The Iliad of Homer Part 22

[Footnote 340: Cicero ad Attic, ix. 6: "Non angor, sed ardeo dolore; ??d? ?? ?t?? ?ped??, ???' ??a???t?a?. Non sum, inquam, mihi crede, mentis compos."]

[Footnote 341: Observe the zeugma, which has been imitated by Hor. Od. III. 4, 11: "Ludo fatigatumque somno." Compare the learned dissertation on this subject by D'Orville on Chariton, iv. 4, p. 440, sqq. ed. Lips.]

[Footnote 342: aesch. Sept. c. Th. 28: ???e? e??st?? p??s?????

??a?da ???t????e?s?a? ??p?????e?e?? p??e?.]

[Footnote 343: Soph. Aj. 3: ?a? ??? ?p? s???a?? se ?a?t??a?? ???

??a?t??, ???a t???? ?s??t?? ??e?.]

But him Agamemnon, king of men, in turn addressed: "Old man, at other times I would even bid thee blame him, for he is frequently remiss, and is not willing to labour, yielding neither to sloth, nor thoughtlessness of mind, but looking to me, and awaiting my commencement. But now he arose long before me, and stood beside me; him I have sent before to call those whom thou seekest. But let us go, and we shall find them before the gates among the guards; for there I bade them be a.s.sembled."

But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: "If so, none of the Greeks will be angry, nor disobey when he may exhort or give orders to any."

Thus saying, he put on his tunic around his breast, and beneath his shining feet he placed the beautiful sandals, and fastened about him his purple cloak with a clasp, double, ample;[344] and the s.h.a.ggy pile was thick upon it: and he seized a doughty spear, pointed with sharp bra.s.s.

He proceeded first to the ships of the brazen-mailed Achaeans; then the Gerenian knight Nestor, vociferating, aroused from his sleep Ulysses, equal to Jove in counsel. But the voice immediately penetrated his mind, and he came out from the tent, and addressed them:

"Why, I pray, wander ye thus alone through the ambrosial night, near the ships, through the army; what so great necessity now comes upon you?"

[Footnote 344: Schol.: ??? e?????, ?ste ?a? d?p?? a?t? ???e???

??e?? ??teta????. The epithet f??????essa denotes that it was the garb of royalty.]

But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: "Jove-sprung son of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, be not indignant, for so great a sorrow hath oppressed the Greeks. But follow, that we may arouse even another, whomsoever it is fit, to deliberate whether to fly or fight."

Thus he spake, and much-counselling Ulysses returning into his tent, flung around his shoulders his variegated shield, and followed them. But they proceeded to Diomede, the son of Tydeus, and him they found without, before his tent, with his arms; and his companions slept around him. Beneath their heads they had their shields, and their spears were fixed erect upon the nether point;[345] and afar off glittered the bra.s.s, like the lightning of father Jove. The hero himself however slumbered, and beneath him was strewed the hide of a wild bull; but under his head was spread a splendid piece of tapestry. Standing by him, the Gerenian knight Nestor awoke him, moving him on the heel with his foot,[346] he roused him, and upbraided [him] openly:

"Arise, son of Tydeus, why dost thou indulge in sleep all night? Hearest thou not how the Trojans are encamped upon an eminence in the plain near the ships, and that now but a small s.p.a.ce keeps them off?"

[Footnote 345: Sa???t????' t??? st??a??? t?? ?p?s? t?? d???t??.

Hesychius, who also, with reference to the present pa.s.sage, has Sa???t????' t?? s?d?????. Pollux, x. 31, well explains it, t? t??

d??at?? ?st?e??? It is also called st??a? and st???.]

[Footnote 346: Not "calce pedis movens." See Kennedy.]

Thus he spoke: but he leaped up very quickly from slumber, and addressing him, spoke winged words:

"Indefatigable art thou, old man: never, indeed, dost thou cease from labour. Are there not even other younger sons of the Greeks, who, going about in every direction, might arouse each of the kings? But, O old man, thou art impossible to be wearied."

But him then the Gerenian knight Nestor in turn addressed: "Truly, my friend, thou hast spoken all these things aright. I have to be sure blameless sons, and I have numerous troops, some of whom indeed, going round, might give the summons. But a very great necessity hath oppressed the Greeks, and now are the affairs of all balanced on a razor's edge[347], whether there be most sad destruction to the Greeks, or life.

Yet go now, since thou art younger, arouse swift Ajax, and the son of Phyleus, if thou hast pity on me."

[Footnote 347: Herodot. vii. 11: ?p? ????? ??p t?? ???? ??eta?

??? ta p???ata. Soph. Antig. 996: F???e? e??? a? ??? ?p? ?????

t???. Theocrit. xxii. 6: ?????p?? s?t??e? ?p? ????? ?d? ???t??.]

Thus he spake; but the other threw around his shoulders the skin of a huge tawny lion, reaching to his feet, and took his spear. He hastened forth, and the hero, having aroused the rest, led them thence.

But when they now came to the a.s.sembled guards, they found not the leaders of the guards slumbering, but all were sitting vigilantly with their arms. As dogs with care keep watch around the sheep in a fold, hearing the furious wild beast, which comes through the wood from the mountains, but much clamour of men and dogs is against it, and sleep is utterly lost to them; so was sweet slumber lost to their eyelids, keeping guard during the sad night, for they were ever turned towards the plain, whensoever they heard the Trojans advancing. But the old man seeing them, rejoiced, and encouraged them with a speech, and addressing them, spoke winged words:

"Thus now, dear children, keep watch; nor let sleep seize upon any, lest we become a mockery to the enemy."

Thus saying, he crossed the trench; and with him followed the chiefs of the Greeks, as many as had been summoned to the council. Along with these went Meriones, and the ill.u.s.trious son of Nestor; for they had invited them, that they might consult with them. Having therefore pa.s.sed over the dug trench, they sat down in a clear s.p.a.ce, where a piece of ground appeared free from fallen dead bodies, whence impetuous Hector had turned back, having destroyed the Greeks, when night at length enveloped them. There sitting down, they addressed words to each other, and to them the Gerenian knight Nestor began discourse:

"O friends, would not now some man put such confidence in his own daring mind as to go against the magnanimous Trojans, if perchance he might take some of the enemy straying in the outskirts of the camp, or perhaps even learn some report among the Trojans, what they deliberate among themselves; whether they intend to remain here by the ships at a distance, or are about to return to the city, since they have subdued the Greeks? Could he but hear all this, and come back to us unscathed, great glory would be his under heaven amongst all men, and he shall have a good reward. For as many chiefs as command the vessels, of all these each will give a black sheep, a ewe, having a lamb at its udders; to which indeed no possession will be like; and he will ever be present at our banquets and feasts."

Thus he spoke; and they were all mute in silence; but to them Diomede, valiant in the din of battle, said:

"Nestor, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to enter the camp of the hostile Trojans, which is near; but if some other man were to go along with me, there would be more pleasure, and it would be more encouraging.

For when two go together, the one perceives before the other how the advantage may be. But if one being alone should observe anything, his perception is nevertheless more tardy, and his judgment weak."

Thus he spoke: and the greater number wished to follow Diomede. The two Ajaces wished it, servants of Mars; Meriones wished it; the son of Nestor very earnestly desired it; the spear-renowned son of Atreus, Menelaus, desired it; and hardy Ulysses was eager to penetrate the crowd of the Trojans; for ever daring was his mind within his breast. Among them, however, Agamemnon, the king of men, spoke:

"Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, select the companion whom thou desirest, the bravest of those who present themselves, since many are ready. Nor do thou, paying deference in thy mind, leave indeed the better, and select as follower the worse, through respect [for rank]; looking neither to family, nor whether one is more the king."

Thus he spake, for he feared for yellow-haired Menelaus; but amongst them Diomede, brave in the din of battle, again spoke:

"If then ye now order me to select a companion myself, how can I now forget G.o.dlike Ulysses, whose heart is prudent, and spirit gallant in all labours; and whom Pallas Minerva loves. He following, we should both return even from burning fire, for he is skilled in planning beyond [all others]."

But him much-enduring, n.o.ble Ulysses in turn addressed: "Son of Tydeus, neither praise me beyond measure, nor at all blame, for thou speakest these things amongst Argives, who are acquainted with them already. But let us go, for night hastens on, and morn is at hand. The stars have already far advanced, and the greater portion of the night, by two parts, has gone by, but the third portion remains."

Thus having spoken, they clad themselves in their terrible arms. To Diomede, Thrasymedes, firm in war, gave his two-edged sword, because his own was left at the ships, and a shield. Upon his head he placed his bull's-hide helmet, coneless, crestless, which is called cataityx,[348]

and protects the heads of blooming youths. And Meriones gave a bow, quiver, and sword to Ulysses, and put upon his head a casque of hide; and within, it was firmly bound with many straps; whilst without, the white teeth of an ivory-tusked boar set thick together on all sides fenced it well, and skilfully; and in the midst a woollen head-piece[349] was sewed. It Autolycus once brought from Eleon, the city of Amyntor, son of Hormenus, having broken into his large mansion.

He gave it, however, to Amphidamas, the Cytherian, to bear to Scandea, and Amphidamas bestowed it upon Molus, to be a gift of hospitality, but he gave it to his son Meriones to be worn. Then at last, being placed around, it covered the head of Ulysses. But they, when they had girt themselves in dreadful arms, hastened to advance, and left all the chiefs at the same place. And to them near the way, Pallas Minerva sent a heron upon the right hand: they did not discern it with their eyes, because of the gloomy night, but heard it rustling. And Ulysses was delighted on account of the bird, and prayed to Minerva:

"Hear me, thou daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, who standest by me in all labours, nor do I escape thy notice, having moved.[350] Now again do thou, O Minerva, especially befriend me, and grant that, covered with glory, we may return back to the well-benched barks, having performed a mighty deed, which will surely occasion care to the Trojans."

[Footnote 348: "The ?ata?t?? might be termed the undress helmet of the chief who wore it."--Kennedy.]

[Footnote 349: Or, "it was stuffed with felt."--Oxford Transl.

"Wool was inlaid between the straps, in order to protect the head, and make the helmet fit closer."--Kennedy.]

[Footnote 350: Soph. Aj. 18: ?a? ??? ?p????? e? ?p' ??d??

d?se?e? ??s?? e??????t'.]

Then Diomede, brave in the din of battle, next prayed: "Now hear me, too, O daughter of Jove, invincible. Attend me, as once thou didst attend my sire, the n.o.ble Tydeus, to Thebes, what time he went as an amba.s.sador for the Achaeans; he left the brazen-mailed Achaeans at the Asopus, and he himself bore thither a mild message to the Cadmaeans: but when returning he performed many arduous deeds, with thy aid, O n.o.ble G.o.ddess, when thou propitious didst stand beside him. Thus now willingly stand by and protect me; and in return I will sacrifice to thee a heifer of a year old, with broad forehead, untamed, which no man hath yet brought under the yoke. This will I sacrifice to thee, encircling its horns with gold."

Thus they spoke, praying; and Pallas Minerva heard them. But when they had supplicated the daughter of mighty Jove, they hastened to advance, like two lions, through the dark night, through slaughter, through bodies through arms, and black blood.

Nor did Hector allow the gallant Trojans to sleep; but he summoned all the chiefs together, as many as were leaders and rulers over the Trojans. Having summoned them together, he framed prudent counsel:

"Who, undertaking it for me, will accomplish this deed for a great reward? And there shall be sufficient payment for him; for I will give a chariot and two rough-maned steeds, which excel in speed at the swift sailing ships of the Greeks, to him whosoever would dare (he will also obtain glory for himself) to approach near the swift-sailing ships, and learn whether the fleet ships are guarded as formerly, or whether, now subdued by our hands, they meditate flight among themselves, nor wish to keep watch during the night, overcome with grievous toil."

Thus he spoke; but they were all still in silence. But among the Trojans there was one Dolon, the son of Eumedes, a divine herald, rich in gold, and wealthy in bra.s.s, who in aspect indeed was deformed, but [was]

swift-footed, and he was an only [son] among five sisters. Who then, standing by, addressed the Trojans and Hector:

"Hector, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to approach the swift-sailing ships, and gain information. But come, raise up thy sceptre to me, and swear that thou wilt a.s.suredly give me the horses and chariot, variegated with bra.s.s, which now bear the ill.u.s.trious son of Peleus, and I will not be a vain spy to thee, nor frustrate thy expectation; for I will go so far into the camp till I reach the ship of Agamemnon, where the chiefs will perchance be consulting whether to fly or fight."

Thus he spoke; but he took the sceptre in his hand and swore to him: "Let Jove himself now be my witness, the loudly-thundering spouse of Juno, that no other man of the Trojans shall be carried by these horses: but I declare that thou shalt entirely have the glory of them."