Idomeneus

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 21 Sep 2011 15:23 and updated at 21 Sep 2011 15:23

ILIAD NOUN

ild.01 But of this we will take thought hereafter; for the present, let us draw a ship into the sea, and find a crew for her expressly; let us put a Hecatomb on board, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and appease the the anger of the God.
ild.02 First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus, then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and Sixthly Ulysses, peer of Gods in counsel; but Menelaus came of his own accord, for he knew how busy his brother then was.
ild.02 The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Cnossus, and the well walled city of Gortys; Lyctus also, Miletus and Lycastus that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaestus and Rhytium, with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred cities of Crete.
ild.02 All these were led by Idomeneus, and by Meriones, peer of murderous Mars.
ild.03 "That," answered Helen, "is huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, and on the other side of him, among the Cretans, stands Idomeneus looking like a God, and with the captains of the Cretans round him.
ild.04 Passing through the crowd, he came presently on the Cretans, arming round Idomeneus, who was at their head, fierce as a wild boar, while Meriones was bringing up the battalions that were in the rear.
ild.04 Idomeneus"," said he, "I treat you with greater distinction than I do any others of the Achaeans, whether in war or in other things, or at table.
ild.04 Idomeneus answered, "I will be a trusty comrade, as I promised you from the first I would be.
ild.05 Then Idomeneus killed Phaesus, son of Borus the Meonian, who had come from Varne.
ild.05 Mighty Idomeneus speared him on the right shoulder as he was mounting his Chariot, and the darkness of death enshrouded him as he fell heavily from the car.
ild.05 The squires of Idomeneus spoiled him of his armour, while Menelaus, son of Atreus, killed Scamandrius the son of Strophius, a mighty huntsman and keen lover of the chase.
ild.06 Thrice have the bravest of them come thither and assailed it, under the two Ajaxes, Idomeneus, the sons of Atreus, and the brave son of Tydeus, either of their own bidding, or because some soothsayer had told them.
ild.07 Next were the two Ajaxes, men clothed in valour as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and Meriones his brother in arms.
ild.08 Idomeneus dared not stay nor yet Agamemnon, nor did the two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, hold their ground.
ild.08 After him came Agamemnon and Menelaus, sons of Atreus, the two Ajaxes clothed in valour as with a garment, Idomeneus and his companion in arms Meriones, peer of murderous Mars, and Eurypylus the brave son of Euaemon.
ild.10 Run, therefore, with all speed by the line of the ships, and call Ajax and Idomeneus.
ild.10 Meanwhile I will go to Nestor, and bid him rise and go about among the companies of our sentinels to give them their instructions; they will listen to him sooner than to any man, for his own son, and Meriones brother in arms to Idomeneus, are captains over them.
ild.10 Some one had also better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus, for their ships are not near at hand but the farthest of all.
ild.11 Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the war cry loudest round Nestor and brave Idomeneus.
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 Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had counselled; he at once mounted his Chariot, and Machaon son of the famed physician Aesculapius went with him.
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.13 Idomeneus met him, as he was taking leave of a comrade, who had just come to him from the fight, wounded in the knee.
ild.13 His fellow soldiers bore him off the field, and Idomeneus having given orders to the physicians went on to his tent, for he was still thirsting for battle.
ild.13 Idomeneus"," said he, "lawgiver to the Cretans, what has now become of the threats with which the sons of the Achaeans used to threaten the Trojans?"
ild.13 And Idomeneus chief among the Cretans answered, Thoas", no one, so far as I know, is in fault, for we can all fight.
ild.13 To this Neptune lord of the earthquake made answer, Idomeneus", may he never return from Troy, but remain here for Dogs to batten upon, who is this day wilfully slack in fighting.
ild.13 Therewith the God went back into the thick of the fight, and Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned his armour, grasped his two spears, and sallied forth.
ild.13 Meriones his sturdy squire met him while he was still near his tent (for he was going to fetch his spear) and Idomeneus said
ild.13 Idomeneus"," answered Meriones, "I come for a spear, if I can find one in my tent; I have broken the one I had, in throwing it at the shield of Deiphobus.
ild.13 And Idomeneus captain of the Cretans answered, "You will find one spear, or Twenty if you so please, standing up against the end wall of my tent.
ild.13 Idomeneus answered, "I know you for a brave man: you need not tell me.
ild.13 He then followed after Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valour.
ild.13 As when baneful Mars sallies forth to battle, and his son Panic so strong and dauntless goes with him, to strike terror even into the heart of a hero the pair have gone from Thrace to arm themselves among the Ephyri or the brave Phlegyans, but they will not listen to both the contending hosts, and will give victory to one side or to the other even so did Meriones and Idomeneus, captains of men, go out to battle clad in their Bronze armour.
ild.13 Idomeneus answered, "There are others to defend the centre the two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the finest archer of all the Achaeans, and is good also in a hand to hand fight.
ild.13 Meriones, peer of fleet Mars, then led the way till they came to the part of the host which Idomeneus had named.
ild.13 Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming on like a flame of fire, him and his squire clad in their richly wrought armour, they shouted and made towards him all in a body, and a furious hand to hand fight raged under the ships sterns.
ild.13 And now Idomeneus, though his hair was already flecked with grey, called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as he leaped in among them.
ild.13 Idomeneus aimed a spear, and hit him as he came striding on.
ild.13 Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying, Othryoneus", there is no one in the world whom I shall admire more than I do you, if you indeed perform what you have promised Priam son of Dardanus in return for his daughter.
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 was longing to strike down Idomeneus, but ere he could do so Idomeneus smote him with his spear in the throat under the chin, and the Bronze point went clean through it.
ild.13 Deiphobus then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asius, and took aim at him with a spear, but Idomeneus was on the look out and avoided it, for he was covered by the round shield he always bore a shield of oxhide and Bronze with two arm rods on the inside.
ild.13 But Idomeneus ceased not his fury.
ild.13 Then fell Alcathous son of noble Aesyetes: he was son in law to Anchises, having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia who was the darling of her father and mother, and excelled all her generation in beauty, accomplishments, and understanding, wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wife him did Neptune lay low by the hand of Idomeneus, blinding his bright eyes and binding his strong limbs in fetters so that he could neither go back nor to one side, but stood stock still like pillar or lofty tree when Idomeneus struck him with a spear in the middle of his chest.
ild.13 Idomeneus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying, Deiphobus", since you are in a mood to vaunt, shall we cry quits now that we have killed three men to your one? Nay, sir, stand in fight with me yourself, that you may learn what manner of Jove begotten man am I that have come hither.
ild.13 Deiphobus went up to him and said, Aeneas", prince among the Trojans, if you know any ties of kinship, help me now to defend the body of your sister s husband; come with me to the rescue of Alcathous, who being husband to your sister brought you up when you were a child in his house, and now Idomeneus has slain him.
ild.13 With these words he moved the heart of Aeneas, and he went in pursuit of Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valour; but Idomeneus was not to be thus daunted as though he were a mere child; he held his ground as a wild boar at bay upon the mountains, who abides the coming of a great crowd of men in some lonely place the bristles stand upright on his back, his eyes flash fire, and he whets his tusks in his eagerness to defend himself against hounds and men even so did famed Idomeneus hold his ground and budge not at the coming of Aeneas.
ild.13 Then they fought furiously in close combat about the body of Alcathous, wielding their long spears; and the Bronze armour about their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at one another in the press of the fight, while the two heroes Aeneas and Idomeneus, peers of Mars, outxied every one in their desire to hack at each other with sword and spear.
ild.13 Aeneas took aim first, but Idomeneus was on the lookout and avoided the spear, so that it sped from Aeneas strong hand in vain, and fell quivering in the ground.
ild.13 Idomeneus meanwhile smote Oenomaus in the middle of his belly, and broke the plate of his corslet, whereon his bowels came gushing out and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust.
ild.13 Idomeneus drew his spear out of the body, but could not strip him of the rest of his armour for the rain of darts that were showered upon him: moreover his strength was now beginning to fail him so that he could no longer charge, and could neither spring forward to recover his own weapon nor swerve aside to avoid one that was aimed at him; therefore, though he still defended himself in hand to hand fight, his heavy feet could not bear him swiftly out of the battle.
ild.15 Those who were about Ajax and King Idomeneus, the followers moreover of Teucer, Meriones, and Meges peer of Mars called all their best men about them and sustained the fight against Hector and the Trojans, but the main body fell back upon the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.16 Idomeneus speared Erymas in the mouth; the Bronze point of the spear went clean through it beneath the brain, crashing in among the white bones and smashing them up.
ild.17 Next came Idomeneus and Meriones his esquire, peer of murderous Mars.
ild.17 While Hector was in pursuit of Leitus, Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the nipple; but the spear broke in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud.
ild.17 Hector then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deucalion as he was standing on his Chariot, and very narrowly missed him, but the spear hit Coiranus, a follower and Charioteer of Meriones who had come with him from Lyctus.
ild.17 Idomeneus had left the ships on foot and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Coiranus had not driven quickly up to him, he therefore brought life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand of murderous Hector.
ild.17 Meriones gathered them up from the ground and took them into his own hands, then he said to Idomeneus, "Lay on, till you get back to the ships, for you must see that the day is no longer ours.
ild.17 On this Idomeneus lashed the Horses to the ships, for fear had taken hold upon him.
ild.19 On this he sent the other princes away, save only the two sons of Atreus and Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the knight Phoenix, who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of his sorrow: but he would not be comforted till he should have flung himself into the jaws of battle, and he fetched sigh on sigh, thinking ever of Patroclus.
ild.23 Then King Agamemnon sent men and Mules from all parts of the camp, to bring wood, and Meriones, squire to Idomeneus, was in charge over them.
ild.23 All who had been cutting Wood bore logs, for so Meriones squire to Idomeneus had bidden them, and they threw them down in a line upon the seashore at the place where Achilles would make a mighty monument for Patroclus and for himself.
ild.23 Idomeneus captain of the Cretans was first to make out the running, for he was not in the thick of the crowd, but stood on the most commanding part of the ground.
ild.23 The driver was a long way off, but Idomeneus could hear him shouting, and could see the foremost Horse quite plainly a chestnut with a round white star, like the moon, on its forehead.
ild.23 Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said, Idomeneus", why should you be in such a hurry to tell us all about it, when the mares are still so far out upon the plain? You are none of the youngest, nor your eyes none of the sharpest, but you are always laying down the law.
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 Idomeneus s brave squire Meriones was about a spear s cast behind Menelaus.
ild.23 Then uprose King Teucer, and Meriones the stalwart squire of Idomeneus rose also, They cast lots in a Bronze helmet and the lot of Teucer fell first.
ild.23 Then the son of Peleus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had never been on the fire; it was worth an ox, and was chased with a pattern of flowers; and those that throw the javelin stood up to wit the son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, and Meriones, stalwart squire of Idomeneus.

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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