The Iliad of Homer Part 13

Hector, where now has that strength gone, which thou didst formerly possess? Thou saidst, I ween, that thou, with thy kindred and thy brothers, couldst defend the city without the forces and allies. Now I can neither see nor perceive any of these; but they crouch down, like dogs but a lion: we, on the contrary, who are here mere allies, bear the brunt of the fight. Even I, being thine ally, have come from a very great distance; for far off is Lycia, at lying Xanthus, where I left my beloved wife and my infant son, and many possessions, which he who is poor covets: but I, nevertheless, exhort the Lycians, and ready myself to fight with that hero; and yet there is here to me such store as the Greeks can carry or let. But thou standest still, and dost not exhort even the forces to stand and to defend their wives. Beware perchance, as though ensnared in the meshes of an a turing net, thou become a prey and a spoil to hostile for quickly will they destroy thy well-inhabited city. As it behoves thee, both night and day, to interest thyself in these matters, beseeching the chiefs of thy far-summoned force to persevere with ardour, and forego their violent strife.

Thus spoke Sarpedon, but his speech gnawed the heart of Hector, and immediately he leaped from his chariot with his armour to the ground, and brandishing his sharp spear, went in all directions through the army, exhorting the battle; and he stirred up a grievous conflict. The Trojans rallied and stood against the Greeks; but the Greeks stood in close array, withstood them, nor fled.

And as the wind scatters the chaff about the threshing-floors, when men are winnowing [it], and yellow Ceres is separating both the grain and the chaff, the winds rush along; and the chaff-heaps[215] grow white beneath; thus then the Greeks became white with the chaff from above, which indeed through them, as they again mingled in the combat, the feet of the steeds struck up [the ground] to the brazen heaven; for the charioteers turning back. But they directed the strength of theirs straight forward; and fierce Mars spread a vapour over the battle, aiding the Trojans, going about everywhere, echoing the commands of golden-sworded Phbus Apollo and ordered him to excite the courage of the Trojans, whenever he should see Pallas Minerva departing; for she was an ally of the Greeks. But he sent forth aeneas from his very rich shrine and infused strength into the breast of the shepherd of the people.

[Footnote 215: But cf. Schol. ?? t?p?? e?? ??? t? ????a ??p?pte?.]

Then aeneas placed himself amidst his companions and they rejoiced when they saw him approaching alive, unhurt and having excellent strength.

They did not ever, ask any questions; for a different labour did not pale which the silver-bowed G.o.d and man-slaughtering war and Strife insatiably raging, had excited. But then Greeks, the two Ajaces, and Ulysses and Diomede, urged on to fight. But they, even by themselves, feared neither the violent attacks[216] of the Trojans, nor their shouts: but remained firm, like unto clouds, which the son of Saturn, during a calm, has placed upon the lofty mountains, at rest, when the might of Boreas sleeps,[217] and of the other impetuous winds, which, blowing with shrill blasts, disperse the shadowy clouds. Thus the Greeks awaited the Trojans, standing firm, nor fled. But the son of Atreus kept hurrying through the host, exhorting them much:

"O friends, be men, and a.s.sume a valiant heart, and feel shame[218]

towards each other through the fierce engagements: for more of those men who dread shame are safe, than are slain; but from fugitives neither does any glory arise, nor any a.s.sistance."

He spoke, and darted with his spear quickly, and struck Deic.o.o.n, son of Pergasis, a warrior chief, the companion of magnanimous aeneas, whom the Trojans honoured equally with the sons of Priam; since he was prompt to fight amidst the van. Him then king Agamemnon struck in the shield with his spear, but it [the shield] did not repel the spear, for even through this it pa.s.sed onwards, and pierced him through the belt, at the lower part of the stomach. And he made a crash as he fell, and his arms rattled over him.

Here then aeneas slew some brave heroes of the Greeks,--Crethon and Orsilochus, the sons of Diocles: their father, indeed, rich in sustinence,[219] dwelt in well-built Pherae; but his origin was from the river Alpheus, which flows widely through the land of the Pylians.

Alpheus begat Orsilochus, a prince over many men; but Orsilochus begat magnanimous Diocles; and of Diocles were born two sons, Crethon and Orsilochus, well skilled in all kinds of battle. These, indeed, in the bloom of youth, in their sable ships followed with the Argives to Ilium famed for n.o.ble steeds, seeking honour for the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus: but there the end of death overshadowed them.

[Footnote 216: Such seems to be the force of the plural ?a?.]

[Footnote 217: "Ascending, while the north wind sleeps."--Milton, P. L. ii. 489.]

[Footnote 218: I. e. be ashamed to fly or give way. Compare Plato, Sympos. p. 317, F. G. ed. Laem., where he dwells upon the advantages of friends fighting together, as rendering men ashamed of any cowardly action.]

[Footnote 219: This construction with the genitive is very common in Latin. Virg. Georg. ii. 468: "dives opum." aen. i. 18; Hor. Ep.

ii. 2, 31; Od. iv. 8, 5; Silius, i. 393.]

They two,[220] just as two lions have been reared under their dam, amid the thickets of a deep wood, on a mountain's heights; they in process of time seizing oxen and fat sheep, lay waste the stalls of men, till at length they are themselves killed by the hands of men with the sharp bra.s.s; such these two, subdued by the hands of aeneas, fell like lofty firs. Then Menelaus, brave in the din of war, pitied them fallen, and went through the van, equipped in shining bra.s.s, brandishing his spear; for Mars kindled his strength, with the design that he should be subdued by the hands of aeneas.

But him Antilochus, son of magnanimous Nestor, beheld, and proceeded through the van, for he feared much for the shepherd of the people, lest he should suffer anything, and greatly disappoint them of [the fruits of] their labour. And now they were stretching forth their hands and sharp spears against each other, eager to fight; but Antilochus stood very near the shepherd[221] of the people. But aeneas, though a brisk warrior, remained not, when he beheld the two heroes standing near each other. When, therefore, they had drawn the dead bodies[222] to the people of the Greeks, they gave the miserable pair into the hands of their companions; and they themselves, returning back, fought in the van.

[Footnote 220: The order is, t??e, ??? ????te d??. Anthon refers to Kuhner 1. 443, 4, p. 97, Jelf's Translation.]

[Footnote 221: See note on ver. 50.]

[Footnote 222: Of the sons of Diocles.]

Then they slew Pylaemenes, equal to Mars, general of the magnanimous shielded Paphlagonians. Him indeed the son of Atreus, spear-renowned Menelaus, wounded with a spear as he stood, having smote him on the collar-bone. But Antilochus on his part smote the charioteer Mydon, his brave attendant, the son of Atymnias (now he was in the act of turning his solid-hoofed steeds), having struck him with a hand-stone on the elbow; immediately the reins, white with ivory, fell from his hands on the ground in the dust. But Antilochus, rushing on, smote him with his sword in the temple, and panting he fell from the well-made chariot, headlong in the dust, on his head and his shoulders. Very long he stood (for he fell on deep sand), till the two horses, striking him, cast him to the ground in the dust: but Antilochus lashed them on, and drove them to the army of the Greeks.

But them Hector discerned through the ranks, and rushed on them, vociferating, and with him followed the brave phalanxes of the Trojans.

Mars and venerable Bellona led them; she, on the one hand, bearing with her tumultuous Din, but Mars, on the other, brandished a huge spear in his hands. At one time, indeed, he paced before Hector, at another after him.

But him Diomede, brave in fight, seeing, trembled. As when a man, uncertain of his course, pa.s.sing over a great plain, has stopped at a swift-flowing river, running into the sea, beholding it boiling with foam, and retreats back in haste: so then did the son of Tydeus retire, and he said to the host:

"O friends, how do we all admire n.o.ble Hector, that he is both a spearman and a daring warrior! But with him one at least of the G.o.ds is ever present, who wards off death; even now Mars in person stands by him like unto a mortal man. But retreat back, [with your faces] turned always to the Trojans, nor desire to fight valiantly against the G.o.ds."

Thus then he said: but the Trojans advanced very near them. There Hector slew two heroes skilled in battle, Menesthes and Anchialus, being in one chariot. But mighty Telamonian Ajax pitied them falling; and advancing he stood very near them, and launched with his shining spear, and smote Amphius, son of Selagus, who, exceedingly rich in property and crops, dwelt in Paesus. But fate had led him as an ally to Priam and his sons.

Him Telamonian Ajax smote on the belt, and the long-shadowed spear was fixed in the pit of his stomach. Falling, he made a crash, and ill.u.s.trious Ajax ran up to him, about to spoil [him of] his armour; but the Trojans poured upon him sharp spears, shining all around, and his shield received many. But he, pressing on him with his heel, drew from the body his brazen spear; however, he was not able to take off from his shoulders any other beautiful armour, for he was pressed upon with weapons. He also dreaded the stout defence of haughty Trojans,[223] who, both numerous and doughty, stood around, stretching forth their spears, and who drove him away from them, although being mighty, and valiant, and renowned. But he, retiring, was repelled by force.

[Footnote 223: Cf. Lex. Seg. 6, p. 336. Bekk.: ????????, se???, ?pe??pt??, ??as??. On the different and doubtful etymologies of this word, see Alberti on Hesych. t. i. p, 44, and b.u.t.tm. Lexil.

p. 19, sq.]

Thus they, on the one hand, toiled through the violent conflict. But violent fate urged on Tlepolemus, the brave and great son of Hercules, against G.o.dlike Sarpedon. But when they, the son and grandson of cloud-collecting Jove, were now rushing against one another, Tlepolemus first addressed him [Sarpedon]:

"Sarpedon, chief of the Lycians, what necessity is there for thee, being a man unskilled in war, to tremble here? Falsely do they say that thou art the offspring of aegis-bearing Jove, since thou art far inferior to those heroes, who were of Jove, in the time of ancient men. But what sort do they say that Hercules was, my bold-minded, lion-hearted father?

who formerly coming hither, on account of the steeds of Laomedon, with six ships only, and with a few men, laid waste the city of Ilium, and widowed its streets. But thou hast an ign.o.ble mind, and thy forces are perishing away; nor do I think that thou wilt be an a.s.sistance to the Trojans, having come from Lycia, not even if thou be exceedingly valiant; but that, slain by me, thou wilt pa.s.s through the gates of Hades."

But him Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, in return accosted: "Tlepolemus, he indeed overturned sacred Ilium, through the folly of the hero, famous Laomedon, who reproved with harsh language him who had deserved well, nor did he give back the steeds, on account of which he came from afar. But I tell thee that here slaughter and gloomy death will befall thee at my hands; and that, subdued by my spear, thou wilt give glory to me, and a spirit to steed-famed[224] Pluto."

[Footnote 224: An epithet probably derived from the steeds ("inferni raptoris equos," Claudian, de R. P. i. 1) employed in the abduction of Proserpine.]

Thus spoke Sarpedon: but Tlepolemus raised his ashen spear, and from their hands, at the same moment, flew the long spears. Sarpedon, on his part, struck the centre of [his adversary's] neck, and the grievous weapon pa.s.sed right through; and gloomy night overspread his eyes. But Tlepolemus in the meantime had struck Sarpedon in the left thigh with his long spear; and the spear, rushing with violence, pa.s.sed through, grazing the bone: but his father as yet averted death.

His n.o.ble companions bore G.o.dlike Sarpedon from the battle; but the long spear, trailed along with him, pained him; but this no one of them hastening noticed, nor thought of extracting from his thigh the ashen spear, that he might ascend the chariot; for such anxiety did his attendants entertain for him. But on the other side the well-greaved Greeks carried Tlepolemus from the fight; and divine Ulysses, possessing an enduring heart, perceived them, and his soul was stirred within him.

And then he anxiously pondered in his mind and soul, whether he should pursue farther the son of loud-thundering Jove, or should take away the lives of many more Lycians. But it was not fated for magnanimous Ulysses to slay the brave son of Jove with the sharp spear. Therefore Minerva turned his thoughts towards the mult.i.tude of the Lycians. Then he slew Cra.n.u.s, and Alastor, and Chromius, and Alcander, and Halius, and Noemon, and Prytanis. And yet more Lycians would n.o.ble Ulysses have slain, had not mighty crest-tossing Hector quickly perceived him. He therefore went through the van, armed in shining bra.s.s, bearing terror to the Greeks: then Sarpedon, the son of Jove, rejoiced at him approaching, and spoke [this] mournful address:

"O son of Priam, I pray thee, suffer me not to lie a prey to the Greeks, but aid me. Even then[225] let life forsake me in thy city; since I was not destined to gladden my dear wife and infant son, returning home to my dear fatherland."

[Footnote 225: I. e. when you have rescued my body from the foe, I will die content in Troy.--Anthon.]

Thus he spoke: but him plume-waving Hector answered nought, but flew past him, in order that he might repel the Greeks with all haste, and take away the lives of many. His n.o.ble companions meantime placed G.o.dlike Sarpedon under a very beautiful beech of aegis-bearing Jove.

Stout Pelagon then, who was his beloved companion, forced out the ashen spear from his thigh. Thereupon animation left him, and darkness was poured over his eyes; but he again revived, for the breeze of Boreas, breathing upon him around, refreshed in spirit him panting with difficulty.

But the Greeks, on account of Mars and brazen-helmed Hector, neither were driven at any time back to their sable ships, nor did they advance forward to battle; but always kept giving ground, since they had heard that Mars was with the Trojans.

Then whom first, whom last did Hector, the son of Priam, and brazen Mars slay? The G.o.dlike Teuthras, and moreover the knight Orestes, the aetolian spearman Trechus, and nomaus, and Helenus of the race of nops, and Oresbius of flexible[226] belt, who dwelt in Hyla, near the lake Cephissus, very intent on wealth: and near him dwelt other Botians, having a very rich territory.

[Footnote 226: Cf. b.u.t.tm. Lexil. p. 66. I. e. "a belt which he could easily move, and which, from its suppleness and flexibility, yielded to the pressure of his person."--Anthon.]

When therefore the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno perceived these Greeks perishing in the violent engagement, straightway to Minerva she addressed winged words:

"Strange! O daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unwearied one, certainly we have made a vain promise to Menelaus, that he should return after having destroyed well-walled Ilium, if we suffer destructive Mars thus to rage.

But come, let us too bethink ourselves of some powerful aid."

Thus she spoke; nor did the azure-eyed G.o.ddess Minerva disobey her.

Juno, on her part, venerable G.o.ddess, daughter of mighty Saturn, quickly moving, harnessed her gold-caparisoned steeds; but Hebe speedily applied to the chariot, to the iron axletree on both sides, the curved wheels, golden, with eight spokes. Of these, indeed, the felloe is of gold, imperishable: but above [are] brazen tires fastened on them, wonderful to be seen; but the circular naves on both sides are of silver; and the body[227] was stretched on with gold and silver thongs (there was a double circular rim); from this projected a silver pole; at its extremity she bound the golden, beauteous yoke, and to it attached the beautiful golden poitrels. But Juno, longing for conquest and battle, led the swift-footed steeds under the yoke.

[Footnote 227: d?f??? is properly the seat, but is here put for the whole chariot.]

Minerva, on the other hand, the daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, let flow down on her father's floor her dainty robe of variegated hue, which she herself had wrought and worked with her own hands: then she, having put on her tunic, equipped herself for the tearful war in the armour of cloud-compelling Jove, and around her shoulders she then threw the fringed aegis, dreadful, around which on all sides Terror appears plumed.

Thereon was Strife, thereon Fort.i.tude, and thereon was chilling Pursuit;[228] on it was the Gorgonian head of the dreadful monster, dire, horrible, a portent of aegis-bearing Jove. On her head she placed her four-crested helmet, with a spreading metal ridge,[229] golden, sufficient for the heavy-armed of a hundred cities. She then stepped into her shining chariot with her feet; and took her spear, heavy, huge, and st.u.r.dy, with which she, sprung from a dread sire, subdues the ranks of heroic men, with whomsoever she is wroth. But Juno with the lash quickly urged on the steeds. The gates of heaven creaked spontaneously, the gates which the Hours guarded, to whom are intrusted the mighty heaven and Olympus, as well to open the dense cloud as to close it. In this way, indeed, through these gates, they drove their steeds, urged on with the goad: and they found the son of Saturn sitting apart from the other G.o.ds on the highest summit of many-peaked Olympus. There staying her steeds, the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno interrogated supreme Saturnian Jove, and thus addressed him:

"O father Jove, art thou not indignant at Mars for these bold deeds,--how numerous and how choice a mult.i.tude of Greeks he has destroyed rashly, nor as became him: a grief indeed to me; but Venus and silver-bowed Apollo in quiet are delighted, having let slip this frantic [G.o.d], who knows no rights. Father Jove, wilt thou be angry with me if I drive Mars from the battle, having dreadfully wounded him?"

[Footnote 228: Compare ???????? and ?a??????, similarly personified, in Hesiod, Scut. Herc. 134, and Virg. aen. viii. 701:

"--tristesque ex aethere Dirae, Et scissa gaudens vadit Discordia palla; Quam c.u.m sanguineo sequitur Bellona flagello."]