The Iliad of Homer Part 27

[Footnote 405: Zeugma. See on ver. 268.]

[Footnote 406: Three interpretations are given for this line:--1.

"All the gates were attacked." 2. "All the gates were bolted."--b.u.t.t. 3. Change the nominative case to the accusative, and translate--"They (the Lycians) had attacked all the gates."--Ed. Dubl.]

"Go, n.o.ble Thootes, running, call Ajax, rather indeed both: for this would be by far the best of all, since in a short while heavy destruction will arise here. For so vigorously do the leaders of the Lycians press on, who even before were impetuous in the sharp contest.

If, however, labour and contest have arisen to them there, at least let brave Telamonian Ajax come, and with him let Teucer follow, well skilled in archery."

Thus he spoke, nor did the herald, having heard him, disobey, but he hastened to run along the wall of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and proceeding, he stood beside the Ajaces and immediately addressed them:

"Ye Ajaces, leaders of the brazen-mailed Greeks, the beloved son of Jove-nourished Peteus adjures you to come thither, that ye may partic.i.p.ate in his toil, though for a short time. Both indeed in preference, for this would be by far the best of all things, since soon will heavy destruction arise there. For so vigorously do the leaders of the Lycians press on, who even before were impetuous in the sharp contest. But if here also war and contest have arisen, at least let brave Telamonian Ajax come alone, and with him let Teucer follow, well skilled in archery."

Thus he spake, nor did mighty Telamonian Ajax disobey. Instantly he addressed to the son of Oleus winged words:

"Ajax, do thou and gallant Lycomedes, standing here, incite the Greeks to fight bravely, whilst I go thither and oppose the battle; but I will return again instantly, after I shall have a.s.sisted them."

Thus then having spoken, Telamonian Ajax departed, and with him went Teucer, his brother, sprung from the same father; and Pandion, along with them, carried the bent bow of Teucer. As soon as they reached the tower of magnanimous Menestheus, going within the wall (for they came to [their friends] being hard pressed: and the brave leaders and chiefs of the Lycians were mounting upon the breast-works like unto a dark whirlwind), but they engaged to fight in opposition, and a clamour arose. Telamonian Ajax first slew a man, the companion of Sarpedon, magnanimous Epicles, striking him with a rugged stone, which, mighty in size, lay highest up against a pinnacle within the wall. Not easily would a man support it with both hands, such as mortals now are, not although being very youthful; but he, raising it aloft, hurled it, and burst the four-coned helmet, and along with it crushed all the bones of the skull: but he, like unto a diver, fell from the lofty tower, and life deserted his bones. Teucer likewise with a shaft wounded Glaucus, the brave son of Hippolochus, as he was rushing on, against the lofty wall, in a part where he perceived his arm naked; and made him cease from combat. But he sprang back from the wall, concealing himself, that none of the Greeks might perceive him wounded, and insult him with words. Then grief came upon Sarpedon on account of Glaucus departing, as soon as he observed it; though he nevertheless was not neglectful of the contest: but he taking aim, wounded Alcmaon, son of Thestor, with his spear, and extracted the spear; but he. following the weapon, fell p.r.o.ne, and his armour, variously decked with bra.s.s, resounded upon him.

Sarpedon then seizing the b.u.t.tress with his st.u.r.dy hands, pulled, and it all followed entirely; but the wall was stripped away from above, and he formed a way for many. Then Ajax and Teucer aiming at him together, the one smote him with an arrow in the splendid belt of his mortal-girding shield, around his breast; but Jove averted the fate from his son, that he might not be slain at the sterns of the ships. But Ajax, springing upon him, struck his shield, and pierced him quite through with his spear, and forcibly checked him eager. And then he fell back for a little from the b.u.t.tress, but did not altogether retreat, because his spirit hoped to bear off glory. And turning round, he encouraged the G.o.dlike Lycians:

"O Lycians, why are ye thus remiss in your impetuous force? It is difficult for me, although being brave, having alone burst through, to form a way to the ships. But follow along with me; for the labour of the greater number is better."

Thus he spake; and they, reverencing the exhortation of their king, pressed on with more alacrity round their counsel-giving king. And the Greeks, on the other side, strengthened their phalanxes within the wall, because a great work presented itself to them. For neither could the gallant Lycians, bursting through the wall of the Greeks, make their way to the ships, nor could the warlike Greeks repulse the Lycians from the wall, since first they approached it. But as two men, holding measures in their hands, dispute, in a common field,[407] concerning their boundaries, who in a small s.p.a.ce contend for their equitable right; thus did the b.u.t.tresses separate these [warriors], and, for them, each smote the well-rounded ox-hide shields around each other's b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and the light bucklers of each other. And many were wounded upon the body with the merciless bra.s.s, whether the back of any combatant, averted, was laid bare, and many right through the shield itself. Everywhere the towers and b.u.t.tresses were sprinkled, on both sides, with the blood of heroes, from the Trojans and the Greeks. Yet not even thus could they cause a flight of the Greeks, but they held themselves, as a just woman, who labours with her hands, does the scales,[408] who, poising both the weight and the wool, draws them on either side to equalize them, that she may procure a scanty pittance for the support of her children. Thus equally was their battle and war extended, before the time when Jove gave superior glory to Hector, the son of Priam, who first leaped within the wall of the Greeks, and shouted with a penetrating voice, calling out to the Trojans:

"Push on, ye horse-breaking Trojans, burst through the wall of the Greeks, and hurl the fiercely-blazing fire against the ships."

Thus he spake, cheering them on; but they all heard him with their ears, and rushed against the wall in great numbers, and then mounted the battlements, carrying their pointed spears. But Hector seizing it, took up a stone, which stood before the gates, widening out at the base,[409]

but sharp above; which two men, the strongest of the people, such as mortals now are, could not easily raise from the ground upon a waggon.

He, however, brandished it easily and alone, because the son of wise Saturn had rendered it light to him.

[Footnote 407: _I.e._ a field, to part of which each lays claim.

??t?a seem to be the lines used in measuring ground ("linea mensuralis," Siculus Flaccus, p. 23, ed. Goes.)]

[Footnote 408: Milton, P.L. vi. 245:--

----"long time in even scale The battle hung."]

[Footnote 409: See Eustathius.]

As when a shepherd without difficulty carries the fleece of a male sheep, taking it in either hand, and but a small weight oppresses him; so Hector, raising the stone, bore it right against the beams which strengthened the closely-jointed gates, double and lofty; but two cross-bars secured them within, and one key fitted them. But advancing, he stood very near, and exerting his strength, struck them in the middle, standing with his legs wide asunder, that the blow of the weapon might not be weak. And he tore away both hinges, and the stone fell within with a great weight; and the gates crashed around; nor did the bars withstand it, but the beams were rent asunder in different directions by the impulse of the stone. There ill.u.s.trious Hector rushed in, in aspect like unto the dreadful night; and he glittered in terrible bra.s.s, with which he was girt around his body. And he held two spears in his hands, nor could any one, opposing, restrain him, except the G.o.ds, after he had leaped within the gates; but his eyes gleamed with fire. And turning to the crowd, he cheered on the Trojans to ascend the wall, and they obeyed him encouraging. Straightway indeed some crossed the wall, and others were poured in through the well-wrought gates, but the Greeks were routed towards the hollow barks, and an unyielding[410] tumult ensued.

[Footnote 410: See b.u.t.tm. Lexil. p. 405,]

BOOK THE THIRTEENTH.

ARGUMENT.

Neptune engages on the Grecian side, and the battle proceeds. Dephobus is repulsed by Meriones. Teucer kills Imbrius, and Hector Amphimachus.

Neptune, a.s.suming the likeness of Thoas, exhorts Idomeneus, who goes forth with Meriones to battle, when the former slays Othryoneus and Asius. Dephobus attacks Idomeneus, but misses him, and slays Hypsenor.

Idomeneus slays Alcathous, over whose body a sharp contest ensues.

But after Jove, then, had brought the Trojans and Hector near the ships, he left them to endure labour and toil at them incessantly; but he himself turned back his shining eyes apart, looking towards the land of the equestrian Thracians and the close-fighting Mysians, and the ill.u.s.trious Hippomolgi, milk-nourished, simple in living, and most just men.[411] But to Troy he no longer now turned his bright eyes; for he did not suppose in his mind that any one of the immortals, going, would aid either the Trojans or the Greeks.

[Footnote 411: Arrian, Exp. Alex. iv. p. 239, referring to this pa.s.sage of Homer, observes, ?????s? d? ?? t? ?s?? ??t??

a?t?????, ??? ???sta d?? pe??a? te ?a? d??a??t?ta. Dionysius, Perieg. 309, seems, as Hill observes, to consider the name ?pp?????? as applicable not to one single clan, but to the whole of the Sarmatian nomads, milk being one of the princ.i.p.al articles of their diet, as among the Suevi (Caesar, B.G. iv. 1), and the ancient Germans (id. vi. 22). Callimachus, Hymn iii., applies the epithet to the Cimmerians. The epithet ???? (or ????=_bowless_, not living by archery: cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. i. pp. 17, 794) is involved in doubt, and the ancients themselves were uncertain whether to regard it as a proper name or an epithet. (Cf. Steph.

Byz. s. v., p. 7, ed. Pined.; Villois on Apoll. Lex. p. 14; Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 74, sqq.) It seems best to understand with Strabo, vii. p. 460, nations ?p' ?????? e?te??? ???ta?. Knight wished to throw out these verses altogether, alleging that allusion is made in them to the discipline of Zamolxis, with which Homer must have been wholly unacquainted.]

Nor did king Neptune keep a vain watch; for he sat aloft upon the highest summit of the woody Thracian Samos, admiring the war and the battle. For from thence all Ida was visible, and the city of Priam was visible, and the ships of the Greeks. Then coming out of the sea, he sat down, and he pitied the Greeks, subdued by the Trojans, and was very indignant with Jove. But presently he descended down, from the rugged mountain, rapidly advancing on foot, and the high hills and woods trembled beneath the immortal feet of Neptune, advancing. Thrice indeed he strode, advancing, and with the fourth step he reached aegae, his destined goal. There distinguished mansions, golden, glittering, ever incorruptible, were erected to him in the depths of the sea. Coming thither, he yoked beneath his chariot the brazen-footed steeds, swiftly flying, crested with golden manes. But he himself placed gold around his person, took his golden lash, well wrought, and ascended his chariot. He proceeded to drive over the billows, and the monsters of the deep[412]

sported beneath him on all sides from their recesses, nor were ignorant of their king. For joy the sea separated; and they flew very rapidly, nor was the brazen axle moist beneath. And his well-bounding steeds bore him to the ships of the Greeks.

Now there is an ample cave[413] in the recesses of the deep sea, between Tenedos and rugged Imbrus. There earth-shaking Neptune stopped his horses, loosing them from the chariot, and cast beside [them] ambrosial fodder to eat. And round their feet he threw golden fetters, irrefragable, indissoluble, that they might there steadily await their king returning, but he departed towards the army of the Greeks.

[Footnote 412: So I have ventured to render ??tea. Nonius Marcell. v. Cetarii--"cete in mari majora sunt piscium genera."

Thus Quintus Calaber, v. 94, imitating this pa.s.sage, has de?f??e?, and Hesychius defines ??t?? by ?????? f???, the word evidently meaning any huge fish. Cf. b.u.t.tm. Lexil. p. 378, sq.]

[Footnote 413: Compare the description of the cave of Nereus, in Apoll. Rhod. iv. 771, sqq., and of the river Peneus, in Virg.

Georg. iv. 359, sqq., with my note on aesch. Prom. p. 11, ed.

Bohn.]

The Trojans, however, in crowds, like unto a flame or a whirlwind, followed Hector, the son of Priam, with insatiable ardour, shouting loudly, and exclaiming; for they hoped to capture the ships of the Greeks, and slay all the Greeks beside them. But earth-ruling, earth-shaking Neptune, coming from the deep sea, aroused the Greeks, a.s.similating his person and indefatigable voice to Calchas. The Ajaces he first addressed, though themselves were earnest:

"Ye Ajaces, ye indeed, mindful of valour, not of direful flight, will preserve the people of the Greeks. For in any other place, indeed, I do not dread the audacious hands of the Trojans, who in great numbers have surmounted the great wall, because the well-greaved Greeks will sustain them all. But in that place I grievously fear lest we suffer any thing, where infuriated Hector, like unto a flame, leads on who boasts to be the son of almighty Jove. But may some of the G.o.ds thus put it in your minds, that ye stand firmly yourselves, and exhort others; thus may ye drive him, although impetuous, from the swift-sailing ships, even if Jove himself excites him."

He said, and earth-ruling Neptune, striking both with his sceptre, filled them with violent might, and made their limbs light and their feet and hands above. But he, like as a swift-winged hawk is impelled to fly, which, lifted up from a rugged, lofty rock, has hastened to pursue another bird over the plain; so darted earth-shaking Neptune from them.

But fleet Ajax, the son of Oleus, recognized him first of the two, and straightway addressed Ajax, the son of Telamon:

"O Ajax, since some one of the G.o.ds, who possess Olympus, likening himself to the soothsayer, exhorts us to fight beside the ships (neither is this Calchas, the prophesying augur; for I readily recognized the traces of his feet and legs when departing; for the G.o.ds are easily distinguished), even to myself, the soul within my bosom is more incited to war and to fight, and my feet beneath and hands above eagerly desire it."

But him Telamonian Ajax answering, addressed: "So also to me are my strong hands upon my spear eager, and my courage is aroused, and I am hurried along by both my feet under me; and I eagerly long, even alone, to combat with Hector, the son of Priam, insatiably raging."

Thus they addressed these words to each other, joyful in the desire of battle[414] which the G.o.d had infused into their minds. In the meanwhile the Earth-ruler (Neptune) aroused the Achaeans in the rear, who were recruiting their spirit at the swift ships; whose limbs were at the same time relaxed with toilsome labour, and grief was arising in their minds, beholding the Trojans, who with a tumult had surmounted the vast wall.

But beholding them, they poured forth tears from beneath their eyebrows, for they expected not to escape destruction: but the Earth-shaker intervening, easily aroused the brave phalanxes. To Teucer and Leius he first came, exhorting them, and to the hero Peneleus, and Thoas, and Deipyrus, and to Meriones and Antilochus, skilful in war. These he encouraging, spoke winged words:

[Footnote 414: See Heyne, who compares the Latin _gestire_.

Hesych.: ????, ? ?et? ?a??? ???.]

"O shame! Argives, young men, I trust that our ships will be preserved by your fighting; but if ye be remiss in the destructive battle, the day is now come [for us] to be subdued by the Trojans. Ye G.o.ds, surely I behold with my eyes a great marvel, terrible, which I never expected would be brought to pa.s.s, that the Trojans should approach our ships; who formerly, like unto timid stags, which through the wood are the prey of lynxes, pards, and wolves, foolishly straying about, weak, nor fit for combat: so the Trojans formerly would not stand even for a little against the might and prowess of the Greeks. But now, far away from the city, they combat at the hollow ships, through the perverseness of our general, and the indifference of the troops; who, disputing with him, are unwilling to defend the swift ships, but are slain among them. Yet although in reality the hero, the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, be altogether in fault, in that he hath dishonoured the swift-footed son of Peleus, still it is by no means our duty to be remiss in battle, but let us the sooner repair [the mischief];[415] the minds of the brave are easily appeased. But they by no means honourably remit your impetuous valour, being all the bravest in the army: I indeed would not quarrel with a man who should desist from combat, being unwarlike; but with you I am indignant from my heart. O soft ones! surely will ye soon create some greater evil by this inertness: but do each of you in his mind ponder on the shame and reproach; for certainly a mighty contest hath arisen. Now indeed brave Hector, good in the din of war, combats at the ships, and hath burst through the gates and the long bar."

[Footnote 415: ?? ?e????? ???t?a: Schol. For the metaphorical use of ??esta?, cf. Soph. Ant. 1026. ?st?? ?? ?a??? ?es?? ??e?ta?

?d' ?????t?? p??e? So e??at?te??? d?? t? etape?s???a? ??, Aristot. Eth. vii. 2.]

Thus then Neptune, exhorting, aroused the Greeks. But round the two Ajaces firm phalanxes stood, which not even Mars, coming amongst them, would have found fault with, nor Minerva, the confounder of armies; for the bravest selected awaited the Trojans and n.o.ble Hector; knitting spear with spear, shield with shield,[416] one upon another,[417] so that shield pressed upon shield, helmet upon helmet, and man upon man.

And the horse-haired helmets of them, nodding, touched each other with their splendid ridges,[418] so closely stood they to one another; and spears in the act of being hurled, were brandishing from their daring hands, whilst they wished [to go] straight [against the enemy], and were eager to fight. But the combined Trojans first made the attack, and impetuous Hector first rushed against them: as a destructively-rolling stone from a rock, which a wintry torrent drives down the brow, having burst with a mighty shower the stays of the rugged rock, and bounding along, it rolls, and the forest resounds beneath it: but straightway it runs on uninterruptedly until it reach the plain, but then it rolls no longer, though impelled; so Hector for a while threatened that he would easily come as far as the sea, to the tents and ships of the Greeks, slaughtering. But when now he met the firm phalanxes, he stopped, being come into close contact; and the sons of the Greeks, opposing, repulsed him from them, striking him with their swords and two-edged spears; but retiring, he was compelled to withdraw; and he cried out shouting audibly to the Trojans:

"Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, stand firm. Not long will the Greeks withstand me, although they have drawn themselves up in very dense array.[419] But, I conceive, they will retire from my spear, if in truth the most powerful of the G.o.ds, the high-thundering husband of Juno, hath urged me on."