The Iliad of Homer Part 4

[Footnote 86: The Greeks doubled the Trojans in number. See Anthon.]

[Footnote 87: Observe the change of construction in ?????ta? with the neuter plural. Apollon. de Syntaxi, iii. 11. ?? sp??ta ?????ta? ?ata?????te??? t?? d???a s?s?pe.]

Thus he spoke; and to them he aroused the heart in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, to all throughout the mult.i.tude, whoever had not heard his scheme.[88] And the a.s.sembly was moved, as the great waves of the Icarian Sea, which, indeed, both the south-east wind and the south are wont to raise,[89]

rushing from the clouds of father Jove. And as when the west wind[90]

agitates the thick-standing corn, rushing down upon it impetuous, and it [the crop] bends with its ears; so was all the a.s.sembly agitated. Some with shouting rushed to the ships, but from beneath their feet the dust stood suspended aloft; and some exhorted one another to seize the vessels, and drag them to the great ocean; and they began to clear the channels. The shout of them, eager [to return] home, rose to the sky, and they withdrew the stays from beneath the vessels. Then truly a return had happened to the Argives, contrary to destiny, had not Juno addressed herself to Minerva:

[Footnote 88: _I. e._ his real object. Cf. vs. 75, sqq.]

[Footnote 89: Spitzner and the later editors unite in reading ????s? for ????se? from the Venice MS. See Arnold.]

[Footnote 90:

----"As thick as when a field Of Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them."--Paradise Lost, iv. 980.]

"Alas! indomitable daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, thus now shall the Argives fly home to their dear native land, over the broad back of the deep, and leave to Priam glory, and to the Trojans Argive Helen, on whose account many Greeks have perished at Troy, far from their dear native land? But go now to the people of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and restrain each man with thy own flattering words, nor suffer them to launch to the sea their evenly-plied[91] barks." Thus she spoke, nor did the azure-eyed G.o.ddess Minerva refuse compliance. But she, hastening, descended down from the summits of Olympus, and quickly reached the swift ships of the Achaeans. Then she found Ulysses, of equal weight with Jove in counsel, standing still; nor was he touching his well-benched, sable bark, since regret affected him in heart and mind. But standing near him, azure-eyed Minerva said:

[Footnote 91: _I.e._ rowed on both sides. But Rost and Liddell (s.v.) prefer "swaying, rocking on both sides."]

"Jove-sprung son of Laertes, Ulysses of many wiles, thus then will ye fly home to your dear native land, embarking in your many-benched ships?

And will ye then leave to Priam glory, and to the Trojans Argive Helen, on whose account many Greeks have fallen at Troy, far from their dear native land? But go now to the people of the Greeks, delay not; and restrain each man by thy own flattering words, nor suffer them to launch to the sea their evenly-plied barks."

Thus she spoke, but he knew the voice of the G.o.ddess speaking. Then he hastened to run, and cast away his cloak, but the herald Eurybates, the Ithacensian, who followed him, took it up. But he, meeting Agamemnon, son of Atreus, received from him[92] the ever-imperishable paternal sceptre, with which he went through the ships of the brazen-mailed Greeks.

[Footnote 92: This is an instance of the s??a S??e?????, as in H. O. 88, ???eta? de pa?a?a?a?????? d?t???? pt?se?? ??t?

?e????? ?a? ?at? pa???e???? t?? pa?? p????se??.--Lesbonax, pe??

s??. ?. 181, ed. Valck.]

Whatsoever king, indeed, or distinguished man he chanced to find standing beside him, he checked him with gentle words:

"Strange man! it ill becomes thee, coward-like, to be in trepidation; but both sit down thyself, and make the other people sit down, for thou hast not as yet clearly ascertained what the intention of Atrides is. He is now making trial of, and will quickly punish the sons of the Greeks.

We have not all heard what he said in council. Take care lest he, being incensed, do some mischief to the sons of the Greeks. For the anger of a Jove-nurtured king is great; his honour too is from Jove, and great-counselling Jove loves him."

But on the other hand, whatever man of the common people he chanced to see, or find shouting out, him would he strike with the sceptre, and reprove with words:

"Fellow, sit quietly, and listen to the voice of others, who are better than thou; for thou art unwarlike and weak, nor ever of any account either in war or in council. We Greeks cannot all by any means govern here, for a government of many is not a good thing;[93] let there be but one chief, one king,[94] to whom the son of wily Saturn has given a sceptre, and laws, that he may govern among them."

[Footnote 93: See Aristot. Polit. iv. 4, and Cicer. de Off. i. 8.

This true maxim has been often abused by tyrants, as by Dion (Corn. Nepos, Dion, -- 6, 4), Caligula (Sueton. Cal. 22), and Domitian (id. 12).]

[Footnote 94: On the aristocratic character of Homer's poetry, see Muller, Gk Lit. iv. -- 2.]

Thus he, acting as chief, was arranging the army. But they again rushed with tumult from the ships and tents to an a.s.sembly, as when the waves of the much-resounding sea roar against the lofty beach, and the deep resounds.

The others indeed sat down, and were kept to their respective seats. But Thersites alone, immediate in words, was wrangling; who, to wit, knew in his mind expressions both unseemly and numerous, so as idly, and not according to discipline, to wrangle with the princes, but [to blurt out]

whatever seemed to him to be matter of laughter to the Greeks. And he was the ugliest man who came to Ilium. He was bandy-legged,[95] and lame of one foot; his shoulders were crooked, and contracted towards his breast; and his head was peaked[96] towards the top, and thin woolly hair was scattered over it. To Achilles and Ulysses he was particularly hostile, for these two he used to revile. But on this occasion, shouting out shrilly, he uttered bitter taunts against n.o.ble Agamemnon; but the Greeks were greatly irritated against him, and were indignant in their minds. But vociferating aloud, he reviled Agamemnon with words:

[Footnote 95: See b.u.t.tm. Lexil. p. 540, -- 8.]

[Footnote 96: See b.u.t.tm. p. 537, who derives f???? from f??e??, _to dry_, as if f????, _warped by heat_.]

"Son of Atreus, of what dost thou now complain, or what dost thou want?

Thy tents are full of bra.s.s, and many chosen women are in thy tents, whom we Greeks bestow on thee the first of all, whenever we capture a city. Dost thou still require gold, which some one of the horse-taming Trojans shall bring from Troy, as a ransom for his son, whom I, or some other of the Greeks, having bound, may lead away? Or a young maid, that thou mayest be mingled in dalliance, and whom thou for thyself mayest retain apart[97] [from the rest]? Indeed it becomes not a man who is chief in command, to lead the sons of the Greeks into evil. O ye soft ones, vile disgraces, Grecian dames, no longer Grecian men,[98] let us return home, home![99] with our ships, and let us leave him here to digest his honours at Troy, that he may know whether we really aid him in anything or not. He, who but just now has dishonoured Achilles, a man much more valiant than himself; for, taking away, he retains his prize, he himself having seized it. But a.s.suredly there is not much anger in the heart of Achilles; but he is forbearing; for truly, were it not so, O son of Atreus, thou wouldest have insulted now for the last time."

[Footnote 97: Not being compelled to restore her, like the daughter of Chryses.]

[Footnote 98: Virg. aen. ix. 617: "O vere Phrygiae, neque enim Phryges!"]

[Footnote 99: This is Nagelsbach's spirited rendering of ???ade pe?.]

Thus spoke Thersites, reviling Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people.

But G.o.dlike Ulysses immediately stood beside him, and eyeing him with scowling brow, reproached him with harsh language:

"Thersites, reckless babbler! noisy declaimer though thou be, refrain, nor be forward singly to strive with princes; for I affirm that there is not another mortal more base than thou, as many as came with the son of Atreus to Ilium. Wherefore do not harangue, having kings in thy mouth, nor cast reproaches against them, nor be on the watch for a return. Not as yet indeed do we certainly know how these matters will turn out, whether we sons of the Greeks shall return to our advantage or disadvantage. Wherefore, now thou sittest reviling Agamemnon, son of Atreus, the leader of the people, because the Grecian heroes give him very many gifts, whilst thou, insulting, dost harangue. But I declare to thee, which shall also be accomplished: if ever again I catch thee raving, as now thou art, no longer may the head of Ulysses rest upon his shoulders, and no longer may I be called the father of Telemachus, unless I seizing thee divest thee of thy very garments, thy coat, thy cloak, and those which cover thy loins; and send thyself weeping to the swift ships, having beaten thee out of the a.s.sembly with severe blows."

Thus he spoke, and smote him with the sceptre upon the back and the shoulders; but he writhed, and plenteous tears fell from him, and a b.l.o.o.d.y weal arose under the sceptre upon his back. But he sat down and trembled; and grieving, looking foolish, he wiped away the tears. They, although chagrined, laughed heartily at him, and thus one would say, looking towards the person next him:

"O strange! surely ten thousand good deeds has Ulysses already performed, both originating good counsels, and arousing the war. But now has he done this by far the best deed amongst the Greeks, in that he has restrained this foul-mouthed reviler from his harangues. Surely his petulant mind will not again urge him to chide the kings with scurrilous language."

Thus spake the mult.i.tude; but Ulysses, the sacker of cities, arose, holding the sceptre, and beside him azure-eyed Minerva, likened unto a herald, ordered the people to be silent, that at the same time the sons of the Greeks, both first and last, might hear his speech, and weigh his counsel. He wisely counselling, addressed them, and said:

"O son of Atreus, the Greeks wish to render thee now, O king, the meanest amongst articulately-speaking men; nor perform their promise to thee,[100] which they held forth, coming hither from steed-nourishing Argos, that thou shouldest return home, having destroyed well-fortified Ilium. For, like tender boys, or widowed women, they bewail unto one another to return home. And truly it is a hardship to return [so], having been grieved. For he is impatient who is absent even for a single month from his wife, remaining with his many-benched ship,[101] though wintry storms and the boisterous sea may be hemming in;[102] but to us it is [now] the ninth revolving year since we have been lingering here.

Wherefore I am not indignant that the Greeks are growing impatient by their curved ships; but still it would be disgraceful both to remain here so long, and to return ineffectually. Endure, my friends, and remain yet awhile, that we may know whether Calchas prophesies truly or not. For this we well know, and ye are all witnesses, whom the Fates of death carried not off yesterday and the day before, when the ships of the Greeks were collected at Aulis, bearing evils to Priam and the Trojans, and we round about the fountain, at the sacred altars, offered perfect hecatombs to the immortals, beneath a beauteous plane-tree, whence flowed limpid water.[103] There a great prodigy appeared; a serpent, spotted on the back, horrible, which the Olympian himself had sent forth into the light, having glided out from beneath the altar, proceeded forthwith to the plane-tree. And there were the young of a sparrow, an infant offspring, on a topmost branch, cowering amongst the foliage, eight in number; but the mother, which had brought forth the young ones, was the ninth. Thereupon he devoured them, twittering piteously, while the mother kept fluttering about, lamenting her dear young; but then, having turned himself about, he seized her by the wing, screaming around. But after he had devoured the young of the sparrow, and herself, the G.o.d who had displayed him rendered him very portentous, for the son of wily Saturn changed him into a stone; but we, standing by, were astonished at what happened. Thus, therefore, the dreadful portents of the G.o.ds approached the hecatombs. Calchas, then, immediately addressed us, revealing from the G.o.ds: 'Why are ye become silent, ye waving-crested Greeks? For us, indeed, provident Jove has shown a great sign, late, of late accomplishment, the renown of which shall never perish. As this [serpent] has devoured the young of the sparrow, eight in number, and herself, the mother which brought out the brood, was the ninth, so must we for as many years[104] wage war here, but in the tenth we shall take the wide-wayed city.' He indeed thus harangued: and all these things are now in course of accomplishment. But come, ye well-greaved Greeks, remain all here, until we shall take the great city of Priam."

[Footnote 100: See Grote, vol. i. p. 392, n. 2.]

[Footnote 101: I have followed Wolf, taking s?? ??? p??????? in connection with e???. Others most awkwardly make s??=pa??.]

[Footnote 102: Cf. b.u.t.tm. Lexil. s. v. e??e??.]

[Footnote 103: Pausanias, ix. 20, says that both the spring and the remains of the tree were shown in his time. The whole of this fable has been translated into verse by Cicero, de Div. ii. 30.

Compare the following pa.s.sage of Apuleius de Deo Socr. p. 52, ed.

Elm. "Calchas longe praestabilis ariolari, simul alites et arborem contemplatus est, actutum sua divinitate et tempestates flexit, et cla.s.sem deduxit, et decennium praedixit."]

[Footnote 104: _I. e._ for nine. It is remarkable that so little notice has been taken of this story by the later poets. But the sacrifice of Iphigenia was a more attractive subject for tragedy or episode, and took the place of the Homeric legend.]

Thus he [Ulysses] spoke, and the Greeks loudly shouted, applauding the speech of divine Ulysses; but all around the ships echoed fearfully, by reason of the Greeks shouting. Then the Gerenian[105] knight Nestor addressed them:

"O strange! a.s.suredly now ye are talking like infant children, with whom warlike achievements are of no account. Whither then will your compacts and oaths depart? Into the fire now must the counsels and thoughts of men have sunk, and the unmixed libations, and the right hands in which we trusted; for in vain do we dispute with words, nor can we discover any resource, although we have been here for a long time. But do thou, O son of Atreus, maintaining, as before, thy purpose firm, command the Greeks in the hard-fought conflicts; and abandon those to perish, one and both,[106] who, separated from the Greeks, are meditating [but success shall not attend them] to return back to Argos, before they know whether the promise of aegis-bearing Jove be false or not. For I say that the powerful son of Saturn a.s.sented on that day, when the Argives embarked in their swift ships, bearing death and fate to the Trojans, flashing[107] his lightning on the right, and showing propitious signs.

Let not any one, therefore, hasten to return home before each has slept with a Trojan wife, and has avenged the cares[108] and griefs of Helen.

But if any one is extravagantly eager to return home, let him lay hands upon his well-benched black ship, that he may draw on death and fate before others. But do thou thyself deliberate well, O king, and attend to another; nor shall the advice which I am about to utter be discarded.

Separate the troops, Agamemnon, according to their tribes and clans, that kindred may support kindred, and clan. If thou wilt thus act, and the Greeks obey, thou wilt then ascertain which of the generals and which of the soldiers is a dastard, and which of them may be brave, for they will fight their best,[109] and thou wilt likewise learn whether it is by the divine interposition that thou art destined not to dismantle the city, or by the cowardice of the troops, and their unskilfulness in war."

[Footnote 105: Nestor took this name from a city of Messena (_Gerenium_, _a_, or _ia_. See Arnold, and Pinedo on Steph. Byz.

s.v. Ge????a), where he was brought up, probably after Pylos had been destroyed by Hercules.]

[Footnote 106: Proverbially meaning a few, but probably referring to Achilles and Thersites. See the Scholiast.]

[Footnote 107: Observe this bold change of construction, and compare Valck. on Lesbonax, at the end of his edition of Ammonius, p. 188.]