe beds of the goddess Nymphs are, who lead the dance around Achelo\u00fcs,\nthere, although being a stone, she broods over the sorrows [sent] from\nthe gods. But come now, O noble old man, let us likewise attend to\nfood, but afterwards thou mayest lament thy beloved son, conveying him\ninto Troy; and he will be bewailed by thee with many tears.\u201d\n\nSwift Achilles spoke, and leaping up, slew a white sheep, and his\ncompanions flayed it well, and fitly dressed it; then they skilfully\ncut it in pieces, pierced them with spits, roasted them diligently, and\ndrew them all off. Then Automedon, taking bread, distributed it over\nthe table in beautiful baskets; whilst Achilles helped the meat, and\nthey stretched out their hands to the prepared victuals lying before\nthem. But when they had dismissed the desire of food and drink,\nDardanian Priam indeed marvelled at Achilles, such and so great; for he\nwas like unto the gods; but Achilles marvelled at Dardanian Priam,\nseeing his amiable countenance, and hearing his conversation. When,\nhowever, they were satisfied with gazing at each other, him Priam, the\ngodlike old man, first addressed:\n\n\u201cSend me now to rest as soon as possible, \u039f Jove-nurtured, that we,\nreclining, may take our fill of sweet sleep; for never have these eyes\nbeen closed beneath my eyelids from the time when my son lost his life\nby thy hands; but I ever lament and cherish many woes, rolling in the\ndust within the enclosures of my palaces. But now I have tasted food,\nand poured sweet wine down my throat; for before indeed I had not\ntasted it.\u201d\n\nHe spoke; but Achilles ordered his companions, servants, and maids, to\nplace couches beneath the porch, and to spread beautiful purple mats on\nthem, and to strew embroidered carpets over them, and to lay on them\nwell-napped cloaks, to be drawn over all. But they went out of the\nhall, having a torch in their hands, and hastening, they quickly spread\ntwo couches. But the swift-footed Achilles, jocularly addressing him,\n798 said:\n\nFootnote 798: (return)  \u201cAchilles, in a mood partly jocular and partly\nserious, reminds Priam of the real circumstances of his situation, not\nfor the sake of alarming him, but of accounting for his choosing the\nplace he did for the couch of the aged king.\u201d\u2014Kennedy.\n\n\u201cDo you lie without, O revered old man, lest some counsellor of the\nGreeks come hither, who, sitting with me, constantly meditate plans, as\nis just. If any of these should see thee in the dark and dangerous\nnight, he would forthwith tell Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people,\nand perchance there would be a delay of the redemption of the body. But\ncome, tell me this, and tell it accurately: How many days dost thou\ndesire to perform the funeral rites of noble Hector, that I may myself\nremain quiet so long, and restrain the people?\u201d\n\nBut him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered:\n\n\u201cIf indeed thou desirest me to celebrate the funeral of noble Hector,\nthus doing, O Achilles, thou dost surely gratify me. For thou knowest\nhow we are hemmed in within the city, and it is far to carry wood from\nthe mountain; and the Trojans greatly dread [to do so]. Nine days\nindeed we would lament him in our halls, but on the tenth would bury\nhim, and the people should feast; but upon the eleventh we would make a\ntomb to him, and on the twelfth we will fight, if necessary.\u201d But him\nswift-footed Achilles again addressed:\n\n\u201cThese things shall be to thee, O aged Priam, as thou desirest; for I\nwill prevent the fight as long a time as thou desirest.\u201d\n\nThus having spoken, he grasped the right hand of the old man near the\nwrist, lest he should fear in his mind. They indeed, the herald and\nPriam, slept there in the porch of the house, having prudent counsels\nin their mind; while Achilles slept in the interior of the well-built\ntent; and beside him lay fair-cheeked Bris\u00ebis.\n\nThe other gods indeed and chariot-fighting men slept all night, subdued\nby gentle slumber; but sleep seized not Mercury, the author of good,\nrevolving in his mind how he should convey away king Priam from the\nships, having escaped the notice of the sacred gate-keeper. Accordingly\nhe stood over his head, and addressed him:\n\n\u201cO aged man, certainly evil is not at all a care to thee, that thou\nsleepest thus amongst hostile men, after Achilles has suffered thee.\nNow indeed thou hast ransomed thy beloved son, and hast given much; but\nthe sons left behind by thee would give three times as many ransoms for\nthee alive, if Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, should know of thy being\nhere, and all the Greeks should know of it.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; but the old man feared, and awoke the herald. Then for\nthem Mercury yoked the horses and mules, and quickly drove them himself\nthrough the camp, nor did any one perceive. But when they reached the\ncourse of the fair-flowing river, eddying Xanthus, which immortal Jove\nbegat, then indeed Mercury went away to lofty Olympus; and\nsaffron-robed Morn was diffused over the whole earth. They indeed drove\nthe horses towards the city with wailing and lamentation, and the mules\nbore the body; nor did any other of the men and well-girdled women\npreviously perceive it; but Cassandra, like unto golden Venus,\nascending Pergamus, discovered her dear father standing in the\ndriving-seat, and the city-summoning herald. She beheld him also upon\nthe mules, lying on the litter; then indeed she shrieked, and cried\naloud throughout the whole city:\n\n\u201cO Trojans and Trojan women, going forth, behold Hector, if ever ye\nrejoiced at his returning alive from battle; for he was a great joy to\nthe city, and to the whole people.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke; nor was there any man left in the city, nor woman; for\ninsupportable grief came upon them all, and they met him near the gates\nbringing in the body. But his wife and venerable mother first rushing\nto the well-wheeled chariot, plucked out their hair, touching his head;\nand the crowd stood around, weeping. And they indeed would have wept\nthe whole day till sunset before the gates, lamenting Hector, had not\nthe old man addressed the people from his chariot:\n\n\u201cGive way to me, to pass through with the mules; but afterwards shall\nye be satiated with weeping, after I shall carry him home.\u201d Thus he\nspoke; but they stood off, and made way for the chariot. But when they\nhad brought him into the illustrious palace, they laid him upon\nperforated beds, and placed singers beside him, leaders of the dirges,\nwho indeed sang a mournful ditty, while the women also uttered\nresponsive groans. And amongst them white-armed Andromache began the\nlamentation, holding the head of man-slaughtering Hector between her\nhands:\n\n\u201cO husband, young in years hast thou died, and hast left me a widow in\nthe palace. And besides, thy son is thus an infant, to whom thou and I,\nill-fated, gave birth; nor do I think he will attain to puberty; for\nbefore that, this city will be overthrown from its summit. Certainly\nthou, the protector, art dead, who didst defend its very self, and\ndidst protect its venerable wives and infant children; who will soon be\ncarried away in the hollow ships, and I indeed amongst them. But thou,\nO my son, wilt either accompany me, where thou shalt labour unworthy\ntasks, toiling for a merciless lord; or some one of the Greeks,\nenraged, seizing thee by the hand, will hurl thee from a tower, to sad\ndestruction; to whom doubtless Hector has slain a brother, or a father,\nor even a son; for by the hands of Hector very many Greeks have grasped\nthe immense earth with their teeth. For thy father was not gentle in\nthe sad conflict; wherefore indeed the people lament him throughout the\ncity. But thou hast caused unutterable grief and sorrow to thy parents,\nO Hector, but chiefly to me are bitter sorrows left. For thou didst not\nstretch out thy hands to me from the couch when dying; nor speak any\nprudent word [of solace], which I might for ever remember, shedding\ntears night and day.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, bewailing; but the women also lamented; and to them in\nturn Hecuba began her vehement lamentation:\n\n\u201cO Hector, far of all my sons dearest to my soul, certainly being alive\nto me, thou wert beloved by the gods, who truly have had a care of\nthee, even in the destiny of death. For swift-footed Achilles sold 799\nall my other sons, whomsoever he seized, beyond the unfruitful sea, at\nSamos, Imbrus, and Lemnos without a harbour. But when he had taken away\nthy life with his long-bladed spear, he often dragged thee round the\ntomb of his comrade Patroclus, whom thou slewest; but he did not thus\nraise him up. But now thou liest, to my sorrow, in the palaces, fresh\n800 and lately slain like him whom silver-bowed Apollo, attacking, has\nslain with his mild weapons.\u201d\n\nFootnote 799: (return)  See Grote, vol. i. p. 399.\n\nFootnote 800: (return)  See on ver. 419.\n\nThus she spoke, weeping; and aroused a vehement lamentation. But to\nthem Helen then, the third, began her lamentation:\n\n\u201cO Hector, far dearest to my soul of all my brothers-in-law, for\ngodlike Alexander is my husband, he who brought me to Troy:\u2014would that\nI had perished first. But now already this is the twentieth year to me\nfrom the time when I came from thence, and quitted my native land; yet\nhave I never heard from thee a harsh or reproachful word; but if any\nother of my brothers-in-law, or sisters-in-law, or well-attired\nhusband\u2019s brothers\u2019 wives, reproached me in the palaces, or my\nmother-in-law (for my father-in-law was ever gentle as a father), then\nthou, admonishing him with words, didst restrain him, both by thy\ngentleness and thy gentle words. So that, grieved at heart, I bewail at\nthe same time thee and myself, unhappy; for there is not any other in\nwide Troy kind and friendly to me; but all abhor me.\u201d\n\nThus she spoke, weeping; and again the countless throng groaned. And\naged Priam spoke [this] speech amongst the people:\n\n\u201cO Trojans, now bring wood to the city, nor at all fear in your mind a\nclose ambuscade of the Greeks; for Achilles, dismissing me from the\ndark ships, thus promised me, that he would not commence hostilities,\nbefore the twelfth morning should arrive.\u201d\n\nThus he spoke; and they yoked both oxen and mules beneath the waggons;\nand then assembled before the city. For nine days indeed they brought\ntogether an immense quantity of wood; but when now the tenth morn,\nbearing light to mortals, had appeared, then indeed, weeping, they\ncarried out noble Hector, and placed the body on the lofty pile, and\ncast in the fire.\n\nBut when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered Morn, appeared, then were\nthe people assembled round the pile of illustrious Hector. But after\nthey were assembled, and collected together, first indeed they\nextinguished all the pyre with dark wine, as much as the force of the\nfire had possessed; but then his brothers and companions collected his\nwhite bones, weeping, and the abundant tear streamed down their cheeks.\nAnd, taking them, they placed them in a golden urn, covering them with\nsoft purple robes, and forthwith deposited it in a hollow grave; and\nthen strewed it above with numerous great stones. But they built up the\ntomb in haste, and watches sat around on every side, lest the\nwell-greaved Greeks should make an attack too soon. And having heaped\nup the tomb, they returned; and then being assembled together in order,\nthey feasted on a splendid banquet in the palaces of Priam, the\nJove-nurtured king.\n\nThus indeed they performed the funeral of steed-breaking Hector.\n\nEND OF THE ILIAD.\n\n\n\n\nPRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET, AND CHARING CROSS.","title":"The Iliad","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":183307}