Horses

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 21 Sep 2011 12:07 and updated at 21 Sep 2011 12:07

ILIAD NOUN

ild.01 They have not raided my Cattle nor my Horses, nor cut down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia; for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain and sounding sea.
ild.02 Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your shields; give good feeds to your Horses, and look your Chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong day; for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part us.
ild.02 The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears, your Horses shall steam in front of your Chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to Dogs and Vultures.
ild.02 Even thus did their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the Scamander, and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and Horses.
ild.02 Of the Horses, those of the son of Pheres were by far the finest.
ild.02 Of the men, Ajax, son of Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles anger lasted, for Achilles excelled him greatly and he had also better Horses; but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the sea shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark, and in archery.
ild.02 Their Horses stood each by his own Chariot, champing lotus and wild celery.
ild.03 I see, moreover, many other Achaeans whose names I could tell you, but there are two whom I can nowhere find, Castor, breaker of Horses, and Pollux the mighty boxer; they are children of my mother, and own brothers to myself.
ild.03 The old man trembled as he heard, but bade his followers yoke the Horses, and they made all haste to do so.
ild.03 The others took their several stations, each by his Horses and the place where his arms were lying, while Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, put on his goodly armour.
ild.04 Dread" son of Saturn," said she, "what, pray, is the meaning of all this? Is my trouble, then, to go for nothing, and the sweat that I have sweated, to say nothing of my Horses, while getting the people together against Priam and his children? Do as you will, but we other Gods shall not all of us approve your counsel.
ild.04 He placed his knights with their Chariots and Horses in the front rank, while the foot soldiers, brave men and many, whom he could trust, were in the rear.
ild.04 He gave his orders to the knights first, bidding them hold their Horses well in hand, so as to avoid confusion.
ild.04 Presently he saw the son of Tydeus, noble Diomed, standing by his Chariot and Horses, with Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside him; whereon he began to upbraid him.
ild.05 Idaeus did not dare to bestride his brother s body, but sprang from the Chariot and took to flight, or he would have shared his brother s fate; whereon Vulcan saved him by wrapping him in a cloud of darkness, that his old father might not be utterly overwhelmed with grief; but the son of Tydeus drove off with the Horses, and bade his followers take them to the ships.
ild.05 Thus did he vaunt; but his arrow had not killed Diomed, who withdrew and made for the Chariot and Horses of Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus.
ild.05 Then he gave their Horses to his comrades to take them back to the ships.
ild.05 I know him by his shield, the visor of his helmet, and by his Horses.
ild.05 In my father s stables there are Eleven excellent Chariots, fresh from the builder, quite new, with cloths spread over them; and by each of them there stand a pair of Horses, champing barley and rye; my old father Lycaon urged me again and again when I was at home and on the point of starting, to take Chariots and Horses with me that I might lead the Trojans in battle, but I would not listen to him; it would have been much better if I had done so, but I was thinking about the Horses, which had been used to eat their fill, and I was afraid that in such a great gathering of men they might be ill fed, so I left them at home and came on foot to Ilius armed only with my bow and arrows.
ild.05 Things will not mend till we two go against this man with Chariot and Horses and bring him to a trial of arms.
ild.05 Mount my Chariot, and note how cleverly the Horses of Tros can speed hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or flight.
ild.05 Take hold, then, of the whip and reins while I stand upon the car to fight, or else do you wait this man s onset while I look after the Horses.
ild.05 replied the son of Lycaon, "take the reins and drive; if we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the Horses will go better for their own driver.
ild.05 The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and take the Horses.
ild.05 I say further, and lay my saying to your heart if Minerva sees fit to vouchsafe me the glory of killing both, stay your Horses here and make the reins fast to the rim of the Chariot; then be sure you spring Aeneas Horses and drive them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks.
ild.05 The Horses started aside for fear, and he was reft of life and strength.
ild.05 He made his own Horses fast, away from the hurly burly, by binding the reins to the rim of the Chariot.
ild.05 Then he sprang upon Aeneas s Horses and drove them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks.
ild.05 She found fierce Mars waiting on the left of the battle, with his spear and his two fleet steeds resting on a cloud; whereon she fell on her knees before her brother and implored him to let her have his Horses.
ild.05 "Dear brother," she cried, "save me, and give me your Horses to take me to Olympus where the Gods dwell.
ild.05 She lashed her Horses on and they flew forward nothing loth, till in a trice they were at high Olympus, where the Gods have their dwelling.
ild.05 As the breezes sport with the chaff upon some goodly threshing floor, when men are winnowing while yellow Ceres blows with the wind to sift the chaff from the grain, and the chaff heaps grow whiter and whiter even so did the Achaeans whiten in the dust which the Horses hoofs raised to the firmament of heaven, as their drivers turned them back to battle, and they bore down with might upon the foe.
ild.05 Menelaus struck him on the collar bone as he was standing on his Chariot, while Antilochus hit his Charioteer and squire Mydon, the son of Atymnius, who was turning his Horses in flight.
ild.05 There he stood for a while with his head and shoulders buried deep in the dust for he had fallen on sandy soil till his Horses kicked him and laid him flat on the ground, as Antilochus lashed them and drove them off to the host of the Achaeans.
ild.05 Far other was Hercules, my own brave and lion hearted father, who came here for the Horses of Laomedon, and though he had Six ships only, and few men to follow him, sacked the city of Ilius and made a wilderness of her highways.
ild.05 He would not give your father the Horses which he had come so far to fetch.
ild.05 From the body of the car there went a pole of Silver, on to the end of which she bound the Golden yoke, with the bands of Gold that were to go under the necks of the Horses Then Juno put her steeds under the yoke, eager for battle and the war cry.
ild.05 Juno lashed the Horses on, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord gates over which the flours preside, in whose hands are Heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud that hides them, or to close it.
ild.05 There Juno stayed her Horses, and spoke to Jove the son of Saturn, lord of all.
ild.05 She lashed her Horses, and they flew forward nothing loth midway betwixt earth and sky.
ild.05 As far as a man can see when he looks out upon the sea from some high beacon, so far can the loud neighing Horses of the Gods spring at a single bound.
ild.05 With these words she put heart and soul into them all, while Minerva sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus, whom she found near his Chariot and Horses, cooling the wound that Pandarus had given him.
ild.05 The Goddess laid her hand on the yoke of his Horses and said, "The son of Tydeus is not such another as his father.
ild.06 Then Menelaus of the loud war cry took Adrestus alive, for his Horses ran into a tamarisk bush, as they were flying wildly over the plain, and broke the pole from the car; they went on towards the city along with the others in full flight, but Adrestus rolled out, and fell in the dust flat on his face by the wheel of his Chariot; Menelaus came up to him spear in hand, but Adrestus caught him by the knees begging for his life.
ild.06 There is a city in the heart of Argos, pasture land of Horses, called Ephyra, where Sisyphus lived, who was the craftiest of all mankind.
ild.08 With this he yoked his fleet Horses, with hoofs of Bronze and manes of glittering Gold.
ild.08 Thereon he lashed his Horses and they flew forward nothing loth midway twixt earth and starry heaven.
ild.08 There the father of Gods and men stayed his Horses, took them from the Chariot, and hid them in a thick cloud; then he took his seat all glorious upon the topmost crests, looking down upon the city of Troy and the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.08 Nestor knight of Gerene alone stood firm, bulwark of the Achaeans, not of his own will, but one of his Horses was disabled.
ild.08 The old man instantly began cutting the traces with his sword, but Hector s fleet Horses bore down upon him through the rout with their bold Charioteer, even Hector himself, and the old man would have perished there and then had not Diomed been quick to mark, and with a loud cry called Ulysses to help him.
ild.08 Ulysses would not give ear, but sped onward to the ships of the Achaeans, and the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the thick of the fight took his stand before the Horses of the son of Neleus.
ild.08 Sir"," said he, "these young warriors are pressing you hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon you, your squire is naught, and your Horses are slow to move.
ild.08 Mount my Chariot and see what the Horses of Tros can do how cleverly they can scud hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit.
ild.08 Thereon the doughty squires, Sthenelus and kind hearted Eurymedon, saw to Nestor s Horses, while the two both mounted Diomed s Chariot.
ild.08 Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the Horses on; they were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them.
ild.08 He missed him, but struck his Charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were in his hands, so that he died there and then, and the Horses swerved as he fell headlong from the Chariot.
ild.08 Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his Charioteer, but let him lie for all his sorrow, while he went in quest of another driver; nor did his steeds have to go long without one, for he presently found brave Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus, and made him get up behind the Horses, giving the reins into his hand.
ild.08 All had then been lost and no help for it, for they would have been penned up in Ilius like Sheep, had not the sire of Gods and men been quick to mark, and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt which fell just in front of Diomed s Horses with a flare of burning brimstone.
ild.08 The Horses were frightened and tried to back beneath the car, while the reins dropped from Nestor s hands.
ild.08 Then he was afraid and said to Diomed, Son" of Tydeus, turn your Horses in flight; see you not that the hand of Jove is against you? To day he vouchsafes victory to Hector; to morrow, if it so please him, he will again grant it to ourselves; no man, however brave, may thwart the purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger than any.
ild.08 So saying he turned the Horses back through the thick of the battle, and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector rained their darts after them.
ild.08 The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no to turn his Horses round again and fight him.
ild.08 It shall not stay my fury; my Horses will spring lightly over their trench, and when I am at their ships forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them, while I slaughter the Argives who will be all dazed and bewildered by the smoke.
ild.08 Then he cried to his Horses, Xanthus" and Podargus, and you Aethon and goodly Lampus, pay me for your keep now and for all the honey sweet corn with which Andromache daughter of great Eetion has fed you, and for she has mixed wine and water for you to drink whenever you would, before doing so even for me who am her own husband.
ild.08 Thus did they converse; but the whole space enclosed by the ditch, from the ships even to the wall, was filled with Horses and warriors, who were pent up there by Hector son of Priam, now that the hand of Jove was with him.
ild.08 There was no man of all the many Danaans who could then boast that he had driven his Horses over the trench and gone forth to fight sooner than the son of Tydeus; long before any one else could do so he slew an armed warrior of the Trojans, Agelaus the son of Phradmon.
ild.08 He had turned his Horses in flight, but the spear struck him in the back midway between his shoulders and went right through his chest, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell forward from his Chariot.
ild.08 Cover him with glory though he is far off; I will promise and I will assuredly perform; if aegis bearing Jove and Minerva grant me to sack the city of Ilius, you shall have the next best meed of honour after my own a tripod, or two Horses with their Chariot, or a Woman who shall go up into your bed.
ild.08 The Horses swerved aside as he fell headlong from the Chariot, and there was no life left in him.
ild.08 When they had fled through the set stakes and trench and many Achaeans had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans, they halted at their ships, calling upon one another and praying every man instantly as they lifted up their hands to the Gods; but Hector wheeled his Horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like those of Gorgo or murderous Mars.
ild.08 Get our Horses ready, while I go within the house of aegis bearing Jove and put on my armour; we shall then find out whether Priam s son Hector will be glad to meet us in the highways of battle, or whether the Trojans will glut hounds and Vultures with the fat of their flesh as they he dead by the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.08 Juno lashed her Horses, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord gates over which the Hours preside, in whose hands are heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud that hides them or to close it.
ild.08 I will lame their Horses for them; I will hurl them from their Chariot, and will break it in pieces.
ild.08 This is what he says, and this is he means to do, he will lame your Horses for you, he will hurl you from your Chariot, and will break it in pieces.
ild.08 The mighty lord of the earthquake unyoked his Horses for him, set the car upon its stand, and threw a cloth over it.
ild.08 Take your Horses out of their Chariots and give them their feeds of corn; then make speed to bring Sheep and Cattle from the city; bring wine also and corn for your Horses and gather much wood, that from dark till dawn we may burn watchfires whose flare may reach to heaven.
ild.08 A thousand camp fires gleamed upon the plain, and in the glow of each there sat Fifty men, while the Horses, champing oats and corn beside their Chariots, waited till dawn should come.
ild.09 I will give him Twenty Iron cauldrons and Twelve strong Horses that have won races and carried off prizes.
ild.09 Rich, indeed, both in land and Gold is he that has as many prizes as my Horses have won me.
ild.09 He will give you Seven tripods that have never yet been on the fire, and Ten talents of Gold; Twenty Iron cauldrons, and Twelve strong Horses that have won races and carried off prizes.
ild.09 Rich indeed both in land and Gold is he who has as many prizes as these Horses have won for Agamemnon.
ild.09 He may offer me Ten or even Twenty times what he has now done, nay not though it be all that he has in the world, both now or ever shall have; he may promise me the wealth of Orchomenus or of Egyptian Thebes, which is the richest city in the whole world, for it has a hundred gates through each of which two hundred men may drive at once with their Chariots and Horses; he may offer me gifts as the sands of the sea or the dust of the plain in multitude, but even so he shall not move me till I have been revenged in full for the bitter wrong he has done me.
ild.09 Cattle and Sheep are to be had for harrying, and a man buy both tripods and Horses if he wants them, but when his life has once left him it can neither be bought nor harried back again.
ild.10 I will give him a Chariot and a couple of Horses, the fleetest that can be found at the ships of the Achaeans, if he will dare this thing; and he will win infinite honour to boot; he must go to the ships and find out whether they are still guarded as heretofore, or whether now that we have beaten them the Achaeans design to fly, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches.
ild.10 But first hold up your sceptre and swear that you will give me the Chariot, bedight with Bronze, and the Horses that now carry the noble son of Peleus.
ild.10 When he had left the Horses and the troops behind him, he made all speed on his way, but Ulysses perceived his coming and said to Diomed, "Diomed, here is some one from the camp; I am not sure whether he is a spy, or whether it is some thief who would plunder the bodies of the dead; let him get a little past us, we can then spring upon him and take him.
ild.10 He said he would give me the Horses of the noble son of Peleus and his Bronze bedizened Chariot; he bade me go through the darkness of the flying night, get close to the enemy, and find out whether the ships are still guarded as heretofore, or whether, now that we have beaten them, the Achaeans design to fly, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches.
ild.10 Ulysses smiled at him and answered, "You had indeed set your heart upon a great reward, but the Horses of the descendant of Aeacus are hardly to be kept in hand or driven by any other mortal man than Achilles himself, whose mother was an immortal.
ild.10 But tell me, and tell me true, where did you leave Hector when you started? Where lies his armour and his Horses? How, too, are the watches and sleeping ground of the Trojans ordered? What are their plans? Will they stay here by the ships and away from the city, or now that they have worsted the Achaeans, will they retire within their walls?"
ild.10 His Horses are the finest and strongest that I have ever seen, they are whiter than snow and fleeter than any wind that blows.
ild.10 Ulysses hung them up aloft in honour of Minerva the Goddess of plunder, and prayed saying, "Accept these, Goddess, for we give them to you in preference to all the Gods in Olympus: therefore speed us still further towards the Horses and sleeping ground of the Thracians.
ild.10 The two then went onwards amid the fallen armour and the blood, and came presently to the company of Thracian soldiers, who were sleeping, tired out with their day s toil; their goodly armour was lying on the ground beside them all orderly in three rows, and each man had his yoke of Horses beside him.
ild.10 Rhesus was sleeping in the middle, and hard by him his Horses were made fast to the topmost rim of his Chariot.
ild.10 Ulysses from some way off saw him and said, "This, Diomed, is the man, and these are the Horses about which Dolon whom we killed told us.
ild.10 Do your very utmost; dally not about your armour, but loose the Horses at once or else kill the men yourself, while I see to the Horses.
ild.10 As he killed them Ulysses came and drew them aside by their feet one by one, that the Horses might go forward freely without being frightened as they passed over the dead bodies, for they were not yet used to them.
ild.10 Meanwhile Ulysses untied the Horses, made them fast one to another and drove them off, striking them with his bow, for he had forgotten to take the whip from the Chariot.
ild.10 Diomed knew that it was the Goddess, and at once sprang upon the Horses.
ild.10 He started up out of his sleep and saw that the Horses were no longer in their place, and that the men were gasping in their death agony; on this he groaned aloud, and called upon his friend by name.
ild.10 When they reached the place where they had killed Hector s scout, Ulysses stayed his Horses, and the son of Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the blood stained spoils in the hands of Ulysses and remounted: then he lashed the Horses onwards, and they flew forward nothing loth towards the ships as though of their own free will.
ild.10 "My friends," said he, "princes and counsellors of the Argives, shall I guess right or wrong? but I must say what I think: there is a sound in my ears as of the tramp of Horses.
ild.10 I hope it may Diomed and Ulysses driving in Horses from the Trojans, but I much fear that the bravest of the Argives may have come to some harm at their hands.
ild.10 "Tell me," said he, "renowned Ulysses, how did you two come by these Horses? Did you steal in among the Trojan forces, or did some God meet you and give them to you? They are like sunbeams.
ild.10 I am well conversant with the Trojans, for old warrior though I am I never hold back by the ships, but I never yet saw or heard of such Horses as these are.
ild.10 And Ulysses answered, Nestor" son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, heaven, if it so will, can give us even better Horses than these, for the Gods are far mightier than we are.
ild.10 These Horses, however, about which you ask me, are freshly come from Thrace.
ild.10 He laughed as he spoke and drove the Horses over the ditch, while the other Achaeans followed him gladly.
ild.10 When they reached the strongly built quarters of the son of Tydeus, they tied the Horses with thongs of leather to the manger, where the steeds of Diomed stood eating their sweet corn, but Ulysses hung the blood stained spoils of Dolon at the stern of his ship, that they might prepare a sacred offering to Minerva.
ild.11 Every man now left his Horses in charge of his Charioteer to hold them in readiness by the trench, while he went into battle on foot clad in full armour, and a mighty uproar rose on high into the dawning.
ild.11 The chiefs were armed and at the trench before the Horses got there, but these came up presently.
ild.11 It was Antimachus who had been foremost in preventing Helen s being restored to Menelaus, for he was largely bribed by Alexandrus; and now Agamemnon took his two sons, both in the same Chariot, trying to bring their Horses to a stand for they had lost hold of the reins and the Horses were mad with fear.
ild.11 Foot soldiers drove the foot soldiers of the foe in rout before them, and slew them; Horsemen did the like by Horsemen, and the thundering tramp of the Horses raised a cloud of dust frim off the plain.
ild.11 Down she went to strong Ilius from the crests of Ida, and found Hector son of Priam standing by his Chariot and Horses.
ild.11 With this the Charioteer turned his Horses towards the ships, and they flew forward nothing loth.
ild.11 He fell heavily to the ground and Ulysses vaunted over him saying, "O Socus, son of Hippasus tamer of Horses, death has been too quick for you and you have not escaped him: poor wretch, not even in death shall your father and mother close your eyes, but the ravening Vultures shall enshroud you with the flapping of their dark wings and devour you.
ild.11 Menelaus took Ulysses by the hand, and led him out of the press while his squire brought up his Chariot, but Ajax rushed furiously on the Trojans and killed Doryclus, a bastard son of Priam; then he wounded Pandocus, Lysandrus, Pyrasus, and Pylartes; as some swollen torrent comes rushing in full flood from the mountains on to the plain, big with the rain of heaven many a dry oak and many a pine does it engulf, and much mud does it bring down and cast into the sea even so did brave Ajax chase the foe furiously over the plain, slaying both men and Horses.
ild.11 The Achaeans were in great fear that as the fight had turned against them the Trojans might take him prisoner, and Idomeneus said to Nestor, Nestor" son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, mount your Chariot at once; take Machaon with you and drive your Horses to the ships as fast as you can.
ild.11 He lashed his Horses and they flew onward nothing loth towards the ships, as though of their own free will.
ild.11 Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector from his place beside him, Hector", here are we two fighting on the extreme wing of the battle, while the other Trojans are in pell mell rout, they and their Horses.
ild.11 Ajax son of Telamon is driving them before him; I know him by the breadth of his shield: let us turn our Chariot and Horses thither, where Horse and foot are fighting most desperately, and where the cry of battle is loudest.
ild.11 With this he lashed his goodly steeds, and when they felt the whip they drew the Chariot full speed among the Achaeans and Trojans, over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen: the axle was bespattered with blood, and the rail round the car was covered with splashes both from the Horses hoofs and from the tyres of the wheels.
ild.11 "Why," said he, Achilles" do you call me? what do you what do you want with me?" And Achilles answered, "Noble son of Menoetius, man after my own heart, I take it that I shall now have the Achaeans praying at my knees, for they are in great straits; go, Patroclus, and ask Nestor who is that he is bearing away wounded from the field; from his back I should say it was Machaon son of Aesculapius, but I could not see his face for the Horses went by me at full speed.
ild.11 When Nestor and Machaon had reached the tents of the son of Neleus, they dismounted, and an esquire, Eurymedon, took the Horses from the Chariot.
ild.11 Of Horses moreover we seized a hundred and Fifty, all of them mares, and many had foals running with them.
ild.11 My father chose a herd of Cattle and a great flock of Sheep three hundred in all and he took their shepherds with him, for there was a great debt due to him in Elis, to wit four Horses, winners of prizes.
ild.11 They and their Chariots with them had gone to the games and were to run for a tripod, but King Augeas took them, and sent back their driver grieving for the loss of his Horses.
ild.11 Neleus would not let me arm, and hid my Horses, for he said that as yet I could know nothing about war; nevertheless Minerva so ordered the fight that, all on foot as I was, I fought among our mounted forces and vied with the foremost of them.
ild.11 When the sun s rays began to fall upon the earth we joined battle, praying to Jove and to Minerva, and when the fight had begun, I was the first to kill my man and take his Horses to wit the warrior Mulius.
ild.11 Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory, for we chased them far over the plain, killing the men and bringing in their armour, till we had brought our Horses to Buprasium rich in wheat and to the Olenian rock, with the hill that is called Alision, at which point Minerva turned the people back.
ild.11 There I slew the last man and left him; then the Achaeans drove their Horses back from Buprasium to Pylos and gave thanks to Jove among the Gods, and among mortal men to Nestor.
ild.12 But the Horses dared not do so, and stood neighing upon its brink, for the width frightened them.
ild.12 Then Polydamas went up to Hector and said, Hector", and you other captains of the Trojans and allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our Horses across the trench; it will be very hard to cross, for it is full of sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall.
ild.12 Our Horses therefore cannot get down into it, and would be of no use if they did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should come to harm.
ild.12 Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our squires hold our Horses by the trench, but let us follow Hector in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us.
ild.12 Each man then gave his Horses over to his Charioteer in charge to hold them ready for him at the trench.
ild.12 The next company was led by Paris, Alcathous, and Agenor; the third by Helenus and Deiphobus, two sons of Priam, and with them was the hero Asius Asius the son of Hyrtacus, whose great black Horses of the breed that comes from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe.
ild.12 The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel of Polydamas but Asius son of Hyrtacus would not leave his Horses and his esquire behind him; in his foolhardiness he took them on with him towards the ships, nor did he fail to come by his end in consequence.
ild.12 Nevermore was he to return to wind beaten Ilius, exulting in his Chariot and his Horses; ere he could do so, death of ill omened name had overshadowed him and he had fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion.
ild.12 He had driven towards the left wing of the ships, by which way the Achaeans used to return with their Chariots and Horses from the plain.
ild.12 Hither of set purpose did he direct his Horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they felt sure that the Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they should now fall upon the ships.
ild.13 So lightly did the Horses fly that the Bronze axle of the car was not even wet beneath it; and thus his bounding steeds took him to the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.13 Now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea midway between Tenedos and rocky Imbrus; here Neptune lord of the earthquake stayed his Horses, unyoked them, and set before them their ambrosial forage.
ild.13 Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man, to wit, the warrior Imbrius son of Mentor rich in Horses.
ild.13 With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the thick of the fight, but Asius came up to protect the body, on foot, in front of his Horses which his esquire drove so close behind him that he could feel their breath upon his shoulder.
ild.13 He fell as an oak, or poplar, or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship s timber upon the mountains with whetted axes even thus did he lie full length in front of his Chariot and Horses, grinding his teeth and clutching at the bloodstained just.
ild.13 His Charioteer was struck with panic and did not dare turn his Horses round and escape: thereupon Antilochus hit him in the middle of his body with a spear; his cuirass of Bronze did not protect him, and the spear stuck in his belly.
ild.13 He fell gasping from his Chariot and Antilochus great Nestor s son, drove his Horses from the Trojans to the Achaeans.
ild.13 Then Polites, own brother of Deiphobus passed his arms around his waist, and bore him away from the battle till he got to his Horses that were standing in the rear of the fight with the Chariot and their driver.
ild.14 He went up to her and said, "What do you want that you have come hither from Olympus and that too with neither Chariot nor Horses to convey you?"
ild.14 The Horses that will take me over land and sea are stationed on the lowermost spurs of many fountained Ida, and I have come here from Olympus on purpose to consult you.
ild.14 His comrades then lifted him off the ground and bore him away from the battle to the place where his Horses stood waiting for him at the rear of the fight with their driver and the Chariot; these then took him towards the city groaning and in great pain.
ild.15 As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his Horses Panic and Rout, while he put on his armour.
ild.15 I will go before your Horses to smooth the way for them, and will turn the Achaeans in flight.
ild.15 As he spoke he laid his whip about his Horses shoulders and called to the Trojans throughout their ranks; the Trojans shouted with a cry that rent the air, and kept their Horses neck and neck with his own.
ild.15 Forthwith he showered his arrows on the Trojans, and hit Cleitus the son of Pisenor, comrade of Polydamas the noble son of Panthous, with the reins in his hands as he was attending to his Horses; he was in the middle of the very thickest part of the fight, doing good service to Hector and the Trojans, but evil had now come upon him, and not one of those who were fain to do so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on the back of the neck.
ild.15 He fell from his Chariot and his Horses shook the empty car as they swerved aside.
ild.15 King Polydamas saw what had happened, and was the first to come up to the Horses; he gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon, and ordered him to look on, and to keep the Horses near at hand.
ild.15 As a man skilled in feats of Horsemanship couples four Horses together and comes tearing full speed along the public way from the country into some large town many both men and Women marvel as they see him for he keeps all the time changing his Horse, springing from one to another without ever missing his feet while the Horses are at a gallop even so did Ajax go striding from one ship s deck to another, and his voice went up into the heavens.
ild.16 He bade Automedon yoke his Horses with all speed, for he was the man whom he held in honour next after Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly.
ild.16 Automedon therefore yoked the fleet Horses Xanthus and Balius, steeds that could fly like the wind: these were they whom the harpy Podarge bore to the west wind, as she was grazing in a meadow by the waters of the river Oceanus.
ild.16 Even as fierce ravening Wolves that are feasting upon a homed stag which they have killed upon the mountains, and their jaws are red with blood they go in a pack to lap water from the clear spring with their long thin tongues; and they reek of blood and slaughter; they know not what fear is, for it is hunger drives them even so did the leaders and counsellors of the Myrmidons gather round the good squire of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and among them stood Achilles himself cheering on both men and Horses.
ild.16 Hector s fleet Horses bore him and his armour out of the fight, and he left the Trojan host penned in by the deep trench against their will.
ild.16 Many a yoke of Horses snapped the pole of their Chariots in the trench and left their master s car behind them.
ild.16 Patroclus gave chase, calling impetuously on the Danaans and full of fury against the Trojans, who, being now no longer in a body, filled all the ways with their cries of panic and rout; the air was darkened with the clouds of dust they raised, and the Horses strained every nerve in their flight from the tents and ships towards the city.
ild.16 Patroclus kept on heading his Horses wherever he saw most men flying in confusion, cheering on his men the while.
ild.16 He was intent on trying to get near Hector, for he had set his heart on spearing him, but Hector s Horses were now hurrying him away.
ild.16 As the whole dark earth bows before some tempest on an autumn day when Jove rains his hardest to punish men for giving crooked judgement in their courts, and arriving justice therefrom without heed to the decrees of heaven all the rivers run full and the torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong from the mountains to the dark sea, and it fares ill with the works of men even such was the stress and strain of the Trojan Horses in their flight.
ild.16 The other two Horses began to plunge; the pole of the Chariot cracked and they got entangled in the reins through the fall of the Horse that was yoked along with them; but Automedon knew what to do; without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third Horse adrift; whereon the other two righted themselves, and pulling hard at the reins again went together into battle.
ild.16 He fell like some oak or Silver poplar or tall pine to which woodmen have laid their axes upon the mountains to make timber for ship building even so did he lie stretched at full length in front of his Chariot and Horses, moaning and clutching at the blood stained dust.
ild.16 Meanwhile Patroclus, with many a shout to his Horses and to Automedon, pursued the Trojans and Lycians in the pride and foolishness of his heart.
ild.16 Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his Horses inside the Scaean gates, in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting, or to call the army inside the gates.
ild.16 Phoebus Apollo beat the helmet from off his head, and it rolled rattling off under the Horses feet, where its Horse hair plumes were all begrimed with dust and blood.
ild.16 Fool; Hector and his fleet Horses were ever straining their utmost to defend them.
ild.17 Hector"," said he, "you are now going after the Horses of the noble son of Aeacus, but you will not take them; they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man, save only by Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother.
ild.17 Such fearful turmoil of men and Horses did Jove on that day ordain round the body of Patroclus.
ild.17 The Horses of the descendant of Aeacus stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of murderous Hector.
ild.17 As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the Horses so that they shook the dust from out of their manes, and bore their Chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans.
ild.17 In and out, and here and there, full speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man, for he could not wield his spear and keep his Horses in hand when alone in the Chariot; at last, however, a comrade, Alcimedon, son of Laerces son of Haemon caught sight of him and came up behind his Chariot.
ild.17 Chromius and Aretus went also with them, and their hearts beat high with hope that they might kill the men and capture the Horses fools that they were, for they were not to return scatheless from their meeting with Automedon, who prayed to father Jove and was forthwith filled with courage and strength abounding.
ild.17 He turned to his trusty comrade Alcimedon and said, Alcimedon", keep your Horses so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back; I doubt that we shall not stay Hector son of Priam till he has killed us and mounted behind the Horses; he will then either spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans, or himself be killed among the foremost.
ild.17 On this Idomeneus lashed the Horses to the ships, for fear had taken hold upon him.
ild.17 For a long time he was speechless; his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance, but he did as Menelaus had said, and set off running as soon as he had given his armour to a comrade, Laodocus, who was wheeling his Horses round, close beside him.
ild.17 The battle raged round them like fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire over a city, and the houses fall in the glare of its burning even such was the roar and tramp of men and Horses that pursued them as they bore Patroclus from the field.
ild.18 Ringing as the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm then the foe is at the gates of a city, even so brazen was the voice of the son of Aeacus, and when the Trojans heard its clarion tones they were dismayed; the Horses turned back with their Chariots for they boded mischief, and their drivers were awe struck by the steady flame which the grey eyed Goddess had kindled above the head of the great son of Peleus.
ild.18 He had sent him out with Horses and Chariots into battle, but his return he was not to welcome.
ild.18 Now the Trojans when they had come out of the fight, unyoked their Horses and gathered in assembly before preparing their supper.
ild.18 He will go back when he has given his Horses their fill of being driven all whithers under our walls, and will be in no mind to try and force his way into the city.
ild.18 Meanwhile the besiegers, when they heard much noise among the Cattle as they sat in council, sprang to their Horses, and made with all speed towards them; when they reached them they set battle in array by the banks of the river, and the hosts aimed their Bronze shod spears at one another.
ild.19 The word was not sooner said than the deed was done: they brought out the Seven tripods which Agamemnon had promised, with the Twenty metal cauldrons and the Twelve Horses; they also brought the Women skilled in useful arts, Seven in number, with Briseis, which made eight.
ild.19 They placed them in his tents, while the stable men drove the Horses in among the others.
ild.19 Automedon and Alcimus busied themselves with the harnessing of his Horses; they made the bands fast about them, and put the bit in their mouths, drawing the reins back towards the Chariot.
ild.19 Automedon, whip in hand, sprang up behind the Horses, and after him Achilles mounted in full armour, resplendent as the sun god Hyperion.
ild.19 Then with a loud voice he chided with his father s Horses saying, Xanthus" and Balius, famed offspring of Podarge this time when we have done fighting be sure and bring your driver safely back to the host of the Achaeans, and do not leave him dead on the plain as you did Patroclus.
ild.19 So saying, with a loud cry he drove his Horses to the front.
ild.20 Meanwhile the whole plain was alive with men and Horses, and blazing with the gleam of armour.
ild.20 He also speared Areithous squire to Rhigmus in the back as he was turning his Horses in flight, and thrust him from his Chariot, while the Horses were struck with panic.
ild.20 Or as one who yokes broad browed Oxen that they may tread barley in a threshing floor and it is soon bruised small under the feet of the lowing Cattle even so did the Horses of Achilles trample on the shields and bodies of the slain.
ild.20 The axle underneath and the railing that ran round the car were bespattered with clots of blood thrown up by the Horses hoofs, and from the tyres of the wheels; but the son of Peleus pressed on to win still further glory, and his hands were bedrabbled with gore.
ild.21 As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the water even so was the eddying stream of Xanthus filled with the uproar of men and Horses, all struggling in confusion before Achilles.
ild.21 The river with its broad Silver stream shall serve you in no stead, for all the Bulls you offered him and all the Horses that you flung living into his waters.
ild.22 As Horses in a Chariot race speed round the turning posts when they are running for some great prize a tripod or Woman at the games in honour of some dead hero, so did these two run full speed three times round the city of Priam.
ild.22 Then when he had put the goodly armour on the Chariot and had himself mounted, he lashed his Horses on and they flew forward nothing loth.
ild.22 When she reached the battlements and the crowd of people, she stood looking out upon the wall, and saw Hector being borne away in front of the city the Horses dragging him without heed or care over the ground towards the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.23 When we have had full comfort of lamentation we will unyoke our Horses and take supper all of us here.
ild.23 The others then put off every man his armour, took the Horses from their Chariots, and seated themselves in great multitude by the ship of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, who thereon feasted them with an abundant funeral banquet.
ild.23 When they had thrown down their great logs of Wood over the whole ground, they stayed all of them where they were, but Achilles ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armour, and to yoke each man his Horses; they therefore rose, girded on their armour and mounted each his Chariot they and their Charioteers with them.
ild.23 Against the bier he leaned two handled jars of honey and unguents; four proud Horses did he then cast upon the pyre, groaning the while he did so.
ild.23 He sat upright and said, Son" of Atreus, and all other princes of the Achaeans, first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us then gather the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius, singling them out with care; they are easily found, for they lie in the middle of the pyre, while all else, both men and Horses, has been thrown in a heap and burned at the outer edge.
ild.23 He brought prizes from the ships cauldrons, tripods, Horses and Mules, noble Oxen, Women with fair girdles, and swart iron.
ild.23 But do you others set yourselves in order throughout the host, whosoever has confidence in his Horses and in the strength of his Chariot.
ild.23 Next to him rose mighty Diomed son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan Horses which he had taken from Aeneas, when Apollo bore him out of the fight.
ild.23 Next to him, yellow haired Menelaus son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet Horses, Agamemnon s mare Aethe, and his own Horse Podargus.
ild.23 Fourth in order Antilochus, son to noble Nestor son of Neleus, made ready his Horses.
ild.23 You are skilful at wheeling your Horses round the post, but the Horses themselves are very slow, and it is this that will, I fear, mar your chances.
ild.23 The other drivers know less than you do, but their Horses are fleeter; therefore, my dear son, see if you cannot hit upon some artifice whereby you may insure that the prize shall not slip through your fingers.
ild.23 If a man go wide in rounding this way and that, whereas a man who knows what he is doing may have worse Horses, but he will keep them well in hand when he sees the doubling post; he knows the precise moment at which to pull the rein, and keeps his eye well on the man in front of him.
ild.23 It may have been a monument to some one long since dead, or it may have been used as a doubling post in days gone by; now, however, it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark round which the Chariots shall turn; hug it as close as you can, but as you stand in your Chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on your right hand Horse with voice and lash, and give him a loose rein, but let the left hand Horse keep so close in, that the nave of your wheel shall almost graze the post; but mind the stone, or you will wound your Horses and break your Chariot in pieces, which would be sport for others but confusion for yourself.
ild.23 When Nestor had made an end of counselling his son he sat down in his place, and fifth in order Meriones got ready his Horses.
ild.23 At the same instant they all of them lashed their Horses, struck them with the reins, and shouted at them with all their might.
ild.23 Each kept calling on his Horses, and the Horses scoured the plain amid the clouds of dust that they raised.
ild.23 The Horses of the descendant of Pheres now took the lead, and close behind them came the Trojan stallions of Diomed.
ild.23 Tears of anger fell from his eyes as he saw the mares going on faster than ever, while his own Horses lost ground through his having no whip.
ild.23 Minerva saw the trick which Apollo had played the son of Tydeus, so she brought him his whip and put spirit into his Horses; moreover she went after the son of Admetus in a rage and broke his yoke for him; the mares went one to one side the course, and the other to the other, and the pole was broken against the ground.
ild.23 But the son of Tydeus turned his Horses aside and shot far ahead, for Minerva put fresh strength into them and covered Diomed himself with glory.
ild.23 Menelaus son of Atreus came next behind him, but Antilochus called to his father s Horses.
ild.23 I do not bid you try to beat the steeds of the son of Tydeus, for Minerva has put running into them, and has covered Diomed with glory; but you must overtake the Horses of the son of Atreus and not be left behind, or Aethe who is so fleet will taunt you.
ild.23 Menelaus was making towards it so as to get there first, for fear of a foul, but Antilochus turned his Horses out of the way, and followed him a little on one side.
ild.23 The son of Atreus was afraid and shouted out, Antilochus", you are driving recklessly; rein in your Horses; the road is too narrow here, it will be wider soon, and you can pass me then; if you foul my Chariot you may bring both of us to a mischief.
ild.23 They went side by side for about as far as a young man can hurl a disc from his shoulder when he is trying his strength, and then Menelaus s mares drew behind, for he left off driving for fear the Horses should foul one another and upset the Chariots; thus, while pressing on in quest of victory, they might both come headlong to the ground.
ild.23 Then he called on his Horses and said to them, "Keep your pace, and slacken not; the limbs of the other Horses will weary sooner than yours, for they are neither of them young.
ild.23 The Horses feared the rebuke of their master, and went faster, so that they were soon nearly up with the others.
ild.23 Meanwhile the Achaeans from their seats were watching how the Horses went, as they scoured the plain amid clouds of their own dust.
ild.23 Perhaps the reins fell from the driver s hand so that he lost command of his Horses at the doubling post, and could not turn it.
ild.23 Eumelus s Horses are in front now, as they always have been, and he is on the Chariot holding the reins.
ild.23 I will wager you a tripod or cauldron, and Agamemnon son of Atreus shall decide whose Horses are first.
ild.23 Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer, and there would have been yet further brawling between them, had not Achilles risen in his place and said, Cease" your railing Ajax and Idomeneus; it is not you would be scandalised if you saw any one else do the like: sit down and keep your eyes on the Horses; they are speeding towards the winning post and will be bere directly.
ild.23 You will then both of you know whose Horses are first, and whose come after.
ild.23 As he was speaking, the son of Tydeus came driving in, plying his whip lustily from his shoulder, and his Horses stepping high as they flew over the course.
ild.23 The sand and grit rained thick on the driver, and the Chariot inlaid with Gold and tin ran close behind his fleet Horses.
ild.23 There was little trace of wheel marks in the fine dust, and the Horses came flying in at their utmost speed.
ild.23 Forthwith he sprang from his goodly Chariot, and leaned his whip against his Horses yoke; brave Sthenelus now lost no time, but at once brought on the prize, and gave the Woman and the ear handled cauldron to his comrades to take away.
ild.23 Then he unyoked the Horses.
ild.23 Next after him came in Antilochus of the race of Neleus, who had passed Menelaus by a trick and not by the fleetness of his Horses; but even so Menelaus came in as close behind him as the wheel is to the Horse that draws both the Chariot and its master.
ild.23 His Horses were slowest of all, and he was the worst driver.
ild.23 Last of them all came the son of Admetus, dragging his Chariot and driving his Horses on in front.
ild.23 Achilles"," said he, "I shall take it much amiss if you do this thing; you would rob me of my prize, because you think Eumelus s Chariot and Horses were thrown out, and himself too, good man that he is.
ild.23 If you are sorry for him and so choose, you have much Gold in your tents, with Bronze, Sheep, Cattle and Horses.
ild.23 Antilochus"," said he, "what is this from you who have been so far blameless? You have made me cut a poor figure and baulked my Horses by flinging your own in front of them, though yours are much worse than mine are; therefore, O princes and counsellors of the Argives, judge between us and show no favour, lest one of the Achaeans say, Menelaus has got the mare through lying and corruption; his Horses were far inferior to Antilochus s, but he has greater weight and influence.
ild.23 Come here, Antilochus, and stand, as our custom is, whip in hand before your Chariot and Horses; lay your hand on your steeds, and swear by earth encircling Neptune that you did not purposely and guilefully get in the way of my Horses.
ild.23 In Chariot racing alone did the two sons of Actor surpass me by crowding their Horses in front of me, for they were angry at the way victory had gone, and at the greater part of the prizes remaining in the place in which they had been offered.
ild.24 Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea, he yoked his Horses to his Chariot, and bound the body of Hector behind it that he might drag it about.
ild.24 This done, they brought from the store chamber the rich ransom that was to purchase the body of Hector, and they set it all orderly on the waggon; then they yoked the strong harness Mules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly present to Priam; but for Priam himself they yoked Horses which the old king had bred, and kept for own use.
ild.24 She stood in front of the Horses and said, "Take this, make a drink offering to father Jove, and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me, pray that you may come safely back from the hands of your enemies.
ild.24 Before him went the Mules drawing the four wheeled waggon, and driven by wise Idaeus; behind these were the Horses, which the old man lashed with his whip and drove swiftly through the city, while his friends followed after, wailing and lamenting for him as though he were on his road to death.
ild.24 Now when Priam and Idaeus had driven past the great tomb of Ilius, they stayed their Mules and Horses that they might drink in the river, for the shades of night were falling, when, therefore, Idaeus saw Mercury standing near them he said to Priam, "Take heed, descendant of Dardanus; here is matter which demands consideration.
ild.24 I see a man who I think will presently fall upon us; let us fly with our Horses, or at least embrace his knees and implore him to take compassion upon us?
ild.24 When he heard this the old man s heart failed him, and he was in great fear; he stayed where he was as one dazed, and the hair stood on end over his whole body; but the bringer of good luck came up to him and took him by the hand, saying, "Whither, father, are you thus driving your Mules and Horses in the dead of night when other men are asleep? Are you not afraid of the fierce Achaeans who are hard by you, so cruel and relentless? Should some one of them see you bearing so much treasure through the darkness of the flying night, what would not your state then be? You are no longer young, and he who is with you is too old to protect you from those who would attack you.
ild.24 The bringer of good luck then sprang on to the Chariot, and seizing the whip and reins he breathed fresh spirit into the Mules and Horses.
ild.24 Priam sprang from his Chariot to the ground, leaving Idaeus where he was, in charge of the Mules and Horses.
ild.24 These unyoked the Horses and Mules, and bade Priam s herald and attendant be seated within the house.
ild.24 Mercury then yoked their Horses and Mules, and drove them quickly through the host so that no man perceived them.
ild.24 Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral of Hector tamer of Horses.

Arise Greece! from thy silent sleep, 2000 years long it is! Forget not, thy ancient culture, beautiful and marvelous it is!

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