The Iliad of Homer Part 14

[Footnote 229: See note on iii. 362.]

But her answering, cloud-compelling Jove addressed:

"Come, incite the pillaging Minerva against him, who is very wont to cause him to approach grievous woes."

Thus he spoke: nor did the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno disobey, but she lashed on her steeds. They flew, not unwillingly, midway between the earth and the starry heaven. Now, as much haze[230] as a man sees with his eyes, sitting upon some lofty point, and looking over the darkling ocean, so far do the high-sounding steeds of the G.o.ds clear at one bound. But when they now reached Troy, and the two flowing rivers, where Simois and Scamander unite their streams, there the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno stayed her steeds, having loosed them from the chariot, and shed a dense mist around them. But to them Simois afforded ambrosial food to feed on.

But they went on, like unto timid doves in their pace, hastening to a.s.sist the Grecian heroes. But when they had now arrived where the most numerous[231] and the bravest stood collected in dense array round horse-breaking Diomede, like raw-devouring lions or wild boars, whose strength is not feeble, there standing, the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno shouted aloud, having likened herself to great-hearted, brazen-voiced Stentor, who was accustomed to shout as loud as fifty other men:

[Footnote 230: Opposed to the pure air of aether. See b.u.t.tm.

Lexil. p. 37, sqq.]

[Footnote 231: Observe the elegant position of the plural verb between two singular substantives, according to the Schema Alemanic.u.m. Compare Od. K, 513, and Il. Y, 138, which have been pointed out by Lesbonax, p. 179, ed. Valck.]

"Shame! ye Greeks! foul subjects of disgrace! admirable in form [alone].

As long, indeed, as divine Achilles was wont to be engaged in the war, the Trojans were not in the habit of advancing beyond the Dardan gates; for they dreaded his mighty spear; but now they fight at the hollow ships, far away from the city."

Thus saying, she aroused the strength and courage of each. The azure-eyed G.o.ddess Minerva rushed towards the son of Tydeus; but she found that prince by his steeds and chariot, cooling the wound which Pandarus had inflicted on him with a shaft. For perspiration had afflicted him beneath the broad belt of his well-orbed shield: with this was he afflicted, and he was fatigued as to his hand; and raising the belt, he wiped away the black gore. Then the G.o.ddess touched the yoke of the horses, and said:

"Little like himself has Tydeus begotten a son. Tydeus was certainly small in body, but a warrior. And even when I suffered him not to fight, nor to rush furiously to battle, when he came far from the Greeks, an amba.s.sador to Thebes to the numerous Cadmeans, I commanded him to feast quietly in the palaces; but he, retaining his doughty spirit, as before, challenged the youths, the Cadmeans, and easily conquered them in everything; so great an auxiliary was I to him. But thee, indeed, I stand by and preserve, and I exhort thee freely to fight against the Trojans. But either weariness, from great toil, has entered thy limbs, or at least disheartening fear in some manner possesses thee. Thou art not henceforth to be deemed at least the son of Tydeus, the gallant son of aeneus."

But her valiant Diomede answering addressed: "I know thee, O G.o.ddess, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove; therefore will I willingly tell this word to thee, nor will I conceal it. Neither does any disheartening fear possess me, nor any sloth: but as yet I am mindful of thy mandates, which thou didst enjoin. Thou didst not suffer me to fight with the other happy G.o.ds; but if Venus, the daughter of Jove, should come into the battle, to wound her at least with the sharp steel. Wherefore now I myself retire, and have ordered all the other Greeks to be collected here: for I perceive Mars dispensing the battle."

But him the azure-eyed G.o.ddess Minerva then answered: "Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, neither fear this Mars at all, nor any other of the immortals; such an auxiliary am I to thee. But come, first direct thy solid-hoofed steeds against Mars, strike him in close combat, nor regard impetuous Mars, this frenzied and unnatural pest, shifter from one to another; who lately haranguing promised me and Juno, that he would fight against the Trojans, and aid the Greeks; but now he mixes with the Trojans, and has forgotten these."

Thus having said, she forced Sthenelus from his horses to the ground, dragging him back with her hand; but he promptly leaped down. Then the G.o.ddess herself, infuriate, ascended the chariot beside n.o.ble Diomede, and greatly did the beechen axle groan under the weight; for it bore a dreadful G.o.ddess and a very brave hero. Then Pallas Minerva seized the scourge and the reins. Straightway she drove the solid-hoofed steeds against Mars first. He, indeed, had just slain huge Periphas, the ill.u.s.trious son of Ochesius, by far the bravest of the aetolians. Him indeed gore-stained Mars slew; but Minerva put on the helmet of Pluto that impetuous Mars might not see her.

But when man-slaughtering Mars saw n.o.ble Diomede, he suffered huge Periphas to lie there, where first slaying him he had taken away his life, but he went straight against horse breaking Diomede. And when these came near, advancing against each other, Mars first, over the yoke and the reins of the steeds, stretched himself forward with his brazen spear, eager to take away his life. It then the azure-eyed G.o.ddess Minerva having caught in her hand, turned from the chariot, so as to be borne away in vain. But next Diomede, valiant in the din of war, made the attack with his brazen spear; and Pallas Minerva firmly fastened it in his lowest flank, where he was girt with his belt. In that very part striking, she wounded him, and tore his beautiful skin, and drew out the spear again. Then roared brazen Mars, as loud as nine or ten thousand men roar in war, joining the strife of battle. And then fear seized the terrified Greeks and Trojans, so loud bellowed Mars, insatiate of war.

And as when from the clouds, a gloomy haze appears, a heavy-blowing wind arising from heat; such did brazen Mars appear to Diomede, son of Tydeus, going amid the clouds into the broad heaven. Quickly he reached lofty Olympus, the seat of the G.o.ds, and sat near Saturnian Jove, grieving in his heart, and showed the immortal blood flowing down from the wound, and complaining, he spoke winged words:

"Father Jove, art thou not incensed beholding these violent deeds? Ever, of a truth, are we deities suffering most grievous woes from the machinations of each other, and [whilst] conferring favour upon men. We all are indignant with thee;[232] for thou hast begotten a mad, pernicious daughter, to whom evil works are ever a care. For all the other G.o.ds, as many as are in Olympus, obey thee, and unto thee each of us is subject. But her thou restrainest not by words, nor by any act, but dost indulge her, since thou thyself didst beget this destructive daughter. Who now has urged on Diomede, the overbearing son of Tydeus, to rage against the immortal G.o.ds. Venus he first wounded, in close fight, in the hand at the wrist; and, equal to a G.o.d, he afterwards rushed on myself; but my swift feet withdrew me; [otherwise] I should certainly for a long time have endured woes there amidst the dreadful heaps of slain, or living should have been exhausted by the strokes of the bra.s.s."

[Footnote 232: Or, "through thee we are all at variance," taking s?? as put for d?? s? with Lesbonax, pe?? s??. p. 186; Hesychius, t. ii. p. 1234, and the Scholiast.]

Him sternly regarding, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: "Complain not to me, inconstant one, sitting by me: for thou art most hateful to me, of all the G.o.ds that possess Olympus: for to thee discord is ever grateful, and wars and battles: thou hast thy mother Juno's insufferable and unbending disposition, which I myself can scarcely repress with words.

Wherefore I think thou sufferest these things by her instigation. Yet no longer can I endure thy suffering pain, for thou art my offspring, and to me thy mother brought thee forth. But hadst thou, destructive as thou art, been born of any other of the G.o.ds, even long since hadst thou been far lower than the sons of Ura.n.u.s."

Thus he spoke, and ordered Paeon to heal him: and Paeon healed him, spreading [on his wound] pain-a.s.suaging medicines; for he was not by any means mortal. As when fig-tree juice,[233] on being stirred about, curdles the white milk, fluid before, and it very rapidly coagulates, while one is mixing it; thus at that time did he speedily heal impetuous Mars. Hebe then washed him, and put on him beautiful garments. Then, exulting in glory, near Saturnian Jove he sat down.

And now again Argive Juno and the powerful a.s.sistant Minerva returned to the palace of mighty Jove, after having stayed man-slaying Mars from his deeds of slaughter.

[Footnote 233: Used as rennet.]

BOOK THE SIXTH.

ARGUMENT.

The G.o.ds having left the field, victory now inclines to the side of the Greeks, and Helenus counsels Hector to order a public supplication to Minerva in the citadel. While Hector is gone to the city for that purpose, Diomedes and Glaucus recognize the friendship which had formerly existed between their fathers, and exchange armour in token of amity. Hecuba and the Trojan matrons present a robe to Minerva, and offer up prayers for their country. Hector reproves Paris, and brings him back to the field, having first taken an affecting farewell of his wife and child.

And now the dreadful battle of the Trojans and the Greeks was abandoned.

Often here and there the battle raged through the plain, [the combatants] directing against each other their bra.s.s-tipped spears, between the rivers of Simois and Xanthus.

First Telamonian Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks, broke through the phalanx of the Trojans, and gave light[234] to his companions, smiting the good and mighty hero Acamas, son of Eyssorus, who was the bravest amongst the Thracians. First he struck him on the ridge of the horse-haired helmet; and the brazen spear fixed itself in his forehead, and pa.s.sed on within the bone; but darkness veiled his eyes.

[Footnote 234: _I. e._ the light of hope. Cf. Virg. aen. ii, 281: "O _lux_ Dardaniae, _spes_ o fidissima Teucrm." Quintus Calab.

iii. 561. ?pe? s? ?? ?e?o? ?a?, ?a? ???? ?e????? p??e?.]

But Diomede, brave in the din of war, slew Axylus, the son of Teuthras, who dwelt in well-built Arisba, rich in wealth, and he was beloved by men, for dwelling in a house near the public way, he was wont to afford entertainment to all. But none of them [his guests] coming up before him, warded off sad death; but [Diomede] deprived both of life, himself and his attendant Calesius, who then was the charioteer of his steeds, and both these entered the earth.

And Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius; and afterwards went against aesepus and Pedasus, whom formerly the Naiad nymph Abarbarea brought forth to blameless Bucolion. Bucolion was the son of ill.u.s.trious Laomedon, eldest by birth, but him his mother brought forth secretly.

While [Bucolion] was a shepherd, he was mingled in love and nuptials with her amongst the sheep; but she becoming pregnant, brought forth twin sons. And truly the son of Mecisteus[235] relaxed their strength and their ill.u.s.trious limbs, and tore the armour from their shoulders.

And next warlike Polyptes slew Astyalus. Ulysses killed Percosian Pidytes with his brazen spear; and Agamemnon, king of men, slew Elatus.

He dwelt at lofty Pedasus, on the banks of fair-flowing Satniois. The hero Letus slew Phylacus flying; and Eurypylus killed and spoiled Melanthius.

[Footnote 235: Euryalus.]

In the next place Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, took Adrastus alive; for his two steeds, flying bewildered over the plain, coming in violent contact with a branch of tamarisk, and having broken the curved chariot at the extremity of the pole, themselves flew towards the city, whither others also fled terrified. But he was rolled from his chariot near the wheel, p.r.o.ne in the dust on his mouth: but near him stood Menelaus, the son of Atreus, holding his long-shadowed spear. Adrastus then embracing his knees supplicated him:

"Take me alive, O son of Atreus, and receive a worthy ransom; in my wealthy father's [house][236] lie abundant stores, bra.s.s and gold, and well-wrought steel; out of which my sire will bestow on thee countless ransom-gifts, if he shall hear that I am alive at the ships of the Greeks."

Thus he spoke; and persuaded his mind in his breast, and already he was on the point of consigning him to the care of his attendant to conduct him to the ships of the Greeks: but Agamemnon running up, met him, and shouting in a chiding tone, spoke:

"O soft one, O Menelaus, why art thou thus so much concerned for these men? In sooth very kind offices were done to thee in thy family by the Trojans.[237] Of whom let none escape utter destruction, and our hands; not even him whom the mother carries, being an infant in her womb, let not even him escape; but let all the inhabitants of Ilium perish totally, without burial-rites, and obscure."

[Footnote 236: Supply ???? or d??.]

[Footnote 237: Ironically spoken.]

Thus having said, the hero changed his brother's mind, having advised right things: but he, with his hand, thrust back the hero Adrastus from him; and him king Agamemnon smote in the belly, and he was cast supine.

But the son of Atreus planting his heel upon his breast, drew out the ashen spear.

Then Nestor exhorted the Greeks, exclaiming aloud: "O friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, let no one now, desirous of spoil, linger behind, that he may return bringing abundance to the ships; but let us slay the men, and afterwards at your leisure, shall ye spoil the dead bodies through the plain."

Thus having said, he aroused the might and courage of each. And then truly had the Trojans retreated into Ilium, under the influence of the Mars-beloved Greeks, conquered through their own cowardice, had not Helenus, son of Priam, by far the best of augurs, standing near, spoken these words to aeneas and to Hector:

"aeneas and Hector, since upon you chiefly of the Trojans and Lydians the labour devolves, because ye are the bravest for every purpose, both to fight and to take counsel, stand here, and stay the forces before the gates, running in all directions, before that, on the contrary, flying they fall into the arms of their wives, and become a triumph to the enemies. But after ye have exhorted all the phalanxes, we remaining here will fight against the Greeks, though much pressed, for necessity urges us. But Hector, do thou go to the city, and then speak to thy mother and mine; and let her, collecting together the matrons of distinction[238] into the temple of azure-eyed Minerva, on the lofty citadel, [and] having opened the doors of the sacred house with the key, let her place on the knees of fair-haired Minerva the robe which seems to her the most beautiful, and the largest in her palace, and which is much the most dear to her. And let her promise to sacrifice to that G.o.ddess in her temple twelve yearling heifers, as yet ungoaded, if she will take compa.s.sion on the city and on the wives and infant children of the Trojans: if indeed she will avert from sacred Ilium the son of Tydeus, that ferocious warrior, the dire contriver of flight: whom I declare to be the bravest of the Greeks; nor have we ever to such a degree dreaded Achilles, chiefest of men, whom they say is from a G.o.ddess: but this man rages excessively, nor can any equal him in might."

[Footnote 238: Hesych. Ge?a??? ??t???? ???a??a?, t?? ???a? t?

????sa?.]

Thus he said, but Hector was by no means disobedient to his brother; and instantly from his chariot he leaped to the ground with his arms, and brandishing his sharp spears, he went in all directions through the army, inciting them to fight: and he stirred up dreadful battle. But they rallied round, and stood opposite the Greeks. But the Greeks retreated, and desisted from slaughter; for they thought that some of the immortals, from the starry heaven, had descended to aid the Trojans, in such a way did they rally. But Hector exhorted the Trojans, exclaiming aloud:

"Courageous Trojans and far-summoned[239] allies, be men, my friends, and recall to mind your daring valour, whilst I go to Ilium, and tell to the aged counsellors, and to our wives, to pray to the G.o.ds, and to vow them hecatombs."