Polydamas

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 23 Sep 2011 09:51 and updated at 23 Sep 2011 09:51

ILIAD NOUN

ild.11 The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble Polydamas, Aeneas who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a God.
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 Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang in full armour to the ground, and all the other Trojans, when they saw him do so, also left their Chariots.
ild.12 Those that went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and most in number, and the most determined to break through the wall and fight at the ships.
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 While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes, the youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector (and these were the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break through the wall and fire the ships) were still standing by the trench, uncertain what they should do; for they had seen a sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it a soaring Eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their host, with a monstrous blood red snake in its talons still alive and struggling to escape.
ild.12 The Trojans were struck with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegis bearing Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to Hector and said, Hector", at our councils of war you are ever given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well, forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will either in the field or at the council board; you would have them support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships, for I know what will happen if this soaring Eagle which skirted the left wing of our with a monstrous blood red snake in its talons (the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench.
ild.12 Hector looked fiercely at him and said, Polydamas", I like not of your reading.
ild.13 The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the ships and tents back to windy Ilius, had not Polydamas presently said to Hector, Hector", there is no persuading you to take advice.
ild.13 Thus spoke Polydamas, and his words pleased Hector well.
ild.13 He sprang in full armour from his Chariot and said, Polydamas", gather the chieftains here; I will go yonder into the fight, but will return at once when I have given them their orders.
ild.13 When they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round Polydamas the excellent son of Panthous, but Hector kept on among the foremost, looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and prince Helenus, Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus; living, indeed, and scatheless he could no longer find them, for the two last were lying by the sterns of the Achaean ships, slain by the Argives, while the others had been also stricken and wounded by them; but upon the left wing of the dread battle he found Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, cheering his men and urging them on to fight.
ild.13 With these words he satisfied his brother, and the two went towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest, about Cebriones, brave Polydamas, Phalces, Orthaeus, Godlike Polyphetes, Palmys, Ascanius, and Morys son of Hippotion, who had come from fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other troops.
ild.14 The sons of the Achaeans came running with a loud cry towards him, hoping to drag him away, and they showered their darts on the Trojans, but none of them could wound him before he was surrounded and covered by the princes Polydamas, Aeneas, Agenor, Sarpedon captain of the Lycians, and noble Glaucus: of the others, too, there was not one who was unmindful of him, and they held their round shields over him to cover him.
ild.14 Polydamas son of Panthous drew near to avenge him, and wounded Prothoenor son of Areilycus on the right shoulder; the terrible spear went right through his shoulder, and he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust.
ild.14 Polydamas vaunted loudly over him saying, "Again I take it that the spear has not sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthous; an Argive has caught it in his body, and it will serve him for a staff as he goes down into the house of Hades.
ild.14 Ajax son of Telamon was more angry than any, for the man had fallen close be, him; so he aimed at Polydamas as he was retreating, but Polydamas saved himself by swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus son of Antenor, for heaven counselled his destruction; it struck him where the head springs from the neck at the top joint of the spine, and severed both the tendons at the back of the head.
ild.14 His head, mouth, and nostrils reached the ground long before his legs and knees could do so, and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying, "Think, Polydamas, and tell me truly whether this man is not as well worth killing as Prothoenor was: he seems rich, and of rich family, a brother, it may be, or son of the knight Antenor, for he is very like him.
ild.15 Polydamas killed Mecisteus, and Polites Echius, in the front of the battle, while Agenor slew Clonius.
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 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 Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene a comrade of the son of Phyleus and chief of the proud Epeans.
ild.15 When Meges saw this he sprang upon him, but Polydamas crouched down, and he missed him, for Apollo would not suffer the son of Panthous to fall in battle; but the spear hit Croesmus in the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and Meges stripped him of his armour.
ild.16 From these he strode on among the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthous and Agenor; he then went in search of Aeneas and Hector, and when he had found them he said, Hector", you have utterly forgotten your allies, who languish here for your sake far from friends and home while you do nothing to support them.
ild.17 The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian, for while keeping his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear on the upper part of the shoulder; a spear thrown by Polydamas had grazed the top of the bone, for Polydamas had come up to him and struck him from close at hand.
ild.18 Polydamas son of Panthous was first to speak, a man of judgement, who alone among them could look both before and after.
ild.18 Hector looked fiercely at him and answered, Polydamas", your words are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent within the city.
ild.18 They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel, but the wise words of Polydamas no man would heed.
ild.22 "Alas," said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, "if I go within the gates, Polydamas will be the first to heap reproach upon me, for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to the city on that awful night when Achilles again came forth against us.

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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