The Iliad of Homer Part 29

[Footnote 434: The meaning of a???p?? is rather uncertain.

According to the Schol. and Hesychius, it means a helmet that has the openings for the eyes oblong (pa?a??e?? ????sa t?? t??

?f?a??? ?p??), or a helmet with a long crest (??teta????

??f??).]

[Footnote 435: F????sa? ?d?a?t?, ? t?? ??? ??t??????

?f???ta?.]

[Footnote 436: The "praeustae sudes" of Caesar, ?.G. ?. 40. These were among the rustic weapons of antiquity, as may be seen from Virg. aen. vii. 523.

"Non jam certamine agresti Stipitibus duris agitur, sudibusve praeustis; Sed ferro ancipiti decernunt."]

[Footnote 437: Cf. vs. 444.]

But Pisander went direct against glorious Menelaus, because evil Fate led him towards the end of death, to be subdued by thee, O Menelaus, in the dire battle. When therefore they were near, advancing against each other, the son of Atreus indeed missed, and his spear was turned aside from him; but Pisander smote the shield of glorious Menelaus, nor could he drive the spear quite through; because the broad shield kept it off, and the spear was broken at the extremity: still he rejoiced in his mind, and hoped for victory. The son of Atreus, however, drawing his silver-studded sword, sprang upon Pisander; but he drew from beneath his shield a handsome battle-axe of well-wrought bra.s.s, fixed upon either side of an olive handle, long, well-polished; and at once they struck each other. Then he (Pisander) cut away the cone of the helmet, thick with horse-hair, under the very crest, but (Menelaus smote) him, approaching, upon the forehead, above the root of the nose. And the bones crashed, and his blood-stained eyes fell at his feet upon the ground in the dust: and falling, he writhed. Then he (Menelaus) placing his heel upon his breast, despoiled him of his armour, and boasting, spoke [this] speech:

"Thus,[438] then, shall ye abandon the ships of the Greeks, who possess swift steeds, ye treaty-breaking Trojans, insatiate of dire battle. Of other injury and disgrace ye indeed lack nothing with which ye have injured me, vile dogs, nor have ye at all dreaded in your minds the heavy wrath of high-thundering, hospitable Jove, who will yet destroy for you your lofty city; ye who unprovoked departed, carrying off my virgin spouse, and much wealth, after ye had been hospitably received by her. Now again do ye eagerly desire to hurl destructive fire upon the sea-traversing ships, and to slay the Grecian heroes. But ye shall yet be restrained, impetuous as ye be, from war. O father Jove, a.s.suredly they say that thou excellest all others, men and G.o.ds, in prudence, yet from thee do all these things proceed. How much dost thou gratify these insolent Trojan men, whose violence is ever pernicious, and who cannot be satisfied with war, equally destructive to all! Of all things is there satiety,--of sleep, of love, of sweet singing, and of faultless dancing, with which one would much more readily satisfy his desire, than with war; but the Trojans are insatiate of battle."

[Footnote 438: _I.e._ by being slain one after another.]

So saying, having stripped the b.l.o.o.d.y armour from the body, ill.u.s.trious Menelaus gave it to his companions, whilst he, advancing, was again mixed with the foremost combatants. Then Harpalion, the son of king Pylaemenes, who had then followed his dear father to wage war at Troy, leaped upon him; nor returned he back to his native land. [He it was]

who then, close at hand, struck the middle of Atrides' shield with his lance, nor was he able to drive quite through the bra.s.s; but he retired back into the crowd of his companions, avoiding death, looking around on all sides, lest any one should touch his body[439] with a spear.

Meriones, however, shot a brazen-pointed arrow at him retreating, and struck him upon the right hip, and the arrow penetrated to the other side, through the bladder, below the bone. Sinking down, therefore, in the same place, breathing out his life in the arms of his beloved companions, like a worm, he lay stretched upon the ground, whilst his black blood flowed, and moistened the earth. Around him the magnanimous Paphlagonians were employed, and, lifting him upon a chariot, they bore him to sacred Ilium, grieving; and with them went his father, shedding tears: but no vengeance was taken for his dead son.

[Footnote 439: As the usual construction of ?pa??e?? is with a genitive, Heyne would supply ? t?? ?pa??? a?t?? ?at? ???a.]

But Paris was greatly enraged in his soul on account of his being slain, for he had been his guest among many Paphlagonians; wherefore, enraged on his account, he sent forth a brazen arrow. Now there was one Euchenor, son of the diviner Polydus, wealthy and brave, inhabiting a dwelling at Corinth, who, well knowing his fatal destiny, had arrived in a ship. For often had Polydus, good old man, told him, that he would perish in his halls of a grievous disease, or be subdued by the Trojans among the ships of the Greeks; wherefore he avoided at once the severe mulct[440] of the Achaeans, and odious disease, that he might not suffer sorrows in his mind. Him he (Paris) smote below the jaw and the ear; and his spirit quickly departed from his members, and hateful darkness seized him.

Thus indeed they fought like[441] unto a burning fire. But Hector, dear to Jove, had not learned, nor knew at all, how at the left of the ships his people were being slaughtered by the Greeks, for the victory was on the point of being the Grecians'; so much did earth-shaking Neptune encourage the Greeks, and moreover himself a.s.sisted with his strength; but he (Hector) pressed on where first he had sprung within the gates and wall, breaking the thick ranks of the shielded Greeks. There were the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus, drawn up upon the sh.o.r.e of the h.o.a.ry sea; but above[442] them the wall was built very low; there themselves and their horses were most impetuous in the combat. There[443] the Botians and long-robed Iaonians, the Locrians, the Phthians, and the ill.u.s.trious Epeans, restrained him from the ships, fiercely rushing on; but were unable to drive away from them n.o.ble Hector, like unto a flame.

The chosen men of the Athenians stood in the van; among whom Menestheus, son of Peteus, had the command; and with him followed Phidas, Stichius, and brave Bias, Meges, the son of Phyieus, Amphion, and Dracius, led the Epeans, and over the Phthians were Medon and Podarces, steady in fight (Medon indeed was the spurious offspring of G.o.dlike Oleus, and the brother of Ajax; but he dwelt at Phylace, away from his native country,[444] having slain a man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oleus had married. But the other was the son of Iphiclus, of Phylace). These in arms before the magnanimous Phthians, fought among the Botians, defending the ships.

[Footnote 440: As Corinth was under the authority of Agamemnon, he would have been compelled to pay a fine for refusing the service. Compare the a?t??a t?? a?st?ae?a? at Athens. See Potter, Antiq. i. 23.]

[Footnote 441: Cf. xi. 595, with the note.]

[Footnote 442: _I.e._ before them.]

[Footnote 443: _I.e._ where Hector broke in]

[Footnote 444: See my note on ii. p. 42, n. 2.]

But Ajax, the swift son of Oleus, never separated from Telamonian Ajax, not even for a little time; but as in a fallow field two black bullocks possessing equal spirit, draw a well-joined plough,--but meanwhile copious sweat breaks forth around the roots of their horns; and them the well-polished yoke alone separates on either side, advancing along the furrows, and [the plough] cuts[445] up the bottom of the soil; so they twain, joined together, stood very near to each other. And then many and brave troops followed the son of Telamon as companions, who received from him his shield, whenever fatigue and sweat came upon his limbs. But the Locrians followed not the great-souled son of Oleus, for their heart remained not firm to them in the standing fight, because they had not brazen helmets crested with horse-hair, nor had they well-orbed shields and ashen spears; but they followed along with him to Ilium, trusting in the bows and the well-twisted sheep's wool, with which, frequently hurling, they broke the phalanxes of the Trojans. At that time indeed these (the Ajaces) in the van, with their variously-wrought armour, fought against the Trojans and brazen-armed Hector, whilst (the Locrians) shooting from the rear, lay concealed; nor were the Trojans any longer mindful of combat, for the arrows put them in confusion.

Then surely would the Trojans have retreated with loss from the ships and tents to lofty Ilium, had not Polydamas, standing near, addressed bold Hector:

"Hector, thou art impossible to be persuaded by advice.[446] Because indeed a G.o.d hath given thee, above others, warlike deeds, for this reason dost thou also desire to be more skilled than others in counsel?

But by no means canst thou thyself obtain all things at once.[447] To one indeed hath the deity given warlike deeds; to another dancing; and to another the harp and singing. To another again far-sounding Jove implants a prudent mind in his bosom, of which many men reap the advantage, as it (prudence) even preserves cities; and he himself (who possesses it) especially knows (its value). Yet will I speak as appears to me best; because the encircling host[448] of war burns round thee on all sides, and the magnanimous Trojans, since they have crossed the walls, some indeed stand apart with their arms, and others fight, the fewer against the greater number, scattered amongst the ships. But retiring back, summon hither all the chiefs. And then we can better discuss the whole plan; whether we shall enter upon the many-benched ships, if indeed the deity will give us victory; or depart uninjured from the barks; because of a truth I fear lest the Greeks repay their debt of yesterday, since a man, insatiate in war, still remains at the ships, who I conceive will no longer abstain entirely from battle." Thus spoke Polydamas, but the faultless advice pleased Hector; and immediately he leaped with his armour from his chariot to the ground, and, addressing him, spoke winged words:

[Footnote 445: ??e? refers to ???t??? in v. 703, not to ?????.]

[Footnote 446: Put for ???a??? ?st? pe??e?? se.]

[Footnote 447: A favourite proverb. Cf. Duport, Gnom. p. 81.]

[Footnote 448: So "corona," in Latin.]

"Polydamas, do thou retain here all the bravest, whilst I will come back again immediately after I have given proper orders to the [troops]." He said, and shouting, he rushed on, like unto a snowy mountain, and flew through the Trojans and the allies. But they all crowded round valour-loving Polydamas, the son of Panthous, as soon as they heard the voice of Hector. He, however, ranged through the foremost combatants, seeking if he could anywhere find Dephobus, the might of king Helenus, and Adamas, the son of Asias, and Asius, the son of Hyrtacus. Some he found no longer quite unhurt, nor yet destroyed, whilst others again lay at the sterns of the ships of the Greeks, having lost their lives by the hands of the Greeks; and others were stricken or wounded within the wall. But he quickly found n.o.ble Alexander, the husband of fair-haired Helen, on the left of the lamentable battle, cheering of his companions, and encouraging them to fight; and, standing near, he addressed him with reproachful words:

"Accursed Paris, fine only in person, woman-mad, seducer, where are Dephobus and the might of king Helenus, and Adamas, the son of Asias, and Asius, the son of Hyrtacus? Where also is Othryoneus? Now lofty Ilium all perishes from its summit,[449] now is its final destruction certain."

[Footnote 449: The Latin "a culmine," as in Virg. aen. ii. 290, 603. So aesch.]

But him G.o.dlike Alexander in turn addressed: "Hector, since it is thy intention to find fault with me when innocent, at some other time perhaps, I may be more neglectful of the fight; [but not now], since neither did my mother bear me altogether unwarlike. For from the time when thou didst stir up the battle of thy companions at the ships, from that time, remaining here, have we engaged incessantly with the Greeks; and those comrades are dead for whom thou inquirest. Dephobus and the might of king Helenus alone have withdrawn, both wounded in the hand with long spears; but the son of Saturn hath warded off death [from them]. But now lead on, wheresoever thy heart and soul urge thee; and we will follow with determined minds, nor do I think that thou wilt be at all in want of valour, as much strength as is in us. It is not possible even for one, although keenly desirous, to fight beyond his strength."

So saying, the hero persuaded the mind of his brother, and they hastened to advance towards that place where especially was the battle and contest; round Cebriones and excellent Polydamas, Phalces and Orthaeus, and G.o.dlike Polyphtes, and Palmys, and Ascanius and Morys, the sons of Hippotion, who the day before had come as a relief guard[450] from fertile Ascania: and Jove then urged them to fight. But they marched like unto the blast of boisterous winds, which rushes down to the plain, urged by the thunder of father Jove, and with a dreadful tumult[451] is mingled with the ocean; and in it [rise] many boiling billows of the much-resounding sea, swollen, whitened with foam, first indeed some and then others following.

[Footnote 450: See b.u.t.tm. Lexil. p. 358. Choeph. 679: ?at' ???a?

????d' ?? p?????e?a. Soph. Ant. 206: ?????se ?? p??? p??sa?

?at' ???a?. Eurip. Phn. 1192: ?at' ????? pe????? ??e?? p????.]

[Footnote 451: ?????? d??d????, t??? p??t?????

?s??.--Eustathius.]

So the Trojans, first indeed some in battle array, and then others glittering in bra.s.s, followed along with their leaders. But Hector, the son of Priam, equal to man-slaughtering Mars, led the van, and held before him his shield, equal on all sides, thick with skins; and much bra.s.s was laid over it: and round his temples his gleaming helmet was shaken. Stepping forward, he tried the phalanxes around on every side, if perchance they would give way to him, advancing under cover of his shield. Yet he disturbed not the courage of the Greeks in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s: but Ajax, far-striding, first challenged him:

"O n.o.ble Sir, draw nearer: why dost thou thus frighten the Greeks? We Greeks are by no means unskilful in battle, although we are subdued by the evil scourge[452] of Jove. Thy soul, forsooth, hopes, I suppose, to plunder the ships; but we also have hands ready to repulse thee immediately. a.s.suredly, long before shall thy well-inhabited city be taken and destroyed by our hands. But to thee thyself, I say, the time draws near, when, flying, thou shalt pray to father Jove and the other immortals, that thy fair-maned steeds, which shall bear thee to the city, raising dust over the plain, may become swifter than hawks."

[Footnote 452: See note on xii. 37.]

Whilst he was thus speaking, a bird flew over him on the right--a lofty-flying eagle; upon which the people of the Greeks shouted, encouraged by the omen; but ill.u.s.trious Hector replied:

"O babbling and vain-boasting Ajax, what hast thou said? Would that I were as sure of becoming for ever the child of aegis-bearing Jove, that the venerable Juno had borne me, and that I were honoured as Minerva and Apollo are honoured, as that this day now certainly brings destruction upon all the Greeks; and among others thou shalt be slain, if thou wilt dare to abide my long spear, which shall tear for thee thy dainty person, and thou shalt satiate the dogs and birds of the Trojans with thy fat and flesh, falling at the ships of the Greeks."

Thus then having spoken, he led on; and they followed along with him with a mighty shout, and the troops likewise shouted in the rear. The Greeks, on the other side, raised a shout, nor were they forgetful of their valour, but they awaited the bravest of the Trojans, a.s.saulting.

But the clamour of both reached to the aether and the shining splendour[453] of Jove.

[Footnote 453: Cf. Pind. Ol. iii. 43: ???a?? ?????. So "auras aetherias," Virg. Georg. ii. 291. Lucret. i. 208, "Dias-luminis auras."--Kennedy.]

BOOK THE FOURTEENTH.

ARGUMENT.

Agamemnon and the other wounded chiefs visit the battle with Nestor.

Juno, having borrowed the cestus of Venus, first obtains the a.s.sistance of Sleep, and then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails, Jove sleeps, and Neptune seizes the opportunity to aid the Trojans.