Trojans

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 21 Sep 2011 11:23 and updated at 21 Sep 2011 11:25

ILIAD NOUN

ild.01 With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I came not warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me.
ild.01 We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your pleasure, not ours to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for Menelaus.
ild.01 Never when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting.
ild.01 Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two, who are so excellent in fight and counsel.
ild.01 Go, then, to him, remind him of all this, clasp his knees, and bid him give succour to the Trojans.
ild.01 Honour him then yourself, Olympian lord of counsel, and grant victory to the Trojans, till the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in requital.
ild.01 At this Jove was much troubled and answered, "I shall have trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno, for she will provoke me with her taunting speeches; even now she is always railing at me before the other Gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans.
ild.02 There are no longer divided counsels among the Gods; Juno has brought them to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans.
ild.02 There are no longer divided counsels among the Gods; Juno has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Jove.
ild.02 He thought that on that same day he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in the mind of Jove, who had many another hard fought fight in store alike for Danaans and Trojans.
ild.02 There are no longer divided counsels among the Gods; Juno has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Jove.
ild.02 Think that the Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant, and that they have each been numbered the Trojans by the roll of their householders, and we by companies of ten; think further that each of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a company would have to go without its cup bearer.
ild.02 But Juno said to Minerva, "Alas, daughter of aegis bearing Jove, unweariable, shall the Argives fly home to their own land over the broad sea, and leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea.
ild.02 He had not as yet laid a hand upon his ship, for he was grieved and sorry; so she went close up to him and said, Ulysses", noble son of Laertes, are you going to fling yourselves into your ships and be off home to your own land in this way? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea.
ild.02 "All who have not since perished must remember as though it were yesterday or the day before, how the ships of the Achaeans were detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on Priam and the Trojans.
ild.02 For the mighty son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed, when we Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans.
ild.02 Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day.
ild.02 As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman s homestead in the time of spring when the pails are drenched with milk, even so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans and destroy them.
ild.02 And now Iris, fleet as the wind, was sent by Jove to tell the bad news among the Trojans.
ild.02 They were gathered in assembly, old and young, at Priam s gates, and Iris came close up to Priam, speaking with the voice of Priam s son Polites, who, being fleet of foot, was stationed as watchman for the Trojans on the tomb of old Aesyetes, to look out for any sally of the Achaeans.
ild.02 Here the Trojans and their allies divided their forces.
ild.02 Priam s son, great Hector of the gleaming helmet, commanded the Trojans, and with him were arrayed by far the greater number and most valiant of those who were longing for the fray.
ild.02 Chromis, and Ennomus the augur, led the Mysians, but his skill in augury availed not to save him from destruction, for he fell by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus in the river, where he slew others also of the Trojans.
ild.03 When the companies were thus arrayed, each under its own captain, the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild fowl or cranes that scream overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters of Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies, and they wrangle in the air as they fly; but the Achaeans marched silently, in high heart, and minded to stand by one another.
ild.03 Will not the Achaeans mock at us and say that we have sent one to champion us who is fair to see but who has neither wit nor courage? Did you not, such as you are, get your following together and sail beyond the seas? Did you not from your a far country carry off a lovely Woman wedded among a people of warriors to bring sorrow upon your father, your city, and your whole country, but joy to your enemies, and hang Dog shamefacedness to yourself? And now can you not dare face Menelaus and learn what manner of man he is whose wife you have stolen? Where indeed would be your lyre and your love tricks, your comely locks and your fair favour, when you were lying in the dust before him? The Trojans are a weak kneed people, or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones for the wrongs you have done them.
ild.03 If you would have me do battle with Menelaus, bid the Trojans and Achaeans take their seats, while he and I fight in their midst for Helen and all her wealth.
ild.03 Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the Woman and all she has, to bear them to his home, but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you Trojans shall stay here in Troy, while the others go home to Argos and the land of the Achaeans.
ild.03 "Hear from my mouth," said he, Trojans" and Achaeans, the saying of Alexandrus, through whom this quarrel has come about.
ild.03 He bids the Trojans and Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground, while he and Menelaus fight in the midst of you for Helen and all her wealth.
ild.03 I deem that the parting of Achaeans and Trojans is at hand, as well it may be, seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and the wrong he did me.
ild.03 The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this, for they thought that they should now have rest.
ild.03 She found her in her own room, working at a great web of purple linen, on which she was embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans, that Mars had made them fight for her sake.
ild.03 Iris then came close up to her and said, "Come hither, child, and see the strange doings of the Trojans and Achaeans till now they have been warring upon the plain, mad with lust of battle, but now they have left off fighting, and are leaning upon their shields, sitting still with their spears planted beside them.
ild.03 When they saw Helen coming towards the tower, they said softly to one another, "Small wonder that Trojans and Achaeans should endure so much and so long, for the sake of a Woman so marvellously and divinely lovely.
ild.03 When they stood up in presence of the assembled Trojans, Menelaus was the broader shouldered, but when both were seated Ulysses had the more royal presence.
ild.03 He went up to Priam and said, Son" of Laomedon, the princes of the Trojans and Achaeans bid you come down on to the plain and swear to a solemn covenant.
ild.03 When they reached the ranks of the Trojans and Achaeans they left the Chariot, and with measured pace advanced into the space between the hosts.
ild.03 If Alexandrus kills Menelaus, let him keep Helen and all her wealth, while we sail home with our ships; but if Menelaus kills Alexandrus, let the Trojans give back Helen and all that she has; let them moreover pay such fine to the Achaeans as shall be agreed upon, in testimony among those that shall be born hereafter.
ild.03 Then they poured wine from the mixing bowl into the cups, and prayed to the everlasting Gods, saying, Trojans and Achaeans among one another, Jove", most great and glorious, and ye other everlasting Gods, grant that the brains of them who shall first sin against their oaths of them and their children may be shed upon the ground even as this wine, and let their wives become the slaves of strangers.
ild.03 Then Priam, descendant of Dardanus, spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, I will now go back to the wind beaten city of Ilius: I dare not with my own eyes witness this fight between my son and Menelaus, for Jove and the other immortals alone know which shall fall.
ild.03 When they had thus armed, each amid his own people, they strode fierce of aspect into the open space, and both Trojans and Achaeans were struck with awe as they beheld them.
ild.03 I will stir up fierce hatred between Trojans and Achaeans, and you shall come to a bad end.
ild.03 Thus they laid themselves on the bed together; but the son of Atreus strode among the throng, looking everywhere for Alexandrus, and no man, neither of the Trojans nor of the allies, could find him.
ild.03 Then Agamemnon, king of men, spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies.
ild.04 Minerva and Juno muttered their discontent as they sat side by side hatching mischief for the Trojans.
ild.04 Jove was angry and answered, "My dear, what harm have Priam and his sons done you that you are so hotly bent on sacking the city of Ilius? Will nothing do for you but you must within their walls and eat Priam raw, with his sons and all the other Trojans to boot? Have it your own way then; for I would not have this matter become a bone of contention between us.
ild.04 Tell Minerva to go and take part in the fight at once, and let her contrive that the Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the Achaeans.
ild.04 The sire of Gods and men heeded her words, and said to Minerva, "Go at once into the Trojan and Achaean hosts, and contrive that the Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the Achaeans.
ild.04 The Trojans and Achaeans were struck with awe as they beheld, and one would turn to his neighbour, saying, "Either we shall again have war and din of combat, or Jove the lord of battle will now make peace between us.
ild.04 Then Minerva took the form of Laodocus, son of Antenor, and went through the ranks of the Trojans to find Pandarus, the redoubtable son of Lycaon.
ild.04 She found him standing among the stalwart heroes who had followed him from the banks of the Aesopus, so she went close up to him and said, "Brave son of Lycaon, will you do as I tell you? If you dare send an arrow at Menelaus you will win honour and thanks from all the Trojans, and especially from prince Alexandrus he would be the first to requite you very handsomely if he could see Menelaus mount his funeral pyre, slain by an arrow from your hand.
ild.04 The Trojans have trampled on their oaths and have wounded you; nevertheless the oath, the blood of lambs, the drink offerings and the right hands of fellowship in which have put our trust shall not be vain.
ild.04 We shall leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, and the earth will rot your bones as you lie here at Troy with your purpose not fulfilled.
ild.04 While they were thus busy about Menelaus, the Trojans came forward against them, for they had put on their armour, and now renewed the fight.
ild.04 Argives"," said he, "slacken not one whit in your onset; father Jove will be no helper of liars; the Trojans have been the first to break their oaths and to attack us; therefore they shall be devoured of Vultures; we shall take their city and carry off their wives and children in our ships.
ild.04 Would you wait till the Trojans reach the sterns of our ships as they lie on the shore, to see, whether the son of Saturn will hold his hand over you to protect you?"
ild.04 Urge on the other Achaeans, that we may join battle at once, for the Trojans have trampled upon their covenants.
ild.04 "Let no man," he said, "relying on his strength or Horsemanship, get before the others and engage singly with the Trojans, nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your attack; but let each when he meets an enemy s Chariot throw his spear from his own; this be much the best; this is how the men of old took towns and strongholds; in this wise were they minded.
ild.04 Near him also tarried cunning Ulysses, with his sturdy Cephallenians round him; they had not yet heard the battle cry, for the ranks of Trojans and Achaeans had only just begun to move, so they were standing still, waiting for some other columns of the Achaeans to attack the Trojans and begin the fighting.
ild.04 Ulysses glared at him and answered, Son" of Atreus, what are you talking about? How can you say that we are slack? When the Achaeans are in full fight with the Trojans, you shall see, if you care to do so, that the father of Telemachus will join battle with the foremost of them.
ild.04 First Antilochus slew an armed warrior of the Trojans, Echepolus, son of Thalysius, fighting in the foremost ranks.
ild.04 Then the fight between Trojans and Achaeans grew furious over his body, and they flew upon each other like Wolves, man and man crushing one upon the other.
ild.04 Ulysses was furious when he saw Leucus slain, and strode in full armour through the front ranks till he was quite close; then he glared round about him and took aim, and the Trojans fell back as he did so.
ild.04 But Apollo looked down from Pergamus and called aloud to the Trojans, for he was displeased.
ild.04 Trojans"," he cried, "rush on the foe, and do not let yourselves be thus beaten by the Argives.
ild.04 For many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay stretched side by side face downwards upon the earth.
ild.05 Now there was a certain rich and honourable man among the Trojans, priest of Vulcan, and his name was Dares.
ild.05 These two came forward from the main body of Trojans, and set upon Diomed, he being on foot, while they fought from their Chariot.
ild.05 The Trojans were scared when they saw the two sons of Dares, one of them in fright and the other lying dead by his Chariot.
ild.05 Minerva, therefore, took Mars by the hand and said, Mars", Mars, bane of men, bloodstained stormer of cities, may we not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight it out, and see to which of the two Jove will vouchsafe the victory? Let us go away, and thus avoid his anger.
ild.05 Upon this the Danaans drove the Trojans back, and each one of their chieftains killed his man.
ild.05 He it was that made the ships for Alexandrus, which were the beginning of all mischief, and brought evil alike both on the Trojans and on Alexandrus himself; for he heeded not the decrees of heaven.
ild.05 As for the son of Tydeus, you could not say whether he was more among the Achaeans or the Trojans.
ild.05 He rushed across the plain like a winter torrent that has burst its barrier in full flood; no dykes, no walls of fruitful vineyards can embank it when it is swollen with rain from heaven, but in a moment it comes tearing onward, and lays many a field waste that many a strong man hand has reclaimed even so were the dense phalanxes of the Trojans driven in rout by the son of Tydeus, and many though they were, they dared not abide his onslaught.
ild.05 Now when the son of Lycaon saw him scouring the plain and driving the Trojans pell mell before him, he aimed an arrow and hit the front part of his cuirass near the shoulder: the arrow went right through the metal and pierced the flesh, so that the cuirass was covered with blood.
ild.05 On this the son of Lycaon shouted in triumph, Knights" Trojans, come on; the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded, and he will not hold out much longer if King Apollo was indeed with me when I sped from Lycia hither.
ild.05 Then she went up close to him and said, "Fear not, Diomed, to do battle with the Trojans, for I have set in your heart the spirit of your knightly father Tydeus.
ild.05 Even thus did Diomed go furiously about among the Trojans.
ild.05 When he had found the brave son of Lycaon he said, Pandarus", where is now your bow, your winged arrows, and your renown as an archer, in respect of which no man here can rival you nor is there any in Lycia that can beat you? Lift then your hands to Jove and send an arrow at this fellow who is going so masterfully about, and has done such deadly work among the Trojans.
ild.05 He has killed many a brave man unless indeed he is some God who is angry with the Trojans about their sacrifices, and and has set his hand against them in his displeasure.
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 I did ill to take my bow down from its peg on the day I led my band of Trojans to Ilius in Hector s service, and if ever I get home again to set eyes on my native place, my wife, and the greatness of my house, may some one cut my head off then and there if I do not break the bow and set it on a hot fire such pranks as it plays me.
ild.05 The war is no longer one between Trojans and Achaeans, for the Danaans have now taken to fighting with the immortals.
ild.05 Father" Jove," said she, "do not be angry with me, but I think the Cyprian must have been persuading some one of the Achaean Women to go with the Trojans of whom she is so very fond, and while caressing one or other of them she must have torn her delicate hand with the Gold pin of the Woman s brooch.
ild.05 Round this the Trojans and Achaeans hacked at the bucklers about one another s breasts, hewing each other s round shields and light hide covered targets.
ild.05 He then took his seat on the top of Pergamus, while murderous Mars went about among the ranks of the Trojans, cheering them on, in the likeness of fleet Acamas chief of the Thracians.
ild.05 Fierce Mars, to help the Trojans, covered them in a veil of darkness, and went about everywhere among them, inasmuch as Phoebus Apollo had told him that when he saw Pallas, Minerva leave the fray he was to put courage into the hearts of the Trojans for it was she who was helping the Danaans.
ild.05 The two Ajaxes, Ulysses and Diomed, cheered the Danaans on, fearless of the fury and onset of the Trojans.
ild.05 They stood as still as clouds which the son of Saturn has spread upon the mountain tops when there is no air and fierce Boreas sleeps with the other boisterous winds whose shrill blasts scatter the clouds in all directions even so did the Danaans stand firm and unflinching against the Trojans.
ild.05 As he spoke he hurled his spear and hit one of those who were in the front rank, the comrade of Aeneas, Deicoon son of Pergasus, whom the Trojans held in no less honour than the sons of Priam, for he was ever quick to place himself among the foremost.
ild.05 But Hector marked them from across the ranks, and with a loud cry rushed towards them, followed by the strong battalions of the Trojans.
ild.05 Keep your faces therefore towards the Trojans, but give ground backwards, for we dare not fight with Gods.
ild.05 As he spoke the Trojans drew close up, and Hector killed two men, both in one Chariot, Menesthes and Anchialus, heroes well versed in war.
ild.05 Then Ajax ran towards him to strip him of his armour, but the Trojans rained spears upon him, many of which fell upon his shield.
ild.05 For all your strength, and all your coming from Lycia, you will be no help to the Trojans but will pass the gates of Hades vanquished by my hand.
ild.05 Meanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by Mars and Hector, nor yet did they attack them; when they knew that Mars was with the Trojans they retreated, but kept their faces still turned towards the foe.
ild.05 Argives"," she cried; "shame on cowardly creatures, brave in semblance only; as long as Achilles was fighting, fi his spear was so deadly that the Trojans dared not show themselves outside the Dardanian gates, but now they sally far from the city and fight even at your ships.
ild.05 I stand by you too to protect you, and I bid you be instant in fighting the Trojans; but either you are tired out, or you are afraid and out of heart, and in that case I say that you are no true son of Tydeus the son of Oeneus.
ild.05 But now he was holding talk with Juno and myself, saying he would help the Argives and attack the Trojans; nevertheless he is with the Trojans, and has forgotten the Argives.
ild.05 Mars roared as loudly as Nine or Ten thousand men in the thick of a fight, and the Achaeans and Trojans were struck with panic, so terrible was the cry he raised.
ild.06 THE fight between Trojans and Achaeans was now left to rage as it would, and the tide of war surged hither and thither over the plain as they aimed their Bronze shod spears at one another between the streams of Simois and Xanthus.
ild.06 First, Ajax son of Telamon, tower of strength to the Achaeans, broke a phalanx of the Trojans, and came to the assistance of his comrades by killing Acamas son of Eussorus, the best man among the Thracians, being both brave and of great stature.
ild.06 Has, then, your house fared so well at the hands of the Trojans? Let us not spare a single one of them not even the child unborn and in its mother s womb; let not a man of them be left alive, but let all in Ilius perish, unheeded and forgotten.
ild.06 And now the Trojans would have been routed and driven back into Ilius, had not Priam s son Helenus, wisest of augurs, said to Hector and Aeneas, Hector" and Aeneas, you two are the mainstays of the Trojans and Lycians, for you are foremost at all times, alike in fight and counsel; hold your ground here, and go about among the host to rally them in front of the gates, or they will fling themselves into the arms of their wives, to the great joy of our foes.
ild.06 Tell her to bid the matrons gather at the temple of Minerva in the acropolis; let her then take her key and open the doors of the sacred building; there, upon the knees of Minerva, let her lay the largest, fairest robe she has in her house the one she sets most store by; let her, moreover, promise to sacrifice Twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad, in the temple of the Goddess, if she will take pity on the town, with the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the son of Tydeus from falling on the goodly city of Ilius; for he fights with fury and fills men s souls with panic.
ild.06 Thereon they rallied and again faced the Achaeans, who gave ground and ceased their murderous onset, for they deemed that some one of the immortals had come down from starry heaven to help the Trojans, so strangely had they rallied.
ild.06 And Hector shouted to the Trojans, Trojans" and allies, be men, my friends, and fight with might and main, while I go to Ilius and tell the old men of our council and our wives to pray to the Gods and vow Hecatombs in their honour.
ild.06 Henceforth, however, I must be your host in middle Argos, and you mine in Lycia, if I should ever go there; let us avoid one another s spears even during a general engagement; there are many noble Trojans and allies whom I can kill, if I overtake them and heaven delivers them into my hand; so again with yourself, there are many Achaeans whose lives you may take if you can; we two, then, will exchange armour, that all present may know of the old ties that subsist between us.
ild.06 Now when Hector reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree, the wives and daughters of the Trojans came running towards him to ask after their sons, brothers, kinsmen, and husbands: he told them to set about praying to the gods, and many were made sorrowful as they heard him.
ild.06 Get the matrons together, and go with offerings to the temple of Minerva driver of the spoil; there, upon the knees of Minerva, lay the largest and fairest robe you have in your house the one you set most store by; promise, moreover, to sacrifice Twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad, in the temple of the Goddess if she will take pity on the town, with the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the son of Tydeus from off the goodly city of Ilius, for he fights with fury, and fills men s souls with panic.
ild.06 Would that the earth might open her jaws and swallow him, for Jove bred him to be the bane of the Trojans, and of Priam and Priam s sons.
ild.06 When they reached the temple of Minerva, lovely Theano, daughter of Cisseus and wife of Antenor, opened the doors, for the Trojans had made her priestess of Minerva.
ild.06 Do this, and we will sacrifice Twelve heifers that have never yet known the goad, in your temple, if you will have pity upon the town, with the wives and little ones If the Trojans.
ild.06 And Alexandrus answered, Hector", your rebuke is just; listen therefore, and believe me when I tell you that I am not here so much through rancour or ill will towards the Trojans, as from a desire to indulge my grief.
ild.06 I am in haste to help the Trojans, who miss me greatly when I am not among them; but urge your husband, and of his own self also let him make haste to overtake me before I am out of the city.
ild.06 His good housekeeper answered, Hector", since you bid me tell you truly, she did not go to your sisters nor to your brothers wives, nor yet to the temple of Minerva, where the other Women are propitiating the awful goddess, but she is on the high wall of Ilius, for she had heard the Trojans were being hard pressed, and that the Achaeans were in great force: she went to the wall in frenzied haste, and the nurse went with her carrying the child.
ild.06 And Hector answered, Wife", I too have thought upon all this, but with what face should I look upon the Trojans, men or Women, if I shirked battle like a coward? I cannot do so: I know nothing save to fight bravely in the forefront of the Trojan host and win renown alike for my father and myself.
ild.06 It may be that you will have to ply the loom in Argos at the bidding of a mistress, or to fetch water from the springs Messeis or Hypereia, treated brutally by some cruel task master; then will one say who sees you weeping, She was wife to Hector, the bravest warrior among the Trojans during the war before Ilius.
ild.06 Jove"," he cried, "grant that this my child may be even as myself, chief among the Trojans; let him be not less excellent in strength, and let him rule Ilius with his might.
ild.06 It grieves me to the heart to hear the ill that the Trojans speak about you, for they have suffered much on your account.
ild.07 As when heaven sends a breeze to sailors who have long looked for one in vain, and have laboured at their oars till they are faint with toil, even so welcome was the sight of these two heroes to the Trojans.
ild.07 When, therefore, Minerva saw these men making havoc of the Argives, she darted down to Ilius from the summits of Olympus, and Apollo, who was looking on from Pergamus, went out to meet her; for he wanted the Trojans to be victorious.
ild.07 "What would you have said he, "daughter of great Jove, that your proud spirit has sent you hither from Olympus? Have you no pity upon the Trojans, and would you incline the scales of victory in favour of the Danaans? Let me persuade you for it will be better thus stay the combat for to day, but let them renew the fight hereafter till they compass the doom of Ilius, since you Goddesses have made up your minds to destroy the city.
ild.07 And Minerva answered, "So be it, Far Darter; it was in this mind that I came down from Olympus to the Trojans and Achaeans.
ild.07 Bid the other Trojans and Achaeans all of them take their seats, and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to meet you in single combat.
ild.07 Hector was glad when he heard this saying, and went in among the Trojans, grasping his spear by the middle to hold them back, and they all sat down.
ild.07 As when the rising west wind furs the face of the sea and the waters grow dark beneath it, so sat the companies of Trojans and Achaeans upon the plain.
ild.07 "Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak even as I am minded; Jove on his high throne has brought our oaths and covenants to nothing, and foreshadows ill for both of us, till you either take the towers of Troy, or are yourselves vanquished at your ships.
ild.07 If your champion slay me, let him strip me of my armour and take it to your ships, but let him send my body home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead.
ild.07 I will put on my armour; meanwhile, pray to King Jove in silence among yourselves that the Trojans may not hear you or aloud if you will, for we fear no man.
ild.07 The Argives were elated as they beheld him, but the Trojans trembled in every limb, and the heart even of Hector beat quickly, but he could not now retreat and withdraw into the ranks behind him, for he had been the challenger.
ild.07 Thereon they would have hacked at one another in close combat with their swords, had not heralds, messengers of Gods and men, come forward, one from the Trojans and the other from the Achaeans Talthybius and Idaeus both of them honourable men; these parted them with their staves, and the good herald Idaeus said, "My sons, fight no longer, you are both of you valiant, and both are dear to Jove; we know this; but night is now falling, and the behests of night may not be well gainsaid.
ild.07 Gladden, then, the hearts of the Achaeans at your ships, and more especially those of your own followers and clansmen, while I, in the great city of King Priam, bring comfort to the Trojans and their Women, who vie with one another in their prayers on my behalf.
ild.07 Let us, moreover, exchange presents that it may be said among the Achaeans and Trojans, They fought with might and main, but were reconciled and parted in friendship.
ild.07 Thus they parted, the one going to the host of the Achaeans, and the other to that of the Trojans, who rejoiced when they saw their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the strong hands of mighty Ajax.
ild.07 Meanwhile the Trojans held a council, angry and full of discord, on the acropolis by the gates of King Priam s palace; and wise Antenor spoke.
ild.07 "Hear me he said, Trojans", Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded.
ild.07 I will speak plainly, and hereby notify to the Trojans that I will not give up the Woman; but the wealth that I brought home with her from Argos I will restore, and will add yet further of my own.
ild.07 On this, when Paris had spoken and taken his seat, Priam of the race of Dardanus, peer of Gods in council, rose and with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded.
ild.07 Son" of Atreus," he said, "and princes of the Achaean host, Priam and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the saying of Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about, if so be that you may find it acceptable.
ild.07 All the treasure he took with him in his ships to Troy would that he had sooner perished he will restore, and will add yet further of his own, but he will not give up the wedded wife of Menelaus, though the Trojans would have him do so.
ild.07 They all held their peace, but presently Diomed of the loud war cry spoke, saying, "Let there be no taking, neither treasure, nor yet Helen, for even a child may see that the doom of the Trojans is at hand.
ild.07 The Trojans and Dardanians were gathered in council waiting his return; when he came, he stood in their midst and delivered his message.
ild.07 Priam had forbidden the Trojans to wail aloud, so they heaped their dead sadly and silently upon the pyre, and having burned them went back to the city of Ilius.
ild.07 They spread a goodly banquet and feasted the whole night through, as also did the Trojans and their allies in the city.
ild.08 If I see anyone acting apart and helping either Trojans or Danaans, he shall be beaten inordinately ere he come back again to Olympus; or I will hurl him down into dark Tartarus far into the deepest pit under the earth, where the gates are Iron and the floor Bronze, as far beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth, that you may learn how much the mightiest I am among you.
ild.08 The Trojans on the other hand likewise armed themselves throughout the city, fewer in numbers but nevertheless eager perforce to do battle for their wives and children.
ild.08 Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning their weapons beat against one another, and the people fell, but when the sun had reached mid heaven, the sire of all balanced his Golden scales, and put two fates of death within them, one for the Trojans and the other for the Achaeans.
ild.08 He took the balance by the middle, and when he lifted it up the day of the Achaeans sank; the death fraught scale of the Achaeans settled down upon the ground, while that of the Trojans rose heavenwards.
ild.08 Let our squires attend to your own steeds, but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans, that Hector may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear.
ild.08 Diomed answered, "All that you have said is true; there is a grief however which pierces me to the very heart, for Hector will talk among the Trojans and say, The son of Tydeus fled before me to the ships.
ild.08 Son" of Tydeus," replied Nestor, "what mean you? Though Hector say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low.
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 Ida in token to the Trojans that he would turn the battle in their favour.
ild.08 Hector then shouted to them and said, Trojans", Lycians, and Dardanians, lovers of close fighting, be men, my friends, and fight with might and with main; I see that Jove is minded to vouchsafe victory and great glory to myself, while he will deal destruction upon the Danaans.
ild.08 If all of us who are with the Danaans were to drive the Trojans back and keep Jove from helping them, he would have to sit there sulking alone on Ida.
ild.08 Vouchsafe me then this prayer suffer us to escape at any rate with our lives, and let not the Achaeans be so utterly vanquished by the Trojans.
ild.08 Thus did he pray, and father Jove pitying his tears vouchsafed him that his people should live, not die; forthwith he sent them an Eagle, most unfailingly portentous of all birds, with a young fawn in its talons; the Eagle dropped the fawn by the altar on which the Achaeans sacrificed to Jove the lord of omens; When, therefore, the people saw that the bird had come from Jove, they sprang more fiercely upon the Trojans and fought more boldly.
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 Which of the Trojans did brave Teucer first kill? Orsilochus, and then Ormenus and Ophelestes, Daetor, Chromius, and Godlike Lycophontes, Amopaon son of Polyaemon, and Melanippus.
ild.08 these in turn did he lay low upon the earth, and King Agamemnon was glad when he saw him making havoc of the Trojans with his mighty bow.
ild.08 Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and they drove the Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glory at their head.
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 Let them live or die as luck will have it, and let Jove mete out his judgements upon the Trojans and Danaans according to his own pleasure.
ild.08 Minerva and Juno sat alone, apart from Jove, and neither spoke nor asked him questions, but Jove knew what they meant, and said, Minerva" and Juno, why are you so angry? Are you fatigued with killing so many of your dear friends the Trojans? Be this as it may, such is the might of my hands that all the Gods in Olympus cannot turn me; you were both of you trembling all over ere ever you saw the fight and its terrible doings.
ild.08 Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit as they sat side by side and brooded mischief for the Trojans.
ild.08 Sorry indeed were the Trojans when light failed them, but welcome and thrice prayed for did darkness fall upon the Achaeans.
ild.08 Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships, and held a council on the open space near the river, where there was a spot ear corpses.
ild.08 "Hear me," said he, Trojans", Dardanians, and allies.
ild.08 For the Achaeans may try to fly beyond the sea by night, and they must not embark scatheless and unmolested; many a man among them must take a dart with him to nurse at home, hit with spear or arrow as he is leaping on board his ship, that others may fear to bring war and weeping upon the Trojans.
ild.08 See to it, brave Trojans, as I have said, and let this suffice for the moment; at daybreak I will instruct you further.
ild.08 Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause.
ild.08 As when the stars shine clear, and the moon is bright there is not a breath of air, not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland but it stands out in the ineffable radiance that breaks from the serene of heaven; the stars can all of them be told and the heart of the shepherd is glad even thus shone the watchfires of the Trojans before Ilius midway between the ships and the river Xanthus.
ild.09 THUS did the Trojans watch.
ild.09 The Trojans and their allies have camped hard by our ships and by the wall; they have lit watchfires throughout their host and deem that nothing can now prevent them from falling on our fleet.
ild.09 Up, then, and late though it be, save the sons of the Achaeans who faint before the fury of the Trojans.
ild.09 Why, pray, must the Argives needs fight the Trojans? What made the son of Atreus gather the host and bring them? Was it not for the sake of Helen? Are the sons of Atreus the only men in the world who love their wives? Any man of common right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own, as I this Woman, with my whole heart, though she was but a fruitling of my spear.
ild.10 Neither could Menelaus sleep, for he, too, boded ill for the Argives who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to fight the Trojans.
ild.10 "Why," said he, "my dear brother, are you thus arming? Are you going to send any of our comrades to exploit the Trojans? I greatly fear that no one will do you this service, and spy upon the enemy alone in the dead of night.
ild.10 How can you sleep on in this way? Can you not see that the Trojans are encamped on the brow of the plain hard by our ships, with but a little space between us and them?"
ild.10 As Sheep Dogs that watch their flocks when they are yarded, and hear a wild beast coming through the mountain forest towards them forthwith there is a hue and cry of Dogs and men, and slumber is broken even so was sleep chased from the eyes of the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked night, for they turned constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any stir among the Trojans.
ild.10 "My friends," said he, "is there any man bold enough to venture the Trojans, and cut off some straggler, or us news of what the enemy mean to do whether they will stay here by the ships away from the city, or whether, now that they have worsted the Achaeans, they will retire within their walls.
ild.10 They all held their peace, but Diomed of the loud war cry spoke saying, Nestor", gladly will I visit the host of the Trojans over against us, but if another will go with me I shall do so in greater confidence and comfort.
ild.10 The two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, Meriones, and the son of Nestor all wanted to go, so did Menelaus son of Atreus; Ulysses also wished to go among the host of the Trojans, for he was ever full of daring, and thereon Agamemnon king of men spoke thus: "Diomed," said he, "son of Tydeus, man after my own heart, choose your comrade for yourself take the best man of those that have offered, for many would now go with you.
ild.10 Ulysses was glad when he heard it and prayed to Minerva: "Hear me," he cried, "daughter of aegis bearing Jove, you who spy out all my ways and who are with me in all my hardships; befriend me in this mine hour, and grant that we may return to the ships covered with glory after having achieved some mighty exploit that shall bring sorrow to the Trojans.
ild.10 Neither again did Hector let the Trojans sleep; for he too called the princes and councillors of the Trojans that he might set his counsel before them.
ild.10 They all held their peace; but there was among the Trojans a certain man named Dolon, son of Eumedes, the famous herald a man rich in Gold and Bronze.
ild.10 He it was that now addressed the Trojans.
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 The Trojans have their watchfires, for they are bound to have them; they, therefore, are awake and keep each other to their duty as sentinels; but the allies who have come from other places are asleep and leave it to the Trojans to keep guard, for their wives and children are not here.
ild.10 The Lysians and proud Mysians, with the Phrygians and Meonians, have their place on the side towards Thymbra; but why ask about an this? If you want to find your way into the host of the Trojans, there are the Thracians, who have lately come here and lie apart from the others at the far end of the camp; and they have Rhesus son of Eioneus for their king.
ild.10 While he was thus hesitating Minerva came up to him and said, "Get back, Diomed, to the ships or you may be driven thither, should some other God rouse the Trojans.
ild.10 He was angry with her, and coming to the host of the Trojans he roused Hippocoon, a counsellor of the Thracians and a noble kinsman of Rhesus.
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 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 Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man a scout whom Hector and the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon our ships.
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.11 And now as a band of reapers mow swathes of wheat or barley upon a rich man s land, and the sheaves fall thick before them, even so did the Trojans and Achaeans fall upon one another; they were in no mood for yielding but fought like Wolves, and neither side got the better of the other.
ild.11 All of them blamed the son of Saturn for wanting to Live victory to the Trojans, but father Jove heeded them not: he held aloof from all, and sat apart in his all glorious majesty, looking down upon the city of the Trojans, the ships of the Achaeans, the gleam of Bronze, and alike upon the slayers and on the slain.
ild.11 As a Lion fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great jaws, robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back to his lair the hind can do nothing for them even though she be close by, for she is in an agony of fear, and flies through the thick forest, sweating, and at her utmost speed before the mighty monster so, no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus, for they were themselves flying panic before the Argives.
ild.11 "If," said Agamemnon, "you are sons of Antimachus, who once at a council of Trojans proposed that Menelaus and Ulysses, who had come to you as envoys, should be killed and not suffered to return, you shall now pay for the foul iniquity of your father.
ild.11 As when some mighty forest is all ablaze the eddying gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and are consumed before the blast of the flame even so fell the heads of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus, and many a noble pair of steeds drew an empty Chariot along the highways of war, for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain, more useful now to Vultures than to their wives.
ild.11 Meanwhile the Trojans kept on flying over the middle of the plain like a herd cows maddened with fright when a Lion has attacked them in the dead of night he springs on one of them, seizes her neck in the grip of his strong teeth and then laps up her blood and gorges himself upon her entrails even so did King Agamemnon son of Atreus pursue the foe, ever slaughtering the hindmost as they fled pell mell before him.
ild.11 The Trojans then wheeled round, and again met the Achaeans, while the Argives on their part strengthened their battalions.
ild.11 Tell me now ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus, who, whether of the Trojans or of their allies, was first to face Agamemnon? It was Iphidamas son of Antenor, a man both brave and of great stature, who was brought up in fertile Thrace the mother of Sheep.
ild.11 With a loud clear voice he shouted to the Danaans, "My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, defend the ships yourselves, for Jove has not suffered me to fight the whole day through against the Trojans.
ild.11 When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field, he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying, Trojans", Lycians, and Dardanian warriors, be men, my friends, and acquit yourselves in battle bravely; their best man has left them, and Jove has vouchsafed me a great triumph; charge the foe with your Chariots that.
ild.11 With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and as a huntsman hounds his Dogs on against a Lion or wild boar, even so did Hector, peer of Mars, hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans.
ild.11 And Diomed answered, "Come what may, I will stand firm; but we shall have scant joy of it, for Jove is minded to give victory to the Trojans rather than to us.
ild.11 Thus did they turn upon the Trojans and slay them, and the Achaeans were thankful to have breathing time in their flight from Hector.
ild.11 Thereon Paris with a hearty laugh sprang forward from his hiding place, and taunted him saying, "You are wounded my arrow has not been shot in vain; would that it had hit you in the belly and killed you, for thus the Trojans, who fear you as Goats fear a Lion, would have had a truce from evil.
ild.11 While he was thus in two minds, the ranks of the Trojans advanced and hemmed him in, and bitterly did they come to me it.
ild.11 As hounds and lusty youths set upon a wild boar that sallies from his lair whetting his white tusks they attack him from every side and can hear the gnashing of his jaws, but for all his fierceness they still hold their ground even so furiously did the Trojans attack Ulysses.
ild.11 You have stayed me from fighting further with the Trojans, but you shall now fall by my spear, yielding glory to myself, and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds.
ild.11 When the Trojans saw that Ulysses was bleeding they raised a great shout and came on in a body towards him; he therefore gave ground, and called his comrades to come and help him.
ild.11 Thrice did he cry as loudly as man can cry, and thrice did brave Menelaus hear him; he turned, therefore, to Ajax who was close beside him and said, Ajax", noble son of Telamon, captain of your people, the cry of Ulysses rings in my ears, as though the Trojans had cut him off and were worsting him while he is single handed.
ild.11 The Trojans had gathered round Ulysses like ravenous mountain jackals round the carcase of some homed stag that has been hit with an arrow the stag has fled at full speed so long as his blood was warm and his strength has lasted, but when the arrow has overcome him, the savage jackals devour him in the shady glades of the forest.
ild.11 Then heaven sends a fierce Lion thither, whereon the jackals fly in terror and the Lion robs them of their prey even so did Trojans many and brave gather round crafty Ulysses, but the hero stood at bay and kept them off with his spear.
ild.11 Ajax then came up with his shield before him like a wall, and stood hard by, whereon the Trojans fled in all directions.
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 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 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 As peasants with their hounds chase a Lion from their stockyard, and watch by night to prevent his carrying off the pick of their herd he makes his greedy spring, but in vain, for the darts from many a strong hand fall thick around him, with burning brands that scare him for all his fury, and when morning comes he slinks foiled and angry away even so did Ajax, sorely against his will, retreat angrily before the Trojans, fearing for the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.11 Or as some lazy ass that has had many a cudgel broken about his back, when he into a field begins eating the corn boys beat him but he is too many for them, and though they lay about with their sticks they cannot hurt him; still when he has had his fill they at last drive him from the field even so did the Trojans and their allies pursue great Ajax, ever smiting the middle of his shield with their darts.
ild.11 Now and again he would turn and show fight, keeping back the battalions of the Trojans, and then he would again retreat; but he prevented any of them from making his way to the ships.
ild.11 Single handed he stood midway between the Trojans and Achaeans: the spears that sped from their hands stuck some of them in his mighty shield, while many, though thirsting for his blood, fell to the ground ere they could reach him to the wounding of his fair flesh.
ild.11 And let him send you into battle clad in his own armour, that the Trojans may mistake you for him and leave off fighting; the sons of the Achaeans may thus have time to get their breath, for they are hard pressed and there is little breathing time in battle.
ild.11 All they that were princes among us are lying struck down and wounded at the hands of the Trojans, who are waxing stronger and stronger.
ild.11 For of the physicians Podalirius and Machaon, I hear that the one is lying wounded in his tent and is himself in need of healing, while the other is fighting the Trojans upon the plain.
ild.12 SO THE son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it, to keep the Trojans in check longer.
ild.12 So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet left alive when, moreover, the city was sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own country then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust.
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 If, indeed, great Jove is minded to help the Trojans, and in his anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I would myself gladly see them perish now and here far from Argos; but if they should rally and we are driven back from the ships pell mell into the trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to tell the tale.
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 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 The Trojans led by him and by Iamenus, Orestes, Adamas the son of Asius, Thoon and Oenomaus, raised a loud cry of battle and made straight for the wall, holding their shields of dry ox hide above their heads; for a while the two defenders remained inside and cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defence of their ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking the wall, while the Danaans were crying out for help and being routed, they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men and Dogs, and charging on either side break down the Wood all round them tearing it up by the roots, and one can hear the clattering of their tusks, till some one hits them and makes an end of them even so did the gleaming Bronze rattle about their breasts, as the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with great fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who were on the wall above them.
ild.12 The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow which some fierce blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down in sheets upon the earth even so fell the weapons from the hands alike of Trojans and Achaeans.
ild.12 Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans were fighting about the other gates; I, however, am no God to be able to tell about all these things, for the battle raged everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace.
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 Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans.
ild.12 As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter s day, when Jove is minded to snow and to display these his arrows to mankind he lulls the wind to rest, and snows hour after hour till he has buried the tops of the high mountains, the headlands that jut into the sea, the grassy plains, and the tilled fields of men; the snow lies deep upon the forelands, and havens of the grey sea, but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it can come no further, though all else is wrapped as with a mantle so heavy are the heavens with snow even thus thickly did the stones fall on one side and on the other, some thrown at the Trojans, and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans; and the whole wall was in an uproar.
ild.12 Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down the gates and the great bar, had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon against the Argives as a Lion against a herd of horned Cattle.
ild.12 For all the gates had been closed, and the Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way through them.
ild.12 Many a man s body was wounded with the pitiless Bronze, as he turned round and bared his back to the foe, and many were struck clean through their shields; the wall and battlements were everywhere deluged with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans.
ild.12 But even so the Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as some honest hard working Woman weighs wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true, for she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones, even so was the fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the wall of the Achaeans.
ild.12 As he did so, he cried aloud to the Trojans, "Up, Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling fire upon their ships.
ild.12 Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to scale the wall, and they did as he bade them some of them at once climbing over the wall, while others passed through the gates.
ild.13 NOW when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the ships, he left them to their never ending toil, and turned his keen eyes away, looking elsewhither towards the Horse breeders of Thrace, the Mysians, fighters at close quarters, the noble Hippemolgi, who live on milk, and the Abians, justest of mankind.
ild.13 He no longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy, for he did not think that any of the immortals would go and help either Trojans or Danaans.
ild.13 He had come from under the sea and taken his place here, for he pitied the Achaeans who were being overcome by the Trojans; and he was furiously angry with Jove.
ild.13 Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam in close array like a storm cloud or flame of fire, fighting with might and main and raising the cry battle; for they deemed that they should take the ships of the Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and there.
ild.13 I am not afraid that the Trojans, who have got over the wall in force, will be victorious in any other part, for the Achaeans can hold all of them in check, but I much fear that some evil will befall us here where furious Hector, who boasts himself the son of great Jove himself, is leading them on like a pillar of flame.
ild.13 Meanwhile the earth encircler roused the Achaeans, who were resting in the rear by the ships overcome at once by hard fighting and by grief at seeing that the Trojans had got over the wall in force.
ild.13 Shame" on you young Argives," he cried, "it was on your prowess I relied for the saving of our ships; if you fight not with might and main, this very day will see us overcome by the Trojans.
ild.13 Of a truth my eyes behold a great and terrible portent which I had never thought to see the Trojans at our ships they, who were heretofore like panic stricken hinds, the prey of jackals and Wolves in a forest, with no strength but in flight for they cannot defend themselves.
ild.13 Hitherto the Trojans dared not for one moment face the attack of the Achaeans, but now they have sallied far from their city and are fighting at our very ships through the cowardice of our leader and the disaffection of the people themselves, who in their discontent care not to fight in defence of the ships but are being slaughtered near them.
ild.13 Thereon round the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of men, of whom not even Mars nor Minerva, marshaller of hosts could make light if they went among them, for they were the picked men of all those who were now awaiting the onset of Hector and the Trojans.
ild.13 The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with Hector at their head pressing right on as a rock that comes thundering down the side of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn it; the foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by floods of rain, and as it bounds headlong on its way it sets the whole forest in an uproar; it swerves neither to right nor left till it reaches level ground, but then for all its fury it can go no further even so easily did Hector for a while seem as though he would career through the tents and ships of the Achaeans till he had reached the sea in his murderous course; but the closely serried battalions stayed him when he reached them, for the sons of the Achaeans thrust at him with swords and spears pointed at both ends, and drove him from them so that he staggered and gave ground; thereon he shouted to the Trojans, Trojans", Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, stand firm: the Achaeans have set themselves as a wall against me, but they will not check me for long; they will give ground before me if the mightiest of the Gods, the thundering spouse of Juno, has indeed inspired my onset.
ild.13 Until the Achaeans came he had lived in Pedaeum, and had married Medesicaste a bastard daughter of Priam; but on the arrival of the Danaan fleet he had gone back to Ilius, and was a great man among the Trojans, dwelling near Priam himself, who gave him like honour with his own sons.
ild.13 Neptune was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimachus should have fallen; he therefore went to the tents and ships of the Achaeans to urge the Danaans still further, and to devise evil for the Trojans.
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 I have taken them from Trojans whom I have killed, for I am not one to keep my enemy at arm s length; therefore I have spears, bossed shields, helmets, and burnished corslets.
ild.13 Then Meriones said, "I too in my tent and at my ship have spoils taken from the Trojans, but they are not at hand.
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 Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to Hector, so as to do honour to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius, and only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son.
ild.13 Neptune on the other hand went about among the Argives to incite them, having come up from the grey sea in secret, for he was grieved at seeing them vanquished by the Trojans, and was furiously angry with Jove.
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 He fell gasping from his Chariot and Antilochus great Nestor s son, drove his Horses from the Trojans to the Achaeans.
ild.13 Jove first begot Minos chief ruler in Crete, and Minos in his turn begot a son, noble Deucalion; Deucalion begot me to be a ruler over many men in Crete, and my ships have now brought me hither, to be the bane of yourself, your father, and the Trojans.
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 Aeneas on the other side called to his comrades, looking towards Deiphobus, Paris, and Agenor, who were leaders of the Trojans along with himself, and the people followed them as Sheep follow the ram when they go down to drink after they have been feeding, and the heart of the shepherd is glad even so was the heart of Aeneas gladdened when he saw his people follow him.
ild.13 The Trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and gleaming shield, but could not wound his body, for Neptune stood guard over the son of Nestor, though the darts fell thickly round him.
ild.13 He fell backwards to the ground, and Menelaus set his heel upon him, stripped him of his armour, and vaunted over him saying, "Even thus shall you Trojans leave the ships of the Achaeans, proud and insatiate of battle though you be: nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame which you have heaped upon myself.
ild.13 O father Jove, you, who they say art above all both Gods and men in wisdom, and from whom all things that befall us do proceed, how can you thus favour the Trojans men so proud and overweening, that they are never tired of fighting? All things pall after a while sleep, love, sweet song, and stately dance still these are things of which a man would surely have his fill rather than of battle, whereas it is of battle that the Trojans are insatiate.
ild.13 This Euchenor had set sail for Troy well knowing that it would be the death of him, for his good old father Polyidus had often told him that he must either stay at home and die of a terrible disease, or go with the Achaeans and perish at the hands of the Trojans; he chose, therefore, to avoid incurring the heavy fine the Achaeans would have laid upon him, and at the same time to escape the pain and suffering of disease.
ild.13 They had no Bronze helmets with plumes of Horse hair, neither had they shields nor ashen spears, but they had come to Troy armed with bows, and with slings of twisted wool from which they showered their missiles to break the ranks of the Trojans.
ild.13 The others, therefore, with their heavy armour bore the brunt of the fight with the Trojans and with Hector, while the Locrians shot from behind, under their cover; and thus the Trojans began to lose heart, for the arrows threw them into confusion.
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 The fight has hemmed you in as with a circle of fire, and even now that the Trojans are within the wall some of them stand aloof in full armour, while others are fighting scattered and outnumbered near the ships.
ild.13 He then sped onward, towering like a snowy mountain, and with a loud cry flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies.
ild.13 They flew forth like the blasts of some fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a thunderstorm they buffet the salt sea into an uproar; many and mighty are the great waves that come crashing in one after the other upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with foam even so did rank behind rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming armour follow their leaders onward.
ild.14 As he spoke he took up the shield of his son Thrasymedes that was lying in his tent, all gleaming with Bronze, for Thrasymedes had taken his father s shield; he grasped his redoubtable Bronze shod spear, and as soon as he was outside saw the disastrous rout of the Achaeans who, now that their wall was overthrown, were flying pell mell before the Trojans.
ild.14 Then King Agamemnon said to him, Nestor" son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, why have you left the battle to come hither? I fear that what dread Hector said will come true, when he vaunted among the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had fired our ships and killed us; this is what he said, and now it is all coming true.
ild.14 The Trojans are fighting stubbornly and without ceasing at the ships; look where you may you cannot see from what quarter the rout of the Achaeans is coming; they are being killed in a confused mass and the battle cry ascends to heaven; let us think, if counsel can be of any use, what we had better do; but I do not advise our going into battle ourselves, for a man cannot fight when he is wounded.
ild.14 And King Agamemnon answered, Nestor", if the Trojans are indeed fighting at the rear of our ships, and neither the wall nor the trench has served us over which the Danaans toiled so hard, and which they deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet I see it must be the will of Jove that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here, far from Argos.
ild.14 I knew when Jove was willing to defend us, and I know now that he is raising the Trojans to like honour with the Gods, while us, on the other hand, he bas bound hand and foot.
ild.14 Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us bring down the ships that are on the beach and draw them into the water; let us make them fast to their mooring stones a little way out, against the fall of night if even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting; we may then draw down the rest of the fleet.
ild.14 Would you, then, have us draw down our ships into the water while the battle is raging, and thus play further into the hands of the conquering Trojans? It would be ruin; the Achaeans will not go on fighting when they see the ships being drawn into the water, but will cease attacking and keep turning their eyes towards them; your counsel, therefore, Sir captain, would be our destruction.
ild.14 As for yourself, the blessed Gods are not yet so bitterly angry with you but that the princes and counsellors of the Trojans shall again raise the dust upon the plain, and you shall see them flying from the ships and tents towards their city.
ild.14 I have had one lesson already through doing what you asked me, on the day when Jove s mighty son Hercules set sail from Ilius after having sacked the city of the Trojans.
ild.14 And Juno said, "Sleep, why do you take such notions as those into your head? Do you think Jove will be as anxious to help the Trojans, as he was about his own son? Come, I will marry you to one of the youngest of the Graces, and she shall be your own Pasithea, whom you have always wanted to marry.
ild.14 Hector on the other side set the Trojans in array.
ild.14 Mighty was the uproar as the two forces met; the sea came rolling in towards the ships and tents of the Achaeans, but waves do not thunder on the shore more loudly when driven before the blast of Boreas, nor do the flames of a forest fire roar more fiercely when it is well alight upon the mountains, nor does the wind bellow with ruder music as it tears on through the tops of when it is blowing its hardest, than the terrible shout which the Trojans and Achaeans raised as they sprang upon one another.
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 When the Argives saw Hector leaving the field, they took heart and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously.
ild.14 The son of Oileus came up to him and struck him in the flank so that he fell, and a fierce fight between Trojans and Danaans raged round his body.
ild.14 But he knew well who it was, and the Trojans were greatly angered.
ild.14 He sprang towards Acamas, but Acamas did not stand his ground, and he killed Ilioneus son of the rich flock master Phorbas, whom Mercury had favoured and endowed with greater wealth than any other of the Trojans.
ild.14 Peneleos then drew his sword and smote him on the neck, so that both head and helmet came tumbling down to the ground with the spear still sticking in the eye; he then held up the head, as though it had been a poppy head, and showed it to the Trojans, vaunting over them as he did so.
ild.14 Trojans"," he cried, "bid the father and mother of noble Ilioneus make moan for him in their house, for the wife also of Promachus son of Alegenor will never be gladdened by the coming of her dear husband when we Argives return with our ships from Troy.
ild.15 BUT when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set stakes, and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaans, the Trojans made a halt on reaching their Chariots, routed and pale with fear.
ild.15 Jove now woke on the crests of Ida, where he was lying with Golden throned Juno by his side, and starting to his feet he saw the Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and the others driving them pell mell before them with King Neptune in their midst.
ild.15 Juno trembled as he spoke, and said, "May heaven above and earth below be my witnesses, with the waters of the river Styx and this is the most solemn oath that a blessed God can take nay, I swear also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed things over which I could never possibly perjure myself that Neptune is not punishing Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through any doing of mine; it is all of his own mere motion because he was sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at their ships: if I were advising him, I should tell him to do as you bid him.
ild.15 Achilles will kill Hector to avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it about that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius.
ild.15 She tore the helmet from his head and the shield from his shoulders, and she took the Bronze spear from his strong hand and set it on one side; then she said to Mars, Madman", you are undone; you have ears that hear not, or you have lost all judgement and understanding; have you not heard what Juno has said on coming straight from the presence of Olympian Jove? Do you wish to go through all kinds of suffering before you are brought back sick and sorry to Olympus, after having caused infinite mischief to all us others? Jove would instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans to themselves; he would come to Olympus to punish us, and would grip us up one after another, guilty or not guilty.
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.15 The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body, with Hector striding on at their head.
ild.15 With this in his hand he led on the Trojans.
ild.15 As when two wild beasts spring in the dead of night on a herd of Cattle or a large flock of Sheep when the herdsman is not there even so were the Danaans struck helpless, for Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to Hector and the Trojans.
ild.15 Hector then cried out to the Trojans, "Forward to the ships, and let the spoils be.
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 Father" Jove," said he, "if ever any one in wheat growing Argos burned you fat thigh bones of Sheep or heifer and prayed that he might return safely home, whereon you bowed your head to him in assent, bear it in mind now, and suffer not the Trojans to triumph thus over the Achaeans.
ild.15 As a wave breaking over the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high before a gale for it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so great even so did the Trojans spring over the wall with a shout, and drive their Chariots onwards.
ild.15 The two sides fought with their double pointed spears in hand to hand encounter the Trojans from their Chariots, and the Achaeans climbing up into their ships and wielding the long pikes that were lying on the decks ready for use in a sea fight, jointed and shod with Bronze.
ild.15 Now Patroclus, so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting about the wall, but were not yet within it and at the ships, remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypylus, entertaining him with his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease his pain.
ild.15 When, however, he saw the Trojans swarming through the breach in the wall, while the Achaeans were clamouring and struck with panic, he cried aloud, and smote his two thighs with the flat of his hands.
ild.15 The Achaeans stood firm and resisted the attack of the Trojans, yet though these were fewer in number, they could not drive them back from the ships, neither could the Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their way in among the tents and ships.
ild.15 When Hector saw his cousin fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying, Trojans", Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight, bate not a jot, but rescue the son of Clytius lest the Achaeans strip him of his armour now that he has fallen.
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 Take your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder, and both fight the Trojans yourself and urge others to do so.
ild.15 When Hector saw that Teucer s bow was of no more use to him, he shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians, Trojans", Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight, be men, my friends, and show your mettle here at the ships, for I see the weapon of one of their chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove.
ild.15 The two then made towards him to strip him of his armour, but Hector called on all his brothers for help, and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus son of Hiketaon, who erewhile used to pasture his herds of Cattle in Percote before the war broke out; but when the ships of the Danaans came, he went back to Ilius, where he was eminent among the Trojans, and lived near Priam who treated him as one of his own sons.
ild.15 Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back the Trojans.
ild.15 They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as with a wall of Bronze, while Jove urged on the Trojans.
ild.15 The Trojans fell back as he threw, and the dart did not speed from his hand without effect, for it struck Melanippus the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple as he was coming forward, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.
ild.15 Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and stay his flight till he had reached his comrades.
ild.15 The Trojans, fierce as Lions, were still rushing on towards the ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who kept spurring them on to new deeds of daring, while he deadened the courage of the Argives and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans.
ild.15 From that hour he was about so to order that the Trojans should be driven back from the ships and to vouchsafe glory to the Achaeans.
ild.15 They had now reached the ships and the prows of those that had been drawn up first were on every side of them, but the Trojans came pouring after them.
ild.15 Round this ship there raged a close hand to hand fight between Danaans and Trojans.
ild.15 Hector, when he had seized the ship, would not loose his hold but held on to its curved stern and shouted to the Trojans, "Bring fire, and raise the battle cry all of you with a single voice.
ild.15 As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground, for he was overcome by the darts that were flung at him, and made sure that he was doomed.
ild.15 We are on the plain of the armed Trojans with the sea behind us, and far from our own country.
ild.16 Let me moreover wear your armour; the Trojans may thus mistake me for you and quit the field, so that the hard pressed sons of the Achaeans may have breathing time which while they are fighting may hardly be.
ild.16 Still, let bygones be bygones: no man may keep his anger for ever; I said I would not relent till battle and the cry of war had reached my own ships; nevertheless, now gird my armour about your shoulders, and lead the Myrmidons to battle, for the dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet; the Argives are driven back on to the beach, cooped within a narrow space, and the whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out against them, because they see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near them.
ild.16 As it is the Trojans have beset our host.
ild.16 Diomed son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to defend the Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the son of Atreus coming from his hated head, whereas that of murderous Hector rings in my cars as he gives orders to the Trojans, who triumph over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with their cry of battle.
ild.16 But even so, Patroclus, fall upon them and save the fleet, lest the Trojans fire it and prevent us from being able to return.
ild.16 When you have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back again.
ild.16 Though Juno s thundering husband should put triumph within your reach, do not fight the Trojans further in my absence, or you will rob me of glory that should be mine.
ild.16 And do not for lust of battle go on killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilius, lest one of the ever living Gods from Olympus attack you for Phoebus Apollo loves them well: return when you have freed the ships from peril, and let others wage war upon the plain.
ild.16 Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that not a single man of all the Trojans might be left alive, nor yet of the Argives, but that we two might be alone left to tear aside the mantle that veils the brow of Troy.
ild.16 But Ajax could no longer hold his ground for the shower of darts that rained upon him; the will of Jove and the javelins of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet that gleamed about his temples rang with the continuous clatter of the missiles that kept pouring on to it and on to the cheek pieces that protected his face.
ild.16 Ajax knew the hand of heaven in this, and was dismayed at seeing that Jove had now left him utterly defenceless and was willing victory for the Trojans.
ild.16 Therefore he drew back, and the Trojans flung fire upon the ship which was at once wrapped in flame.
ild.16 When Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with their captains, he charged them straitly saying, Myrmidons", remember your threats against the Trojans while you were at the ships in the time of my anger, and you were all complaining of me.
ild.16 The hour is now come for those high feats of arms that you have so long been pining for, therefore keep high hearts each one of you to do battle with the Trojans.
ild.16 Then he again came out, for he still loved to look upon the fierce fight that raged between the Trojans and Achaeans.
ild.16 Meanwhile the armed band that was about Patroclus marched on till they sprang high in hope upon the Trojans.
ild.16 With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they fell in a body upon the Trojans.
ild.16 The ships rang again with the cry which the Achaeans raised, and when the Trojans saw the brave son of Menoetius and his squire all gleaming in their armour, they were daunted and their battalions were thrown into confusion, for they thought the fleet son of Peleus must now have put aside his anger, and have been reconciled to Agamemnon; every one, therefore, looked round about to see whither he might fly for safety.
ild.16 The Trojans were now driven back with a shout that rent the skies, while the Danaans poured after them from their ships, shouting also without ceasing.
ild.16 As when Jove, gatherer of the thunder cloud, spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty mountain, and all the peaks, the jutting headlands, and forest glades show out in the great light that flashes from the bursting heavens, even so when the Danaans had now driven back the fire from their ships, they took breath for a little while; but the fury of the fight was not yet over, for the Trojans were not driven back in utter rout, but still gave battle, and were ousted from their ground only by sheer fighting.
ild.16 As ravening Wolves seize on kids or lambs, fastening on them when they are alone on the hillsides and have strayed from the main flock through the carelessness of the shepherd and when the Wolves see this they pounce upon them at once because they cannot defend themselves even so did the Danaans now fall on the Trojans, who fled with ill omened cries in their panic and had no more fight left in them.
ild.16 As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus, rising out of a clear sky when Jove is brewing a gale even with such panic stricken rout did the Trojans now fly, and there was no order in their going.
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 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.16 As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable grief; for Sarpedon, alien though he was, had been one of the main stays of their city, both as having much people with him, and himself the foremost among them all.
ild.16 He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager; both sides, therefore, the Trojans and Lycians on the one hand, and the Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other, strengthened their battalions, and fought desperately about the body of Sarpedon, shouting fiercely the while.
ild.16 At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed, Epeigeus, son of noble Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Budeum; but presently, having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he took refuge with Peleus and Thetis, who sent him to Ilius the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles.
ild.16 Even so swiftly, O noble knight Patroclus, did you make straight for the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade.
ild.16 As far as a man can throw a javelin when competing for some prize, or even in battle so far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans.
ild.16 Glaucus turned round suddenly, just as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him, and drove his spear right into the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and the fall of so good a man filled the Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans were exultant, and came up in a body round the corpse.
ild.16 Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonus son of Onetor, who was priest of Jove of Mt.
ild.16 On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said, Meriones", hero though you be, you should not speak thus; taunting speeches, my good friend, will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body; some of them must go under ground first; blows for battle, and words for council; fight, therefore, and say nothing.
ild.16 Men swarmed about the body, as flies that buzz round the full milk pails in spring when they are brimming with milk even so did they gather round Sarpedon; nor did Jove turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the fight, but kept looking at it all the time, for he was settling how best to kill Patroclus, and considering whether Hector should be allowed to end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon, and strip him of his armour, or whether he should let him give yet further trouble to the Trojans.
ild.16 In the end, he deemed it best that the brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many.
ild.16 First, therefore, he made Hector turn fainthearted, whereon he mounted his Chariot and fled, bidding the other Trojans fly also, for he saw that the scales of Jove had turned against him.
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 The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands of Patroclus, for his spear flew in all directions, had not Phoebus Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his purpose and to aid the Trojans.
ild.16 Apollo passed in among them, and struck panic into the Argives, while he gave triumph to Hector and the Trojans.
ild.16 It seems, then, that there are divers also among the Trojans.
ild.16 Hector would not let him go when he had once got him by the head, while Patroclus kept fast hold of his feet, and a fierce fight raged between the other Danaans and Trojans.
ild.16 As the east and south wind buffet one another when they beat upon some dense forest on the mountains there is beech and ash and spreading cornel; the to of the trees roar as they beat on one another, and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking even so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay about each other, and neither side would give way.
ild.16 So long as the sun was still high in mid heaven the weapons of either side were alike deadly, and the people fell; but when he went down towards the time when men loose their Oxen, the Achaeans proved to be beyond all forecast stronger, so that they drew Cebriones out of range of the darts and tumult of the Trojans, and stripped the armour from his shoulders.
ild.16 Then Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce intent and a terrific shout upon the Trojans, and thrice did he kill Nine men; but as he was coming on like a God for a time, then, O Patroclus, was the hour of your end approaching, for Phoebus fought you in fell earnest.
ild.17 I was first of the Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus, let me, therefore, have my full glory among the Trojans, or I will take aim and kill you.
ild.17 Meanwhile Menelaus son of Atreus has bestridden the body of Patroclus and killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphorbus son of Panthous, so that he can fight no more.
ild.17 When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to himself in his dismay, "Alas! what shall I do? I may not let the Trojans take the armour of Patroclus who has fallen fighting on my behalf, lest some Danaan who sees me should cry shame upon me.
ild.17 Still if for my honour s sake I fight Hector and the Trojans single handed, they will prove too many for me, for Hector is bringing them up in force.
ild.17 While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with Hector at their head; he therefore drew back and left the body, turning about like some bearded Lion who is being chased by Dogs and men from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon he is daunted and slinks sulkily off even so did Menelaus son of Atreus turn and leave the body of Patroclus.
ild.17 But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him, on which Hector withdrew under shelter of his men, and sprang on to his Chariot, giving the armour over to the Trojans to take to the city, as a great trophy for himself; Ajax, therefore, covered the body of Patroclus with his broad shield and bestrode him; as a Lion stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he is with his little ones in the pride and fierceness of his strength he draws his knit brows down till they cover his eyes even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroclus, and by his side stood Menelaus son of Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his heart.
ild.17 If the Trojans had any of that daring fearless spirit which lays hold of men who are fighting for their country and harassing those who would attack it, we should soon bear off Patroclus into Ilius.
ild.17 As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying, Trojans", Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, be men, my friends, and fight might and main, while I put on the goodly armour of Achilles, which I took when I killed Patroclus.
ild.17 His own he sent to the strong city of Ilius and to the Trojans, while he put on the immortal armour of the son of Peleus, which the Gods had given to Peleus, who in his age gave it to his son; but the son did not grow old in his father s armour.
ild.17 All these did he exhort saying, "Hear me, allies from other cities who are here in your thousands, it was not in order to have a crowd about me that I called you hither each from his several city, but that with heart and soul you might defend the wives and little ones of the Trojans from the fierce Achaeans.
ild.17 Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the game of war; whoever shall bring Patroclus, dead though he be, into the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep the other.
ild.17 The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body.
ild.17 As a great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some heaven born river, and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with the roar of the breakers that beat and buffet them even with such a roar did the Trojans come on; but the Achaeans in singleness of heart stood firm about the son of Menoetius, and fenced him with their Bronze shields.
ild.17 Jove, moreover, hid the brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the son of Menoetius while he was still alive and squire to the descendant of Aeacus; therefore he was loth to let him fall a prey to the Dogs of his foes the Trojans, and urged his comrades on to defend him.
ild.17 At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they withdrew from the dead man daunted.
ild.17 The Trojans did not succeed in killing any one, nevertheless they drew the body away.
ild.17 But the Achaeans did not lose it long, for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus alike in stature and prowess, quickly rallied them and made towards the front like a wild boar upon the mountains when he stands at bay in the forest glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked him even so did Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in among the phalanxes of the Trojans, disperse those who had bestridden Patroclus and were most bent on winning glory by dragging him off to their city.
ild.17 At this moment Hippothous brave son of the Pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by the foot through the press of the fight, having bound a strap round the sinews near the ancle; but a mischief soon befell him from which none of those could save him who would have gladly done so, for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on his Bronze cheeked helmet.
ild.17 The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice, while the Argives, so great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even against the will of Jove, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas, in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytus, an attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas aged father, and was at all times devoted to him.
ild.17 Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted to Hector saying, Hector" and all other Trojans and allies, shame on us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through our own cowardice.
ild.17 Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one another alike on the side of the Trojans and allies, and on that of the Danaans; for these last, too, fought no bloodless fight though many fewer of them perished, through the care they took to defend and stand by one another.
ild.17 All the best of them were being worn out by the great weight of their armour, but the two valiant heroes, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard of the death of Patroclus, and believed him to be still alive and leading the van against the Trojans; they were keeping themselves in reserve against the death or rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered when he sent them from the ships into battle.
ild.17 It was as when a man gives a great ox hide all drenched in fat to his men, and bids them stretch it; whereon they stand round it in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves it, and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it, and it is well stretched even so did the two sides tug the dead body hither and thither within the compass of but a little space the Trojans steadfastly set on drag ing it into Ilius, while the Achaeans were no less so on taking it to their ships; and fierce was the fight between them.
ild.17 Then would one say, "My friends, we can never again show our faces at the ships better, and greatly better, that earth should open and swallow us here in this place, than that we should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearing off Patroclus to their city.
ild.17 The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another saying, Friends", though we fall to a man beside this body, let none shrink from fighting.
ild.17 Furthermore I will give you strength of heart and limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships from battle, for I shall let the Trojans triumph still further, and go on killing till they reach the ships; whereon night shall fall and darkness overshadow the land.
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 Automedon"," said he, "what God has put this folly into your heart and robbed you of your right mind, that you fight the Trojans in the front rank single handed? He who was your comrade is slain, and Hector plumes himself on being armed in the armour of the descendant of Aeacus.
ild.17 When Hector saw him he said to Aeneas who was near him, Aeneas", counsellor of the mail clad Trojans, I see the steeds of the fleet son of Aeacus come into battle with weak hands to drive them.
ild.17 On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus, Ajaxes" captains of the Argives, and Menelaus, give the dead body over to them that are best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of us living; for Hector and Aeneas who are the two best men among the Trojans, are pressing us hard in the full tide of war.
ild.17 Now there was among the Trojans a man named Podes, son of Eetion, who was both rich and valiant.
ild.17 Whereon he fell heavily forward, and Menelaus son of Atreus drew off his body from the Trojans into the ranks of his own people.
ild.17 In his likeness Apollo said, Hector", who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now that you have quailed before Menelaus who has ever been rated poorly as a soldier? Yet he has now got a corpse away from the Trojans single handed, and has slain your own true comrade, a man brave among the foremost, Podes son of Eetion.
ild.17 Thereon the son of Saturn seized his bright tasselled aegis, and veiled Ida in cloud: he sent forth his lightnings and his thunders, and as he shook his aegis he gave victory to the Trojans and routed the Achaeans.
ild.17 He looked about him in dismay, knowing that never again should he wield spear in battle with the Trojans.
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 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 Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak.
ild.17 "Alas," said he, "even a fool may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans.
ild.17 You must see with your own eyes that heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans, and giving victory to the Trojans.
ild.17 What then will be our best plan both as regards rescuing the dead, and our own escape from death amid the battle cries of the Trojans?"
ild.17 Ajax answered, Menelaus", you have said well: do you, then, and Meriones stoop down, raise the body, and bear it out of the fray, while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans, one in heart as in name, and long used to fighting side by side with one another.
ild.17 For a while the hounds fly at him as though they would tear him in pieces, but now and again he turns on them in a fury, scaring and scattering them in all directions even so did the Trojans for a while charge in a body, striking with sword and with spears pointed ai both the ends, but when the two Ajaxes faced them and stood at bay, they would turn pale and no man dared press on to fight further about the dead.
ild.17 As some wooded mountain spur that stretches across a plain will turn water and check the flow even of a great river, nor is there any stream strong enough to break through it even so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stern the tide of their fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost among them all was Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hector.
ild.18 "Alas," said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, "why are the Achaeans again scouring the plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the Gods be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of the sun no longer.
ild.18 I bore him fair and strong, hero among heroes, and he shot up as a sapling; I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Peleus.
ild.18 It is well to save your comrades from destruction, but your armour is in the hands of the Trojans; Hector bears it in triumph upon his own shoulders.
ild.18 Thus, then, did her feet bear the Goddess to Olympus, and meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud cries before murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the Hellespont, and they could not draw the body of Mars s servant Patroclus out of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him, for Hector son of Priam with his host and Horsemen had again caught up to him like the flame of a fiery furnace; thrice did brave Hector seize him by the feet, striving with might and main to draw him away and calling loudly on the Trojans, and thrice did the two Ajaxes, clothed in valour as with a garment, beat him from off the body; but all undaunted he would now charge into the thick of the fight, and now again he would stand still and cry aloud, but he would give no ground.
ild.18 Men are killing one another, the Danaans in defence of the dead body, while the Trojans are trying to hale it away, and take it to wind Ilius: Hector is the most furious of them all; he is for cutting the head from the body and fixing it on the stakes of the wall.
ild.18 Iris said, We know that your armour has been taken, but go as you are; go to the deep trench and show yourelf before the Trojans, that they may fear you and cease fighting.
ild.18 Minerva also raised her voice from afar, and spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans.
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 Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench, and thrice were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into confusion; whereon Twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath the wheels of their Chariots and perished by their own spears.
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 So long as this man was at enmity with Agamemnon the Achaeans were easier to deal with, and I would have gladly camped by the ships in the hope of taking them; but now I go in great fear of the fleet son of Peleus; he is so daring that he will never bide here on the plain whereon the Trojans and Achaeans fight with equal valour, but he will try to storm our city and carry off our Women.
ild.18 Thus spoke Hector; and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted in applause, for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their understanding.
ild.18 Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I behead before your bier to avenge you; till I have done so you shall lie as you are by the ships, and fair Women of Troy and Dardanus, whom we have taken with spear and strength of arm when we sacked men s goodly cities, shall weep over you both night and day.
ild.18 And Juno answered, Dread" son of Saturn, why should you say this thing? May not a man though he be only mortal and knows less than we do, do what he can for another person? And shall not I foremost of all Goddesses both by descent and as wife to you who reign in heaven devise evil for the Trojans if I am angry with them?"
ild.18 I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Peleus.
ild.18 Then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships sterns and would not let them come forth; the elders, therefore, of the Argives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure, whereon he refused to bring deliverance to them himself, but put his own armour on Patroclus and sent him into the fight with much people after him.
ild.18 All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would have taken the city there and then, had not Apollo vouchsafed glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius after he had done the Trojans much evil.
ild.18 Therefore I am suppliant at your knees if haply you may be pleased to provide my son, whose end is near at hand, with helmet and shield, with goodly greaves fitted with ancle clasps, and with a breastplate, for he lost his own when his true comrade fell at the hands of the Trojans, and he now lies stretched on earth in the bitterness of his soul.
ild.19 It has been well for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our quarrel.
ild.19 I put it from me: I dare not nurse it for ever; therefore, bid the Achaeans arm forthwith that I may go out against the Trojans, and learn whether they will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no.
ild.19 Achilles shall again be seen fighting among the foremost, and laying low the ranks of the Trojans: bear this in mind each one of you when he is fighting.
ild.19 Then Ulysses said, Achilles", Godlike and brave, send not the Achaeans thus against Ilius to fight the Trojans fasting, for the battle will be no brief one, when it is once begun, and heaven has filled both sides with fury; bid them first take food both bread and wine by the ships, for in this there is strength and stay.
ild.19 In that hour let no man hold back, waiting for a second summons; such summons shall bode ill for him who is found lagging behind at our ships; let us rather sally as one man and loose the fury of war upon the Trojans.
ild.19 "Hapless and dearest comrade, you it was who would get a good dinner ready for me at once and without delay when the Achaeans were hasting to fight the Trojans; now, therefore, though I have meat and drink in my tents, yet will I fast for sorrow.
ild.19 Grief greater than this I could not know, not even though I were to hear of the death of my father, who is now in Phthia weeping for the loss of me his son, who am here fighting the Trojans in a strange land for the accursed sake of Helen, nor yet though I should hear that my son is no more he who is being brought up in Scyros if indeed Neoptolemus is still living.
ild.19 Thus, then, full of fury against the Trojans, did he don the gift of the God, the armour that Vulcan had made him.
ild.19 Neither was it through any sloth or slackness on our part that the Trojans stripped Patroclus of his armour; it was the mighty God whom lovely Leto bore that slew him as he fought among the foremost, and vouchsafed a triumph to Hector.
ild.19 When he had thus said the Erinyes stayed his speech, and Achilles answered him in great sadness, saying, "Why, O Xanthus, do you thus foretell my death? You need not do so, for I well know that I am to fall here, far from my dear father and mother; none the more, however, shall I stay my hand till I have given the Trojans their fill of fighting.
ild.20 THUS, then, did the Achaeans arm by their ships round you, O son of Peleus, who were hungering for battle; while the Trojans over against them armed upon the rise of the plain.
ild.20 "Why," said he, "wielder of the lightning, have you called the Gods in council? Are you considering some matter that concerns the Trojans and Achaeans for the blaze of battle is on the point of being kindled between them?"
ild.20 Olympus and look on in peace, but do you others go about among Trojans and Achaeans, and help either side as you may be severally disposed.
ild.20 If Achilles fights the Trojans without hindrance they will make no stand against him; they have ever trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is roused to such fury about his comrade, he will override fate itself and storm their city.
ild.20 Mars of gleaming helmet joined the Trojans, and with him Apollo of locks unshorn, and the archer Goddess Diana, Leto, Xanthus, and laughter loving Venus.
ild.20 Mars also bellowed out upon the other side, dark as some black thunder cloud, and called on the Trojans at the top of his voice, now from the acropolis, and now speeding up the side of the river Simois till he came to the hill Callicolone.
ild.20 The spurs and crests of many fountained Ida quaked, as also the city of the Trojans and the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.20 In his likeness therefore, he said to Aeneas, Aeneas", counsellor of the Trojans, where are now the brave words with which you vaunted over your wine before the Trojan princes, saying that you would fight Achilles son of Peleus in single combat?"
ild.20 His spear has already put me to Right from Ida, when he attacked our Cattle and sacked Lyrnessus and Pedasus; Jove indeed saved me in that he vouchsafed me strength to fly, else had the fallen by the hands of Achilles and Minerva, who went before him to protect him and urged him to fall upon the Lelegae and Trojans.
ild.20 Shall we turn him back at once, or shall one of us stand by Achilles and endow him with strength so that his heart fail not, and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals are on his side, while the others who have all along been defending the Trojans are but vain helpers? Let us all come down from Olympus and join in the fight, that this day he may take no hurt at the hands of the Trojans.
ild.20 With these words the dark haired God led the way to the high earth barrow of Hercules, built round solid masonry, and made by the Trojans and Pallas Minerva for him fly to when the sea monster was chasing him from the shore on to the plain.
ild.20 Aeneas"," said he, "why do you stand thus out before the host to fight me? Is it that you hope to reign over the Trojans in the seat of Priam? Nay, though you kill me Priam will not hand his kingdom over to you.
ild.20 Or have the Trojans been allotting you a demesne of passing richness, fair with orchard lawns and corn lands, if you should slay me? This you shall hardly do.
ild.20 Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans, and Tros had three noble sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede who was comeliest of mortal men; wherefore the Gods carried him off to be Jove s cupbearer, for his beauty s sake, that he might dwell among the immortals.
ild.20 For now indeed has Jove hated the blood of Priam, while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans, he and his children s children that shall be born hereafter.
ild.20 For of a truth we two, I and Pallas Minerva, have sworn full many a time before all the immortals, that never would we shield Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in the flames that the Achaeans shall kindle.
ild.20 I will now give my orders to the Danaans and attack some other of the Trojans.
ild.20 "Let not the Trojans," he cried, "keep you at arm s length, Achaeans, but go for them and fight them man for man.
ild.20 Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans and declared that he would fight Achilles.
ild.20 "Be not afraid, proud Trojans," said he, "to face the son of Peleus; I could fight Gods myself if the battle were one of words only, but they would be more than a match for me, if we had to use our spears.
ild.20 Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the Achaeans, and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves into the midst of their ranks.
ild.20 Achilles then sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry, clothed in valour as with a garment.
ild.20 Now, however, I will pursue and overtake other Trojans.
ild.21 Fell was his purpose as he hewed the Trojans down on every side.
ild.21 As when fish fly scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and corner of some fair haven for he is sure to eat all he can catch even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles arms grew weary with killing them, he drew Twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice in revenge for Patroclus son of Menoetius.
ild.21 Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise, "What marvel do I see here? If this man can come back alive after having been sold over into Lemnos, I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain rising from the world below.
ild.21 Until Patroclus fell I preferred to give the Trojans quarter, and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I had taken alive; but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven delivers into my hands before the city of Ilius and of all Trojans it shall fare hardest with the sons of Priam.
ild.21 So spoke Achilles, but the river grew more and more angry, and pondered within himself how he should stay the hand of Achilles and save the Trojans from disaster.
ild.21 Therein he slew Thersilochus, Mydon, Astypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, Oeneus, and Ophelestes, and he would have slain yet others, had not the river in anger taken human form, and spoken to him from out the deep waters saying, Achilles", if you excel all in strength, so do you also in wickedness, for the Gods are ever with you to protect you: if, then, the son of Saturn has vouchsafed it to you to destroy all the Trojans, at any rate drive them out of my stream, and do your grim work on land.
ild.21 Achilles answered, "So be it, Scamander, Jove descended; but I will never cease dealing out death among the Trojans, till I have pent them up in their city, and made trial of Hector face to face, that I may learn whether he is to vanquish me, or I him.
ild.21 As he spoke he set upon the Trojans with a fury like that of the Gods.
ild.21 But the river said to Apollo, "Surely, son of Jove, lord of the Silver bow, you are not obeying the commands of Jove who charged you straitly that you should stand by the Trojans and defend them, till twilight fades, and darkness is over an the earth.
ild.21 But the mighty God ceased not in his pursuit, and sprang upon him with a dark crested wave, to stay his hands and save the Trojans from destruction.
ild.21 She told me I was to fall under the walls of Troy by the flying arrows of Apollo; would that Hector, the best man among the Trojans, might there slay me; then should I fall a hero by the hand of a hero; whereas now it seems that I shall come to a most pitiable end, trapped in this river as though I were some swineherd s boy, who gets carried down a torrent while trying to cross it during a storm.
ild.21 He lifted his waters into a high crest and cried aloud to Simois saying, "Dear brother, let the two of us unite to save this man, or he will sack the mighty city of King Priam, and the Trojans will not hold out against him.
ild.21 Crook" foot," she cried, "my child, be up and doing, for I deem it is with you that Xanthus is fain to fight; help us at once, kindle a fierce fire; I will then bring up the west and the white south wind in a mighty hurricane from the sea, that shall bear the flames against the heads and armour of the Trojans and consume them, while you go along the banks of Xanthus burning his trees and wrapping him round with fire.
ild.21 Let Achilles drive the Trojans out of city immediately.
ild.21 Then he prayed to Juno and besought her saying, Juno", why should your son vex my stream with such especial fury? I am not so much to blame as all the others are who have been helping the Trojans.
ild.21 Furthermore I swear never again will I do anything to save the Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in the flames which the Achaeans will kindle.
ild.21 But Minerva laughed and vaunted over him saying, Idiot", have you not learned how far stronger I am than you, but you must still match yourself against me? Thus do your mother s curses now roost upon you, for she is angry and would do you mischief because you have deserted the Achaeans and are helping the Trojans.
ild.21 Then Minerva vaunted over her saying, "May all who help the Trojans against the Argives prove just as redoubtable and stalwart as Venus did when she came across me while she was helping Mars.
ild.21 I built the Trojans the wall about their city, so wide and fair that it might be impregnable, while you, Phoebus, herded Cattle for him in the dales of many valleyed Ida.
ild.21 He tried, moreover, to cut off the ears of both of us, so we went away in a rage, furious about the payment he had promised us, and yet withheld; in spite of all this, you are now showing favour to his people, and will not join us in compassing the utter ruin of the proud Trojans with their wives and children.
ild.21 Thus did they converse, and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the strong city of Ilius, for he was uneasy lest the wall should not hold out and the Danaans should take the city then and there, before its hour had come; but the rest of the ever living Gods went back, some angry and some triumphant to Olympus, where they took their seats beside Jove lord of the storm cloud, while Achilles still kept on dealing out death alike on the Trojans and on their As when the smoke from some burning city ascends to heaven when the anger of the Gods has kindled it there is then toil for all, and sorrow for not a few even so did Achilles bring toil and sorrow on the Trojans.
ild.21 Old King Priam stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on huge Achilles as the Trojans fled panic stricken before him, and there was none to help them.
ild.21 As he spoke they drew back the bolts and opened the gates, and when these were opened there was a haven of refuge for the Trojans.
ild.21 "Of a truth," said he, "noble Achilles, you deem that you shall this day sack the city of the proud Trojans.
ild.21 Meanwhile the rabble of routed Trojans was thankful to crowd within the city till their numbers thronged it; no longer did they dare wait for one another outside the city walls, to learn who had escaped and who were fallen in fight, but all whose feet and knees could still carry them poured pell mell into the town.
ild.22 THUS the Trojans in the city, scared like fawns, wiped the sweat from off them and drank to quench their thirst, leaning against the goodly battlements, while the Achaeans with their shields laid upon their shoulders drew close up to the walls.
ild.22 Then Phoebus Apollo spoke to the son of Peleus saying, "Why, son of Peleus, do you, who are but man, give chase to me who am immortal? Have you not yet found out that it is a God whom you pursue so furiously? You did not harass the Trojans whom you had routed, and now they are within their walls, while you have been decoyed hither away from them.
ild.22 Achilles was greatly angered and said, "You have baulked me, Far Darter, most malicious of all Gods, and have drawn me away from the wall, where many another man would have bitten the dust ere he got within Ilius; you have robbed me of great glory and have saved the Trojans at no risk to yourself, for you have nothing to fear, but I would indeed have my revenge if it were in my power to do so.
ild.22 Monster that he is; would indeed that the Gods loved him no better than I do, for so, Dogs and Vultures would soon devour him as he lay stretched on earth, and a load of grief would be lifted from my heart, for many a brave son has he reft from me, either by killing them or selling them away in the islands that are beyond the sea: even now I miss two sons from among the Trojans who have thronged within the city, Lycaon and Polydorus, whom Laothoe peeress among Women bore me.
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.
ild.22 What, again, if were to lay down my shield and helmet, lean my spear against the wall and go straight up to noble Achilles? What if I were to promise to give up Helen, who was the fountainhead of all this war, and all the treasure that Alexandrus brought with him in his ships to Troy, aye, and to let the Achaeans divide the half of everything that the city contains among themselves? I might make the Trojans, by the mouths of their princes, take a solemn oath that they would hide nothing, but would divide into two shares all that is within the city but why argue with myself in this way? Were I to go up to him he would show me no kind of mercy; he would kill me then and there as easily as though I were a Woman, when I had off my armour.
ild.22 Here, hard by the springs, are the goodly washing troughs of stone, where in the time of peace before the coming of the Achaeans the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash their clothes.
ild.22 You shall not drive spear into the back of a runaway drive it, should heaven so grant you power, drive it into me as I make straight towards you; and now for your own part avoid my spear if you can would that you might receive the whole of it into your body; if you were once dead the Trojans would find the war an easier matter, for it is you who have harmed them most.
ild.22 Then Hector said, as the life ebbed out of him, "I pray you by your life and knees, and by your parents, let not Dogs devour me at the ships of the Achaeans, but accept the rich treasure of Gold and Bronze which my father and mother will offer you, and send my body home, that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead.
ild.22 When Achilles had done spoiling Hector of his armour, he stood among the Argives and said, "My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, now that heaven has vouchsafed us to overcome this man, who has done us more hurt than all the others together, consider whether we should not attack the city in force, and discover in what mind the Trojans may be.
ild.22 Now, therefore, Achaean youths, let us raise the song of victory and go back to the ships taking this man along with us; for we have achieved a mighty triumph and have slain noble Hector to whom the Trojans prayed throughout their city as though he were a God.
ild.22 His own father is even such another as myself Peleus, who bred him and reared him to be the bane of us Trojans, and of myself more than of all others.
ild.22 Hecuba then raised the cry of wailing among the Trojans.
ild.22 Her husband s sisters and the wives of his brothers crowded round her and supported her, for she was fain to die in her distraction; when she again presently breathed and came to herself, she sobbed and made lament among the Trojans saying, Woe is me, O Hector; woe, indeed, that to share a common lot we were born, you at Troy in the house of Priam, and I at Thebes under the wooded mountain of Placus in the house of Eetion who brought me up when I was a child ill starred sire of an ill starred daughter would that he had never begotten me.
ild.22 When he had played till he was tired and went to sleep, he would lie in a bed, in the arms of his nurse, on a soft couch, knowing neither want nor care, whereas now that he has lost his father his lot will be full of hardship he, whom the Trojans name Astyanax, because you, O Hector, were the only defence of their gates and battlements.
ild.22 This will I now burn; it is of no use to you, for you can never again wear it, and thus you will have respect shown you by the Trojans both men and Women.
ild.23 I will now do all that I erewhile promised you; I will drag Hector hither and let Dogs devour him raw; Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before your pyre to avenge you.
ild.23 Nevermore shall we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the living; the cruel fate which was my birth right has yawned its wide jaws around me nay, you too Achilles, peer of Gods, are doomed to die beneath the wall of the noble Trojans.
ild.23 The dead hero had had house Dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre; he also put Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest, for he was full of bitterness and fury.
ild.23 Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the flames consume along with yourself, but Dogs, not fire, shall devour the flesh of Hector son of Priam.
ild.24 Then he chased all the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger.
ild.24 Then she saw him that was lying upon the bier, drawn by the Mules, and with a loud cry she went about the city saying, "Come hither Trojans, men and Women, and look on Hector; if ever you rejoiced to see him coming from battle when he was alive, look now on him that was the glory of our city and all our people.
ild.24 Then King Priam spoke to them saying, "Bring wood, O Trojans, to the city, and fear no cunning ambush of the Argives, for Achilles when he dismissed me from the ships gave me his word that they should not attack us until the morning of the twelfth day.

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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