The Iliad of Homer Part 32

But after the fugitives had crossed both the ramparts and the trench, and many were subdued by the hands of the Greeks, the rest were at length detained, waiting beside their chariots, pallid with fear, and terrified. But Jove arose on the summits of Ida, from beside golden-throned Juno; and starting up, he stood and beheld the Trojans and Greeks, those indeed in confusion, and the Greeks throwing them into confusion in the rear; and amongst them king Neptune. Hector he beheld lying upon the plain, and his companions sat round him:[483] but he was afflicted with grievous difficulty of respiration, and devoid of his senses,[484] vomiting blood, for it was not the weakest of the Greeks who had wounded him. The father of men and G.o.ds, seeing, pitied him, and sternly regarding Juno, severely addressed her:

"O Juno, of evil arts, impracticable, thy stratagem has made n.o.ble Hector cease from battle, and put his troops to flight. Indeed I know not whether again thou mayest not be the first to reap the fruits of thy pernicious machinations, and I may chastise thee with stripes. Dost thou not remember when thou didst swing from on high, and I hung two anvils from thy feet, and bound a golden chain around thy hands, that could not be broken? And thou didst hang in the air and clouds, and the G.o.ds commiserated thee throughout lofty Olympus; but standing around, they were not able to release thee; but whomsoever I caught, seizing, I hurled from the threshold [of heaven], till he reached the earth, hardly breathing. Nor even thus did my vehement anger, through grief for divine Hercules, leave me; whom thou, prevailing upon the storms, with the north wind, didst send over the unfruitful sea, designing evils, and afterwards bore him out of his course, to well-inhabited Cos. I liberated him, indeed, and brought him back thence to steed-nourishing Argos, although having accomplished many toils. These things will I again recall to thy memory, that thou mayest cease from deceits; in order that thou mayest know whether the intercourse and a couch will avail thee, in which thou wast mingled, coming apart from the G.o.ds, and having deceived me."

[Footnote 483: ?? here has the force of _demum_.]

[Footnote 484: ??est???? t? ????.--Scholiast.]

Thus he spoke; but venerable large-eyed Juno shuddered, and, addressing him, spoke winged words:

"Be witness now, Earth, and boundless Heaven above, and the water of Styx gliding beneath, which is the greatest and most dreaded oath amongst the blessed G.o.ds; likewise thy sacred head, and our own nuptial couch, by which I would not rashly swear at any time, that it is not by my instigation that earth-shaking Neptune hara.s.ses the Trojans and Hector, and aids the other side; but certainly his own mind incites and orders him; for, beholding the Greeks oppressed at the ships, he took compa.s.sion on them. And even him would I advise to go there, where thou, O Cloud-collector, mayest command."

Thus she spoke; but the father of men and G.o.ds smiled, and answering her, spoke winged words:

"If indeed thou from henceforth, O venerable, large-eyed Juno, wouldst sit amongst the immortals, being of the same mind with me, then truly would Neptune, even although he very much wishes otherwise, immediately change his mind to the same point, to thy wish and mine. But if indeed thou speakest in sincerity and truly, go now to the a.s.semblies of the G.o.ds, and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, renowned in archery, that she may go to the people of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and tell king Neptune, ceasing from battle, to repair to his own palaces; but let Phbus Apollo excite Hector to battle, and breathe strength into him again, and make him forgetful of the pains which now afflict him in his mind: but let him again put the Greeks to flight, exciting unwarlike panic [amongst them], and, flying, let them fall back upon the many-benched ships of Achilles, the son of Peleus. Then shall he stimulate his companion Patroclus, whom ill.u.s.trious Hector shall slay with his spear before Ilium, [Patroclus] having slain many other youths, and with them my son, n.o.ble Sarpedon; but n.o.ble Achilles shall slay Hector. From this time forward will I always continually effect for thee, that there shall be a retreat [of the Trojans] from the ships, until the Greeks, by the counsels of Minerva, shall take lofty Ilium.

However, I shall not abate my anger, nor will I here permit any of the immortals to a.s.sist the Greeks, before that the request of the son of Peleus be completed; as first I promised to him, and nodded a.s.sent with my head, on that day when the G.o.ddess Thetis touched my knees, beseeching me that I would honour Achilles, the destroyer of cities."

Thus he spoke, nor did the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno disobey, but went down from the Idaean mountains to lofty Olympus. And as when the mind of a man flashes swiftly [in thought], who, having traversed over many a land, thinks within his prudent heart, "I was here, I was there," and deliberates much: thus quickly hastening, up sprung venerable Juno. But she reached lofty Olympus, and came in upon the immortal G.o.ds, a.s.sembled in the house of Jove but they beholding her, all rose up and welcomed her with their cups. The rest, however, she neglected, but received a goblet from fair-cheeked Themis; for she first running, came to meet her, and addressing her, spoke winged words:

"Why, O Juno, hast thou come [hither], and art like unto one in consternation? Has then the son of Saturn, who is thy husband, greatly terrified thee?"

But her the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno then answered: "Do not, O G.o.ddess Themis, ask me these things; even thou thyself knowest how overbearing and cruel a spirit is his. But do thou preside over the equal feast, in the palaces of the G.o.ds, and thou shalt hear these things along with all the immortals, what evil deeds Jove denounces. Nor do I at all think that the mind will equally rejoice to all, neither to mortals nor to the G.o.ds, although some one even yet be feasting pleasantly."

Thus having spoken, venerable Juno sat down; but the G.o.ds were grieved throughout the palace of Jove. But she laughed with her lips [only], nor was her forehead above her dark brows exhilarated;[485] and, indignant, she spoke amongst them all:

"Senseless we, who are thus foolishly enraged with father Jove! Of a truth we still desire to restrain him, approaching near, either by persuasion or by force; whilst he, sitting apart, does not regard, nor is moved, for he says he is decidedly the most mighty in strength and power among the immortal G.o.ds. Wherefore endure whatever evil he may please to send upon each of you; for now already, I think, misfortune hath been inflicted upon Mars, since his son has perished in the fight, the dearest of mortals, Ascalaphus, whom impetuous Mars calls his own."

[Footnote 485: Compare Virg. aen. i. 211: "Spem vultu simulat, premit altum corde dolorem" with Seneca ad Pol. 24. Nemesian.

Eclog. iv. 17. "Quid vultu mentem premis, ac spem fronte serenas." Liv. xxviii. 8: "Mrebat quidem et angebatur.... in concilio tamen dissimulans aegritudinem, elato nimo disseruit."]

Thus she spake; but Mars smote his brawny thighs with his dropped hands, and sorrowing, addressed them:

"Do not now blame me, ye who possess the Olympic mansions, repairing to the ships of the Greeks, to avenge the slaughter of my son, even although it should be my fate, smitten with the thunderbolt of Jove, to lie together with the dead bodies in blood and dust."

Thus he spake, and he commanded Fear and Flight to yoke his steeds, but he himself girded on his shining armour. Then indeed some other greater and more grievous wrath and indignation had fallen upon the immortals from Jove, had not Minerva, greatly fearing for all the G.o.ds, leaped forth from the vestibule, and left the throne where she sat. From his head she s.n.a.t.c.hed the helmet, and the shield from his shoulders, and taking the brazen spear out of his strong hand, she placed it upright; and rebuked impetuous Mars with [these] words:

"Infuriated one, infatuated in mind, thou art undone! are thy ears indeed useless for hearing, and have thy sense and shame perished? Dost thou not hear what the white-armed G.o.ddess Juno says, and she has just now come from Olympian Jove? Dost thou thyself wish, having fulfilled many misfortunes, to return to Olympus very much grieved, and by compulsion, and also to create a great evil to all the rest? For he will immediately leave the Trojans and magnanimous Greeks, and will come against us, about to disturb us in Olympus; and will seize us one after the other, whoever is culpable and who is not. Wherefore I exhort thee now to lay aside thy wrath on account of thy son, for already some one, even superior to him in strength and in hands, either is slain, or will be hereafter; for it would be a difficult task to liberate [from death]

the race and offspring of all men."

So saying, she seated impetuous Mars upon his throne. But Juno called Apollo outside the house, and Iris, who is the messenger among the immortal G.o.ds, and addressing them, spoke winged words:

"Jove orders you twain to repair with all haste to Ida, but when ye arrive, and look upon the countenance of Jove, do whatsoever he may urge and command."

Then indeed, having thus spoken, venerable Juno retired, and sat down upon her throne; but they, hastening, flew and arrived at Ida of many rills, the mother of wild beasts. They found the far-seeing son of Saturn sitting upon lofty Gargarus, and an odoriferous cloud encircled him around. But coming before cloud-compelling Jove, they stood; nor was he enraged in his mind, beholding them, because they quickly obeyed the commands of his dear wife. And first to Iris he addressed winged words:

"Haste, begone, fleet Iris, tell all these things to king Neptune, nor be thou a false messenger. Order him, having ceased from the battle and the war, to repair to the a.s.semblies of the G.o.ds, or to the vast sea.

If, however, he will not obey my words, but shall despise them, let him then consider in his mind and soul, lest, however powerful he may be, he may not be able to withstand me coming against him; for I say that I am superior to him in strength, and elder in birth; but his heart fears riot to a.s.sert himself equal to me, whom even the others dread."

Thus he spoke, nor was wind-footed, swift Iris disobedient: but she descended from the Idaean mountains to sacred Ilium. And as when snow drifts from the clouds, or cold hail, by the impulse of cloud-dispelling[486] Boreas, so quickly swift Iris with eagerness flew along, and standing near ill.u.s.trious Neptune, she addressed him:

"O azure-haired Earth-shaker, I have come hither, bringing a certain message to thee from aegis-bearing Jove. He has commanded thee, having ceased from the battle and the war, to repair either to the a.s.semblies of the G.o.ds or to the vast sea. But if thou wilt not obey his words, but shalt despise them, he threatens that he will come hither himself to fight against thee; and advises thee to avoid his hands, because he a.s.serts that he is greatly superior to thee in strength, and elder in birth: but thy heart does not fear to profess that thou art equal to him, whom even the others dread."

But her ill.u.s.trious Neptune, greatly indignant, then addressed: "G.o.ds!

powerful though he be, he surely has spoken proudly, if he will by force restrain me unwilling, who am of equal honour. For we are three brothers [descended] from Saturn, whom Rhea brought forth: Jupiter and I, and Pluto, governing the infernal regions, the third; all things were divided into three parts, and each was allotted his dignity.[487] I in the first place, the lots being shaken, was allotted to inhabit for ever the h.o.a.ry sea, and Pluto next obtained the pitchy darkness; but Jove in the third place had allotted to him the wide heaven in the air and in the clouds. Nevertheless the earth is still the common property of all, and lofty Olympus. Wherefore I shall not live according to the will of Jove, but although being very powerful, let him remain quiet in his third part; and let him by no means terrify me as a coward with his hands. For it would be better for him to insult with terrific language the daughters and sons whom he hath begotten, who will also through necessity attend to him, exhorting them."

But him the fleet wind-footed Iris then answered: "O[488] azure-haired Earth-shaker, shall I really thus bear back from thee to Jove this relentless and violent reply? Or wilt thou change it at all? The minds of the prudent indeed are flexible. Thou knowest that the Furies are ever attendant on the elders." [489]

[Footnote 486: More literalty, "producing clear air." So Eustathius, or Eumathius, Erotic. ii. p. 14: ??????e??t?? ??????.

Heyne prefers "in aere genitus."]

[Footnote 487: On this division of things, see Servius on Virg.

aen. i. 143; Fulgent Myth. i. 1, 3. The Scholiasts attempt to refer it to the ancient theory of the elements.]

[Footnote 488: These three verses were elegantly applied by Sostrates in mitigating the intemperate language which Antigonus would fain have addressed to Ptolemy Philadelphus. See s.e.xtus Emp. adv. Gramm. i. 13, p. 276.]

[Footnote 489: The Furies are said to wait on men in a double sense; either for evil, as upon Orestes after he had slain his mother; or else for good, as upon elders when they are injured, to protect them and avenge their wrongs. This is an instance that the pagans looked upon birthright as a right divine. Eustath.

quoted in ed. Dubl. cf. ix. 507.]

But her again earth-shaking Neptune in turn addressed: "G.o.ddess Iris, very rightly hast thou delivered this opinion; moreover, it is good when a messenger knows fitting things. But on this account severe indignation comes upon my heart and soul, because he wishes to chide with angry words me, equal to him by lot, and doomed to an equal destiny.

Nevertheless, at present, although being indignant, I will give way. But another thing will I tell thee, and I will threaten this from my soul; if indeed, without me and prey-hunting Minerva, Juno, Mercury, and king Vulcan, he shall spare lofty Ilium, nor shall wish to destroy it, and give great glory to the Greeks; let him know this, that endless animosity shall arise between us."

So saying, the Earth-shaker quitted the Grecian army, and proceeding, he plunged into the deep; but the Grecian heroes longed for him. And then cloud-compelling Jove addressed Apollo:

"Go now, dear Phbus, to brazen-helmed Hector; for already hath earth-encircling Neptune departed to the vast sea, avoiding our dreadful anger; for otherwise the rest, who are infernal G.o.ds, being around Saturn, would surely have heard our quarrel. This, however, is much better for me as well as for himself, that he hath first yielded to my hands, accounting himself worthy of blame, because the matter would not have been accomplished without sweat. But do thou take the fringed aegis in thy hands, with which, by violently shaking it, do thou greatly terrify the Grecian heroes. To thyself, however, O far-darting [Apollo], let ill.u.s.trious Hector be a care. So long then arouse his great might unto him, until the Greeks in flight reach the ships and the h.e.l.lespont.

Thenceforth I shall myself deliberate in deed and word, how the Greeks also may revive from labour."

Thus he spoke, nor did Apollo disobey his sire, but he descended from the Idaean mountains like unto a swift hawk the dove-destroyer, the swiftest of birds. He found the son of warlike Priam, n.o.ble Hector, sitting; for he no longer lay [on the ground], but had just collected his senses, recognizing his friends around him. But the panting and perspiration had ceased, since the will of aegis-bearing Jove had aroused him. Then far-darting Apollo, standing near, addressed him:

"Hector, son of Priam, why sittest thou apart from the rest, failing in strength? Has any grief invaded thee?"

But him then crest-tossing Hector languidly addressed: "And who art thou, best of the G.o.ds, who inquirest face to face? Hast thou not heard that Ajax, brave in the din of battle, smote me with a stone upon the breast, and caused me to cease from impetuous valour, when slaying his companions at the sterns of the Grecian ships? And truly I thought that I should this day behold the dead, and the mansion of Pluto, since I was [on the point of] breathing out my dear life."

But him far-darting king Apollo addressed in turn: "Be of good courage now, so great an a.s.sistant has the son of Saturn sent forth from Ida to stand up and help thee, Phbus Apollo, of the golden sword: who am accustomed to defend at the same time thyself and the lofty city. But come, encourage now thy numerous cavalry to drive their fleet steeds towards the hollow ships; but I, going before, will level the whole way for the horses, and I will turn to flight the Grecian heroes."

Thus speaking, he inspired great strength into the shepherd of the people. As when some stalled horse, fed on barley[490] at the manger, having snapped his halter, runs over the plain, striking the earth with his feet (accustomed to bathe in the smooth-flowing river), exulting, he holds his head on high, and around his shoulders his mane is dishevelled; and, trusting to his beauty[491]--his knees easily bear him to the accustomed places and pasture of the mares: so Hector swiftly moved his feet and knees, encouraging the hors.e.m.e.n, after he had heard the voice of the G.o.d. But they--as dogs and rustic men rush against either a horned stag or wild goat; which however a lofty rock and shady forest protect, nor is it destined for them to catch it; but at their clamour[492] a bushy-bearded lion appears in the way, and turns them all back, although ardently pursuing: thus the Greeks. .h.i.therto indeed ever kept following in troops, striking with their swords and double-edged spears. But when they beheld Hector entering the ranks of heroes, they were troubled, and the courage of all fell at their feet.

[Footnote 490: Cf. vi. 508; and on ???st?sa?, b.u.t.tm. Lexil. p.

75, sq.]

[Footnote 491: Observe the abrupt change of construction.]

[Footnote 492: ?p? ?a???, attracted by their shouting.]

Then Thoas, the son of Andraemon, addressed them, by far the bravest of the aetolians, skilled in the use of the javelin, and brave in the standing fight; few also of the Greeks excelled him in the council when the youths contended in eloquence. Who wisely counselling, harangued them, and said:

"O G.o.ds, surely I behold with mine eyes this mighty miracle, since Hector has thus risen again, having escaped death. Certainly the mind of each was in great hopes that he had died by the hands of Telamonian Ajax. But some one of the G.o.ds has again liberated and preserved Hector, who hath already relaxed the knees of many Greeks; as I think is about [to occur] now also, for not without far-sounding Jove does he stand in the van, thus earnest. But come, let us all obey as I shall desire. Let us order the mult.i.tude to retreat towards the ships. But let us, as many as boast ourselves to be the best in the army, take a stand, if indeed, opposing, we may at the outset interrupt him, upraising our spears; and I think that he, although raging, will dread in mind to enter the band of the Greeks."

Thus he spoke; but all heard him attentively, and obeyed. Those around the Ajaces and king Idomeneus, Teucer, Meriones, and Meges, equal to Mars, calling the chiefs together, marshalled their lines against Hector and the Trojans; whilst the mult.i.tude in the rear retreated to the ships of the Greeks. But the Trojans in close array pressed forward; and Hector, taking long strides, led the way; but before him walked Phbus Apollo, clad as to his shoulders with a cloud,[493] and he held the mighty, dreadful, fringed,[494] dazzling aegis, which the artist Vulcan had given to Jove, to be borne along for the routing of men. Holding this in his hands, he led on the people. But the Greeks remained in close array, and a shrill shout arose on both sides. [Many] arrows bounded from the strings, and many spears from gallant hands: some were fixed in the bodies of warlike youths, but many half way, before they had touched the fair body, stuck in the earth, longing to satiate themselves with flesh. As long as Phbus Apollo held the aegis unmoved in his hands, so long did the weapons reach both sides, and the people fell. But when, looking full in the faces of the swift-horsed Greeks, he shook it, and he himself besides shouted very loudly, then he checked the courage in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and they became forgetful of impetuous valour. But they, as when two wild beasts, in the depth of the dark night,[495] disturb a drove of oxen or a great flock of sheep, coming suddenly upon them, the keeper not being present--so the enfeebled Greeks were routed; for amongst them Apollo sent terror, and gave glory to the Trojans and to Hector. Then indeed man slew man, when the battle gave way. Hector slew Stichius and Arcesilaus; the one the leader of the brazen-mailed Botians; but the other the faithful companion of magnanimous Menestheus. But aeneas slew Medon and Iasus: Medon indeed was the illegitimate son of G.o.dlike Oleus, and brother of Ajax; and he dwelt in Phylace, away from his father-land, having slain a man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oleus had betrothed. Iasus, however, was appointed leader of the Athenians, and was called the son of Sphelus, the son of Bucolus. But Polydamas slew Mecistis, and Polites Echius, in the van, and n.o.ble Agenor slew Klonius. Paris also wounded Deiochous in the extremity of the shoulder from behind, whilst he was flying amongst the foremost combatants; and drove the bra.s.s quite through.