The Iliad & Odyssey

  Ίλιας
  Οδύσσεια

 The Iliad: Menelaus’ wife, the beautiful Helen, has been captured by Paris, son of the King of Troy, Priam, and of his wife Hecuba. Among Paris’s siblings are Hector, married to Andromache, and the visionary Cassandra. To rescue Helen, Menelaus’ brother Agamemnon has laid siege to Troy, at the head of a coalition that includes among its famous warriors Ajax, Diomedes, Ulysses, old Nestor, Patroclus and his friend, the greatest warrior of all, Achilles, son of the goddess Thetis. The siege has lasted ten long years and the gods have become involved in the conflict. Their divine favours are divided: on the side of the Trojans are Aphrodite (whose son, Aeneas, is a Trojan), the sun-god Apollo and the war-god Ares; on the side of the Greeks are Thetis, the goddess of wisdom Athena, the sea-god Poseidon, and Zeus’ wife, Hera.

      1 Quarrel, Oath, and Promise - In the tenth year of the Trojan War, the Greek army, led by Agamemnon, is camped on the shore near the city. The priest of Apollo, Chryses, has asked Agamemnon to allow him to ransom his daughter Chryseis whom Agamemnon has claimed as his slave, and has been rudely rejected. Chryses prays to Apollo to help him, and the god sends a plague upon the Greeks. To pacify the god, it is decided at a general assembly that Agamemnon must return his slave girl. Agamemnon agrees, but demands that he be given Achilles’ concubine, Briseis, in exchange. Achilles feels dishonoured and withdraws from the war, taking with him Patroclus and their soldiers. Achilles appeals to his mother for revenge, and the goddess Thetis convinces Zeus to side with the Trojans. Zeus and his wife Hera, who supports the Greeks, have an argument, settled by Hera’s son, the smithy-god Hephaestus.
      2 Assembly and Muster of Armies - Agamemnon has a dream which tells him that he will take Troy. He tests the dream by suggesting to his army that they abandon the siege and return home. The plan backfires when the soldiers agree wholeheartedly. The commoner Thersites causes a disruption by rallying against the Greek leaders, but Ulysses restores order. The episode ends with a catalogue of the Greek and Trojan forces.
      3 Dueling for a Haunted Lady - The two armies meet on the plain outside Troy and settle on a truce, while Paris and Menelaus agree to fight for Helen. High on the ramparts of Troy, Helen points out the Greek warriors to Priam. Aphrodite saves Paris from being killed and transports him back into the city.
      4 A Bowshot Bringing War - The gods intervene again. Hera demands that the truce be broken. Athena persuades Pandarus, fighting on the Trojan side, to shoot at Menelaus, who is wounded.
      5 A Hero Strives with Gods - Helped by Athena, Diomedes attacks the Trojans, and even attacks Aphrodite, as she tries to help Aeneas, and the god of war Ares himself as he is rallying the Trojans.
      6 Interludes in Field and City - On the battlefield, the Greek Diomedes meets Glaucus, a Lycean fighting on the Trojan side, and they become friends and refuse to fight. Hector goes back to Troy to sacrifice to Athena. He speaks to Helen and to his wife Andromache, and rebukes Paris for not being out on the field. Paris follows Hector’s advice and joins the battle.
      7 A Combat and a Rampart - Paris and Hector return to the fight. Hector challenges Ajax to a duel, but the outcome isn’t clear. The Trojans propose a truce so that both camps can bury the dead. In the meantime, following old Nestor’s advice, the Greeks fortify the camp.
      8 The Battle Swayed by Zeus - Zeus encourages the Trojans, but also forbids the other gods to take part in the fighting. The Greeks withdraw to their camp and the Trojans set themselves up outside their city walls.
      9 A Visit of Emissaries - Worried about the advance of the Trojans, Nestor suggests that Agamemnon send Ajax, together with Phoenix (the old tutor of Ulysses and Achilles), to convince Achilles to join the troops again. In spite of being offered Briseis back, as well as Agamemnon’s daughter’s hand in marriage, he refuses.
      10 Night in the Camp: A Foray - Nestor now suggests that Diomedes and Ulysses go during the night to spy on the Trojans. They capture Dolon, an enemy scout and, based on his information, succeed in killing several Trojans.
      11 Prowess and Wounds of Akhaians - Led by Hector, the Trojans succeed in pushing the Greeks back to their ships, wounding Agamemnon, Diomedes and Ulysses. Achilles sends Patroclus to find out about one of the wounded whose body he sees being carried away. Nestor asks Patroclus to join the battle himself, and to borrow Achilles’ armour in order to frighten the enemy.
      12 The Rampart Breached - Before Patroclus can return, Hector opens a breach in the Greek camp wall and passes through with his soldiers.
      13 Assault on the Ships - The armies fight on the beach while the Trojans try to reach the Greek ship. Poseidon encourages the Greeks to fight back. Hector’s advance is stopped by Ajax.
      14 Beguilement on Mount Ida - Hera lulls Zeus to sleep so that Poseidon can continue to rouse the Greek army. Ajax gives Hector a stunning blow.
      15 The Lord of Storm - Zeus wakes and speaks sternly to Hera, who then takes his message to the gods, ordering Poseidon to withdraw and Apollo to heal Hector. Once again, the Trojans drive the Greeks back to their ships.
      16 A Ship Fired, a Tide Turned - Patroclus returns to Achilles and borrows his friend’s armour. In the meantime, Hector and the Trojans force Ajax and the Greeks back again and set fire to the first Greek ship. Dressed in Achilles’ armour, Patroclus repulses the Trojans. Ignoring Achilles’ warning not to drive them too far back, Patroclus reaches the walls of Troy and is stunned and disarmed by Apollo himself. The Trojan Euphorbus wounds him and Hector kills him.
      17 Contending for a Soldier Fallen - Hector removes Patroclus’ armour while the Greeks manage to carry his body back to camp. The fighting continues, led by Menelaus and Ajax on the Greek side, Hector and Aeneas on that of the Trojans.
      18 The Immortal Shield - Achilles hears that Patroclus has been killed. Full of rage and grief, he decides to avenge his friend in battle. Thetis promises him that Hephaestus will make him a new armour, but warns him that his own death must follow Hector’s. Patroclus’ body is brought into the Greek camp. Hephaestus makes Achilles new arms and a splendid new shield.
      19 The Avenger Fasts and Arms - Ulysses instigates a reconciliation between Agamemnon and Achilles. Achilles puts on his new armour. His faithful horse Xanthus foretells his death.
      20 The Ranging of Powers - Zeus reverses his decision, and allows the gods to intervene. Achilles begins a furious attack on the Trojans. Aeneas is rescued by Poseidon, Hector by Apollo. The Trojans retreat.
      21 The Clash of Man and River - But the retreat is hampered by the river Scamander. As Achilles fills the body with corpses, the river rises angrily against him, but Hephaestus checks the swell with his fire. The gods begin to fight among themselves: Athena wounds Ares and Aphrodite. The gods now retreat to Olympus, but Apollo distracts Achilles, allowing the Trojans to take refuge behind the walls of their city.
      22 Desolation Before Troy - Achilles finds Hector alone outside the walls, waiting for him. As Achilles approaches, Hector tries to run away from him. The gods intervene once more: Apollo withdraws his help and Athena induces Hector to fight and Achilles kills him. He then ties Hector’s body to a chariot and drags it behind him into the camp of the Greeks. Priam and his family watch in horror.
      23 A Friend Consigned to Death - During the night, Achilles is visited by the ghost of Patroclus, who demands a swift burial. The next day, Achilles gives his friend a magnificent funeral, followed by athletic games.
      24 A Grace Given in Sorrow - For eleven days, Hector’s body has lain unburied. Following advice from the gods, Priam visits the Greek camp and offers Achilles a ransom for his son’s body. Achilles at length accepts and, after a shared meal, Priam returns to Troy with Hector’s remains. The poem ends with the funeral of Hector, while the Trojan women, led by Andromache, weep and lament their dead.

 The Odyssey: Ten years after the fall of Troy. During the sack of the city, the disrespectful behaviour of some of the Greeks annoyed the gods, especially Athena who, having favoured the Greek side throughout the war, now has raised terrible storms to hinder their return. Though Athena is still well disposed towards Ulysses, he has not been allowed to return to Ithaca, where his faithful wife Penelope has been trying for seven years to ward off a crowd of suitors. Poseidon and the sun-god have sought to punish Ulysses (who, during his travels, has blinded Poseidon’s son Polyphemus and whose companions have slaughtered the sun-god’s cattle for food). He is now stranded on a faraway island, the prisoner of the nymph Calypso who has chosen him as her lover.

      1 A Goddess Intervenes - At a gathering of the gods, Athena asks Zeus why he has forgotten Ulysses. Zeus answers that it is Poseidon’s anger that has prevented Ulysses from returning to Ithaca, but that now, since Poseidon is away visiting the Ethiopians, Ulysses can begin the journey home. Athena disguises herself as Mentes, chief of the Taphians, and visits Ulysses’ son Telemachus in Ithaca, telling him to take action against his mother’s suitors. She instructs him to seek news of his father from King Nestor in Pylos and from King Menelaus in Sparta.
      2 A Hero’s Son Awakens - Telemachus calls an assembly to denounce the suitors. Speeches are made but public opinion is not sufficiently roused against them. As a result, Telemachus leaves for Pylos in secret, accompanied by Athena, who disguises herself this time as Mentor, a friend of Ulysses.
      3 The Lord of the Western Approaches - King Nestor tells Telemachus about the return of other Greek heroes who fought at Troy, such as Menelaus and Agamemnon, but can give him no news of Ulysses. He orders his son Pisistratus to accompany Telemachus to Sparta.
      4 The Red-Haired King and His Lady - At the court of Menelaus, Telemachus and his companions are entertained by the king and by his wife Helen, now restored to her throne. Menelaus tells them that, during his voyage back from Troy, the Old Man of the Sea informed him that Ulysses was being held captive by the nymph Calypso. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, the suitors and Penelope learn of Telemachus’ departure. The suitors plan to ambush him on his return and kill him.
      5 Sweet Nymph and Open Sea - At a gathering of the gods, Hermes is sent to tell Calypso that she must release Ulysses. Calypso then, sorrowfully, provides him with wood to build a boat. Ulysses sails away but, after only seventeen days, Poseidon discovers him and wrecks the boat in a storm. Naked and wounded, Ulysses manages to reach the land of the Phaeacians.
      6 The Princess at the River - Ulysses is discovered by Princess Nausicaa and her maids who are washing clothes and playing ball on the beach. Ulysses begs her for hospitality; she gives him something to wear and tells him to go to her father’s palace.
      7 Gardens and Firelight - Ulysses asks Nausicaa’s parents, King Alcinous and Queen Arete, to help him. Without revealing his identity, he tells them only part of his story. The king suggests that he stay and marry Nausicaa.
      8 The Songs of the Harper - King Alcinous offers his guest a lavish party. The blind bard Demodocus sings about Ulysses and his quarrel with Achilles, and later about the ploy of the wooden horse. Ulysses weeps at the memory. During an athletics exhibition, he is taunted and forced to demonstrate his strength.
      9 New Coasts and Poseidon’s Son - At last, Ulysses reveals his name and tells his full story: how he and his companions left Troy on twelve ships, raided the Trojan allies in Thrace, reached the land of the lotus-eaters, and finally landed on the island of the Cyclops where they were captured by the Cyclops Polyphemus and kept in his cave to be eaten one by one. Ulysses explains how he succeeded in blinding Polyphemus, how he told his victim that his name was ‘Nobody’ and how he escaped from the cave holding onto the belly of a ram. When, before leaving, he revealed his real name, Polyphemus swore that he would ask his father Poseidon to avenge him.
      10 The Grace of the Witch - Ulysses continues his story: he and his companions reached the floating island of the god Aeolus, who gave them a bag containing all the winds except the west wind, to help them on their course. While Ulysses slept, his companions opened the bags and their ships were blown back to the god’s island, who refused to assist them again. They reached the land of the giant Laestrygonians, who destroyed eleven of their ships. On the surviving ship, Ulysses and his companions arrived at the island of the enchantress Circe who turned some of the men into swine and took Ulysses as her lover. After a year on the island, Ulysses asked to be allowed to leave. Circe explained to him that he had first to travel to the Underworld and ask the ghost of the seer Tiresias for instructions.
      11 A Gathering of Shades - Ulysses tells of his visit to the Underworld: after he and his companions had conjured up the dead, the ghost of Tiresias told him that, even after reaching Ithaca, he would continue to travel. Among the ghosts, Ulysses spoke to his dead mother, to King Agamemnon, to Achilles and to Hercules.
      12 Sea Perils and Defeat - Ulysses concludes his story: after having lost some of the men to the monster Scylla, and after passing the whirlpool Charybdis and sailing past the luring sirens, Ulysses and his companions reached the island where the sun-god kept his cattle. Though they had been told not to touch the herd, hunger forced the men to kill and eat a few. The god complained to Zeus who, as a punishment, destroyed their ships with a thunderbolt. Ulysses was the only one to survive. On a beam from his ship, he drifted for nine days until, at last, he reached Calypso’s island. The rest of the story, the king knows.
      13 One More Strange Island - King Alcinous sends Ulysses off laden with rich gifts. Ulysses falls asleep and the Phaeacian sailors deposit him on the shore of Ithaca. Athena appears, disguised as a young man, and though he tries to hide his identity, she tells him that she knows who he is and that she will help him against the suitors. Athena dresses Ulysses up as an old beggar.
      14 Hospitality in the Forest - Ulysses in disguise is greeted by the swineherd Eumaeus, and makes up stories about himself to entertain his host.
      15 How They Came to Ithaka - Telemachus leaves Menelaus and Helen, and returns home. He brings with him the seer Theoclymenus. Back in Ithaca, Eumaeus tells Ulysses the story of his life. Telemachus avoids falling into the hands of the suitors.
      16 Father and Son - Telemachus comes to the swineherd’s hut and Ulysses reveals himself to him. He explains that they must be careful if they are to succeed against the suitors. The suitors sail back from their pursuit of Telemachus, and discuss what to do next.
      17 The Beggar at the Manor - Telemachus returns to the palace and speaks with Penelope. In the meantime, the goatherd Melanthius, an ally of the suitors, seeing Ulysses with Eumaeus, insults the man he takes to be a beggar. As they approach the palace, Ulysses’ dog Argos recognizes his master and dies of a broken heart. Ulysses begs the suitors for food; one of their leaders, Antinous, throws a stool at him instead.
      18 Blows and a Queen’s Beauty - Irus, a professional beggar, taunts Ulysses, who knocks him out in a boxing match. Penelope appears and receives gifts from the suitors. One of the maids mocks Ulysses who threatens to tell Telemachus of her behaviour. Another of the leading suitors, Eurymachus, insults Ulysses. When Ulysses answers back, Eurymachus throws a stool at him but hits the wine-steward instead.
      19 Recognitions and a Dream - Led by Athena, Ulysses and Telemachus remove the weapons from the hall. The maid insults Ulysses again. Ulysses tells Penelope that he once entertained her husband and that he is now not far away. The old nurse Eurycleia washes his feet and recognizes him because of a scar. Ulysses begs her not to tell. Penelope explains that, on the following night, she will allow the suitors to try shooting with Ulysses’ bow.
      20 Signs and a Vision - Ulysses lies awake impatiently. The loyal cowherd Philoetius appears. Another of the suitors, Ctesippus, flings an ox-foot at Ulysses to mock him. Seeing the suitors overcome by wild laughter, Theoclymenus tells them they are all marked for death.
      21 The Test of the Bow - Penelope brings out Ulysses’ bow and announces the test: they are to bend the bow and shoot an arrow through several axes. All the suitors try and fail, except Antinous, who postpones his turn. Ulysses reveals himself to Eumaeus and Philoetius. As Penelope leaves the hall, he grabs hold of the bow and shoots through the axes.
      22 Death in the Great Hall - Ulysses shoots Antinous and reveals his identity to the suitors. Helped by Telemachus, Eumaeus and Philoetius, the slaughter of the suitors begins. The treacherous Melanthius brings several coats of armour for the suitors, but is caught. Ulysses runs out of arrows, puts on an armour, and finishes off the suitors with spears. In a grisly ending, Melanthius is tortured to death and twelve of the maids are hanged.
      23 The Trunk of the Olive Tree - Penelope, told by Eurycleia of Ulysses’ return, refuses to believe it. She tests him by telling Eurycleia to move their bed out of their room, knowing that it is too heavy for anyone to budge it. Ulysses becomes angry and, at last, Penelope recognizes her husband. The couple go to bed and tell each other their stories.
      24 Warriors, Farewell - Hermes leads the souls of the suitors into the Underworld where they meet with the ghosts of Agamemnon, Ajax, Patroclus and Achilles. In the meantime, Ulysses visits his father, Laertes, who has retired to a farm and, after some delay, reveals himself to him. The relatives of the suitors plan revenge, but after lending Laertes the strength to kill one of the relatives, Athena, still disguised as Mentor, imposes a lasting peace on Ithaca.

or another Greek of the same name

The Iliad

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 1

SING, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus and its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon the Achaians, hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood in division of conflict Atreus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.

What god was it then set them together in bitter collision? Zeus' son and Leto's, Apollo, who in anger at the king drove the foul pestilence along the host, and the people perished, since Atreus' son had dishonoured Chryses, priest of Apollo, when he came beside the fast ships of the Achaians to ransom back his daughter, carrying gifts beyond count and holding in his hands wound on a staff of gold the ribbons of Apollo who strikes from afar, and supplicated all the Achaians, but above all Atreus' two sons, the marshals of the people: 'Sons of Atreus and you other strong-greaved Achaians, to you may the gods grant who have their homes on Olympos Priam's city to be plundered and a fair homecoming thereafter, but may you give me back my own daughter and take the ransom, giving honour to Zeus' son who strikes from afar, Apollo.'

Then all the rest of the Achaians cried out in favour that the priest be respected and the shining ransom be taken; yet this pleased not the heart of Atreus' son Agamemnon, but harshly he drove him away with a strong order upon him: 'Never let me find you again, old sir, near our hollow ships, neither lingering now nor coming again hereafter, for fear your staff and the god's ribbons help you no longer. The girl I will not give back; sooner will old age come upon her in my own house, in Argos, far from her own land, going up and down by the loom and being in my bed as my companion. So go now, do not make me angry; so you will be safer.'

So he spoke, and the old man in terror obeyed him and went silently away beside the murmuring sea beach. Over and over the old man prayed as he walked in solitude to King Apollo, whom Leto of the lovely hair bore: 'Hear me, lord of the silver bow who set your power about Chryse and Killa the sacrosanct, who are lord in strength over Tenedos, Smintheus, if ever it pleased your heart that I built your temple, if ever it pleased you that I burned all the rich thigh pieces of bulls, of goats, then bring to pass this wish I pray for: let your arrows make the Danaans pay for my tears shed.'

So he spoke in prayer, and Phoibos Apollo heard him, and strode down along the pinnacles of Olympos, angered in his heart, carrying across his shoulders the bow and the hooded quiver; and the shafts clashed on the shoulders of the god walking angrily. He came as night comes down and knelt then apart and opposite the ships and let go an arrow. Terrible was the clash that rose from the bow of silver. First he went after the mules and the circling hounds, then let go a tearing arrow against the men themselves and struck them. The corpse fires burned everywhere and did not stop burning.

Nine days up and down the host ranged the god's arrows, but on the tenth Achilleus called the people to assembly; a thing put into his mind by the goddess of the white arms, Hera, who had pity upon the Danaans when she saw them dying. Now when they were all assembled in one place together, Achilleus of the swift feet stood up among them and spoke forth: 'Son of Atreus, I believe now that straggling backwards we must make our way home if we can even escape death, if fighting now must crush the Achaians and the plague likewise. No, come, let us ask some holy man, some prophet, even an interpreter of dreams, since a dream also comes from Zeus, who can tell why Phoibos Apollo is so angry, if for the sake of some vow, some hecatomb he blames us, if given the fragrant smoke of lambs, of he goats, somehow he can be made willing to beat the bane aside from us.'

He spoke thus and sat down again, and among them stood up Kalchas, Thestor's son, far the best of the bird interpreters, who knew all things that were, the things to come and the things past, who guided into the land of Ilion the ships of the Achaians through that seercraft of his own that Phoibos Apollo gave him. He in kind intention toward all stood forth and addressed them: 'You have bidden me, Achilleus beloved of Zeus, to explain to you this anger of Apollo the lord who strikes from afar. Then I will speak; yet make me a promise and swear before me readily by word and work of your hands to defend me, since I believe I shall make a man angry who holds great kingship over the men of Argos, and all the Achaians obey him. For a king when he is angry with a man beneath him is too strong, and suppose even for the day itself he swallow down his anger, he still keeps bitterness that remains until its fulfilment deep in his chest. Speak forth then, tell me if you will protect me.'

Then in answer again spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Speak, interpreting whatever you know, and fear nothing. In the name of Apollo beloved of Zeus to whom you, Kalchas, make your prayers when you interpret the gods' will to the Danaans, no man so long as I am alive above earth and see daylight shall lay the weight of his hands on you beside the hollow ships, not one of all the Danaans, even if you mean Agamemnon, who now claims to be far the greatest of all the Achaians.'

At this the blameless seer took courage again and spoke forth: 'No, it is not for the sake of some vow or hecatomb he blames us, but for the sake of his priest whom Agamemnon dishonoured and would not give him back his daughter nor accept the ransom. Therefore the archer sent griefs against us and will send them still, nor sooner thrust back the shameful plague from the Danaans until we give the glancing-eyed girl back to her father without price, without ransom, and lead also a blessed hecatomb to Chryse; thus we might propitiate and persuade him.'

He spoke thus and sat down again, and among them stood up Atreus' son the hero wide-ruling Agamemnon raging, the heart within filled black to the brim with anger from beneath, but his two eyes showed like fire in their blazing. First of all he eyed Kalchas bitterly and spoke to him: 'Seer of evil: never yet have you told me a good thing. Always the evil things are dear to your heart to prophesy, but nothing excellent have you said nor ever accomplished. Now once more you make divination to the Danaans, argue forth your reason why he who strikes from afar afflicts them, because I for the sake of the girl Chryseis would not take the shining ransom; and indeed I wish greatly to have her in my own house; since I like her better than Klytaimestra my own wife, for in truth she is no way inferior, neither in build nor stature nor wit, not in accomplishment. Still I am willing to give her back, if such is the best way. I myself desire that my people be safe, not perish. Find me then some prize that shall be my own, lest I only among the Argives go without, since that were unfitting; you are all witnesses to this thing, that my prize goes elsewhere.'

Then in answer again spoke brilliant swift-footed Achilleus: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly, greediest for gain of all men, how shall the great-hearted Achaians give you a prize now? There is no great store of things lying about I know of. But what we took from the cities by storm has been distributed; it is unbecoming for the people to call back things once given. No, for the present give the girl back to the god; we Achaians thrice and four times over will repay you, if ever Zeus gives into our hands the strong-walled citadel of Troy to be plundered.'

Then in answer again spoke powerful Agamemnon: 'Not that way, good fighter though you be, godlike Achilleus, strive to cheat, for you will not deceive, you will not persuade me. What do you want? To keep your own prize and have me sit here lacking one? Are you ordering me to give this girl back? Either the great-hearted Achaians shall give me a new prize chosen according to my desire to atone for the girl lost, or else if they will not give me one I myself shall take her, your own prize, or that of Aias, or that of Odysseus, going myself in person; and he whom I visit will be bitter. Still, these are things we shall deliberate again hereafter. Come, now, we must haul a black ship down to the bright sea, and assemble rowers enough for it, and put on board it the hecatomb, and the girl herself, Chryseis of the fair cheeks, and let there be one responsible man in charge of her, either Aias or Idomeneus or brilliant Odysseus, or you yourself, son of Peleus, most terrifying of all men, to reconcile by accomplishing sacrifice the archer.'

Then looking darkly at him Achilleus of the swift feet spoke: 'O wrapped in shamelessness, with your mind forever on profit, how shall any one of the Achaians readily obey you either to go on a journey or to fight men strongly in battle? I for my part did not come here for the sake of the Trojan spearmen to fight against them, since to me they have done nothing. Never yet have they driven away my cattle or my horses, never in Phthia where the soil is rich and men grow great did they spoil my harvest, since indeed there is much that lies between us, the shadowy mountains and the echoing sea; but for your sake, o great shamelessness, we followed, to do you favour, you with the dog's eyes, to win your honour and Menelaos' from the Trojans. You forget all this or else you care nothing. And now my prize you threaten in person to strip from me, for whom I laboured much, the gift of the sons of the Achaians. Never, when the Achaians sack some well-founded citadel of the Trojans, do I have a prize that is equal to your prize. Always the greater part of the painful fighting is the work of my hands; but when the time comes to distribute the booty yours is far the greater reward, and I with some small thing yet dear to me go back to my ships when I am weary with fighting. Now I am returning to Phthia, since it is much better to go home again with my curved ships, and I am minded no longer to stay here dishonoured and pile up your wealth and your luxury.'

Then answered him in turn the lord of men Agamemnon: 'Run away by all means if your heart drives you. I will not entreat you to stay here for my sake. There are others with me who will do me honour, and above all Zeus of the counsels. To me you are the most hateful of all the kings whom the gods love. Forever quarrelling is dear to your heart, and wars and battles; and if you are very strong indeed, that is a god's gift. Go home then with your own ships and your own companions, be king over the Myrmidons. I care nothing about you. I take no account of your anger. But here is my threat to you. Even as Phoibos Apollo is taking away my Chryseis. I shall convey her back in my own ship, with my own followers; but I shall take the fair-cheeked Briseis, your prize, I myself going to your shelter, that you may learn well how much greater I am than you, and another man may shrink back from likening himself to me and contending against me.'

So he spoke. And the anger came on Peleus' son, and within his shaggy breast the heart was divided two ways, pondering whether to draw from beside his thigh the sharp sword, driving away all those who stood between and kill the son of Atreus, or else to check the spleen within and keep down his anger. Now as he weighed in mind and spirit these two courses and was drawing from its scabbard the great sword, Athene descended from the sky. For Hera the goddess of the white arms sent her, who loved both men equally in her heart and cared for them. The goddess standing behind Peleus' son caught him by the fair hair, appearing to him only, for no man of the others saw her. Achilleus in amazement turned about, and straightway knew Pallas Athene and the terrible eyes shining. He uttered winged words and addressed her: 'Why have you come now, o child of Zeus of the aegis, once more? Is it that you may see the outrageousness of the son of Atreus Agamemnon? Yet will I tell you this thing, and I think it shall be accomplished. By such acts of arrogance he may even lose his own life.'

Then in answer the goddess grey-eyed Athene spoke to him: 'I have come down to stay your anger--but will you obey me?-- from the sky; and the goddess of the white arms Hera sent me, who loves both of you equally in her heart and cares for you. Come then, do not take your sword in your hand, keep clear of fighting, though indeed with words you may abuse him, and it will be that way. And this also will I tell you and it will be a thing accomplished. Some day three times over such shining gifts shall be given you by reason of this outrage. Hold your hand then, and obey us.'

Then in answer again spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Goddess, it is necessary that I obey the word of you two, angry though I am in my heart. So it will be better. If any man obeys the gods, they listen to him also.'

He spoke, and laid his heavy hand on the silver sword hilt and thrust the great blade back into the scabbard nor disobeyed the word of Athene. And she went back again to Olympos to the house of Zeus of the aegis with the other divinities.

But Peleus' son once again in words of derision spoke to Atreides, and did not yet let go of his anger: 'You wine sack, with a dog's eyes, with a deer's heart. Never once have you taken courage in your heart to arm with your people for battle, or go into ambuscade with the best of the Achaians. No, for in such things you see death. Far better to your mind is it, all along the widespread host of the Achaians to take away the gifts of any man who speaks up against you. King who feed on your people, since you rule nonentities; otherwise, son of Atreus, this were your last outrage. But I will tell you this and swear a great oath upon it: in the name of this sceptre, which never again will bear leaf nor branch, now that it has left behind the cut stump in the mountains, nor shall it ever blossom again, since the bronze blade stripped bark and leafage, and now at last the sons of the Achaians carry it in their hands in state when they administer the justice of Zeus. And this shall be a great oath before you: some day longing for Achilleus will come to the sons of the Achaians, all of them. Then stricken at heart though you be, you will be able to do nothing, when in their numbers before man-slaughtering Hektor they drop and die. And then you will eat out the heart within you in sorrow, that you did no honour to the best of the Achaians.'

Thus spoke Peleus' son and dashed to the ground the sceptre studded with golden nails, and sat down again. But Atreides raged still on the other side, and between them Nestor the fair-spoken rose up, the lucid speaker of Pylos, from whose lips the streams of words ran sweeter than honey. In his time two generations of mortal men had perished, those who had grown up with him and they who had been born to these in sacred Pylos, and he was king in the third age. He in kind intention toward both stood forth and addressed them: 'Oh, for shame. Great sorrow comes on the land of Achaia. Now might Priam and the sons of Priam in truth be happy, and all the rest of the Trojans be visited in their hearts with gladness, were they to hear all this wherein you two are quarrelling, you, who surpass all Danaans in council, in fighting. Yet be persuaded. Both of you are younger than I am. Yes, and in my time I have dealt with better men than you are, and never once did they disregard me. Never yet have I seen nor shall see again such men as these were, men like Peirithoös, and Dryas, shepherd of the people, Kaineus and Exadios, godlike Polyphemos, or Theseus, Aigeus' son, in the likeness of the immortals. These were the strongest generation of earth-born mortals, the strongest, and they fought against the strongest, the beast men living within the mountains, and terribly they destroyed them. I was of the company of these men, coming from Pylos, a long way from a distant land, since they had summoned me. And I fought single-handed, yet against such men no one of the mortals now alive upon earth could do battle. And also these listened to the counsels I gave and heeded my bidding. Do you also obey, since to be persuaded is better. You, great man that you are, yet do not take the girl away but let her be, a prize as the sons of the Achaians gave her first. Nor, son of Peleus, think to match your strength with the king, since never equal with the rest is the portion of honour of the sceptred king to whom Zeus gives magnificence. Even though you are the stronger man, and the mother who bore you was immortal, yet is this man greater who is lord over more than you rule. Son of Atreus, give up your anger; even I entreat you to give over your bitterness against Achilleus, he who stands as a great bulwark of battle over all the Achaians.'

Then in answer again spoke powerful Agamemnon: 'Yes, old sir, all this you have said is fair and orderly. Yet here is a man who wishes to be above all others, who wishes to hold power over all, and to be lord of all, and give them their orders, yet I think one will not obey him. And if the everlasting gods have made him a spearman, yet they have not given him the right to speak abusively.'

Then looking at him darkly brilliant Achilleus answered him: 'So must I be called of no account and a coward if I must carry out every order you may happen to give me. Tell other men to do these things, but give me no more commands, since I for my part have no intention to obey you. And put away in your thoughts this other thing I tell you. With my hands I will not fight for the girl's sake, neither with you nor any other man, since you take her away who gave her. But of all the other things that are mine beside my fast black ship, you shall take nothing away against my pleasure. Come, then, only try it, that these others may see also; instantly your own black blood will stain my spearpoint.'

So these two after battling in words of contention stood up, and broke the assembly beside the ships of the Achaians. Peleus' son went back to his balanced ships and his shelter with Patroklos, Menoitios' son, and his own companions. But the son of Atreus drew a fast ship down to the water and allotted into it twenty rowers and put on board it the hecatomb for the god and Chryseis of the fair cheeks leading her by the hand. And in charge went crafty Odysseus.

These then putting out went over the ways of the water while Atreus' son told his people to wash off their defilement. And they washed it away and threw the washings into the salt sea. Then they accomplished perfect hecatombs to Apollo, of bulls and goats along the beach of the barren salt sea. The savour of the burning swept in circles up to the bright sky.

Thus these were busy about the army. But Agamemnon did not give up his anger and the first threat he made to Achilleus, but to Talthybios he gave his orders and Eurybates who were heralds and hard-working henchmen to him: 'Go now to the shelter of Peleus' son Achilleus, to bring back Briseis of the fair cheeks leading her by the hand. And if he will not give her, I must come in person to take her with many men behind me, and it will be the worse for him.'

He spoke and sent them forth with this strong order upon them. They went against their will beside the beach of the barren salt sea, and came to the shelters and the ships of the Myrmidons. The man himself they found beside his shelter and his black ship sitting. And Achilleus took no joy at all when he saw them. These two terrified and in awe of the king stood waiting quietly, and did not speak a word at all nor question him. But he knew the whole matter in his own heart, and spoke first: 'Welcome, heralds, messengers of Zeus and of mortals. Draw near. You are not to blame in my sight, but Agamemnon who sent the two of you here for the sake of the girl Briseis. Go then, illustrious Patroklos, and bring the girl forth and give her to these to be taken away. Yet let them be witnesses in the sight of the blessed gods, in the sight of mortal men, and of this cruel king, if ever hereafter there shall be need of me to beat back the shameful destruction from the rest. For surely in ruinous heart he makes sacrifice and has not wit enough to look behind and before him that the Achaians fighting beside their ships shall not perish.'

So he spoke, and Patroklos obeyed his beloved companion. He led forth from the hut Briseis of the fair cheeks and gave her to be taken away; and they walked back beside the ships of the Achaians, and the woman all unwilling went with them still. But Achilleus weeping went and sat in sorrow apart from his companions beside the beach of the grey sea looking out on the infinite water. Many times stretching forth his hands he called on his mother: 'Since, my mother, you bore me to be a man with a short life, therefore Zeus of the loud thunder on Olympos should grant me honour at least. But now he has given me not even a little. Now the son of Atreus, powerful Agamemnon, has dishonoured me, since he has taken away my prize and keeps it.'

So he spoke in tears and the lady his mother heard him as she sat in the depths of the sea at the side of her aged father, and lightly she emerged like a mist from the grey water. She came and sat beside him as he wept, and stroked him with her hand and called him by name and spoke to him: 'Why then, child, do you lament? What sorrow has come to your heart now? Tell me, do not hide it in your mind, and thus we shall both know.'

Sighing heavily Achilleus of the swift feet answered her: 'You know; since you know why must I tell you all this? We went against Thebe, the sacred city of Eëtion, and the city we sacked, and carried everything back to this place, and the sons of the Achaians made a fair distribution and for Atreus' son they chose out Chryseis of the fair cheeks. Then Chryses, priest of him who strikes from afar, Apollo, came beside the fast ships of the bronze-armoured Achaians to ransom back his daughter, carrying gifts beyond count and holding in his hands wound on a staff of gold the ribbons of Apollo who strikes from afar, and supplicated all the Achaians, but above all Atreus' two sons, the marshals of the people. Then all the rest of the Achaians cried out in favour that the priest be respected and the shining ransom be taken; yet this pleased not the heart of Atreus' son Agamemnon, but harshly he sent him away with a strong order upon him. The old man went back again in anger, but Apollo listened to his prayer, since he was very dear to him, and let go the wicked arrow against the Argives. And now the people were dying one after another while the god's shafts ranged everywhere along the wide host of the Achaians, till the seer knowing well the truth interpreted the designs of the archer. It was I first of all urged then the god's appeasement; and the anger took hold of Atreus' son, and in speed standing he uttered his threat against me, and now it is a thing accomplished. For the girl the glancing-eyed Achaians are taking to Chryse in a fast ship, also carrying to the king presents. But even now the heralds went away from my shelter leading Briseus' daughter, whom the sons of the Achaians gave me. You then, if you have power to, protect your own son, going to Olympos and supplicating Zeus, if ever before now either by word you comforted Zeus' heart or by action. Since it is many times in my father's halls I have heard you making claims, when you said you only among the immortals beat aside shameful destruction from Kronos' son the dark-misted, that time when all the other Olympians sought to bind him, Hera and Poseidon and Pallas Athene. Then you, goddess, went and set him free from his shackles, summoning in speed the creature of the hundred hands to tall Olympos, that creature the gods name Briareus, but all men Aigaios' son, but he is far greater in strength than his father. He rejoicing in the glory of it sat down by Kronion, and the rest of the blessed gods were frightened and gave up binding him. Sit beside him and take his knees and remind him of these things now, if perhaps he might be willing to help the Trojans, and pin the Achaians back against the ships and the water, dying, so that thus they may all have profit of their own king, that Atreus' son wide-ruling Agamemnon may recognize his madness, that he did no honour to the best of the Achaians.'

Thetis answered him then letting the tears fall: 'Ah me, my child. Your birth was bitterness. Why did I raise you? If only you could sit by your ships untroubled, not weeping, since indeed your lifetime is to be short, of no length. Now it has befallen that your life must be brief and bitter beyond all men's. To a bad destiny I bore you in my chambers. But I will go to cloud-dark Olympos and ask this thing of Zeus who delights in the thunder. Perhaps he will do it. Do you therefore continuing to sit by your swift ships be angry at the Achaians and stay away from all fighting. For Zeus went to the blameless Aithiopians at the Ocean yesterday to feast, and the rest of the gods went with him. On the twelfth day he will be coming back to Olympos, and then I will go for your sake to the house of Zeus, bronze-founded, and take him by the knees and I think I can persuade him.'

So speaking she went away from that place and left him sorrowing in his heart for the sake of the fair-girdled woman whom they were taking by force against his will. But Odysseus meanwhile drew near to Chryse conveying the sacred hecatomb. These when they were inside the many-hollowed harbour took down and gathered together the sails and stowed them in the black ship, let down mast by the forestays, and settled it into the mast crutch easily, and rowed her in with oars to the mooring. They threw over the anchor stones and made fast the stern cables and themselves stepped out on to the break of the sea beach, and led forth the hecatomb to the archer Apollo, and Chryseis herself stepped forth from the sea-going vessel. Odysseus of the many designs guided her to the altar and left her in her father's arms and spoke a word to him: 'Chryses, I was sent here by the lord of men Agamemnon to lead back your daughter and accomplish a sacred hecatomb to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans, that we may propitiate the lord who has heaped unhappiness and tears on the Argives.'

He spoke, and left her in his arms. And he received gladly his beloved child. And the men arranged the sacred hecatomb for the god in orderly fashion around the strong-founded altar. Next they washed their hands and took up the scattering barley. Standing among them with lifted arms Chryses prayed in a great voice: 'Hear me, lord of the silver bow, who set your power about Chryse and Killa the sacrosanct, who are lord in strength over Tenedos; if once before you listened to my prayers and did me honour and smote strongly the host of the Achaians, so one more time bring to pass the wish that I pray for. Beat aside at last the shameful plague from the Danaans.' So he spoke in prayer, and Phoibos Apollo heard him. And when all had made prayer and flung down the scattering barley first they drew back the victims' heads and slaughtered them and skinned them, and cut away the meat from the thighs and wrapped them in fat, making a double fold, and laid shreds of flesh upon them. The old man burned these on a cleft stick and poured the gleaming wine over, while the young men with forks in their hands stood about him. But when they had burned the thigh pieces and tasted the vitals, they cut all the remainder into pieces and spitted them and roasted all carefully and took off the pieces. Then after they had finished the work and got the feast ready they feasted, nor was any man's hunger denied a fair portion. But when they had put away their desire for eating and drinking, the young men filled the mixing bowls with pure wine, passing a portion to all, when they had offered drink in the goblets. All day long they propitiated the god with singing, chanting a splendid hymn to Apollo, these young Achaians, singing to the one who works from afar, who listened in gladness.

Afterwards when the sun went down and darkness came onward they lay down and slept beside the ship's stern cables. But when the young Dawn showed again with her rosy fingers, they put forth to sea toward the wide camp of the Achaians. And Apollo who works from afar sent them a favouring stern wind. They set up the mast again and spread on it the white sails, and the wind blew into the middle of the sail, and at the cutwater a blue wave rose and sang strongly as the ship went onward. She ran swiftly cutting across the swell her pathway. But when they had come back to the wide camp of the Achaians they hauled the black ship up on the mainland, high up on the sand, and underneath her they fixed the long props. Afterwards they scattered to their own ships and their shelters.

But that other still sat in anger beside his swift ships, Peleus' son divinely born, Achilleus of the swift feet. Never now would he go to assemblies where men win glory, never more into battle, but continued to waste his heart out sitting there, though he longed always for the clamour and fighting.

But when the twelfth dawn after this day appeared, the gods who live forever came back to Olympos all in a body and Zeus led them; nor did Thetis forget the entreaties of her son, but she emerged from the sea's waves early in the morning and went up to the tall sky and Olympos. She found Kronos' broad-browed son apart from the others sitting upon the highest peak of rugged Olympos. She came and sat beside him with her left hand embracing his knees, but took him underneath the chin with her right hand and spoke in supplication to lord Zeus son of Kronos: 'Father Zeus, if ever before in word or action I did you favour among the immortals, now grant what I ask for. Now give honour to my son short-lived beyond all other mortals. Since even now the lord of men Agamemnon dishonours him, who has taken away his prize and keeps it. Zeus of the counsels, lord of Olympos, now do him honour. So long put strength into the Trojans, until the Achaians give my son his rights, and his honour is increased among them.'

She spoke thus. But Zeus who gathers the clouds made no answer but sat in silence a long time. And Thetis, as she had taken his knees, clung fast to them and urged once more her question: 'Bend your head and promise me to accomplish this thing, or else refuse it, you have nothing to fear, that I may know by how much I am the most dishonoured of all gods.'

Deeply disturbed Zeus who gathers the clouds answered her: 'This is a disastrous matter when you set me in conflict with Hera, and she troubles me with recriminations. Since even as things are, forever among the immortals she is at me and speaks of how I help the Trojans in battle. Even so, go back again now, go away, for fear she see us. I will look to these things that they be accomplished. See then, I will bend my head that you may believe me. For this among the immortal gods is the mightiest witness I can give, and nothing I do shall be vain nor revocable nor a thing unfulfilled when I bend my head in assent to it.'

He spoke, the son of Kronos, and nodded his head with the dark brows, and the immortally anointed hair of the great god swept from his divine head, and all Olympos was shaken.

So these two who had made their plans separated, and Thetis leapt down again from shining Olympos into the sea's depth, but Zeus went back to his own house, and all the gods rose up from their chairs to greet the coming of their father, not one had courage to keep his place as the father advanced, but stood up to greet him. Thus he took his place on the throne; yet Hera was not ignorant, having seen how he had been plotting counsels with Thetis the silver-footed, the daughter of the sea's ancient, and at once she spoke revilingly to Zeus son of Kronos: 'Treacherous one, what god has been plotting counsels with you? Always it is dear to your heart in my absence to think of secret things and decide upon them. Never have you patience frankly to speak forth to me the thing that you purpose.'

Then to her the father of gods and men made answer: 'Hera, do not go on hoping that you will hear all my thoughts, since these will be too hard for you, though you are my wife. Any thought that it is right for you to listen to, no one neither man nor any immortal shall hear it before you. But anything that apart from the rest of the gods I wish to plan, do not always question each detail nor probe me.'

Then the goddess the ox-eyed lady Hera answered: 'Majesty, son of Kronos, what sort of thing have you spoken? Truly too much in time past I have not questioned nor probed you, but you are entirely free to think out whatever pleases you. Now, though, I am terribly afraid you were won over by Thetis the silver-footed, the daughter of the sea's ancient. For early in the morning she sat beside you and took your knees, and I think you bowed your head in assent to do honour to Achilleus, and to destroy many beside the ships of the Achaians.'

Then in return Zeus who gathers the clouds made answer: 'Dear lady, I never escape you, you are always full of suspicion. Yet thus you can accomplish nothing surely, but be more distant from my heart than ever, and it will be the worse for you. If what you say is true, then that is the way I wish it. But go then, sit down in silence, and do as I tell you, for fear all the gods, as many as are on Olympos, can do nothing if I come close and lay my unconquerable hands upon you.'

He spoke, and the goddess the ox-eyed lady Hera was frightened and went and sat down in silence wrenching her heart to obedience, and all the Uranian gods in the house of Zeus were troubled. Hephaistos the renowned smith rose up to speak among them, to bring comfort to his beloved mother, Hera of the white arms: 'This will be a disastrous matter and not endurable if you two are to quarrel thus for the sake of mortals and bring brawling among the gods. There will be no pleasure in the stately feast at all, since vile things will be uppermost. And I entreat my mother, though she herself understands it, to be ingratiating toward our father Zeus, that no longer our father may scold her and break up the quiet of our feasting. For if the Olympian who handles the lightning should be minded to hurl us out of our places, he is far too strong for any. Do you therefore approach him again with words made gentle, and at once the Olympian will be gracious again to us.'

He spoke, and springing to his feet put a two-handled goblet into his mother's hands and spoke again to her once more: 'Have patience, my mother, and endure it, though you be saddened, for fear that, dear as you are, I see you before my own eyes struck down, and then sorry though I be I shall not be able to do anything. It is too hard to fight against the Olympian. There was a time once before now I was minded to help you, and he caught me by the foot and threw me from the magic threshold, and all day long I dropped helpless, and about sunset I landed in Lemnos, and there was not much life left in me. After that fall it was the Sintian men who took care of me.'

He spoke, and the goddess of the white arms Hera smiled at him, and smiling she accepted the goblet out of her son's hand. Thereafter beginning from the left he poured drinks for the other gods, dipping up from the mixing bowl the sweet nectar. But among the blessed immortals uncontrollable laughter went up as they saw Hephaistos bustling about the palace.

Thus thereafter the whole day long until the sun went under they feasted, nor was anyone's hunger denied a fair portion, nor denied the beautifully wrought lyre in the hands of Apollo nor the antiphonal sweet sound of the Muses singing.

Afterwards when the light of the flaming sun went under they went away each one to sleep in his home where for each one the far-renowned strong-handed Hephaistos had built a house by means of his craftsmanship and cunning. Zeus the Olympian and lord of the lightning went to his own bed, where always he lay when sweet sleep came on him. Going up to the bed he slept and Hera of the gold throne beside him.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 2

 Now the rest of the gods, and men who were lords of chariots, slept night long, but the ease of sleep came not upon Zeus who was pondering in his heart how he might bring honour to Achilleus, and destroy many beside the ships of the Achaians. Now to his mind this thing appeared to be the best counsel, to send evil Dream to Atreus' son Agamemnon. He cried out to the dream and addressed him in winged words: 'Go forth, evil Dream, beside the swift ships of the Achaians. Make your way to the shelter of Atreus' son Agamemnon; speak to him in words exactly as I command you. Bid him arm the flowing-haired Achaians for battle in all haste; since now he might take the wide-wayed city of the Trojans. For no longer are the gods who live on Olympos arguing the matter, since Hera forced them all over by her supplication, and evils are in store for the Trojans.'

So he spoke, and Dream listened to his word and descended. Lightly he came down beside the swift ships of the Achaians and came to Agamemnon the son of Atreus. He found him sleeping within his shelter in a cloud of immortal slumber. Dream stood then beside his head in the likeness of Nestor, Neleus' son, whom Agamemnon honoured beyond all elders beside. In Nestor's likeness the divine Dream spoke to him: 'Son of wise Atreus breaker of horses, are you sleeping? He should not sleep night long who is a man burdened with counsels and responsibility for a people and cares so numerous. Listen quickly to what I say, since I am a messenger of Zeus, who far away cares much for you and is pitiful. Zeus bids you arm the flowing-haired Achaians for battle in all haste; since now you might take the wide-wayed city of the Trojans. For no longer are the gods who live on Olympos arguing the matter, since Hera forced them all over by her supplication, and evils are in store for the Trojans from Zeus. Keep this thought in your heart then, let not forgetfulness take you, after you are released from the kindly sweet slumber.'

So he spoke and went away, and left Agamemnon there, believing things in his heart that were not to be accomplished. For he thought that on that very day he would take Priam's city; fool, who knew nothing of all the things Zeus planned to accomplish, Zeus, who yet was minded to visit tears and sufferings on Trojans and Danaans alike in the strong encounters. Agamemnon awoke from sleep, the divine voice drifting around him. He sat upright and put on his tunic, beautiful, fresh woven, and threw the great mantle over it. Underneath his shining feet he bound the fair sandals and across his shoulders slung the sword with the nails of silver, and took up the sceptre of his fathers, immortal forever. Thus he went beside the ships of the bronze-armoured Achaians.

Now the goddess Dawn drew close to tall Olympos with her message of light to Zeus and the other immortals. But Agamemnon commanded his clear-voiced heralds to summon by proclamation to assembly the flowing-haired Achaians, and the heralds made their cry and the men were assembled swiftly.

First he held a council session of the high-hearted princes beside the ship of Nestor, the king of the race of Pylos. Summoning these he compacted before them his close counsel: 'Hear me, friends: in my sleep a Dream divine came to me through the immortal night, and in appearance and stature and figure it most closely resembled splendid Nestor. It came and stood above my head and spoke a word to me: "Son of wise Atreus breaker of horses, are you sleeping? He should not sleep night long who is a man burdened with counsels and responsibility for a people and cares so numerous. Now listen quickly to what I say, since I am a messenger from Zeus, who far away cares much for you and is pitiful. Zeus bids you arm the flowing-haired Achaians for battle in all haste; since now you might take the wide-wayed city of the Trojans. For no longer are the gods who live on Olympos arguing the matter, since Hera has forced them all over by her supplication, and evils are in store for the Trojans by Zeus' will. Keep this within your heart. So speaking" the Dream went away on wings, and sweet sleep released me. Come then, let us see if we can arm the sons of the Achaians. Yet first, since it is the right way, I will make trial of them by words, and tell them even to flee in their benched vessels. Do you take stations here and there, to check them with orders.'

He spoke thus, and sat down again, and among them rose up Nestor, he who ruled as a king in sandy Pylos. He in kind intention toward all stood forth and addressed them: 'Friends, who are leaders of the Argives and keep their counsel, had it been any other Achaian who told of this dream we should have called it a lie and we might rather have turned from it. Now he who claims to be the best of the Achaians has seen it. Come then, let us see if we can arm the sons of the Achaians.'

So he spoke and led the way departing from the council, and the rest rose to their feet, the sceptred kings, obeying the shepherd of the people, and the army thronged behind them. Like the swarms of clustering bees that issue forever in fresh bursts from the hollow in the stone, and hang like bunched grapes as they hover beneath the flowers in springtime fluttering in swarms together this way and that way, so the many nations of men from the ships and the shelters along the front of the deep sea beach marched in order by companies to the assembly, and Rumour walked blazing among them, Zeus' messenger, to hasten them along. Thus they were assembled and the place of their assembly was shaken, and the earth groaned as the people took their positions and there was tumult. Nine heralds shouting set about putting them in order, to make them cease their clamour and listen to the kings beloved of Zeus. The people took their seats in sober fashion and were marshalled in their places and gave over their clamouring. Powerful Agamemnon stood up holding the sceptre Hephaistos had wrought him carefully. Hephaistos gave it to Zeus the king, the son of Kronos, and Zeus in turn gave it to the courier Argeïphontes, and lord Hermes gave it to Pelops, driver of horses, and Pelops again gave it to Atreus, the shepherd of the people. Atreus dying left it to Thyestes of the rich flocks, and Thyestes left it in turn to Agamemnon to carry and to be lord of many islands and over all Argos. Leaning upon this sceptre he spoke and addressed the Argives: 'Fighting men and friends, o Danaans, henchmen of Ares: Zeus son of Kronos has caught me fast in bitter futility. He is hard; who before this time promised me and consented that I might sack strong-walled Ilion and sail homeward. Now he has devised a vile deception, and bids me go back to Argos in dishonour having lost many of my people. Such is the way it will be pleasing to Zeus, who is too strong, who before now has broken the crests of many cities and will break them again, since his power is beyond all others. And this shall be a thing of shame for the men hereafter to be told, that so strong, so great a host of Achaians carried on and fought in vain a war that was useless against men fewer than they, with no accomplishment shown for it; since if both sides were to be willing, Achaians and Trojans, to cut faithful oaths of truce, and both to be numbered, and the Trojans were to be counted by those with homes in the city, while we were to be allotted in tens, we Achaians, and each one of our tens chose a man of Troy to pour wine for it, still there would be many tens left without a wine steward. By so much I claim we sons of the Achaians outnumber the Trojans--those who live in the city; but there are companions from other cities in their numbers, wielders of the spear, to help them, who drive me hard back again and will not allow me, despite my will, to sack the well-founded stronghold of Ilion. And now nine years of mighty Zeus have gone by, and the timbers of our ships have rotted away and the cables are broken and far away our own wives and our young children are sitting within our halls and wait for us, while still our work here stays forever unfinished as it is, for whose sake we came hither. Come then, do as I say, let us all be won over; let us run away with our ships to the beloved land of our fathers since no longer now shall we capture Troy of the wide ways.'

So he spoke, and stirred up the passion in the breast of all those who were within that multitude and listened to his counsel. And the assembly was shaken as on the sea the big waves in the main by Ikaria, when the south and south-east winds driving down from the clouds of Zeus the father whip them. As when the west wind moves across the grain deep standing, boisterously, and shakes and sweeps it till the tassels lean, so all of that assembly was shaken, and the men in tumult swept to the ships, and underneath their feet the dust lifted and rose high, and the men were all shouting to one another to lay hold on the ships and drag them down to the bright sea. They cleaned out the keel channels and their cries hit skyward as they made for home and snatched the props from under the vessels.

Then for the Argives a homecoming beyond fate might have been accomplished, had not Hera spoken a word to Athene: 'For shame, now, Atrytone, daughter of Zeus of the aegis. As things are, the Argives will take flight homeward over the wide ridges of the sea to the land of their fathers, and thus they would leave to Priam and to the Trojans Helen of Argos, to glory over, for whose sake many Achaians lost their lives in Troy far from their own native country. But go now along the host of the bronze-armoured Achaians. Speak to each man in words of gentleness and draw him backward nor let them drag down to the salt sea their oarswept vessels.'

So she spoke, nor did the goddess grey-eyed Athene disobey her, but went in speed down the peaks of Olympos, and lightly she arrived beside the fast ships of the Achaians. There she came on Odysseus, the equal of Zeus in counsel, standing still; he had laid no hand upon his black, strong-benched vessel, since disappointment touched his heart and his spirit. Athene of the grey eyes stood beside him and spoke to him: 'Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus: will it be this way? Will you all hurl yourselves into your benched ships and take flight homeward to the beloved land of your fathers, and would you thus leave to Priam and to the Trojans Helen of Argos, to glory over, for whose sake many Achaians lost their lives in Troy far from their own native country? Go now along the host of the Achaians, give way no longer, speak to each man in words of gentleness and draw them backward, nor let them drag down to the salt sea their oarswept vessels.'

So she spoke, and he knew the voice of the goddess speaking and went on the run, throwing aside his cloak, which was caught up by Eurybates the herald of Ithaka who followed him. He came face to face with Agamemnon, son of Atreus, and took from him the sceptre of his fathers, immortal forever. With this he went beside the ships of the bronze-armoured Achaians.

Whenever he encountered some king, or man of influence, he would stand beside him and with soft words try to restrain him: 'Excellency! It does not become you to be frightened like any coward. Rather hold fast and check the rest of the people. You do not yet clearly understand the purpose of Atreides. Now he makes trial, but soon will bear hard on the sons of the Achaians. Did we not all hear what he was saying in council? May he not in anger do some harm to the sons of the Achaians! For the anger of god-supported kings is a big matter, to whom honour and love are given from Zeus of the counsels.'

When he saw some man of the people who was shouting, he would strike at him with his staff, and reprove him also: 'Excellency! Sit still and listen to what others tell you, to those who are better men than you, you skulker and coward and thing of no account whatever in battle or council. Surely not all of us Achaians can be as kings here. Lordship for many is no good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king, to whom the son of devious-devising Kronos gives the sceptre and right of judgment, to watch over his people.'

So he went through the army marshalling it, until once more they swept back into the assembly place from the ships and the shelters clamorously, as when from the thunderous sea the surf-beat crashes upon the great beach, and the whole sea is in tumult.

Now the rest had sat down, and were orderly in their places, but one man, Thersites of the endless speech, still scolded, who knew within his head many words, but disorderly; vain, and without decency, to quarrel with the princes with any word he thought might be amusing to the Argives. This was the ugliest man who came beneath Ilion. He was bandy-legged and went lame of one foot, with shoulders stooped and drawn together over his chest, and above this his skull went up to a point with the wool grown sparsely upon it. Beyond all others Achilleus hated him, and Odysseus. These two he was forever abusing, but now at brilliant Agamemnon he clashed the shrill noise of his abuse. The Achaians were furiously angry with him, their minds resentful. But he, crying the words aloud, scolded Agamemnon: 'Son of Atreus, what thing further do you want, or find fault with now? Your shelters are filled with bronze, there are plenty of the choicest women for you within your shelter, whom we Achaians give to you first of all whenever we capture some stronghold. Or is it still more gold you will be wanting, that some son of the Trojans, breakers of horses, brings as ransom out of Ilion, one that I, or some other Achaian, capture and bring in? Is it some young woman to lie with in love and keep her all to yourself apart from the others? It is not right for you, their leader, to lead in sorrow the sons of the Achaians. My good fools, poor abuses, you women, not men, of Achaia, let us go back home in our ships, and leave this man here by himself in Troy to mull his prizes of honour that he may find out whether or not we others are helping him. And now he has dishonoured Achilleus, a man much better than he is. He has taken his prize by force and keeps her. But there is no gall in Achilleus' heart, and he is forgiving. Otherwise, son of Atreus, this were your last outrage.'

So he spoke, Thersites, abusing Agamemnon the shepherd of the people. But brilliant Odysseus swiftly came beside him scowling and laid a harsh word upon him: 'Fluent orator though you be, Thersites, your words are ill-considered. Stop, nor stand up alone against princes. Out of all those who came beneath Ilion with Atreides I assert there is no worse man than you are. Therefore you shall not lift up your mouth to argue with princes, cast reproaches into their teeth, nor sustain the homegoing. We do not even know clearly how these things will be accomplished, whether we sons of the Achaians shall win home well or badly; yet you sit here throwing abuse at Agamemnon, Atreus' son, the shepherd of the people, because the Danaan fighters give him much. You argue nothing but scandal. And this also will I tell you, and it will be a thing accomplished. If once more I find you playing the fool, as you are now, nevermore let the head of Odysseus sit on his shoulders, let me nevermore be called Telemachos' father, if I do not take you and strip away your personal clothing, your mantle and your tunic that cover over your nakedness, and send you thus bare and howling back to the fast ships, whipping you out of the assembly place with the strokes of indignity.'

So he spoke and dashed the sceptre against his back and shoulders, and he doubled over, and a round tear dropped from him, and a bloody welt stood up between his shoulders under the golden sceptre's stroke, and he sat down again, frightened, in pain, and looking helplessly about wiped off the tear-drops. Sorry though the men were they laughed over him happily, and thus they would speak to each other, each looking at the man next him: 'Come now: Odysseus has done excellent things by thousands, bringing forward good counsels and ordering armed encounters; but now this is far the best thing he ever has accomplished among the Argives, to keep this thrower of words, this braggart out of assembly. Never again will his proud heart stir him up, to wrangle with the princes in words of revilement.'

So the multitude spoke, but Odysseus, sacker of cities, stood up holding the staff, and beside him grey-eyed Athene in the likeness of a herald enjoined the people to silence, that at once the foremost and the utmost sons of the Achaians might listen to him speaking and deliberate his counsel. He in kind intention toward all stood forth and addressed them: 'Son of Atreus: now, my lord, the Achaians are trying to make you into a thing of reproach in the sight of all mortal men, and not fulfilling the promise they undertook once as they set forth to come here from horse-pasturing Argos, to go home only after you had sacked strong-walled Ilion. For as if they were young children or widowed women they cry out and complain to each other about going homeward. In truth, it is a hard thing, to be grieved with desire for going. Any man who stays away one month from his own wife with his intricate ship is impatient, one whom the storm winds of winter and the sea rising keep back. And for us now this is the ninth of the circling years that we wait here. Therefore I cannot find fault with the Achaians for their impatience beside the curved ships; yet always it is disgraceful to wait long and at the end go home empty-handed. No, but be patient, friends, and stay yet a little longer until we know whether Kalchas' prophecy is true or is not true. For I remember this thing well in my heart, and you all are witnesses, whom the spirits of death have not carried away from us; yesterday and before, at Aulis, when the ships of the Achaians were gathered bringing disaster to the Trojans and Priam, and we beside a spring and upon the sacred altars were accomplishing complete hecatombs to the immortals under a fair plane tree whence ran the shining of water. There appeared a great sign; a snake, his back blood-mottled, a thing of horror, cast into the light by the very Olympian, wound its way from under the altar and made toward the plane tree. Thereupon were innocent children, the young of the sparrow, cowering underneath the leaves at the uttermost branch tip, eight of them, and the mother was the ninth, who bore these children. The snake ate them all after their pitiful screaming, and the mother, crying aloud for her young ones, fluttered about him, and as she shrilled he caught her by the wing and coiled around her. After he had eaten the sparrow herself with her children the god who had shown the snake forth made him a monument, striking him stone, the son of devious-devising Kronos, and we standing about marvelled at the thing that had been done. So as the terror and the god's monsters came into the hecatomb Kalchas straightway spoke before us interpreting the gods' will: "Why are you turned voiceless, you flowing-haired Achaians? Zeus of the counsels has shown us this great portent: a thing late, late to be accomplished, whose glory shall perish never. As this snake has eaten the sparrow herself with her children, eight of them, and the mother was the ninth, who bore them, so for years as many as this shall we fight in this place and in the tenth year we shall take the city of the wide ways." So he spoke to us then; now all this is being accomplished. Come then, you strong-greaved Achaians, let every man stay here, until we have taken the great citadel of Priam.'

So he spoke, and the Argives shouted aloud, and about them the ships echoed terribly to the roaring Achaians as they cried out applause to the word of godlike Odysseus. Now among them spoke the Gerenian horseman, Nestor: 'Oh, for shame! You are like children when you hold assembly, infant children, to whom the works of war mean nothing. Where then shall our covenants go, and the oaths we have taken? Let counsels and the meditations of men be given to the flames then, with the unmixed wine poured and the right hands we trusted. We do our fighting with words only, and can discover no remedy, though we have stayed here a long time. Son of Atreus, do you still as before hold fast to your counsel unshaken and be the leader of the Argives through the strong encounters; let them go perish, these one or two, who think apart from the rest of the Achaians, since there will be no use in them until they get back again to Argos without ever learning whether Zeus of the aegis promises false or truly. For I say to you, the son of all-powerful Kronos promised, on that day when we went in our fast-running vessels, we of Argos, carrying blood and death to the Trojans. He flashed lightning on our right, showing signs of favour. Therefore let no man be urgent to take the way homeward until after he has lain in bed with the wife of a Trojan to avenge Helen's longing to escape and her lamentations. But if any man is terribly desirous to go home, let him only lay his hands on his well-benched black ship, that before all others he may win death and destruction. Come, my lord: yourself be careful, and listen to another. This shall not be a word to be cast away that I tell you. Set your men in order by tribes, by clans, Agamemnon, and let clan go in support of clan, let tribe support tribe. If you do it this way, and the Achaians obey you, you will see which of your leaders is bad, and which of your people, and which also is brave, since they will fight in divisions, and might learn also whether by magic you fail to take this city, or by men's cowardice and ignorance of warfare.'

Then in answer again spoke powerful Agamemnon: 'Once again, old sir, you surpass the sons of the Achaians in debate. O father Zeus, Athene, Apollo: would that among the Achaians I had ten such counsellors. Then perhaps the city of lord Priam would be bent underneath our hands, captured and sacked. But instead Zeus of the aegis, son of Kronos, has given me bitterness, who drives me into unprofitable abuse and quarrels. For I and Achilleus fought together for a girl's sake in words' violent encounter, and I was the first to be angry. If ever we can take one single counsel, then no longer shall the Trojans' evil be put aside, not even for a small time. Now go back, take your dinner, and let us gather our warcraft. Let a man put a good edge to his spear, and his shield in order, let each put good fodder before his swift-footed horses, and each man look well over his chariot, careful of his fighting, that all day long we may be in the division of hateful Ares. There will not even for a small time be any respite unless darkness come down to separate the strength of the fighters. There will be a man's sweat on the shield-strap binding the breast to the shield hiding the man's shape, and the hand on the spear grow weary. There will be sweat on a man's horse straining at the smoothed chariot. But any man whom I find trying, apart from the battle, to hang back by the curved ships, for him no longer will there be any means to escape the dogs and the vultures.'

So he spoke, and the Argives shouted aloud, as surf crashing against a sheerness, driven by the south wind descending, some cliff out-jutting, left never alone by the waves from all the winds that blow, as they rise one place and another. They stood up scattering and made for the ships; they kindled the fires' smoke along the shelters, and took their dinner, each man making a sacrifice to some one of the immortal gods, in prayer to escape death and the grind of Ares. But Agamemnon the lord of men dedicated a fat ox five years old to Zeus, all-powerful son of Kronos, and summoned the nobles and the great men of all the Achaians, Nestor before all others, and next the lord Idomeneus, next the two Aiantes and Tydeus' son Diomedes, and sixth Odysseus, a man like Zeus himself for counsel. Of his own accord came Menelaos of the great war cry who knew well in his own mind the cares of his brother. They stood in a circle about the ox and took up the scattering barley; and among them powerful Agamemnon spoke in prayer: 'Zeus, exalted and mightiest, sky-dwelling in the dark mist: let not the sun go down and disappear into darkness until I have hurled headlong the castle of Priam blazing, and lit the castle gates with the flames' destruction; not till I have broken at the chest the tunic of Hektor torn with the bronze blade, and let many companions about him go down headlong into the dust, teeth gripping the ground soil.'

He spoke, but none of this would the son of Kronos accomplish, who accepted the victims, but piled up the unwished-for hardship. Now when all had made prayer and flung down the scattering barley, first they drew back the victim's head, cut his throat and skinned him, and cut away the meat from the thighs and wrapped them in fat, making a double fold, and laid shreds of flesh above them. Placing these on sticks cleft and peeled they burned them, and spitted the vitals and held them over the flame of Hephaistos. But when they had burned the thigh pieces and tasted the vitals they cut all the remainder into pieces and spitted them and roasted all carefully and took off the pieces. Then after they had finished the work and got the feast ready they feasted, nor was any man's hunger denied a fair portion. But when they had put away their desire for eating and drinking the Gerenian horseman Nestor began speaking among them: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly and king of men, Agamemnon, let us talk no more of these things, nor for a long time set aside the action which the god puts into our hands now. Come then, let the heralds of the bronze-armoured Achaians make proclamation to the people and assemble them by the vessels, and let us together as we are go down the wide host of the Achaians, to stir more quickly the fierce war god.' He spoke, nor did the lord of men Agamemnon neglect him, but straightway commanded the clear-voiced heralds to summon by proclamation to battle the flowing-haired Achaians; and the heralds made their cry and the men were assembled swiftly. And they, the god-supported kings, about Agamemnon ran marshalling the men, and among them grey-eyed Athene holding the dear treasured aegis, ageless, immortal, from whose edges float a hundred all-golden tassels, each one carefully woven, and each worth a hundred oxen. With this fluttering she swept through the host of the Achaians urging them to go forward. She kindled the strength in each man's heart to take the battle without respite and keep on fighting. And now battle became sweeter to them than to go back in their hollow ships to the beloved land of their fathers.

As obliterating fire lights up a vast forest along the crests of a mountain, and the flare shows far off, so as they marched, from the magnificent bronze the gleam went dazzling all about through the upper air to the heaven.

These, as the multitudinous nations of birds winged, of geese, and of cranes, and of swans long-throated in the Asian meadow beside the Kaÿstrian waters this way and that way make their flights in the pride of their wings, then settle in clashing swarms and the whole meadow echoes with them, so of these the multitudinous tribes from the ships and shelters poured to the plain of Skamandros, and the earth beneath their feet and under the feet of their horses thundered horribly. They took position in the blossoming meadow of Skamandros, thousands of them, as leaves and flowers appear in their season.

Like the multitudinous nations of swarming insects who drive hither and thither about the stalls of the sheepfold in the season of spring when the milk splashes in the milk pails: in such numbers the flowing-haired Achaians stood up through the plain against the Trojans, hearts burning to break them.

These, as men who are goatherds among the wide goatflocks easily separate them in order as they take to the pasture, thus the leaders separated them this way and that way toward the encounter, and among them powerful Agamemnon, with eyes and head like Zeus who delights in thunder, like Ares for girth, and with the chest of Poseidon; like some ox of the herd pre-eminent among the others, a bull, who stands conspicuous in the huddling cattle; such was the son of Atreus as Zeus made him that day, conspicuous among men, and foremost among the fighters.

Tell me now, you Muses who have your homes on Olympos. For you, who are goddesses, are there, and you know all things, and we have heard only the rumour of it and know nothing. Who then of those were the chief men and the lords of the Danaans? I could not tell over the multitude of them nor name them, not if I had ten tongues and ten mouths, not if I had a voice never to be broken and a heart of bronze within me, not unless the Muses of Olympia, daughters of Zeus of the aegis, remembered all those who came beneath Ilion. I will tell the lords of the ships, and the ships numbers.

Leïtos and Peneleos were leaders of the Boiotians, with Arkesilaos and Prothoenor and Klonios; they who lived in Hyria and in rocky Aulis, in the hill-bends of Eteonos, and Schoinos, and Skolos, Thespeia and Graia, and in spacious Mykalessos; they who dwelt about Harma and Eilesion and Erythrai, they who held Eleon and Hyle and Peteon, with Okalea and Medeon, the strong-founded citadel, Kopai, and Eutresis, and Thisbe of the dove-cotes; they who held Koroneia, and the meadows of Haliartos, they who held Plataia, and they who dwelt about Glisa, they who held the lower Thebes, the strong-founded citadel, and Onchestos the sacred, the shining grove of Poseidon; they who held Arne of the great vineyards, and Mideia, with Nisa the sacrosanct and uttermost Anthedon. Of these there were fifty ships in all, and on board each of these a hundred and twenty sons of the Boiotians.

But they who lived in Aspledon and Orchomenos of the Minyai, Askalaphos led these, and Ialmenos, children of Ares, whom Astyoche bore to him in the house of Aktor Azeus' son, a modest maiden; she went into the chamber with strong Ares, who was laid in bed with her secretly. With these two there were marshalled thirty hollow vessels.

Schedios and Epistrophos led the men of Phokis, children of Iphitos, who was son of great-hearted Naubolos. These held Kyparissos, and rocky Pytho, and Krisa the sacrosanct together with Daulis and Panopeus; they who lived about Hyampolis and Anamoreia, they who dwelt about Kephisos, the river immortal, they who held Lilaia beside the well springs of Kephisos. Following along with these were forty black ships, and the leaders marshalling the ranks of the Phokians set them in arms on the left wing of the host beside the Boiotians.

Swift Aias son of Oïleus led the men of Lokris, the lesser Aias, not great in size like the son of Telamon, but far slighter. He was a small man armoured in linen, yet with the throwing spear surpassed all Achaians and Hellenes. These were the dwellers in Kynos and Opoeis and Kalliaros, and in Bessa, and Skarphe, and lovely Augeiai, in Thronion and Tarphe and beside the waters of Boagrios. Following along with him were forty black ships of the Lokrians, who dwell across from sacred Euboia.

They who held Euboia, the Abantes, whose wind was fury, Chalkis, and Eretria, the great vineyards of Histiaia, and seaborne Kerinthos and the steep stronghold of Dion, they who held Karystos and they who dwelt about Styra, of these the leader was Elephenor, scion of Ares, son of Chalkodon and lord of the great-hearted Abantes. And the running Abantes followed with him, their hair grown long at the back, spearmen furious with the out-reached ash spear to rip the corselets girt about the chests of their enemies. Following along with him were forty black ships.

But the men who held Athens, the strong-founded citadel, the deme of great-hearted Erechtheus, whom once Athene Zeus' daughter tended after the grain-giving fields had born him, and established him to be in Athens in her own rich temple; there as the circling years go by the sons of the Athenians make propitiation with rams and bulls sacrificed; of these men the leader was Peteos' son Menestheus. Never on earth before had there been a man born like him for the arrangement in order of horses and shielded fighters. Nestor alone could challenge him, since he was far older. Following along with him were fifty black ships.

Out of Salamis Aias brought twelve ships and placed them next to where the Athenian battalions were drawn up.

They who held Argos and Tiryns of the huge walls, Hermione and Asine lying down the deep gulf, Troizen and Eïonai, and Epidauros of the vineyards, they who held Aigina and Mases, sons of the Achaians, of these the leader was Diomedes of the great war cry with Sthenelos, own son to the high-renowned Kapaneus, and with them as a third went Euryalos, a man godlike, son of Mekisteus the king, and scion of Talaos; but the leader of all was Diomedes of the great war cry. Following along with these were eighty black ships.

But the men who held Mykenai, the strong-founded citadel, Korinth the luxurious, and strong-founded Kleonai; they who dwelt in Orneai and lovely Araithyrea, and Sikyon, where of old Adrestos had held the kingship; they who held Hyperesia and steep Gonoëssa, they who held Pellene and they who dwelt about Aigion, all about the sea-shore and about the wide headland of Helike, of their hundred ships the leader was powerful Agamemnon, Atreus' son, with whom followed far the best and bravest people; and among them he himself stood armoured in shining bronze, glorying, conspicuous among the great fighters, since he was greatest among them all, and led the most people.

They who held the swarming hollow of Lakedaimon, Pharis, and Sparta, and Messe of the dove-cotes, they who dwelt in Bryseiai and lovely Augeiai, they who held Amyklai and the seaward city of Helos, they who held Laas, and they who dwelt about Oitylos, of these his brother Menelaos of the great war cry was leader, with sixty ships marshalled apart from the others. He himself went among them in the confidence of his valour, driving them battleward, since above all his heart was eager to avenge Helen's longing to escape and her lamentations.

They who dwelt about Pylos and lovely Arene, and Thryon, the Alpheios crossing, and strong-built Aipy; they who lived in Kyparisseeis and Amphigeneia, Pteleos and Helos and Dorion, where the Muses encountering Thamyris the Thracian stopped him from singing as he came from Oichalia and Oichalian Eurytos; for he boasted that he would surpass, if the very Muses, daughters of Zeus who holds the aegis, were singing against him, and these in their anger struck him maimed, and the voice of wonder they took away, and made him a singer without memory; of these the leader was the Gerenian horseman, Nestor, in whose command were marshalled ninety hollow vessels.

They who held Arkadia under the sheer peak, Kyllene, beside the tomb of Aipytos, where men fight at close quarters, they who dwelt in Orchomenos of the flocks, and Pheneos, about Rhipe and Stratia and windy Enispe; they who held Tegea and Mantineia the lovely, they who held Stymphalos, and dwelt about Parrhasia, their leader was Angkaios' son, powerful Agapenor. Sixty was the number of their ships, and in each ship went many men of Arkadia, well skilled in battle. Agamemnon the lord of men himself had given these for the crossing of the wine-blue sea their strong-benched vessels, Atreus' son, since the work of the sea was nothing to these men.

They who lived in Bouprasion and brilliant Elis, all as much as Hyrmine and Myrsinos the uttermost and the Olenian rock and Alesion close between them, of these there were four chieftains, and with each man ten swift vessels followed, with many Epeian men on board them. Of two tens Thalpios and Amphimachos were leaders, of Aktor's seed, sons one of Kteatos, one of Eurytos. Ten more were led by Amaryngkeus' son, strong Diores, and of the fourth ten godlike Polyxeinos was leader, son of lord Agasthenes, of the race of Augeias.

They who came from Doulichion and the sacred Echinai, islands, where men live across the water from Elis, Meges was the leader of these, a man like Ares, Phyleus' son, whom the rider dear to Zeus had begotten, Phyleus, who angered with his father had settled Doulichion. Following along with him were forty black ships.

But Odysseus led the high-hearted men of Kephallenia, those who held Ithaka and leaf-trembling Neriton, those who dwelt about Krokyleia and rigged Aigilips, those who held Zakynthos and those who dwelt about Samos, those who held the mainland and the places next to the crossing. All these men were led by Odysseus, like Zeus in counsel. Following with him were twelve ships with bows red painted.

Thoas son of Andraimon was leader of the Aitolians, those who dwelt in Pleuron and Olenos and Pylene, Kalydon of the rocks and Chalkis beside the sea-shore, since no longer were the sons of high-hearted Oineus living, nor Oineus himself, and fair-haired Meleagros had perished. So all the lordship of the Aitolians was given to Thoas. Following along with him were forty black ships.

Idomeneus the spear-famed was leader of the Kretans, those who held Knosos and Gortyna of the great walls, Lyktos and Miletos and silver-shining Lykastos, and Phaistos and Rhytion, all towns well established, and others who dwelt beside them in Krete of the hundred cities. Of all these Idomeneus the spear-famed was leader, with Meriones, a match for the murderous Lord of Battles. Following along with these were eighty black ships.

Herakles' son Tlepolemos the huge and mighty led from Rhodes nine ships with the proud men of Rhodes aboard them, those who dwelt about Rhodes and were ordered in triple division, Ialysos and Lindos and silver-shining Kameiros. Of all these Tlepolemos the spear-famed was leader, he whom Astyocheia bore to the strength of Herakles. Herakles brought her from Ephyra and the river Selleëis after he sacked many cities of strong, god-supported fighters. Now when Tlepolemos was grown in the strong-built mansion, he struck to death his own father's beloved uncle, Likymnios, scion of Ares, a man already ageing. At once he put ships together and assembled a host of people and went fugitive over the sea, since the others threatened, the rest of the sons and the grandsons of the strength of Herakles. And he came to Rhodes a wanderer, a man of misfortune, and they settled there in triple division by tribes, beloved of Zeus himself, who is lord over all gods and all men, Kronos' son, who showered the wonder of wealth upon them.

Nireus from Syme led three balanced vessels, Nireus son of Aglaia and the king Charopos, Nireus, the most beautiful man who came beneath Ilion beyond the rest of the Danaans next after perfect Achilleus. But he was a man of poor strength and few people with him.

They who held Nisyros and Krapathos and Kasos, and Kos, Eurypylos' city, and the islands called Kalydnai, of these again Pheidippos and Antiphos were the leaders, sons both of Thessalos who was born to the lord Herakles. In their command were marshalled thirty hollow vessels.

Now all those who dwelt about Pelasgian Argos, those who lived by Alos and Alope and at Trachis, those who held Phthia and Hellas the land of fair women, who were called Myrmidons and Hellenes and Achaians, of all these and their fifty ships the lord was Achilleus. But these took no thought now for the grim clamour of battle since there was no one who could guide them into close order, since he, swift-footed brilliant Achilleus, lay where the ships were, angered over the girl of the lovely hair, Briseis, whom after much hard work he had taken away from Lyrnessos after he had sacked Lyrnessos and the walls of Thebe and struck down Epistrophos and Mynes the furious spearmen, children of Euenos, king, and son of Selepios. For her sake he lay grieving now, but was soon to rise up.

They who held Phylake and Pyrasos of the flowers, the precinct of Demeter, and Iton, mother of sheepflocks, Antron by the sea-shore, and Pteleos deep in the meadows, of these in turn fighting Protesilaos was leader while he lived; but now the black earth had closed him under, whose wife, cheeks torn for grief, was left behind in Phylake and a marriage half completed; a Dardanian man had killed him as he leapt from his ship, far the first of all the Achaians. Yet these, longing as they did for their leader, did not go leaderless, but Podarkes, scion of Ares, set them in order, child of Iphikles, who in turn was son to Phylakos rich in flocks, full brother of high-hearted Protesilaos, younger born; but the elder man was braver also, Protesilaos, a man of battle; yet still the people lacked not a leader, though they longed for him and his valour. Following along with Podarkes were forty black ships.

They who lived by Pherai beside the lake Boibeis, by Boibe and Glaphyrai and strong-founded Iolkos, of their eleven ships the dear son of Admetos was leader, Eumelos, born to Admetos by the beauty among women Alkestis, loveliest of all the daughters of Pelias.

They who lived about Thaumakia and Methone, they who held Meliboia and rugged Olizon, of their seven ships the leader was Philoktetes skilled in the bow's work, and aboard each vessel were fifty oarsmen, each well skilled in the strength of the bow in battle. Yet he himself lay apart in the island, suffering strong pains, in Lemnos the sacrosanct, where the sons of the Achaians had left him in agony from the sore bite of the wicked water snake. There he lay apart in his pain; yet soon the Argives beside their ships were to remember lord Philoktetes. Yet these, longing as they did for their leader, did not go leaderless, but Medon, the bastard son of Oileus, set them in order, whom Rhene bore to Oïleus the sacker of cities.

They who held Trikke and the terraced place of Ithome, and Oichalia, the city of Oichalian Eurytos, of these in turn the leaders were two sons of Asklepios, good healers both themselves, Podaleirios and Machaon. In their command were marshalled thirty hollow vessels.

They who held Ormenios and the spring Hypereia, they who held Asterion and the pale peaks of Titanos, Eurypylos led these, the shining son of Euaimon. Following along with him were forty black ships.

They who held Argissa and dwelt about Gyrtone, Orthe and Elone and the white city Oloösson, of these the leader was Polypoites, stubborn in battle, son of Peirithoös whose father was Zeus immortal, he whom glorious Hippodameia bore to Peirithoös on that day when he wreaked vengeance on the hairy beast men and drove them from Pelion and hurled them against the Aithikes; not by himself, for Leonteus was with him, scion of Ares, Leonteus, son of high-hearted Koronos the son of Kaineus. Following in the guidance of these were forty black ships.

Gouneus from Kyphos led two and twenty vessels, and the Enienes and the Perrhaibians stubborn in battle followed him, they who made their homes by wintry Dodona, and they who by lovely Titaressos held the tilled acres, Titaressos, who into Peneios casts his bright current: yet he is not mixed with the silver whirls of Peneios, but like oil is floated along the surface above him: since he is broken from the water of Styx, the fearful oath-river.

Prothoös son of Tenthredon was leader of the Magnesians, those who dwelt about Peneios and leaf-trembling Pelion. Of these Prothoös the swift-footed was leader. Following along with him were forty black ships.

These then were the leaders and the princes among the Danaans. Tell me then, Muse, who of them all was the best and bravest, of the men, and the men's horses, who went with the sons of Atreus.

Best by far among the horses were the mares of Eumelos Pheres' son, that he drove, swift-moving like birds, alike in texture of coat, in age, both backs drawn level like a plumb-line. These Apollo of the silver bow had bred in Pereia, mares alike, who went with the terror of the god of battle. Among the men far the best was Telamonian Aias while Achilleus stayed angry, since he was far best of all of them, and the horses also, who carried the blameless son of Peleus. But Achilleus lay apart among his curved sea-wandering vessels, raging at Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, Atreus' son; and his men beside the break of the sea-beach amused themselves with discs and with light spears for throwing and bows; and the horses, standing each beside his chariot, champed their clover and the parsley that grows in wet places, resting, while the chariots of their lords stood covered in the shelters, and the men forlorn of their warlike leader wandered here and there in the camp, and did no fighting.

But the rest went forward, as if all the earth with flame were eaten, and the ground echoed under them, as if Zeus who delights in thunder were angry, as when he batters the earth about Typhoeus, in the land of the Arimoi, where they say Typhoeus lies prostrate. Thus beneath their feet the ground re-echoed loudly to men marching, who made their way through the plain in great speed.

Now to the Trojans came as messenger wind-footed Iris, in her speed, with the dark message from Zeus of the aegis. These were holding assembly in front of the doors of Priam gathered together in one place, the elders and the young men. Standing close at hand swift-running Iris spoke to them, and likened her voice to that of the son of Priam, Polites, who confident in the speed of his feet kept watch for the Trojans aloft the ancient burial mound of ancient Aisyetes, waiting for the time when the Achaians should move from their vessels. In this man's likeness Iris the swift-running spoke to them: 'Old sir, dear to you forever are words beyond number as once, when there was peace; but stintless war has arisen. In my time I have gone into many battles among men, yet never have I seen a host like this, not one so numerous. These look terribly like leaves, or the sands of the sea-shore, as they advance across the plain to fight by the city. Hektor, on you beyond all I urge this, to do as I tell you: all about the great city of Priam are many companions, but multitudinous is the speech of the scattered nations: let each man who is their leader give orders to these men, and let each set his citizens in order, and lead them.'

She spoke, nor did Hektor fail to mark the word of the goddess. Instantly he broke up the assembly; they ran to their weapons. All the gates were opened and the people swept through them on foot, and with horses, and a clamour of shouting rose up.

Near the city but apart from it there is a steep hill in the plain by itself, so you pass one side or the other. This men call the Hill of the Thicket, but the immortal gods have named it the burial mound of dancing Myrina. There the Trojans and their companions were marshalled in order.

Tall Hektor of the shining helm was leader of the Trojans, Priam's son; and with him far the best and the bravest fighting men were armed and eager to fight with the spear's edge.

The strong son of Anchises was leader of the Dardanians, Aineias, whom divine Aphrodite bore to Anchises in the folds of Ida, a goddess lying in love with a mortal: not Aineias alone, but with him were two sons of Antenor, Archelochos and Akamas, both skilled in all fighting.

They who lived in Zeleia below the foot of Mount Ida, men of wealth, who drank the dark water of Aisepos, Trojans: of these the leader was the shining son of Lykaon, Pandaros, with the bow that was actual gift of Apollo.

They who held Adresteia and the countryside of Apaisos, they who held Pityeia and the sheer hill of Tereia, these were led by Adrestos and Amphios armoured in linen, sons both of Merops of Perkote, who beyond all men knew the art of prophecy, and tried to prevent his two sons from going into the battle where men die. Yet these would not listen, for the spirits of dark death were driving them onward.

They who dwelt in the places about Perkote and Praktion, who held Sestos and Abydos and brilliant Arisbe, their leader was Asios, Hyrtakos' son, a prince of the people, Asios, son of Hyrtakos, whom huge and shining horses carried from Arisbe and the river Selleëis.

Hippothoös led the tribes of spear-fighting Pelasgians, they who dwelt where the soil is rich about Larissa; Hippothoös and Pylaios, scion of Ares, led these, sons alike of Pelasgian Lethos, son of Teutamos.

Akamas led the men of Thrace with the fighter Peiroös, all the Thracians held within the hard stream of the Hellespont.

Euphemos was leader of the Kikonian spearmen, son of Troizenos, Keas' son, the king whom the gods loved.

Pyraichmes in turn led the Paionians with their curved bows, from Amydon far away and the broad stream of Axios, Axios, whose stream on all earth is the loveliest water.

Pylaimenes the wild heart was leader of the Paphlagones, from the land of the Enetoi where the wild mules are engendered, those who held Kytoros and those who dwelt about Sesamos, those whose renowned homes were about Parthenios river, and Kromna and Aigialos and high Erythinoi.

Odios and Epistrophos led the Halizones from Alybe far away, where silver was first begotten.

Chromis, with Ennomos the augur, was lord of the Mysians; yet his reading of birds could not keep off dark destruction but he went down under the hands of swift-running Aiakides in the river, as he slew other Trojans beside him.

Phorkys and godlike Askanios were lords of the Phrygians from Askania far away, eager to fight in the onfall.

Mesthles and Antiphos were leaders of the Maionians, sons of Talaimenes, who was born of the lake Gygaian: these led the Maionian men whose home was beneath Mount Tmolos.

The Karians of the outland speech were led by Nastes, they who held Miletos and the leaf-deep mountain of Phthiron, the waters of Maiandros and the headlong peaks of Mykale; of these the two leaders were Amphimachos and Nastes, Nastes and Amphimachos, the shining sons of Nomion. Nastes came like a girl to the fighting in golden raiment, poor fool, nor did this avail to keep dismal death back; but he went down under the hands of swift-running Aiakides in the river, and fiery Achilleus stripped the gold from him.

Sarpedon with unfaulted Glaukos was lord of the Lykians from Lykia far away, and the whirling waters of Xanthos.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 3

 Now when the men of both sides were set in order by their leaders, the Trojans came on with clamour and shouting, like wildfowl, as when the clamour of cranes goes high to the heavens, when the cranes escape the winter time and the rains unceasing and clamorously wing their way to the streaming Ocean, bringing to the Pygmaian men bloodshed and destruction: at daybreak they bring on the baleful battle against them. But the Achaian men went silently, breathing valour, stubbornly minded each in his heart to stand by the others.

As on the peaks of a mountain the south wind scatters the thick mist, no friend to the shepherd, but better than night for the robber, and a man can see before him only so far as a stone cast, so beneath their feet the dust drove up in a stormcloud of men marching, who made their way through the plain in great speed.

Now as these in their advance had come close together, Alexandros the godlike leapt from the ranks of the Trojans, as challenger wearing across his shoulders the hide of a leopard, curved bow and sword; while in his hands shaking two javelins pointed with bronze, he challenged all the best of the Argives to fight man to man against him in bitter combat.

Now as soon as Menelaos the warlike caught sight of him making his way with long strides out in front of the army, he was glad, like a lion who comes on a mighty carcass, in his hunger chancing upon the body of a horned stag or wild goat; who eats it eagerly, although against him are hastening the hounds in their speed and the stalwart young men: thus Menelaos was happy finding godlike Alexandros there in front of his eyes, and thinking to punish the robber, straightway in all his armour he sprang to the ground from his chariot.

But Alexandros the godlike when he saw Menelaos showing among the champions, the heart was shaken within him; to avoid death he shrank into the host of his own companions. As a man who has come on a snake in the mountain valley suddenly steps back, and the shivers come over his body, and he draws back and away, cheeks seized with a green pallor; so in terror of Atreus' son godlike Alexandros lost himself again in the host of the haughty Trojans.

But Hektor saw him and in words of shame rebuked him: 'Evil Paris, beautiful, woman-crazy, cajoling, better had you never been born, or killed unwedded. Truly I could have wished it so; it would be far better than to have you with us to our shame, for others to sneer at. Surely now the flowing-haired Achaians laugh at us, thinking you are our bravest champion, only because your looks are handsome, but there is no strength in your heart, no courage. Were you like this that time when in sea-wandering vessels assembling oarsmen to help you you sailed over the water, and mixed with the outlanders, and carried away a fair woman from a remote land, whose lord's kin were spearmen and fighters, to your father a big sorrow, and your city, and all your people, to yourself a thing shameful but bringing joy to the enemy? And now you would not stand up against warlike Menelaos? Thus you would learn of the man whose blossoming wife you have taken. The lyre would not help you then, nor the favours of Aphrodite, nor your locks, when you rolled in the dust, nor all your beauty. No, but the Trojans are cowards in truth, else long before this you had worn a mantle of flying stones for the wrong you did us.'

Then in answer Alexandros the godlike spoke to him: 'Hektor, seeing you have scolded me rightly, not beyond measure-- still, your heart forever is weariless, like an axe-blade driven by a man's strength through the timber, one who, well skilled, hews a piece for a ship, driven on by the force of a man's strength: such is the heart in your breast, unshakable: yet do not bring up against me the sweet favours of golden Aphrodite. Never to be cast away are the gifts of the gods, magnificent, which they give of their own will, no man could have them for wanting them. Now though, if you wish me to fight it out and do battle, make the rest of the Trojans sit down, and all the Achaians, and set me in the middle with Menelaos the warlike to fight together for the sake of Helen and all her possessions. That one of us who wins and is proved stronger, let him take the possessions fairly and the woman, and lead her homeward. But the rest of you, having cut your oaths of faith and friendship, dwell, you in Troy where the soil is rich, while those others return home to horse-pasturing Argos, and Achaia the land of fair women.'

So he spoke, and Hektor hearing his word was happy and went into the space between and forced back the Trojan battalions holding his spear by the middle until they were all seated. But the flowing-haired Achaians kept pointing their bows at him with arrows and with flung stones striving ever to strike him until Agamemnon lord of men cried out in a great voice: 'Argives, hold: cast at him no longer, o sons of the Achaians. Hektor of the shining helm is trying to tell us something.'

So he spoke, and they stopped fighting and suddenly all fell silent; but Hektor between them spoke now to both sides: 'Hear from me, Trojans and strong-greaved Achaians, the word of Alexandros, for whose sake this strife has arisen. He would have all the rest of the Trojans and all the Achaians lay aside on the bountiful earth their splendid armour while he himself in the middle and warlike Menelaos fight alone for the sake of Helen and all her possessions. That one of them who wins and is proved stronger, let him take the possessions fairly and the woman, and lead her homeward while the rest of us cut our oaths of faith and friendship.'

So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence; but among them spoke out Menelaos of the great war cry: 'Listen now to me also; since beyond all others this sorrow comes closest to my heart, and I think the Argives and Trojans can go free of each other at last. You have suffered much evil for the sake of this my quarrel since Alexandros began it. As for that one of us two to whom death and doom are given, let him die: the rest of you be made friends with each other. Bring two lambs: let one be white and the other black for Earth and the Sun God, and for Zeus we will bring yet another. Bring, that he may seal the pledges, the strength of Priam: Priam himself, for his sons are outrageous, not to be trusted; lest some man overstep Zeus' oaths, and make them be nothing. Always it is, that the hearts in the younger men are frivolous, but when an elder man is among them, he looks behind him and in front, so that all comes out far better for both sides.'

So he spoke, and the Trojans and Achaians were joyful, hoping now to be rid of all the sorrow of warfare. They pulled their chariots into line, and themselves dismounted and stripped off their armour which was laid on the ground beside them, close together, so there was little ground left between them. Hektor sent away to the citadel two heralds lightly to bring down the lambs, and to summon Priam; and powerful Agamemnon in turn sent Talthybios to go down to the hollow ships, with orders to bring two lambs: he did not disobey the order of great Agamemnon.

Now to Helen of the white arms came a messenger, Iris, in the likeness of her sister-in-law, the wife of Antenor's son, whom strong Helikaon wed, the son of Antenor, Laodike, loveliest looking of all the daughters of Priam. She came on Helen in the chamber; she was weaving a great web, a red folding robe, and working into it the numerous struggles of Trojans, breakers of horses, and bronze-armoured Achaians, struggles that they endured for her sake at the hands of the war god. Iris of the swift feet stood beside her and spoke to her: 'Come with me, dear girl, to behold the marvellous things done by Trojans, breakers of horses, and bronze-armoured Achaians, who just now carried sorrowful war against each other, in the plain, and all their desire was for deadly fighting; now they are all seated in silence, the fighting has ended; they lean on their shields, the tall spears stuck in the ground beside them. But Menelaos the warlike and Alexandros will fight with long spears against each other for your possession. You shall be called beloved wife of the man who wins you.'

Speaking so the goddess left in her heart sweet longing after her husband of time before, and her city and parents. And at once, wrapping herself about in shimmering garments, she went forth from the chamber, letting fall a light tear; not by herself, since two handmaidens went to attend her, Aithre, Pitteus' daughter, and Klymene of the ox eyes. Rapidly they came to the place where the Skaian gates stood.

Now those who sat with Priam: Panthoös and Thymoites, Lampos and Klytios, Hiketaon, scion of Ares, with Antenor and Oukalegon, both men of good counsel: these were seated by the Skaian gates, elders of the people. Now through old age these fought no longer, yet were they excellent speakers still, and clear, as cicadas who through the forest settle on trees, to issue their delicate voice of singing. Such were they who sat on the tower, chief men of the Trojans. And these, as they saw Helen along the tower approaching, murmuring softly to each other uttered their winged words: 'Surely there is no blame on Trojans and strong-greaved Achaians if for long time they suffer hardship for a woman like this one. Terrible is the likeness of her face to immortal goddesses. Still, though she be such, let her go away in the ships, lest she be left behind, a grief to us and our children.'

So they spoke: but Priam aloud called out to Helen: 'Come over where I am, dear child, and sit down beside me, to look at your husband of time past, your friends and your people. I am not blaming you: to me the gods are blameworthy who drove upon me this sorrowful war against the Achaians. So you could tell me the name of this man who is so tremendous; who is this Achaian man of power and stature? Though in truth there are others taller by a head than he is, yet these eyes have never yet looked on a man so splendid nor so lordly as this: such a man might well be royal.'

Helen, the shining among women, answered and spoke to him: 'Always to me, beloved father, you are feared and respected; and I wish bitter death had been what I wanted, when I came hither following your son, forsaking my chamber, my kinsmen, my grown child, and the loveliness of girls my own age. It did not happen that way: and now I am worn with weeping. This now I will tell you in answer to the question you asked me. That man is Atreus' son Agamemnon, widely powerful, at the same time a good king and a strong spearfighter, once my kinsman, slut that I am. Did this ever happen?'

This she said, and the old man spoke again, wondering at him: 'O son of Atreus, blessed, child of fortune and favour, many are these beneath your sway, these sons of the Achaians. Once before this time I visited Phrygia of the vineyards. There I looked on the Phrygian men with their swarming horses, so many of them, the people of Otreus and godlike Mygdon, whose camp was spread at that time along the banks of Sangarios: and I myself, a helper in war, was marshalled among them on that day when the Amazon women came, men's equals. Yet even they were not so many as these glancing-eyed Achaians.'

Next again the old man asked her, seeing Odysseus: 'Tell me of this one also, dear child; what man can he be, shorter in truth by a head than Atreus' son Agamemnon, but broader, it would seem, in the chest and across the shoulders. Now as his armour lies piled on the prospering earth, still he ranges, like some ram, through the marshalled ranks of the fighters. Truly, to some deep-fleeced ram would I liken him who makes his way through the great mass of the shining sheep-flocks.'

Helen, the daughter descended of Zeus, spoke then in answer: 'This one is Laertes' son, resourceful Odysseus, who grew up in the country, rough though it be, of Ithaka, to know every manner of shiftiness and crafty counsels.'

In his turn Antenor of the good counsel answered her: 'Surely this word you have spoken, my lady, can be no falsehood. Once in the days before now brilliant Odysseus came here with warlike Menelaos, and their embassy was for your sake. To both of these I gave in my halls kind entertainment and I learned the natural way of both, and their close counsels. Now when these were set before the Trojans assembled and stood up, Menelaos was bigger by his broad shoulders but Odysseus was the more lordly when both were seated. Now before all when both of them spun their speech and their counsels, Menelaos indeed spoke rapidly, in few words but exceedingly lucid, since he was no long speaker nor one who wasted his words though he was only a young man. But when that other drove to his feet, resourceful Odysseus, he would just stand and stare down, eyes fixed on the ground beneath him, nor would he gesture with the staff backward and forward, but hold it clutched hard in front of him, like any man who knows nothing. Yes, you would call him a sullen man, and a fool likewise. But when he let the great voice go from his chest, and the words came drifting down like the winter snows, then no other mortal man beside could stand up against Odysseus. Then we wondered less beholding Odysseus' outward appearance.'

Third in order, looking at Aias, the old man asked her: 'Who then is this other Achaian of power and stature towering above the Argives by head and broad shoulders?'

Helen with the light robes and shining among women answered him: 'That one is gigantic Aias, wall of the Achaians, and beyond him there is Idomeneus like a god standing among the Kretans, and the lords of Krete are gathered about him. Many a time warlike Menelaos would entertain him in our own house when he came over from Krete. And I see them all now, all the rest of the glancing-eyed Achaians, all whom I would know well by sight, whose names I could tell you, yet nowhere can I see those two, the marshals of the people, Kastor, breaker of horses, and the strong boxer, Polydeukes, my own brothers, born with me of a single mother. Perhaps these came not with the rest from Lakedaimon the lovely, or else they did come here in their sea-wandering ships, yet now they are reluctant to go with the men into battle dreading the words of shame and all the reproach that is on me.'

So she spoke, but the teeming earth lay already upon them away in Lakedaimon, the beloved land of their fathers.

Now through the town the heralds brought the symbols of oaths pledged, two young rams, and cheerful wine, the yield of the tilled land in a goatskin wine sack, while another carried the shining mixing bowl (the herald Idaios) and the golden wine-cups. Standing beside the aged man he spoke words to arouse him: 'Son of Laomedon, rise up: you are called by the chief men of Trojans, breakers of horses, and bronze-armoured Achaians to come down into the plain that you may seal the oaths pledged. For warlike Menelaos and Alexandros are to fight with long spears against each other for the sake of the woman. Let the woman go to the winner, and all the possessions. Let the rest of them, cutting their oaths of faith and friendship, dwell, we in Troy where the soil is rich, while those others return home to horse-pasturing Argos and Achaia the land of fair women.'

So he spoke, and the old man shuddered, but called his companions to yoke the horses to the car, and they promptly obeyed him. And Priam mounted into the car and gathered the reins back as Antenor beside him stepped into the fair-wrought chariot. Through the Skaian gates to the plain they steered the swift horses.

Now when these had come among the Trojans and Achaians, they stepped down on the prospering earth from their car with horses and made their way striding among the Achaians and Trojans. On the other side rose up the lord of men, Agamemnon, and the resourceful Odysseus rose up. Meanwhile the proud heralds led up the victims for the gods' oaths, and in a great wine-bowl mixed the wine, and poured water over the hands of the princes. Atreus' son laid hands upon his work-knife, and drew it from where it hung ever beside the mighty sheath of his war sword and cut off hairs from the heads of the lambs; and the heralds thereafter passed these about to all the princes of the Trojans and Achaians. Atreus' son uplifting his hands then prayed in a great voice: 'Father Zeus, watching over us from Ida, most high, most honoured, and Helios, you who see all things, who listen to all things, earth, and rivers, and you who under the earth take vengeance on dead men, whoever among them has sworn to falsehood, you shall be witnesses, to guard the oaths of fidelity. If it should be that Alexandros slays Menelaos, let him keep Helen for himself, and all her possessions, and we in our seafaring ships shall take our wayhomeward. But if the fair-haired Menelaos kills Alexandros, then let the Trojans give back Helen and all her possessions, and pay also a price to the Argives which will be fitting, which among people yet to come shall be as a standard. Then if Priam and the sons of Priam are yet unwilling after Alexandros has fallen to pay me the penalty, I myself shall fight hereafter for the sake of the ransom, here remaining, until I have won to the end of my quarrel.'

So he spoke, and with pitiless bronze he cut the lambs' throats, letting them fall gasping again to the ground, the life breath going away, since the strength of the bronze had taken it from them. Drawing the wine from the mixing bowls in the cups, they poured it forth, and made their prayer to the gods who live everlasting. And thus would murmur any man, Achaian or Trojan: 'Zeus, exalted and mightiest, and you other immortals, let those, whichever side they may be, who do wrong to the oaths sworn first, let their brains be spilled on the ground as this wine is spilled now, theirs and their sons', and let their wives be the spoil of others.' They spoke, but none of this would the son of Kronos accomplish. Now among them spoke Priam descended of Dardanos also: 'Listen to me, you Trojans and you strong-greaved Achaians. Now I am going away to windy Ilion, homeward, since I cannot look with these eyes on the sight of my dear son fighting against warlike Menelaos in single combat. Zeus knows--maybe he knows--and the rest of the gods immortal for which of the two death is appointed to end this matter.'

He spoke, a godlike man, and laid the lambs in the chariot, and mounted into it himself, and pulled the reins backward. Antenor beside him stepped up into the fair-wrought chariot. These two took their way backward and made for Ilion. Hektor now, the son of Priam, and brilliant Odysseus measured out the distance first, and thereafter picked up two lots, and put them in a brazen helmet, and shook them, to see which one of the two should be first to cast with his bronze spear, and the people on each side held up their hands to the gods, and prayed to them. Thus would murmur any man, Achaian or Trojan: 'Father Zeus, watching over us from Ida, most high, most honoured, whichever man has made what has happened happen to both sides, grant that he be killed and go down to the house of Hades. Let the friendship and the sworn faith be true for the rest of us.'

So they spoke, and tall Hektor of the shining helm shook the lots, looking backward, and at once Paris' lot was outshaken. All the rest sat down in their ranks on the ground, at the place where the glittering armour of each was piled by his light-footed horses, while one of them put about his shoulders his splendid armour, brilliant Alexandros, the lord of lovely-haired Helen. First he placed along his legs the fair greaves linked with silver fastenings to hold the greaves at the ankles. Afterwards he girt on about his chest the corselet of Lykaon his brother since this fitted him also. Across his shoulders he slung the sword with the nails of silver, a bronze sword, and above it the great shield, huge and heavy. Over his powerful head he set the well-fashioned helmet with the horse-hair crest, and the plumes nodded terribly above it. He took up a strong-shafted spear that fitted his hand's grip. In the same way warlike Menelaos put on his armour.

Now when these two were armed on either side of the battle, they strode into the space between the Achaians and Trojans, looking terror at each other; and amazement seized the beholders, Trojans, breakers of horses, and strong-greaved Achaians. They took their stand in the measured space not far from each other raging each at the other man and shaking their spearshafts. First of the two Alexandros let go his spear far-shadowing and struck the shield of Atreus' son on its perfect circle nor did the bronze point break its way through, but the spearhead bent back in the strong shield. And after him Atreus' son, Menelaos was ready to let go the bronze spear, with a prayer to Zeus father: 'Zeus, lord, grant me to punish the man who first did me injury, brilliant Alexandros, and beat him down under my hands' strength that any one of the men to come may shudder to think of doing evil to a kindly host, who has given him friendship.'

So he spoke, and balanced the spear far-shadowed, and threw it and struck the shield of Priam's son on its perfect circle. All the way through the glittering shield went the heavy spearhead and smashed its way through the intricately worked corselet; straight ahead by the flank the spearhead shore through his tunic, yet he bent away to one side and avoided the dark death. Drawing his sword with the silver nails, the son of Atreus heaving backward struck at the horn of his helmet; the sword-blade three times broken and four times broken fell from his hand's grip. Groaning, the son of Atreus lifted his eyes to the wide sky: 'Father Zeus, no God beside is more baleful than you are. Here I thought to punish Alexandros for his wickedness; and now my sword is broken in my hands, and the spear flew vainly out of my hands on the throw before, and I have not hit him.'

He spoke, and flashing forward laid hold of the horse-haired helmet and spun him about, and dragged him away toward the strong-greaved Achaians, for the broidered strap under the softness of his throat strangled Paris, fastened under his chin to hold on the horned helmet. Now he would have dragged him away and won glory forever had not Aphrodite daughter of Zeus watched sharply. She broke the chinstrap, made from the hide of a slaughtered bullock, and the helmet came away empty in the heavy hand of Atreides. The hero whirled the helmet about and sent it flying among the strong-greaved Achaians, and his staunch companions retrieved it. He turned and made again for his man, determined to kill him with the bronze spear. But Aphrodite caught up Paris easily, since she was divine, and wrapped him in a thick mist and set him down again in his own perfumed bedchamber. She then went away to summon Helen, and found her on the high tower, with a cluster of Trojan women about her. She laid her hand upon the robe immortal, and shook it, and spoke to her, likening herself to an aged woman, a wool-dresser who when she was living in Lakedaimon made beautiful things out of wool, and loved her beyond all others. Likening herself to this woman Aphrodite spoke to her: 'Come with me: Alexandros sends for you to come home to him. He is in his chamber now, in the bed with its circled pattern, shining in his raiment and his own beauty; you would not think that he came from fighting against a man; you would think he was going rather to a dance, or rested and had been dancing lately.'

So she spoke, and troubled the spirit in Helen's bosom. She, as she recognized the round, sweet throat of the goddess and her desirable breasts and her eyes that were full of shining, she wondered, and spoke a word and called her by name, thus: 'Strange divinity! Why are you still so stubborn to beguile me? Will you carry me further yet somewhere among cities fairly settled? In Phrygia or in lovely Maionia? Is there some mortal man there also who is dear to you? Is it because Menelaos has beaten great Alexandros and wishes, hateful even as I am, to carry me homeward, is it for this that you stand in your treachery now beside me? Go yourself and sit beside him, abandon the gods' way, turn your feet back never again to the path of Olympos but stay with him forever, and suffer for him, and look after him until he makes you his wedded wife, or makes you his slave girl. Not I. I am not going to him. It would be too shameful. I will not serve his bed, since the Trojan women hereafter would laugh at me, all, and my heart even now is confused with sorrows.'

Then in anger Aphrodite the shining spoke to her: 'Wretched girl, do not tease me lest in anger I forsake you and grow to hate you as much as now I terribly love you, lest I encompass you in hard hate, caught between both sides, Danaans and Trojans alike, and you wretchedly perish.'

So she spoke, and Helen daughter of Zeus was frightened and went, shrouding herself about in the luminous spun robe, silent, unseen by the Trojan women, and led by the goddess.

When they had come to Alexandros' splendidly wrought house, the rest of them, the handmaidens went speedily to their own work, but she, shining among women, went to the high-vaulted bedchamber. Aphrodite the sweetly laughing drew up an armchair, carrying it, she, a goddess, and set it before Alexandros, and Helen, daughter of Zeus of the aegis, took her place there turning her eyes away, and spoke to her lord in derision: 'So you came back from fighting. Oh, how I wish you had died there beaten down by the stronger man, who was once my husband. There was a time before now you boasted that you were better than warlike Menelaos, in spear and hand and your own strength. Go forth now and challenge warlike Menelaos once again to fight you in combat. But no: I advise you rather to let it be, and fight no longer with fair-haired Menelaos, strength against strength in single combat recklessly. You might very well go down before his spear.'

Paris then in turn spoke to her thus and answered her: 'Lady, censure my heart no more in bitter reprovals. This time Menelaos with Athene's help has beaten me; another time I shall beat him. We have gods on our side also. Come, then, rather let us go to bed and turn to love-making. Never before as now has passion enmeshed my senses, not when I took you the first time from Lakedaimon the lovely and caught you up and carried you away in seafaring vessels, and lay with you in the bed of love on the island Kranae, not even then, as now, did I love you and sweet desire seize me.' Speaking, he led the way to the bed; and his wife went with him.

So these two were laid in the carven bed. But Atreides ranged like a wild beast up and down the host, to discover whether he could find anywhere godlike Alexandros. Yet could none of the Trojans nor any renowned companion show Alexandros then to warlike Menelaos. These would not have hidden him for love, if any had seen him, since he was hated among them all as dark death is hated. Now among them spoke forth the lord of men Agamemnon: 'Listen to me, o Trojans, Dardanians and companions: clearly the victory is with warlike Menelaos. Do you therefore give back, with all her possessions, Helen of Argos, and pay a price that shall be befitting, which among people yet to come shall be as a standard.' So spoke Atreus' son, and the other Achaians applauded him.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 4

 Now the gods at the side of Zeus were sitting in council over the golden floor, and among them the goddess Hebe poured them nectar as wine, while they in the golden drinking-cups drank to each other, gazing down on the city of the Trojans. Presently the son of Kronos was minded to anger Hera, if he could, with words offensive, speaking to cross her: 'Two among the goddesses stand by Menelaos, Hera of Argos, and Athene who stands by her people. Yet see, here they are sitting apart, looking on at the fighting, and take their pleasure. Meanwhile laughing Aphrodite forever stands by her man and drives the spirits of death away from him. Even now she has rescued him when he thought he would perish. So, the victory now is with warlike Menelaos. Let us consider then how these things shall be accomplished, whether again to stir up grim warfare and the terrible fighting, or cast down love and make them friends with each other. If somehow this way could be sweet and pleasing to all of us, the city of lord Priam might still be a place men dwell in, and Menelaos could take away with him Helen of Argos.'

So he spoke; and Athene and Hera muttered, since they were sitting close to each other, devising evil for the Trojans. Still Athene stayed silent and said nothing, but only sulked at Zeus her father, and savage anger took hold of her. But the heart of Hera could not contain her anger, and she spoke forth: 'Majesty, son of Kronos, what sort of thing have you spoken? How can you wish to make wasted and fruitless all this endeavour, the sweat that I have sweated in toil, and my horses worn out gathering my people, and bringing evil to Priam and his children. Do it then; but not all the rest of us gods will approve you.'

Deeply troubled, Zeus who gathers the clouds answered her: 'Dear lady, what can be all the great evils done to you by Priam and the sons of Priam, that you are thus furious forever to bring down the strong-founded city of Ilion? If you could walk through the gates and through the towering ramparts and eat Priam and the children of Priam raw, and the other Trojans, then, then only might you glut at last your anger. Do as you please then. Never let this quarrel hereafter be between you and me a bitterness for both of us. And put away in your thoughts this other thing that I tell you: whenever I in turn am eager to lay waste some city, as I please, one in which are dwelling men who are dear to you, you shall not stand in the way of my anger, but let me do it, since I was willing to grant you this with my heart unwilling. For of all the cities beneath the sun and the starry heaven dwelt in by men who live upon earth, there has never been one honoured nearer to my heart than sacred Ilion and Priam, and the people of Priam of the strong ash spear. Never yet has my altar gone without fair sacrifice, the libation and the savour, since this is our portion of honour.'

Then the goddess the ox-eyed lady Hera answered: 'Of all cities there are three that are dearest to my own heart: Argos and Sparta and Mykenai of the wide ways. All these, whenever they become hateful to your heart, sack utterly. I will not stand up for these against you, nor yet begrudge you. Yet if even so I bear malice and would not have you destroy them, in malice I will accomplish nothing, since you are far stronger. Yet my labour also should not be let go unaccomplished; I am likewise a god, and my race is even what yours is, and I am first of the daughters of devious-devising Kronos, both ways, since I am eldest born and am called your consort, yours, and you in turn are lord over all the immortals. Come then, in this thing let us both give way to each other, I to you, you to me, and so the rest of the immortal gods will follow. Now in speed give orders to Athene to visit horrible war again on Achaians and Trojans, and try to make it so that the Trojans are first offenders to do injury against the oaths to the far-famed Achaians.'

She spoke, nor did the father of gods and men disobey her, but immediately he spoke in winged words to Athene: 'Go now swiftly to the host of the Achaians and Trojans and try to make it so that the Trojans are first offenders to do injury against the oaths to the far-famed Achaians.'

Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this, and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. As when the son of devious-devising Kronos casts down a star, portent to sailors or to widespread armies of peoples glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, in such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthward and plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the beholders, Trojans, breakers of horses, and strong-greaved Achaians. And thus they would speak to each other, each looking at the man next him: 'Surely again there will be evil war and terrible fighting, or else now friendship is being set between both sides by Zeus, who is appointed lord of the wars of mortals.' Thus would murmur any man, Achaian or Trojan. She in the likeness of a man merged among the Trojans assembled, Laodokos, Antenor's son, a powerful spearman, searching for godlike Pandaros, if she might somewhere come on him. She found the son of Lykaon, a man blameless and powerful, standing still, and about him were the ranks of strong, shield-armoured people, who had followed him from the streams of Aisepos. Speaking in winged words she stood beside him and spoke to him: 'Wise son of Lykaon, would you now let me persuade you? So you might dare send a flying arrow against Menelaos and win you glory and gratitude in the sight of all Trojans, particularly beyond all else with prince Alexandros. Beyond all beside you would carry away glorious gifts from him, were he to see warlike Menelaos, the son of Atreus, struck down by your arrow, and laid on the sorrowful corpse-fire. Come then, let go an arrow against haughty Menelaos, but make your prayer to Apollo the light-born, the glorious archer, that you will accomplish a grand sacrifice of lambs first born when you come home again to the city of sacred Zeleia.'

So spoke Athene, and persuaded the fool's heart in him. Straightway he unwrapped his bow, of the polished horn from a running wild goat he himself had shot in the chest once, lying in wait for the goat in a covert as it stepped down from the rock, and hit it in the chest so it sprawled on the boulders. The horns that grew from the goat's head were sixteen palms' length. A bowyer working on the horn then bound them together, smoothing them to a fair surface, and put on a golden string hook. Pandaros strung his bow and put it in position, bracing it against the ground, and his brave friends held their shields in front of him for fear the warlike sons of the Achaians might rise up and rush him before he had struck warlike Menelaos, the son of Atreus. He stripped away the lid of the quiver, and took out an arrow feathered, and never shot before, transmitter of dark pain. Swiftly he arranged the bitter arrow along the bowstring, and made his prayer to Apollo the light-born, the glorious archer, that he would accomplish a grand sacrifice of lambs first born when he came home again to the city of sacred Zeleia. He drew, holding at once the grooves and the ox-hide bowstring and brought the string against his nipple, iron to the bowstave. But when he had pulled the great weapon till it made a circle, the bow groaned, and the string sang high, and the arrow, sharp-pointed, leapt away, furious, to fly through the throng before it.

Still the blessed gods immortal did not forget you, Menelaos, and first among them Zeus' daughter, the spoiler, who standing in front of you fended aside the tearing arrow. She brushed it away from his skin as lightly as when a mother brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep, steering herself the arrow's course straight to where the golden belt buckles joined and the halves of his corselet were fitted together. The bitter arrow was driven against the joining of the war belt and passed clean through the war belt elaborately woven; into the elaborately wrought corselet the shaft was driven and the guard which he wore to protect his skin and keep the spears off, which guarded him best, yet the arrow plunged even through this also and with the very tip of its point it grazed the man's skin and straightway from the cut there gushed a cloud of dark blood.

As when some Maionian woman or Karian with purple colours ivory, to make it a cheek piece for horses; it lies away in an inner room, and many a rider longs to have it, but it is laid up to be a king's treasure, two things, to be the beauty of the horse, the pride of the horseman: so, Menelaos, your shapely thighs were stained with the colour of blood, and your legs also and the ankles beneath them.

Agamemnon the lord of men was taken with shuddering fear as he saw how from the cut the dark blood trickled downward, and Menelaos the warlike himself shuddered in terror; but when he saw the binding strings and the hooked barbs outside the wound, his spirit was gathered again back into him. Agamemnon the powerful spoke to them, groaning heavily, and by the hand held Menelaos, while their companions were mourning beside them: 'Dear brother, it was your death I sealed in the oaths of friendship, setting you alone before the Achaians to fight with the Trojans. So, the Trojans have struck you down and trampled on the oaths sworn. Still the oaths and the blood of the lambs shall not be called vain, the unmixed wine poured and the right hands we trusted. If the Olympian at once has not finished this matter, late will he bring it to pass, and they must pay a great penalty, with their own heads, and with their women, and with their children. For I know this thing well in my heart, and my mind knows it. There will come a day when sacred Ilion shall perish, and Priam, and the people of Priam of the strong ash spear, and Zeus son of Kronos who sits on high, the sky-dwelling, himself shall shake the gloom of his aegis over all of them in anger for this deception. All this shall not go unaccomplished. But I shall suffer a terrible grief for you, Menelaos, if you die and fill out the destiny of your lifetime. And I must return a thing of reproach to Argos the thirsty, for now at once the Achaians will remember the land of their fathers; and thus we would leave to Priam and to the Trojans Helen of Argos, to glory over, while the bones of you rot in the ploughland as you lie dead in Troy, on a venture that went unaccomplished. And thus shall some Trojan speak in the proud show of his manhood, leaping lightly as he speaks on the tomb of great Menelaos: "Might Agamemnon accomplish his anger thus against all his enemies, as now he led here in vain a host of Achaians and has gone home again to the beloved land of his fathers with ships empty, and leaving behind him brave Menelaos." Thus shall a man speak: then let the wide earth open to take me.'

Then in encouragement fair-haired Menelaos spoke to him: 'Do not fear, nor yet make afraid the Achaian people. The sharp arrow is not stuck in a mortal place, but the shining war belt turned it aside from its course, and the flap beneath it with my guard of armour that bronze-smiths wronght carefully for me.'

Then in answer again spoke powerful Agamemnon: 'May it only be as you say, o Menelaos, dear brother! But the physician will handle the wound and apply over it healing salves, by which he can put an end to the black pains.'

He spoke, and addressed Talthybios, his sacred herald: 'Talthybios, with all speed go call hither Machaon, a man who is son of Asklepios and a blameless physician, so that he may look at Menelaos, the warlike son of Atreus, whom someone skilled in the bow's use shot with an arrow, Trojan or Lykian: glory to him, but to us a sorrow.'

He spoke, and the herald heard and did not disobey him, but went on his way among the host of bronze-armoured Achaians looking about for the warrior Machaon; and saw him standing still, and about him the strong ranks of shield-bearing people, who had come with him from horse-pasturing Trikka. He came and stood close beside him and addressed him in winged words: 'Rise up, son of Asklepios; powerful Agamemnon calls you, so that you may look at warlike Menelaos, the Achaians' leader, whom someone skilled in the bow's use shot with an arrow, Trojan or Lykian: glory to him, but to us a sorrow.'

So he spoke, and stirred up the spirit within Machaon. They went through the crowd along the widespread host of the Achaians. But when they had come to the place where fair-haired Menelaos had been hit, where all the great men were gathered about him in a circle, and he stood in the midst of them, a man godlike, straightway he pulled the arrow forth from the joining of the war belt, and as it was pulled out the sharp barbs were broken backwards. He slipped open the war belt then and the flap beneath it with the guard of armour that bronze-smiths wrought carefully for him. But when he saw the wound where the bitter arrow was driven, he sucked the blood and in skill laid healing medicines on it that Cheiron in friendship long ago had given his father.

While they were working over Menelaos of the great war cry all this time came on the ranks of the armoured Trojans. The Achaians again put on their armour, and remembered their warcraft.

Then you would not have seen brilliant Agamemnon asleep nor skulking aside, nor in any way a reluctant fighter, but driving eagerly toward the fighting where men win glory. He left aside his chariot gleaming with bronze, and his horses, and these, breathing hard, were held aside by a henchman, Eurymedon, born to Ptolemaios, the son of Peiraios. Agamemnon told him to keep them well in hand, till the time came when weariness might take hold of his limbs, through marshalling so many. Then he, on foot as he was, ranged through the ranks of his fighters. Those of the fast-mounted Danaans he found eager, he would stand beside these and urge them harder on with words spoken: 'Argives, do not let go now of this furious valour. Zeus the father shall not be one to give aid to liars, but these, who were the first to do violence over the oaths sworn, vultures shall feed upon the delicate skin of their bodies, while we lead away their beloved wives and innocent children, in our ships, after we have stormed their citadel.'

Any he might see hanging back from the hateful conflict these in words of anger he would reproach very bitterly:

'Argives, you arrow-fighters, have you no shame, you abuses? Why are you simply standing there bewildered, like young deer who after they are tired from running through a great meadow stand there still, and there is no heart of courage within them? Thus are you standing still bewildered and are not fighting. Or are you waiting for the Trojans to come close, where the strong-sterned ships have been hauled up along the strand of the grey sea, so you may know if Kronos' son will hold his hand over you?'

Thus he ranged through the ranks of his men and set them in order. On his way through the thronging men he came to the Kretans who about valiant Idomeneus were arming for battle. Idomeneus, like a boar in his strength, stood among the champions while Meriones still urged along the last battalions. Agamemnon the lord of men was glad as he looked at them and in words of graciousness at once spoke to Idomeneus: 'I honour you, Idomeneus, beyond the fast-mounted Danaans whether in battle, or in any action whatever, whether it be at the feast, when the great men of the Argives blend in the mixing bowl the gleaming wine of the princes. Even though all the rest of the flowing-haired Achaians drink out their portion, still your cup stands filled forever even as mine, for you to drink when the pleasure takes you. Rise up then to battle, be such as you claimed in time past.'

Then in turn Idomeneus lord of the Kretans answered him: 'Son of Atreus, I will in truth be a staunch companion in arms, as first I promised you and bent my head to it. Rouse up rather the rest of the flowing-haired Achaians so that we may fight in all speed, since the Trojans have broken their oaths: a thing that shall be death and sorrow hereafter to them, since they were the first to do violence over the oaths sworn.'

So he spoke, and Atreides, cheerful at heart, went onward. On his way through the thronging men he came to the Aiantes. These were armed, and about them went a cloud of foot-soldiers. As from his watching place a goatherd watches a cloud move on its way over the sea before the drive of the west wind; far away though he be he watches it, blacker than pitch is, moving across the sea and piling the storm before it, and as he sees it he shivers and drives his flocks to a cavern; so about the two Aiantes moved the battalions, close-compacted of strong and god-supported young fighters, black, and jagged with spear and shield, to the terror of battle. Agamemnon the lord of men was glad when he looked at them, and he spoke aloud to them and addressed them in winged words: 'Aiantes, o leaders of the bronze-armoured Argives, to you two I give no orders; it would not become me to speed you, now that yourselves drive your people on to fight strongly. Father Zeus, and Athene, and Apollo, if only such a spirit were in the hearts of all of my people. Then perhaps the city of lord Priam would be bent underneath our hands, captured and utterly taken.'

So he spoke, and left them there, and went among others. There he came upon Nestor, the lucid speaker of Pylos, setting in order his own companions and urging them to battle, tall Pelagon with those about him, Alastor and Chromios, Haimon the powerful, and Bias, shepherd of the people. First he ranged the mounted men with their horses and chariots and stationed the brave and numerous foot-soldiers behind them to be the bastion of battle, and drove the cowards to the centre so that a man might be forced to fight even though unwilling. First he gave orders to the drivers of horses, and warned them to hold their horses in check and not be fouled in the multitude: 'Let no man in the pride of his horsemanship and his manhood dare to fight alone with the Trojans in front of the rest of us, neither let him give ground, since that way you will be weaker. When a man from his own car encounters the enemy chariots let him stab with his spear, since this is the stronger fighting. So the men before your time sacked tower and city, keeping a spirit like this in their hearts, and like this their purpose.'

Thus the old man wise in fighting from of old encouraged them. Agamemnon the lord of men was glad when he looked at him and he spoke aloud to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Aged sir, if only, as the spirit is in your bosom, so might your knees be also and the strength stay steady within you; but age weakens you which comes to all; if only some other of the fighters had your age and you were one of the young men!'

Nestor the Gerenian horseman spoke and answered him: 'Son of Atreus, so would I also wish to be that man I was, when I cut down brilliant Ereuthalion. But the gods give to mortals not everything at the same time; if I was a young man then, now in turn old age is upon me. Yet even so I shall be among the riders, and command them with word and counsel; such is the privilege of the old men. The young spearmen shall do the spear-fighting, those who are born of a generation later than mine, who trust in their own strength.' So he spoke, and Atreides, cheerful at heart, went onward. He came on the son of Peteos, Menestheus, driver of horses, standing still, and about him the Athenians, urgent for battle. Next to these resourceful Odysseus had taken position, and beside him the Kephallenian ranks, no weak ones, were standing, since the men had not heard the clamour of battle but even now fresh set in motion moved the battalions of Achaians and Trojans, breakers of horses; so these standing waited, until some other mass of Achaians advancing might crash against the Trojans, and the battle be opened. Seeing these the lord of men Agamemnon scolded them and spoke aloud to them and addressed them in winged words, saying: 'Son of Peteos, the king supported of God: and you, too, you with your mind forever on profit and your ways of treachery, why do you stand here skulking aside, and wait for the others? For you two it is becoming to stand among the foremost fighters, and endure your share of the blaze of battle; since indeed you two are first to hear of the feasting whenever we Achaians make ready a feast of the princes. There it is your pleasure to eat the roast flesh, to drink as much as you please the cups of the wine that is sweet as honey. Now, though, you would be pleased to look on though ten battalions of Achaians were to fight with the pitiless bronze before you.'

Then looking at him darkly resourceful Odysseus spoke to him: 'What is this word that broke through the fence of your teeth, Atreides? How can you say that, when we Achaians waken the bitter war god on Trojans, breakers of horses, I hang back from fighting? Only watch, if you care to and if it concerns you, the very father of Telemachos locked with the champion Trojans, breakers of horses. Your talk is wind, and no meaning.'

Powerful Agamemnon in turn answered him, laughing, seeing that he was angered and taking back the word spoken: 'Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus: I must not be niggling with you, nor yet give you orders, since I know how the spirit in your secret heart knows ideas of kindness only; for what you think is what I think. Come now, I will make it good hereafter, if anything evil has been said; let the gods make all this come to nothing.' So he spoke, and left him there, and went among others. He came on the son of Tydeus, high-spirited Diomedes, standing among the compacted chariots and by the horses, and Kapaneus' son, Sthenelos, was standing beside him. At sight of Diomedes the lord of men Agamemnon scolded him and spoke aloud to him and addressed him in winged words, saying: 'Ah me, son of Tydeus, that daring breaker of horses, why are you skulking and spying out the outworks of battle? Such was never Tydeus' way, to lurk in the background, but to fight the enemy far ahead of his own companions. So they say who had seen him at work, since I never saw nor encountered him ever; but they say he surpassed all others. Once on a time he came, but not in war, to Mykenai with godlike Polyneikes, a guest and a friend, assembling people, since these were attacking the sacred bastions of Thebe, and much they entreated us to grant him renowned companions. And our men wished to give them and were assenting to what they asked for but Zeus turned them back, showing forth portents that crossed them. Now as these went forward and were well on their way, and came to the river Asopos, and the meadows of grass and the deep rushes, from there the Achaians sent Tydeus ahead with a message. He went then and came on the Kadmeians in their numbers feasting all about the house of mighty Eteokles. There, stranger though he was, the driver of horses, Tydeus, was not frightened, alone among so many Kadmeians, but dared them to try their strength with him, and bested all of them easily, such might did Pallas Athene give him. The Kadmeians who lash their horses, in anger compacted an ambuscade of guile on his way home, assembling together fifty fighting men, and for these there were two leaders, Maion, Haimon's son, in the likeness of the immortals, with the son of Autophonos, Polyphontes stubborn in battle. On these men Tydeus let loose a fate that was shameful. He killed them all, except that he let one man get home again, letting Maion go in obedience to the god's signs. This was Tydeus, the Aitolian; yet he was father to a son worse than himself at fighting, better in conclave.'

So he spoke, and strong Diomedes gave no answer in awe before the majesty of the king's rebuking; but the son of Kapaneus the glorious answered him, saying: 'Son of Atreus, do not lie when you know the plain truth. We two claim we are better men by far than our fathers. We did storm the seven-gated foundation of Thebe though we led fewer people beneath a wall that was stronger. We obeyed the signs of the gods and the help Zeus gave us, while those others died of their own headlong stupidity. Therefore, never liken our fathers to us in honour.'

Then looking at him darkly strong Diomedes spoke to him: 'Friend, stay quiet rather and do as I tell you; I will find no fault with Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, for stirring thus into battle the strong-greaved Achaians; this will be his glory to come, if ever the Achaians cut down the men of Troy and capture sacred Ilion. If the Achaians are slain, then his will be the great sorrow. Come, let you and me remember our fighting courage.'

He spoke and leapt in all his gear to the ground from the chariot, and the bronze armour girt to the chest of the king clashed terribly as he sprang. Fear would have gripped even a man stout-hearted.

As when along the thundering beach the surf of the sea strikes beat upon beat as the west wind drives it onward; far out cresting first on the open water, it drives thereafter to smash roaring along the dry land, and against the rock jut bending breaks itself into crests spewing back the salt wash; so thronged beat upon beat the Danaans' close battalions steadily into battle, with each of the lords commanding his own men; and these went silently, you would not think all these people with voices kept in their chests were marching; silently, in fear of their commanders; and upon all glittered as they marched the shining armour they carried. But the Trojans, as sheep in a man of possessions' steading stand in their myriads waiting to be drained of their white milk and bleat interminably as they hear the voice of their lambs, so the crying of the Trojans went up through the wide army. Since there was no speech nor language common to all of them but their talk was mixed, who were called there from many far places. Ares drove these on, and the Achaians grey-eyed Athene, and Terror drove them, and Fear, and Hate whose wrath is relentless, she the sister and companion of murderous Ares, she who is only a little thing at the first, but thereafter grows until she strides on the earth with her head striking heaven. She then hurled down bitterness equally between both sides as she walked through the onslaught making men's pain heavier.

Now as these advancing came to one place and encountered, they dashed their shields together and their spears, and the strength of armoured men in bronze, and the shields massive in the middle clashed against each other, and the sound grew huge of the fighting. There the screaming and the shouts of triumph rose up together of men killing and men killed, and the ground ran blood. As when rivers in winter spate running down from the mountains throw together at the meeting of streams the weight of their water out of the great springs behind in the hollow stream-bed, and far away in the mountains the shepherd hears their thunder; such, from the coming together of men, was the shock and the shouting.

Antilochos was first to kill a chief man of the Trojans, valiant among the champions, Thalysias' son, Echepolos. Throwing first, he struck the horn of the horse-haired helmet, and the bronze spearpoint fixed in his forehead and drove inward through the bone; and a mist of darkness clouded both eyes and he fell as a tower falls in the strong encounter. As he dropped, Elephenor the powerful caught him by the feet, Chalkodon's son, and lord of the great-hearted Abantes, and dragged him away from under the missiles, striving in all speed to strip the armour from him, yet his outrush went short-lived. For as he hauled the corpse high-hearted Agenor, marking the ribs that showed bare under the shield as he bent over, stabbed with the bronze-pointed spear and unstrung his sinews. So the spirit left him and over his body was fought out weary work by Trojans and Achaians, who like wolves sprang upon one another, with man against man in the onfall.

There Telamonian Aias struck down the son of Anthemion Simoeisios in his stripling's beauty, whom once his mother descending from Ida bore beside the banks of Simoeis when she had followed her father and mother to tend the sheepflocks. Therefore they called him Simoeisios; but he could not render again the care of his dear parents; he was short-lived, beaten down beneath the spear of high-hearted Aias, who struck him as he first came forward beside the nipple of the right breast, and the bronze spearhead drove clean through the shoulder. He dropped then to the ground in the dust, like some black poplar, which in the land low-lying about a great marsh grows smooth trimmed yet with branches growing at the uttermost tree-top: one whom a man, a maker of chariots, fells with the shining iron, to bend it into a wheel for a fine-wrought chariot, and the tree lies hardening by the banks of a river. Such was Anthemion's son Simoeisios, whom illustrious Aias killed. Now Antiphos of the shining corselet, Priam's son, made a cast at him in the crowd with the sharp spear but missed Aias and struck Leukos, a brave companion of Odysseus, in the groin, as he dragged a corpse off, so that the body dropped from his hand as he fell above it. For his killing Odysseus was stirred to terrible anger and he strode out among the champions, helmed in bright bronze, and stood close to the enemy hefting the shining javelin, glaring round about him; and the Trojans gave way in the face of the man throwing with the spear. And he made no vain cast, but struck down Demokoön, a son of Priam, a bastard, who came over from Abydos, and left his fast-running horses. Odysseus struck him with the spear, in anger for his companion, in the temple, and the bronze spearhead drove through the other temple also, so that a mist of darkness clouded both eyes. He fell, thunderously, and his armour clattered upon him. The champions of Troy gave back then, and glorious Hektor, and the Argives gave a great cry, and dragged back the bodies, and drove their way far forward, but now Apollo watching from high Pergamos was angered, and called aloud to the Trojans: 'Rise up, Trojans, breakers of horses, bend not from battle with these Argives. Surely their skin is not stone, not iron to stand up under the tearing edge of the bronze as it strikes them. No, nor is Achilleus the child of lovely-haired Thetis fighting, but beside the ship mulls his heartsore anger.'

So called the fearful god from the citadel, while Zeus' daughter Tritogeneia, goddess most high, drove on the Achaians, any of them she saw hanging back as she strode through the battle.

Now his doom caught fast Amaryngkeus' son Diores, who with a jagged boulder was smitten beside the ankle in the right shin, and a lord of the Thracian warriors threw it, Peiros, son of Imbrasos, who had journeyed from Ainos. The pitiless stone smashed utterly the tendons on both sides with the bones, and he was hurled into the dust backwards reaching out both hands to his own beloved companions, gasping life out; the stone's thrower ran up beside him, Peiros, and stabbed with his spear next the navel, and all his guts poured out on the ground, and a mist of darkness closed over both eyes.

Thoas the Aitolian hit Peiros as he ran backward with the spear in the chest above the nipple, and the bronze point fixed in the lung, and Thoas standing close dragged out the heavy spear from his chest, and drawing his sharp sword struck him in the middle of the belly, and so took the life from him, yet did not strip his armour, for his companions about him stood, Thracians with hair grown at the top, gripping their long spears, and though he was a mighty man and a strong and proud one thrust him from them so that he gave ground backward, staggering. So in the dust these two lay sprawled beside one another, lords, the one of the Thracians, the other of the bronze-armoured Epeians; and many others beside were killed all about them.

There no more could a man who was in that work make light of it, one who still unhit and still unstabbed by the sharp bronze spun in the midst of that fighting, with Pallas Athene's hold on his hand guiding him, driving back the volleying spears thrown. For on that day many men of the Achaians and Trojans lay sprawled in the dust face downward beside one another.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 5

 THERE to Tydeus' son Diomedes Pallas Athene granted strength and daring, that he might be conspicuous among all the Argives and win the glory of valour. She made weariless fire blaze from his shield and helmet like that star of the waning summer who beyond all stars rises bathed in the ocean stream to glitter in brilliance. Such was the fire she made blaze from his head and his shoulders and urged him into the middle fighting, where most were struggling.

There was a man of the Trojans, Dares, blameless and bountiful, priest consecrated to Hephaistos, and he had two sons, Phegeus and Idaios, well skilled both in all fighting. These two breaking from the ranks of the others charged against him riding their chariot as Diomedes came on, dismounted. Now as in their advance these had come close to each other first of the two Phegeus let go his spear far-shadowing. Over the left shoulder of Tydeus' son passed the pointed spear, nor struck his body, and Diomedes thereafter threw with the bronze, and the weapon cast from his hand flew not vain but struck the chest between the nipples and hurled him from behind his horses. And Idaios leaping left the fair-wrought chariot nor had he the courage to stand over his stricken brother. Even so he could not have escaped the black death-spirit but Hephaistos caught him away and rescued him, shrouded in darkness, that the aged man might not be left altogether desolate. But the son of high-hearted Tydeus drove off the horses and gave them to his company to lead back to the hollow vessels. Now as the high-hearted Trojans watched the two sons of Dares, one running away, and one cut down by the side of his chariot, the anger in all of them was stirred. But grey-eyed Athene took violent Ares by the hand, and in words she spoke to him: 'Ares, Ares, manslaughtering, blood-stained, stormer of strong walls, shall we not leave the Trojans and Achaians to struggle after whatever way Zeus father grants glory to either, while we two give ground together and avoid Zeus' anger?'

So she spoke, and led violent Ares out of the fighting and afterwards caused him to sit down by the sands of Skamandros while the Danaans bent the Trojans back, and each of the princes killed his man. And first the lord of men Agamemnon hurled tall Odios, lord of the Halizones, from his chariot. For in his back even as he was turning the spear fixed between the shoulders and was driven on through the chest beyond it. He fell, thunderously, and his armour clattered upon him.

Idomeneus killed Phaistos the son of Maionian Boros, who had come out of Tarne with the deep soil. Idomeneus the spear-renowned stabbed this man just as he was mounting behind his horses, with the long spear driven in the right shoulder. He dropped from the chariot, and the hateful darkness took hold of him.

The henchmen of Idomeneus stripped the armour from Phaistos, while Menelaos son of Atreus killed with the sharp spear Strophios' son, a man of wisdom in the chase, Skamandrios, the fine huntsman of beasts. Artemis herself had taught him to strike down every wild thing that grows in the mountain forest. Yet Artemis of the showering arrows could not now help him, no, nor the long spearcasts in which he had been pre-eminent, but Menelaos the spear-famed, son of Atreus, stabbed him, as he fled away before him, in the back with a spear thrust between the shoulders and driven through to the chest beyond it. He dropped forward on his face and his armour clattered upon him.

Meriones in turn killed Phereklos, son of Harmonides, the smith, who understood how to make with his hand all intricate things, since above all others Pallas Athene had loved him. He it was who had built for Alexandros the balanced ships, the beginning of the evil, fatal to the other Trojans, and to him, since he knew nothing of the gods' plans. This man Meriones pursued and overtaking him struck in the right buttock, and the spearhead drove straight on and passing under the bone went into the bladder. He dropped, screaming, to his knees, and death was a mist about him.

Meges in turn killed Pedaios, the son of Antenor, who, bastard though he was, was nursed by lovely Theano with close care, as for her own children, to pleasure her husband. Now the son of Phyleus, the spear-famed, closing upon him struck him with the sharp spear behind the head at the tendon, and straight on through the teeth and under the tongue cut the bronze blade, and he dropped in the dust gripping in his teeth the cold bronze.

Eurypylos, Euaimon's son, killed brilliant Hypsenor, son of high-hearted Dolopion, he who was made Skamandros' priest, and was honoured about the countryside as a god is. This man Eurypylos, the shining son of Euaimon, running in chase as he fled before him struck in the shoulder with a blow swept from the sword and cut the arm's weight from him, so that the arm dropped bleeding to the ground, and the red death and destiny the powerful took hold of both eyes.

So they went at their work all about the strong encounter; but you could not have told on which side Tydeus' son was fighting, whether he were one with the Trojans or with the Achaians, since he went storming up the plain like a winter-swollen river in spate that scatters the dikes in its running current, one that the strong-compacted dikes can contain no longer, neither the mounded banks of the blossoming vineyards hold it rising suddenly as Zeus' rain makes heavy the water and many lovely works of the young men crumble beneath it. Like these the massed battalions of the Trojans were scattered by Tydeus' son, and many as they were could not stand against him.

Now as the shining son of Lykaon, Pandaros, watched him storming up the plain scattering the battalions before him, at once he strained the bent bow against the son of Tydeus, and shot, and hit him as he charged forward, in the right shoulder at the hollow of the corselet; and the bitter arrow went straight through holding clean to its way, and the corselet was all blood-spattered. And the shining son of Lykaon cried aloud in a great voice: 'Rise up, Trojans, o high-hearted, lashers of horses. Now the best of the Achaians is hit, and I think that he will not long hold up under the strong arrow, if truly Apollo lord and son of Zeus stirred me to come forth from Lykia.'

So he spoke, vaunting, but the swift arrow had not broken him, only he drew back again to his chariot and horses, and stood there, speaking to Sthenelos, son of Kapaneus: 'Come, dear friend, son of Kapaneus, step down from the chariot, so that you may pull out from my shoulder this bitter arrow.'

So he spoke, and Sthenelos sprang to the ground from his chariot and standing beside him pulled the sharp arrow clean through his shoulder and the blood shot up spurting through the delicate tunic. Now Diomedes of the great war cry spoke aloud, praying: 'Hear me now, Atrytone, daughter of Zeus of the aegis: if ever before in kindliness you stood by my father through the terror of fighting, be my friend now also, Athene; grant me that I may kill this man and come within spearcast, who shot me before I could see him, and now boasts over me, saying I cannot live to look much longer on the shining sunlight.'

So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him. She made his limbs light again, and his feet, and his hands above them, and standing close beside him she spoke and addressed him in winged words: 'Be of good courage now, Diomedes, to fight with the Trojans, since I have put inside your chest the strength of your father untremulous, such as the horseman Tydeus of the great shield had; I have taken away the mist from your eyes, that before now was there, so that you may well recognize the god and the mortal. Therefore now, if a god making trial of you comes hither do you not do battle head on with the gods immortal, not with the rest; but only if Aphrodite, Zeus' daughter, comes to the fighting, her at least you may stab with the sharp bronze.'

She spoke thus, grey-eyed Athene, and went, while Tydeus' son closed once again with the champions, taking his place there; raging as he had been before to fight with the Trojans, now the strong rage tripled took hold of him, as of a lion whom the shepherd among his fleecy flocks in the wild lands grazed as he leapt the fence of the fold, but has not killed him, but only stirred up the lion's strength, and can no more fight him off, but hides in the steading, and the frightened sheep are forsaken, and these are piled pell-mell on each other in heaps, while the lion raging still leaps out again over the fence of the deep yard; such was the rage of strong Diomedes as he closed with the Trojans.

Next he killed Astynoös and Hypeiron, shepherd of the people, striking one with the bronze-heeled spear above the nipple, and cutting the other beside the shoulder through the collar-bone with the great sword, so that neck and back were hewn free of the shoulder. He left these men, and went on after Polyidos and Abas, sons of the aged dream-interpreter, Eurydamas; yet for these two as they went forth the old man did not answer their dreams, but Diomedes the powerful slew them. Now he went after the two sons of Phainops, Xanthos and Thoön, full grown both, but Phainops was stricken in sorrowful old age nor could breed another son to leave among his possessions. There he killed these two and took away the dear life from them both, leaving to their father lamentation and sorrowful affliction, since he was not to welcome them home from the fighting alive still; and remoter kinsmen shared his possessions.

Next he killed two children of Dardanian Priam who were in a single chariot, Echemmon and Chromios. As among cattle a lion leaps on the neck of an ox or heifer, that grazes among the wooded places, and breaks it, so the son of Tydeus hurled both from their horses hatefully, in spite of their struggles, then stripped their armour and gave the horses to his company to drive to their vessels.

Now as Aineias saw him wrecking the ranks of warriors he went on his way through the fighting and the spears' confusion looking to see if he could find Pandaros the godlike; and he came upon the strong and blameless son of Lykaon. He stood before him face to face and spoke a word to him: 'Pandaros, where now are your bow and your feathered arrows; where your fame, in which no man here dare contend with you nor can any man in Lykia claim he is better? Come then, hold up your hands to Zeus, and let go an arrow at this strong man, whoever he be, who does so much evil to the Trojans, since many and great are those whose knees he has broken. Unless this be some god who in wrath with the Trojans for offerings failed afflicts them. The wrath of a god is hard to deal with.'

Then in answer the shining son of Lykaon spoke to him: 'Aineias, charged with the counsels of the bronze-armoured Trojans, I liken him in all ways to the valiant son of Tydeus, going by his shield and the hollow eyes of his helmet and by the look of his horses; but it may be a god, I am not sure; and if this is a man, as I think, and the valiant son of Tydeus, yet not without god does he rage so, but some one of the immortals, mantling in mist his shoulders, stands close beside him who turned my flying arrow as it struck, elsewhere, away from him. For I have shot my shaft already, and hit him in the shoulder, the right one, hard driven through the hollow of his corselet, and I said to myself I had hurled him down to meet Aidoneus, yet still I have not beaten him; now this is some god who is angered. But I have no horses nor chariot I could mount in, and yet somewhere in the great house of Lykaon are eleven chariots, beauties, all new made, just finished, and over them blankets lie spread, and beside each chariot one brace of horses stand there, champing their white barley and oats. But Lykaon the aged spearman spoke to me over and over, as I was on my way from the house well compacted, advising me; he told me to take my horses and chariots, and riding there to be lord among the Trojans in the strong encounters. I did not let him persuade me, and that would have been far better, sparing my horses, who had grown accustomed to eating all they wished, from going hungry where the men were penned in a small place. So I left them and made my way on foot to Ilion trusting my bow, a thing that was to profit me nothing. For now I have drawn it against two of their best men, Tydeus' son, and the son of Atreus, and both of these I hit and drew visible blood, yet only wakened their anger. So it was in bad luck that I took from its peg the curved bow on that day when I carried it to lovely Ilion at the head of my Trojans, bringing delight to brilliant Hektor. Now if ever I win home again and lay eyes once more on my country, and my wife, and the great house with the high roof, let some stranger straightway cut my head from my shoulders if I do not break this bow in my hands and throw it in the shining fire, since as a wind and nothing I have taken it with me.'

Then in turn Aineias, lord of the Trojans, answered him: 'Speak no more this way; there will be no time for changing before you and I must face this man with horses and chariot and strength against strength fight it out with our weapons. Therefore mount rather into my chariot, so that you may see what the Trojan horses are like, how they understand their plain, and how to traverse it in rapid pursuit and withdrawal. These two will bring us safe to the city again, if once more Zeus grants glory to Diomedes the son of Tydeus. Come then, taking into your hands the goad and the glittering reins, while I dismount from my chariot and carry the fighting; or else yourself encounter this man, while I handle the horses.'

Then in answer the shining son of Lykaon spoke to him: 'Keep yourself, Aineias, the reins and your horses. These will carry better the curved chariot under the driver they know best, if we must give way before the son of Tydeus; for fear they might go wild with terror and not be willing to carry us out of the fighting, as they listen and long for your voice, for fear the son of high-hearted Tydeus charging upon us might kill us both and drive away the single-foot horses. Rather drive yourself your own horses and your own chariot while with my sharp spear I encounter this man as he comes on.'

They spoke so, and mounting the wrought chariot held their fast-running horses against the son of Tydeus, in fury. And Sthenelos the shining son of Kapaneus seeing them swiftly uttered his winged words to the son of Tydeus: 'Son of Tydeus, you who delight my heart, Diomedes, look, I see two mighty men furious to fight with you. Their strength is enormous, one of them well skilled in the bow's work, Pandaros, who claims his right as son of Lykaon, and the other Aineias, who claims he was born as son to Anchises the blameless, but his mother was Aphrodite. Come then, let us give way with our horses; no longer storm on so far among the champions, for fear you destroy your heart's life.'

Then looking at him darkly strong Diomedes spoke to him: 'Argue me not toward flight, since I have no thought of obeying you. No, for it would be ignoble for me to shrink back in the fighting or to lurk aside, since my fighting strength stays steady forever. I shrink indeed from mounting behind the horses, but as I am now, I will face these. Pallas Athene will not let me run from them. These two men, their fast-running horses shall never carry them both back away from us, even though one man may escape us. And put away in your thoughts this other thing I tell you. If Athene of the many counsels should grant me the glory to kill both, then do you check here these fast-running horses, ours, tethering them with the reins tied to the chariot's rail and thereafter remember to make a dash against the horses of Aineias, and drive them away from the Trojans among the strong-greaved Achaians. These are of that strain which Zeus of the wide brows granted once to Tros, recompense for his son Ganymedes, and therefore are the finest of all horses beneath the sun and the daybreak; and the lord of men Anchises stole horses from this breed, without the knowledge of Laomedon putting mares under them. From these there was bred for him a string of six in his great house. Four of these, keeping them himself, he raised at his mangers, but these two he gave to Aineias, two horses urgent of terror. If we might only take these we should win ourselves excellent glory.'

Now as these were speaking things like this to each other, the two came fast upon them driving their swift-running horses. First to Diomedes called out the shining son of Lykaon: 'Valiant and strong-spirited, o son of proud Tydeus, you were not beaten then by the bitter arrow, my swift shot. Now I will try with the throwing-spear to see if I can hit you.'

So he spoke, and balanced the spear far-shadowed, and threw it, and struck the son of Tydeus in the shield, and the flying bronze spearhead was driven clean through and into the corselet, and the shining son of Lykaon cried aloud in a great voice: 'Now are you struck clean through the middle, and I think that you will not hold up for much longer; you have given me great claim to glory.'

Then strong Diomedes answered, not frightened before him: 'You did not hit me, you missed, but I do not think that you two will go free until one or the other of you has fallen to glut with his blood Ares the god who fights under the shield's guard.'

He spoke, and threw; and Pallas Athene guided the weapon to the nose next to the eye, and it cut on through the white teeth and the bronze weariless shore all the way through the tongue's base so that the spearhead came out underneath the jawbone. He dropped then from the chariot and his armour clattered upon him, dazzling armour and shining, while those fast-running horses shied away, and there his life and his strength were scattered.

But Aineias sprang to the ground with shield and with long spear, for fear that somehow the Achaians might haul off the body, and like a lion in the pride of his strength stood over him holding before him the perfect circle of his shield and the spear and raging to cut down any man who might come to face him, crying a terrible cry. But Tydeus' son in his hand caught up a stone, a huge thing which no two men could carry such as men are now, but by himself he lightly hefted it. He threw, and caught Aineias in the hip, in the place where the hip-bone turns inside the thigh, the place men call the cup-socket. It smashed the cup-socket and broke the tendons both sides of it, and the rugged stone tore the skin backward, so that the fighter dropping to one knee stayed leaning on the ground with his heavy hand, and a covering of black night came over both eyes.

Now in this place Aineias lord of men might have perished had not Aphrodite, Zeus' daughter, been quick to perceive him, his mother, who had borne him to Anchises the ox-herd; and about her beloved son came streaming her white arms, and with her white robe thrown in a fold in front she shielded him, this keeping off the thrown weapons lest some fast-mounted Danaan strike the bronze spear through his chest and strip the life from him.

She then carried her beloved son out of the fighting. Nor did Sthenelos son of Kapaneus forget the commandments that Diomedes of the great war cry had laid upon him, but he held where they were their own single-foot horses with their reins tied to the chariot rail, apart from the confusion, and making a dash for the fluttering-maned horses of Aineias drove them away from the Trojans among the strong-greaved Achaians, and gave them to Deïpylos, his close friend, whom beyond all others of his own age he prized, for their hearts were intimate, to drive away to the hollow ships; meanwhile the warrior mounted behind his own horses and caught up the shining reins, and held the strong-footed team toward the son of Tydeus headlong; and he swung the pitiless bronze at the lady of Kypros, knowing her for a god without warcraft, not of those who, goddesses, range in order the ranks of men in the fighting, not Athene and not Enyo, sacker of cities. Now as, following her through the thick crowd, he caught her, lunging in his charge far forward the son of high-hearted Tydeus made a thrust against the soft hand with the bronze spear, and the spear tore the skin driven clean on through the immortal robe that the very Graces had woven for her carefully, over the palm's base; and blood immortal flowed from the goddess, ichor, that which runs in the veins of the blessed divinities; since these eat no food, nor do they drink of the shining wine, and therefore they have no blood and are called immortal. She gave a great shriek and let fall her son she was carrying, but Phoibos Apollo caught him up and away in his own hands, in a dark mist, for fear that some fast-mounted Danaan might strike the bronze spear through his chest and strip the life from him. But Diomedes of the great war cry shouted after her: 'Give way, daughter of Zeus, from the fighting and the terror. It is not then enough that you lead astray women without warcraft? Yet, if still you must haunt the fighting, I think that now you will shiver even when you hear some other talking of battles.'

So he spoke, and the goddess departed in pain, hurt badly, and Iris wind-footed took her by the hand and led her away from the battle, her lovely skin blood-darkened, wounded and suffering. There to the left of the fighting she found Ares the violent sitting, his spear leaned into the mist, and his swift horses. Dropping on one knee before her beloved brother in deep supplication she asked for his gold-bridled horses: 'Beloved brother, rescue me and give me your horses so I may come to Olympos where is the place of the immortals. I am in too much pain from the wound of a mortal's spear-stroke, Tydeus' son's, who would fight now even against Zeus father.'

So she spoke, and Ares gave her the gold-bridled horses, and, still grieved in the inward heart, she mounted the chariot and beside her entering Iris gathered the reins up and whipped them into a run, and they winged their way unreluctant. Now as they came to sheer Olympos, the place of the immortals, there swift Iris the wind-footed reined in her horses and slipped them from the yoke and threw fodder immortal before them, and now bright Aphrodite fell at the knees of her mother, Dione, who gathered her daughter into the arms' fold and stroked her with her hand and called her by name and spoke to her: 'Who now of the Uranian gods, dear child, has done such things to you, rashly, as if you were caught doing something wicked?'

Aphrodite the sweetly laughing spoke then and answered her: 'Tydeus' son Diomedes, the too high-hearted, stabbed me as I was carrying my own beloved son out of the fighting, Aineias, who beyond all else in the world is dear to me; so now this is no horrible war of Achaians and Trojans, but the Danaans are beginning to fight even with the immortals.'

Then Dione the shining among divinities answered her: 'Have patience, my child, and endure it, though you be saddened. For many of us who have our homes on Olympos endure things from men, when ourselves we inflict hard pain on each other. Ares had to endure it when strong Ephialtes and Otos, sons of Aloeus, chained him in bonds that were too strong for him, and three months and ten he lay chained in the brazen cauldron; and now might Ares, insatiable of fighting, have perished, had not Eëriboia, their stepmother, the surpassingly lovely, brought word to Hermes, who stole Ares away out of it as he was growing faint and the hard bondage was breaking him. Hera had to endure it when the strong son of Amphitryon struck her beside the right breast with a tri-barbed arrow, so that the pain he gave her could not be quieted. Hades the gigantic had to endure with the rest the flying arrow when this self-same man, the son of Zeus of the aegis, struck him among the dead men at Pylos, and gave him to agony; but he went up to the house of Zeus and to tall Olympos heavy at heart, stabbed through and through with pain, for the arrow was driven into his heavy shoulder, and his spirit was suffering. But Paiëon, scattering medicines that still pain, healed him, since he was not made to be one of the mortals. Brute, heavy-handed, who thought nothing of the bad he was doing, who with his archery hurt the gods that dwell on Olympos! It was the goddess grey-eyed Athene who drove on this man against you; poor fool, the heart of Tydeus' son knows nothing of how that man who fights the immortals lives for no long time, his children do not gather to his knees to welcome their father when he returns home after the fighting and the bitter warfare. Then, though he be very strong indeed, let the son of Tydeus take care lest someone even better than he might fight with him, lest for a long time Aigialeia, wise child of Adrastos, mourning wake out of sleep her household's beloved companions, longing for the best of the Achaians, her lord by marriage, she, the strong wife of Diomedes, breaker of horses.'

She spoke, and with both hands stroked away from her arm the ichor, so that the arm was made whole again and the strong pains rested. But Hera and Athene glancing aside at her began to tease the son of Kronos, Zeus, in words of mockery: and the goddess grey-eyed Athene began the talk among them: 'Father Zeus, would you be angry with me if I said something? It must be the lady of Kypros, moving some woman of Achaia to follow after those Trojans she loves so hopelessly, laying hold on the fair dresses of the Achaian women, tore the tenderness of her hand on a golden pin's point.'

So she spoke, and the father of gods and men smiled on her and spoke to Aphrodite the golden, calling her to him: 'No, my child, not for you are the works of warfare. Rather concern yourself only with the lovely secrets of marriage, while all this shall be left to Athene and sudden Ares.'

Now as these were talking in this way with each other Diomedes of the great war cry made for Aineias. Though he saw how Apollo himself held his hands over him he did not shrink even from the great god, but forever forward drove, to kill Aineias and strip his glorious armour. Three times, furious to cut him down, he drove forward, and three times Apollo battered aside the bright shield, but as a fourth time, like more than man, he charged, Apollo who strikes from afar cried out to him in the voice of terror: 'Take care, give back, son of Tydeus, and strive no longer to make yourself like the gods in mind, since never the same is the breed of gods, who are immortal, and men who walk groundling.'

He spoke, and Tydeus' son gave backward, only a little, avoiding the anger of him who strikes from afar, Apollo, who caught Aineias now away from the onslaught, and set him in the sacred keep of Pergamos where was built his own temple. There Artemis of the showering arrows and Leto within the great and secret chamber healed his wound and cared for him. But he of the silver bow, Appollo, fashioned an image in the likeness of Aineias himself and in armour like him, and all about this image brilliant Achaians and Trojans hewed at each other, and at the ox-hide shields strong circled guarding men's chests, and at the fluttering straps of the guard-skins. But Phoibos Apollo spoke now to violent Ares: 'Ares, Ares, manslaughtering, blood-stained, stormer of strong walls, is there no way you can go and hold back this man from the fighting, Tydeus' son, who would now do battle against Zeus father? Even now he stabbed in her hand by the wrist the lady of Kypros, and again, like more than a man, charged even against me.'

So he spoke, and himself alighted on the peak of Pergamos while stark Ares went down to stir the ranks of the Trojans, in the likeness of the lord of the Thracians, swift-footed Akamas, and urged onward the god-supported children of Priam: 'O you children of Priam, the king whom the gods love, how long will you allow the Achaians to go on killing your people? Until they fight beside the strong-builded gates? A man lies fallen whom we honoured as we honour Hektor the brilliant, Aineias, who is son of great-hearted Anchises. Come then, let us rescue our good companion from the carnage.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and the strength in each man. Then Sarpedon spoke in abuse to brilliant Hektor: 'Where now, Hektor, has gone that strength that was yours? You said once that without companions and without people you could hold this city alone, with only your brothers and the lords of your sisters. I can see not one of these men now, I know not where they are; no, but they slink away like hounds who circle the lion, while we, who are here as your companions, carry the fighting. I have come, a companion to help you, from a very far place; Lykia lies far away, by the whirling waters of Xanthos; there I left behind my own wife and my baby son, there I left my many possessions which the needy man eyes longingly. Yet even so I drive on my Lykians, and myself have courage to fight my man in battle, though there is nothing of mine here that the Achaians can carry away as spoil or drive off. But you: you stand here, not even giving the word to the rest of your people to stand fast and fight in defence of their own wives. Let not yourselves, caught as in the sweeping toils of the spun net, be taken as war-spoil and plunder by the men who hate you, men who presently will storm your strong-founded citadel. All these things should lie night and day on your mind, forever, supplication to the lords of your far-renowned companions, to fight unwearying and hold off the strength of an insult.'

Sarpedon spoke, and his word bit into the heart of Hektor. Straightway in all his armour he sprang to the ground from his chariot and shaking two sharp spears ranged everywhere through the army stirring men up to fight and waking the hateful warfare; and these pulled themselves about and stood to face the Achaians, while the Argives held in their close order and would not be broken. As when along the hallowed threshing floors the wind scatters chaff, among men winnowing, and fair-haired Demeter in the leaning wind discriminates the chaff and the true grain and the piling chaff whitens beneath it, so now the Achaians turned white underneath the dust the feet of the horses drove far into the brazen sky across their faces as they rapidly closed and the charioteers wheeled back again. They drove the strength of their hands straight on, as violent Ares defending the Trojans mantled in dark night the battle and passed everywhere, since he was carrying out the commandments of Phoibos Apollo, him of the golden sword, who had bidden him wake the heart in the Trojans as he saw that Pallas Athene was gone away now, she who stood to defend the Danaans. And out of the rich secret chamber Apollo sent forth Aineias, and dropped strength in the heart of the people's shepherd. So Aineias stood among his friends, who were happy as they saw him coming back, still alive, and unwounded and full of brave spirit; yet they asked him no question, for the rest of their fighting work would not let them, that the silver-bow god woke, and manslaughtering Ares, and Hate, whose wrath is relentless.

Now the two Aiantes and Odysseus and Diomedes stirred the Danaans to fight these; since themselves they did not fear the force of the men of Troy nor their charges onward, but stayed where they were, like clouds, which the son of Kronos stops in the windless weather on the heights of the towering mountains, motionless, when the strength of the north wind sleeps, and the other tearing winds, those winds that when they blow into tempests high screaming descend upon the darkening clouds and scatter them. So the Danaans stood steady against the Trojans, nor gave way. And Atreus' son ranged through the masses with his many orders: 'Be men now, dear friends, and take up the heart of courage, and have consideration for each other in the strong encounters, since more come through alive when men consider each other, and there is no glory when they give way, nor warcraft either.'

He spoke, and made a swift cast with his spear, and struck down a great man Deïkoön, companion of high-hearted Aineias, Pergasos' son, whom the Trojans honoured as they honoured Priam's children, since he was a swift man to fight in the foremost. Powerful Agamemnon struck his shield with spear, nor could the shield hold off the spear, but the bronze smashed clean through and was driven on through the belt to the deep of the belly. He fell, thunderously, and his armour clattered upon him.

Now Aineias killed two great men of the Danaans, the sons of Diokles, Orsilochos and Krethon, men whose father dwelt in Phere the strong-founded, rich in substance, and his generation was of the river Alpheios, who flows wide through the country of the Pylians, and who got a son, Ortilochos, to be lord over many men, but the son of Ortilochos was high-hearted Diokles; and to Diokles in his turn were two twin sons born, Orsilochos and Krethon, both well skilled in all fighting. These two as they were grown to young manhood followed along with the Argives in their black ships to Ilion, land of good horses, winning honour for the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaos; now fulfilment of death was a darkness upon them. These, as two young lions in the high places of the mountains, had been raised by their mother in the dark of the deep forest, lions which as they prey upon the cattle and the fat sheep lay waste the steadings where there are men, until they also fall and are killed under the cutting bronze in the men's hands; such were these two who beaten under the hands of Aineias crashed now to the ground as if they were two tall pine trees.

As these fell warlike Menelaos took pity on them and he strode out among the champions, helmed in bright bronze, shaking his spear, and the fury of Ares drove him onward, minded that he might go down under the hands of Aineias. But Antilochos, son of high-hearted Nestor, watched him, and he strode among the champions in fear for the shepherd of the people, lest he be hurt, and all their labour slip away into nothing. So as Aineias and Menelaos raised hand and sharp spear standing to face each other and furious to do battle, Antilochos took his stand close beside the shepherd of the people. Nor did Aineias hold his ground, though yet a swift fighter, as he saw two men staying with each other against him. These, when they had dragged back the bodies among the Achaian people, dropped the poor youths into the hands of their company, and themselves wheeled about once more to fight among the foremost.

There these killed Pylaimenes the equal of Ares, lord of the Paphlagonian men in armour, high-hearted. Menelaos the spear-famed, son of Atreus, stabbed him with the spear as he stood his ground, and struck the collar-bone, while Antilochos struck down Mydon, his charioteer and henchman, Atymnios' brave son, as he wheeled the single-foot horses about, with a stone striking mid-elbow, and from his hands the reins pale with ivory dropped in the dust groundling. Antilochos charging drove the sword into his temple, so that gasping he dropped from the carefully wrought chariot headlong, driven deep in the dust his neck and shoulders; and there, since he chanced to light in a depth of sand, he stuck fast while his horses trampled him into the dust with their feet. These Antilochos lashed and drove back into the host of the Achaians.

Hektor saw them across the ranks, and drove on against them crying aloud, and with him followed the Trojan battalions in their strength; and Ares led them with the goddess Enyo, she carrying with her the turmoil of shameless hatred while Ares made play in his hands with the spear gigantic and ranged now in front of Hektor and now behind him.

Diomedes of the great war cry shivered as he saw him, and like a man in his helplessness who, crossing a great plain, stands at the edge of a fast-running river that dashes seaward, and watches it thundering into white water, and leaps a pace backward, so now Tydeus' son gave back, and spoke to his people: 'Friends, although we know the wonder of glorious Hektor to be a fighter with the spear and a bold man of battle, yet there goes ever some god beside him, who beats off destruction, and now, in the likeness of a man mortal, Ares goes with him. Come then, keeping your faces turned to the Trojans, give ground backward, nor be we eager to fight in strength with divinities.' He spoke, and now the Trojans had come very close upon them. There Hektor cut down two men, well skilled in warcraft, Anchialos and Menesthes both in a single chariot. As these fell great Telamonian Aias pitied them and stood close in and made a cast with the shining javelin, and struck Amphios, Selagos' son, who rich in possessions and rich in cornland had lived in Paisos, but his own destiny brought him companion in arms to Priam and the children of Priam. Now Telamonian Aias struck him beneath the war belt and the far-shadowing spear was fixed in the lower belly, and he fell, thunderously, and shining Aias ran forward to strip his armour, but the Trojans showered spears upon him, sharp spears and glittering, and the great shield caught many. Setting his heel on the chest of the corpse he pulled out the brazen spear, yet could no longer strip the rest of the glorious armour from his shoulders, since he was battered with spears thrown, and he dreaded the strong circle made by the haughty Trojans, who many and valiant stood over him, gripping their great spears, and though he was a mighty man and a strong and a proud one thrust him away from them so that he gave ground backward staggering.

So they went at their work all about the strong encounter. But Herakles' son Tlepolemos the huge and mighty was driven by his strong destiny against godlike Sarpedon. Now as these in their advance had come close together, the own son, and the son's son of Zeus cloud-gathering, it was Tlepolemos of the two who spoke the first word: 'Man of counsel of the Lykians, Sarpedon, why must you be skulking here, you who are a man unskilled in the fighting? They are liars who call you issue of Zeus, the holder of the aegis, since you fall far short in truth of the others who were begotten of Zeus in the generations before us: such men as, they say, was the great strength of Herakles, my own father, of the daring spirit, the heart of a lion: he came here on a time for the sake of Laomedon's horses, with six vessels only and the few men needed to man them, and widowed the streets of Ilion and sacked the city; but yours is the heart of a coward and your people are dying. And I think that now, though you are come from Lykia, you will bring no help to the Trojans even though you be a strong man, but beaten down by my hands will pass through the gates of Hades.'

In turn the lord of the Lykians, Sarpedon, answered him: 'In truth, Tlepolemos, he did destroy Ilion the sacred through the senselessness of one man, the haughty Laomedon, who gave Herakles an evil word in return for good treatment and would not give up the horses for whose sake he had come from far off. But I tell you, what you will win from me here will be death and black destruction; and broken under my spear you will give me glory, and give your soul to Hades of the famed horses.'

So spoke Sarpedon, while the other lifted his ash spear, Tlepolemos; and in a single moment the long shafts shot from their hands, Sarpedon striking him in the middle of the throat, and the agonizing spear drove clean through and over his eyes was mantled the covering mist of darkness. But Tlepolemos in turn had struck Sarpedon with the long spear in the left thigh, and the spear smashed on through in fury scraping the bone, but his father fended destruction away from him.

But his brilliant companions carried godlike Sarpedon out of the fighting, weighted down as he was by the long spear which dragged, yet not one of them noticed nor took thought, in their urgency, to pull out of his thigh the ash spear so he might stand, such hard work did they have attending him.

On the other side the strong-greaved Achaians carried Tlepolemos out of the fighting; but brilliant Odysseus, who held a hardy spirit, saw what had happened, and his heart within was stirred up, but now he pondered two ways within, in mind and in spirit, whether first to go after the son of Zeus the loud-thundering or whether he should strip the life from more of the Lykians. Yet, as it was not the destiny of great-hearted Odysseus to kill with sharp bronze the strong son of Zeus, therefore Athene steered his anger against the host of the Lykians. And there he killed Koiranos, and Chromios, and Alastor, Halios and Alkandros, and Prytanis and Noemon. And now might brilliant Odysseus have killed yet more of the Lykians had not tall Hektor of the shining helmet sharply perceived him, who strode out among the champions helmed in the bright bronze bringing terror to the Danaans; but Zeus' son, Sarpedon, was glad as he saw him come up, and piteously bespoke him: 'Son of Priam, do not leave me lying for the Danaans to prey upon, but protect me, since otherwise in your city my life must come to an end, since I could return no longer back to my own house and the land of my fathers, bringing joy to my own beloved wife and my son, still a baby.'

He spoke, but Hektor of the shining helm did not answer but swept on past him in his eagerness with all speed to push back the Argives and strip the life out of many. Meanwhile his brilliant companions laid godlike Sarpedon under a lovely spreading oak of Zeus of the aegis, and strong Pelagon, one of his beloved companions, pushed perforce through and out of his thigh the shaft of the ash spear. And the mist mantled over his eyes, and the life left him, but he got his breath back again, and the blast of the north wind blowing brought back to life the spirit gasped out in agony.

But the Argives under the strength of Ares and bronze-armoured Hektor did not ever turn their backs and make for their black ships nor yet stand up to them in fighting, but always backward gave way, as they saw how Ares went with the Trojans.

Who then was the first and who the last that they slaughtered, Hektor, Priam's son, and Ares the brazen? Godlike Teuthras first, and next Orestes, driver of horses, Trechos the spearman of Aitolia and Oinomaos, Helenos son of Oinops and Oresbios of the shining guard, who had lived in Hyle much concerned with his property in a place hard on the Kephisian mere, and beside him other men of Boiotia lived and held the fine fertile country.

Now as the goddess Hera of the white arms perceived how the Argives were perishing in the strong encounter, immediately she spoke to Pallas Athene her winged words: 'For shame, now, Atrytone, daughter of Zeus of the aegis: nothing then meant the word we promised to Menelaos, to go home after sacking the strong-walled city of Ilion, if we are to let cursed Ares be so furious. Come then, let us rather think of our own stark courage.' So she spoke, nor did the goddess grey-eyed Athene disobey her. But Hera, high goddess, daughter of Kronos the mighty, went away to harness the gold-bridled horses. Then Hebe in speed set about the chariot the curved wheels eight-spoked and brazen, with an axle of iron both ways. Golden is the wheel's felly imperishable, and outside it is joined, a wonder to look upon, the brazen running-rim, and the silver naves revolve on either side of the chariot, whereas the car itself is lashed fast with plaiting of gold and silver, with double chariot rails that circle about it, and the pole of the chariot is of silver, to whose extremity Hebe made fast the golden and splendid yoke, and fastened the harness, golden and splendid, and underneath the yoke Hera, furious for hate and battle, led the swift-running horses.

Now in turn Athene, daughter of Zeus of the aegis, beside the threshold of her father slipped off her elaborate dress which she herself had wrought with her hands' patience, and now assuming the war tunic of Zeus who gathers the clouds, she armed in her gear for the dismal fighting. And across her shoulders she threw the betasselled, terrible aegis, all about which Terror hangs like a garland, and Hatred is there, and Battle Strength, and heart-freezing Onslaught and thereon is set the head of the grim gigantic Gorgon, a thing of fear and horror, portent of Zeus of the aegis. Upon her head she set the golden helm with its four sheets and two horns, wrought with the fighting men of a hundred cities. She set her feet in the blazing chariot and took up a spear heavy, huge, thick, wherewith she beats down the battalions of fighting men, against whom she of mighty father is angered. Hera laid the lash swiftly on the horses; and moving of themselves groaned the gates of the sky that the Hours guarded, those Hours to whose charge is given the huge sky and Olympos, to open up the dense darkness or again to close it. Through the way between they held the speed of their goaded horses. They found the son of Kronos sitting apart from the other gods, upon the highest peak of rugged Olympos. There the goddess of the white arms, Hera, stopping her horses, spoke to Zeus, high son of Kronos, and asked him a question: 'Father Zeus, are you not angry with Ares for his violent acts, for killing so many and such good Achaian warriors for no reason, and out of due order, to grieve me? And meanwhile Kypris and Apollo of the silver bow take their ease and their pleasure having let loose this maniac who knows nothing of justice. Father Zeus, would you be angry with me if I were to smite Ares with painful strokes and drive him out of the fighting?'

Then in turn the father of gods and men made answer: 'Go to it then, and set against him the spoiler Athene, who beyond all others is the one to visit harsh pains upon him.'

So he spoke, nor did the goddess of the white arms, Hera, disobey, but lashed on the horses, and they winged their way unreluctant through the space between the earth and the starry heaven. As far as into the hazing distance a man can see with his eyes, who sits in his eyrie gazing on the wine-blue water, as far as this is the stride of the gods' proud neighing horses. Now as they came to Troy land and the two running rivers where Simoeis and Skamandros dash their waters together, there the goddess of the white arms, Hera, stayed her horses, slipping them from the chariot, and drifting close mist about them, and Simoeis grew as grass ambrosia for them to graze on.

Now these two walked forward in little steps like shivering doves, in their eagerness to stand by the men of Argos, after they had come to the place where the most and the bravest stood close huddled about the great strength of the breaker of horses, Diomedes; in the likeness of lions who rend their meat raw, or wild pigs, boars, in whom the strength diminishes never, there standing the goddess of the white arms, Hera, shouted, likening herself to high-hearted, bronze-voiced Stentor, who could cry out in as great a voice as fifty other men: 'Shame, you Argives, poor nonentities splendid to look on. In those days when brilliant Achilleus came into the fighting, never would the Trojans venture beyond the Dardanian gates, so much did they dread the heavy spear of that man. Now they fight by the hollow ships and far from the city.' So she spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man. But the goddess grey-eyed Athene made straight for Tydeus' son, and found the king standing by his horses and chariot, cooling the wound that Pandaros made with the cast of his arrow. For the sweat made him sore underneath the broad strap of the circled shield; this made him sore, and his arm was tired. He held up the shield-strap, and wiped the dark blot of blood away from it. The goddess laid hold of the harnessed horses and spoke to him: 'Tydeus got him a son who is little enough like him, since Tydeus was a small man for stature, but he was a fighter. Even on that time when I would not consent to his fighting nor drawing men's eyes, when he went by himself without the Achaians as a messenger to Thebe among all the Kadmeians, then I invited him to feast at his ease in their great halls; even so, keeping that heart of strength that was always within him he challenged the young men of the Kadmeians, and defeated all of them easily; such a helper was I who stood then beside him. Now beside you also I stand and ever watch over you, and urge you to fight confidently with the Trojans. And yet the weariness has entered your limbs from many encounters, or else it is some poor-spirited fear that holds you. If so, you are no issue then of the son of wise Oineus, Tydeus.'

Then in answer powerful Diomedes spoke to her: 'Daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis, goddess, I know you, and therefore will speak confidently to you, and hide nothing. It is no poor-spirited fear nor shrinking that holds me. Rather I remember the orders you yourself gave me when you would not let me fight in the face of the blessed immortals-- the rest of them, except only if Aphrodite, Zeus' daughter, went into the fighting, I might stab at her with the sharp bronze. Therefore now have I myself given way, and I ordered the rest of the Argives all to be gathered in this place beside me, since I see that this who is lord of the fighting is Ares.'

Then in turn the goddess grey-eyed Athene answered him: 'Son of Tydeus, you who delight my heart, Diomedes, no longer be thus afraid of Ares, nor of any other immortal; such a helper shall I be standing beside you. Come then, first against Ares steer your single-foot horses, and strike him from close. Be not afraid of violent Ares, that thing of fury, evil-wrought, that double-faced liar who even now protested to Hera and me, promising that he would fight against the Trojans and stand by the Argives. Now, all promises forgotten, he stands by the Trojans.'

So speaking she pushed Sthenelos to the ground from the chariot, driving him back with her hand, and he leapt away from it lightly, and she herself, a goddess in her anger, stepped into the chariot beside brilliant Diomedes, and the oaken axle groaned aloud under the weight, carrying a dread goddess and a great man. Pallas Athene then took up the whip and the reins, steering first of all straight on against Ares the single-foot horses. Ares was in the act of stripping gigantic Periphas, shining son of Ochesios, far the best of the men of Aitolia. Blood-stained Ares was in the act of stripping him. But Athene put on the helm of Death, that stark Ares might not discern her.

Now as manslaughtering Ares caught sight of Diomedes the brilliant, he let gigantic Periphas lie in the place where he had first cut him down and taken the life away from him, and made straight against Diomedes, breaker of horses. Now as they in their advance had come close together, Ares lunged first over the yoke and the reins of his horses with the bronze spear, furious to take the life from him. But the goddess grey-eyed Athene in her hand catching the spear pushed it away from the car, so he missed and stabbed vainly. After him Diomedes of the great war cry drove forward with the bronze spear; and Pallas Athene, leaning in on it, drove it into the depth of the belly where the war belt girt him. Picking this place she stabbed and driving it deep in the fair flesh wrenched the spear out again. Then Ares the brazen bellowed with a sound as great as nine thousand men make, or ten thousand, when they cry as they carry into the fighting the fury of the war god. And a shivering seized hold alike on Achaians and Trojans in their fear at the bellowing of battle-insatiate Ares.

As when out of the thunderhead the air shows darkening after a day's heat when the stormy wind uprises, thus to Tydeus' son Diomedes Ares the brazen showed as he went up with the clouds into the wide heaven. Lightly he came to the gods' citadel, headlong Olympos, and sat down beside Kronian Zeus, grieving in his spirit, and showed him the immortal blood dripping from the spear cut. So in sorrow for himself he addressed him in winged words: 'Father Zeus, are you not angry looking on these acts of violence? We who are gods forever have to endure the most horrible hurts, by each other's hatred, as we try to give favour to mortals. It is your fault we fight, since you brought forth this maniac daughter accursed, whose mind is fixed forever on unjust action. For all the rest, as many as are gods on Olympos, are obedient to you, and we all have rendered ourselves submissive. Yet you say nothing and you do nothing to check this girl, letting her go free, since yourself you begot this child of perdition. See now, the son of Tydeus, Diomedes the haughty, she has egged on to lash out in fury against the immortal gods. First he stabbed the Kyprian in the arm by the wrist. Then like something more than human he swept on even against me. But my swift feet took me out of the way. Otherwise I should long be lying there in pain among the stark dead men, or go living without strength because of the strokes of the bronze spear.' Then looking at him darkly Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to him: 'Do not sit beside me and whine, you double-faced liar. To me you are most hateful of all gods who hold Olympos. Forever quarrelling is dear to your heart, was and battles. Truly the anger of Hera your mother is grown out of all hand nor gives ground; and try as I may I am broken by her arguments, and it is by her impulse, I think, you are suffering all this. And yet I will not long endure to see you in pain, since you are my child, and it was to me that your mother bore you. But were you born of some other god and proved so ruinous long since you would have been dropped beneath the gods of the bright sky.' So he spoke, and told Paiëon to heal him; and scattering medicines to still pain upon him Paiëon rendered him well again, since he was not made to be one of the mortals. As when the juice of the fig in white milk rapidly fixes that which was fluid before and curdles quickly for one who stirs it; in such speed as this he healed violent Ares; and Hebe washed him clean and put delicate clothing upon him. And rejoicing in the glory of his strength he sat down beside Kronion.

Meanwhile, the two went back again to the house of great Zeus, Hera of Argos, with Athene who stands by her people, after they stopped the murderous work of manslaughtering Ares.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 6

 So the grim encounter of Achaians and Trojans was left to itself, and the battle veered greatly now one way, now in another, over the plain as they guided their bronze spears at each other in the space between the waters of Xanthos and Simoeis.

First Telamonian Aias, that bastion of the Achaians, broke the Trojan battalions and brought light to his own company, striking down the man who was far the best of the Thracians, Akamas, the huge and mighty, the son of Eussoros. Throwing first, he struck the horn of the horse-haired helmet and the bronze spear-point fixed in his forehead and drove inward through the bone; and a mist of darkness clouded both eyes.

Diomedes of the great war cry cut down Axylos, Teuthras' son, who had been a dweller in strong-founded Arisbe, a man rich in substance and a friend to all humanity since in his house by the wayside he entertained all comers. Yet there was none of these now to stand before him and keep off the sad destruction, and Diomedes stripped life from both of them, Axylos and his henchman Kalesios, who was the driver guiding his horses; so down to the underworld went both men.

Now Euryalos slaughtered Opheltios and Dresos, and went in pursuit of Aisepos and Pedasos, those whom the naiad nymph Abarbare had born to blameless Boukolion. Boukolion himself was the son of haughty Laomedon, eldest born, but his mother conceived him in darkness and secrecy. While shepherding his flocks he lay with the nymph and loved her, and she conceiving bore him twin boys. But now Mekistios' son unstrung the strength of these and the limbs in their glory, Euryalos, and stripped the armour away from their shoulders.

Polypoites the stubborn in battle cut down Astyalos, while Odysseus slaughtered one from Perkote, Pidytes, with the bronze spear, and great Aretaon was killed by Teukros. Nestor's son Antilochos with the shining shaft killed Ableros; the lord of men, Agamemnon, brought death to Elatos, whose home had been on the shores of Satnioeis' lovely waters, sheer Pedasos. And Leitos the fighter caught Phylakos as he ran away; and Eurypylos made an end of Melanthios.

Now Menelaos of the great war cry captured Adrestos alive; for his two horses bolting over the level land got entangled in a tamarisk growth, and shattered the curving chariot at the tip of the pole; so they broken free went on toward the city, where many beside stampeded in terror. So Adrestos was whirled beside the wheel from the chariot headlong into the dust on his face; and the son of Atreus, Menelaos, with the far-shadowed spear in his hand, stood over him. But Adrestos, catching him by the knees, supplicated: 'Take me alive, son of Atreus, and take appropriate ransom. In my rich father's house the treasures lie piled in abundance; bronze is there, and gold, and difficultly wrought iron, and my father would make you glad with abundant repayment were he to hear that I am alive by the ships of the Achaians.'

So he spoke, and moved the spirit inside Menelaos. And now he was on the point of handing him to a henchman to lead back to the fast Achaian ships; but Agamemnon came on the run to join him and spoke his word of argument: 'Dear brother, o Menelaos, are you concerned so tenderly with these people? Did you in your house get the best of treatment from the Trojans? No, let not one of them go free of sudden death and our hands; not the young man child that the mother carries still in her body, not even he, but let all of Ilion's people perish, utterly blotted out and unmourned for.'

The hero spoke like this, and bent the heart of his brother since he urged justice. Menelaos shoved with his hand Adrestos the warrior back from him, and powerful Agamemnon stabbed him in the side and, as he writhed over, Atreides, setting his heel upon the midriff, wrenched out the ash spear.

Nestor in a great voice cried out to the men of Argos: 'O beloved Danaan fighters, henchmen of Ares, let no man any more hang back with his eye on the plunder designing to take all the spoil he can gather back to the vessels; let us kill the men now, and afterwards at your leisure all along the plain you can plunder the perished corpses.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man. Then once more would the Trojans have climbed back into Ilion's wall, subdued by terror before the warlike Achaians, had not Priam's son, Helenos, best by far of the augurs, stood beside Aineias and Hektor and spoken a word to them: 'Hektor and Aineias, on you beyond others is leaning the battle-work of Trojans and Lykians, since you are our greatest in every course we take, whether it be in thought or in fighting: stand your ground here; visit your people everywhere; hold them fast by the gates, before they tumble into their women's arms, and become to our enemies a thing to take joy in. Afterwards, when you have set all the battalions in motion, the rest of us will stand fast here and fight with the Danaans though we are very hard hit indeed; necessity forces us; but you, Hektor, go back again to the city, and there tell your mother and mine to assemble all the ladies of honour at the temple of grey-eyed Athene high on the citadel; there opening with a key the door to the sacred chamber let her take a robe, which seems to her the largest and loveliest in the great house, and that which is far her dearest possession, and lay it along the knees of Athene the lovely haired. Let her promise to dedicate within the shrine twelve heifers, yearlings, never broken, if only she will have pity on the town of Troy, and the Trojan wives, and their innocent children. So she might hold back from sacred Ilion the son of Tydeus, that wild spear-fighter, the strong one who drives men to thoughts of terror, who I say now is become the strongest of all the Achaians. For never did we so fear Achilleus even, that leader of men, who they say was born of a goddess. This man has gone clean berserk, so that no one can match his warcraft against him.' So he spoke, and Hektor did not disobey his brother, but at once in all his armour leapt to the ground from his chariot and shaking two sharp spears in his hands ranged over the whole host stirring them up to fight and waking the ghastly warfare. So they whirled about and stood their ground against the Achaians, and the Argives gave way backward and stopped their slaughtering, and thought some one of the immortals must have descended from the starry sky to stand by the Trojans, the way they rallied. But Hektor lifted his voice and cried aloud to the Trojans: 'You high-hearted Trojans and far-renowned companions, be men now, dear friends, and remember your furious valour until I can go back again to Ilion, and there tell the elder men who sit as counsellors, and our own wives, to make their prayer to the immortals and promise them hecatombs.'

So spoke Hektor of the shining helm, and departed; and against his ankles as against his neck clashed the dark ox-hide, the rim running round the edge of the great shield massive in the middle.

Now Glaukos, sprung of Hippolochos, and the son of Tydeus came together in the space between the two armies, battle-bent. Now as these advancing came to one place and encountered, first to speak was Diomedes of the great war cry: 'Who among mortal men are you, good friend? Since never before have I seen you in the fighting where men win glory, yet now you have come striding far out in front of all others in your great heart, who have dared stand up to my spear far-shadowing. Yet unhappy are those whose sons match warcraft against me. But if you are some one of the immortals come down from the bright sky, know that I will not fight against any god of the heaven, since even the son of Dryas, Lykourgos the powerful, did not live long; he who tried to fight with the gods of the bright sky, who once drove the fosterers of rapturous Dionysos headlong down the sacred Nyseian hill, and all of them shed and scattered their wands on the ground, stricken with an ox-goad by murderous Lykourgos, while Dionysos in terror dived into the salt surf, and Thetis took him to her bosom, frightened, with the strong shivers upon him at the man's blustering. But the gods who live at their ease were angered with Lykourgos, and the son of Kronos struck him to blindness, nor did he live long afterwards, since he was hated by all the immortals. Therefore neither would I be willing to fight with the blessed gods; but if you are one of those mortals who eat what the soil yields, come nearer, so that sooner you may reach your appointed destruction.'

Then in turn the shining son of Hippolochos answered: 'High-hearted son of Tydeus, why ask of my generation? As is the generation of leaves, so is that of humanity. The wind scatters the leaves on the ground, but the live timber burgeons with leaves again in the season of spring returning. So one generation of men will grow while another dies. Yet if you wish to learn all this and be certain of my genealogy: there are plenty of men who know it. There is a city, Ephyre, in the corner of horse-pasturing Argos; there lived Sisyphos, that sharpest of all men, Sisyphos, Aiolos' son, and he had a son named Glaukos, and Glaukos in turn sired Bellerophontes the blameless. To Bellerophontes the gods granted beauty and desirable manhood; but Proitos in anger devised evil things against him, and drove him out of his own domain, since he was far greater, from the Argive country Zeus had broken to the sway of his sceptre. Beautiful Anteia the wife of Proitos was stricken with passion to lie in love with him, and yet she could not beguile valiant Bellerophontes, whose will was virtuous. So she went to Proitos the king and uttered her falsehood: "Would you be killed, o Proitos? Then murder Bellerophontes who tried to lie with me in love, though I was unwilling." So she spoke, and anger took hold of the king at her story. He shrank from killing him, since his heart was awed by such action, but sent him away to Lykia, and handed him murderous symbols, which he inscribed in a folding tablet, enough to destroy life, and told him to show it to his wife's father, that he might perish. Bellerophontes went to Lykia in the blameless convoy of the gods; when he came to the running stream of Xanthos, and Lykia, the lord of wide Lykia tendered him full-hearted honour. Nine days he entertained him with sacrifice of nine oxen, but afterwards when the rose fingers of the tenth dawn showed, then he began to question him, and asked to be shown the symbols, whatever he might be carrying from his son-in-law, Proitos. Then after he had been given his son-in-law's wicked symbols first he sent him away with orders to kill the Chimaira none might approach; a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire. He killed the Chimaira, obeying the portents of the immortals. Next after this he fought against the glorious Solymoi, and this he thought was the strongest battle with men that he entered; but third he slaughtered the Amazons, who fight men in battle. Now as he came back the king spun another entangling treachery; for choosing the bravest men in wide Lykia he laid a trap, but these men never came home thereafter since all of them were killed by blameless Bellerophontes. Then when the king knew him for the powerful stock of the god, he detained him there, and offered him the hand of his daughter, and gave him half of all the kingly privilege. Thereto the men of Lykia cut out a piece of land, surpassing all others, fine ploughland and orchard for him to administer. His bride bore three children to valiant Bellerophontes, Isandros and Hippolochos and Laodameia. Laodameia lay in love beside Zeus of the counsels and bore him godlike Sarpedon of the brazen helmet. But after Bellerophontes was hated by all the immortals, he wandered alone about the plain of Aleios, eating his heart out, skulking aside from the trodden track of humanity. As for Isandros his son, Ares the insatiate of fighting killed him in close battle against the glorious Solymoi, while Artemis of the golden reins killed the daughter in anger. But Hippolochos begot me, and I claim that he is my father; he sent me to Troy, and urged upon me repeated injunctions, to be always among the bravest, and hold my head above others, not shaming the generation of my fathers, who were the greatest men in Ephyre and again in wide Lykia. Such is my generation and the blood I claim to be born from.'

He spoke, and Diomedes of the great war cry was gladdened. He drove his spear deep into the prospering earth, and in winning words of friendliness he spoke to the shepherd of the people: 'See now, you are my guest friend from far in the time of our fathers. Brilliant Oineus once was host to Bellerophontes the blameless, in his halls, and twenty days he detained him, and these two gave to each other fine gifts in token of friendship. Oineus gave his guest a war belt bright with the red dye, Bellerophontes a golden and double-handled drinking-cup, a thing I left behind in my house when I came on my journey. Tydeus, though, I cannot remember, since I was little when he left me, that time the people of the Achaians perished in Thebe. Therefore I am your friend and host in the heart of Argos; you are mine in Lykia, when I come to your country. Let us avoid each other's spears, even in the close fighting. There are plenty of Trojans and famed companions in battle for me to kill, whom the god sends me, or those I run down with my swift feet, many Achaians for you to slaughter, if you can do it. But let us exchange our armour, so that these others may know how we claim to be guests and friends from the days of our fathers.'

So they spoke, and both springing down from behind their horses gripped each other's hands and exchanged the promise of friendship; but Zeus the son of Kronos stole away the wits of Glaukos who exchanged with Diomedes the son of Tydeus armour of gold for bronze, for nine oxen's worth the worth of a hundred.

Now as Hektor had come to the Skaian gates and the oak tree, all the wives of the Trojans and their daughters came running about him to ask after their sons, after their brothers and neighbours, their husbands; and he told them to pray to the immortals, all, in turn; but there were sorrows in store for many.

Now he entered the wonderfully built palace of Priam. This was fashioned with smooth-stone cloister walks, and within it were embodied fifty sleeping chambers of smoothed stone built so as to connect with each other; and within these slept each beside his own wedded wife, the sons of Priam. In the same inner court on the opposite side, to face these, lay the twelve close smooth-stone sleeping chambers of his daughters built so as to connect with each other; and within these slept, each by his own modest wife, the lords of the daughters of Priam. There there came to meet Hektor his bountiful mother with Laodike, the loveliest looking of all her daughters. She clung to his hand and called him by name and spoke to him: 'Why then, child, have you come here and left behind the bold battle? Surely it is these accursed sons of the Achaians who wear you out, as they fight close to the city, and the spirit stirred you to return, and from the peak of the citadel lift your hands, praying to Zeus. But stay while I bring you honey-sweet wine, to pour out a libation to father Zeus and the other immortals first, and afterwards if you will drink yourself, be strengthened. In a tired man, wine will bring back his strength to its bigness, in a man tired as you are tired, defending your neighbours.'

Tall Hektor of the shining helm spoke to her answering: 'My honoured mother, lift not to me the kindly sweet wine, for fear you stagger my strength and make me forget my courage; and with hands unwashed I would take shame to pour the glittering wine to Zeus; there is no means for a man to pray to the dark-misted son of Kronos, with blood and muck all spattered upon him. But go yourself to the temple of the spoiler Athene, assembling the ladies of honour, and with things to be sacrificed, and take a robe, which seems to you the largest and loveliest in the great house, and that which is far your dearest possession. Lay this along the knees of Athene the lovely haired. Also promise to dedicate within the shrine twelve heifers, yearlings, never broken, if only she will have pity on the town of Troy, and the Trojan wives, and their innocent children, if she will hold back from sacred Ilion the son of Tydeus, that wild spear-fighter, the strong one who drives men to thoughts of terror. So go yourself to the temple of the spoiler Athene, while I go in search of Paris, to call him, if he will listen to anything I tell him. How I wish at this moment the earth might open beneath him. The Olympian let him live, a great sorrow to the Trojans, and high-hearted Priam, and all of his children. If only I could see him gone down to the house of the Death God, then I could say my heart had forgotten its joyless affliction.'

So he spoke, and she going into the great house called out to her handmaidens, who assembled throughout the city the highborn women; while she descended into the fragrant store-chamber. There lay the elaborately wrought robes, the work of Sidonian women, whom Alexandros himself, the godlike, had brought home from the land of Sidon, crossing the wide sea, on that journey when he brought back also gloriously descended Helen. Hekabe lifted out one and took it as gift to Athene, that which was the loveliest in design and the largest, and shone like a star. It lay beneath the others. She went on her way, and a throng of noble women hastened about her.

When these had come to Athene's temple on the peak of the citadel, Theano of the fair cheeks opened the door for them, daughter of Kisseus, and wife of Antenor, breaker of horses, she whom the Trojans had established to be Athene's priestess. With a wailing cry all lifted up their hands to Athene, and Theano of the fair cheeks taking up the robe laid it along the knees of Athene the lovely haired, and praying she supplicated the daughter of powerful Zeus: 'O lady, Athene, our city's defender, shining among goddesses: break the spear of Diomedes, and grant that the man be hurled on his face in front of the Skaian gates; so may we instantly dedicate within your shrine twelve heifers, yearlings, never broken, if only you will have pity on the town of Troy, and the Trojan wives, and their innocent children.' She spoke in prayer, but Pallas Athene turned her head from her. So they made their prayer to the daughter of Zeus the powerful. But Hektor went away to the house of Alexandros, a splendid place he had built himself, with the men who at that time were the best men for craftsmanship in the generous Troad, who had made him a sleeping room and a hall and a courtyard near the houses of Hektor and Priam, on the peak of the citadel. There entered Hektor beloved of Zeus, in his hand holding the eleven-cubit-long spear, whose shaft was tipped with a shining bronze spearhead, and a ring of gold was hooped to hold it. He found the man in his chamber busy with his splendid armour, the corselet and the shield, and turning in his hands the curved bow, while Helen of Argos was sitting among her attendant women directing the magnificent work done by her handmaidens. But Hektor saw him, and in words of shame he rebuked him: 'Strange man! It is not fair to keep in your heart this coldness. The people are dying around the city and around the steep wall as they fight hard; and it is for you that this war with its clamour has flared up about our city. You yourself would fight with another whom you saw anywhere hanging back from the hateful encounter. Up then, to keep our town from burning at once in the hot fire.'

Then in answer the godlike Alexandros spoke to him: 'Hektor, seeing you have scolded me rightly, not beyond measure, therefore I will tell, and you in turn understand and listen. It was not so much in coldness and bitter will toward the Trojans that I sat in my room, but I wished to give myself over to sorrow. But just now with soft words my wife was winning me over and urging me into the fight, and that way seems to me also the better one. Victory passes back and forth between men. Come then, wait for me now while I put on my armour of battle, or go, and I will follow, and I think I can overtake you.'

He spoke, but Hektor of the shining helm gave him no answer, but Helen spoke to him in words of endearment: 'Brother by marriage to me, who am a nasty bitch evil-intriguing, how I wish that on that day when my mother first bore me

the foul whirlwind of the storm had caught me away and swept me to the mountain, or into the wash of the sea deep-thundering where the waves would have swept me away before all these things had happened. Yet since the gods had brought it about that these vile things must be, I wish I had been the wife of a better man than this is, one who knew modesty and all things of shame that men say. But this man's heart is no steadfast thing, nor yet will it be so ever hereafter; for that I think he shall take the consequence. But come now, come in and rest on this chair, my brother, since it is on your heart beyond all that the hard work has fallen for the sake of dishonoured me and the blind act of Alexandros, us two, on whom Zeus set a vile destiny, so that hereafter we shall be made into things of song for the men of the future.'

Then tall Hektor of the shining helm answered her: 'Do not, Helen, make me sit with you, though you love me. You will not persuade me. Already my heart within is hastening me to defend the Trojans, who when I am away long greatly to have me. Rather rouse this man, and let himself also be swift to action so he may overtake me while I am still in the city. For I am going first to my own house, so I can visit my own people, my beloved wife and my son, who is little, since I do not know if ever again I shall come back this way, or whether the gods will strike me down at the hands of the Achaians.'

So speaking Hektor of the shining helm departed and in speed made his way to his own well-established dwelling, but failed to find in the house Andromache of the white arms; for she, with the child, and followed by one fair-robed attendant, had taken her place on the tower in lamentation, and tearful. When he saw no sign of his perfect wife within the house, Hektor stopped in his way on the threshold and spoke among the handmaidens: 'Come then, tell me truthfully as you may, handmaidens: where has Andromache of the white arms gone? Is she with any of the sisters of her lord or the wives of his brothers? Or has she gone to the house of Athene, where all the other lovely-haired women of Troy propitiate the grim goddess?'

Then in turn the hard-working housekeeper gave him an answer: 'Hektor, since you have urged me to tell you the truth, she is not with any of the sisters of her lord or the wives of his brothers, nor has she gone to the house of Athene, where all the other lovely-haired women of Troy propitiate the grim goddess, but she has gone to the great bastion of Ilion, because she heard that the Trojans were losing, and great grew the strength of the Achaians. Therefore she has gone in speed to the wall, like a woman gone mad, and a nurse attending her carries the baby.'

So the housekeeper spoke, and Hektor hastened from his home backward by the way he had come through the well-laid streets. So as he had come to the gates on his way through the great city, the Skaian gates, whereby he would issue into the plain, there at last his own generous wife came running to meet him, Andromache, the daughter of high-hearted Eëtion; Eëtion, who had dwelt underneath wooded Plakos, in Thebe below Plakos, lord over the Kilikian people. It was his daughter who was given to Hektor of the bronze helm. She came to him there, and beside her went an attendant carrying the boy in the fold of her bosom, a little child, only a baby, Hektor's son, the admired, beautiful as a star shining, whom Hektor called Skamandrios, but all of the others Astyanax--lord of the city; since Hektor alone saved Ilion. Hektor smiled in silence as he looked on his son, but she, Andromache, stood close beside him, letting her tears fall, and clung to his hand and called him by name and spoke to him: 'Dearest, your own great strength will be your death, and you have no pity on your little son, nor on me, ill-starred, who soon must be your widow; for presently the Achaians, gathering together, will set upon you and kill you; and for me it would be far better to sink into the earth when I have lost you, for there is no other consolation for me after you have gone to your destiny-- only grief; since I have no father, no honoured mother. It was brilliant Achilleus who slew my father, Eëtion, when he stormed the strong-founded citadel of the Kilikians, Thebe of the towering gates. He killed Eëtion but did not strip his armour, for his heart respected the dead man, but burned the body in all its elaborate war-gear and piled a grave mound over it, and the nymphs of the mountains, daughters of Zeus of the aegis, planted elm trees about it. And they who were my seven brothers in the great house all went upon a single day down into the house of the death god, for swift-footed brilliant Achilleus slaughtered all of them as they were tending their white sheep and their lumbering oxen; and when he had led my mother, who was queen under wooded Plakos, here, along with all his other possessions, Achilleus released her again, accepting ransom beyond count, but Artemis of the showering arrows struck her down in the halls of her father. Hektor, thus you are father to me, and my honoured mother, you are my brother, and you it is who are my young husband. Please take pity upon me then, stay here on the rampart, that you may not leave your child an orphan, your wife a widow, but draw your people up by the fig tree, there where the city is openest to attack, and where the wall may be mounted. Three times their bravest came that way, and fought there to storm it about the two Aiantes and renowned Idomeneus, about the two Atreidai and the fighting son of Tydeus. Either some man well skilled in prophetic arts had spoken, or the very spirit within themselves had stirred them to the onslaught.'

Then tall Hektor of the shining helm answered her: 'All these things are in my mind also, lady; yet I would feel deep shame before the Trojans, and the Trojan women with trailing garments, if like a coward I were to shrink aside from the fighting; and the spirit will not let me, since I have learned to be valiant and to fight always among the foremost ranks of the Trojans, winning for my own self great glory, and for my father. For I know this thing well in my heart, and my mind knows it: there will come a day when sacred Ilion shall perish, and Priam, and the people of Priam of the strong ash spear. But it is not so much the pain to come of the Trojans that troubles me, not even of Priam the king nor Hekabe, not the thought of my brothers who in their numbers and valour shall drop in the dust under the hands of men who hate them, as troubles me the thought of you, when some bronze-armoured Achaian leads you off, taking away your day of liberty, in tears; and in Argos you must work at the loom of another, and carry water from the spring Messeis or Hypereia, all unwilling, but strong will be the necessity upon you; and some day seeing you shedding tears a man will say of you: "This is the wife of Hektor, who was ever the bravest fighter of the Trojans, breakers of horses, in the days when they fought about Ilion." So will one speak of you; and for you it will be yet a fresh grief, to be widowed of such a man who could fight off the day of your slavery. But may I be dead and the piled earth hide me under before I hear you crying and know by this that they drag you captive.'

So speaking glorious Hektor held out his arms to his baby, who shrank back to his fair-girdled nurse's bosom screaming, and frightened at the aspect of his own father, terrified as he saw the bronze and the crest with its horse-hair, nodding dreadfully, as he thought, from the peak of the helmet. Then his beloved father laughed out, and his honoured mother, and at once glorious Hektor lifted from his head the helmet and laid it in all its shining upon the ground. Then taking up his dear son he tossed him about in his arms, and kissed him, and lifted his voice in prayer to Zeus and the other immortals: 'Zeus, and you other immortals, grant that this boy, who is my son, may be as I am, pre-eminent among the Trojans, great in strength, as am I, and rule strongly over Ilion; and some day let them say of him: "He is better by far than his father", as he comes in from the fighting; and let him kill his enemy and bring home the blooded spoils, and delight the heart of his mother.'

So speaking he set his child again in the arms of his beloved wife, who took him back again to her fragrant bosom smiling in her tears; and her husband saw, and took pity upon her, and stroked her with his hand, and called her by name and spoke to her: 'Poor Andromache! Why does your heart sorrow so much for me? No man is going to hurl me to Hades, unless it is fated, but as for fate, I think that no man yet has escaped it once it has taken its first form, neither brave man nor coward. Go therefore back to our house, and take up your own work, the loom and the distaff, and see to it that your handmaidens ply their work also; but the men must see to the fighting, all men who are the people of Ilion, but I beyond others.'

So glorious Hektor spoke and again took up the helmet with its crest of horse-hair, while his beloved wife went homeward, turning to look back on the way, letting the live tears fall. And as she came in speed into the well-settled household of Hektor the slayer of men, she found numbers of handmaidens within, and her coming stirred all of them into lamentation. So they mourned in his house over Hektor while he was living still, for they thought he would never again come back from the fighting alive, escaping the Achaian hands and their violence.

But Paris in turn did not linger long in his high house, but when he had put on his glorious armour with bronze elaborate he ran in the confidence of his quick feet through the city. As when some stalled horse who has been corn-fed at the manger breaking free of his rope gallops over the plain in thunder to his accustomed bathing place in a sweet-running river and in the pride of his strength holds high his head, and the mane floats over his shoulders; sure of his glorious strength, the quick knees carry him to the loved places and the pasture of horses; so from uttermost Pergamos came Paris, the son of Priam, shining in all his armour of war as the sun shines, laughing aloud, and his quick feet carried him; suddenly thereafter he came on brilliant Hektor, his brother, where he yet lingered before turning away from the place where he had talked with his lady. It was Alexandros the godlike who first spoke to him: 'Brother, I fear that I have held back your haste, by being slow on the way, not coming in time, as you commanded me.'

Then tall Hektor of the shining helm spoke to him in answer: 'Strange man! There is no way that one, giving judgment in fairness, could dishonour your work in battle, since you are a strong man. But of your own accord you hang back, unwilling. And my heart is grieved in its thought, when I hear shameful things spoken about you by the Trojans, who undergo hard fighting for your sake. Let us go now; some day hereafter we will make all right with the immortal gods in the sky, if Zeus ever grant it, setting up to them in our houses the wine-bowl of liberty after we have driven out of Troy the strong-greaved Achaians.'

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 7

 So speaking Hektor the glorious swept on through the gates, and with him went Alexandros his brother, both of them minded in their hearts to do battle and take their part in the fighting. And as to men of the sea in their supplication the god sends a fair wind, when they are breaking their strength at the smoothed oar-sweeps, driving over the sea, and their arms are weak with weariness, so these two appeared to the Trojans, who had longed for them.

Each killed his man: Paris, the son of lord Areïthoös, Menesthios, who lived in Arne, born to him of the war club Areïthoös, and to ox-eyed Phylomedousa; while Hektor with the sharp spear struck Eïoneus, under the circle of the bronze helm, in the neck, and broke his limbs' strength. And Glaukos, lord of the Lykian men, the son of Hippolochos, struck down with the spear Iphinoös in the strong encounter, Dexias' son, as he leapt up behind his fast horses, striking him in the shoulder. He dropped from car to ground, and his limbs' strength was broken.

Now as the goddess grey-eyed Athene was aware of these two destroying the men of Argos in the strong encounter, she went down in a flash of speed from the peaks of Olympos to sacred Ilion, where Apollo stirred forth to meet her from his seat on Pergamos, where he planned that the Trojans should conquer. These two then encountered each other beside the oak tree, and speaking first the son of Zeus, lord Apollo, addressed her: 'What can be your desire this time, o daughter of great Zeus, that you came down from Olympos at the urge of your mighty spirit? To give the Danaans victory in the battle, turning it back? Since you have no pity at all for the Trojans who are dying. But if you might only do as I say, it would be far better. For this day let us put an end to the hatred and the fighting now; they shall fight again hereafter, till we witness the finish they make of Ilion, since it is dear to the heart of you, who are goddesses immortal, that this city shall be made desolate.'

Then in answer the goddess grey-eyed Athene spoke to him: 'Worker from afar, thus let it be. These were my thoughts also as I came down from Olympos among the Achaians and Trojans. Tell me then, how are you minded to stop these men in their fighting?'

Now in turn the son of Zeus, lord Apollo, addressed her: 'Let us rouse up the strong heart in Hektor, breaker of horses, if he might call forth some Danaan to do battle against him, single man against single man, in bitter combat; and let the strong-greaved Achaians, stirred into admiration, send forth a single man to do battle with brilliant Hektor.' He spoke, nor failed to persuade the goddess grey-eyed Athene. Now Helenos, Priam's beloved son, gathered into his heart their deliberation, and all that pleased the musing divinities. He went on his way and stood beside Hektor and spoke a word to him: 'Hektor, o son of Priam and equal of Zeus in counsel, would you now be persuaded by me, for I am your brother? Make the rest of the Trojans sit down, and all the Achaians, and yourself call forth one of the Achaians, their bravest, to fight man to man against you in bitter combat. Since it is not your destiny yet to die and encounter fate. For thus I heard it in the speech of the gods everlasting.'

So he spoke, and Hektor hearing his word was happy, and went into the space between and forced back the Trojan battalions, holding his spear by the middle, until they were all seated, while Agamemnon in turn seated the strong-greaved Achaians, and Athene and the lord of the silver bow, Apollo, assuming the likenesses of birds, of vultures, settled aloft the great oak tree of their father, Zeus of the aegis, taking their ease and watching these men whose ranks, dense-settled, shuddered into a bristle of spears, of shields and of helmets. As when the shudder of the west wind suddenly rising scatters across the water, and the water darkens beneath it, so darkening were settled the ranks of Achaians and Trojans in the plain. And now Hektor spoke forth between them: 'Listen to me, you Trojans and strong-greaved Achaians, while I speak forth what the heart within my breast urges. Zeus, son of Kronos, who sits on high, would not bring to fulfilment our oaths, but is found to be of evil intention toward both sides until that day when you storm Troy of the strong towers, or that day when you yourselves are broken beside your seafaring vessels. Seeing now that among you are the bravest of all the Achaians, let one of you, whose heart stirs him to combat against me, stand forth before all to fight by himself against brilliant Hektor. Behold the terms that I make, let Zeus be witness upon them. If with the thin edge of the bronze he takes my life, then let him strip my armour and carry it back to the hollow ships, but give my body to be taken home again, so that the Trojans and the wives of the Trojans may give me in death my rite of burning. But if I take his life, and Apollo grants me the glory, I will strip his armour and carry it to sacred Ilion and hang it in front of the temple of far-striking Apollo, but his corpse I will give back among the strong-benched vessels so that the flowing-haired Achaians may give him due burial and heap up a mound upon him beside the broad passage of Helle. And some day one of the men to come will say, as he sees it, one who in his benched ship sails on the wine-blue water: "This is the mound of a man who died long ago in battle, who was one of the bravest, and glorious Hektor killed him." So will he speak some day, and my glory will not be forgotten.'

So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence in shame of refusing him, and in fear to take up his challenge. But now at long last Menelaos stood forth and addressed them in scorn and reproach, and stirred within the heart to great sorrow: 'Ah me! You brave in words, you women, not men, of Achaia! This will be a defilement upon us, shame upon shame piled, if no one of the Danaans goes out to face Hektor. No, may all of you turn to water and earth, all of you who sit by yourselves with no life in you, utterly dishonoured. I myself will arm against this man. While above us the threads of victory are held in the hands of the immortals.' So he spoke, and began to put on his splendid armour. And there, o Menelaos, would have shown forth the end of your life under the hands of Hektor, since he was far stronger than you were, had not the kings of the Achaians leapt up and caught you; and the son of Atreus himself, powerful Agamemnon, caught you by the right hand, and called you by name, and spoke to you: 'Menelaos, beloved of God, you are mad; you have no need to take leave of your senses thus. Hold fast, though it hurts you, nor long in your pride to fight with a man who is better than you are, with Hektor, Priam's son. There are others who shudder before him. Even Achilleus, in the fighting where men win glory, trembles to meet this man, and he is far better than you are. Go back now and sit down in the throng of your own companions; the Achaians will set up another to fight against this man, and even though he is without fear, and can never be glutted with rough work, I think he will be glad to leave off, even if he comes off whole from the hateful fighting and bitter combat.'

The hero spoke like this and bent the heart of his brother since he urged wisely. And Menelaos obeyed him; his henchmen joyfully thereupon took off the armour from his shoulders. Nestor among the Argives now stood forth and addressed them: 'Oh, for shame. Great sorrow settles on the land of Achaia. Surely he would groan aloud, Peleus, the aged horseman, the great man of counsel among the Myrmidons, and their speaker. Once, as he questioned me in his house, he was filled with great joy as he heard the generation and blood of all of the Argives. Now if he were to hear how all cringe away before Hektor, many a time he would lift up his very hands to the immortals, and the life breath from his limbs would go down into the house of Hades. If only, o father Zeus, Athene, Apollo, I were in my youth as when the Pylians assembled and the spear-fighting Arkadians battled by swirling Keladon, by the streams of Iardanos and before the ramparts of Pheia. Their champion stood forth, Ereuthalion, a man godlike, wearing upon his shoulders the armour of lord Areïthoös, Areïthoös the brilliant, given by the men of that time and the fair-girdled women the name club-fighter, because he went into battle armed neither with the bow nor the long spear, but with a great bar clubbed of iron broke the battalions. Lykourgos killed this man by craft, not strength, for he met him in the narrow pass of the way, where the iron club served not to parry destruction, for Lykourgos, too quick with a stab beneath it, pinned him through the middle with the spear, so he went down backward to the ground; and he stripped the armour brazen Ares had given him and wore the armour thereafter himself through the grind of battle. But when Lykourgos was grown an old man in his halls, he gave it to his beloved henchman, Ereuthalion, to carry. Wearing this armour he called forth all the bravest to fight him, but they were all afraid and trembling: none had the courage, only I, for my hard-enduring heart in its daring drove me to fight him. I in age was the youngest of all of them. And I fought with him, and Pallas Athene gave me the glory. Of all the men I have killed this was the tallest and strongest. For he sprawled in his great bulk this way and that way. If only I were young now, as then, and the strength still steady within me; Hektor of the glancing helm would soon find his battle. But you, now, who are the bravest of all the Achaians, are not minded with a good will to go against Hektor.' So the old man scolded them, and nine in all stood forth. Far the first to rise up was the lord of men, Agamemnon, and rose after him the son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes, and next the two Aiantes rose, their fierce strength upon them, and after these Idomeneus, and Idomeneus' companion, Meriones, a match for the murderous Lord of Battles, and after these Eurypylos, the glorious son of Euaimon, and Thoas rose up, Andraimon's son, and brilliant Odysseus. All of these were willing to fight against brilliant Hektor. Now before them again spoke the Gerenian horseman, Nestor: 'Let the lot be shaken for all of you, to see who wins it. He shall be the one to gladden the strong-greaved Achaians, and to be glad within his own heart, if he can come off whole again from the hateful battle and bitter combat.'

So he spoke, and each of them marked a lot as his own one lot. They threw them in the helmet of Atreus' son, Agamemnon. and the people, holding up their hands to the gods, prayed to them. Then would murmur any man, gazing into the wide sky: 'Father Zeus, let Aias win the lot, or else Diomedes, Tydeus' son, or the king himself of golden Mykenai.'

So they spoke, and Nestor the Gerenian horseman shook the lots, and a lot leapt from the helmet, that one that they all had wished for, the lot of Aias; and a herald carrying it all through the great throng showed it from left to right to the great men of the Achaians, all of them. Each man knew not the mark, and denied it, but as carrying it all through the great throng he showed it to that one who had marked it as his, and thrown it in the helmet, glorious Aias, he held forth his hand, and the herald stood by him, and put the lot in it, and he saw his mark on the lot, and knew it, and his heart was gladdened. He threw it down on the ground beside his foot, and spoke to them: 'See, friends, the lot is mine, and I myself am made happy in my heart, since I think I can win over brilliant Hektor. Do this, then: while I put on my armour of fighting, all of you be praying to the lord Zeus, the son of Kronos, in silence and each to himself, let none of the Trojans hear you; or openly out loud, since we have nothing to be afraid of at all, since no man by force will beat me backward unwilling as he wills, nor by craft either, since I think that the man who was born and raised in Salamis, myself, is not such a novice.'

So he spoke, and they prayed to the lord Zeus, the son of Kronos. And then would murmur any man, gazing into the wide sky: 'Father Zeus, watching over us from Ida, most high, most honoured, grant that Aias win the vaunt of renown and the victory; but if truly you love Hektor and are careful for him, give to both of them equal strength, make equal their honour.' So they spoke, and meanwhile Aias armed him in shining bronze. Then when he had girt his body in all its armour, he strode on his way, as Ares the war god walks gigantic going into the fighting of men whom the son of Kronos has driven to fight angrily in heart-perishing hatred. Such was Aias as he strode gigantic, the wall of the Achaians, smiling under his threatening brows, with his feet beneath him taking huge strides forward, and shaking the spear far-shadowing. And the Argives looking upon him were made glad, while the Trojans were taken every man in the knees with trembling and terror, and for Hektor himself the heart beat hard in his breast, but he could not any more find means to take flight and shrink back into the throng of his men, since he in his pride had called him to battle. Now Aias came near him, carrying like a wall his shield of bronze and sevenfold ox-hide which Tychios wrought him with much toil; Tychios, at home in Hyle, far the best of all workers in leather who had made him the great gleaming shield of sevenfold ox-hide from strong bulls, and hammered an eighth fold of bronze upon it. Telamonian Aias, carrying this to cover his chest, came near to Hektor and spoke to him in words of menace: 'Hektor, single man against single man you will learn now for sure what the bravest men are like among the Danaans even after Achilleus the lion-hearted who breaks men in battle. He lies now apart among his own beaked seafaring ships, in anger at Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people. But here are we; and we are such men as can stand up against you; there are plenty of us; so now begin your fight and your combat.'

Tall Hektor of the glancing helm answered him: 'Aias, son of Telamon, seed of Zeus, o lord of the people, do not be testing me as if I were some ineffectual boy, or a woman, who knows nothing of the works of warfare. I know well myself how to fight and kill men in battle; I know how to turn to the right, how to turn to the left the ox-hide tanned into a shield which is my protection in battle; I know how to storm my way into the struggle of flying horses; I know how to tread my measures on the grim floor of the war god. Yet great as you are I would not strike you by stealth, watching for my chance, but openly, so, if perhaps I might hit you.'

So he spoke, and balanced the spear far-shadowed, and threw it, and struck the sevenfold-ox-hide terrible shield of Aias in the uttermost bronze, which was the eighth layer upon it, and the unwearying bronze spearhead shore its way through six folds but was stopped in the seventh ox-hide. Then after him Aias the illustrious in turn cast with his spear far-shadowing and struck the shield of Priam's son on its perfect circle. All the way through the glittering shield went the heavy spearhead, and crashed its way through the intricately worked corselet; straight ahead by the flank the spearhead shore through his tunic, yet he bent away to one side and avoided the dark death. Both now gripping in their hands the long spears pulled them out, and went at each other like lions who live on raw meat, or wild boars, whose strength is no light thing. The son of Priam stabbed then with his spear into the shield's centre, nor did the bronze point break its way through, but the spearhead bent back. Now Aias plunging upon him thrust at the shield, and the spearhead passed clean through, and pounded Hektor back in his fury, and tore at his neck passing so that the dark blood broke. Yet even so Hektor of the shining helmet did not stop fighting, but gave back and in his heavy hand caught up a stone that lay in the plain, black and rugged and huge. With this he struck the sevenfold-ox-hide terrible shield of Aias in the knob of the centre so that the bronze clashed loud about it. After him Aias in turn lifting a stone far greater whirled it and threw, leaning into the cast his strength beyond measure, and the shield broke inward under the stroke of the rock like a millstone, and Hektor's very knees gave, so that he sprawled backward, shield beaten upon him, but at once Apollo lifted him upright. And now they would have been stabbing with their swords at close quarters, had not the heralds, messengers of Zeus and of mortals, come up, one for the bronze-armoured Achaians, one for the Trojans, Idaios and Talthybios, both men of good counsel. They held their staves between the two men, and the herald Idaios out of his knowledge of prudent advices spoke a word to them: 'Stop the fight, dear children, nor go on with this battle. To Zeus who gathers the clouds both of you are beloved, and both of you are fighters; this thing all of us know surely. Night darkens now. It is a good thing to give way to the night-time.'

Aias the son of Telamon spoke to him in answer: 'Bid Hektor answer this, Idaios, since it was he who in his pride called forth all our bravest to fight him. Let him speak first; and I for my part shall do as he urges.'

Tall Hektor of the glancing helm answered him: 'Aias, seeing that God has given you strength, stature and wisdom also, and with the spear you surpass the other Achaians, let us now give over this fighting and hostility for today; we shall fight again, until the divinity chooses between us, and gives victory to one or the other. Night darkens now. It is a good thing to give way to the night-time. Thus you may bring joy to all the Achaians beside their ships, and above all to those who are your own kindred and company; and I in the great city of lord Priam will gladden the Trojans, and the women of Troy with their trailing robes, who will go before the divine assembly in thanksgiving for my sake. Come then, let us give each other glorious presents, so that any of the Achaians or Trojans may say of us: "These two fought each other in heart-consuming hate, then joined with each other in close friendship, before they were parted.'"

So he spoke, and bringing a sword with nails of silver gave it to him, together with the sheath and the well-cut sword belt, and Aias gave a war belt coloured shining with purple. So separating, Aias went among the Achaian people, and Hektor went back to the thronging Trojans, who were made happy when they saw him coming alive and unwounded out of the combat, escaping the strength and the unconquerable hands of Aias, and they, who had not hoped to see him alive, escorted him back to the town. On the other side the strong-greaved Achaians led Aias, happy in his victory, to great Agamemnon.

When these had come to the shelters of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon the lord of men dedicated an ox among them, a five-year-old male, to Zeus, all-powerful son of Kronos. They skinned the victim and put it in order, and butchered the carcass, and cut up the meat expertly into small pieces, and spitted them, and roasted all carefully, and took off the pieces. Then after they had finished the work and got the feast ready, they feasted, nor was any man's hunger denied a fair portion; and Atreus' son, the hero wide-ruling Agamemnon, gave to Aias in honour the long cuts of the chine's portion. But when they had put away their desire for eating and drinking, the aged man began to weave his counsel before them first, Nestor, whose advice had shown best before this. He in kind intention toward all stood forth and addressed them: 'Son of Atreus, and you other great men of all the Achaians: seeing that many flowing-haired Achaians have died here, whose dark blood has been scattered beside the fair waters of Skamandros by the fierce war god, while their souls went down into the house of Hades; therefore with the dawn we should set a pause to the fighting of Achaians, and assembling them wheel back the bodies with mules and oxen; then must we burn them a little apart from the ships, so that each whose duty it is may carry the bones back to a man's children, when we go home to the land of our fathers. And let us gather and pile one single mound on the corpse-pyre indiscriminately from the plain, and build fast upon it towered ramparts, to be a defence of ourselves and our vessels. And let us build into these walls gates strongly fitted that there may be a way through them for the driving of horses; and on the outer side, and close, we must dig a deep ditch circling it, so as to keep off their people and horses, that we may not be crushed under the attack of these proud Trojans.' So he spoke, and all the kings gave him their approval. Now there was an assembly of Trojans high on the city of Ilion fiercely shaken to tumult before the doors of Priam, and among these Antenor the thoughtful began to address them: 'Trojans and Dardanians and companions in arms: hear me while I speak forth what the heart within my breast urges. Come then: let us give back Helen of Argos and all her possessions to the sons of Atreus to take away, seeing now we fight with our true pledges made into lies; and I see no good thing's accomplishment for us in the end, unless we do this.'

He spoke thus and sat down again, and among them rose up brilliant Alexandros, the lord of lovely-haired Helen, who spoke to him in answer and addressed them in winged words: 'Antenor, these things that you argue please me no longer. Your mind knows how to contrive a saying better than this one. But if in all seriousness this is your true argument; then it is the very gods who ruined the brain within you. I will speak out before the Trojans, breakers of horses. I refuse, straight out. I will not give back the woman. But of the possessions I carried away to our house from Argos I am willing to give all back, and to add to these from my own goods.'

He spoke thus and sat down again, and among them rose up Priam, son of Dardanos, equal of the gods in counsel, who in kind intention toward all stood forth and addressed them: 'Trojans and Dardanians and companions in arms: hear me while I speak forth what the heart within my breast urges. Take now your supper about the city, as you did before this, and remember your duty of the watch, and be each man wakeful; and at dawn let Idaios go to the hollow ships, and speak with the sons of Atreus, Menelaos and Agamemnon, giving the word of Alexandros, for whose sake this strife has arisen, and to add this solid message, and ask them if they are willing to stop the sorrowful fighting until we can burn the bodies of our dead. We shall fight again until the divinity chooses between us, and gives victory to one or the other.'

So he spoke, and they listened to him with care, and obeyed him; and so took their supper, watch succeeding watch, through the army. Then at dawn Idaios went down to the hollow ships, where he found the Danaans, henchmen of the war god, in assembly beside the stern of Agamemnon's ship; the herald with the great voice took his stand in their midst, and spoke to them: 'Son of Atreus, and you other great men of all the Achaians, Priam and the rest of the haughty Trojans have bidden me give you, if this message be found to your pleasure and liking, the word of Alexandros, for whose sake this strife has arisen. All those possessions that Alexandros carried in his hollow ships to Troy, and I wish that he had perished before then, he is willing to give all back, and to add to these from his own goods. But the very wedded wife of glorious Menelaos he says that he will not give, though the Trojans would have him do it. They told me to give you this message also, if you are willing; to stop the sorrowful fighting until we can burn the bodies of our dead. We shall fight again afterwards, until the divinity chooses between us, and gives victory to one or the other.'

So he spoke, and all of them stayed quiet in silence; but now at long last Diomedes of the great war cry addressed them: 'Now let none accept the possessions of Alexandros, nor take back Helen; one who is very simple can see it, that by this time the terms of death hang over the Trojans.'

So he spoke, and all sons of the Achaians shouted acclaim for the word of Diomedes, breaker of horses; and now powerful Agamemnon spoke to Idaios: 'Idaios, you hear for yourself the word of the Achaians, how they are answering you; and such is my pleasure also. But about the burning of the dead bodies I do not begrudge you; no, for there is no sparing time for the bodies of the perished, once they have died, to give them swiftly the pity of burning. Let Zeus, high-thundering lord of Hera, witness our pledges.'

He spoke, and held up the sceptre in the sight of all the gods. Then Idaios made his way back once more to sacred Ilion. The Trojans and Dardanians were in session of assembly, all gathered in one place, awaiting Idaios when he might come back; and he returned to them and delivered his message standing there in their midst, and they made their swift preparations, for two things, some to gather the bodies, and the others firewood; while the Argives on the other side from their strong-benched vessels went forward, some to gather the bodies, and others firewood.

Now the sun of a new day struck on the ploughlands, rising out of the quiet water and the deep stream of the ocean to climb the sky. The Trojans assembled together. They found it hard to recognize each individual dead man; but with water they washed away the blood that was on them and as they wept warm tears they lifted them on to the wagons. But great Priam would not let them cry out; and in silence they piled the bodies upon the pyre, with their hearts in sorrow, and burned them upon the fire, and went back to sacred Ilion. In the same way on the other side the strong-greaved Achaians piled their own slain upon the pyre, with their hearts in sorrow, and burned them upon the fire, and went-back to their hollow vessels.

But when the dawn was not yet, but still the pallor of night's edge, a chosen body of the Achaians formed by the pyre; and they gathered together and piled one single mound all above it indiscriminately from the plain, and built a fort on it with towered ramparts, to be a defence for themselves and their vessels; and they built within these walls gates strongly fitted that there might be a way through them for the driving of horses; and on the outer side and against it they dug a deep ditch, making it great and wide, and fixed the sharp stakes inside it.

So the flowing-haired Achaians laboured, and meanwhile the gods in session at the side of Zeus who handles the lightning watched the huge endeavour of the bronze-armoured Achaians; and the god Poseidon who shakes the earth began speaking among them: 'Father Zeus, is there any mortal left on the wide earth who will still declare to the immortals his mind and his purpose? Do you not see how now these flowing-haired Achaians have built a wall landward of their ships, and driven about it a ditch, and not given to the gods any grand sacrifice? Now the fame of this will last as long as dawnlight is scattered, and men will forget that wall which I and Phoibos Apollo built with our hard work for the hero Laomedon's city.'

Deeply troubled, Zeus who gathers the clouds answered him: 'What a thing to have said, earth-shaker of the wide strength. Some other one of the gods might fear such a thought, one who is a god far weaker of his hands and in anger than you are; but the fame of you shall last as long as dawnlight is scattered. Come then! After once more the flowing-haired Achaians are gone back with their ships to the beloved land of their fathers, break their wall to pieces and scatter it into the salt sea and pile again the beach deep under the sands and cover it; so let the great wall of the Achaians go down to destruction.'

As these two were talking thus together, the sun went down, and the work of the Achaians was finished. They slaughtered oxen then beside their shelters, and took their supper. The ships came over to them from Lemnos bringing them wine, ships sent over to them in numbers by the son of Jason, Euneos, whom Hypsipyle had borne to the shepherd of the people, Jason. Apart to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaos, Jason's son had given wine as a gift, a thousand measures; and thence the rest of the flowing-haired Achaians bought wine, some for bronze and others for shining iron, some for skins and some for the whole oxen, while others paid slaves taken in war; and they made their feasting abundant. All night long thereafter the flowing-haired Achaians feasted, and the Trojans and their companions in arms in the city; but all night long Zeus of the counsels was threatening evil upon them in the terrible thunderstroke. Green fear took hold of them. They spilled the wine on the ground from their cups, and none was so hardy as to drink, till he had poured to the all-powerful son of Kronos. They lay down thereafter and took the blessing of slumber.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 8

 Now Dawn the yellow-robed scattered over all the earth. Zeus who joys in the thunder made an assembly of all the immortals upon the highest peak of rugged Olympos. There he spoke to them himself, and the other divinities listened: 'Hear me, all you gods and all you goddesses: hear me while I speak forth what the heart within my breast urges. Now let no female divinity, nor male god either, presume to cut across the way of my word, but consent to it all of you, so that I can make an end in speed of these matters. And any one I perceive against the gods' will attempting to go among the Trojans and help them, or among the Danaans, he shall go whipped against his dignity back to Olympos; or I shall take him and dash him down to the murk of Tartaros, far below, where the uttermost depth of the pit lies under earth, where there are gates of iron and a brazen doorstone, as far beneath the house of Hades as from earth the sky lies. Then he will see how far I am strongest of all the immortals. Come, you gods, make this endeavour, that you all may learn this. Let down out of the sky a cord of gold; lay hold of it all you who are gods and all who are goddesses, yet not even so can you drag down Zeus from the sky to the ground, not Zeus the high lord of counsel, though you try until you grow weary. Yet whenever I might strongly be minded to pull you, I could drag you up, earth and all and sea and all with you, then fetch the golden rope about the horn of Olympos and make it fast, so that all once more should dangle in mid air. So much stronger am I than the gods, and stronger than mortals.'

So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence, stunned at his word, for indeed he had spoken to them very strongly. But now at long last the goddess grey-eyed Athene answered him: 'Son of Kronos, our father, o lordliest of the mighty, we know already your strength and how none can stand up against it. Yet even so we are sorrowful for the Danaan spearmen who must fill out an unhappy destiny, and perish. Still we shall keep out of the fighting, as you command us; yet we will put good counsel in the Argives; if it may help them, so that not all of them will die because of your anger.'

Then Zeus the gatherer of the clouds smiled at her and answered: 'Tritogeneia, dear daughter, do not lose heart; for I say this not in outright anger, and my meaning toward you is kindly.'

He spoke, and under the chariot harnessed his bronze-shod horses, flying-footed, with long manes streaming of gold; and he put on clothing of gold about his own body, and took up the golden lash, carefully compacted, and climbed up into his chariot, and whipped them into a run, and they winged their way unreluctant through the space between the earth and the starry heaven. He came to Ida with all her springs, the mother of wild beasts, to Gargaron, where was his holy ground and his smoking altar. There the father of gods and of mortals halted his horses, and slipped them from their harness, and drifted close mist about them, and himself rejoicing in the pride of his strength sat down on the mountain looking out over the city of Troy and the ships of the Achaians.

Now the flowing-haired Achaians had taken their dinner lightly among their shelters, and they put on their armour thereafter; and on the other side, in the city, the Trojans took up their armour, fewer men, yet minded to stand the encounter even so, caught in necessity, for their wives and their children. And all the gates were made open, and the fighting men swept through them, the foot ranks and the horsemen, and the sound grew huge of their onset.

Now as these advancing came to one place and encountered, they dashed their shields together and their spears, and the strength of armoured men in bronze, and the shields massive in the middle clashed against each other, and the sound grew huge of the fighting. There the screaming and the shouts of triumph rose up together of men killing and men killed, and the ground ran blood.

So long as it was early morning and the sacred daylight increasing, so long the thrown weapons of both took hold and men dropped under them. But when the sun god stood bestriding the middle heaven, then the father balanced his golden scales, and in them he set two fateful portions of death, which lays men prostrate, for Trojans, breakers of horses, and bronze-armoured Achaians, and balanced it by the middle. The Achaians' death-day was heaviest. There the fates of the Achaians settled down toward the bountiful earth, while those of the Trojans were lifted into the wide sky; and he himself crashed a great stroke from Ida, and a kindling flash shot over the people of the Achaians; seeing it they were stunned, and pale terror took hold of all of them.

Then Idomeneus dared not stand his ground, nor Agamemnon, nor did the two Aiantes stand, the henchmen of Ares, only Gerenian Nestor stayed, the Achaians' watcher; not that he would, but his horse was failing, struck by an arrow from brilliant Alexandros, the lord of lovely-haired Helen; struck at the point of the head, where the utmost hairs of horses are grown along the skull, and which is a place most mortal. He reared up in agony as the shaft went into the brain, then threw the team into confusion writhing upon the bronze point. Now as the old man hewed away the horse's trace-harness with a quick sword-cut, meanwhile the fast-running horses of Hektor came through the flux of the fighting and carried their daring driver, Hektor; and now the old man would have lost his life there, had not Diomedes of the great war cry sharply perceived him. He cried out in a terrible voice to rally Odysseus: 'Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, where are you running, turning your back in battle like a coward? Do not let them strike the spear in your back as you run for it, but stay, so that we can beat back this fierce man from the ancient.'

He spoke, but long-suffering great Odysseus gave no attention as he swept by on his way to the hollow ships of the Achaians. The son of Tydeus, alone as he was, went among the champions and stood before the horses of the old man, the son of Neleus, and uttering his winged words he addressed him: 'Old sir, in very truth these young fighters are too much for you, and all your strength is gone, and hard old age is upon you, your henchman is a man of no worth, and your horses are heavy. Come then, climb into my chariot, so that you may see what the Trojan horses are like, how they understand their plain, and how to traverse it in rapid pursuit and withdrawal; horses I took away from Aineias, who strikes men to terror. Let the henchmen look after your horses now, while we two steer these against the Trojans, breakers of horses, so Hektor even may know if my spear also rages in my hands' grip.' He spoke, and Nestor the Gerenian horseman obeyed him. Thereon the two strong henchmen, Sthenelos and the courtly Eurymedon, looked after the horses of Nestor. The others both together mounted the chariot of Diomedes. Nestor in his hands took up the glittering reins, then lashed the horses on, and soon they were close to Hektor, and as he raged straight forward the son of Tydeus threw at him and missed his man, but struck the charioteer, his henchman, Eniopeus, the son of high-hearted Thebaios, striking him in the chest next to the nipple as he gripped the reins of his horses. He fell out of the chariot, and the fast-footed horses shied away. And there his life and his strength were scattered. And bitter sorrow closed over Hektor's heart for his driver, yet grieving as he did for his friend he left him to lie there, and went on after another bold charioteer; and it was not long that the horses went lacking a driver, since soon he found one, Archeptolemos, bold son of Iphitos, and gave into his hands the reins, and mounted him behind the fast-running horses.

And now there would have been fighting beyond control, and destruction, now they would have been driven and penned like sheep against Ilion, had not the father of gods and of men sharply perceived them. He thundered horribly and let loose the shimmering lightning and dashed it to the ground in front of the horses of Diomedes and a ghastly blaze of flaming sulphur shot up, and the horses terrified both cringed away against the chariot. And the glittering reins escaped out of the hands of Nestor, and he was afraid in his heart and called out to Diomedes: 'Son of Tydeus, steer now to flight your single-foot horses. Can you not see that the power of Zeus no longer is with you? For the time Zeus, son of Kronos, gives glory to this man; for today; hereafter, if he will, he will give it to us also; no man can beat back the purpose of Zeus, not even one very strong, since Zeus is by far the greater.'

Then in turn Diomedes of the great war cry answered: 'Yes, old sir, all this you have said is fair and orderly. But this thought comes as a bitter sorrow to my heart and my spirit; for some day Hektor will say openly before the Trojans: The son of Tydeus, running before me, fled to his vessels. So he will vaunt; and then let the wide earth open beneath me.'

Nestor the Gerenian horseman spoke to him in answer: 'Ah me, son of brave Tydeus; what a thing to have spoken. If Hektor calls you a coward and a man of no strength, then the Trojans and Dardanians will never believe him, nor will the wives of the high-hearted Trojan warriors, they whose husbands you hurled in the dust in the pride of their manhood.'

So he spoke, and turned to flight the single-foot horses back again into the rout; and now the Trojans and Hektor with unearthly clamour showered their baneful missiles upon them, and tall Hektor of the shining helm called out in a great voice: 'Son of Tydeus, beyond others the fast-mounted Danaans honoured you with pride of place, the choice meats and the filled wine-cups. But now they will disgrace you, who are no better than a woman. Down with you, you poor doll. You shall not storm our battlements with me giving way before you, you shall not carry our women home in your ships; before that comes I will give you your destiny.'

He spoke, and the son of Tydeus pondered doubtfully, whether to turn his horses about and match his strength against Hektor. Three times in his heart and spirit he pondered turning, and three times from the hills of Ida Zeus of the counsels thundered, giving a sign to the Trojans that the battle was turning. But Hektor called afar in a great voice to the Trojans: 'Trojans, Lykians and Dardanians who fight at close quarters, be men now, dear friends, remember your furious valour. I see that the son of Kronos has bowed his head and assented to my high glory and success, but granted the Danaans disaster: fools, who designed with care these fortifications, flimsy things, not worth a thought, which will not beat my strength back, but lightly my horses will leap the ditch they have dug them. But after I have come beside their hollow ships, let there be some who will remember to bring me ravening fire, so that I can set their ships on fire, and cut down the very Argives mazed in the smoke at the side of their vessels.'

So he spoke, and called aloud to his horses, and spoke to them: 'Xanthos and you, Podargos, Aithon and Lampos the shining, now repay me for all that loving care in abundance Andromache the daughter of high-hearted Eëtion gave you: the sweet-hearted wheat before all the others and mixed wine with it for you to drink, when her heart inclined to it, as for me, who am proud that I am her young husband. Follow close now and be rapid, so we may capture the shield of Nestor, whose high fame goes up to the sky now, how it is all of gold, the shield itself and the cross-rods; and strip from the shoulders of Diomedes, breaker of horses, that elaborate corselet that Hephaistos wrought with much toil. Could we capture these two things, I might hope the Achaians might embark this very night on their fast-running vessels.'

So he spoke, boasting, and the lady Hera was angry, and started upon her throne, and tall Olympos was shaken, and she spoke straight out to the great god Poseidon: 'For shame, now, far-powerful shaker of the earth. In your breast the heart takes no sorrow for the Danaans who are dying, they who at Helike and at Aigai bring you offerings numerous and delightful. Do you then plan that they conquer. For if all of us who stand by the Danaans only were willing to hurl back the Trojans and hold off Zeus of the broad brows, he would be desperate, there where he sits by himself on Ida.'

Deeply troubled, the powerful shaker of the earth answered her 'Hera, reckless of word, what sort of thing have you spoken? I would not be willing that all the rest of us fight with Zeus, the son of Kronos, since he is so much the greater.'

Now as these two were talking thus to each other, meanwhile for those others, all that space which the ditch of the wall held off from the ships was filled with armoured men and with horses penned there; and he who penned them was a man like the rapid war god, Hektor, Priam's son, since Zeus was giving him glory. And now he might have kindled their balanced ships with the hot flame, had not the lady Hera set it in Agamemnon's heart to rush in with speed himself and stir the Achaians. He went on his way beside the Achaians' ships and their shelters holding up in his heavy hand the great coloured mantle, and stood beside the black huge-hollowed ship of Odysseus, which lay in the midmost, so that he could call out to both sides, either toward the shelters of Telamonian Aias, or toward Achilleus, since these two had drawn their balanced ships up at the utter ends, sure of the strength of their hands and their courage. He lifted his voice and called in a piercing cry to the Danaans: 'Shame, you Argives, poor nonentities splendid to look on. Where are our high words gone, when we said that we were the bravest? those words you spoke before all in hollow vaunting at Lemnos when you were filled with abundant meat of the high-horned oxen and drank from the great bowls filled to the brim with wine, how each man could stand up against a hundred or even two hundred Trojans in the fighting; now we together cannot match one of them, Hektor, who must presently kindle our ships with the hot fire. Father Zeus, is it one of our too strong kings you have stricken in this disaster now, and stripped him of his high honour? For I say that never did I pass by your fair-wrought altar in my benched ships when I came here on this desperate journey; but on all altars I burned the fat and the thighs of oxen in my desire to sack the strong-walled city of the Trojans. Still, Zeus, bring to pass at least this thing that I pray for. Let our men at least get clear and escape, and let not the Achaians be thus beaten down at the hands of the Trojans.'

He spoke thus, and as he wept the father took pity upon him and bent his head, that the people should stay alive, and not perish. Straightway he sent down the most lordly of birds, an eagle, with a fawn, the young of the running deer, caught in his talons, who cast down the fawn beside Zeus' splendid altar where the Achaians wrought their devotions to Zeus of the Voices. They, when they saw the bird and knew it was Zeus who sent it, remembered once again their warcraft, and turned on the Trojans.

Then, many as the Danaans were, there was no man among them could claim he held his fast horses ahead of the son of Tydeus to drive them once more across the ditch and fight at close quarters, but he was far the first to kill a chief man of the Trojans, Phradmon's son, Agelaos, as he turned his team to escape him. For in his back even as he was turning the spear fixed between the shoulders and was driven on through the chest beyond it. He fell from the chariot, and his armour clattered upon him.

After him came the Atreidai, Menelaos and Agamemnon, and the two Aiantes gathering their fierce strength about them, and with them Idomeneus and Idomeneus' companion Meriones, a match for the murderous lord of battles, and after these Eurypylos, the glorious son of Euaimon; and ninth came Teukros, bending into position the curved bow, and took his place in the shelter of Telamonian Aias' shield, as Aias lifted the shield to take him. The hero would watch, whenever in the throng he had struck some man with an arrow, and as the man dropped and died where he was stricken, the archer would run back again, like a child to the arms of his mother, to Aias, who would hide him in the glittering shield's protection.

Then which of the Trojans first did Teukros the blameless strike down? Orsilochos first of all, and Ormenos, and Ophelestes, Daitor and Chromios, and Lykophontes the godlike, and Amopaon, Polyaimon's son, and Melanippos. All these he felled to the bountiful earth in close succession. Agamemnon the lord of men was glad as he watched him laying waste from the strong bow the Trojan battalions; he went over and stood beside him and spoke a word to him: 'Telamonian Teukros, dear heart, o lord of your people, strike so; thus you may be a light given to the Danaans, and to Telamon your father, who cherished you when you were little, and, bastard as you were, looked after you in his own house. Bring him into glory, though he is far away; and for my part, I will tell you this, and it will be a thing accomplished: if ever Zeus who holds the aegis and Athene grant me to sack outright the strong-founded citadel of Ilion, first after myself I will put into your hands some great gift of honour; a tripod, or two horses and the chariot with them, or else a woman, who will go up into the same bed with you.'

Then in answer to him again spoke Teukros the blameless: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly: must you then drive me, who am eager myself, as it is? Never, so far as the strength is in me, have I stopped, since we began driving the Trojans back upon Ilion; since then I have been lurking here with my bow, to strike down fighters. And by this I have shot eight long-flanged arrows, and all of them were driven into the bodies of young men, fighters; yet still I am not able to hit this mad dog.'

He spoke, and let fly another shaft from the bowstring, straight for Hektor, and all his heart was straining to hit him; but missed his man, and struck down instead a strong son of Priam, Gorgythion the blameless, hit in the chest by an arrow; Gorgythion whose mother was lovely Kastianeira, Priam's bride from Aisyme, with the form of a goddess. He bent drooping his head to one side, as a garden poppy bends beneath the weight of its yield and the rains of springtime; so his head bent slack to one side beneath the helm's weight.

But Teukros now let fly another shaft from the bowstring, straight for Hektor, and all his heart was straining to hit him, yet missed his man once again as Apollo faltered his arrow, and struck Archeptolemos, bold charioteer of Hektor, in the chest next to the nipple as he charged into the fighting. He fell out of the chariot, and the fast-footed horses shied away. And there his life and his strength were scattered. And bitter sorrow closed over Hektor's heart for his driver, yet grieving as he did for his friend he left him to lie there, and called to his brother Kebriones who stood near to take up the reins of the horses, nor did he disobey him. But Hektor himself vaulted down to the ground from the shining chariot crying a terrible cry and in his hand caught up a great stone, and went straight for Teukros, heart urgent to hit him. Now Teukros had drawn a bitter arrow out of his quiver, and laid it along the bowstring, but as he drew the shaft by his shoulder, there where between neck and chest the collar-bone interposes, and this is a spot most mortal; in this place shining-helmed Hektor struck him in all his fury with the jagged boulder, smashing the sinew, and all his arm at the wrist was deadened. He dropped to one knee and stayed, and the bow fell from his hand. Aias was not forgetful of his fallen brother, but running stood bestriding him and covered him under the great shield. Thereon Mekisteus, son of Echios, and brilliant Alastor, two staunch companions, stooping beneath it, caught up Teukros and carried him, groaning heavily, to the hollow vessels.

Now once again the Olympian filled the Trojans with fury and they piled the Achaians straight backward against the deep ditch, as Hektor ranged in their foremost ranks in the pride of his great strength. As when some hunting hound in the speed of his feet pursuing a wild boar or a lion snaps from behind at his quarters or flanks, but watches for the beast to turn upon him, so Hektor followed close on the heels of the flowing-haired Achaians, killing ever the last of the men; and they fled in terror. But after they had crossed back over the ditch and the sharp stakes in flight, and many had gone down under the hands of the Trojans, they reined in and stood fast again beside their ships, calling aloud upon each other, and to all of the gods uplifting their hands each man of them cried out his prayers in a great voice, while Hektor, wearing the stark eyes of a Gorgon, or murderous Ares, wheeled about at the edge his bright-maned horses.

Now seeing them the goddess of the white arms, Hera, took pity and immediately she spoke to Pallas Athene her winged words: 'For shame, daughter of Zeus who wears the aegis! no longer shall we care for the Danaans in their uttermost hour of destruction? These must then fill out an evil destiny, and perish in the wind of one man's fury where none can stand now against him, Hektor, Priam's son, who has wrought so much evil already.'

Then in turn the goddess grey-eyed Athene answered her: 'Yet even this man would have his life and strength taken from him, dying under the hands of the Argives in his own country; but it is my father who is so furious in his heart of evil. He is hard, and forever wicked; he crosses my high hopes, nor remembers at all those many times I rescued his own son, Herakles, when the tasks of Eurystheus were too much for his strength. And time and again he would cry out aloud to the heavens, and Zeus would send me down in speed from the sky to help him. If in the wiliness of my heart I had had thoughts like his, when Herakles was sent down to Hades of the Gates, to hale back from the Kingdom of the Dark the hound of the grisly death god, never would he have got clear of the steep-dripping Stygian water. Yet now Zeus hates me, and is bent to the wishes of Thetis who kissed his knees and stroked his chin in her hand, and entreated that he give honour to Achilleus, the sacker of cities. Yet time shall be when he calls me again his dear girl of the grey eyes. So then: do you put under their harness our single-foot horses while I go back into the house of Zeus, the lord of the aegis, and arm me in my weapons of war. So shall I discover whether the son of Priam, Hektor of the shining helmet, will feel joy to see us apparent on the outworks of battle, or see if some Trojan give the dogs and the birds their desire with fat and flesh, struck down beside the ships of the Achaians.' She spoke, nor failed to persuade the goddess Hera of the white arms. And she, Hera, exalted goddess, daughter of Kronos the mighty, went away to harness the gold-bridled horses. Now in turn Athene, daughter of Zeus of the aegis, beside the threshold of her father slipped off her elaborate dress which she herself had wrought with her hands' patience, and now assuming the war tunic of Zeus who gathers the clouds, she armed herself in her gear for the dismal fighting. She set her feet in the blazing chariot, and took up a spear, heavy, huge, thick, wherewith she beats down the battalions of fighting men, against whom she of the mighty father is angered. Hera laid the lash swiftly on the horses; and moving of themselves groaned the gates of the sky that the Hours guarded, those Hours to whose charge is given the huge sky and Olympos to open up the dense darkness or again to close it. Through the way between they held the speed of their goaded horses.

But Zeus father, watching from Ida, was angered terribly and stirred Iris of the golden wings to run with his message: 'Go forth, Iris the swift, turn them back again, let them not reach me, since we would close in fighting thus that would be unseemly. For I will say this straight out, and it will be a thing accomplished: I will lame beneath the harness their fast-running horses, and hurl the gods from the driver's place, and smash their chariot; and not in the circle of ten returning years shall they be whole of the wounds where the stroke of the lightning hits them; so that the grey-eyed goddess may know when it is her father she fights with. Yet with Hera I am not so angry, neither indignant, since it is ever her way to cross the commands that I give her.'

He spoke, and Iris, storm-footed, rose with his message and took her way from the peaks of Ida to tall Olympos, and at the utmost gates of many-folded Olympos met and stayed them, and spoke the word that Zeus had given her: 'Where so furious? How can your hearts so storm within you? The son of Kronos will not let you stand by the Argives. Since Zeus has uttered this threat and will make it a thing accomplished: that he will lame beneath the harness your fast-running horses, and hurl yourselves from the driver's place, and smash your chariot; and not in the circle of ten returning years would you be whole of the wounds where the stroke of the lightning hits you; so that you may know, grey-eyed goddess, when it is your father you fight with. Yes, you, bold brazen wench, are audacious indeed, if truly you dare to lift up your gigantic spear in the face of your father. Yet with Hera he is not so angry, neither indignant, since it is ever her way to cross the commands he gives her.'

So Iris the swift-footed spoke and went away from them, and now Hera spoke a word to Pallas Athene: 'Alas, daughter of Zeus of the aegis: I can no longer let us fight in the face of Zeus for the sake of mortals. Let one of them perish then, let another live, as their fortune wills; let him, as is his right and as his heart pleases, work out whatever decrees he will on Danaans and Trojans.'

So she spoke, and turned back again her single-foot horses, and the Hours set free their flowing-maned horses from the harness, and tethered them at their mangers that were piled with ambrosia and leaned the chariot against the shining inward wall. Meanwhile the goddesses themselves took their place on the golden couches among the other immortals, their hearts deep grieving within them.

Now father Zeus steered back from Ida his strong-wheeled chariot and horses to Olympos, and came among the gods' sessions, while for him the famed shaker of the earth set free his horses, and put the chariot on its stand, with a cloth spread over it. Then Zeus himself of the wide brows took his place on the golden throne, as underneath his feet tall Olympos was shaken. These two alone, Hera and Athene, stayed seated apart aside from Zeus, and would not speak to him, nor ask him a question; but he knew the whole matter within his heart, and spoke to them. 'Why then are you two sorrowful, Athene and Hera? Surely in the battle where men win glory you were not wearied out, destroying those Trojans on whom you have set your grim wrath. In the whole account, such is my strength and my hand so invincible, not all the gods who are on Olympos could turn me backward, but before this the trembling took hold of your shining bodies, before you could look upon the fighting and war's work of sorrow; for I will say straight out, and it would now be a thing accomplished: once hit in your car by the lightning stroke you could never have come back to Olympos, where is the place of the immortals.'

So he spoke; and Athene and Hera muttered, since they were sitting close to each other, devising evil for the Trojans. Still Athene stayed silent and said nothing, but only sulked at Zeus her father, and savage anger took hold of her. But the heart of Hera could not contain her anger, and she spoke forth: 'Majesty, son of Kronos, what sort of thing have you spoken? We know well already your strength, how it is no small thing. Yet even so we are sorrowful for the Danaan spearmen who must fill out an unhappy destiny, and perish. Still we shall keep out of the fighting, as you command us; yet we will put good counsel in the Argives, if it may help them; so that not all of them will die because of your anger.'

Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to her again in answer: 'Tomorrow at the dawning, lady Hera of the ox eyes, you will see, if you have the heart, a still mightier son of Kronos perishing the ranged numbers of Argive spearmen. For Hektor the huge will not sooner be stayed from his fighting until there stirs by the ships the swift-footed son of Peleus on that day when they shall fight by the sterns of the beached ships in the narrow place of necessity over fallen Patroklos. This is the way it is fated to be; and for you and your anger I care not; not if you stray apart to the undermost limits of earth and sea, where Iapetos and Kronos seated have no shining of the sun god Hyperion to delight them nor winds' delight, but Tartaros stands deeply about them; not even if you reach that place in your wandering shall I care for your sulks; since there is nothing more shameless than you are.' So he spoke, and Hera of the white arms gave him no answer. And now the shining light of the sun was dipped in the Ocean trailing black night across the grain-giving land. For the Trojans the daylight sank against their will, but for the Achaians sweet and thrice-supplicated was the coming on of the dark night.

Now glorious Hektor held an assembly of all the Trojans, taking them aside from the ships, by a swirling river on clean ground, where there showed a space not cumbered with corpses. They stepped to the ground from behind their horses and listened to Hektor the loved of Zeus, and the words he spoke to them. He in his hand held the eleven-cubit-long spear, whose shaft was tipped with a shining bronze spearhead, and a ring of gold was hooped to hold it. Leaning upon this spear he spoke his words to the Trojans: 'Trojans and Dardanians and companions in arms: hear me. Now I had thought that, destroying the ships and all the Achaians, we might take our way back once more to windy Ilion, but the darkness came too soon, and this beyond all else rescued the Argives and their vessels along the beach where the sea breaks. But now let us give way to black night's persuasion; let us make ready our evening meal, and as for your flowing-maned horses, set them free from their harness, and cast down fodder before them. And lead forth also out of the city oxen and fat sheep in all speed, and convey out also the kindly sweet wine with food out of our houses. And heap many piles of firewood, so that all night long and until the young dawn appears we may burn many fires, and the glare go up into heaven; so that not in the night-time the flowing-haired Achaians may set out to run for home over the sea's wide ridges. No: not thus in their own good time must they take to their vessels, but in such a way that a man of them at home will still nurse his wound, the place where he has been hit with an arrow or sharp spear springing to his ship; so that another may shrink hereafter from bringing down fearful war on the Trojans, breakers of horses. And let the heralds Zeus loves give orders about the city for the boys who are in their first youth and the grey-browed elders to take stations on the god-founded bastions that circle the city; and as for the women, have our wives, each one in her own house, kindle a great fire; let there be a watch kept steadily lest a sudden attack get into the town when the fighters have left it. Let it be thus, high-hearted men of Troy, as I tell you. Let that word that has been spoken now be a strong one, with that which I speak at dawn to the Trojans, breakers of horses. For in good hope I pray to Zeus and the other immortals that we may drive from our place these dogs swept into destruction whom the spirits of death have carried here on their black ships. Now for the night we shall keep watch on ourselves, and tomorrow early, before dawn shows, shall arm ourselves in our weapons and beside their hollow vessels waken the bitter war god; and I shall know if the son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes, will force me back from the ships against the wall, or whether I shall cut him down with the bronze and take home the blooded war-spoils. Tomorrow he will learn his own strength, if he can stand up to my spear's advance; but sooner than this, I think, in the foremost he will go down under the stroke, and many companions about him as the sun goes up into tomorrow. Oh, if I only could be as this in all my days immortal and ageless and be held in honour as Athene and Apollo are honoured as surely as this oncoming day brings evil to the Argives.' So Hektor spoke among them, and the Trojans shouted approval. And they set free their sweating horses from under the harness and tethered them by the reins, each one by his own chariot. They led forth also out of the city oxen and fat sheep in all speed, and conveyed out also the kindly sweet wine, with food out of their houses, and heaped many piles of firewood. They accomplished likewise full sacrifices before the immortals, and the winds wafted the savour aloft from the plain to the heavens in its fragrance; and yet the blessed gods took no part of it. They would not; so hateful to them was sacred Ilion, and Priam, and the city of Priam of the strong ash spear.

So with hearts made high these sat night-long by the outworks of battle, and their watchfires blazed numerous about them. As when in the sky the stars about the moon's shining are seen in all their glory, when the air has fallen to stillness, and all the high places of the hills are clear, and the shoulders out-jutting, and the deep ravines, as endless bright air spills from the heavens and all the stars are seen, to make glad the heart of the shepherd; such in their numbers blazed the watchfires the Trojans were burning between the waters of Xanthos and the ships, before Ilion. A thousand fires were burning there in the plain, and beside each one sat fifty men in the flare of the blazing firelight. And standing each beside his chariot, champing white barley and oats, the horses waited for the dawn to mount to her high place.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 9

 So the Trojans held their night watches. Meanwhile immortal Panic, companion of cold Terror, gripped the Achaians as all their best were stricken with grief that passes endurance. As two winds rise to shake the sea where the fish swarm, Boreas and Zephyros, north wind and west, that blow from Thraceward, suddenly descending, and the darkened water is gathered to crests, and far across the salt water scatters the seaweed; so the heart in the breast of each Achaian was troubled.

And the son of Atreus, stricken at heart with the great sorrow, went among his heralds the clear-spoken and told them to summon calling by name each man into the assembly but with no outcry, and he himself was at work with the foremost. They took their seats in assembly, dispirited, and Agamemnon stood up before them, shedding tears, like a spring dark-running that down the face of a rock impassable drips its dim water. So, groaning heavily, Agamemnon spoke to the Argives: 'Friends, who are leaders of the Argives and keep their counsel: Zeus son of Kronos has caught me badly in bitter futility. He is hard: who before this time promised me and consented that I might sack strong-walled Ilion and sail homeward. Now he has devised a vile deception and bids me go back to Argos in dishonour having lost many of my people. Such is the way it will be pleasing to Zeus, who is too strong, who before now has broken the crests of many cities and will break them again, since his power is beyond all others. Come then, do as I say, let us all be won over; let us run away with our ships to the beloved land of our fathers since no longer now shall we capture Troy of the wide ways.' So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence. For some time the sons of the Achaians said nothing in sorrow; but at long last Diomedes of the great war cry addressed them: 'Son of Atreus: I will be first to fight with your folly, as is my right, lord, in this assembly; then do not be angered. I was the first of the Danaans whose valour you slighted and said I was unwarlike and without courage. The young men of the Argives know all these things, and the elders know it. The son of devious-devising Kronos has given you gifts in two ways: with the sceptre he gave you honour beyond all, but he did not give you a heart, and of all power this is the greatest. Sir, sir, can you really believe the sons of the Achaians are so unwarlike and so weak of their hearts as you call them? But if in truth your own heart is so set upon going, go. The way is there, and next to the water are standing your ships that came--so many of them!--with you from Mykenai, and yet the rest of the flowing-haired Achaians will stay here until we have sacked the city of Troy; let even these also run away with their ships to the beloved land of their fathers, still we two, Sthenelos and I, will fight till we witness the end of Ilion; for it was with God that we made our way hither.'

So he spoke, and all the sons of the Achaians shouted acclaim for the word of Diomedes, breaker of horses. And now Nestor the horseman stood forth among them and spoke to them: 'Son of Tydeus, beyond others you are strong in battle, and in counsel also are noblest among all men of your own age. Not one man of all the Achaians will belittle your words nor speak against them. Yet you have not made complete your argument, since you are a young man still and could even be my own son and my youngest born of all; yet still you argue in wisdom with the Argive kings, since all you have spoken was spoken fairly. But let me speak, since I can call myself older than you are, and go through the whole matter, since there is none who can dishonour the thing I say, not even powerful Agamemnon. Out of all brotherhood, outlawed, homeless shall be that man who longs for all the horror of fighting among his own people. But now let us give way to the darkness of night, and let us make ready our evening meal; and let the guards severally take their stations by the ditch we have dug outside the ramparts. This I would enjoin upon our young men; but thereafter do you, son of Atreus, take command, since you are our kingliest. Divide a feast among the princes; it befits you, it is not unbecoming. Our shelters are filled with wine that the Achaian ships carry day by day from Thrace across the wide water. All hospitality is for you; you are lord over many. When many assemble together follow him who advises the best counsel, for in truth there is need for all the Achaians of good close counsel, since now close to our ships the enemy burn their numerous fires. What man could be cheered to see this? Here is the night that will break our army, or else will preserve it.' So he spoke, and they listened hard to him, and obeyed him, and the sentries went forth rapidly in their armour, gathering about Nestor's son Thrasymedes, shepherd of the people, and about Askalaphos and Ialmenos, sons both of Ares, about Meriones and Aphareus and Deïpyros and about the son of Kreion, Lykomedes the brilliant. There were seven leaders of the sentinels, and with each one a hundred fighting men followed gripping in their hands the long spears. They took position in the space between the ditch and the rampart, and there they kindled their fires and each made ready his supper.

But the son of Atreus led the assembled lords of the Achaians to his own shelter, and set before them the feast in abundance. They put their hands to the good things that lay ready before them. But when they had put away their desire for eating and drinking, the aged man began to weave his counsel before them first, Nestor, whose advice had shown best before this. He in kind intention toward all stood forth and addressed them: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly and king of men, Agamemnon, with you I will end, with you I will make my beginning, since you are lord over many people, and Zeus has given into your hand the sceptre and rights of judgment, to be king over the people. It is yours therefore to speak a word, yours also to listen, and grant the right to another also, when his spirit stirs him to speak for our good. All shall be yours when you lead the way. Still I will speak in the way it seems best to my mind, and no one shall have in his mind any thought that is better than this one that I have in my mind either now or long before now ever since that day, illustrious, when you went from the shelter of angered Achilleus, taking by force the girl Briseis against the will of the rest of us, since I for my part urged you strongly not to, but you, giving way to your proud heart's anger, dishonoured a great man, one whom the immortals honour, since you have taken his prize and keep it. But let us even now think how we can make this good and persuade him with words of supplication and with the gifts of friendship.'

Then in turn the lord of men Agamemnon spoke to him: 'Aged sir, this was no lie when you spoke of my madness. I was mad, I myself will not deny it. Worth many fighters is that man whom Zeus in his heart loves, as now he has honoured this man and beaten down the Achaian people. But since I was mad, in the persuasion of my heart's evil, I am willing to make all good, and give back gifts in abundance. Before you all I will count off my gifts in their splendour: seven unfired tripods; ten talents' weight of gold; twenty shining cauldrons; and twelve horses, strong, race-competitors who have won prizes in the speed of their feet. That man would not be poor in possessions, to whom were given all these have won me, nor be unpossessed of dearly honoured gold, were he given all the prizes these single-foot horses have won for me. I will give him seven women of Lesbos, the work of whose hands is blameless, whom when he himself captured strong-founded Lesbos I chose, and who in their beauty surpassed the races of women. I will give him these, and with them shall go the one I took from him, the daughter of Briseus. And to all this I will swear a great oath that I never entered into her bed and never lay with her as is natural for human people, between men and women. All these gifts shall be his at once; but again, if hereafter the gods grant that we storm and sack the great city of Priam, let him go to his ship and load it deep as he pleases with gold and bronze, when we Achaians divide the war spoils, and let him choose for himself twenty of the Trojan women who are the loveliest of all after Helen of Argos. And if we come back to Achaian Argos, pride of the tilled land, he may be my son-in-law; I will honour him with Orestes my growing son, who is brought up there in abundant luxury. Since, as I have three daughters there in my strong-built castle, Chrysothemis and Laodike and Iphianassa, let him lead away the one of these that he likes, with no bride-price, to the house of Peleus, and with the girl I will grant him as dowry many gifts, such as no man ever gave with his daughter. I will grant to him seven citadels, strongly settled: Kardamyle, and Enope, and Hire of the grasses, Pherai the sacrosanct, and Antheia deep in the meadows, with Aipeia the lovely and Pedasos of the vineyards. All these lie near the sea, at the bottom of sandy Pylos, and men live among them rich in cattle and rich in sheepflocks, who will honour him as if he were a god with gifts given and fulfil his prospering decrees underneath his sceptre. All this I will bring to pass for him, if he changes from his anger. Let him give way. For Hades gives not way, and is pitiless, and therefore he among all the gods is most hateful to mortals. And let him yield place to me, inasmuch as I am the kinglier and inasmuch as I can call myself born the elder.'

Thereupon the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly and king of men, Agamemnon, none could scorn any longer these gifts you offer to Achilleus the king. Come, let us choose and send some men, who in all speed will go to the shelter of Achilleus, the son of Peleus; or come, the men on whom my eye falls, let these take the duty. First of all let Phoinix, beloved of Zeus, be their leader, and after him take Aias the great, and brilliant Odysseus, and of the heralds let Odios and Eurybates go with them. Bring also water for their hands, and bid them keep words of good omen, so we may pray to Zeus, son of Kronos, if he will have pity.' So he spoke, and the word he spoke was pleasing to all of them. And the heralds brought water at once, and poured it over their hands, and the young men filled the mixing-bowl with pure wine and passed it to all, pouring first a libation in goblets. Then when they had poured out wine, and drunk as much as their hearts wished, they set out from the shelter of Atreus' son, Agamemnon. And the Gerenian horseman Nestor gave them much instruction, looking eagerly at each, and most of all at Odysseus, to try hard, so that they might win over the blameless Peleion.

So these two walked along the strand of the sea deep-thundering with many prayers to the holder and shaker of the earth, that they might readily persuade the great heart of Aiakides. Now they came beside the shelters and ships of the Myrmidons and they found Achilleus delighting his heart in a lyre, clear-sounding, splendid and carefully wrought, with a bridge of silver upon it, which he won out of the spoils when he ruined Eëtion's city. With this he was pleasuring his heart, and singing of men's fame, as Patroklos was sitting over against him, alone, in silence, watching Aiakides and the time he would leave off singing. Now these two came forward, as brilliant Odysseus led them, and stood in his presence. Achilleus rose to his feet in amazement holding the lyre as it was, leaving the place where he was sitting. In the same way Patroklos, when he saw the men come, stood up. And in greeting Achilleus the swift of foot spoke to them: 'Welcome. You are my friends who have come, and greatly I need you, who even to this my anger are dearest of all the Achaians.'

So brilliant Achilleus spoke, and guided them forward, and caused them to sit down on couches with purple coverlets and at once called over to Patroklos who was not far from him: 'Son of Menoitios, set up a mixing-bowl that is bigger, and mix us stronger drink, and make ready a cup for each man, since these who have come beneath my roof are the men that I love best.' So he spoke, and Patroklos obeyed his beloved companion, and tossed down a great chopping-block into the firelight, and laid upon it the back of a sheep, and one of a fat goat, with the chine of a fatted pig edged thick with lard, and for him Automedon held the meats, and brilliant Achilleus carved them, and cut it well into pieces and spitted them, as meanwhile Menoitios' son, a man like a god, made the fire blaze greatly. But when the fire had burned itself out, and the flames had died down, he scattered the embers apart, and extended the spits across them lifting them to the andirons, and sprinkled the meats with divine salt. Then when he had roasted all, and spread the food on the platters, Patroklos took the bread and set it out on a table in fair baskets, while Achilleus served the meats. Thereafter he himself sat over against the godlike Odysseus against the further wall, and told his companion, Patroklos, to sacrifice to the gods; and he threw the firstlings in the fire. They put their hands to the good things that lay ready before them. But when they had put aside their desire for eating and drinking, Aias nodded to Phoinix, and brilliant Odysseus saw it, and filled a cup with wine, and lifted it to Achilleus: 'Your health, Achilleus. You have no lack of your equal portion either within the shelter of Atreus' son, Agamemnon, nor here now in your own. We have good things in abundance to feast on; here it is not the desirable feast we think of, but a trouble all too great, beloved of Zeus, that we look on and are afraid. There is doubt if we save our strong-benched vessels or if they will be destroyed, unless you put on your war strength. The Trojans in their pride, with their far-renowned companions, have set up an encampment close by the ships and the rampart, and lit many fires along their army, and think no longer of being held, but rather to drive in upon the black ships. And Zeus, son of Kronos, lightens upon their right hand, showing them portents of good, while Hektor in the huge pride of his strength rages irresistibly, reliant on Zeus, and gives way to no one neither god nor man, but the strong fury has descended upon him. He prays now that the divine Dawn will show most quickly, since he threatens to shear the uttermost horns from the ship-sterns, to light the ships themselves with ravening fire, and to cut down the Achaians themselves as they stir from the smoke beside them. All this I fear terribly in my heart, lest immortals accomplish all these threats, and lest for us it be destiny to die here in Troy, far away from horse-pasturing Argos. Up, then! if you are minded, late though it be, to rescue the afflicted sons of the Achaians from the Trojan onslaught. It will be an affliction to you hereafter, there will be no remedy found to heal the evil thing when it has been done. No, beforehand take thought to beat the evil day aside from the Danaans. Dear friend, surely thus your father Peleus advised you that day when he sent you away to Agamemnon from Phthia: "My child, for the matter of strength, Athene and Hera will give it if it be their will, but be it yours to hold fast in your bosom the anger of the proud heart, for consideration is better. Keep from the bad complication of quarrel, and all the more for this the Argives will honour you, both their younger men and their elders." So the old man advised, but you have forgotten. Yet even now stop, and give way from the anger that hurts the heart. Agamemnon offers you worthy recompense if you change from your anger. Come then, if you will, listen to me, while I count off for you all the gifts in his shelter that Agamemnon has promised: Seven unfired tripods; ten talents' weight of gold; twenty shining cauldrons; and twelve horses, strong, race-competitors who have won prizes in the speed of their feet. That man would not be poor in possessions, to whom were given all these have won him, nor be unpossessed of dearly honoured gold, were he given all the prizes Agamemnon's horses won in their speed for him. He will give you seven women of Lesbos, the work of whose hands is blameless, whom when you yourself captured strong-founded Lesbos he chose, and who in their beauty surpassed the races of women. He will give you these, and with them shall go the one he took from you, the daughter of Briseus. And to all this he will swear a great oath that he never entered into her bed and never lay with her as is natural for human people, between men and women. All these gifts shall be yours at once; but again, if hereafter the gods grant that we storm and sack the great city of Priam, you may go to your ship and load it deep as you please with gold and bronze, when we Achaians divide the war spoils, and you may choose for yourself twenty of the Trojan women, who are the loveliest of all after Helen of Argos. And if we come back to Achaian Argos, pride of the tilled land, you could be his son-in-law; he would honour you with Orestes, his growing son, who is brought up there in abundant luxury. Since, as he has three daughters there in his strong-built castle, Chrysothemis and Laodike and Iphianassa, you may lead away the one of these that you like, with no bride-price, to the house of Peleus; and with the girl he will grant you as dowry many gifts, such as no man ever gave with his daughter. He will grant you seven citadels, strongly settled: Kardamyle and Enope and Hire of the grasses, Pherai the sacrosanct, and Antheia deep in the meadows, with Aipeia the lovely, and Pedasos of the vineyards. All these lie near the sea, at the bottom of sandy Pylos, and men live among them rich in cattle and rich in sheepflocks, who will honour you as if you were a god with gifts given and fulfil your prospering decrees underneath your sceptre. All this he will bring to pass for you, if you change from your anger. But if the son of Atreus is too much hated in your heart, himself and his gifts, at least take pity on all the other Achaians, who are afflicted along the host, and will honour you as a god. You may win very great glory among them. For now you might kill Hektor, since he would come very close to you with the wicked fury upon him, since he thinks there is not his equal among the rest of the Danaans the ships carried hither.'

Then in answer to him spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus: without consideration for you I must make my answer, the way I think, and the way it will be accomplished, that you may not come one after another, and sit by me, and speak softly. For as I detest the doorways of Death, I detest that man, who hides one thing in the depths of his heart, and speaks forth another. But I will speak to you the way it seems best to me: neither do I think the son of Atreus, Agamemnon, will persuade me, nor the rest of the Danaans, since there was no gratitude given for fighting incessantly forever against your enemies. Fate is the same for the man who holds back, the same if he fights hard. We are all held in a single honour, the brave with the weaklings. A man dies still if he has done nothing, as one who has done much. Nothing is won for me, now that my heart has gone through its afflictions in forever setting my life on the hazard of battle. For as to her unwinged young ones the mother bird brings back morsels, wherever she can find them, but as for herself it is suffering, such was I, as I lay through all the many nights unsleeping, such as I wore through the bloody days of the fighting, striving with warriors for the sake of these men's women. But I say that I have stormed from my ships twelve cities of men, and by land eleven more through the generous Troad. From all these we took forth treasures, goodly and numerous, and we would bring them back, and give them to Agamemnon, Atreus' son; while he, waiting back beside the swift ships, would take them, and distribute them little by little, and keep many. All the other prizes of honour he gave the great men and the princes are held fast by them, but from me alone of all the Achaians he has taken and keeps the bride of my heart. Let him lie beside her and be happy. Yet why must the Argives fight with the Trojans? And why was it the son of Atreus assembled and led here these people? Was it not for the sake of lovely-haired Helen? Are the sons of Atreus alone among mortal men the ones who love their wives? Since any who is a good man, and careful, loves her who is his own and cares for her, even as I now loved this one from my heart, though it was my spear that won her. Now that he has deceived me and taken from my hands my prize of honour, let him try me no more. I know him well. He will not persuade me. Let him take counsel with you, Odysseus, and the rest of the princes how to fight the ravening fire away from his vessels. Indeed, there has been much hard work done even without me; he has built himself a wall and driven a ditch about it, making it great and wide, and fixed the sharp stakes inside it. Yet even so he cannot hold the strength of manslaughtering Hektor; and yet when I was fighting among the Achaians Hektor would not drive his attack beyond the wall's shelter but would come forth only so far as the Skaian gates and the oak tree. There once he endured me alone, and barely escaped my onslaught. But, now I am unwilling to fight against brilliant Hektor, tomorrow, when I have sacrificed to Zeus and to all gods, and loaded well my ships, and rowed out on to the salt water, you will see, if you have a mind to it and if it concerns you, my ships in the dawn at sea on the Hellespont where the fish swarm and my men manning them with good will to row. If the glorious shaker of the earth should grant us a favouring passage on the third day thereafter we might raise generous Phthia. I have many possessions there that I left behind when I came here on this desperate venture, and from here there is more gold, and red bronze, and fair-girdled women, and grey iron I will take back; all that was allotted to me. But my prize: he who gave it, powerful Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has taken it back again outrageously. Go back and proclaim to him all that I tell you, openly, so other Achaians may turn against him in anger if he hopes yet one more time to swindle some other Danaan, wrapped as he is forever in shamelessness; yet he would not, bold as a dog though he be, dare look in my face any longer. I will join with him in no counsel, and in no action. He cheated me and he did me hurt. Let him not beguile me with words again. This is enough for him. Let him of his own will be damned, since Zeus of the counsels has taken his wits away from him. I hate his gifts. I hold him light as the strip of a splinter. Not if he gave me ten times as much, and twenty times over as he possesses now, not if more should come to him from elsewhere, or gave all that is brought in to Orchomenos, all that is brought in to Thebes of Egypt, where the greatest possessions lie up in the houses, Thebes of the hundred gates, where through each of the gates two hundred fighting men come forth to war with horses and chariots; not if he gave me gifts as many as the sand or the dust is, not even so would Agamemnon have his way with my spirit until he had made good to me all this heartrending insolence. Nor will I marry a daughter of Atreus' son, Agamemnon, not if she challenged Aphrodite the golden for loveliness, not if she matched the work of her hands with grey-eyed Athene; not even so will I marry her; let him pick some other Achaian, one who is to his liking and is kinglier than I am. For if the gods will keep me alive, and I win homeward, Peleus himself will presently arrange a wife for me. There are many Achaian girls in the land of Hellas and Phthia, daughters of great men who hold strong places in guard. And of these any one that I please I might make my beloved lady. And the great desire in my heart drives me rather in that place to take a wedded wife in marriage, the bride of my fancy, to enjoy with her the possessions won by aged Peleus. For not worth the value of my life are all the possessions they fable were won for Ilion, that strong-founded citadel, in the old days when there was peace, before the coming of the sons of the Achaians; not all that the stone doorsill of the Archer holds fast within it, of Phoibos Apollo in Pytho of the rocks. Of possessions cattle and fat sheep are things to be had for the lifting, and tripods can be won, and the tawny high heads of horses, but a man's life cannot come back again, it cannot be lifted nor captured again by force, once it has crossed the teeth's barrier. For my mother Thetis the goddess of the silver feet tells me I carry two sorts of destiny toward the day of my death. Either, if I stay here and fight beside the city of the Trojans, my return home is gone, but my glory shall be everlasting; but if I return home to the beloved land of my fathers, the excellence of my glory is gone, but there will be a long life left for me, and my end in death will not come to me quickly. And this would be my counsel to others also, to sail back home again, since no longer shall you find any term set on the sheer city of Ilion, since Zeus of the wide brows has strongly held his own hand over it, and its people are made bold. Do you go back therefore to the great men of the Achaians, and take them this message, since such is the privilege of the princes: that they think out in their minds some other scheme that is better, which might rescue their ships, and the people of the Achaians who man the hollow ships, since this plan will not work for them which they thought of by reason of my anger. Let Phoinix remain here with us and sleep here, so that tomorrow he may come with us in our ships to the beloved land of our fathers, if he will; but I will never use force to hold him.'

So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence in amazement at his words. He had spoken to them very strongly. But at long last Phoinix the aged horseman spoke out in a stormburst of tears, and fearing for the ships of the Achaians: 'If it is going home, glorious Achilleus, you ponder in your heart, and are utterly unwilling to drive the obliterating fire from the fast ships, since anger has descended on your spirit, how then shall I, dear child, be left in this place behind you all alone? Peleus the aged horseman sent me forth with you on that day when he sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon a mere child, who knew nothing yet of the joining of battle nor of debate where men are made pre-eminent. Therefore he sent me along with you to teach you of all these matters, to make you a speaker of words and one who accomplished in action. Therefore apart from you, dear child, I would not be willing to be left behind, not were the god in person to promise he would scale away my old age and make me a young man blossoming as I was that time when I first left Hellas, the land of fair women, running from the hatred of Ormenos' son Amyntor, my father; who hated me for the sake of a fair-haired mistress. For he made love to her himself, and dishonoured his own wife, my mother; who was forever taking my knees and entreating me to lie with this mistress instead so that she would hate the old man. I was persuaded and did it; and my father when he heard of it straightway called down his curses, and invoked against me the dreaded furies that I might never have any son born of my seed to dandle on my knees; and the divinities, Zeus of the underworld and Persephone the honoured goddess, accomplished his curses. Then I took it into my mind to cut him down with the sharp bronze, but some one of the immortals checked my anger, reminding me of rumour among the people and men's maledictions repeated, that I might not be called a parricide among the Achaians. But now no more could the heart in my breast be ruled entirely to range still among these halls when my father was angered. Rather it was the many kinsmen and cousins about me who held me closed in the house, with supplications repeated, and slaughtered fat sheep in their numbers, and shambling horn-curved cattle, and numerous swine with the fat abundant upon them were singed and stretched out across the flame of Hephaistos, and much wine was drunk that was stored in the jars of the old man. Nine nights they slept nightlong in their places beside me, and they kept up an interchange of watches, and the fire was never put out; one below the gate of the strong-closed courtyard, and one in the ante-chamber before the doors of the bedroom. But when the tenth night had come to me in its darkness, then I broke the close-compacted doors of the chamber and got away, and overleapt the fence of the courtyard lightly, unnoticed by the guarding men and the women servants. Then I fled far away through the wide spaces of Hellas and came as far as generous Phthia, mother of sheepflocks, and to lord Peleus, who accepted me with a good will and gave me his love, even as a father loves his own son who is a single child brought up among many possessions. He made me a rich man, and granted me many people, and I lived, lord over the Dolopes, in remotest Phthia, and, godlike Achilleus, I made you all that you are now, and loved you out of my heart, for you would not go with another out to any feast, nor taste any food in your own halls until I had set you on my knees, and cut little pieces from the meat, and given you all you wished, and held the wine for you. And many times you soaked the shirt that was on my body with wine you would spit up in the troublesomeness of your childhood. So I have suffered much through you, and have had much trouble, thinking always how the gods would not bring to birth any children of my own; so that it was you, godlike Achilleus, I made my own child, so that some day you might keep hard affliction from me. Then, Achilleus, beat down your great anger. It is not yours to have a pitiless heart. The very immortals can be moved; their virtue and honour and strength are greater than ours are, and yet with sacrifices and offerings for endearment, with libations and with savour men turn back even the immortals in supplication, when any man does wrong and transgresses. For there are also the spirits of Prayer, the daughters of great Zeus, and they are lame of their feet, and wrinkled, and cast their eyes sidelong, who toil on their way left far behind by the spirit of Ruin: but she, Ruin, is strong and sound on her feet, and therefore far outruns all Prayers, and wins into every country to force men astray; and the Prayers follow as healers after her. If a man venerates these daughters of Zeus as they draw near, such a man they bring great advantage, and hear his entreaty; but if a man shall deny them, and stubbornly with a harsh word refuse, they go to Zeus, son of Kronos, in supplication that Ruin may overtake this man, that he be hurt, and punished. So, Achilleus: grant, you also, that Zeus' daughters be given their honour, which, lordly though they be, curbs the will of others. Since, were he not bringing gifts and naming still more hereafter, Atreus' son; were he to remain still swollen with rancour, even I would not bid you throw your anger aside, nor defend the Argives, though they needed you sorely. But see now, he offers you much straightway, and has promised you more hereafter; he has sent the best men to you to supplicate you, choosing them out of the Achaian host, those who to yourself are the dearest of all the Argives. Do not you make vain their argument nor their footsteps, though before this one could not blame your anger. Thus it was in the old days also, the deeds that we hear of from the great men, when the swelling anger descended upon them. The heroes would take gifts; they would listen, and be persuaded. For I remember this action of old, it is not a new thing, and how it went; you are all my friends, I will tell it among you. The Kouretes and the steadfast Aitolians were fighting and slaughtering one another about the city of Kalydon, the Aitolians in lovely Kalydon's defence, the Kouretes furious to storm and sack it in war. For Artemis, she of the golden chair, had driven this evil upon them, angered that Oineus had not given the pride of the orchards to her, first fruits; the rest of the gods were given due sacrifice, but alone to this daughter of great Zeus he had given nothing. He had forgotten, or had not thought, in his hard delusion, and in wrath at his whole mighty line the Lady of Arrows sent upon them the fierce wild boar with the shining teeth, who after the way of his kind did much evil to the orchards of Oineus. For he ripped up whole tall trees from the ground and scattered them headlong roots and all, even to the very flowers of the orchard. The son of Oineus killed this boar, Meleagros, assembling together many hunting men out of numerous cities with their hounds; since the boar might not have been killed by a few men, so huge was he, and had put many men on the sad fire for burning. But the goddess again made a great stir of anger and crying battle, over the head of the boar and the bristling boar's hide, between Kouretes and the high-hearted Aitolians. So long as Meleagros lover of battle stayed in the fighting it went the worse for the Kouretes, and they could not even hold their ground outside the wall, though they were so many. But when the anger came upon Meleagros, such anger as wells in the hearts of others also, though their minds are careful, he, in the wrath of his heart against his own mother, Althaia, lay apart with his wedded bride, Kleopatra the lovely, daughter of sweet-stepping Marpessa, child of Euenos, and Idas, who was the strongest of all men upon earth in his time; for the even took up the bow to face the King's onset, Phoibos Apollo, for the sake of the sweet-stepping maiden; a girl her father and honoured mother had named in their palace Alkyone, sea-bird, as a by-name, since for her sake her mother with the sorrow-laden cry of a sea-bird wept because far-reaching Phoibos Apollo had taken her; with this Kleopatra he lay mulling his heart-sore anger, raging by reason of his mother's curses, which she called down from the gods upon him, in deep grief for the death of her brother, and many times beating with her hands on the earth abundant she called on Hades and on honoured Persephone, lying at length along the ground, and the tears were wet on her bosom, to give death to her son; and Erinys, the mist-walking, she of the heart without pity, heard her out of the dark places. Presently there was thunder about the gates, and the sound rose of towers under assault, and the Aitolian elders supplicated him, sending their noblest priests of the immortals, to come forth and defend them; they offered him a great gift: wherever might lie the richest ground in lovely Kalydon, there they told him to choose out a piece of land, an entirely good one, of fifty acres, the half of it to be vineyard and the half of it unworked ploughland of the plain to be furrowed. And the aged horseman Oineus again and again entreated him, and took his place at the threshold of the high-vaulted chamber and shook against the bolted doors, pleading with his own son. And again and again his honoured mother and his sisters entreated him, but he only refused the more; then his own friends who were the most honoured and dearest of all entreated him; but even so they could not persuade the heart within him until, as the chamber was under close assault, the Kouretes were mounting along the towers and set fire to the great city. And then at last his wife, the fair-girdled bride, supplicated Meleagros, in tears, and rehearsed in their numbers before him all the sorrows that come to men when their city is taken: they kill the men, and the fire leaves the city in ashes, and strangers lead the children away and the deep-girdled women. And the heart, as he listened to all this evil, was stirred within him, and he rose, and went, and closed his body in shining armour. So he gave way in his own heart, and drove back the day of evil from the Aitolians; yet these no longer would make good their many and gracious gifts; yet he drove back the evil from them. Listen, then; do not have such a thought in your mind; let not the spirit within you turn you that way, dear friend. It would be worse to defend the ships after they are burning. No, with gifts promised go forth. The Achaians will honour you as they would an immortal. But if without gifts you go into the fighting where men perish, your honour will no longer be as great, though you drive back the battle.'

Then in answer to him spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Phoinix my father, aged, illustrious, such honour is a thing I need not. I think I am honoured already in Zeus' ordinance which will hold me here beside my curved ships as long as life's wind stays in my breast, as long as my knees have their spring beneath me. And put away in your thoughts this other thing I tell you. Stop confusing my heart with lamentation and sorrow for the favour of great Atreides. It does not become you to love this man, for fear you turn hateful to me, who love you. It should be your pride with me to hurt whoever shall hurt me. Be king equally with me; take half of my honour. These men will carry back the message; you stay here and sleep here in a soft bed, and we shall decide tomorrow, as dawn shows, whether to go back home again or else to remain here.'

He spoke, and, saying nothing, nodded with his brows to Patroklos to make up a neat bed for Phoinix, so the others might presently think of going home from his shelter. The son of Telamon, Aias the godlike, saw it, and now spoke his word among them: 'Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus: let us go. I think that nothing will be accomplished by argument on this errand; it is best to go back quickly and tell this story, though it is not good, to the Danaans who sit there waiting for us to come back, seeing that Achilleus has made savage the proud-hearted spirit within his body. He is hard, and does not remember that friends' affection wherein we honoured him by the ships, far beyond all others. Pitiless. And yet a man takes from his brother's slayer the blood price, or the price for a child who was killed, and the guilty one, when he has largely repaid, stays still in the country, and the injured man's heart is curbed, and his pride, and his anger when he has taken the price; but the gods put in your breast a spirit not to be placated, bad, for the sake of one single girl. Yet now we offer you seven, surpassingly lovely, and much beside these. Now make gracious the spirit within you. Respect your own house; see, we are under the same roof with you, from the multitude of the Danaans, we who desire beyond all others to have your honour and love, out of all the Achaians.'

Then in answer to him spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Son of Telamon, seed of Zeus, Aias, lord of the people: all that you have said seems spoken after my own mind. Yet still the heart in me swells up in anger, when I remember the disgrace that he wrought upon me before the Argives, the son of Atreus, as if I were some dishonoured vagabond. Do you then go back to him, and take him this message: that I shall not think again of the bloody fighting until such time as the son of wise Priam, Hektor the brilliant, comes all the way to the ships of the Myrmidons, and their shelters, slaughtering the Argives, and shall darken with fire our vessels. But around my own shelter, I think, and beside my black ship Hektor will be held, though he be very hungry for battle.'

He spoke, and they taking each a two-handled cup poured out a libation, then went back to their ships, and Odysseus led them. Now Patroklos gave the maids and his followers orders to make up without delay a neat bed for Phoinix. And these obeyed him and made up the bed as he had commanded, laying fleeces on it, and a blanket, and a sheet of fine linen. There the old man lay down and waited for the divine Dawn. But Achilleus slept in the inward corner of the strong-built shelter, and a woman lay beside him, one he had taken from Lesbos, Phorbas' daughter, Diomede of the fair colouring. In the other corner Patroklos went to bed; with him also was a girl, Iphis the fair-girdled, whom brilliant Achilleus gave him, when he took sheer Skyros, Enyeus' citadel. Now when these had come back to the shelters of Agamemnon, the sons of the Achaians greeted them with their gold cups uplifted, one after another, standing, and asked them questions. And the first to question them was the lord of men, Agamemnon: 'Tell me, honoured Odysseus, great glory of the Achaians: is he willing to fight the ravening fire away from our vessels, or did he refuse, and does the anger still hold his proud heart?'

Then long-suffering great Odysseus spoke to him in answer: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly, king of men, Agamemnon. That man will not quench his anger, but still more than ever is filled with rage. He refuses you and refuses your presents. He tells you yourself to take counsel among the Argives how to save your ships, and the people of the Achaians. And he himself has threatened that tomorrow as dawn shows he will drag down his strong-benched, oarswept ships to the water. He said it would be his counsel to others also, to sail back home again, since no longer will you find any term set on the sheer city of Ilion, since Zeus of the wide brows has strongly held his own hand over it, and its people are made bold. So he spoke. There are these to attest it who went there with me also, Aias, and the two heralds, both men of good counsel. But aged Phoinix stayed there for the night, as Achilleus urged him, so he might go home in the ships to the beloved land of his fathers if Phoinix will; but he will never use force to persuade him.'

So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence in amazement at his words. He had spoken to them very strongly. For a long time the sons of the Achaians said nothing, in sorrow, but at long last Diomedes of the great war cry spoke to them: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly and king of men, Agamemnon, I wish you had not supplicated the blameless son of Peleus with innumerable gifts offered. He is a proud man without this, and now you have driven him far deeper into his pride. Rather we shall pay him no more attention, whether he comes in with us or stays away. He will fight again, whenever the time comes that the heart in his body urges him to, and the god drives him. Come then, do as I say, and let us all be won over. Go to sleep, now that the inward heart is made happy with food and drink, for these are the strength and courage within us. But when the lovely dawn shows forth with rose fingers, Atreides, rapidly form before our ships both people and horses stirring them on, and yourself be ready to fight in the foremost.'

So he spoke, and all the kings gave him their approval, acclaiming the word of Diomedes, breaker of horses. Then they poured a libation, and each man went to his shelter, where they went to their beds and took the blessing of slumber.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 10

 Now beside their ships the other great men of the Achaians slept night long, with the soft bondage of slumber upon them; but the son of Atreus, Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, was held by no sweet sleep as he pondered deeply within him. As when the lord of Hera the lovely-haired flashes his lightning as he brings on a great rainstorm, or a hail incessant, or a blizzard, at such time when the snowfall scatters on ploughlands, or drives on somewhere on earth the huge edge of tearing battle, such was Agamemnon, with the beating turmoil in his bosom from the deep heart, and all his wits were shaken within him. Now he would gaze across the plain to the Trojan camp, wondering at the number of their fires that were burning in front of Ilion, toward the high calls of their flutes and pipes, the murmur of people. Now as he would look again to the ships and the Achaian people, he would drag the hair by its roots from his head, looking toward Zeus on high, and his proud heart was stricken with lamentation. Now to his mind this thing appeared to be the best counsel, first among men to seek out Nestor, the son of Neleus, to see if Nestor with him could work out a plan that would not fail, and one that might drive the evil away from all the Danaans. He stood upright, and slipped the tunic upon his body, and underneath his shining feet he bound the fair sandals, and thereafter slung across him the tawny hide of a lion glowing and huge, that swung to his feet, and took up a spear.

So likewise trembling seized Menelaos, neither on his eyes had sweet slumber descending settled, for fear that the Argives might suffer some hurt, they who for his sake over much water had come to Troy, bearing their bold attack to the Trojans. First of all he mantled his broad back in a leopard's spotted hide, then lifting the circle of a brazen helmet placed it upon his head, and took up a spear in his big hand, and went on his way to waken his brother, who was the great king of all Argives, one honoured in his own land as a god is. He found him putting the splendid armour about his shoulders beside the stern of his ship, and was welcomed as he came up to him. It was Menelaos of the great war cry who spoke first: 'Why this arming, my brother? Is it some one of your companions you are stirring to go and spy on the Trojans? Yet I fear sadly there will not be any man to undertake this endeavour, going against enemy fighters to spy on them, alone, through the immortal night. Such a man will have to be very bold-hearted.'

Then in turn powerful Agamemnon answered him: 'You and I, illustrious, o Menelaos, have need now of crafty counsel, if any man is to defend and rescue the Argives and their ships, since the heart of Zeus is turned from us. For the sacrifices of Hektor have stirred his heart more than ours have. No, for I never saw nor heard from the lips of another of a single man in a day imagining so much evil as Hektor, beloved of Zeus, has wrought on the sons of the Achaians, alone, being called true son neither of a god nor a goddess. He has done things I think the Argives will remember with sorrow long into the future, such harm has he devised the Achaians. But go now, running lightly beside the ships, and call to us Idomeneus and Aias, while I shall go after Nestor the brilliant, and waken him to rise, if he might be willing to approach the sacred duty of the guards, or give orders to them. Above all, these would listen to him, seeing that his own son commands the pickets, and with him the follower of Idomeneus, Meriones. To these above all we entrusted the duty.'

Then in turn Menelaos of the great war cry answered him: 'How then do you intend this order that you have given me? Shall I wait where I am, with them, and watch for your coming, or run after you, when I have properly given the order?'

Then in turn the lord of men Agamemnon spoke to him: 'Better wait here, so there will be no way we can miss one another as we come and go. There are many paths up and down the encampment. Call out wherever you go, and waken each man to give him your orders, naming him by descent with the name of his father. Give each man due respect. Let not your spirit be haughty, but let it be you and I ourselves who do the work, seeing that Zeus cast on us as we were born this burden of evil.'

So he spoke and with careful orders sent off his brother, and he himself went in search of Nestor, shepherd of the people, and came on him beside his own shelter and his own black ship in a soft bed, and his bright gear was lying beside him, the shield, and the two spears, and the glittering helmet, and by him lay in all its shining the war belt, in which the old man girt himself, when he armed for the fighting where men die, leading his own people, since he gave no ground to sorrowful old age. He straightened up and raised his head, leaning on one elbow, and spoke to the son of Atreus, and asked him a question: 'Who are you, who walk alone through the ships and the army and through the darkness of night when other mortals are sleeping? Are you looking for one of your mules, or looking for some companion? Speak, do not come upon me in silence. What would you of me?'

Then in turn the lord of men Agamemnon answered him: 'Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaians, you will know Atreus' son Agamemnon, whom beyond others Zeus has involved in hard work forever, as long as life's wind stays in my breast, as long as my knees have their spring beneath me. I am driven thus, because the ease of sleep will not settle on my eyes, but fighting and the cares of the Achaians perplex me. Terribly I am in dread for the Danaans, nor does my pulse beat steadily, but I go distracted, and my heart is pounding through my chest, and my shining limbs are shaken beneath me. But if you are for action, since sleep comes neither upon you, let us both go out to the pickets, so that we may see if they might not have found weariness too much for them, and fallen asleep, and altogether forgotten their duty, to keep watch. There are men who hate us sitting nearby, nor do we know that they might not be pondering an attack on us in the darkness.'

Thereupon the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly and king of men, Agamemnon, Zeus of the counsels, I think, will not accomplish for Hektor all his designs and all he hopes for now; I think rather he will have still more hardships to wrestle, if ever Achilleus turns again the heart within him from its wearisome anger. Surely, I will go with you, and let us also awaken others, the son of Tydeus the spear-famed, and Odysseus, and Aias the swift-footed, and the powerful son of Phyleus. But if one were to go also and call these others I speak of, Aias the great, the godlike one, and the lord Idomeneus, why, their ships lie farthest from us, and are not at all close. But, beloved as he is and respected, I will still blame Menelaos, even though you be angry, and I will not hide it, for the way he sleeps and has given to you alone all the hard work. For now he ought to be hard at work going to all the great men in supplication. This need that has come is no more endurable.'

Then in turn the lord of men Agamemnon spoke to him: 'Aged sir, other times I also would tell you to blame him, since often he hangs back and is not willing to work hard, not that he shrinks from it and gives way, nor in the mind's dullness, but because he looks to me, and waits till I make a beginning. But this time he woke far before me, and came to rouse me, and I sent him on to call those you ask after. Therefore let us go. We shall find those others there with the sentries before the gates, where I told them to form and assemble.'

Thereupon the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: 'Thus no man of the Argives can disobey him nor find fault with him, whenever he stirs up any of them and gives orders.'

With this speech, he slipped the tunic upon his body and underneath his shining feet he bound the fair sandals, and pinned about him a great vermilion mantle sweeping in a double fold, with a thick fleece of wool upon it. Then he caught up a powerful spear, edged with sharp bronze, and went on his way down the ships of the bronze-armoured Achaians. First he came on Odysseus, the equal of Zeus in counsel, and Nestor the Gerenian horseman wakened him from sleep, speaking aloud, and the wave of the voice swept quick through his hearing and he came forth from his shelter and called out his word to them: 'Why do you wander thus up and down the ships and the army alone, through the immortal night? What need is upon you?'

Thereupon the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: 'Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, do not be angry; such grief has fallen upon the Achaians. Come then with us to waken another, for whom it is becoming to deliberate the question of running away or of fighting.'

He spoke, and resourceful Odysseus moving back into his shelter put the bright-patterned shield on his shoulders, and went on with them. They went to the son of Tydeus, Diomedes, and found him with his gear outside the shelter, and his companions about him slept with their shields underneath their heads, and their spears beside them stood upright, the heels driven deep in the ground, and the bronze afar off glared, like the lightning of Zeus father. The hero slept, with the hide of a field-ranging ox laid beneath him, but underneath his head was laid out a lustrous blanket. Nestor the Gerenian horseman stood by to waken him and roused him, stirring him with his heel, and scolded him to his face: 'Son of Tydeus, wake up! Why do you doze in slumber nightlong? Do you not hear how the Trojans at the break of the flat land are sitting close to our ships, and narrow ground holds them from us?'

So he spoke, and the other rapidly stirred from his sleeping and spoke winged words to him and addressed him thus: 'Aged sir, you are a hard man. You are never finished with working. Now are there not other sons of the Achaians younger than you are who could be going about everywhere to each of the princes and waking them up? But you, aged sir, are too much for us.'

In turn Nestor the Gerenian horseman said to him: 'Yes, dear friend, all this that you said has been fairly spoken. I myself have sons without blame, I have followers, plenty of them, of whom any could go to summon the princes. But this difficulty is very great that has come to the Achaians, since for all of us the decision now stands on the edge of a razor whether the Achaians shall have life or sorry destruction. But go now to Aias the swift and the son of Phyleus and waken them--you are younger than I--if truly you have pity.'

He spoke, and the other wrapped his shoulders in the hide of a lion glowing and huge, that swung to his feet, and took up a spear. The hero went, and waking the others brought them back with him.

Now as these men mingled with the sentries assembling they found the leaders of the pickets by no means asleep but all of them were wide awake, and sat by their weapons. As dogs about the sheep in a yard are restless in watching as they hear a wild beast boldly moving, who through the timber goes among the mountains, and a clamour rises about him of men and of dogs, and all their sleep has been broken from them; so for these the softness of sleep was broken from their eyes as they held the bitter midwatch, since they were turning always toward the plain, where they heard the Trojans coming and going. The aged man was glad when he saw them, and with speech of good cheer spoke winged words to them and addressed them thus: 'Continue to keep your watch this way, beloved children, and let not sleep seize any, lest you become a delight to your enemies.'

So he spoke, and strode on through the ditch, and there followed with him the kings of the Argives, all who had been called into conclave, and with them went Meriones and Nestor's glorious son, since the kings themselves called these to take counsel with them. After they had crossed the deep-dug ditch they settled on clean ground, where there showed a space not cumbered with corpses of the fallen, a place whence Hektor the huge had turned back from destroying the Argives, after the night had darkened about him. There they seated themselves, and opened words to each other, and the Gerenian horseman Nestor began speaking among them: 'O my friends, is there no man who, trusting in the daring of his own heart, would go among the high-hearted Trojans? So he might catch some enemy, who straggled behind them, or he might overhear some thing that the Trojans are saying, what they deliberate among themselves, and whether they purpose to stay where they are, close to the ships, or else to withdraw back into their city, now that they have beaten the Achaians. Could a man learn this, and then come back again to us unhurt, why huge and heaven-high would rise up his glory among all people, and an excellent gift would befall him; for all those who hold by the ships high power as princes, of all these each one of them will give him a black sheep, female, with a lamb beneath; there shall be no gift like this one, one that will be forever by at the feasts and festivals.' So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence; but now Diomedes of the great war cry spoke forth among them: 'Nestor, my own heart and my own proud spirit arouse me to go into the host of the hateful men who lie near us, the Trojans; but if some other man would go along with me there would be more comfort in it, and greater confidence. When two go together, one of them at least looks forward to see what is best; a man by himself, though he be careful, still has less mind in him than two, and his wits have less weight.' He spoke, and many were willing to go with Diomedes. The two Aiantes were willing, henchman of Ares, and likewise Meriones, and Nestor's son altogether willing, and Atreus' son was willing, Menelaos the spear-famed, and patient Odysseus too was willing to enter the multitude of Trojans, since forever the heart in his breast was daring. Now it was the lord of men, Agamemnon, who spoke to them: 'Son of Tydeus, you who delight my heart, Diomedes, pick your man to be your companion, whichever you wish, the best of all who have shown, since many are eager to do it. You must not, for the awe that you feel in your heart, pass over the better man and take the worse, giving way to modesty and looking to his degree--not even if he be kinglier.' So he spoke, and was frightened for Menelaos of the fair hair. But now again Diomedes of the great war cry spoke forth: 'If indeed you tell me myself to pick my companion, how then could I forget Odysseus the godlike, he whose heart and whose proud spirit are beyond all others forward in all hard endeavours, and Pallas Athene loves him. Were he to go with me, both of us could come back from the blazing of fire itself, since his mind is best at devices.'

Then in turn long-suffering brilliant Odysseus answered him: 'Son of Tydeus, do not praise me so, nor yet blame me. These are the Argives, who know well all these matters you speak of. But let us go: for the night draws far along, and the dawn nears, the stars have gone far on their course, and the full of the night has passed by, through two portions, and the third portion is that which is left us.' So they spoke, and armed themselves in their weapons of terror, and Thrasymedes the stubborn in battle gave the son of Tydeus a two-edged sword (his own had been left behind by his vessel) and a shield; and he put over his head a helmet of bull's hide, with neither horn nor crest, which is known as the skull cap, and guards the heads of strong men in battle; while Meriones gave Odysseus a bow and a quiver and a sword; and he too put over his head a helmet fashioned of leather; on the inside the cap was cross-strung firmly with thongs of leather, and on the outer side the white teeth of a tusk-shining boar were close sewn one after another with craftsmanship and skill; and a felt was set in the centre. Autolykos, breaking into the close-built house, had stolen it from Amyntor, the son of Ormenos, out of Eleon, and gave it to Kytherian Amphidamas, at Skandeia; Amphidamas gave it in turn to Molos, a gift of guest-friendship, and Molos gave it to his son Meriones to carry. But at this time it was worn to cover the head of Odysseus.

When these two had armed themselves in their weapons of terror they went on their way, and left behind there all the princes, and on the right near the way they were taking Pallas Athene sent down a heron to them; indeed, their eyes could not see it through the darkness of night, but they could hear it crying. And Odysseus was glad at the bird-sign, and prayed to Athene: 'Hear me, daughter of Zeus of the aegis, you who forever stand beside me in all hard tasks, nor am I forgotten as I go my ways: now give me the best of your love, Athene, and grant that we come back in glory to the strong-benched vessels when we have done a great thing that will sadden the Trojans.'

Diomedes of the great war cry spoke in prayer after him: 'Hear me also, Atrytone, daughter of great Zeus. Come with me now as you went with my father, brilliant Tydeus, into Thebes, when he went with a message before the Achaians, and left the bronze-armoured Achaians beside Asopos while he carried a word of friendship to the Kadmeians in that place; but on his way back he was minded to grim deeds with your aid, divine goddess, since you stood in goodwill beside him. So now again be willing to stand by me, and watch over me, and I in turn will dedicate you a heifer, broad-browed, one year old, unbroken, that no man ever led under the yoke. I will drench her horns in gold and offer her to you.' So they spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard them. Then, after they had made their prayers to the daughter of great Zeus they went on their way like two lions into the black night through the carnage and through the corpses, war gear and dark blood.

Nor did Hektor either permit the high-hearted Trojans to sleep, but had called together in a group all of their great men, those who were the leaders of Troy and their men of deliberation. Summoning these he compacted before them his close counsel: 'Who would take upon him this work and bring it to fulfilment for a huge price? The reward will be one that will suffice him; for I will give a chariot and two strong-necked horses who are the finest of all beside the fast ships of the Achaians to him who has the daring, winning honour for himself also, to go close to the swift-running ships and find out for us whether the swift ships are guarded, as they were before this, or whether now the Achaians who are beaten under our hands are planning flight among themselves, and no longer are willing to guard them by night, now that stark weariness has broken them.' So he spoke, and all of them were stricken to silence. But there was one among the Trojans, Dolon, Eumedes' son, the sacred herald's, a man of much gold and much bronze. He was an evil man to look on, but was swift-footed; moreover he was a single son among five sisters. This man now spoke his word before the Trojans and Hektor: 'Hektor, my own heart and my proud spirit arouse me to go close to the swift-running ships and to learn about them. Come then, hold up your sceptre before me, and swear upon it that you will give me the horses, and the chariot made bright with bronze, that carry the blameless son of Peleus. I shall not be a vain spy for you, nor less than your expectation, for I shall go straight on through their army, until I come to the ship of Agamemnon, where their greatest men must be gathered to deliberate the question of running away or of fighting.'

He spoke, and Hektor took the staff in his hand, and swore to him: 'Let Zeus, loud-thundering lord of Hera, now be my witness himself, that no other man of the Trojans shall mount these horses, since I say they shall be utterly yours, and your glory.'

He spoke, and swore to an empty oath, and stirred the man onward. And at once Dolon cast across his shoulders the bent bow. He put on about him the pelt of a grey wolf, and on his head set a cap of marten's hide, and took up a sharp throwing spear and went on his way toward the ships from his own camp, nor was he ever to come back again from the ships, and carry his word to Hektor. Now when he had left behind the throng of men and of horses he went on his way, eagerly, but illustrious Odysseus was aware of him coming and spoke to Diomedes: 'This is some man, Diomedes, on his way from the army. I do not know whether he comes to spy on our vessels or to strip some one of the perished corpses, but we must let him first go on past us a little way in the open and afterwards we will make a rush and fasten upon him suddenly. But if in the speed of his feet he eludes us then keep him crowded upon the ships, and away from the army always, feinting with the spear, nor let him escape to the city.'

So they spoke, and bent aside from their way, through the corpses, while he in the thoughtlessness of his heart ran swiftly by them. But when he was gone from them as far as the range of a plough yoke of mules, since these are better beasts than oxen for dragging the wrought ploughshare through the depth of the harvest land, these two ran after him, and he heard the thudding of their feet and stopped still. He thought in his heart these would be friends from among the Trojans to turn him back, and that Hektor had sped them to summon him again. But when they got to a spear's throw from him, or less even, he saw that these were enemy men, and moved his knees rapidly to run away, and these set out in rapid chase of him. And, as when two rip-fanged hounds have sighted a wild beast, a young deer, or a hare, and go after it, eagerly always through the spaces of the woods, and the chase runs crying before them, so the son of Tydeus, and Odysseus, sacker of cities, kept always hard on his heels and cut him off from his people. But when he was on the point of reaching the Achaian pickets, as he fled toward the vessels, then Athene put great power in Tydeus' son, so that no other bronze-armoured Achaian might win the glory of striking him down, and he come in second. Powerful Diomedes threatening with the spear spoke to him: 'Either wait, or my spear will catch you. I think that you will not thus get clear from my hands for long, and sudden destruction.'

He spoke, and let fly with his spear, but missed, on purpose, his man, as the point of the polished spear went over his right shoulder and stuck fast in the earth. And Dolon stood still in terror gibbering, as through his mouth came the sound of his teeth's chatter in green fear; and these two, breathing hard, came up to him and caught him by the hands, and he broke into tears and spoke to them: 'Take me alive, and I will pay my ransom: in my house there is bronze, and gold, and difficultly wrought iron, and my father would make you glad with abundant ransom were he to hear that I am alive by the ships of the Achaians.'

Then resourceful Odysseus spoke in turn, and answered him: 'Do not fear, and let no thought of death be upon you. But come, tell me this thing and recite it to me accurately: where is it that you walk alone to the ships from the army through the darkness of night when other mortals are sleeping? Is it to strip some one of the perished corpses, or is it that Hektor sent you out to spy with care upon each thing beside our hollow ships? Or did your own spirit drive you?'

Then Dolon answered him, but his legs were shaking beneath him: 'Hektor has led my mind astray with many deceptions. He promised me the single-foot horses of proud Achilleus, Peleus' son, and the chariot bright with bronze, for my gift, and gave me an order, to go through the running black night, and get close to the enemy men, and find out for him whether the swift ships are guarded, as they were before this, or whether now the Achaians who are broken under our hands are planning flight among themselves, and no longer are willing to guard them by night, now that stark weariness has broken them.'

Then Odysseus the resourceful smiled and spoke to him: 'Surely now, these were mighty gifts that your heart longed after, the horses of valiant Aiakides. They are difficult horses for mortal men to manage, or even to ride behind them for all except Achilleus, who was born of an immortal mother. But come, tell me this thing and recite it to me accurately. Where did you leave Hektor, the people's shepherd, when you came here? Where is his gear of war lying? Where are his horses? How are the rest of the Trojans disposed, the guards and the sleepers? What do they deliberate among themselves? Do they purpose to stay where they are, close to the ships? Or else to withdraw back into the city, now that they have beaten the Achaians?'

Then in turn Dolon the son of Eumedes spoke to him: 'See, I will accurately recite all these things to you. Hektor is now among those who are the men of counsel and they hold their deliberations by the barrow of godlike Ilos apart from the confusion. But those guards that you ask of, hero-- there is no detail that protects the army and guards it. As for the watchfire hearths of the Trojans, those who must do it keep awake by the fires and pass on the picket duty to each other, but their far-assembled companions in battle are sleeping, and pass on to the Trojans the duty of watching, since their own children do not lie nearby, nor their women.'

Then resourceful Odysseus spoke in turn, and answered him: 'How, then, are these sleeping? And are they mixed with the Trojans, breakers of horses, or apart? Tell me, so I may be clear.'

Then in turn Dolon the son of Eumedes answered him: 'See, I will accurately recite all these things to you. Next the sea are the Karians, and Paionians with their curved bows, the Leleges and Kaukonians and the brilliant Pelasgians. By Thymbre are stationed the Lykians and the proud Mysians with the Phrygians who fight from horses, and Maionians, lords of chariots. But why do you question me on all this, each thing in detail? For if you are minded to get among the mass of the Trojans, here are the Thracians, new come, separate, beyond all others in place, and among them Rhesos their king, the son of Eïoneus. And his are the finest horses I ever saw, and the biggest; they are whiter than snow, and their speed of foot is the winds' speed; his chariot is fairly ornate with gold and with silver, and the armour is golden and gigantic, a wonder to look on, that he brought here with him. It is not like armour for mortal men to carry, but for the immortal gods. And therefore take me with you to some place by the fast-running vessels, or else tie me fast here in a pitiless bond, and leave me, until you can make your venture, and try out the truth of my story, whether I have told you this fairly, or whether I have not.'

But powerful Diomedes looked darkly at him and spoke then: 'Do not, Dolon, have in your mind any thought of escape now you have got in our hands, though you brought us an excellent message. For if we let you get away now, or set you free, later you will come back again to the fast ships of the Achaians either to spy on us once more, or to fight strongly with us. But if, beaten down under my hands, you lose your life now, then you will nevermore be an affliction upon the Argives.'

He spoke, and the man was trying to reach his chin with his strong hand and cling, and supplicate him, but he struck the middle of his neck with a sweep of the sword, and slashed clean through both tendons, and Dolon's head still speaking dropped in the dust. They took off his cap of marten's hide from his head, and stripped off also the wolf's pelt, and the back-strung bow, and the long spear. Brilliant Odysseus held these up to Athene the Spoiler high in his hand, and spoke a word, and prayed to Athene: 'Hail, goddess. These are yours. To you first of all the immortals on Olympos we will give your due share. Only guide us once again to where the Thracians sleep, and their horses.'

So he spoke, and lifting the spoils high from him he placed them upon a tamarisk bush, and piled a clear landmark beside them, pulling reeds together and the long branches of tamarisk that they might not miss them on their way back through the running black night. These two went ahead on their way through war gear and dark blood and came suddenly to the Thracians for whom they were looking. These were asleep, worn out with weariness, and their armour lay in splendour and good order on the ground beside them in three rows, and beside each man stood his team of horses. Rhesos slept in the centre with his fast horses about him tethered by the reins to the outer rail of the chariot. Odysseus was the first to see him and pointed him out to Diomedes: 'Here is our man, see, Diomedes, and here are his horses, those that Dolon, the man we killed, pointed out to us. Come then, put forward your great strength. Here is no matter for standing by idle in your weapons. Untie the horses; or else let me look after them, while you kill the people.'

He spoke, and grey-eyed Athene breathed strength into Diomedes and he began to kill them one after another. Grim sounds rose from there as they were stricken with the sword, and the ground reddened with blood. As a lion advancing on the helpless herds unshepherded of sheep or goats pounces upon them with wicked intention, so the son of Tydeus attacked the Thracian people until he had killed twelve. Meanwhile resourceful Odysseus as Tydeus' son stood over each man with the sword, and struck him, would catch each dead man by the foot from behind, and drag him away, with this thought in his mind, that the bright-maned horses might pass easily through and not be shaken within them at stepping on dead men. These horses were not yet used to them. But when the son of Tydeus came to the king, and this was the thirteenth man, he stripped the sweetness of life from him as he lay heavily breathing--since a bad dream stood by his head in the night--no dream, but Oineus' son, by device of Athene. Meanwhile patient Odysseus was untying the single-foot horses, and pulled them together with the reins, and drove them from the confusion and whipped them with his bow, since he had not noticed nor taken in his hands the glittering whip that was in the elaborate chariot. He whistled to brilliant Diomedes as a signal to him.

But he waited, divided in his mind as to what he would best do, whether to seize the chariot, wherein lay the bright armour, and draw it away by the pole, or lift it and carry it off with him, or strip the life from still more of the Thracians. Meanwhile as he was pondering all this in his heart, Athene came and stood beside him, and spoke to great Diomedes: 'Think now, son of great-hearted Tydeus, of getting back to the hollow ships; else you might go back with men pursuing if there should be some other god to waken the Trojans.'

So she spoke, and he knew the voice of the goddess speaking and lightly mounted behind the horses. Odysseus whipped them with his bow, and they ran for the rapid ships of the Achaians.

Neither did Apollo of the silver bow keep blind watch, since he saw Athene attending the son of Tydeus. Angered with her he plunged into the great multitude of the Trojans and roused a man of counsel among the Thracians, Hippokoön the lordly cousin of Rhesos; and he, starting out of his sleep, when he saw the place left empty where the fast horses had been standing and his men in the shambles of slaughter gasping their lives out, he groaned, and called aloud by name his beloved companion. And a clamour rose up from the Trojans and a vast turmoil as they swept together in confusion and stared at the ghastly work done by these two men, before they went back to their hollow vessels.

But when these had come back to the place where they killed Hektor's scout, Odysseus beloved of Zeus reined in his running horses while Tydeus' son leaping to the ground took the bloody war spoils and handed them to Odysseus, and got up behind the horses. Odysseus lashed them on, and they winged their way unreluctant back to the hollow ships, since this was the way he desired it. Nestor was the first to hear their thunder, and spoke forth: 'Friends, who are leaders of the Argives and keep their counsel, shall I be wrong, or am I speaking the truth? My heart tells me. The thunder is beating against my ears of fast-running horses. Might this only be Odysseus and strong Diomedes driving rapidly away from the Trojans their single-foot horses! Yet terribly I fear in my heart that these bravest Achaians might have suffered some disaster from the loud host of the Trojans.' Yet he had not spoken all his words, and they came. The two men dismounted to the ground, and their companions rejoicing congratulated them with clasped hands and with words of welcome. First to question them was the Gerenian horseman, Nestor: 'Come, tell me, honoured Odysseus, great glory of the Achaians, how did you win these horses? Did you go into the great company of the Trojans, or did some god meet you and give them to you? They shine, like the rays of the sun, terribly. Yet over and over I encounter the Trojans, I say that I am not at all one to hang back beside the ships, though I am an aged fighter. Yet I have never seen horses like these, nor laid eyes upon them. I think it must be some god who met you, and gave them to you. Since both of you are beloved to Zeus who gathers the clouds, both to the grey-eyed maiden of Zeus who wears the aegis, Athene.'

Then resourceful Odysseus spoke in turn and answered him: 'Son of Neleus, Nestor, great glory of the Achaians: lightly a god, if he wished, could give us horses even better than these, seeing that the gods are far stronger than we are. These horses, aged sir, that you ask about are newcomers from Thrace, and as for their master brave Diomedes killed him and at his side killed twelve companions, all of them great men; our thirteenth man killed was their scout, here by the vessels, one whom Hektor and the rest of the haughty Trojans had sent out between the lines to spy on our army.'

He spoke, and guided across the ditch the single-foot horses laughing aloud, and the rest of the Achaians went with him rejoicing. When they came to Diomedes' strong-fashioned shelter there they tied up the horses by the carefully cut reins by the horse trough where already the horses of Diomedes were standing, rapid of foot, and eating their welcome provender. And by the stern of the ship Odysseus laid down the bloody battle spoils of Dolon, to dedicate to Athene. And the men themselves waded into the sea and washed off the dense sweat from shin and shoulder and thigh. Afterwards when the surf of the sea had rinsed the dense-running sweat away from all their skin, and the inward heart had been cooled to refreshment, they stepped into the bathtubs smooth-polished, and bathed there, and after they had bathed and anointed themselves with olive oil they sat down to dine, and from the full mixing-bowl drawing the sweet-hearted wine poured out an offering to Athene.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 11

 Now Dawn rose from her bed, where she lay by haughty Tithonos, to carry her light to men and to immortals. Zeus sent down in speed to the fast ships of the Achaians the wearisome goddess of Hate, holding in her hands the portent of battle. She took her place on the huge-hollowed black ship of Odysseus which lay in the middle, so that she could cry out to both flanks, either as far as the shelters of Telamonian Aias or to those of Achilleus; since these had hauled their balanced ships up at the ends, certain of their manhood and their hands' strength. There the goddess took her place, and cried out a great cry and terrible and loud, and put strength in all the Achaians' hearts, to go on tirelessly with their fighting of battles. And now battle became sweeter to them than to go back in their hollow ships to the beloved land of their fathers.

And Atreus' son cried out aloud and drove the Achaians to gird them, while he himself put the shining bronze upon him. First he placed along his legs the beautiful greaves linked with silver fastenings to hold the greaves at the ankles. Afterwards he girt on about his chest the corselet that Kinyras had given him once, to be a guest present. For the great fame and rumour of war had carried to Kypros how the Achaians were to sail against Troy in their vessels. Therefore he gave the king as a gift of grace this corselet. Now there were ten circles of deep cobalt upon it, and twelve of gold and twenty of tin. And toward the opening at the throat there were rearing up three serpents of cobalt on either side, like rainbows, which the son of Kronos has marked upon the clouds, to be a portent to mortals. Across his shoulders he slung the sword, and the nails upon it were golden and glittered, and closing about it the scabbard was silver, and gold was upon the swordstraps that held it. And he took up the man-enclosing elaborate stark shield, a thing of splendour. There were ten circles of bronze upon it, and set about it were twenty knobs of tin, pale-shining, and in the very centre another knob of dark cobalt. And circled in the midst of all was the blank-eyed face of the Gorgon with her stare of horror, and Fear was inscribed upon it, and Terror. The strap of the shield had silver upon it, and there also on it was coiled a cobalt snake, and there were three heads upon him twisted to look backward and grown from a single neck, all three. Upon his head he set the helmet, two-horned, four-sheeted, with the horse-hair crest, and the plumes nodded terribly above it. Then he caught up two strong spears edged with sharp bronze and the brazen heads flashed far from him deep into heaven. And Hera and Athene caused a crash of thunder about him, doing honour to the lord of deep-golden Mykenai.

Thereupon each man gave orders to his charioteer to rein in the horses once again by the ditch, in good order, while they themselves, dismounted and armed in their war gear, swept onward to the ditch, and their incessant clamour rose up in the morning. In battle array they came to the ditch well ahead of the horseman and the horseman followed a little behind. And the son of Kronos drove down the evil turmoil upon them, and from aloft cast down dews dripping blood from the sky, since he was minded to hurl down a multitude of strong heads to the house of Hades.

On the other side of the ditch at the break of the plain the Trojans gathered about tall Hektor and stately Poulydamas and Aineias, honoured by Trojans in their countryside as a god is, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybos, and brilliant Agenor, and Akamas, a young man still, in the likeness of the immortals. And Hektor carried the perfect circle of his shield in the foremost, as among the darkened clouds the bale star shows forth in all shining, then merges again in the clouds and the darkness. So Hektor would at one time be shining among the foremost, and then once more urging on the last, and complete in bronze armour glittered like the thunder-flash of Zeus of the aegis, our father.

And the men, like two lines of reapers who, facing each other, drive their course all down the field of wheat or of barley for a man blessed in substance, and the cut swathes drop showering, so Trojans and Achaians driving in against one another cut men down, nor did either side think of disastrous panic. The pressure held their heads on a line, and they whirled and fought like wolves, and Hate, the Lady of Sorrow, was gladdened to watch them. She alone of all the immortals attended this action but the other immortals were not there, but sat quietly remote and apart in their palaces, where for each one of them a house had been built in splendour along the folds of Olympos. All were blaming the son of Kronos, Zeus of the dark mists, because his will was to give glory to the Trojans. To these gods the father gave no attention at all, but withdrawn from them and rejoicing in the pride of his strength sat apart from the others looking out over the city of Troy and the ships of the Achaians, watching the flash of the bronze, and men killing and men killed.

So long as it was early morning and the sacred daylight increasing, so long the thrown weapons of both took hold and men dropped under them. But at that time when the woodcutter makes ready his supper in the wooded glens of the mountains, when his arms and hands have grown weary from cutting down the tall trees, and his heart has had enough of it, and longing for food and for sweet wine takes hold of his senses; at that time the Danaans by their manhood broke the battalions calling across the ranks to each other. First Agamemnon drove on, and killed a man, Bienor, shepherd of the people, himself, then his companion Oïleus, lasher of horses; who, springing down from behind his horses, stood forth to face him, but Agamemnon stabbed straight at his face as he came on in fury with the sharp spear, nor did helm's bronze-heavy edge hold it, but the spearhead passed through this and the bone, and the inward brain was all spattered forth. So he beat him down in his fury, and Agamemnon the lord of men left them lying there and their white bodies showing, since he had stripped off their tunics. Then he went on to kill and strip Isos and Antiphos, two sons of Priam, bastard one and one lawful, both riding in a single chariot. The bastard, Isos, was charioteer and renowned Antiphos rode beside him. Before this Achilleus had caught these two at the knees of Ida, and bound them in pliant willows as they watched by their sheep, and released them for ransom. This time the son of Atreus, wide-powerful Agamemnon, struck Isos with the thrown spear in the chest above the nipple and hit Antiphos by the ear with the sword and hurled him from his horses, and in eager haste he stripped off from these their glorious armour which he knew; he had seen these two before by the fast ships when Achilleus of the swift feet had brought them in from Ida. And as a lion seizes the innocent young of the running deer, and easily crunches and breaks them caught in the strong teeth when he has invaded their lair, and rips out the soft heart from them, and even if the doe be very near, still she has no strength to help, for the ghastly shivers of fear are upon her also and suddenly she dashes away through the glades and the timber sweating in her speed away from the pounce of the strong beast; so there was no one of the Trojans who could save these two from death, but they themselves were running in fear from the Argives.

Next he caught Peisandros and Hippolochos stubborn in battle, sons of Antimachos the wise, who beyond all others had taken the gold of Alexandros, glorious gifts, so that he had opposed the return of Helen to fair-haired Menelaos. Powerful Agamemnon caught his two sons riding in one chariot, who together guided the running horses. Now the glittering reins escaped from the hands of both of them and they were stunned with fear, for against them rose like a lion Atreus' son, and they supplicated him out of the chariot: 'Take us alive, son of Atreus, and take appropriate ransom. In the house of Antimachos the treasures lie piled in abundance, bronze is there, and gold, and difficultly wrought iron, and our father would make you glad with abundant repayment were he to hear we were alive by the ships of the Achaians.'

Thus these two cried out upon the king, lamenting and in pitiful phrase, but they heard the voice that was without pity: 'If in truth you are the sons of wise Antimachos, that man who once among the Trojans assembled advised them that Menelaos, who came as envoy with godlike Odysseus, should be murdered on the spot nor let go back to the Achaians, so now your mutilation shall punish the shame of your father.'

He spoke, and spurned Peisandros to the ground from the chariot with a spear-stroke in the chest, and he crashed on his back to the ground. Then Hippolochos sprang away, but Atreides killed him dismounted, cutting away his arms with a sword-stroke, free of the shoulder, and sent him spinning like a log down the battle. Thereafter he left them, and toward that place where the most battalions were shaken drove, and beside him drove the rest of the strong-greaved Achaians, and footmen killed footmen who fled under strong compulsion and riders killed riders, and a storm of dust rose up under them out of the plain uplifted by the thundering feet of their horses. They killed with the bronze, and among them powerful Agamemnon went onward always slaying and urged on the rest of the Argives. As when obliterating fire comes down on the timbered forest and the roll of the wind carries it everywhere, and bushes leaning under the force of the fire's rush tumble uprooted, so before Atreus' son Agamemnon went down the high heads of the running Trojans, and in many places the strong-necked horses rattled their empty chariots along the causeways of battle, and longed for their haughty charioteers, who were lying along the ground, to delight no longer their wives, but the vultures.

But Zeus drew Hektor out from under the dust and the missiles, out of the place where men were killed, the blood and confusion, while Atreides followed urging the Danaans forever onward. The Trojans swept in their flight past the barrow of ancient Ilos Dardanos' son, to the centre of the level ground and the fig tree, as they made for the city, and he followed them always, screaming, Atreus' son, his invincible hands spattered with bloody filth. But when they had made their way to the Skaian gates and the oak tree the Trojans stood their ground, and each side endured the other, while others still in the middle plain stampeded like cattle when a lion, coming upon them in the dim night, has terrified the whole herd, while for a single one sheer death is emerging. First the lion breaks her neck caught fast in the strong teeth, then gulps down the blood and all the guts that are inward; so Atreus' son, powerful Agamemnon, went after them killing ever the last of the men; and they fled in terror. Many were hurled from behind their horses, face downward or sprawling under the hands of Atreides who raged with his spear in the forefront. But when he was on the point of making his way to the city and the steep wall, the father of gods and of men descending out of the sky took his place along the ridges of Ida of the fountains, and held fast in his hands the thunderbolt. He sent on her way Iris of the golden wings with a message: 'Go on your way, swift Iris, and carry my word to Hektor: as long as he beholds Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, raging among the champions and cutting down the ranged fighters, so long let him hold back and urge on the rest of his people to fight against the enemy through this strong encounter. But when, either struck with a spear or hit by a flying arrow, he springs up behind his horses, then I guarantee power to Hektor to kill men, till he makes his way to the strong-benched vessels, until the sun goes down and the blessed darkness comes over.'

He spoke, and swift wind-footed Iris did not disobey him, but went down along the hills of Ida to sacred Ilion, and found the son of wise Priam, Hektor the brilliant, standing among the compacted chariots and by the horses. Iris the swift of foot came close beside and spoke to him: 'Hektor, o son of Priam and equal of Zeus in counsel, Zeus my father has sent me down to tell you this message. As long as you behold Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, raging among the champions and cutting down the ranged fighters, so long hold back from the fighting, but urge on the rest of your people to fight against the enemy through this strong encounter. But when, either struck with a spear or hit by a flying arrow, he springs up behind his horses, then Zeus guarantees power to you to kill men, till you make your way to the strong-benched vessels, until the sun goes down and the blessed darkness comes over.'

Swift-foot Iris spoke to him thus and went away from him, and Hektor in all his armour leapt to the ground from his chariot and shaking two sharp spears in his hand ranged over the whole host stirring them up to fight and waking the ghastly warfare. So they whirled about and stood their ground against the Achaians, and the Argives against them pulled together their battle lines. So the fighting grew close and they faced each other, and foremost Agamemnon drove on, trying to fight far ahead of all others.

Tell me now, you Muses who have your homes on Olympos, who was the first to come forth and stand against Agamemnon of the very Trojans, or their renowned companions in battle.

Iphidamas, Antenor's son, the huge and stalwart who had been reared in generous Thrace, the mother of sheepflocks. Kisseus had raised him in his own house when he was little, his mother's father, whose child was Theano, the girl of the fair cheeks. But when he had arrived at the stature of powerful manhood Kisseus detained him there and gave him his daughter. Married he went away from the bride chamber, looking for glory from the Achaians, with twelve curved ships that followed with him. These balanced vessels he had left behind in Perkote and gone himself to fight on foot at Ilion; and there he came face to face with Atreus' son, Agamemnon. Now when these in their advance were close to each other the son of Atreus missed with his throw, and the spear was turned past him, but Iphidamas stabbed to the belt underneath the corselet and leaned in on the stroke in the confidence of his strong hand but could not get clean through the bright war belt, far sooner the spearpoint pushed against the silver bent back, like soft lead. And in his hand wide-powerful Agamemnon catching it dragged it against him, raging like a lion, and tore it out of his hand, then struck the neck with his sword, and unstrung him. So Iphidamas fell there and went into the brazen slumber, unhappy, who came to help his own people, and left his young wife a bride, and had known no delight from her yet, and given much for her. First he had given a hundred oxen, then promised a thousand head of goats and sheep, which were herded for him in abundance. Now Agamemnon, son of Atreus, stripped him and went back to the throng of the Achaians bearing the splendid armour.

When Koön, conspicuous among the fighters, perceived him, he who was Antenor's eldest born, the strong sorrow misted about his eyes for the sake of his fallen brother. He came from the side and unobserved at great Agamemnon and stabbed with his spear at the middle arm, underneath the elbow, and the head of the glittering spear cut its way clean through. Agamemnon the lord of men shuddered with fear then but even so did not give up the attack or his fighting but sprang at Koön, gripping a spear that struck with the wind's speed. Now Koön was dragging his father's son, his brother Iphidamas, by the foot back eagerly, and cried out on all the bravest, but as he dragged him into the crowd, Agamemnon thrust at him with the smoothed bronze spear underneath the knobbed shield, and unstrung him, then came up and hewed off his head over Iphidamas. There under the king, Atreus' son, the sons of Antenor filled out their destiny and went down to the house of the death god.

But Agamemnon ranged the ranks of the other fighters with spear and sword and with huge stones that he flung, for such time as the blood was still running warm from the spear-wound. But after the sore place was dry, and the flow of blood stopped, the sharp pains began to break in on the strength of Atreides. As the sharp sorrow of pain descends on a woman in labour, the bitterness that the hard spirits of childbirth bring on, Hera's daughters, who hold the power of the bitter birthpangs, so the sharp pains began to break in on the strength of Atreides. He sprang back into the car, and called to his charioteer to drive him back to the hollow ships, since his heart was heavy. He lifted his voice and called in a piercing cry to the Danaans: 'Friends, o leaders and men of counsel among the Argives, you must still continue to defend our seafaring vessels from the wearying attack, since Zeus of the counsels would not allow me to do battle daylong against the Trojans.'

He spoke, and the charioteer lashed on the bright-maned horses back toward the hollow ships, and they winged their way unreluctant. The foam ran down their chests, they were powdered with dust from beneath them as they carried the stricken king away from the fighting.

When Hektor was aware of Agamemnon withdrawing he called out in a great voice to Trojans and Lykians: 'Trojans, Lykians and Dardanians who fight at close quarters, be men now, dear friends, remember your furious valour. Their best man is gone, and Zeus, Kronos' son, has consented to my great glory; but steer your single-foot horses straight on at the powerful Danaans, so win you the higher glory.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man. As when some huntsman drives to action his hounds with shining teeth against some savage beast, wild boar or lion, so against the Achaians Hektor the son of Priam, a man like the murderous war god, lashed on the high-hearted Trojans. And he himself with high thoughts strode out in the foremost and hurled himself on the struggle of men like a high-blown storm-cloud which swoops down from above to trouble the blue sea-water.

Who then was the first, and who the last that he slaughtered, Hektor, Priam's son, now that Zeus granted him glory? Asaios first, and then Autonoös and Opites, and Dolops, Klytios' son, Opheltios and Agelaos, and Aisymnos, and Oros, and Hipponoös stubborn in battle. He killed these, who were lords of the Danaans, and thereafter the multitude, as when the west wind strikes in the deepening whirlstorm to batter the clouds of the shining south wind, so that the bulging big waves roll hard and the blown spume scatters high before the force of the veering wind's blast. So the massed high heads of the people were struck down by Hektor.

And now there might have been havoc and hopeless things done, now the running Achaians might have tumbled back into their own ships had not Odysseus cried out to Tydeus' son, Diomedes: 'Son of Tydeus, what has happened to us that we have forgotten our fighting strength? Come here and stand with me, brother. There must be shame on us, if Hektor of the glancing helm captures our vessels.'

Then in answer powerful Diomedes spoke to him: 'Yes, I will stand with you and take what I must, yet we shall not have our way for long, since Zeus the cloud-gatherer would wish to give the power to the Trojans rather than to us.'

He spoke, and hurled down Thymbraios to the ground from his horses with a stroke of the spear by the left nipple. Meanwhile Odysseus killed this lord of battle's henchman, godlike Molion. They left these to lie there, since they had ended their fighting, then went into the ranks and wrought havoc, as when two wild boars hurl themselves in their pride upon the hounds who pursue them. So they whirled on the Trojans again and destroyed them. Meanwhile the Achaians gladly drew breath again after their flight from great Hektor.

There they took a chariot and two men, lords in their countryside, sons both of Merops of Perkote, who beyond all men knew the art of prophecy, and tried to prevent his two sons from going into the battle where men die. Yet these would not listen, for the spirits of dark death were driving them onward. Tydeus' son, Diomedes of the renowned spear, stripped them of life and spirit, and took away their glorious armour while Odysseus killed Hypeirochos and Hippodamos.

There the son of Kronos strained the battle even between them as he looked down from Ida. They went on killing each other. Now Tydeus' son stabbed with the spear Agastrophos, a chief and son of Paion, striking at the hip joint. His horses were not by for his escape, but he, strongly infatuate, had a henchman holding them aside, while he, dismounted, raged on among the champions until so he lost his dear life. Hektor saw it sharply across the ranks and rose up against them with a great cry, and behind him came on the Trojan battalions. Diomedes of the great war cry shivered as he saw him and suddenly he spoke to Odysseus as he came near: 'Here is this curse, Hektor the huge, wheeling down upon us. Let us stand, and hold our ground against him, and beat him off from us.'

So he spoke, and balanced the spear far-shadowed, and threw it aiming at the head, and struck against his mark, nor missed it, at the high peak of the helm, but the bronze from the bronze was driven back, nor reached his shining skin, the helmet guarded it, three-ply and hollow-eyed, which Phoibos Apollo gave him. But Hektor sprang far away back and merged among his own people, and dropping to one knee stayed leaning on the ground with his heavy hand, and a covering of black night came over both eyes. But while the son of Tydeus was following his spear's cast far throught the front fighters where it fixed in the earth, meanwhile Hektor got his wind again, and springing back into his chariot drove back into the multitude and avoided the dark death. Then shaking his spear powerful Diomedes called to him: 'Once again now you escaped death, dog. And yet the evil came near you, but now once more Phoibos Apollo has saved you, he to whom you must pray when you go into the thunder of spears thrown. Yet I may win you, if I encounter you ever hereafter, if beside me also there is some god who will help me. Now I must chase whoever I can overtake of the others.' He spoke, and set about stripping the spear-famed son of Paion. But now Alexandros, the lord of lovely-haired Helen, pulled his bow against Tydeus' son, the shepherd of the people, leaning against the column, work of men's hand, on the gravemound of Ilos, Dardanos' son, an elder of the folk in the old days. Now Diomedes was stripping the corselet of strong Agastrophos from about his chest, and the shining shield from his shoulders and the heavy helm, as the other pulled his bow at the handgrip and shot, and the arrow escaping his hand flew not vain but struck the flat of the right foot, and the shaft driven clean through stuck in the ground. Then Alexandros, laughing merrily, sprang from his hiding-place and cried out his speech of triumph: 'You are hit, and my arrow flew not in vain. How I wish I had struck you in the depth of the belly and torn the life from you. So the Trojans, who shudder before you as bleating goats do before a lion, would have got their wind again after disaster.'

Then not at all frightened strong Diomedes answered him: 'You archer, foul fighter, lovely in your locks, eyer of young girls. If you were to make trial of me in strong combat with weapons your bow would do you no good at all, nor your close-showered arrows. Now you have scratched the flat of my foot, and even boast of this. I care no more than if a witless child or a woman had struck me; this is the blank weapon of a useless man, no fighter. But if one is struck by me only a little, that is far different, the stroke is a sharp thing and suddenly lays him lifeless, and that man's wife goes with cheeks torn in lamentation, and his children are fatherless, while he staining the soil with his red blood rots away, and there are more birds than women swarming about him.'

He spoke, and Odysseus the spear-famed coming up from nearby stood in front; so he sat down behind him and pulled out the sharp arrow from his foot, and the hard pain came over his flesh. He sprang back into the car and called to his charioteer to drive him back to the hollow ships, since his heart was heavy.

Now Odysseus the spear-famed was left alone, nor did any of the Argives stay beside him, since fear had taken all of them. And troubled, he spoke then to his own great-hearted spirit: 'Ah me, what will become of me? It will be a great evil if I run, fearing their multitude, yet deadlier if I am caught alone; and Kronos' son drove to flight the rest of the Danaans. Yet still, why does the heart within me debate on these things? Since I know that it is the cowards who walk out of the fighting, but if one is to win honour in battle, he must by all means stand his ground strongly, whether he be struck or strike down another.'

While he was pondering these things in his heart and his spirit the ranks of the armoured Trojans came on against him, and penned him in their midst, but made thereby a wound in their ranks, as when closing about a wild boar the hounds and the lusty young men rush him, and he comes out of his lair in the deep of a thicket grinding to an edge the white fangs in the crook of the jawbones, and these sweep in all about him, and the vaunt of his teeth uprises as they await him, terrible though he is, without wavering; so closing on Odysseus beloved of Zeus the Trojans rushed him. First he stabbed lordly Deïopites in the shoulder, lunging from above with a stroke of the sharp spear, and after him he killed Thoön and Ennomos, and next stabbed Chersidamas as he sprang down from behind his horses in the navel with a spear's stroke underneath the massive shield, and he dropping in the dust clawed the ground with his hand. These he left lying, and stabbed with the spear the son of Hippasos, Charops, full brother of Sokos, a man rich in substance. And Sokos moved in, a man like a god, to stand over his fallen brother and came and stood close by Odysseus and spoke a word to him: 'Honoured Odysseus, insatiable of guile and endeavour, today you will have two sons of Hippasos to vaunt over for having killed two such men as we and stripping our armour, or else, stricken underneath my spear, you might lose your own life.' He spoke, and stabbed Odysseus' shield in its perfect circle. All the way through the glittering shield went the heavy spearhead and crashed its way through the intricately wrought corselet, and all the skin was torn away from his ribs, yet Pallas Athene would not let the point penetrate the man's vitals. Odysseus saw that the fatal end had not yet come to him, and drew back and spoke a word to Sokos: 'Ah, wretch, surely now steep destruction is advancing upon you. It is true, you have stopped my fighting against the Trojans, but I declare that here and now dark death and slaughter will come upon you this day, and that beaten down under my spear you will give glory to me and your life to Hades of the horses.'

He spoke, and Sokos turning from him was striding in flight but in his back even as he was turning the spear fixed between the shoulders and was driven on through the chest beyond it. He fell, thunderously, and great Odysseus boasted over him: 'Sokos, son of wise Hippasos the breaker of horses, death was too quick for you and ran you down, you could not avoid it. Wretch, since now your father and your honoured mother will not be able to close your eyes in death, but the tearing birds will get you, with their wings close-beating about you. If I die, the brilliant Achaians will bury me in honour.'

So he spoke, and dragged the heavy spear of wise Sokos out of his flesh and out of the shield massive in the middle, and as it was torn out the blood sprang and his heart was sickened. But the great-hearted Trojans, when they saw the blood of Odysseus, cried aloud through the close battle and all made a charge against him. He gave back a little way and called out for his companions. Three times he called, as much voice as a man's head could hold, and three times Menelaos the warlike heard him shouting and immediately spoke to Aias, who was near by him: 'Son of Telamon, seed of Zeus, Aias, lord of the people, the war cry of patient Odysseus is ringing about me with a sound as if he had been cut off by himself, and the Trojans were handling him violently in the strong encounter. Therefore let us go to him through the battle. It is better to defend him against them. I fear that, caught alone, he may be hurt by the Trojans brave as he is, and so a great loss may befall the Danaans.' He spoke, and led the way, and the other followed, a mortal like a god. They found Odysseus beloved of Zeus, and around him the Trojans crowded, as bloody scavengers in the mountains crowd on a horned stag who is stricken, one whom a hunter shot with an arrow from the string, and the stag has escaped him, running with his feet, while the blood stayed warm, and his knees were springing beneath him. But when the pain of the flying arrow has beaten him, then the rending scavengers begin to feast on him in the mountains and the shaded glen. But some spirit leads that way a dangerous lion, and the scavengers run in terror, and the lion eats it; so about wise much-devising Odysseus the Trojans crowded now, valiant and numerous, but the hero with rapid play of his spear beat off the pitiless death-day. Now Aias came near him, carrying like a wall his shield, and stood forth beside him, and the Trojans fled one way and another. Then taking Odysseus by the hand warlike Menelaos led him from the battle, while his henchman drove the horses close up.

But Aias leaping upon the Trojans struck down Doryklos, Priam's son, but a bastard, and thereafter stabbed Pandokos, and so also Lysandros and Pyrasos and Pylartes. As when a swollen river hurls its water, big with rain, down the mountains to the flat land following rain from the sky god, and sweeps down with it numbers of dry oaks and of pine trees numbers, until it hurls its huge driftwood into the salt sea; so now glittering Aias cumbered the plain as he chased them, slaughtering men and horses alike, nor yet had Hektor heard, since he was fighting at the left of the entire battle by the banks of Skamandros river, where more than elsewhere the high heads of men were dropping, and the tireless clamour rising about tall Nestor and Idomeneus the warlike. Now Hektor was encountering these and doing grim work with spear and horsemanship, ruining the battalions of young men. Yet even so the Achaians would not have given from his path had not Alexandros, the lord of lovely-haired Helen, stayed from his bravery the shepherd of the people, Machaon, hitting him with a three-barbed arrow in the right shoulder. And the Achaians whose wind was fury were frightened for him, that the enemy might catch him in the backturn of the fighting. At once Idomeneus called out to brilliant Nestor: 'Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaians, quick, get up on your chariot, let Machaon beside you mount, and steer your single-foot horses to the ships in all speed. A healer is a man worth many men in his knowledge of cutting out arrows and putting kindly medicines on wounds.' He spoke, and the Gerenian horseman Nestor obeyed him. Immediately he mounted the chariot, and Machaon, son of the great healer Asklepios, mounted beside him. He lashed on the horses, and they winged their way unreluctant back toward the hollow ships, since this was the way they desired.

Now Kebriones, who saw how the Trojans were being driven, and who stood beside Hektor in the chariot, spoke a word to him: 'Hektor, you and I encounter the Danaans at the utmost edge of the sorrowful battle, but meanwhile the rest of the Trojans are driven pell-mell upon each other, the men and their horses. The Telamonian Aias drives them; I know him surely for he carries the broad shield on his shoulders. So, let us also steer our horses and chariot that way, since there the horsemen and the foot-ranks more than elsewhere hurling the wicked war-hate against each other, are destroying, and the ceaseless clamour has risen.'

So he spoke, and lashed forward the bright-maned horses with the singing whip, and they at the feel of the stroke lightly carried the running chariot among Achaians and Trojans, trampling down dead men and shields, and the axle under the chariot was all splashed with blood and the rails which encircled the chariot, struck by flying drops from the feet of the horses, from the running rims of the wheels. So Hektor was straining to plunge in the turmoil of men, and charge them and break them. He hurled the confusion of disaster upon the Danaans, and stayed from the spear's stroke little, but ranged about among the ranks of the rest of the fighters with his spear and his sword and with huge stones flung, yet kept clear still of the attack of Telamonian Aias. For Zeus was ever wrathful at him, that he would fight a better man

And Zeus father who sits on high drove fear upon Aias. He stood stunned, and swung the sevenfold ox-hide shield behind him and drew back, throwing his eyes round the crowd of men, like a wild beast, turning on his way, shifting knee past knee only a little; as when the men who live in the wild and their dogs have driven a tawny lion away from the mid-fenced ground of their oxen, and will not let him tear out the fat of the oxen, watching nightlong against him, and he in his hunger for meat closes in but can get nothing of what he wants, for the raining javelins thrown from the daring hands of the men beat ever against him, and the flaming torches, and these he balks at for all of his fury and with the daylight goes away, disappointed of desire; so Aias, disappointed at heart, drew back from the Trojans much unwilling, but feared for the ships of the Achaians. As when a donkey, stubborn and hard to move, goes into a cornfield in despite of boys, and many sticks have been broken upon him, but he gets in and goes on eating the deep grain, and the children beat him with sticks, but their strength is infantile; yet at last by hard work they drive him out when he is glutted with eating; so the high-hearted Trojans and companions in arms gathered from far places kept after great Aias, the son of Telamon, stabbing always with their spears at the centre of the great shield. And now Aias would remember again his furious valour and turn upon them, and beat back the battalions of Trojans, breakers of horses, and then again would turn and run from them. He blocked them all from making their way on to the fast ships and himself stood and fought on in the space between the Achaians and Trojans, and of the spears thrown by the daring hands of the fighters some that were driven forward stuck fast in the great shield, others and many in the mid space before they had got to his white skin stood fast in the ground, though they had been straining to reach his body.

Now as Eurypylos the glorious son of Euaimon saw how Aias was being overpowered by the dense spears, he came and stood beside him and made a cast with his bright spear and struck Apisaon, son of Phausias, shepherd of the people, in the liver under the midriff, and at once took the strength from his knees. Eurypylos springing forward stripped the armour from his shoulders but godlike Alexandros watched him as he was stripping the armour of Apisaon, and at once drew his bow, and shot at Eurypylos, and hit him in the right thigh with the arrow, and the reed shaft was broken off, and his thigh was heavy with pain. To avoid death he shrank into the host of his own companions. He lifted his voice and called in a piercing cry to the Danaans: 'Friends, o leaders and men of counsel among the Argives, turn again and stand and beat off the pitiless death-day from Aias, who is being overpowered with spears thrown; and I think he cannot escape out of this sorrowful battle. Therefore stand fast and face them around great Aias, the son of Telamon.'

So spoke wounded Eurypylos, and the others about him stood in their numbers and sloped their shields over his shoulders, holding the spears away, and Aias came back to join them. He turned and stood, when he had got back to the swarm of his own companions.

So they fought on in the likeness of blazing fire. And meanwhile the horses of Neleus sweating carried Nestor away from the fighting, and carried also the shepherd of the people, Machaon. Now swift-footed brilliant Achilleus saw him and watched him, for he was standing on the stern of his huge-hollowed vessel looking out over the sheer war work and the sorrowful onrush. At once he spoke to his own companion in arms, Patroklos, calling from the ship, and he heard it from inside the shelter, and came out like the war god, and this was the beginning of his evil. The strong son of Menoitios spoke first, and addressed him: 'What do you wish with me, Achilleus? Why do you call me?' Then in answer again spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Son of Menoitios, you who delight my heart, o great one, now I think the Achaians will come to my knees and stay there in supplication, for a need past endurance has come to them. But go now, Patroklos beloved of Zeus, to Nestor and ask him who is this wounded man he brings in from the fighting. Indeed, seeing him from behind I thought he was like Machaon, Asklepios' son, in all ways, but I got no sight of the man's face since the horses were tearing forward and swept on by me.'

So he spoke, and Patroklos obeyed his beloved companion and went on the run along the shelters and ships of the Achaians.

Now when the others came to the shelter of the son of Neleus, they themselves dismounted to the prospering earth, and the henchman Eurymedon unharnessed the horses of the old man from the chariot. The men wiped off the sweat on their tunics and stood to the wind beside the beach of the sea, and thereafter went inside the shelter and took their places on settles. And lovely-haired Hekamede made them a potion, she whom the old man won from Tenedos, when Achilleus stormed it. She was the daughter of great-hearted Arsinoös. The Achaians chose her out for Nestor, because he was best of them all in counsel. First she pushed up the table in front of them, a lovely table, polished and with feet of cobalt, and on it she laid a bronze basket, with onion to go with the drinking, and pale honey, and beside it bread, blessed pride of the barley, and beside it a beautifully wrought cup which the old man brought with him from home. It was set with golden nails, the eared handles upon it were four, and on either side there were fashioned two doves of gold, feeding, and there were double bases beneath it. Another man with great effort could lift it full from the table, but Nestor, aged as he was, lifted it without strain. In this the woman like the immortals mixed them a potion with Pramneian wine, and grated goat's-milk cheese into it with a bronze grater, and scattered with her hand white barley into it. When she had got the potion ready, she told them to drink it, and both when they had drunk it were rid of their thirst's parching and began to take pleasure in conversation, talking with each other, and Patroklos came and stood, a godlike man, in the doorway. Seeing him the old man started up from his shining chair, and took him by the hand, led him in and told him to sit down, but Patroklos from the other side declined, and spoke to him: 'No chair, aged sir beloved of Zeus. You will not persuade me. Honoured, and quick to blame, is the man who sent me to find out who was this wounded man you were bringing. Now I myself know, and I see it is Machaon, the shepherd of the people. Now I go back as messenger to Achilleus, to tell him. You know yourself, aged sir beloved of Zeus, how he is; a dangerous man; he might even be angry with one who is guiltless.'

Then in turn the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: 'Now why is Achilleus being so sorry for the sons of the Achaians who have been wounded with spears thrown, he who knows nothing of the sorrow that has risen along the host, since the bravest are lying up among the ships with arrow or spear wounds? The son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes, was hit by an arrow, and Odysseus has a pike wound, and Agamemnon the spear-famed, and Eurypylos has been wounded in the thigh with an arrow. And even now I have brought this other one, Machaon, out of the fighting hit by an arrow from the bowstring. Meanwhile Achilleus brave as he is cares nothing for the Danaans nor pities them. Is he going to wait then till the running ships by the water are burned with consuming fire for all the Argives can do, till we ourselves are killed one after another? Since there is not any longer in my gnarled limbs the strength that there once was. If only I were young now, and the strength still steady within me, as that time when a quarrel was made between us and the Eleians over a driving of cattle, when I myself killed Itymoneus, the brave son of Hypeirochos who made his home in Elis. I was driving cattle in reprisal, and he, as he was defending his oxen, was struck among the foremost by a spear thrown from my hand and fell, and his people who live in the wild fled in terror about him. And we got and drove off together much spoil from this pastureland: fifty herds of oxen, as many sheepflocks, as many droves of pigs, and again as many wide-ranging goatflocks, and a hundred and fifty brown horses, mares all of them and many with foals following underneath. And all there we drove inside the keep of Neleian Pylos, making our way nightwise to the town. And Neleus was glad in his heart that so much had come my way, who was young to go to the fighting. And next day as dawn showed the heralds lifted their clear cry for all to come who had anything owed them in shining Elis. And the men who were chiefs among the Pylians assembling divided the spoil. There were many to whom the Epeians owed something since we in Pylos were few and we had been having the worst of it. For Herakles had come in his strength against us and beaten us in the years before, and all the bravest among us had been killed. For we who were sons of lordly Neleus had been twelve, and now I alone was left of these, and all the others had perished, and grown haughty over this the bronze-armoured Epeians despised and outraged us, and devised wicked actions against us. Now the old man took for himself a herd of cattle and a big flock of sheep, choosing out three hundred of them along with the shepherds; for indeed a great debt was owing to him in shining Elis. It was four horses, race-competitors with their own chariot, who were on their way to a race and were to run for a tripod, but Augeias the lord of men took these, and kept them and sent away their driver who was vexed for the sake of the horses. Now aged Neleus, angry over things said and things done, took a vast amount for himself, and gave the rest to the people to divide among them, so none might go away without a just share. So we administered all this spoil, and all through the city wrought sacrifices to the gods; and on the third day the Epeians came all against us, numbers of men and single-foot horses in full haste, and among them were armoured the two Moliones, boys still, not yet altogether skilled in furious fighting. There is a city, Thryoessa, a headlong hill town far away by the Alpheios at the bottom of sandy Pylos. They had thrown their encampment about that place, furious to smash it. But when they had swept the entire plain, Athene came running to us, a messenger from Olympos by night, and warned us to arm. It was no hesitant host she assembled in Pylos but people straining hard toward the battle. Now Neleus would not let me be armed among them, and had hidden away my horses because he thought I was not yet skilled in the work of warfare. Even so I was pre-eminent among our own horsemen though I went on foot; since thus Athene guided the battle. There is a river, Minyeïos, which empties its water in the sea beside Arene. There we waited for the divine Dawn, we horsemen among the Pylians, and the hordes of the streaming foot-soldiers, and from there having armed in all speed and formed in our armour we came by broad daylight to the sacred stream of Alpheios. There we wrought fine sacrifices to Zeus in his great strength and sacrificed a bull to Alpheios, a bull to Poseidon, but to Athene of the grey eyes a cow from the herds. Then we took our dinner along the host in divided watches and went to sleep, each man in his own armour, by the current of the river, and meanwhile the high-hearted Epeians had taken their places around the city, furious to smash it. But sooner than this there was shown forth a great work of the war god, for when the sun in his shining lifted above the earth, then we joined our battle together, with prayers to Zeus and Athene. Now when the battle came on between Pylians and Epeians, I was first to kill a man, and I won his single-foot horses. It was Moulios the spearman who was son-in-law to Augeias and had as wife his eldest daughter, fair-haired Agamede who knew of all the medicines that are grown in the broad earth. As he came on I threw and hit him with the bronze-headed spear and he dropped in the dust, whereupon I springing into his chariot took my place among the champions, as the high-hearted Epeians fled one way and another in terror when they saw the man fall who was leader of their horsemen and the best of them all in fighting. Then I charged upon them like a black whirlwind, and overtook fifty chariots, and for each of the chariots two men caught the dirt in their teeth beaten down under my spear. And now I would have killed the young Moliones, scions of Aktor, had not their father who shakes the earth in his wide strength caught them out of the battle, shrouding them in a thick mist. Then Zeus gave huge power into the hands of the Pylians, for we chased them on over the hollow plain, killing the men themselves, and picking up their magnificent armour until we brought our horses to Bouprasion of the wheatfields and the Olenian rock, where there is a hill called the hill of Alesios. There at last Athene turned back our people. There I killed my last man and left him. There the Achaians steered back from Bouprasion to Pylos their fast-running horses, and all glorified Zeus among the gods, but among men Nestor. That was I, among men, if it ever happened. But Achilleus will enjoy his own valour in loneliness, though I think he will weep much, too late, when his people are perished from him. Dear child, surely this was what Menoitios told you that day when he sent you out from Phthia to Agamemnon. We two, brilliant Odysseus and I, were inside with you and listened carefully to everything, all that he told you. For we had come to the strong-established house of Peleus assembling fighting men all through generous Achaia. We came there, and found the hero Menoitios inside, and you, Achilleus beside you, and Peleus the aged horseman was burning the fat thigh pieces of an ox to Zeus who delights in the thunder in the garth of the courtyard. He was holding a golden beaker and pouring the bright wine over the burning dedications. You two were over the meat of the ox attending to it, and we came and stood in the forecourt, and Achilleus sprang up wondering and took us by the hand and led us in, and told us to sit down, and set hospitality properly before us, as is the stranger's right. Now when we had taken our pleasure of eating and drinking I began to talk, and invited you both to come with us, and you were altogether willing, and your fathers spoke to you. And Peleus the aged was telling his own son, Achilleus, to be always best in battle and pre-eminent beyond all others, but for you, Menoitios, Aktor's son, had this to say to you: "My child, by right of blood Achilleus is higher than you are, but you are the elder. Yet in strength he is far the greater. You must speak solid words to him, and give him good counsel, and point his way. If he listens to you it will be for his own good." This is what the old man told you, you have forgotten. Yet even now you might speak to wise Achilleus, he might be persuaded. Who knows if, with God helping, you might trouble his spirit by entreaty, since the persuasion of a friend is a strong thing. But if he is drawing back from some prophecy known in his own heart and by Zeus' will his honoured mother has told him of something, let him send you out, at least, and the rest of the Myrmidon people follow you, and you may be a light given to the Danaans. And let him give you his splendid armour to wear to the fighting, if perhaps the Trojans might think you are he, and give way from their attack, and the fighting sons of the Achaians get wind again after hard work. There is little breathing space in the fighting. You, unwearied, might with a mere cry pile men wearied back upon their city, and away from the ships and the shelters.'

So he spoke, and stirred the feeling in the breast of Patroklos, and he went on the run along the ships to the son of Aiakos, Achilleus. But as Patroklos came in his running to the ships of great Odysseus, where the Achaians had their assembly and dealt out rights, and where were established their altars to the immortals, there Eurypylos, who had been wounded in the thigh with an arrow, met him, the illustrious son of Euaimon, limping away from the battle, and the watery sweat was running down his shoulders and face, and from the sore wound dark blood continued to drip, and yet the will stayed steady within him. And the strong son of Menoitios looked on him in pity and was sorrowful over him, and addressed him in winged words: 'Poor wretches, you leaders and men of counsel among the Danaans, was it your fate then, far from your friends and the land of your fathers, to glut with your shining fat the running dogs here in Troy land? But tell me this, my lord Eurypylos grown under God's hand: will the Achaians somehow be able to hold huge Hektor or must they now perish beaten down under his spear?'

Then Eurypylos who was wounded answered him in turn: 'No longer, illustrious Patroklos, can the Achaians defend themselves, but they will be piled back into their black ships. For all of these who were before the bravest in battle are lying up among the ships with arrow or spear wounds under the hands of the Trojans whose strength is forever on the uprise. But help save me now at least, leading me away to my black ship, and cut the arrow out of my thigh, wash the dark blood running out of it with warm water, and put kind medicines on it, good ones, which they say you have been told of by Achilleus, since Cheiron, most righteous of the Centaurs, told him about them. As for Machaon and Podaleirios, who are healers, I think Machaon has got a wound, and is in the shelters lying there, and himself is in need of a blameless healer, while the other in the plain is standing the bitter attack of the Trojans.'

Then in turn the strong son of Menoitios spoke to him: 'But how shall this be, my lord Eurypylos, how shall we do it? I am on my way carrying a message to wise Achilleus given me by Gerenian Nestor, the Achaians' watcher. But even so I will not leave you in your affliction.'

He spoke, and holding the shepherd of the host under the arms led him to his shelter, and a henchman seeing them spread out some ox-hides, and Patroklos laid him there and with a knife cut the sharp tearing arrow out of his thigh, and washed the black blood running from it with warm water, and, pounding it up in his hands, laid on a bitter root to make pain disappear, one which stayed all kinds of pain. And the wound dried, and the flow of blood stopped.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 12

 So within the shelter the warlike son of Menoitios tended stricken Eurypylos, and meanwhile the Argives and Trojans fought on in massed battle, nor was the Danaans' ditch going to hold them back nor the wide wall above it they had built for the sake of their ships, and driven a deep ditch about it, and had not given to the gods grand sacrifices so that it might guard their running ships and their masses of spoil within it. It had been built in despite of the immortal gods, and therefore it was not to stand firm for a long time. So long as Hektor was still alive, and Achilleus was angry, so long as the citadel of lord Priam was a city untaken, for this time the great wall of the Achaians stood firm. But afterwards when all the bravest among the Trojans had died in the fighting, and many of the Argives had been beaten down, and some left, when in the tenth year the city of Priam was taken and the Argives gone in their ships to the beloved land of their fathers, then at last Poseidon and Apollo took counsel to wreck the wall, letting loose the strength of rivers upon it, all the rivers that run to the sea from the mountains of Ida, Rhesos and Heptaporos, Karesos and Rhodios, Grenikos and Aisepos, and immortal Skamandros, and Simoeis, where much ox-hide armour and helmets were tumbled in the river mud, and many of the race of the half-god mortals. Phoibos Apollo turned the mouths of these waters together and nine days long threw the flood against the wall, and Zeus rained incessantly, to break the wall faster and wash it seaward. And the shaker of the earth himself holding in his hands the trident guided them, and hurled into the waves all the bastions' strengthening of logs and stones the toiling Achaians had set in position and made all smooth again by the hard-running passage of Helle and once again piled the great beach under sand, having wrecked the wall, and turned the rivers again to make their way down the same channel where before they had run the bright stream of their water.

Thus, afterwards, Poseidon and Apollo were minded to put things in place, but at this time battle and clamour were blazing about the strong-founded wall and the bastion timbers were thundering as they were struck, as the Argives broken under Zeus' lashing were crowded back on their hollow ships, and struggled to get clear in dread of Hektor, the strong one who drove men to thoughts of panic. But Hektor, as he had before, fought on like a whirlwind. As when among a pack of hounds and huntsmen assembled a wild boar or lion turns at bay in the strength of his fury, and the men, closing themselves into a wall about him, stand up to face him, and cast at him with the volleying spears thrown from their hands, and in spite of this the proud heart feels not terror, nor turns to run, and it is his own courage that kills him; and again and again he turns on them trying to break the massed men and wherever he charges the masses of men break away in front of him; such was Hektor as he went through the battle and rallied his companions and drove them on to cross over the ditch, but now the fast-footed horses balked at the edge of the lip, and dared not cross, whinnying loud, since the ditch in its great width frightened them from it, being not easy for them to overleap, nor to walk through, since along the whole length the jut of the overhangs stood on both sides, and the surface of the floor was thickset with pointed palisades, which the sons of the Achaians had paled there dense and huge, so as to hold off the rage of attackers. And a horse straining at the strong-wheeled chariot might not easily enter there, but the dismounted were strong in their effort. And now Poulydamas stood beside bold Hektor, and spoke to him: 'Hektor, and other lords of the Trojans and companions in battle, we are senseless trying to drive our fast-footed horses over this ditch. It is hard indeed to cross, and sharp stakes are planted inside it, and across from these the wall of the Achaians. There there is no way to get down, no way again to do battle from horses, for the passage is narrow and I think they must be hurt there. For now if Zeus who thunders on high in evil intention toward these is destroying them utterly, sending aid to the Trojans, this is the way I would wish it, may it happen immediately that the Achaians be destroyed here forgotten and far from Argos; but if they turn again and a backrush comes on us out of the ships, and we are driven against the deep ditch, then I think no longer could one man to carry a message get clear to the city, once the Achaians have turned back upon us. Come then, do as I say, let us all be persuaded; let us tell our henchmen to check our horses here by the ditch, then let ourselves, all of us dismounted and armed in our war gear, follow Hektor in mass formation. As for the Achaians, they will not hold, if the bonds of death are fastened upon them.'

So spoke Poulydamas, and this counsel of safety pleased Hektor. And at once in all his armour he leapt to the ground from his chariot, and the rest of the Trojans assembled, not mounted behind their horses, but all sprang to the ground, when they saw brilliant Hektor had done it. Then each man gave orders to his own charioteer to check the horses in good order at the edge of the ditch, and the fighters formed apart into groups, then closing together into five well-ordered battalions followed their leaders.

They who went with Hektor and Poulydamas the blameless, these were most numerous, and bravest, and beyond others furious to smash the wall and fight their way among the hollow ships, and Kebriones went with them as third man, while by the chariots Hektor had left another man, not so good as Kebriones. Paris led the next group with Alkathoös and Agenor, and Helenos, with godlike Deïphobos, led the third group, sons both of Priam, and Asios was with them as third man, Asios, son of Hyrtakos, whom his tall shining horses had carried over from Arisbe and beside the river Selleëis. The leader of the fourth group was the strong son of Anchises, Aineias, and with him were the two sons of Antenor, Archelochos and Akamas, both skilled in all fighting. Sarpedon led the far-renowned companions in battle, and had chosen to go with him Glaukos and warlike Asteropaios since these seemed to him to be marked out as the bravest of the rest, after himself, but among all he was pre-eminent. Now when these had closed their wrought ox-hide shields together they charged straight for the Danaans, eagerly, with no thought longer of being held, but rather to hurl themselves on the black ships.

Then the rest of the Trojans and renowned companions in battle were willing to follow the order of blameless Poulydamas. Only Asios, Hyrtakos' son, lord of men, was unwilling to leave his horses there and a charioteer to attend them but kept them with him, and so drove on at the fast-running vessels, poor fool, who by the ships in the pride of his horses and chariot was not destined to evade the evil spirits of destruction nor ever to make his way back again to windy Ilion. Before this the dark-named destiny had shrouded about him through the spear of Idomeneus, proud son of Deukalion. For he sent his horses to the left of the ships, where the Achaians were streaming back from the level ground with horses and chariots, and this way he drove his chariot and horses, and found there the leaves not yet pushed home in the gates, nor the long door-bar, but men were holding them wide apart, on the chance of rescuing some one of their companions running for the ships from the battle. Of a purpose he steered his horses straight there, and his men followed screaming aloud, since they thought the Achaians no longer would hold, but that they would be driven back on their dark ships. Fools! since in the gates they found two men of the bravest, high-hearted sons of the spear-fighting Lapithai, one the son of Peirithoös, powerful Polypoites, and one Leonteus, a man like the murderous god of battles. Now these two, who had taken their place in front of the high gates, stood there like two oaks who rear their crests in the mountains and through day upon day stand up to the wind and the rainbeat since their great roots reach far and are gripped in the ground. So these two, in the confidence of their strength and their hands' work, stood up to tall Asios advancing upon them, nor gave way. But these, holding up high the tanned leather of their shields, moved straight in on the strong-built wall with enormous clamour around Asios their lord and Iamenos and Orestes, and Asios' son Adamas, and Oinomaos and Thoön. In this time the Lapithai still inside the wall were striving to stir up the strong-greaved Achaians to defend the vessels, but among the Danaans, when they saw the Trojans sweeping on against the wall, a clamour arose, and they gave way; and the two bursting through the gates fought on in front of them. They were in the likeness of two wild boars who in the mountains await a rabble of men and dogs advancing upon them and as they go tearing slantwise and rip the timber about them to pieces at the stock, the grinding scream of their teeth sounds high, until some man hits them with his throw and takes the life from them; such was the grinding scream from the bright bronze covering their chests struck hard on by spears, for they fought a very strong battle in the confidence of their own strength and the people above them. These flung about them with great stones torn from the strong-founded bastions, as they fought in defence of themselves, and the shelters, and the fast-running vessels, so that the flung stones dropped to the ground like snowflakes which the winds' blast whirling the shadowy clouds drifts in their abundance along the prospering earth. So the missiles flung from the hands of Achaians, and Trojans also, went showering, and the helms and shields massive in the middle crashed hollow underneath the impact of rocks like millstones. And now Asios, Hyrtakos' son, groaned aloud and beat on both thighs with his hands, and spoke aloud in his agony: 'Zeus father, now even you are made utterly a lover of deception. For I never thought the fighting Achaians would be able to hold our strength and our hands invincible. But they, as wasps quick-bending in the middle, or as bees will make their homes at the side of the rocky way, and will not abandon the hollow house they have made, but stand up to men who come to destroy them, and fight for the sake of their children, so these, though they are only two, are unwilling to give back from the gates, until they have killed their men, or are taken.'

He spoke, but by such talk did not persuade the heart of Zeus whose desire it was to extend the glory to Hektor.

And now at the various gates various men fought each other. It were too much toil for me, as if I were a god, to tell all this, for all about the stone wall the inhuman strength of the fire was rising, and the Argives fought unhappily, yet they must fight on, to defend their ships. And all the gods who were helpers of the Danaans in the fighting were dejected in spirit. But the Lapithai fought on and closed in the hateful fighting,

and there the son of Peirithoös, powerful Polypoites, struck Damasos with the spear through the bronze-sided helmet, and the brazen helmet could not hold, but the bronze spearhead driven on through smashed the bone apart, and the inward brain was all spattered forth. So he beat him down in his fury. Then he went on to kill Pylon and Ormenos. Meanwhile Leonteus, the scion of Ares, struck down Antimachos' son, Hippomachos, with a spear cast into the war belt and afterwards drawing his sharp sword out of the scabbard made a rush through the crowding men, and struck from close up Antiphates first, so that he crashed on his back to the ground, then beat down along the prospering earth Menon and Orestes and Iamenos, all beaten down in rapid succession.

Now as these were stripping their men of the shining armour, the fighting men following with Poulydamas and Hektor, who were most numerous, and bravest, and beyond others furious to smash the wall, and set fire to the vessels, these still were divided in doubt as they stood there at the ditch's edge. As they were urgent to cross a bird sign had appeared to them, an eagle, flying high and holding to the left of the people and carrying in its talons a gigantic snake, blood-coloured, alive still and breathing, it had not forgotten its warcraft yet, for writhing back it struck the eagle that held it by chest and neck, so that the eagle let it drop groundward in pain of the bite, and dashed it down in the midst of the battle and itself, screaming high, winged away down the wind's blast. And the Trojans shivered with fear as they looked on the lithe snake lying in their midst, a portent of Zeus of the aegis. And now Poulydamas stood beside bold Hektor and spoke to him: 'Hektor, somehow in assembly you move ever against me though I speak excellently, since indeed there is no good reason for you, in your skill, to argue wrong, neither in the councils nor in the fighting, and ever to be upholding your own cause. Now once more I will speak out the way it seems best to me. Let us not go on and fight the Danaans by their ships. I think it will end as the portent was accomplished, if the bird sign that came to the Trojans as we were trying to cross was a true one, an eagle, flying high and holding to the left of the people and carrying in its talons a gigantic snake, blood-coloured, alive, but let it drop suddenly before winning his own home, and could not finish carrying it back to give to his children. So we, even though in our great strength we break in the gates and the wall of the Achaians, and the Achaians give way before us, we shall not take the same ways back from the ships in good order; since we shall leave many Trojans behind us, whom the Achaians will cut down with the bronze as they fight for themselves by their vessels. So an interpreter of the gods would answer, one who knew in his mind the truth of portents, and whom the people believed in.'

Looking darkly at him tall Hektor of the shining helm answered: 'Poulydamas, these things that you argue please me no longer. Your mind knows how to contrive a saying better than this one. But if in all seriousness this is your true argument, then it is the very gods who ruined the brain within you, you who are telling me to forget the counsels of thunderous Zeus, in which he himself nodded his head to me and assented. But you: you tell me to put my trust in birds, who spread wide their wings. I care nothing for these, I think nothing of them, nor whether they go by on our right against dawn and sunrise or go by to the left against the glooming mist and the darkness. No, let us put our trust in the counsel of great Zeus, he who is lord over all mortal men and all the immortals. One bird sign is best: to fight in defence of our country. Why are you so afraid of war and hostility? Even though all the rest of us were to be cut down around you among the Argive ships, you would run no danger of dying since your heart is not enduring in battle nor a fighter's. But if you shrink away from the murderous work, or turn back some other man from the fighting, beguiling him with your arguments, at once beaten down under my spear you will lose your own life.'

He spoke, and led the way, and the rest of them came on after him with unearthly clamour, and over them Zeus who delights in the thunder drove down from among the hills of Ida the blast of a windstorm which swept the dust straight against the ships. He was mazing the minds of the Achaians, and giving glory to the Trojans and Hektor, and they in the confidence of the portents shown, and their own strength, worked to break down the great wall of the Achaians. They tore at the projections on the outworks, and broke down the battlements and shook with levers the jut of the buttresses the Achaians had stuck in the earth on the outer face to shore their defences. They tore at these, in hope of breaking down the Achaians' wall, but now the Danaans did not give way in front of them, but they, fencing the battlements with the hides of oxen, hurled from the wall at the enemy who came on beneath it.

The two Aiantes, walking up and down the length of the ramparts, urged the men on, stirring up the warcraft of the Achaians, and stung them along, using kind words to one, to another hard ones, whenever they saw a man hang back from the fighting: 'Dear friends, you who are pre-eminent among the Argives, you who are of middle estate, you who are of low account, since all of us are not alike in battle, this is work for all now, and you yourselves can see it. Now let no man let himself be turned back upon the ships for the sound of their blustering but keep forever forward calling out courage to each other. So may Olympian Zeus who grips the thunderbolt grant us a way to the city, when we beat off the attack of our enemies.' Such was their far cry, and they stirred the Achaians' war strength. And they, as storms of snow descend to the ground incessant on a winter day, when Zeus of the counsels, showing before men what shafts he possesses, brings on a snowstorm and stills the winds asleep in the solid drift, enshrouding the peaks that tower among the mountains and the shoulders out-jutting, and the low lands with their grasses, and the prospering work of men's hands, and the drift falls along the grey sea, the harbours and beaches, and the surf that breaks against it is stilled, and all things elsewhere it shrouds from above, with the burden of Zeus' rain heavy upon it; so numerous and incessant were the stones volleyed from both sides, some thrown on Trojans, others flung against the Achaians by Trojans, so the whole length of the wall thundered beneath them.

And not even then might the Trojans and glorious Hektor have broken in the gates of the rampart, and the long door-bar, had not Zeus of the counsels driven his own son, Sarpedon, upon the Argives, like a lion among horn-curved cattle. Presently he held before him the perfect circle of his shield, a lovely thing of beaten bronze, which the bronze-smith hammered out for him, and on the inward side had stitched ox-hides in close folds with golden staples clean round the circle. Holding this shield in front of him, and shaking two spears, he went onward like some hill-kept lion, who for a long time has gone lacking meat, and the proud heart is urgent upon him to get inside of a close steading and go for the sheepflocks. And even though he finds herdsmen in that place, who are watching about their sheepflocks, armed with spears, and with dogs, even so he has no thought of being driven from the steading without some attack made, and either makes his spring and seizes a sheep, or else himself is hit in the first attack by a spear from a swift hand thrown. So now his spirit drove on godlike Sarpedon to make a rush at the wall and break apart the battlements. And now he spoke in address to Glaukos, son of Hippolochos: 'Glaukos, why is it you and I are honoured before others with pride of place, the choice meats and the filled wine cups in Lykia, and all men look on us as if we were immortals, and we are appointed a great piece of land by the banks of Xanthos, good land, orchard and vineyard, and ploughland for the planting of wheat? Therefore it is our duty in the forefront of the Lykians to take our stand, and bear our part of the blazing of battle, so that a man of the close-armoured Lykians may say of us: "Indeed, these are no ignoble men who are lords of Lykia, these kings of ours, who feed upon the fat sheep appointed and drink the exquisite sweet wine, since indeed there is strength of valour in them, since they fight in the forefront of the Lykians." Man, supposing you and I, escaping this battle, would be able to live on forever, ageless, immortal, so neither would I myself go on fighting in the foremost nor would I urge you into the fighting where men win glory. But now, seeing that the spirits of death stand close about us in their thousands, no man can turn aside nor escape them, let us go on and win glory for ourselves, or yield it to others.'

He spoke, nor did Glaukos disobey him nor turn aside from him. They, leading the great horde of the Lykians, advanced straight onward, and the son of Peteos, Menestheus, shivered as he saw them since they came against his bastion and carried disaster upon it. He scanned the rampart of the Achaians in the hope of seeing some great chief who could beat back the bane from his company, and saw the two Aiantes, insatiate of battle, standing on the wall, and Teukros even now coming up from the shelter, and close by, but he was not able to cry out and make them hear, so great was the clamour about him as the shouts hit skyward, as shields were battered with missiles, and the helmets crested with horse-hair, and the gates, which all had been slammed shut, and the Trojans standing against them were trying to break them down and force their way in. At once he sent Thoötes off as a runner to Aias: 'Go on the run, brilliant Thoötes, and call Aias here, or better, both Aiantes, since that would be far the best thing that could happen, since here headlong destruction is building against us. Such is the weight of the Lykian lords upon us, who even before now have shown as deadly men in the strong encounters. But if in their place also hard work and fury have arisen, at least let powerful Telamonian Aias come by himself, and let Teukros follow with him, with his craft in the bow's use.'

He spoke, nor did the herald disobey when he heard him, but went on the run along the wall of the bronze-armoured Achaians and came and stood by the two Aiantes, and spoke to them straight out: 'Aiantes, leaders of the bronze-armoured Argives: Menestheus, beloved son of Peteos engendered of Zeus, desires you to go where he is and meet the danger, if only for a little; both of you for choice, since that would be far the best thing that could happen, since there headlong destruction is building against him. Such is the weight of the Lykian lords upon him, who even before now have shown as deadly men in the strong encounters. But if in this place also hard fighting and fury have arisen, at least let powerful Telamonian Aias come by himself and let Teukros follow with him, with his craft in the bow's use.' He spoke, and huge Telamonian Aias did not disobey him, but at once called out in winged words to Aias, the son of Oïleus: 'Aias, now you two, yourself and strong Lykomedes, must stand your ground and urge on the Danaans to fight strongly. I am going over there to meet the attack, and afterwards I will come back soon, when I have beaten them back from the others.'

So speading Telamonian Aias went away, and with him went Teukros, his brother by the same father, and following them was Pandion, who carried the curved bow for Teukros. They kept inside the wall as they went, till they came to the bastion of high-hearted Menestheus, and found men who were hard pressed there, for the strong lords and men of counsel among the Lykians came on against the battlements like a darkening stormwind, and they charged forward to fight with these, and the clamour rose high.

First to kill his man was Telamonian Aias. It was Sarpedon's companion in arms, high-hearted Epikles, whom he struck with a great jagged stone, that lay at the inside of the wall, huge, on top of the battlements. A man could not easily hold it, not even if he were very strong, in both hands, of men such as men are now, but he heaving it high threw it, and smashed in the four-sheeted helm, and pounded to pieces the bones of the head inside it, so that Epikles dropped like a diver from the high bastion, and the life left his bones. And Teukros with an arrow struck the strong son of Hippolochos, Glaukos, as he was swarming aloft the wall's high bastion, where he saw the arm was bare of defence, and stayed his warcraft; he sprang down from the wall, secretly, for fear some Achaian might see that he had been hit and vaunt with high words over him. Sarpedon, as soon as he was aware that Glaukos had gone back, was downcast, nevertheless he did not forget his warcraft but striking with his spear at Alkmaon, the son of Thestor, stabbed him, then wrenched the spear out, and he following the spear fell on his face, and the armour elaborate with bronze clashed about him. And Sarpedon, grabbing in both ponderous hands the battlements, pulled, and the whole thing came away in his hands, and the rampart was stripped defenceless above. He had opened a pathway for many.

Aias and Teukros aimed at him together, and Teukros hit him with an arrow in the shining belt that encircled his chest to hold the man-covering shield, but Zeus brushed the death spirits from his son, and would not let him be killed there beside the ships' sterns; and Aias plunging upon him stabbed at the shield, but the spearhead did not pass clean through. Still, he pounded him back in his fury so that he gave back a little space from the battlement, and yet not utterly gave way, since his heart was still hopeful of winning glory. He whirled about and called aloud to the godlike Lykians: 'Lykians, why do you thus let go of your furious valour? It is a hard thing for me, strong as I am, to break down the wall, single-handed, and open a path to the vessels. Come on with me then. This work is better if many do it.'

So he spoke, and they, awed at the reproach of their leader, put on the pressure of more weight around their lord of the counsels. And on the other side the Argives stiffened their battalions inside the wall, and a huge fight developed between the two sides. For neither could the powerful Lykians break in the rampart of the Danaans, and so open a path through to the vessels, nor had the Danaan spearmen strength to push back the Lykians from the rampart, once they had won to a place close under it; but as two men with measuring ropes in their hands fight bitterly about a boundary line at the meeting place of two cornfields, and the two of them fight in the strait place over the rights of division, so the battlements held these armies apart, and across them they hewed at each other, and at the ox-hide shields strong-circled guarding men's chests, and at the fluttering straps of the guard-skins. Many were torn in their white flesh by the bronze without pity wherever one of the fighters turning aside laid bare his back, and many were struck with the spear carried clean through the shield. Everywhere the battlements and the bastions were awash with men's blood shed from both sides, Achaian and Trojan. But even so they could not drive panic among the Achaians, but held evenly as the scales which a careful widow holds, taking it by the balance beam, and weighs her wool evenly at either end, working to win a pitiful wage for her children: so the battles fought by both sides were pulled fast and even until that time when Zeus gave the greater glory to Hektor, Priam's son, who was first to break into the wall of the Achaians. For he lifted his voice and called in a piercing cry to the Trojans: 'Rise up, Trojans, breakers of horses, and wreck the ramparts of the Argives, and let loose the inhuman fire on their vessels.'

So he spoke, driving them on, and they all gave ear to him and steered against the wall in a pack, and at once gripping still their edged spears caught and swarmed up the wall's projections. Meanwhile Hektor snatched up a stone that stood before the gates and carried it along; it was blunt-massed at the base, but the upper end was sharp; two men, the best in all a community, could not easily hoist it up from the ground to a wagon, of men such as men are now, but he alone lifted and shook it as the son of devious-devising Kronos made it light for him. As when a shepherd easily carries the fleece of a wether, picking it up with one hand, and little is the burden weighting him, so Hektor lifting the stone carried it straight for the door leaves which filled the gateway ponderously close-fitted together. These were high and twofold, and double door-bars on the inside overlapping each other closed it, and a single pin-bolt secured them. He came and stood very close and taking a strong wide stance threw at the middle, leaning into the throw, that the cast might not lack force, and smashed the hinges at either side, and the stone crashed ponderously in, and the gates groaned deep, and the door-bars could not hold, but the leaves were smashed to a wreckage of splinters under the stone's impact. Then glorious Hektor burst in with dark face like sudden night, but he shone with the ghastly glitter of bronze that girded his skin, and carried two spears in his hands. No one could have stood up against him, and stopped him, except the gods, when he burst in the gates; and his eyes flashed fire. Whirling, he called out across the battle to the Trojans to climb over the wall, and they obeyed his urgency. Immediately some swarmed over the wall, while others swept in through the wrought gateways, and the Danaans scattered in terror among their hollow ships, and clamour incessant rose up.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 13

 WHEN Zeus had driven against the ships the Trojans and Hektor, he left them beside these to endure the hard work and sorrow of fighting without respite, and himself turned his eyes shining far away, looking out over the land of the Thracian riders and the Mysians who fight at close quarters, and the proud Hippomolgoi, drinkers of milk, and the Abioi, most righteous of all men. He did not at all now turn his shining eyes upon Troy land for he had no idea in mind that any one of the immortals would come down to stand by either Danaans or Trojans.

Neither did the powerful shaker of the earth keep blind watch; for he sat and admired the fighting and the run of the battle, aloft on top of the highest summit of timbered Samos, the Thracian place; and from there all Ida appeared before him, and the city of Priam was plain to see, and the ships of the Achaians. There he came up out of the water, and sat, and pitied the Achaians who were beaten by the Trojans, and blamed Zeus for it in bitterness.

So presently he came down from the craggy mountain, striding on rapid feet, and the tall mountains trembled and the timber under the immortal feet of Poseidon's progress. He took three long strides forward, and in the fourth came to his goal, Aigai, where his glorious house was built in the waters' depth, glittering with gold, imperishable forever. Going there he harnessed under his chariot his bronze-shod horses, flying-footed, with long manes streaming of gold; and he put on clothing of gold about his own body, and took up the golden lash, carefully compacted, and climbed up into his chariot and drove it across the waves. And about him the sea beasts came up from their deep places and played in his path, and acknowledged their master, and the sea stood apart before him, rejoicing. The horses winged on delicately, and the bronze axle beneath was not wetted. The fast-running horses carried him to the ships of the Achaians.

There is a cave, broad and deep down in the gloom of the water, lying midway between Tenedos and Imbros of the high cliffs. There Poseidon the shaker of the earth reined in his horses, and slipped them from the yoke, and threw fodder immortal before them so they could eat, and threw around their feet golden hobbles not to be broken or slipped from, so they would wait there steadfast for their lord gone. And Poseidon went to the ships of the Achaians.

But the Trojans, gathered into a pack, like flame, like a stormcloud, came on after Hektor the son of Priam, raging relentless, roaring and crying as one, and their hopes ran high of capturing the ships of the Achaians, and killing the best men beside them, all of them. But Poseidon who circles the earth and shakes it rose up out of the deep water to stir on the Argives, likening himself in form and weariless voice to Kalchas. First he spoke to the Aiantes, who were burning for battle already: 'Aiantes, you two, remembering the spirit of warcraft and not that of shivering panic, must save the Achaian people. Elsewhere in truth I do not fear the Trojans' invincible hands, though in full force they have swarmed over our great wall; since the strong-greaved Achaians will be able to hold the rest of them. But I fear most terribly disaster to us in the one place where that berserk flamelike leads them against us, Hektor, who claims he must be son of Zeus of the high strength. May this be the message some one of the gods gives your minds to carry, that you stand fast strongly yourselves, urge the rest to stand also. Thus, hard though he sweeps on, you might stay him beside the fast-running ships, even though the very Olympian wakes him to battle.'

Poseidon who circles the earth and shakes it spoke, and striking both of them with his staff filled them with powerful valour, and he made their limbs light, and their feet, and their hands above them, and burst into winged flight himself, like a hawk with quick wings who from the huge height of an impassable rock lifting leans to flight to pursue some other bird over the wide land; so Poseidon shaker of the earth broke away from the Aiantes. And of the two swift Aias son of Oïleus was first to know him, and spoke therewith to Aias the son of Telamon; 'Aias, since some one of the gods, whose hold is Olympos, has likened himself to the seer, and told us to fight by our vessels, this is not Kalchas, the bird interpreter of the gods, for I knew easily as he went away the form of his feet, the legs' form from behind him. Gods, though gods, are conspicuous. Therefore as for me, the spirit inside my inward breast drives me all the harder to carry on the war and the fighting, and my feet underneath me are eager and my hands above them.'

Aias the son of Telamon spoke to him in answer: 'So for me also now the invincible hands on my spearshaft are furious, my strength is rising, and both feet beneath me are sweeping me onward, so that I long even for single combat with Hektor, Priam's son, the forever avid of battle.'

Now as these two were saying such things to each other, joyful in the delight of battle the god had put into their spirits, meanwhile the earth-encircler stirred up the Achaians behind them who were cooling the heat of the inward heart back beside their vessels, for their very limbs were broken with weariness of hard work, and also discouragement of the heart came over them, as they watched the Trojans, and how in a mass they had overswarmed the great wall. As they saw them the tears dripped from their eyes; they did not think they could win clear of the evil, but the earth-shaker lightly turning their battalions to strength drove them onward. He came first in encouragement to Teukros and Leïtos, with the fighting Peneleos, and Deïpyros and Thoas, to Meriones and Antilochos, both urgent for battle. Calling out to these in winged words he rallied them onward: 'Shame, you Argives, young fighting men, since I for my part have confidence that by fighting you can save our ships from destruction; but if you yourselves are to go slack from the sorrowful fighting now is seen your day to be beaten down by the Trojans. Oh for shame! Here is a great strange thing I see with my own eyes, a terrible thing, and one that I thought never could happen, that the Trojans could come against our ships, they who in time past were like fugitive deer before us, who in the forests are spoil for scavengers and wolves and leopards, who scatter in absolute cowardice, there is no war spirit within them. So before now the Trojans were unwilling to stand up against the strength and hands of the Achaians, even for a little, but now far from their city they fight by the hollow vessels through the weakness of our leader, and the hanging back of our people who have made their quarrel with him, and will not stand in defence of the fast-running ships. Instead of this they are killed against them. Yet even though it be utterly true that the son of Atreus the hero wide-powerful Agamemnon is guilty because he did dishonour to Peleus' son, the swift-footed, still there is no way for us now to hang back from the fighting. No, sooner let us heal it, for the hearts of great men can be healed. But you can no longer in honour give way from your fighting valour being all the best men along the host. Even I, for my part, would not quarrel with any man who hung back from the fighting because he was a weak thing, but with you my heart must be angry. O friends, soon you will bring to pass some still greater evil with this hanging back. Let every one of you plant in his heart's depth discipline and shamefastness. A big battle rises against you. For Hektor of the great war cry is fighting beside our vessels in his power, and has broken our gates and the long door-bar.' So urging them on the earth-encircler stirred up the Achaians, and their battalions formed in strength about the two Aiantes, battalions the war god could not find fault with, coming among them, nor Athene lady of storming armies, since there the bravest formed apart and stood against the Trojans and brilliant Hektor locking spear by spear, shield against shield at the base, so buckler leaned on buckler, helmet on helmet, man against man, and the horse-hair crests along the horns of their shining helmets touched as they bent their heads, so dense were they formed on each other, and the spears shaken from their daring hands made a jagged battle line. Their thoughts were driving straight ahead in the fury of fighting.

The Trojans came down on them in a pack, and Hektor led them raging straight forward, like a great rolling stone from a rock face that a river swollen with winter rain has wrenched from its socket and with immense washing broken the hold of the unwilling rock face; the springing boulder flies on, and the forest thunders beneath it; and the stone runs unwavering on a strong course, till it reaches the flat land, then rolls no longer for all its onrush; so Hektor for a while threatened lightly to break through the shelters and ships of the Achaians and reach the water cutting his way. But when he collided with the dense battalions he was stopped, hard, beaten in on himself. The sons of the Achaians against him stabbing at him with swords and leaf-headed spears thrust him away from them so that he gave ground backward, staggering. He lifted his voice and called in a piercing cry to the Trojans: 'Trojans, Lykians, Dardanians who fight at close quarters, stand with me. The Achaians will not hold me back for a long time for all they are building themselves into a bastion against me. No, I think they will give back under my spear, if truly I am driven by the greatest of gods, the thunderous lord of Hera.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man. Among them Deïphobos in high purpose had come striding, Priam's son, who held the perfect circle of his shield before him, moving lightly on his feet as he walked in the shield's protection. Meriones aimed at him with the shining spear, and threw it nor missed his mark, but struck the shield on its perfect circle of bull's hide, but the spear did not get through, but sooner the long shaft was broken behind the head. Deïphobos held the bull's-hide shield away from him, his heart frightened by the spear of wise Meriones, but that hero drew back into the host of his own companions, deeply angered for two things, the broken spear and the loss of his battle, and went away back to the shelters and ships of the Achaians to bring back a long spear that was left behind in his shelter. But the rest fought on with clamour incessant rising about them. Teukros, son of Telamon, was the first to kill his man, Imbrios the spearfighter, son of Mentor of the many horses, one who before the coming of the sons of the Achaians lived in Pedaios and had married a bastard daughter of Priam, Medesikaste. But when the oarswept ships of the Danaans came, he went back to Ilion, and was a great man among the Trojans, and lived at Priam's side, who honoured him as he did his own children. Now the son of Telamon with the long spear stabbed him under the ear, and wrenched the spear out again, and he dropped like an ash tree which, on the crest of a mountain glittering far about, cut down with the bronze axe scatters on the ground its delicate leafage; so he dropped, and the armour elaborate with bronze clashed about him, and Teukros ran up, eager to strip the armour. As he came on Hektor threw at him with the shining javelin, but Teukros with his eyes straight on him avoided the bronze spear by a little, and Hektor struck Amphimachos, son of Aktorian Kteatos, with a spear in his chest as he swept into battle. He fell, thunderously, and his armour clattered upon him. Then Hektor charged in to tear the helm of great-hearted Amphimachos from his head where it fitted close on the brows, but Aias thrust with the shining spear at Hektor as he came onward; he could not manage to reach the skin, since this was all shrouded in the ghastly bronze, but drove at the shield's mass in the middle and beat him back in great strength so that Hektor gave ground backward from both corpses. These the Achaians dragged out of the fighting. Then Stichios and brilliant Menestheus, lords of the Athenians, carried Amphimachos back among the Achaian people. But the two Aiantes in the fury of their fierce war strength, as two lions catch up a goat from the guard of rip-fanged hounds, and carry it into the density of the underbrush, holding it high from the ground in the crook of their jaws, so the lordly two Aiantes lifted Imbrios high and stripped him of his armour, and the son of Oïleus, in anger for Amphimachos, hewed away his head from the soft neck and threw it spinning like a ball through the throng of fighters until it came to rest in the dust at the feet of Hektor.

Then Poseidon was angered about the heart at his grandson's slaying in the bitter hostility, so the god went forth on his way among the shelters and ships of the Achaians and stirred the Danaans, and worked disaster against the Trojans. Idomeneus the spear-famed encountered him, on his way from a companion, who had just before come back from the fighting wounded in the hollow behind the knee by the sharp bronze. This man his companions carried away. Idomeneus had given the healers instructions and gone on to his shelter, still burning to face the battle, and now the strong earth-shaker spoke to him. Poseidon likened his voice to Thoas, son of Andraimon, lord of the Aitolians over all Pleuron, and headlong Kalydon, who was honoured in his countryside as a god is: 'Idomeneus, lord of the Kretans' councils, where are those threats you gave now, that the sons of the Achaians uttered against the Trojans?'

Then Idomeneus lord of the Kretans answered him in turn: 'Thoas, no man is responsible for this, so far as my thought goes, since all of us understand how to wage war. It is not that heartless fear holds anyone, that a man yielding to dread emerges out of the evil fighting, but rather this way must be pleasurable to Kronos' son in his great strength, that the Achaians must die here forgotten, and far from Argos. Since you, Thoas, have been before this a man stubborn in battle and stirred up another whenever you saw one hang back, so now also do not give up, and urge on each man as you find him.'

Then in answer spoke the shaker of the earth, Poseidon: 'Idomeneus, may that man who this day wilfully hangs back from the fighting never win home again out of Troy land, but stay here and be made dogs' delight for their feasting. Come then, take up your armour and go with me. We must speed this action together, since we, being two, might bring some advantage. The warcraft even of sad fighters combined turns courage, and you and I would have skill to fight even against good men.'

So he spoke and strode on, a god, through the mortals' struggle. Idomeneus, when he came back to his strong-built shelter, drew his splendid armour over his body, and caught up two spears, and went on his way, as a thunderbolt, which the son of Kronos catching up in his hand shakes from the shining edge of Olympos, flashes as a portent to men and the bright glints shine from it. Such was the glitter of bronze that girt his chest in his running. Close to his shelter there encountered him his strong henchman, Meriones, who was on his way to pick up a bronze spear and bring it back. Idomeneus in his strength spoke to him: 'Meriones, son of Molos, swift-footed, dearest beloved companion, why have you come back and left the battle and fighting? Have you been hit somewhere? Does pain of a spear's head afflict you? Have you come back with someone's message for me? For my part my desire is to fight, not sit away in the shelters.'

Meriones, a thoughtful man, spoke to him in answer: 'Idomeneus, lord of the counsels of the bronze-armoured Kretans, I am on my way to bring back a spear, if you have any left in your shelter. I broke just now the one I was carrying with a throw made against the shield of haughty Deïphobos.'

Then Idomeneus lord of the Kretans answered him in turn: 'You will find one spear, and twenty spears, if you want them, standing against the shining inward wall in my shelter, Trojan spears I win from men that I kill, for my way is not to fight my battles standing far away from my enemies. Thereby I have spears there, and shields massive in the middle, and helms and corselets are there in all the pride of their shining.'

Meriones, a thoughtful man, spoke to him in answer: 'For me also, beside my shelter and beside my black ship, there are many spoils of the Trojans, but not near for me to get them. For I tell you, neither am I one who has forgotten his war strength but among the foremost, along the fighting where men win glory, I take my stand, whenever the quarrel of battle arises. Let my fighting be forgotten by some other bronze-armoured Achaian. You are the very one I think must know of it.'

Then Idomeneus lord of the Kretans answered him in turn: 'I know your valour and what you are. Why need you speak of it? If now beside the ships all the best of us were to assemble for a hidden position, and there man's courage is best decided, where the man who is a coward and the brave man show themselves clearly: the skin of the coward changes colour one way and another, and the heart inside him has no control to make him sit steady, but he shifts his weight from one foot to another, then settles firmly on both feet, and the heart inside his chest pounds violent as he thinks of the death spirits, and his teeth chatter together: but the brave man's skin will not change colour, nor is he too much frightened, once he has taken his place in the hidden position, but his prayer is to close as soon as may be in bitter division: and there no man could make light of your battle strength or your hand's work. Even were you to be wounded in your work with spearcast or spearstroke, the weapon would not strike behind your neck, nor in your back, but would be driven straight against the chest or the belly as you made your way onward through the meeting of champions. But come, let us no longer stand here talking of these things like children, for fear some man may arrogantly scold us. Go to my shelter and choose for yourself a heavy spear.'

So he spoke; Meriones, a match for the rapid war god, went into the shelter rapidly, and took up a bronze spear, and with his mind deeply set on battle followed Idomeneus. As manslaughtering Ares is when he strides into battle and Terror goes on beside him, his beloved son, the powerful and dauntless, who frightens even the patient-hearted warrior: these two come out of Thrace to encounter in arms the Ephyroi or the great-hearted Phlegyes, but the two will not listen to prayers from both sides, but give the glory to one side or the other: such were Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of armies, as they went on into the fighting helmed in the bright bronze. First of the two, Meriones, spoke his word to Idomeneus: 'Deukalides, where are you minded to enter the battle? Would it be on the right of the whole array, or in the centre, or to the left? Since I think that nowhere else in the fighting are the flowing-haired Achaians overmatched so badly.'

Idomeneus lord of the Kretans answered him in turn: 'There are others beside us to defend the ships in the centre, the two Aiantes, and Teukros, best of all the Achaians in archery, and a good man in the close of standing combat. They can give Hektor, Priam's son, enough hard hitting, even though he is very strong, and sweeps hard into battle. Furious though he is for fighting, it will be very steep work for him to win through their irresistible hands and their war strength and fire the ships, unless the son of Kronos in person should hurl the blazing firebrand into our fast-running vessels. Nor would huge Telamonian Aias give way to any man, one who was mortal and ate bread, the yield of Demeter, one who could be broken by the bronze and great stones flung at him. He would not make way for Achilleus who breaks men in battle, in close combat. For speed of feet none can strive with Achilleus. Hold, as you say, for the left of the army, and thus soonest shall we see whether we win glory or give it to others.'

He spoke, and Meriones, a match for the running war god, led the way, till they came to the place in the army he spoke for.

These, as they saw Idomeneus like a flame in his valour himself and his henchman with him in their elaborate war gear, they called out across the battle and gathered about him, and an indiscriminate fight rose up by the sterns of the vessels. And as when under the screaming winds the whirlstorms bluster on that day when the dust lies deepest along the pathways and the winds in the confusion of dust uplift a great cloud, such was their indiscriminate battle, and their hearts were furious to slaughter each other with the sharp bronze through the press of the fighting. The battle where men perish shuddered now with the long man-tearing spears they held in their hands, their eyes were blinded in the dazzle of the bronze light from the glittering helmets, from the burnished corselets and the shining shields as men came on in confusion. That man would have to be very bold-hearted who could be cheerful and not stricken looking on that struggle.

Two powerful sons of Kronos, hearts divided against each other, were wreaking bitter agonies on the fighting warriors, since Zeus willed the victory for the Trojans and Hektor, glorifying swift-footed Achilleus, yet not utterly did he wish the Achaian people to be destroyed before Ilion, but only was giving glory to Thetis and her strong-spirited son, while Poseidon emerging unseen from the grey salt water went among the Argives and stirred them, since he was angered that they were beaten by the Trojans and blamed Zeus for it bitterly. Indeed, the two were of one generation and a single father, but Zeus was the elder born and knew more. Therefore Poseidon shrank from openly defending them, but secretly in a man's likeness was forever stirring them up through the army. So these two had looped over both sides a crossing cable of strong discord and the closing of battle, not to be slipped, not to be broken, which unstrung the knees of many.

There Idomeneus, greying though he was, called on the Danaans and charged in upon the Trojans and drove panic among them for he killed Othryoneus, a man who had lived in Kabesos, who was newly come in the wake of the rumour of war, and had asked Priam for the hand of the loveliest of his daughters, Kassandra, without bride price, but had promised a great work for her, to drive back the unwilling sons of the Achaians from Troy land, and aged Priam had bent his head in assent, and promised to give her, so Othryoneus fought in the faith of his promises. Idomeneus aimed at him with the shining spear, and threw it, and hit him as he came onward with high stride, and the corselet of bronze he wore could not hold, the spear fixed in the middle belly. He fell, thunderously, and Idomeneus vaunting cried out: 'Othryoneus, I congratulate you beyond all others if it is here that you will bring to pass what you promised to Dardanian Priam, who in turn promised you his daughter. See now, we also would make you a promise, and we would fulfil it; we would give you the loveliest of Atreides' daughters, and bring her here from Argos to be your wife, if you joined us and helped us storm the strong-founded city of Ilion. Come then with me, so we can meet by our seafaring vessels about a marriage; we here are not bad matchmakers for you.'

The hero Idomeneus spoke and dragged him through the strong encounter caught by the foot, but now Asios came to stand by him dismounted, ahead of his horses whom his henchman held ever behind him so that they breathed on his shoulders. He was striving in all his fury to strike Idomeneus, but he, too quick with a spearcast, struck him in the gorge underneath the chin, and drove the bronze clean through. He fell, as when an oak goes down or a white poplar or like a towering pine tree which in the mountains the carpenters have hewn down with their whetted axes to make a ship timber. So he lay there felled in front of his horses and chariot, roaring, and clawed with his hands at the bloody dust. Meanwhile the charioteer who was close behind him was stricken in the wits and shrinking from the hands of the enemy did not have daring to turn the horses about, but Antilochos stubborn in battle pinned him through the middle with a spearstroke, and the corselet of bronze he wore could not hold, the spear fixed in the middle belly, so that he tumbled, gasping, out of the strong-wrought chariot. But for the horses, Antilochos, son of great-hearted Nestor, drove them away from the Trojans among the strong-greaved Achaians.

Deïphobos in sorrow for Asios now came close in on Idomeneus, and with the bright spear made a cast at him, but Idomeneus with his eyes straight on him avoided the bronze spear since also he was hidden beneath his shield's perfect circle, that shield he carried, hooped in circles of glaring bronze, and the skins of oxen, fitted with double cross-stays. He was all gathered together under this, and the brazen spear shot over him and the shield gave out a hollow clash as the spear glanced from it. Yet Deïphobos made no utterly vain cast from his strong hand, but struck Hypsenor, son of Hippasos, shepherd of the people, in the liver under the midriff, and at once took the strength from his knees. And Deïphobos vaunted terribly over him, calling in a great voice: 'Asios lies not now all unavenged. I think rather as he goes down to Hades of the Gates, the strong one, he will be cheerful at heart, since I have sent him an escort.'

He spoke, and sorrow came over the Argives at his vaunting, and beyond others stirred the spirit in wise Antilochos, yet sorrowful though he was he did not forget his companion but running stood and bestrode him and covered him under the great shield. Thereon Mekisteus, son of Echios, and brilliant Alastor, two staunch companions, stooping beneath it, caught up Hypsenor, and carried him, groaning heavily, to the hollow vessels.

Idomeneus did not slacken his great fury, but always was straining to shroud some one of the Trojans in dark night or go down crashing himself as he fought the bane from the Achaians. There was a man, loved son of illustrious Aisyetes, the hero Alkathoös, who was son-in-law of Anchises, and had married the eldest of his daughters, Hippodameia, dear to the hearts of her father and the lady her mother in the great house, since she surpassed all the girls of her own age for beauty and accomplishments and wit; for which reason the man married her who was the best in the wide Troad. But now Poseidon beat him down at the hands of Idomeneus, for he bewitched his shining eyes, made moveless his bright limbs, so that he could not run backward, neither evade him, but stood like a statue or a tree with leaves towering motionless, while fighting Idomeneus stabbed at the middle of his chest with the spear, and broke the bronze armour about him which in time before had guarded his body from destruction. He cried out then, a great cry, broken, the spear in him, and fell, thunderously, and the spear in his heart was stuck fast but the heart was panting still and beating to shake the butt end of the spear. Then and there Ares the huge took his life away from him. Idomeneus vaunted terribly over him, calling in a great voice: 'Deïphobos, are we then to call this a worthy bargain, three men killed for one? It was you yourself were so boastful. Strange man. Do you rather come yourself and stand up against me so you can see what I am like, Zeus' seed, come here to face you. Since Zeus first got by Krete Minos, who cared for his people, and to Minos in turn was born a blameless son, Deukalion, and Deukalion sired me to be lord over many people in wide Krete, and now my ships have brought me to this place to be an evil for you and your father and the rest of the Trojans.'

So he spoke, and the heart in Deïphobos was divided, pondering whether to draw back and find some other high-hearted Trojan to be his companion, or whether to attempt him singly. And in the division of his heart this way seemed best to him, to go for Aineias. He found him at the uttermost edge of the battle standing, since he was forever angry with brilliant Priam because great as he was he did him no honour among his people. Deïphobos came and stood close to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Aineias, lord of the Trojans' counsels, now there is need of you to stand by your brother-in-law, if this bond of kinship touches you. Come then, stand by Alkathoös, who was your sister's husband and in time past nursed you in his house when you were still little. But now Idomeneus the spear-famed has killed him in battle.'

So he spoke, and stirred the anger in the breast of Aineias. He went against Idomeneus, strongly eager for battle, yet no fear gripped Idomeneus as if he were a stripling, but he stood his ground like a mountain wild boar who in the confidence of his strength stands up to a great rabble of men advancing upon him in some deserted place, and bristles his back up, and both his eyes are shining with fire; he grinds his teeth in his fury to fight off the dogs and the men. So spear-famed Idomeneus held his ground, and would not give way to Aineias coming against him, but bellowed to his companions, looking to Askalaphos, and Aphareus, and Deïpyros, at Meriones and Antilochos, both urgent for battle, and stirring all these forward called out to them in winged words: 'This way, friends, stand by me, I am alone, and terribly I fear the attack of swift-footed Aineias advancing upon me, powerful as he is for the slaying of men in battle. Likewise the flower of youth is his, where man's strength is highest, since were we two of the same age, and in this same spirit, soon he would win me in a great battle, or I would win him.'

So he spoke, and all these, a single spirit within them, came and stood in their numbers and sloped their shields over his shoulders, and Aineias on the other side called to his own companions, looking to Deïphobos, and Paris, and brilliant Agenor who were lords of the Trojans along with him, and the people after them followed on, as when the sheep follow the lead-ram as they leave the pasture to drink, and make proud the heart of the shepherd, and thus also the heart of Aineias was gladdened within him as he saw the swarm of the host following his own leadership.

These then drove on in close combat about Alkathoös with long spears, and the bronze girding the chests of the fighters clashed horribly to the spears they threw in the press at each other, and two men, for warcraft pre-eminent beyond the others, Aineias and Idomeneus, both men like the war god, were straining with the pitiless bronze to tear at each other. Aineias was first with a spear cast at Idomeneus, but he, keeping his eyes straight on him, avoided the bronze spear, so that the vibrant shaft of Aineias was driven groundward since it had been thrown in a vain cast from his big hand. But Idomeneus hit Oinomaos in the middle belly and broke the hollow of the corselet, so that the entrails spurted from the bronze, and he fell clawing the dust in his fingers. Idomeneus wrenched out the far-shadowing spear from his body but had no power to strip the rest of his splendid armour away from his shoulders, since he was beaten back by their missiles, and no longer in an outrush could his limbs stay steady beneath him either to dash in after his spear, or to get clear again. So in close-standing fight he beat off the pitiless death-day as his feet no longer quick to run took him out of the fighting. As he backed slowly Deïphobos made a cast with the shining spear, since he held a fixed hatred forever against him, but missed him yet once again and struck down with the spear the war god's son Askalaphos, so that the powerful spear was driven through his shoulder, and he dropping in the dust clawed the ground in his fingers. But Ares the huge and bellowing had yet heard nothing of how his son had fallen there in the strong encounter but he, sheltered under the golden clouds on utmost Olympos, was sitting, held fast by command of Zeus, where the rest also of the immortal gods were sitting still, in restraint from the battle.

But the men drove on in close combat about Askalaphos. Deïphobos tore from Askalaphos the shining helmet; but now Meriones, a match for the running war god, plunging upon him stabbed his arm with the spear, and the hollow-eyed helmet dropped from his hand and fell to the ground clashing. Meriones in yet another swoop like a vulture plucked out the heavy spear from the arm's base at the shoulder, then shrank into the host of his own companions. Polites, Deïphobos' brother, caught him about the waist with both arms and got him out of the sorrowful fighting, and reached his fast-footed horses, where they stood to the rear of the fighting and the battle holding their charioteer and the elaborate chariot, and these carried him, groaning heavily, back to the city in pain, since the blood was running from his arm's fresh wound. But the rest fought on with clamour incessant rising about them. There Aineias lunging at Aphareus, the son of Kaletor, struck him with the sharp spear in the throat where it was turned toward him. His head bent over to one side, and his shield tumbled, and the helm, and death breaking the spirit drifted about him. Antilochos, watching Thoön as he turned about, dashed in on him and slashed at him, and shore away the entire vein which runs all the way up the back till it reaches the neck. This he shore away entire, so he sprawled in the dust backward, reaching out both hands to his beloved companions. Antilochos rushed on him, trying to strip the armour from his shoulders, but watchful, as the Trojans gathered about him from all sides, and beat at the shining broad shield, but could not get within it and tear with the pitiless bronze Antilochos' tender flesh, for about him the earth-shaker Poseidon guarded the son of Nestor even in the swarm of missiles. Since he was not making his way back clear of the enemy, but would turn to face them nor held motionless his spear, always it was shaken or driven forward, the desire in his heart forever to strike someone with a spearcast or drive at him in close combat.

Adamas, Asios' son, was not blind to how he kept aiming with his spear in the battle, and charging close stabbed with the sharp bronze at the shield's middle, but Poseidon the dark-haired made void his spear's stroke, nor would let him win the life of Antilochos, and half of the spear was stuck fast like a stake fire-hardened in Antilochos' shield, and the other half lay on the ground. To avoid death he shrank into the host of his own companions; but as he went back Meriones dogging him threw with the spear and struck between navel and genitals where beyond all places death in battle comes painfully to pitiful mortals. There the spear stuck fast driven and he, writhing about it, gasped as an ox does when among the mountains the herdsmen have bound him strongly in twisted ropes and drag him unwilling. So he, stricken, gasped for a little while, but not long, until fighting Meriones came close and wrenched the spear out from his body, and a mist of darkness closed over both eyes.

But Helenos closing struck Deïpyros on the temple with a huge Thracian sword, and broke the helmet to pieces so that it was knocked off and fell to the ground. An Achaian picked it up where it rolled among the feet of the fighters; but the darkness of night misted over the eyes of Deïpyros.

Then sorrow caught Atreus' son Menelaos of the great war cry, and he came on menacing and shaking his sharp spear at Helenos the lord and fighter, who pulled against him the bow at the handgrip, and both let fly at each other together, one with a sharp spear in a javelin cast, and one with the arrow from the bowstring. The son of Priam hit him then on the chest with an arrow in the hollow of the corselet, but the bitter arrow sprang far back. As along a great threshing floor from the broad blade of a shovel the black-skinned beans and the chickpeas bounce high under the whistling blast and the sweep of the winnowing fan, so back from the corselet of glorious Menelaos the bitter arrow rebounded far away, being driven hard back. But Atreus' son Menelaos of the great war cry struck him in the hand where he held the polished bow, and the bronze spear was driven clean on through the bow and the hand beyond it. To avoid death he shrank into the host of his own companions, dangling his wounded hand and dragging the ash spear with it. But great-hearted Agenor drew from his hand the spear and bound up his hand with a careful twist of wool fleece in a sling the henchman held for the shepherd of the people.

Peisandros now came on straight against Menelaos the glorious, but an evil destiny led him toward death's end, to be beaten down by you, Menelaos, in the stark encounter. Now when these in their advance were close to each other the son of Atreus missed with his throw, and the spear was turned past him, but Peisandros stabbed with the spear at the shield of glorious Menelaos, but could not drive the bronze all the way through it for the wide shield held against it and the spearshaft was broken behind the head, yet he was light-hearted and hopeful of victory. Drawing his sword with the silver nails, the son of Atreus sprang at Peisandros, who underneath his shield's cover gripped his beautiful axe with strong bronze blade upon a long polished axe-handle of olive wood. They made their strokes at the same time and Peisandros chopped at the horn of the helmet crested with horse-hair at the very peak. Menelaos struck him as he came onward in the forehead over the base of the nose, and smashed the bones, so that both eyes dropped, bloody, and lay in the dust at his feet before him. He fell, curling, and Menelaos, setting his heel on his chest, stripped off his armour and spoke exulting over him: 'So, I think, shall you leave the ships of the fast-mounted Danaans, you haughty Trojans, never to be glutted with the grim war noises, nor go short of all that other shame and defilement wherewith you defiled me, wretched dogs, and your hearts knew no fear at all of the hard anger of Zeus loud-thundering, the guest's god, who some day will utterly sack your steep city. You who in vanity went away taking with you my wedded wife, and many possessions, when she had received you in kindness. And now once more you rage among our seafaring vessels to throw deadly fire on them and kill the fighting Achaians. But you will be held somewhere, though you be so headlong for battle. Father Zeus, they say your wisdom passes all others', of men and gods, and yet from you all this is accomplished the way you give these outrageous people your grace, these Trojans whose fighting strength is a thing of blind fury, nor can they ever be glutted full of the close encounters of deadly warfare. Since there is satiety in all things, in sleep, and love-making, in the loveliness of singing and the innocent dance. In all these things a man will strive sooner to win satisfaction than in war; but in this the Trojans cannot be glutted.'

So Menelaos the blameless spoke, and stripping the bloody armour away from his body gave it to his companions, and turned back himself to merge in the ranks of the champions.

Now there sprang forth against him the son of King Pylaimenes, Harpalion, who had followed his father into the fighting at Troy, and did not come home again to the land of his fathers. He from close up stabbed with his spear at the shield of Atreides in the middle, but could not drive the bronze all the way through it. To avoid death he shrank into the host of his own companions, looking all about him, for fear somebody might wound him with the bronze; but as he went back Meriones let fly at him with a bronze-shod arrow, and hit him beside the right buttock, so that the arrow was driven on through under the bone to fix in the bladder. There, sitting among the arms of his beloved companions, he gasped out his life, then lay like a worm extended along the ground, and his dark blood drenched the ground in its running. And the great-hearted Paphlagonians busied about him, lifted him into a chariot and brought him to sacred Ilion in sorrow, and his father, weeping tears, walked beside them, and no man-price came his way for his son's slaying.

But Paris was deeply angered at heart for this man's slaying, since he was his guest friend among many Paphlagonians, and in anger for him he also let fly a bronze-shod arrow. There was a man, Euchenor, son of the seer Polyidos, a rich man and good, who lived in his house at Korinth, who knew well that it was his death when he went on shipboard, since many times the good old man Polyidos had told him that he must die in his own house of a painful sickness or go with the ships of the Achaians and be killed by the Trojans. He therefore chose to avoid the troublesome price the Achaians would ask, and the hateful sickness so his heart might not be afflicted. Paris struck him by jaw and ear, and at once the life spirit fled from his limbs, and the hateful darkness closed in about him.

So they fought on in the likeness of blazing fire. But meanwhile Hektor beloved of Zeus had not heard of this, and knew nothing of how to the left of the ships his people were being slaughtered by the Argives, and glory for the Achaians might even have been accomplished, such was Poseidon who circles the earth and shakes it as he stirred on the Argives and fought for them and his own strength. But Hektor held where first he had broken a way through the rampart and the gates, and shattered the close ranks of the armoured Danaans, where lay the ships of Aias and the ships of Protesilaos hauled up along the beach of the grey sea; and above these the wall they had built lay lowest, and there beyond other places dangerous was the onslaught of the Trojans and of their horses.

There the Boiotians, and Ionians with their trailing tunics, the Lokrians and the Phthians, with the shining Epeians tried to hold him as he swept hard for the ships, but they could not avail to beat brilliant flame-like Hektor back from them. There also were the chosen Athenian men, and among them Peteos' son Menestheus was lord, and there followed with him Pheidas and Stichios and strong Bias; but the Epeians were led by Meges, Phyleus' son, Amphion and Drakios, and before the Phthians were Medon and battle-stubborn Podarkes. Now of these one, Medon, was bastard son of Oïleus the godlike, and brother of Aias, yet he was living away from the land of his fathers, in Phylake, since he had killed a man, the brother of Eriopis, his stepmother and wife of Oïleus; but the other was son of Iphiklos, the son of Phylakos. And these in arms at the forefront of the great-hearted Phthians fought beside the Boiotians in defence of their vessels. But swift Aias the son of Oïleus would not at all now take his stand apart from Telamonian Aias, not even a little; but as two wine-coloured oxen straining with even force drag the compacted plough through the fallow land, and for both of them at the base of the horns the dense sweat gushes; only the width of the polished yoke keeps a space between them as they toil down the furrow till the share cuts the edge of the ploughland; so these took their stand in battle, close to each other. Now with the son of Telamon many people and brave ones followed as companions, and took over the great shield from him whenever the sweat and the weariness came over his body. But no Lokrians went with the great-hearted son of Oïleus. The heart was not in them to endure close-standing combat, for they did not have the brazen helmets crested with horse-hair, they did not have the strong-circled shields and the ash spears, but rather these had followed to Ilion with all their confidence in their bows and slings strong-twisted of wool; and with these they shot their close volleys and broke the Trojan battalions. So now these others fought in front in elaborate war gear against the Trojans and Hektor the brazen-helmed, and the Lokrians unseen volleyed from behind, so the Trojans remembered nothing of the joy of battle, since the shafts struck them to confusion.

Now pitifully the Trojans might have gone back from the shelters and the ships, to windy Ilion, had not Poulydamas come and stood beside bold Hektor and spoken a word to him: 'Hektor, you are too intractable to listen to reason. Because the god has granted you the actions of warfare therefore you wish in counsel also to be wise beyond others. But you cannot choose to have all gifts given to you together. To one man the god has granted the actions of warfare, to one to be a dancer, to another the lyre and the singing, and in the breast of another Zeus of the wide brows establishes wisdom, a lordly thing, and many take profit beside him and he saves many, but the man's own thought surpasses all others. Now I will tell you the way that it seems best to my mind. For you, everywhere the fighting burns in a circle around you, but of the great-hearted Trojans since they crossed over the rampart some are standing back in their war gear, others are fighting fewer men against many, being scattered among the vessels. Draw back now, and call to this place all of our bravest, and then we might work out together our general counsel, whether we can fall upon their benched ships, if the god might be willing to give such power to us, or whether thereafter we can win away from the ships unhurt; since I fear the Achaians might wreak on us requital for yesterday; since beside their ships lurks a man insatiate of fighting and I think we can no longer utterly hold him from the fighting.'

So spoke Poulydamas, and this counsel of safety pleased Hektor, and at once in all his armour he leapt to the ground from his chariot and spoke to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Poulydamas, do you rather call back to their place all of our bravest. I am going over there to meet the attack, and afterwards I will come back soon, when I have properly given my orders.'

So he spoke, and went on his way like a snowy mountain, calling aloud, and swept through the Trojans and their companions. But the rest of them rallied quickly around the son of Panthoös, courtly Poulydamas, each as they heard the command of Hektor. But Hektor ranged the ranks of the foremost fighters, searching for Deïphobos, and the strength of Helenos the prince, and for Asios' son Adamas, and Asios, Hyrtakos' son, if he might find them; but found them no longer utterly unwounded or living, but some were lying along the sterns of Achaian vessels, they who had lost their lives at the hands of the Argives, and others were lying away inside the city with arrow or spear wounds. But he found one man away to the left of the sorrowful battle, brilliant Alexandros, the lord of lovely-haired Helen, encouraging his companions and urging them on into battle. Hektor came and stood near, and in words of shame he rebuked him: 'Evil Paris, beautiful, woman-crazy, cajoling: where is Deïphobos gone, and the strength of the prince Helenos, Adamas, Asios' son, and Asios, son of Hyrtakos? Where is Othryoneus? Now all steep Ilion is lost utterly; now your own headlong destruction is certain.'

Then in turn Alexandros the godlike answered him: 'Hektor, since it is your pleasure to blame me when I am blameless, it would be better some other time to withdraw from the fighting than now. My mother bore me not utterly lacking in warcraft. For since that time when by the ships you wakened the battle of our companions, we have stayed here and fought the Danaans without end. And our companions are killed you ask for. Only Deïphobos and the strength of the prince Helenos have gone away, wounded each in the hand by strokes of the long spears, but the son of Kronos fended death from them. Now lead on, wherever your heart and spirit command you, and we shall follow you eagerly; I think that we shall not come short in warcraft, in so far as the strength stays with us. But beyond his strength no man can fight, although he be eager.'

So the hero spoke, and persuaded the heart of his brother. They went on, to where the clamour and fighting were greatest, about Kebriones, and Poulydamas the blameless, about Phalkes, and Orthaios, and godlike Polyphetes, Palmys, with Askanios and Morys, sons of Hippotion, who had come over in their turn from fertile Askania on the dawn before, and now Zeus stirred them into the fighting. They went on, as out of the racking winds the stormblast that underneath the thunderstroke of Zeus father drives downward and with gigantic clamour hits the sea, and the numerous boiling waves along the length of the roaring water bend and whiten to foam in ranks, one upon another; so the Trojans closing in ranks, some leading and others after them, in the glare of bronze armour followed their leaders. And Hektor led them, Priam's son, a man like the murderous war god, and held the perfect circle of his shield before him fenced deep in skins, with a great fold of bronze beaten upon it, and about his temples was shaken as he went the glittering helmet. He would step forward, to probe the Achaian battalions at all points, if they might give way where he stalked on under his shield's cover, but could not so confuse the heart in the breasts of the Achaians. Aias was first to take long strides forward and challenge him: 'Man, you are mad. Come closer. Why try this way to terrify the Argives? It is not that we are so unskilled in fighting, but by the wicked whiplash of Zeus we Achaians are beaten. I suppose, then, your heart is hopeful utterly to break up our ships? We too have prompt hands among us strong to defend them. Rather, far before this your own strong-founded citadel must go down under our hands, stormed and utterly taken. And for yourself I say that the time is close, when in flight you will pray to Zeus father and the other immortals that your bright-maned horses might be swifter than hawks are as they carry you through the stirred dust of the plain to your city.'

As he spoke so, an ominous bird winged by at his right hand, a towering eagle, and the host of the Achaians, made brave by the bird sign, shouted, but glorious Hektor answered him: 'Aias, you inarticulate ox, what is this you have spoken? If I could only be called son to Zeus of the aegis all the days of my life, and the lady Hera my mother, and I be honoured, as Apollo and Athene are honoured, so surely as this is a day that brings evil to the Argives, all, and you will be killed with the rest of them, if you have daring to stand up against my long spear, which will bite your delicate body; yet then you will glut the dogs and birds of the Trojans with fat and flesh, struck down beside the ships of the Achaians.'

So he spoke and led the way, and the rest of them followed him with unearthly clamour, and all the people shouted behind him. But the Argives on the other side cried out, and would not forget their warcraft, but stood the attack of the bravest Trojans, and the clamour from both was driven high to Zeus' shining aether.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 14

 Now Nestor failed not to hear their outcry, though he was drinking his wine, but spoke in winged words to the son of Asklepios: 'Take thought how these things shall be done, brilliant Machaon. Beside the ships the cry of the strong young men grows greater. Now, do you sit here and go on drinking the bright wine, until Hekamede the lovely-haired makes ready a hot bath for you, warming it, and washes away the filth of the bloodstains, while I go out and make my way till I find some watchpoint.'

So he spoke, and took up the wrought shield of his son Thrasymedes, breaker of horses. It lay in the shelter all shining in bronze. Thrasymedes carried the shield of his father. Then he caught up a powerful spear edged in sharp bronze and stood outside the shelter, and at once saw a shameful action, men driven to flight, and others harrying them in confusion, the great-hearted Trojans, and the wall of the Achaians overthrown. As when the open sea is deeply stirred to the ground-swell but stays in one place and waits the rapid onset of tearing gusts, nor rolls its surf onward in either direction until from Zeus the wind is driven down to decide it; so the aged man pondered, his mind caught between two courses, whether to go among the throng of fast-mounted Danaans or in search of Atreus' son Agamemnon, shepherd of the people. And in the division of his heart this way seemed best to him, to go after the son of Atreus, while the rest went on with the murderous battle, and the weariless bronze about their bodies was clashing as the men were stabbing with swords and leaf-headed spears.

Now there came toward Nestor the kings under God's hand, they who had been wounded by the bronze and came back along the ships, Tydeus' son, and Odysseus, and Atreus' son Agamemnon. For there were ships that had been hauled up far away from the fighting along the beach of the grey sea. They had hauled up the first ones on the plain, and by the sterns of these had built their defences; for, wide as it was, the sea-shore was not big enough to make room for all the ships, and the people also were straitened; and therefore they had hauled them up in depth, and filled up the long edge of the whole sea-coast, all that the two capes compassed between them. These lords walked in a group, each leaning on his spear, to look at the clamorous battle, and for each the heart inside his body was sorrowful; and Nestor the aged man who now met them made still more cast down the spirit inside the Achaians. Now powerful Agamemnon spoke aloud and addressed him: 'Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaians, why have you left the fighting where men die, and come back here? I am afraid huge Hektor may accomplish that word against me that he spoke, threatening, among the Trojans assembled, that he would not make his way back from the ships toward Ilion until he had set the ships on fire, and killed the men in them. So he spoke then; now all these things are being accomplished. Oh, shame, for I think that all the other strong-greaved Achaians are storing anger against me in their hearts, as Achilleus did, and no longer will fight for me by the grounded vessels.'

Then answered him in turn the Gerenian horseman Nestor: 'All these things have been brought to fulfilment, nor in any other way could even Zeus who thunders on high accomplish it. For the wall has gone down in which we put our trust, that it would be a protection for our ships and us, and could not be broken, and our men beside the fast ships are fighting incessantly without end, nor could you tell any more, though you looked hard, from which side the Achaians are broken into confusion, so indiscriminately are they killed, and their crying goes skyward. We then must take thought together how these things shall be done if wit can do anything for us now. I think that we must not enter the fight; a man cannot fight on when he is wounded.'

Then in turn the lord of men Agamemnon spoke to him: 'Nestor, since now they are fighting beside the grounded vessels and the wall we built has done us no good, nor the ditch either where the Danaans endured so much, and their hearts were hopeful it would be a protection to their ships and them, and could not be broken, then such is the way it must be pleasing to Zeus, who is too strong, that the Achaians must die here forgotten and far from Argos. For I knew it, when with full heart he defended the Danaans, and I know it now, when he glorifies these people as if they were blessed gods, and has hobbled our warcraft and our hands' strength. Come then, do as I say, let us all be won over; let us take all those ships that are beached near the sea in the first line and haul them down, and row them out on the shining water, and moor them at anchor stones out on the deep water, until the immortal Night comes down, if the Trojans will give over fighting for Night's sake; then we might haul down all the rest of our vessels. There is no shame in running, even by night, from disaster. The man does better who runs from disaster than he who is caught by it.'

Then looking darkly at him spoke resourceful Odysseus: 'Son of Atreus, what sort of word escaped your teeth's barrier? Ruinous! I wish you directed some other unworthy army, and were not lord over us, over us to whom Zeus has appointed the accomplishing of wars, from our youth even into our old age until we are dead, each of us. Are you really thus eager to abandon the wide-wayed city of the Trojans, over which we have taken so many sorrows? Do not say it; for fear some other Achaian might hear this word, which could never at all get past the lips of any man who understood inside his heart how to speak soundly, who was a sceptred king, and all the people obeyed him in numbers like those of the Argives, whose lord you are. Now I utterly despise your heart for the thing you have spoken; you who in the very closing of clamorous battle tell us to haul our strong-benched ships to the sea, so that even more glory may befall the Trojans, who beat us already, and headlong destruction swing our way, since the Achaians will not hold their battle as the ships are being hauled seaward, but will look about, and let go the exultation of fighting. There, o leader of the people, your plan will be ruin.'

Then in turn the lord of men Agamemnon answered him: 'Odysseus, you have hit me somewhere deep in my feelings with this hard word. But I am not telling the sons of the Achaians against their will to drag their benched ships down to the water. Now let someone speak who has better counsel than this was; young man or old; and what he says will be to my liking.'

Now among them spoke Diomedes of the great war cry: 'That man is here, we shall not look far for him, if you are willing to listen, and not be each astonished in anger against me because by birth I am the youngest among you. I also can boast that my generation is of an excellent father, Tydeus, whom now the heaped earth covers over in Thebe. For there were three blameless sons who were born to Portheus, and their home was in Pleuron and headlong Kalydon. Agrios was first, then Melas, and the third was Oineus the horseman, the father of my father, and in valour beyond the others. But Oineus stayed in the land, while my father was driven and settled in Argos. Such was the will of Zeus and the other immortals. He married one of the daughters of Adrestos, and established a house rich in substance, and plenty of wheat-grown acres were his, with many orchards of fruit trees circled about him, and many herds were his. He surpassed all other Achaians with the spear. If all this is true, you must have heard of it. Therefore you could not, saying that I was base and unwarlike by birth, dishonour any word that I speak, if I speak well. Let us go back to the fighting wounded as we are. We have to. Once there, we must hold ourselves out of the onfall, clear of missiles, so that none will add to the wound he has got already, but we shall be there to drive them on, since even before this they have favoured their anger, and stood far off, and will not fight for us.'

So he spoke, and they listened well to him, and obeyed him, and went on their way. And the lord of men, Agamemnon, led them.

Neither did the glorious shaker of the earth keep blind watch, but came among them now in the likeness of an old man, and took hold of Agamemnon, Atreus' son, by the right hand, and spoke to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Son of Atreus, I think that now that baleful heart in the breast of Achilleus must be happy as he stares at the slaughter of the Achaians and their defeat. There is no heart in him, not even a little. Even so may the god strike him down, let him go to destruction. But with you the blessed gods are not utterly angry. There will still be a time when the lords of Troy and their counsellors shall send dust wide on the plain, and you yourself shall look on them as they take flight for their city away from the ships and the shelters.' So he spoke, and swept on over the plain, with a huge cry like the yell nine thousand men send up, or ten thousand in battle, as they close in the hateful strife of the war god. So huge was the cry the powerful earth-shaker let go from his lungs, and in the heart of every Achaian implanted great strength, to carry the battle on, and fight without flinching.

Now Hera, she of the golden throne, standing on Olympos' horn, looked out with her eyes, and saw at once how Poseidon, who was her very brother and her lord's brother, was bustling about the battle where men win glory, and her heart was happy. Then she saw Zeus, sitting along the loftiest summit on Ida of the springs, and in her eyes he was hateful. And now the lady ox-eyed Hera was divided in purpose as to how she could beguile the brain in Zeus of the aegis. And to her mind this thing appeared to be the best counsel, to array herself in loveliness, and go down to Ida, and perhaps he might be taken with desire to lie in love with her next her skin, and she might be able to drift an innocent warm sleep across his eyelids, and seal his crafty perceptions. She went into her chamber, which her beloved son Hephaistos had built for her, and closed the leaves in the door-posts snugly with a secret door-bar, and no other of the gods could open it. There entering she drew shut the leaves of the shining door, then first from her adorable body washed away all stains with ambrosia, and next anointed herself with ambrosial sweet olive oil, which stood there in its fragrance beside her, and from which, stirred in the house of Zeus by the golden pavement, a fragrance was shaken forever forth, on earth and in heaven. When with this she had anointed her delicate body and combed her hair, next with her hands she arranged the shining and lovely and ambrosial curls along her immortal head, and dressed in an ambrosial robe that Athene had made her carefully, smooth, and with many figures upon it, and pinned it across her breast with a golden brooch, and circled her waist about with a zone that floated a hundred tassels, and in the lobes of her carefully pierced ears she put rings with triple drops in mulberry clusters, radiant with beauty, and, lovely among goddesses, she veiled her head downward with a sweet fresh veil that glimmered pale like the sunlight. Underneath her shining feet she bound on the fair sandals. Now, when she had clothed her body in all this loveliness, she went out from the chamber, and called aside Aphrodite to come away from the rest of the gods, and spoke a word to her: 'Would you do something for me, dear child, if I were to ask you? Or would you refuse it? Are you forever angered against me because I defend the Danaans, while you help the Trojans?'

Then the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, answered her: 'Hera, honoured goddess, daughter to mighty Kronos, speak forth whatever is in your mind. My heart is urgent to do it if I can, and if it is a thing that can be accomplished.'

Then, with false lying purpose the lady Hera answered her: 'Give me loveliness and desirability, graces with which you overwhelm mortal men, and all the immortals. Since I go now to the ends of the generous earth, on a visit to Okeanos, whence the gods have risen, and Tethys our mother who brought me up kindly in their own house, and cared for me and took me from Rheia, at that time when Zeus of the wide brows drove Kronos underneath the earth and the barren water. I shall go to visit these, and resolve their division of discord, since now for a long time they have stayed apart from each other and from the bed of love, since rancour has entered their feelings. Could I win over with persuasion the dear heart within them and bring them back to their bed to be merged in love with each other I shall be forever called honoured by them, and beloved.'

Then in turn Aphrodite the laughing answered her: 'I cannot, and I must not deny this thing that you ask for, you, who lie in the arms of Zeus, since he is our greatest.'

She spoke, and from her breasts unbound the elaborate, pattern-pierced zone, and on it are figured all beguilements, and loveliness is figured upon it, and passion of sex is there, and the whispered endearment that steals the heart away even from the thoughtful. She put this in Hera's hands, and called her by name and spoke to her: 'Take this zone, and hide it away in the fold of your bosom. It is elaborate, all things are figured therein. And I think whatever is your heart's desire shall not go unaccomplished.'

So she spoke, and the ox-eyed lady Hera smiled on her and smiling hid the zone away in the fold of her bosom.

So Aphrodite went back into the house, Zeus' daughter, while Hera in a flash of speed left the horn of Olympos and crossed over Pieria and Emathia the lovely and overswept the snowy hills of the Thracian riders and their uttermost pinnacles, nor touched the ground with her feet. Then from Athos she crossed over the heaving main sea and came to Lemnos, and to the city of godlike Thoas. There she encountered Sleep, the brother of Death. She clung fast to his hand and spoke a word and called him by name: 'Sleep, lord over all mortal men and all gods, if ever before now you listened to word of mine, so now also do as I ask; and all my days I shall know gratitude. Put to sleep the shining eyes of Zeus under his brows as soon as I have lain beside him in love. I will give you gifts; a lovely throne, imperishable forever, of gold. My own son, he of the strong arms, Hephaistos, shall make it with careful skill and make for your feet a footstool on which you can rest your shining feet when you take your pleasure.'

Then Sleep the still and soft spoke to her in answer: 'Hera, honoured goddess and daughter of mighty Kronos, any other one of the gods, whose race is immortal, I would lightly put to sleep, even the stream of that River Okeanos, whence is risen the seed of all the immortals. But I would not come too close to Zeus, the son of Kronos, nor put him to sleep, unless when he himself were to tell me. Before now, it was a favour to you that taught me wisdom, on the day Herakles, the high-hearted son of Zeus, was sailing from Ilion, when he had utterly sacked the city of the Trojans. That time I laid to sleep the brain in Zeus of the aegis and drifted upon him still and soft, but your mind was devising evil, and you raised along the sea the blasts of the racking winds, and on these swept him away to Kos, the strong-founded, with all his friends lost, but Zeus awakened in anger and beat the gods up and down his house, looking beyond all others for me, and would have sunk me out of sight in the sea from the bright sky had not Night who has power over gods and men rescued me. I reached her in my flight, and Zeus let be, though he was angry in awe of doing anything to swift Night's displeasure. Now you ask me to do this other impossible thing for you.'

Then in turn the lady ox-eyed Hera answered him: 'Sleep, why do you ponder this in your heart, and hesitate? Or do you think that Zeus of the wide brows, aiding the Trojans, will be angry as he was angry for his son, Herakles? Come now, do it, and I will give you one of the younger Graces for you to marry, and she shall be called your lady; Pasithea, since all your days you have loved her forever.'

So she spoke, and Sleep was pleased and spoke to her in answer: 'Come then! Swear it to me on Styx' ineluctable water. With one hand take hold of the prospering earth, with the other take hold of the shining salt sea, so that all the undergods who gather about Kronos may be witnesses to us. Swear that you will give me one of the younger Graces, Pasithea, the one whom all my days I have longed for.'

He spoke, nor failed to persuade the goddess Hera of the white arms, and she swore as he commanded, and called by their names on all those gods who live beneath the Pit, and who are called Titans. Then when she had sworn this, and made her oath a complete thing, the two went away from Lemnos, and the city of Imbros, and mantled themselves in mist, and made their way very lightly till they came to Ida with all her springs, the mother of wild beasts, to Lekton, where first they left the water, and went on over dry land, and with their feet the top of the forest was shaken. There Sleep stayed, before the eyes of Zeus could light on him, and went up aloft a towering pine tree, the one that grew tallest at that time on Ida, and broke through the close air to the aether. In this he sat, covered over and hidden by the pine branches, in the likeness of a singing bird whom in the mountains the immortal gods call chalkis, but men call him kymindis.

But Hera light-footed made her way to the peak of Gargaros on towering Ida. And Zeus who gathers the clouds saw her, and when he saw her desire was a mist about his close heart as much as on that time they first went to bed together and lay in love, and their dear parents knew nothing of it. He stood before her and called her by name and spoke to her: 'Hera, what is your desire that you come down here from Olympos? And your horses are not here, nor your chariot, which you would ride in.'

Then with false lying purpose the lady Hera answered him: 'I am going to the ends of the generous earth, on a visit to Okeanos, whence the gods have risen, and Tethys our mother, who brought me up kindly in their own house, and cared for me. I shall go to visit these, and resolve their division of discord, since now for a long time they have stayed apart from each other and from the bed of love, since rancour has entered their feelings. In the foothills by Ida of the waters are standing my horses, who will carry me over hard land and water. Only now I have come down here from Olympos for your sake so you will not be angry with me afterwards, if I have gone silently to the house of deep-running Okeanos.'

Then in turn Zeus who gathers the clouds answered her: 'Hera, there will be a time afterwards when you can go there as well. But now let us go to bed and turn to love-making. For never before has love for any goddess or woman so melted about the heart inside me, broken it to submission, as now: not that time when I loved the wife of Ixion who bore me Peirithoös, equal of the gods in counsel, nor when I loved Akrisios' daughter, sweet-stepping Danaë, who bore Perseus to me, pre-eminent among all men, nor when I loved the daughter of far-renowned Phoinix, Europa who bore Minos to me, and Rhadamanthys the godlike; not when I loved Semele, or Alkmene in Thebe, when Alkmene bore me a son, Herakles the strong-hearted, while Semele's son was Dionysos, the pleasure of mortals; not when I loved the queen Demeter of the lovely tresses, not when it was glorious Leto, nor yourself, so much as now I love you, and the sweet passion has taken hold of me.'

Then with false lying purpose the lady Hera answered him: 'Most honoured son of Kronos, what sort of thing have you spoken? If now your great desire is to lie in love together here on the peaks of Ida, everything can be seen. Then what would happen if some one of the gods everlasting saw us sleeping, and went and told all the other immortals of it? I would not simply rise out of bed and go back again, into your house, and such a thing would be shameful. No, if this is your heart's desire, if this is your wish, then there is my chamber, which my beloved son Hephaistos has built for me, and closed the leaves in the door-posts snugly. We can go back there and lie down, since bed is your pleasure.'

Then in turn Zeus who gathers the clouds answered her: 'Hera, do not fear that any mortal or any god will see, so close shall be the golden cloud that I gather about us. Not even Helios can look at us through it, although beyond all others his light has the sharpest vision.'

So speaking, the son of Kronos caught his wife in his arms. There underneath them the divine earth broke into young, fresh grass, and into dewy clover, crocus and hyacinth so thick and soft it held the hard ground deep away from them. There they lay down together and drew about them a golden wonderful cloud, and from it the glimmering dew descended.

So the father slept unshaken on the peak of Gargaron with his wife in his arms, when sleep and passion had stilled him; but gently Sleep went on the run to the ships of the Achaians with a message to tell him who circles the earth and shakes it, Poseidon, and stood close to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Poseidon, now with all your heart defend the Danaans and give them glory, though only for a little, while Zeus still sleeps; since I have mantled a soft slumber about him and Hera beguiled him into sleeping in love beside her.'

He spoke so, and went away among the famed races of men, and stirred Poseidon even more to defend the Danaans. He sprang among their foremost and urged them on in a great voice: 'Argives, now once more must we give the best of it to Hektor, Priam's son, so he may take our ships and win glory from them? Such is his thought and such is his prayer, because now Achilleus in the anger of his heart stays still among the hollow ships. But there will not be too much longing for him, if the others of us can stir ourselves up to stand by each other. Come; then, do as I say, let us all be won over; let us take those shields which are best in all the army and biggest and put them on, and cover our heads in the complete shining of helmets, and take in our hands our spears that are longest and go. I myself will lead the way, and I think that no longer Hektor, Priam's son, can stand up to us, for all his fury. Let the man stubborn in battle who wears a small shield on his shoulder give it to a worse man, and put on the shield that is bigger.'

So he spoke, and they listened hard to him, and obeyed him. The kings in person marshalled these men, although they were wounded, Tydeus' son, and Odysseus, and Atreus' son Agamemnon. They went among all, and made them exchange their armour of battle, and the good fighter put on the good armour, and each gave the worse gear to the worse. Then when in the shining bronze they had shrouded their bodies they went forward, and Poseidon the shaker of the earth led them holding in his heavy hand the stark sword with the thin edge glittering, as glitters the thunderflash none may close with by right in sorrowful division, but fear holds all men back. On the other side glorious Hektor ordered the Trojans, and now Poseidon of the dark hair and glorious Hektor strained to its deadliest the division of battle, the one bringing power to the Trojans, and the god to the Argives. The breaking of the sea washed up to the ships and the shelters of the Argives. The two sides closed together with a great war cry. Not such is the roaring against dry land of the sea's surf as it rolls in from the open under the hard blast of the north wind; not such is the bellowing of fire in its blazing in the deep places of the hills when it rises inflaming the forest, nor such again the crying voice of the wind in the deep-haired oaks, when it roars highest in its fury against them, not so loud as now the noise of Achaians and Trojans in voice of terror rose as they drove against one another.

First glorious Hektor made a cast with his spear at Aias since he had turned straight against him, nor missed with his throw but struck, there where over his chest were crossed the two straps, one for the sword with the silver nails, and one for the great shield. These guarded the tenderness of his skin. And Hektor, in anger because his weapon had been loosed from his hand in a vain cast, to avoid death shrank into the host of his own companions. But as he drew away huge Telamonian Aias caught up a rock; there were many, holding-stones for the fast ships, rolled among the feet of the fighters; he caught up one of these and hit him in the chest next the throat over his shield rim, and spun him around like a top with the stroke, so that he staggered in a circle; as a great oak goes down root-torn under Zeus father's stroke, and a horrible smell of sulphur uprises from it, and there is no courage left in a man who stands by and looks on, for the thunderstroke of great Zeus is a hard thing; so Hektor in all his strength dropped suddenly in the dust, let fall the spear from his hand, and his shield was beaten upon him, and the helm, and his armour elaborate with bronze clashed over him. Screaming aloud the sons of the Achaians ran forward in hope to drag him away, and threw their volleying javelins against him, yet no man could stab or cast at the shepherd of the people; sooner the Trojans' bravest gathered about him, Aineias, and Poulydamas, and brilliant Agenor, Sarpedon, lord of the Lykians, and Glaukos the blameless; and of the rest no man was heedless of him, but rather sloped the strong circles of their shields over him, while his companions caught him in their arms out of the fighting and reached his fast-footed horses, where they stood to the rear of the fighting and the battle holding their charioteer and the elaborate chariot, and these carried him, groaning heavily, back toward the city.

But when they came to the crossing place of the fair-running river, of whirling Xanthos, whose father was Zeus the immortal, they moved him from behind his horses to the ground, and splashed water over him. He got his wind again, and his eyes cleared, and he got up to lean on one knee and vomit a dark clot of blood, then lay back on the ground again, while over both eyes dark night misted. His strength was still broken by the stone's stroke.

But the Argives, when they saw Hektor withdrawing from them, remembered once again their warcraft and turned on the Trojans. There far before them all swift Aias son of Oïleus made an outrush, and stabbed with the sharp spear Satnios, Enops' son, whom the perfect naiad nymph had borne once to Enops, as he tended his herds by Satnioeis river. The spear-famed son of Oïleus, coming close to this man, stabbed him in the flank so that he knocked him backward, and over him Trojans and Danaans closed together in strong encounter. Poulydamas of the shaken spear came up to stand by him, Panthoös'son, and struck in the right shoulder Prothoënor son of Areïlykos, and the powerful spear was driven through the shoulder, and he dropping in the dust clawed the ground in his fingers. Poulydamas vaunted terribly over him, calling in a great voice: 'I think this javelin leaping from the heavy hand of Panthoös' high-hearted son was not thrown away in a vain cast. Rather some Argive caught it in his skin. I think he has got it for a stick to lean on as he trudges down into Death's house.'

He spoke, and sorrow came over the Argives at his vaunting, and beyond others he stirred the anger in wise Telamonian Aias, for the man had fallen closest to him, and at once he made a cast with the shining spear at returning Poulydamas. But Poulydamas himself avoided the dark death with a quick spring to one side, and Archelochos son of Antenor caught the spear, since the immortal gods had doomed his destruction. He hit him at the joining place of head and neck, at the last vertebra, and cut through both of the tendons, so that the man's head and mouth and nose hit the ground far sooner than did the front of his legs and knees as he fell. And Aias spoke aloud in answer to unfaulted Poulydamas: 'Think over this, Poulydamas, and answer me truly. Is not this man's death against Prothoënor's a worthwhile exchange? I think he is no mean man, nor born of mean fathers, but is some brother of Antenor, breaker of horses, or his son; since he is close in blood by the look of him.' He spoke, knowing well what he said, and sorrow fastened on the Trojans. There Akamas, bestriding his brother, stabbed the Boiotian Promachos with the spear as he tried to drag off the body. Akamas vaunted terribly over him, calling in a great voice: 'You Argives, arrow-fighters, insatiate of menace. I think we shall not be the only ones to be given hard work and sorrow, but you too must sometimes die, as this man did. Think how Promachos sleeps among you, beaten down under my spear, so that punishment for my brother may not go long unpaid. Therefore a man prays he will leave behind him one close to him in his halls to avenge his downfall in battle.'

He spoke, and sorrow came over the Argives at his vaunting, and beyond others he stirred the anger in wise Peneleos. He charged Akamas, who would not stand up against the onset of lord Peneleos. He then stabbed with the spear Ilioneus the son of Phorbas the rich in sheepflocks, whom beyond all men of the Trojans Hermes loved, and gave him possessions. Ilioneus was the only child his mother had borne him. This man Peneleos caught underneath the brow, at the bases of the eye, and pushed the eyeball out, and the spear went clean through the eye-socket and tendon of the neck, so that he went down backward, reaching out both hands, but Peneleos drawing his sharp sword hewed at the neck in the middle, and so dashed downward the head, with helm upon it, while still on the point of the big spear the eyeball stuck. He, lifting it high like the head of a poppy, displayed it to the Trojans and spoke vaunting over it: 'Trojans, tell haughty Ilioneus' beloved father and mother, from me, that they can weep for him in their halls, since neither shall the wife of Promachos, Alegenor's son, take pride of delight in her dear lord's coming, on that day when we sons of the Achaians come home from Troy in our vessels.'

So he spoke, and the shivers came over the limbs of all of them, and each man looked about him for a way to escape the sheer death.

Tell me now, you Muses who have your homes on Olympos, who was first of the Achaians to win the bloody despoilment of men, when the glorious shaker of the earth bent the way of the battle? First Telamonian Aias cut down Hyrtios, he who was son to Gyrtios, and lord over the strong-hearted Mysians. Antilochos slaughtered Phalkes and Mermeros. Morys and Hippotion were killed by Meriones. Teukros cut down Periphetes and Prothoön. Next the son of Atreus, Menelaos, stabbed Hyperenor, shepherd of the people, in the flank, so the bronze head let gush out the entrails through the torn side. His life came out through the wound of the spearstab in beating haste, and a mist of darkness closed over both eyes. But Aias the fast-footed son of Oïleus caught and killed most, since there was none like him in the speed of his feet to go after men who ran, once Zeus had driven the terror upon them.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 15

 But after they had crossed back over the ditch and the sharp stakes in flight, and many had gone down under the hands of the Danaans, they checked about once more and stood their ground by the chariots, green for fear and terrified. But now Zeus wakened by Hera of the gold throne on the high places of Ida, and stood suddenly upright, and saw the Achaians and Trojans, these driven to flight, the others harrying them in confusion, these last Argives, and saw among them the lord Poseidon. He saw Hektor lying in the plain, his companions sitting around him, he dazed at the heart and breathing painfully, vomiting blood, since not the weakest Achaian had hit him. Then the father of gods and men seeing Hektor pitied him and looked scowling terribly at Hera, and spoke a word to her: 'Hopeless one, it was your evil design, your treachery, Hera, that stayed brilliant Hektor from battle, terrified his people. I do not know, perhaps for this contrivance of evil and pain you will win first reward when I lash you with whip strokes. Do you not remember that time you hung from high and on your feet I slung two anvils, and about your hands drove a golden chain, unbreakable. You among the clouds and the bright sky hung, nor could the gods about tall Olympos endure it and stood about, but could not set you free. If I caught one I would seize and throw him from the threshold, until he landed stunned on the earth, yet even so the weariless agony for Herakles the godlike would not let go my spirit. You with the north wind's aid winning over the stormwinds drove him on across the desolate sea in evil intention and then on these swept him away to Kos, the strong-founded. I myself rescued him there and brought him back once more to horse-pasturing Argos, when he had been through much hardship. I will remind you of all this, so you will give up your deceptions, see if your love-making in bed will help you, that way you lay with me apart from the gods, and deceived me.'

He spoke, and the lady the ox-eyed goddess Hera was frightened and she spoke to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Now let Earth be my witness in this, and the wide heaven above us, and the dripping water of the Styx, which oath is the biggest and most formidable oath among the blessed immortals. The sanctity of your head be witness, and the bed of marriage between us: a thing by which I at least could never swear vainly. It is not through my will that the shaker of the earth Poseidon afflicts the Trojans and Hektor and gives aid to the others, but it is his own passion that urges him to it and drives him. He saw the Achaians hard pressed beside their ships, and pitied them. No, but I myself also would give him counsel to go with you, o dark clouded, that way that you lead us.'

She spoke, and now the father of gods and men smiled on her and spoke again in answer to her, and addressed her in winged words: 'If even you, lady Hera of the ox eyes, hereafter were to take your place among the immortals thinking as I do, then Poseidon, hard though he may wish it otherwise, must at once turn his mind so it follows your heart, and my heart. If now all this that you say is real, and you speak truthfully, go now among the generations of the gods, and summon Iris to come here to me, and Apollo the glorious archer, so that Iris may go among the bronze-armoured people of the Achaians, and give a message to lord Poseidon to leave the fighting and come back to the home that is his. Also let Phoibos Apollo stir Hektor back into battle, breathe strength into him once more, and make him forget the agonies that now are wearing out his senses. Let him drive strengthless panic into the Achaians, and turn them back once more; let them be driven in flight and tumble back on the benched ships of Achilleus, Peleus' son. And he shall rouse up Patroklos his companion. And glorious Hektor shall cut down Patroklos with the spear before Ilion, after he has killed many others of the young men, and among them my own son, shining Sarpedon. In anger for him brilliant Achilleus shall then kill Hektor. And from then on I would make the fighting surge back from the vessels always and continuously, until the Achaians capture headlong Ilion through the designs of Athene. Before this I am not stopping my anger, and I will not let any other of the immortals stand there by the Danaans until the thing asked by the son of Peleus has been accomplished as I undertook at the first and bent my head in assent to it on that day when embracing my knees immortal Thetis supplicated honour for Achilleus, sacker of cities.'

He spoke, and the goddess of the white arms Hera did not disobey him but went back to tall Olympos from the mountains of Ida. As the thought flashes in the mind of a man who, traversing much territory, thinks of things in the mind's awareness, 'I wish I were this place, or this', and imagines many things; so rapidly in her eagerness winged Hera, a goddess. She came to sheer Olympos and entered among the assembled immortal gods in the house of Zeus, and they seeing her rose all to swarm about her and lifted their cups in greeting. But Hera passed by the others and accepted a cup from Themis of the fair cheeks, since she had first come running to greet her and had spoken to her and addressed her in winged words: 'Hera, why have you come? You seem like one who has been terrified. I know, it was the son of Kronos, your husband, frightened you.'

In turn the goddess Hera of the white arms answered her: 'Ask me nothing of this, divine Themis. You yourself know what his spirit is, how it is stubborn and arrogant. Preside still over the gods in their house, the feast's fair division. Yet so much may you hear, and with you all the immortals, how Zeus discloses evil actions, and I do not think the heart of all will be pleasured alike, neither among mortals nor gods either, although one now still feasts at his pleasure.'

The lady Hera spoke so and sat down, and the gods about the house of Zeus were troubled. Hera was smiling with her lips, but above the dark brows her forehead was not at peace. She spoke before them all in vexation: 'Fools, we who try to work against Zeus, thoughtlessly. Still we are thinking in our anger to go near, and stop him by argument or force. He sits apart and cares nothing nor thinks of us, and says that among the other immortals he is pre-eminently the greatest in power and strength. Therefore each of you must take whatever evil he sends you. Since I think already a sorrow has been wrought against Ares. His son has been killed in the fighting, dearest of all men to him, Askalaphos, whom stark Ares calls his own son.'

So she spoke. Then Ares struck against both his big thighs with the flats of his hands, and spoke a word of anger and sorrow: 'Now, you who have your homes on Olympos, you must not blame me for going among the ships of the Achaians, and avenging my son's slaughter, even though it be my fate to be struck by Zeus' thunderbolt, and sprawl in the blood and dust by the dead men.'

So he spoke, and ordered Fear and Terror to harness his horses, and himself got into his shining armour. And there might have been wrought another anger, and bitterness from Zeus, still greater, more wearisome among the immortals, had not Athene, in her fear for the sake of all gods, sprung up and out through the forecourt, left her chair where she was sitting, and taken the helmet off from his head, the shield from his shoulders, and snatched out of his heavy hand the bronze spear, and fixed it apart, and then in speech reasoned with violent Ares: 'Madman, mazed of your wits, this is ruin! Your ears can listen still to reality, but your mind is gone and your discipline. Do you not hear what the goddess Hera of the white arms tells us, and she coming back even now from Zeus of Olympos? Do you wish, after running the course of many misfortunes yourself, still to come back to Olympos under compulsion though reluctant, and plant seed of great sorrow among the rest of us? Since he will at once leave the Achaians and the high-hearted Trojans, and come back to batter us on Olympos and will catch up as they come the guilty one and the guiltless. Therefore I ask of you to give up your anger for your son. By now some other, better of his strength and hands than your son was, has been killed, or will soon be killed; and it is a hard thing to rescue all the generation and seed of all mortals.' So she spoke, and seated on a chair violent Ares. But Hera called to come with her outside the house Apollo and Iris, who is messenger among the immortal gods, and spoke to them and addressed them in winged words: 'Zeus wishes both of you to go to him with all speed, at Ida; but when you have come there and looked upon Zeus' countenance, then you must do whatever he urges you, and his orders.'

So the lady Hera spoke, and once more returning sat on her throne. They in a flash of speed winged their way onward. They came to Ida with all her springs, the mother of wild beasts, and found the wide-browed son of Kronos on the height of Gargaron, sitting still, and fragrant cloud gathered in a circle about him. These two came into the presence of Zeus the cloud-gatherer and stood, nor was his heart angry when he looked upon them, seeing they had promptly obeyed the message of his dear lady. He spoke to Iris first of the two, and addressed her in winged words: 'Go on your way now, swift Iris, to the lord Poseidon, and give him all this message nor be a false messenger. Tell him that he must now quit the war and the fighting, and go back among the generations of gods, or into the bright sea. And if he will not obey my words, or thinks nothing of them, then let him consider in his heart and his spirit that he might not, strong though he is, be able to stand up to my attack; since I say I am far greater than he is in strength, and elder born; yet his inward heart shrinks not from calling himself the equal of me, though others shudder before me.'

He spoke, and swift wind-footed Iris did not disobey him but went down along the hills of Ida to sacred Ilion. As those times when out of the clouds the snow or the hail whirls cold beneath the blast of the north wind born in the bright air, so rapidly in her eagerness winged Iris, the swift one, and stood beside the famed shaker of the earth, and spoke to him: 'I have a certain message for you, dark-haired, earth-encircler, and came here to bring it to you from Zeus of the aegis. His order is that you quit the war and the fighting, and go back among the generations of gods, or into the bright sea. And if you will not obey his words, or think nothing of them, his threat is that he himself will come to fight with you here, strength against strength, but warns you to keep from under his hands, since he says he is far greater than you are in strength, and elder born. Yet your inward heart shrinks not from calling yourself the equal of him, though others shudder before him.'

Then deeply vexed the famed shaker of the earth spoke to her: 'No, no. Great though he is, this that he has said is too much, if he will force me against my will, me, who am his equal in rank. Since we are three brothers born by Rheia to Kronos, Zeus, and I, and the third is Hades, lord of the dead men. All was divided among us three ways, each given his domain. I when the lots were shaken drew the grey sea to live in forever; Hades drew the lot of the mists and the darkness, and Zeus was allotted the wide sky, in the cloud and the bright air. But earth and high Olympos are common to all three. Therefore I am no part of the mind of Zeus. Let him in tranquillity and powerful as he is stay satisfied with his third share. And let him absolutely stop frightening me, as if I were mean, with his hands. It were better to keep for the sons and the daughters he got himself these blusterings and these threats of terror. They will listen, because they must, to whatever he tells them.'

Then in turn swift wind-footed Iris answered him: 'Am I then to carry, o dark-haired, earth-encircler, this word, which is strong and steep, back to Zeus from you? Or will you change a little? The hearts of the great can be changed. You know the Furies, how they forever side with the elder.'

Then in turn the shaker of the earth Poseidon spoke to her: 'Now this, divine Iris, was a word quite properly spoken. It is a fine thing when a messenger is conscious of justice. But this thing comes as a bitter sorrow to my heart and my spirit, when Zeus tries in words of anger to reprimand one who is his equal in station, and endowed with destiny like his. Still, this time I will give way, for all my vexation. But I will say this also, and make it a threat in my anger. If ever, acting apart from me and Athene the spoiler, apart from Hera and Hermes and the lord Hephaistos, he shall spare headlong Ilion, and shall not be willing to take it by storm, and bestow great victory on the Argives, let him be sure, there will be no more healing of our anger.'

The shaker of the earth spoke, and left the Achaian people, and went, merging in the sea, and the fighting Achaians longed for him.

After this Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to Apollo: 'Go now, beloved Phoibos, to the side of brazen-helmed Hektor, since by this he who encircles the earth and shakes it is gone into the bright sea and has avoided the anger that would be ours. In truth, this would have been a fight those other gods would have heard about, who gather to Kronos beneath us. Now this way it was far better for me, and for himself also, that, for all his vexation before, he gave way to my hands. We would have sweated before this business was finished. Now yourself take up in your hands the aegis with fluttering tassels, and shake it hard to scare the Achaian fighters. Then, striker from afar, let your own concern be glorious Hektor. So long waken the huge strength in him, until the Achaians run in flight, and come to the ships and the crossing of Helle. From there on I myself shall think of the word and the action to make the Achaians get wind once more, after their hard fighting.'

He spoke so, and Apollo, not disregarding his father, came down along the mountains of Ida in the likeness of a rapid hawk, the dove's murderer and swiftest of all things flying. He found brilliant Hektor, the son of wise Priam, sitting now, no longer sprawled, as he gathered new strength back into him and recognized his companions about him. The sweat and hard breathing had begun to stop, once the will in Zeus of the aegis wakened him. Apollo who works from afar stood beside him, and spoke to him: 'Hektor, son of Priam, why do you sit in such weakness here apart from the others? Did some disaster befall you?'

In his weakness Hektor of the shining helm spoke to him: 'Who are you, who speak to me face to face, o noblest of gods? Did you not know how by the Achaians' grounded ships, Aias of the great war cry struck me in the chest with a boulder as I slaughtered his companions, and stayed my furious valour? Truly, I thought that on this day I would come to the corpses and the house of the death god, once I had breathed the inward life from me.'

In turn the lord, the worker from afar, Apollo, spoke to him: 'Take heart; such an avenger am I whom the son of Kronos sent down from Ida, to stand by your side and defend you, Phoibos Apollo of the golden sword, who in time before this also have stood to defend yourself and your sheer citadel. So come now, and urge on your cavalry in their numbers to drive on their horses against the hollow ships. Meanwhile I shall move on before you and make all the way for the horses smooth before them, and bend back the Achaian fighters.' He spoke, and breathed huge strength into the shepherd of the people. As when some stalled horse who has been corn-fed at the manger breaking free of his rope gallops over the plain in thunder to his accustomed bathing place in a sweet-running river and in the pride of his strength holds high his head and the mane floats over his shoulders; sure of his glorious strength, the quick knees carry him to the loved places and the pasture of horses; so Hektor moving rapidly his feet and his knees went onward, stirring the horsemen when he heard the god's voice speak. And as when men who live in the wilds and their dogs have driven into flight a horned stag or a wild goat. Inaccessible the rocky cliff or the shadowed forest has covered the quarry so that the men know it was not their fortune to take him; and now by their clamouring shows in the way a great bearded lion, and bends them to sudden flight for all their eagerness; so the Danaans until that time kept always in close chase assembled, stabbing at them with swords and leaf-headed spears, but when they saw Hektor once more ranging the men's ranks they were frightened, and by their feet collapsed all their bravery.

Now Thoas spoke forth among them, the son of Andraimon, far the best of the Aitolians, one skilled in the spear's throw and brave in close fight. In assembly few of the Achaians when the young men contended in debate could outdo him. He in kind intention now spoke forth and addressed them: 'Can this be? Here is a strange thing I see with my own eyes, how this Hektor has got to his feet once more, and eluded the death spirits. I think in each of us the heart had high hope he was killed under the hands of Telamonian Aias. Now some one of the gods has come to his help and rescued Hektor, who has unstrung the knees of so many Danaans. I think he will do it once more now. It is not without Zeus the deep-thundering that he stands their champion in all this fury. Come then, let us do as I say, let us all be persuaded. Let us tell the multitude to make its way back toward the vessels while we ourselves, who claim we are greatest in all the army, stand, and see if we can face him first, and hold him off from them with spears lifted against him, and I think for all of his fury his heart will be afraid to plunge into our Danaan company.'

So he spoke, and they listened to him with care, and obeyed him. They who rallied about Aias, the lord Idomeneus, Teukros, Meriones, and Meges, a man like the war god, closed their order for hard impact, calling on the bravest to face Hektor and the Trojans. Meanwhile behind them the multitude made their way back toward the ships of the Achaians.

The Trojans came down on them in a pack, and Hektor led them in long strides, and in front of him went Phoibos Apollo wearing a mist about his shoulders, and held the tempestuous terrible aegis, shaggy, conspicuous, that the bronze-smith Hephaistos had given Zeus to wear to the terror of mortals. Gripping this in both hands he led on the Trojan people.

But the Argives stood in close order against them, and the battle cry rose up in a thin scream from either side, the arrows from the bowstrings jumping, while from violent hands the numerous thrown spears were driven, some deep in the bodies of quick-stirring young men, while many in the space between before they had got to the white skin stood fast in the ground, though they had been straining to reach the bodies. So long as Phoibos Apollo held stilled in his hands the aegis, so long the thrown weapons of both took hold, and men dropped under them. But when he stared straight into the eyes of the fast-mounted Danaans and shook the aegis, and himself gave a great baying cry, the spirit inside them was mazed to hear it, they forgot their furious valour. And they, as when in the dim of the black night two wild beasts stampede a herd of cattle or big flock of sheep, falling suddenly upon them, when no herdsman is by, the Achaians fled so in their weakness and terror, since Apollo drove terror upon them, and gave the glory to the Trojans and Hektor. There man killed man all along the scattered encounter. Hektor first killed Stichios and Arkesilaos, one the leader of the bronze-armoured Boiotians, the other trusted companion in arms of great-hearted Menestheus. But Aineias slaughtered Medon and Iasos. Of these Medon was a bastard son of godlike Oïleus and therefore brother of Aias, but had made his home in Phylake away from the land of his fathers, having killed a man, a relation of Eriopis, his stepmother, the wife of Oileus. Iasos was a leader appointed of the Athenians, and was called the son of Sphelos, the son of Boukolos. Poulydamas killed Mekisteus, and Polites Echios in the first onfall, and brilliant Agenor cut down Klonios. Paris struck Deïochos from behind at the shoulder's base, as he ran away through the front ranks, and drove the bronze clean through.

While these stripped the armour from their men, meanwhile the Achaians blundering about the deep-dug ditch and the sharp stakes ran this way and that in terror, forced into their rampart. But Hektor called aloud in a piercing cry to the Trojans: 'Make hard for the ships, let the bloody spoils be. That man I see in the other direction apart from the vessels, I will take care that he gets his death, and that man's relations neither men nor women shall give his dead body the rite of burning. In the space before our city the dogs shall tear him to pieces.'

So speaking with a whipstroke from the shoulder he lashed on his horses calling across the ranks to the Trojans, who along with him all cried aloud as they steered the horses who pulled their chariots, with inhuman clamour, and in front of them Phoibos Apollo easily, kicking them with his feet, tumbled the banked edges of the deep ditch into the pit between, and bridged over a pathway both wide and long, about as long as the force of a spearcast goes when a man has thrown it to try his strength. They streamed over in massed formation, with Apollo in front of them holding the tremendous aegis, and wrecked the bastions of the Achaians easily, as when a little boy piles sand by the sea-shore when in his innocent play he makes sand towers to amuse him and then, still playing, with hands and feet ruins them and wrecks them. So you, lord Apollo, piled in confusion much hard work and painful done by the Argives and drove terror among them.

So they reined in and stood fast again beside their ships, calling aloud upon each other, and to all of the gods, uplifting their hands each man of them cried out his prayers in a great voice, and beyond others Gerenian Nestor, the Achaians' watcher, prayed, reaching out both arms to the starry heavens: 'Father Zeus, if ever in wheat-deep Argos one of us burning before you the rich thigh pieces of sheep or ox prayed he would come home again, and you nodded your head and assented, remember this, Olympian, save us from the day without pity; let not the Achaians be beaten down like this by the Trojans.'

So he spoke in prayer, and Zeus of the counsels thundered a great stroke, hearing the prayer of the old man, the son of Neleus.

But the Trojans, hearing the thunderstroke of Zeus of the aegis, remembered even more their warcraft, and sprang on the Argives. They, as when the big waves on the sea wide-wandering wash across the walls of a ship underneath the leaning force of the wind, which particularly piles up the big waves, so the Trojans with huge clamour went over the rampart and drove their horses to fight alongside the grounded vessels, with leaf-headed spears, some at close quarters, others from their horses. But the Achaians climbing high on their black ships fought from them with long pikes that lay among the hulls for sea fighting, shrouded about the heads in bronze that was soldered upon them.

Meanwhile Patroklos, all the time the Achaians and Trojans were fighting on both sides of the wall, far away from the fast ships, had sat all this time in the shelter of courtly Eurypylos and had been entertaining him with words and applying medicines that would mitigate the black pains to the sore wound. But when he saw the Trojans were sweeping over the rampart and the outcry and the noise of terror rose from the Danaans Patroklos groaned aloud then and struck himself on both thighs with the flats of his hands and spoke a word of lamentation: 'Eurypylos, much though you need me I cannot stay here longer with you. This is a big fight that has arisen. Now it is for your henchman to look after you, while I go in haste to Achilleus, to stir him into the fighting. Who knows if, with God helping, I might trouble his spirit by entreaty, since the persuasion of a friend is a strong thing.'

As he was speaking his feet carried him away. Meanwhile the Achaians stood steady against the Trojan attack, but they could not beat the enemy, fewer as they were, away from their vessels, nor again had the Trojans strength to break the battalions of the Danaans, and force their way into the ships and the shelters. But as a chalkline straightens the cutting of a ship's timber in the hands of an expert carpenter, who by Athene's inspiration is well versed in all his craft's subtlety, so the battles fought by both sides were pulled fast and even. Now by the ships others fought in their various places but Hektor made straight for glorious Aias. These two were fighting hard for a single ship, and neither was able, Hektor to drive Aias off the ship, and set fire to it, nor Aias to beat Hektor back, since the divinity drove him. Shining Aias struck with the spear Kaletor, Klytios' son, in the chest as he brought fire to the vessel. He fell, thunderously, and the torch dropped from his hand. Then Hektor, when his eyes were aware of his cousin fallen in the dust in front of the black ship, uplifting his voice in a great cry called to the Trojans and Lykians: 'Trojans, Lykians, Dardanians who fight at close quarters, do not anywhere in this narrow place give way from the fighting but stand by the son of Klytios, do not let the Achaians strip the armour from him, fallen where the ships are assembled.' So he spoke, and made a cast at Aias with the shining spear, but missed him and struck the son of Mastor, Lykophron, henchman of Aias from Kythera who had been living with him; for he had killed a man in sacred Kythera. Hektor struck him in the head above the ear with the sharp bronze as he stood next to Aias, so that Lykophron sprawling dropped from the ship's stern to the ground, and his strength was broken. And Aias shuddered at the sight, and spoke to his brother: 'See, dear Teukros, our true companion, the son of Mastor, is killed, who came to us from Kythera and in our household was one we honoured as we honoured our beloved parents. Now great-hearted Hektor has killed him. Where are your arrows of sudden death, and the bow that Phoibos Apollo gave you?'

He spoke, and Teukros heard and came running to stand beside him holding in his hand the backstrung bow and the quiver to hold arrows, and let go his hard shots against the Trojans. First he struck down Kleitos, the glorious son of Peisenor and companion of Poulydamas, proud son of Panthoös. Now Kleitos held the reins, and gave all his care to the horses, driving them into that place where the most battalions were shaken, for the favour of Hektor and the Trojans, but the sudden evil came to him, and none for all their desire could defend him, for the painful arrow was driven into his neck from behind him. He fell out of the chariot, and the fast-footed horses shied away, rattling the empty car; but Poulydamas their master saw it at once, and ran first to the heads of the horses. He gave them into the hands of Astynoös, Protiaon's son, with many orders to be watchful and hold the horses close; then himself went back into the ranks of the champions.

But Teukros picked up another arrow for bronze-helmed Hektor, and would have stopped his fighting by the ships of the Achaians had he hit him during his bravery and torn the life from him; but he was not hidden from the close purpose of Zeus, who was guarding Hektor, and denied that glory to Telamonian Teukros; who broke in the unfaulted bow the close-twisted sinew as Teukros drew it against him, so the bronze-weighted arrow went, as the bow dropped out of his hands, driven crazily sidewise. And Teukros shuddered at the sight, and spoke to his brother: 'See now, how hard the divinity cuts across the intention in all our battle, who struck the bow out of my hand, who has broken the fresh-twisted sinew of the bowstring I bound on this morning, so it would stand the succession of springing arrows.'

Then in turn huge Telamonian Aias answered him: 'Dear brother, then let your bow and your showering arrows lie, now that the god begrudging the Danaans wrecked them. But take a long spear in your hands, a shield on your shoulder, and close with the Trojans, and drive on the rest of your people. Let them not, though they have beaten us, easily capture our strong-benched ships. We must remember the frenzy of fighting.'

He spoke, and Teukros put away the bow in his shelter and threw across his shoulders the shield of the fourfold ox-hide. Over his mighty head he set the well-fashioned helmet with the horse-hair crest, and the plumes nodded terribly above it. Then he caught up a powerful spear, edged with sharp bronze, and went on his way, running fast, and stood beside Aias.

But Hektor, when he saw how the arrows of Teukros were baffled, lifted his voice in a great cry to the Trojans and Lykians: 'Trojans, Lykians, Dardanians who fight at close quarters, be men now, dear friends, remember your furious valour along the hollow ships, since I have seen with my own eyes how by the hand of Zeus their bravest man's arrows were baffled. Easily seen is the strength that is given from Zeus to mortals either in those into whose hands he gives the surpassing glory, or those he diminishes and will not defend them as now he diminishes the strength of the Argives, and helps us. Fight on then by the ships together. He who among you finds by spear thrown or spear thrust his death and destiny, let him die. He has no dishonour when he dies defending his country, for then his wife shall be saved and his children afterwards, and his house and property shall not be damaged, if the Achaians must go away with their ships to the beloved land of their fathers.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man. But Aias on the other side called to his companions: 'Shame, you Argives; here is the time of decision, whether we die, or live on still and beat back ruin from our vessels. Do you expect, if our ships fall to helm-shining Hektor, you will walk each of you back dryshod to the land of your fathers? Do you not hear how Hektor is stirring up all his people, how he is raging to set fire to our ships? He is not inviting you to come to a dance. He invites you to battle. For us there can be no design, no purpose, better than this one, to close in and fight with the strength of our hands at close quarters. Better to take in a single time our chances of dying or living, than go on being squeezed in the stark encounter right up against our ships, as now, by men worse than we are.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man. There Hektor killed the son of Perimedes, Schedios, lord of the men of Phokis; but Aias killed Laodamas, leader of the foot-soldiers, and shining son of Antenor. Then Poulydamas stripped Otos of Kyllene, companion to Meges, Phyleus' son, and a lord among the great-hearted Epeians. Meges seeing it lunged at him, but Poulydamas bent down and away, so that Meges missed him. Apollo would not let Panthoös' son go down among the front fighters, but Meges stabbed with the spear the middle of the chest of Kroismos. He fell, thunderously, and Meges was stripping the armour from his shoulders, but meanwhile Dolops lunged at him, Lampos' son, a man crafty with the spear and strongest of the sons born to Lampos, Laomedon's son, one skilled in furious fighting. He from close up stabbed with his spear at the shield of Phyleides in the middle, but the corselet he wore defended him, solid and built with curving plates of metal, which in days past Phyleus had taken home from Ephyra and the river Selleëis. A guest and friend had given him it, lord of men, Euphetes, to carry into the fighting and beat off the attack of the enemy, and now it guarded the body of his son from destruction. But Meges stabbed with the sharp spear at the uttermost summit of the brazen helmet thick with horse-hair, and tore off the mane of horse-hair from the helmet, so that it toppled groundward and lay in the dust in all its new shining of purple. Yet Dolops stood his ground and fought on, in hope still of winning, but meanwhile warlike Menelaos came to stand beside Meges, and came from the side and unobserved with his spear, and from behind threw at his shoulder, so the spear tore through his chest in its fury to drive on, so that Dolops reeled and went down, face forward. The two of them swept in to strip away from his shoulders the bronze armour, but Hektor called aloud to his brothers, the whole lot, but first scolded the son of Hiketaon, strong Melanippos. He in Perkote had tended his lumbering cattle, in the days before when the enemy were still far off; but when the oarswept ships of the Danaans came, then he returned to Ilion, and was a great man among the Trojans, and lived with Priam, who honoured him as he honoured his children. Now Hektor spoke a word and called him by name and scolded him: 'Shall we give way so, Melanippos? Does it mean nothing even to you in the inward heart that your cousin is fallen? Do you not see how they are busied over the armour of Dolops? Come on, then; no longer can we stand far off and fight with the Argives. Sooner we must kill them, or else sheer Ilion be stormed utterly by them, and her citizens be killed.'

He spoke, and led the way, and the other followed, a mortal godlike. But huge Telamonian Aias stirred on the Argives: 'Dear friends, be men; let shame be in your hearts, and discipline, and have consideration for each other in the strong encounters, since more come through alive when men consider each other, and there is no glory when they give way, nor warcraft either.'

He spoke, and they likewise grew furious in their defence, and put his word away in their hearts, and fenced in their vessels in a circle of bronze, but Zeus against them wakened the Trojans. Then Menelaos of the great war cry stirred on Antilochos: 'Antilochos, no other Achaian is younger than you are, nor faster on his feet, nor strong as you are in fighting. You could make an outrush and strike down some man of the Trojans.'

So speaking, he hastened back but stirred Antilochos onward, and he sprang forth from the champions and hefted the shining javelin, glaring round about him, and the Trojans gave way in the face of the man throwing with the spear. And he made no vain cast but struck Hiketaon's son, Melanippos the high-hearted, in the chest next to the nipple as he swept into the fighting. He fell, thunderously, and darkness closed over both eyes. Antilochos sprang forth against him, as a hound rushes against a stricken fawn that as he broke from his covert a hunter has shot at, and hit, and broken his limbs' strength. So Antilochos stubborn in battle sprang, Melanippos, at you, to strip your armour, but did not escape brilliant Hektor's notice, who came on the run through the fighting against him. Antilochos did not hold his ground, although a swift fighter, but fled away like a wild beast who has done some bad thing, one who has killed a hound or an ox-herd tending his cattle and escapes, before a gang of men has assembled against him; so Nestor's son ran away, and after him the Trojans and Hektor with unearthly clamour showered their groaning weapons against him. He turned and stood when he got into the swarm of his own companions.

But the Trojans in the likeness of ravening lions swept on against the ships, and were bringing to accomplishment Zeus' orders, who wakened always the huge strength in them, dazed the courage of the Argives, and denied their glory, and stirred on the others. Zeus' desire was to give glory to the son of Priam, Hektor, that he might throw on the curved ships the inhuman weariless strength of fire, and so make completely accomplished the prayer of Thetis. Therefore Zeus of the counsels waited the sight before his eyes of the flare, when a single ship burned. From thereon he would make the attack of the Trojans surge back again from the ships, and give the Danaans glory. With this in mind he drove on against the hollow ships Hektor, Priam's son, though Hektor without the god was in fury and raged, as when destructive fire or spear-shaking Ares rages among the mountains and dense places of the deep forest. A slaver came out around his mouth, and under the lowering brows his eyes were glittering, the helm on his temples was shaken and thundered horribly to the fighting of Hektor. Out of the bright sky Zeus himself was working to help him and among men so numerous he honoured this one man and glorified him, since Hektor was to have only a short life and already the day of his death was being driven upon him by Pallas Athene through the strength of Achilleus. And now he was probing the ranks of men, and trying to smash them, and made for where there were most men together, and the best armour. But even so he could not break them, for all his fury, for they closed into a wall and held him, like some towering huge sea-cliff that lies close along the grey salt water and stands up against the screaming winds and their sudden directions and against the waves that grow to bigness and burst up against it. So the Danaans stood steady against the Trojans, nor gave way. But he, lit about with flame on all sides, charged on their numbers and descended upon them as descends on a fast ship the battering wave storm-bred from beneath the clouds, and the ship goes utterly hidden under the foam, and the dangerous blast of the hurricane thunders against the sail, and the hearts of the seamen are shaken with fear, as they are carried only a little way out of death's reach. So the heart in the breast of each Achaian was troubled. Hektor came on against them, as a murderous lion on cattle who in the low-lying meadow of a great marsh pasture by hundreds, and among them a herdsman who does not quite know how to fight a wild beast off from killing a horn-curved ox, and keeps pace with the first and the last of the cattle always, but the lion making his spring at the middle eats an ox as the rest stampede; so now the Achaians fled in unearthly terror before father Zeus and Hektor, all, but he got one only, Periphetes of Mykenai, beloved son of Kopreus, who for the lord Eurystheus had gone often with messages to powerful Herakles. To him, a meaner father, was born a son who was better for all talents, in the speed of his feet and in battle and for intelligence counted among the first in Mykenai. Thereby now higher was the glory he granted to Hektor. For as he whirled about to get back, he fell over the out-rim of the shield he carried, which reached to his feet to keep the spears from him. Stumbling on this he went over on his back, and the helmet that circled his temples clashed horribly as he went down. Hektor saw it sharply, and ran up and stood beside him, and stuck the spear into his chest and killed him before the eyes of his dear friends, who for all their sorrowing could do nothing to help their companion, being themselves afraid of great Hektor.

Now they had got among the ships, and the ends were about them of the ships hauled up in the first line, but the Trojans swarmed on them. The Argives under force gave back from the first line of their ships, but along the actual shelters they rallied in a group, and did not scatter along the encampment. Shame held them and fear. They kept up a continuous call to each other, and beyond others Gerenian Nestor, the Achaians' watcher, supplicated each man by the knees for the sake of his parents. 'Dear friends, be men; let shame be in your hearts and discipline in the sight of other men, and each one of you remember his children and his wife, his property and his parents, whether a man's father and mother live or have died. Here now I supplicate your knees for the sake of those who are absent to stand strongly and not be turned to the terror of panic.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and heart in each man, and from their eyes Athene pushed the darkness immortal of mist, and the light came out hard against them on both sides whether they looked from the ships or from the closing of battle. They knew Hektor of the great war cry, they knew his companions whether they stood away behind and out of the fighting or whether alongside the fast ships they fought in the battle.

Nor did it still please great-hearted Aias to stand back where the other sons of the Achaians had taken position; but he went in huge strides up and down the decks of the vessels. He wielded in his hands a great pike for sea fighting, twenty-two cubits long and joined together by clinchers. And as a man who is an expert rider of horses who when he has chosen and coupled four horses out of many makes his way over the plain galloping toward a great city along the travelled road, and many turn to admire him, men or women, while he steadily and never slipping jumps and shifts his stance from one to another as they gallop; so Aias ranged crossing from deck to deck of the fast ships taking huge strides, and his voice went always up to the bright sky as he kept up a terrible bellow and urged on the Danaans to defend their ships and their shelters, while on the other side Hektor would not stay back among the mass of close-armoured Trojans, but as a flashing eagle makes his plunge upon other flying birds as these feed in a swarm by a river, whether these be geese or cranes or swans long-throated, so Hektor steered the course of his outrush straight for a vessel with dark prows, and from behind Zeus was pushing him onward hard with his big hand, and stirred on his people beside him.

Now once again a grim battle was fought by the vessels; you would say that they faced each other unbruised, unwearied in the fighting, from the speed in which they went for each other. This was the thought in each as they struggled on: the Achaians thought they could not get clear of the evil, but must perish, while the heart inside each one of the Trojans was hopeful to set fire to the ships and kill the fighting men of Achaia. With such thoughts in mind they stood up to fight with each other. Hektor caught hold of the stern of a grand, fast-running, seafaring ship, that once had carried Protesilaos to Troy, and did not take him back to the land of his fathers. It was around his ship that now Achaians and Trojans cut each other down at close quarters, nor any longer had patience for the volleys exchanged from bows and javelins but stood up close against each other, matching their fury, and fought their battle with sharp hatchets and axes, with great swords and with leaf-headed pikes, and many magnificent swords were scattered along the ground, black-thonged, heavy-hilted, sometimes dropping from the hands, some glancing from shoulders of men as they fought, so the ground ran black with blood. Hektor would not let go of the stern of a ship where he had caught hold of it but gripped the sternpost in his hands and called to the Trojans: 'Bring fire, and give single voice to the clamour of battle. Now Zeus has given us a day worth all the rest of them: the ships' capture, the ships that came here in spite of the gods' will and have visited much pain on us, by our counsellors' cowardice who would not let me fight by the grounded ships, though I wanted to, but held me back in restraint, and curbed in our fighters. But Zeus of the wide brows, though then he fouled our intentions, comes now himself to urge us on and give us encouragement.' He spoke, and they thereby came on harder against the Argives. Their volleys were too much for Aias, who could hold no longer his place, but had to give back a little, expecting to die there, back to the seven-foot midship, and gave up the high deck of the balanced ship. There he stood and waited for them, and with his pike always beat off any Trojan who carried persistent fire from the vessels. He kept up a terrible bellowing, and urged on the Danaans: 'Friends and fighting men of the Danaans, henchmen of Ares, be men now, dear friends, remember your furious valour. Do we think there are others who stand behind us to help us? Have we some stronger wall that can rescue men from perdition? We have no city built strong with towers lying near us, within which we could defend ourselves and hold off this host that matches us. We hold position in this plain of the close-armoured Trojans, bent back against the sea, and far from the land of our fathers. Salvation's light is in our hands' work, not the mercy of battle.' He spoke, and came forward with his sharp spear, raging for battle. And whenever some Trojan crashed against the hollow ships with burning fire, who sought to wake the favour of Hektor, Aias would wait for him and then stab with the long pike and so from close up wounded twelve in front of the vessels.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 16

 So they fought on both sides for the sake of the strong-benched vessel. Meanwhile Patroklos came to the shepherd of the people, Achilleus, and stood by him and wept warm tears, like a spring dark-running that down the face of a rock impassable drips its dim water; and swift-footed brilliant Achilleus looked on him in pity, and spoke to him aloud and addressed him in winged words: 'Why then are you crying like some poor little girl, Patroklos, who runs after her mother and begs to be picked up and carried, and clings to her dress, and holds her back when she tries to hurry, and gazes tearfully into her face, until she is picked up? You are like such a one, Patroklos, dropping these soft tears. Could you have some news to tell, for me or the Myrmidons? Have you, and nobody else, received some message from Phthia? Yet they tell me Aktor's son Menoitios lives still and Aiakos' son Peleus lives still among the Myrmidons. If either of these died we should take it hard. Or is it the Argives you are mourning over, and how they are dying against the hollow ships by reason of their own arrogance? Tell me, do not hide it in your mind, and so we shall both know.'

Then groaning heavily, Patroklos the rider, you answered: 'Son of Peleus, far greatest of the Achaians, Achilleus, do not be angry; such grief has fallen upon the Achaians. For all those who were before the bravest in battle are lying up among the ships with arrow or spear wounds. The son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes, was hit by an arrow, and Odysseus has a pike wound, and Agamemnon the spear-famed, and Eurypylos has been wounded in the thigh with an arrow. And over these the healers skilled in medicine are working to cure their wounds. But you, Achilleus; who can do anything with you? May no such anger take me as this that you cherish! Cursed courage. What other man born hereafter shall be advantaged unless you beat aside from the Argives this shameful destruction? Pitiless: the rider Peleus was never your father nor Thetis was your mother, but it was the grey sea that bore you and the towering rocks, so sheer the heart in you is turned from us. But if you are drawing back from some prophecy known in your own heart and by Zeus' will your honoured mother has told you of something, then send me out at least, let the rest of the Myrmidon people follow me, and I may be a light given to the Danaans. Give me your armour to wear on my shoulders into the fighting; so perhaps the Trojans might think I am you, and give way from their attack, and the fighting sons of the Achaians get wind again after hard work. There is little breathing space in the fighting. We unwearied might with a mere cry pile men wearied back upon their city, and away from the ships and the shelters.'

So he spoke supplicating in his great innocence; this was his own death and evil destruction he was entreating. But now, deeply troubled, swift-footed Achilleus answered him: 'Ah, Patroklos, illustrious, what is this you are saying? I have not any prophecy in mind that I know of; there is no word from Zeus my honoured mother has told me, but this thought comes as a bitter sorrow to my heart and my spirit when a man tries to foul one who is his equal, to take back a prize of honour, because he goes in greater authority. This is a bitter thought to me; my desire has been dealt with roughly. The girl the sons of the Achaians chose out for my honour, and I won her with my own spear, and stormed a strong-fenced city, is taken back out of my hands by powerful Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, as if I were some dishonoured vagabond. Still, we will let all this be a thing of the past; and it was not in my heart to be angry forever; and yet I have said I would not give over my anger until that time came when the fighting with all its clamour came up to my own ships. So do you draw my glorious armour about your shoulders; lead the Myrmidons whose delight is battle into the fighting, if truly the black cloud of the Trojans has taken position strongly about our ships, and the others, the Argives, are bent back against the beach of the sea, holding only a narrow division of land, and the whole city of the Trojans has descended upon them boldly; because they do not see the face of my helmet glaring close; or else they would run and cram full of dead men the water-courses; if powerful Agamemnon treated me kindly. Now the Argives fight for their very encampment. For the spear rages not now in the hands of the son of Tydeus, Diomedes, to beat destruction aside from the Danaans, nor have I heard the voice of the son of Atreus crying from his hated head; no, but the voice of murderous Hektor calling to the Trojans crashes about my ears; with their war cry they hold the entire plain as they beat the Achaians in battle. But even so, Patroklos, beat the bane aside from our ships; fall upon them with all your strength; let them not with fire's blazing inflame our ships, and take away our desired homecoming. But obey to the end this word I put upon your attention so that you can win, for me, great honour and glory in the sight of all the Danaans, so they will bring back to me the lovely girl, and give me shining gifts in addition. When you have driven them from the ships, come back; although later the thunderous lord of Hera might grant you the winning of glory, you must not set your mind on fighting the Trojans, whose delight is in battle, without me. So you will diminish my honour. You must not, in the pride and fury of fighting, go on slaughtering the Trojans, and lead the way against Ilion, for fear some one of the everlasting gods on Olympos might crush you. Apollo who works from afar loves these people dearly. You must turn back once you bring the light of salvation to the ships, and let the others go on fighting in the flat land. Father Zeus, Athene and Apollo, if only not one of all the Trojans could escape destruction, not one of the Argives, but you and I could emerge from the slaughter so that we two alone could break Troy's hallowed coronal.'

Now as these two were talking thus to each other, meanwhile the volleys were too much for Aias, who could hold no longer his place. The will of Zeus beat him back, and the proud Trojans with their spears, and around his temples the shining helmet clashed horribly under the shower of strokes; he was hit constantly on the strong-wrought cheek-pieces, and his left shoulder was tiring from always holding up the big glittering shield; yet they could not beat him out of his place, though they piled their missiles upon him. His breath came ever hard and painful, the sweat ran pouring down his body from every limb, he could find no means to catch his breath, but evil was piled on evil about him.

Tell me now, you Muses who have your homes on Olympos, how fire was first thrown upon the ships of the Achaians.

Hektor stood up close to Aias and hacked at the ash spear with his great sword, striking behind the socket of the spearhead, and slashed it clean away, so that Telamonian Aias shook there in his hand a lopped spear, while far away from him the bronze spearhead fell echoing to the ground; and Aias knew in his blameless heart, and shivered for knowing it, how this was gods' work, how Zeus high-thundering cut across the intention in all his battle, how he planned that the Trojans should conquer. He drew away out of the missiles, and the Trojans threw weariless fire on the fast ship, and suddenly the quenchless flame streamed over it. So the fire was at work on the ship's stern; but Achilleus struck his hands against both his thighs, and called to Patroklos: 'Rise up, illustrious Patroklos, rider of horses. I see how the ravening fire goes roaring over our vessels. They must not get our ships so we cannot run away in them. Get on your armour; faster; I will muster our people.' He spoke, and Patroklos was helming himself in bronze that glittered. First he placed along his legs the beautiful greaves, linked with silver fastenings to hold the greaves at the ankles. Afterwards he girt on about his chest the corselet starry and elaborate of swift-footed Aiakides. Across his shoulders he slung the sword with the nails of silver, a bronze sword, and above it the great shield, huge and heavy. Over his mighty head he set the well-fashioned helmet with the horse-hair crest, and the plumes nodded terribly above it. He took up two powerful spears that fitted his hand's grip, only he did not take the spear of blameless Aiakides, huge, heavy, thick, which no one else of all the Achaians could handle, but Achilleus alone knew how to wield it; the Pelian ash spear which Cheiron had brought to his father from high on Pelion to be death for fighters. Patroklos ordered Automedon rapidly to harness the horses, a man he honoured most, after Achilleus breaker of battles, who stood most staunchly by him against the fury of fighting. For him Automedon led the fast-running horses under the yoke, Xanthos and Balios, who tore with the winds' speed, horses stormy Podarge once conceived of the west wind and bore, as she grazed in the meadow beside the swirl of the Ocean. In the traces beside these he put unfaulted Pedasos whom Achilleus brought back once when he stormed Eëtion's city. He, mortal as he was, ran beside the immortal horses.

But Achilleus went meanwhile to the Myrmidons, and arrayed them all in their war gear along the shelters. And they, as wolves who tear flesh raw, in whose hearts the battle fury is tireless, who have brought down a great horned stag in the mountains, and then feed on him, till the jowls of every wolf run blood, and then go all in a pack to drink from a spring of dark-running water, lapping with their lean tongues along the black edge of the surface and belching up the clotted blood; in the heart of each one is a spirit untremulous, but their bellies are full and groaning; as such the lords of the Myrmidons and their men of counsel around the brave henchman of swift-footed Aiakides swarmed, and among them was standing warlike Achilleus and urged on the fighting men with their shields, and the horses.

Fifty were the fast-running ships wherein Achilleus beloved of Zeus had led his men to Troy, and in each one were fifty men, his companions in arms, at the rowing benches. He had made five leaders among them, and to these entrusted the command, while he in his great power was lord over all of them. One battalion was led by Menesthios of the shining corselet, son of Spercheios, the river swelled from the bright sky, born of the daughter of Peleus, Polydore the lovely, to unremitting Spercheios, when a woman lay with an immortal; but born in name to Perieres' son, Boros, who married Polydore formally, and gave gifts beyond count to win her. The next battalion was led by warlike Eudoros, a maiden's child, born to one lovely in the dance, Polymele, daughter of Phylas; whom strong Hermes Argeiphontes loved, when he watched her with his eyes among the girls dancing in the choir for clamorous Artemis of the golden distaff. Presently Hermes the healer went up with her into her chamber and lay secretly with her, and she bore him a son, the shining Eudoros, a surpassing runner and a quick man in battle. But after Eileithyia of the hard pains had brought out the child into the light, and he looked on the sun's shining, Aktor's son Echekles in the majesty of his great power led her to his house, when he had given numberless gifts to win her, and the old man Phylas took the child and brought him up kindly and cared for him, in affection as if he had been his own son. The leader of the third battalion was warlike Peisandros, Maimalos' son, who outshone all the rest of the Myrmidons in spear-fighting, next to Peleian Achilleus' henchman. The fourth battalion was led by Phoinix, the aged horseman, the fifth by Alkimedon, the blameless son of Laerkes. But after Achilleus gave them their stations all in good order beside their leaders, he laid his stern injunction upon them: 'Myrmidons: not one of you can forget those mutterings, those threats that beside the running ships you made at the Trojans in all the time of my anger, and it was I you were blaming, as: "Hard son of Peleus! Your mother nursed you on gall. You have no pity, to keep your companions here by the ships unwilling. We should go back home again, then, in our seafaring vessels now that this wretched anger has befallen your spirit." Often you would gather in groups and so mutter against me, and now is shown a great work of that fighting you longed for. Then let each man take heart of strength to fight with the Trojans.' So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man, and their ranks, as they listened to the king, pulled closer together. And as a man builds solid a wall with stones set close together for the rampart of a high house keeping out the force of the winds, so close together were the helms and shields massive in the middle. For shield leaned on shield, helmet on helmet, man against man, and the horse-hair crests along the horns of the shining helmets touched as they bent their heads, so dense were they formed on each other. And before them all were two men in their armour, Patroklos and Automedon, both of them in one single fury to fight in front of the Myrmidons. But meanwhile Achilleus went off into his shelter, and lifted the lid from a lovely elaborately wrought chest, which Thetis the silver-footed had put in his ship to carry, and filled it fairly with tunics and mantles to hold the wind from a man, and with fleecy blankets. Inside this lay a wrought goblet, nor did any other man drink the shining wine from it nor did Achilleus pour from it to any other god, but only Zeus father. He took this now out of the chest, and cleaned it with sulphur first, and afterwards washed it out in bright-running water, and washed his own hands, and poured shining wine into the goblet and stood in his middle forecourt and prayed, and poured the wine, looking into the sky, not unseen by Zeus who delights in the thunder: 'High Zeus, lord of Dodona, Pelasgian, living afar off, brooding over wintry Dodona, your prophets about you living, the Selloi who sleep on the ground with feet unwashed. Hear me. As one time before when I prayed to you, you listened and did me honour, and smote strongly the host of the Achaians, so one more time bring to pass the wish that I pray for. For see, I myself am staying where the ships are assembled, but I send out my companion and many Myrmidons with him to fight. Let glory, Zeus of the wide brows, go forth with him. Make brave the heart inside his breast, so that even Hektor will find out whether our henchman knows how to fight his battles by himself, or whether his hands rage invincible only those times when I myself go into the grind of the war god. But when he has beaten back from the ships their clamorous onset, then let him come back to me and the running ships, unwounded, with all his armour and with the companions who fight close beside him.' So he spoke in prayer, and Zeus of the counsels heard him. The father granted him one prayer, and denied him the other. That Patroklos should beat back the fighting assault on the vessels he allowed, but refused to let him come back safe out of the fighting. When Achilleus had poured the wine and prayed to Zeus father he went back into the shelter, stowed the cup in the chest, and came out to stand in front of the door, with the desire in his heart still to watch the grim encounter of Achaians and Trojans.

Now they who were armed in the company of great-hearted Patroklos went onward, until in high confidence they charged on the Trojans. The Myrmidons came streaming out like wasps at the wayside when little boys have got into the habit of making them angry by always teasing them as they live in their house by the roadside; silly boys, they do something that hurts many people; and if some man who travels on the road happens to pass them and stirs them unintentionally, they in heart of fury come swarming out each one from his place to fight for their children. In heart and in fury like these the Myrmidons streaming came out from their ships, with a tireless clamour arising, and Patroklos called afar in a great voice to his companions: 'Myrmidons, companions of Peleus' son, Achilleus, be men now, dear friends, remember your furious valour; we must bring honour to Peleus' son, far the greatest of the Argives by the ships, we, even the henchmen who fight beside him, so Atreus' son wide-ruling Agamemnon may recognize his madness, that he did no honour to the best of the Achaians.'

So he spoke, and stirred the spirit and strength in each man. They fell upon the Trojans in a pack, and about them the ships echoed terribly to the roaring Achaians.

But the Trojans, when they saw the powerful son of Menoitios himself and his henchman with him in the glare of their war gear, the heart was stirred in all of them, the battalions were shaken in the expectation that by the ships swift-footed Peleion had thrown away his anger and chosen the way of friendship. Then each man looked about him for a way to escape the sheer death.

Patroklos was the first man to make a cast with the shining spear, straight through the middle fighting, where most men were stricken, beside the stern on the ship of great-hearted Protesilaos, and struck Pyraichmes, who had led the lords of Paionian horses from Amydon and the wide waters of Axios. He struck him in the right shoulder, so he dropped in the dust groaning, on his back, and his Paionian companions about him scattered; for Patroklos drove the fear into all of them when he cut down their leader, the best of them all in battle. He drove them from the ships and put out the fire that was blazing, and that ship was left half-burnt as it was, as the Trojans scattered in terror and unearthly noise, and the Danaans streamed back along the hollow ships, and clamour incessant rose up. And as when from the towering height of a great mountain Zeus who gathers the thunderflash stirs the cloud dense upon it, and all the high places of the hills are clear and the shoulders out-jutting and the deep ravines, as endless bright air spills from the heavens, so when the Danaans had beaten from their ships the ravening fire, they got breath for a little, but there was no check in the fighting; for the Trojans under the attack of the warlike Achaians had not yet turned their faces to run away from the black ships. They stood yet against them, but gave way from the ships under pressure.

There man killed man all along the scattered encounter of the leaders, and first among them, the strong son of Menoitios, threw and struck Areïlykos in the thigh, as he turned back, with the sharp point of the spear, and drove the bronze clean through. The spear smashed in the bone and he fell to the ground headlong on his face. Meanwhile warlike Menelaos stabbed Thoas in the chest where it was left bare by the shield, and unstrung his limbs' strength. Meges, Phyleus' son, watched Amphiklos as he came on and was too quick with a stab at the base of the leg, where the muscle of a man grows thickest, so that on the spearhead the sinew was torn apart, and a mist of darkness closed over both eyes. Of the sons of Nestor one, Antilochos, stabbed Atymnios with the sharp spear, and drove the bronze head clean through his flank, so that he fell forward; but Maris with the spear from close up made a lunge at Antilochos in rage for his brother standing in front of the corpse, but before him godlike Thrasymedes was in with a thrust before he could stab, nor missed his quick stroke into the shoulder, and the spearhead shore off the arm's base clear away from the muscles and torn from the bone utterly. He fell, thunderously, and darkness closed over both eyes. So these two, beaten down under the hands of two brothers, descended to the dark place, Sarpedon's noble companions and spear-throwing sons of Amisodaros, the one who had nourished the furious Chimaira to be an evil to many. Aias, Oïleus' son, in an outrush caught Kleoboulos alive, where he was fouled in the running confusion, and there unstrung his strength, hewing with the hilted sword at the neck, so all the sword was smoking with blood and over both eyes closed the red death and the strong destiny. Then Peneleos and Lykon ran up close together, since these with their spear-throws had gone wide of each other, and each had made a cast vainly. So now the two of them ran together with swords. There Lykon hacked at the horn of the horse-hair crested helm, but the sword blade broke at the socket; Peneleos cut at the neck underneath the ear, and the sword sank clean inside, with only skin left to hold it, and the head slumped aside, and the limbs were loosened. Meriones on his light feet overtaking Akamas stabbed him in the right shoulder as he climbed up behind his horses and the darkness drifted over his eyes as he crashed from the chariot. Idomeneus stabbed Erymas in the mouth with the pitiless bronze, so that the brazen spearhead smashed its way clean through below the brain in an upward stroke, and the white bones splintered, and the teeth were shaken out with the stroke and both eyes filled up with blood, and gaping he blew a spray of blood through the nostrils and through his mouth, and death in a dark mist closed in about him. So these lords of the Danaans killed each his own man. They as wolves make havoc among lambs or young goats in their fury, catching them out of the flocks, when the sheep separate in the mountains through the thoughtlessness of the shepherd, and the wolves seeing them suddenly snatch them away, and they have no heart for fighting; so the Danaans ravaged the Trojans, and these remembered the bitter sound of terror, and forgot their furious valour.

But the great Aias was trying forever to make a spearcast at bronze-helmed Hektor, but he in his experience of fighting with his broad shoulders huddled under the bull's-hide shield kept watching always the whistle of arrows, the crash of spears thrown. He knew well how the strength of the fighting shifted against him, but even so stood his ground to save his steadfast companions.

As when a cloud goes deep into the sky from Olympos through the bright upper air when Zeus brings on the hurricane, so rose from beside the ships their outcry, the noise of their terror. In no good order they went back, while his fast-running horses carried Hektor away in his armour; he abandoned the people of the Trojans, who were trapped by the deep-dug ditch unwilling, and in the ditch many fast horses who pulled the chariots left, broken short at the joining of the pole, their masters' chariots while Patroklos was on them, calling hard and loud to the Danaans with evil intention for the Trojans, who, in clamorous terror, choked all the ways where they were cut off; from under their feet stirred the dust-storm scattered in clouds, their single-foot horses were straining to get back to the city away from the ships and the shelters. But Patroklos, where he saw the stirring of most people, steered there, shouting, and men went down under the axles headlong from chariots as the empty cars rattled onward. Straight across the ditch overleapt those swift and immortal horses the gods had given as shining gifts to Peleus, hurtling onward, as Patroklos' rage stirred him against Hektor, whom he tried to strike, but his fast horses carried him out of it. As underneath the hurricane all the black earth is burdened on an autumn day, when Zeus sends down the most violent waters in deep rage against mortals after they stir him to anger because in violent assembly they pass decrees that are crooked, and drive righteousness from among them and care nothing for what the gods think, and all the rivers of these men swell current to full spate and in the ravines of their water-courses rip all the hillsides and dash whirling in huge noise down to the blue sea, out of the mountains headlong, so that the works of men are diminished; so huge rose the noise from the horses of Troy in their running.

But Patroklos, when he had cut away their first battalions, turned back to pin them against the ships, and would not allow them to climb back into their city though they strained for it, but sweeping through the space between the ships, the high wall, and the river, made havoc and exacted from them the blood price for many. There first of all he struck with the shining spear Pronoös in the chest where it was left bare by the shield, and unstrung his limbs' strength. He fell, thunderously, and Patroklos in his next outrush at Thestor, Enops' son, who huddled inside his chariot, shrunk back, he had lost all his nerve, and from his hands the reins slipped--Patroklos coming close up to him stabbed with a spear-thrust at the right side of the jaw and drove it on through the teeth, then hooked and dragged him with the spear over the rail, as a fisherman who sits out on the jut of a rock with line and glittering bronze hook drags a fish, who is thus doomed, out of the water. So he hauled him, mouth open to the bright spear, out of the chariot, and shoved him over on his face, and as he fell the life left him. Next he struck Erylaos, as he swept in, with a great stone in the middle of the head, and all the head broke into two pieces inside the heavy helmet, and he in the dust face downward dropped while death breaking the spirit drifted about him. Afterwards with Erymas, Amphoteros, and Epaltes, Tlepolemos Damastor's son, Echios and Pyris, Ipheus and Euippos, and Argeas' son Polymelos, all these he felled to the bountiful earth in rapid succession.

But Sarpedon, when he saw his free-girt companions going down underneath the hands of Menoitios' son Patroklos, called aloud in entreaty upon the godlike Lykians: 'Shame, you Lykians, where are you running to? You must be fierce now, for I myself will encounter this man, so I may find out who this is who has so much strength and has done so much evil to the Trojans, since many and brave are those whose knees he has unstrung.' He spoke, and sprang to the ground in all his arms from the chariot, and on the other side Patroklos when he saw him leapt down from his chariot. They as two hook-clawed beak-bent vultures above a tall rock face, high-screaming, go for each other, so now these two, crying aloud, encountered together. And watching them the son of devious-devising Kronos was pitiful, and spoke to Hera, his wife and his sister: 'Ah me, that it is destined that the dearest of men, Sarpedon, must go down under the hands of Menoitios' son Patroklos. The heart in my breast is balanced between two ways as I ponder, whether I should snatch him out of the sorrowful battle and set him down still alive in the rich country of Lykia, or beat him under at the hands of the son of Menoitios.'

In turn the lady Hera of the ox eyes answered him: 'Majesty, son of Kronos, what sort of thing have you spoken? Do you wish to bring back a man who is mortal, one long since doomed by his destiny, from ill-sounding death and release him? Do it, then; but not all the rest of us gods shall approve you. And put away in your thoughts this other thing I tell you; if you bring Sarpedon back to his home, still living, think how then some other one of the gods might also wish to carry his own son out of the strong encounter; since around the great city of Priam are fighting many sons of the immortals. You will waken grim resentment among them. No, but if he is dear to you, and your heart mourns for him, then let him be, and let him go down in the strong encounter underneath the hands of Patroklos, the son of Menoitios; but after the soul and the years of his life have left him, then send Death to carry him away, and Sleep, who is painless, until they come with him to the countryside of broad Lykia where his brothers and countrymen shall give him due burial with tomb and gravestone. Such is the privilege of those who have perished.'

She spoke, nor did the father of gods and men disobey her; yet he wept tears of blood that fell to the ground, for the sake of his beloved son, whom now Patroklos was presently to kill, by generous Troy and far from the land of his fathers.

Now as these two advancing had come close to each other there Patroklos threw first at glorious Thrasymelos who was the strong henchman of lord Sarpedon, and struck him in the depth of the lower belly, and unstrung his limbs' strength. Sarpedon with the second throw then missed with the shining spear, but the spear fixed in the right shoulder of Pedasos the horse, who screamed as he blew his life away, and went down in shrill noise into the dust, and the life spirit flittered from him. The other horses shied apart, the yoke creaked, the guide reins were fouled together as the trace horse lay in the dust beside them; but at this spear-famed Automedon saw what he must do and wrenching out the long-edged sword from beside his big thigh in a flashing stroke and without faltering cut loose the trace horse and the other horses were straightened out, and pulled in the guide reins, and the two heroes came together in the heart-perishing battle.

Once again Sarpedon threw wide with a cast of his shining spear, so that the pointed head overshot the left shoulder of Patroklos; and now Patroklos made the second cast with the brazen spear, and the shaft escaping his hand was not flung vainly but struck where the beating heart is closed in the arch of the muscles. He fell, as when an oak goes down or a white poplar, or like a towering pine tree which in the mountains the carpenters have hewn down with their whetted axes to make a ship-timber. So he lay there felled in front of his horses and chariots roaring, and clawed with his hands at the bloody dust; or as a blazing and haughty bull in a huddle of shambling cattle when a lion has come among the herd and destroys him dies bellowing under the hooked claws of the lion, so now before Patroklos the lord of the shield-armoured Lykians died raging, and called aloud to his beloved companion: 'Dear Glaukos, you are a fighter among men. Now the need comes hardest upon you to be a spearman and a bold warrior. Now, if you are brave, let bitter warfare be dear to you. First you must go among all men who are lords of the Lykians everywhere, and stir them up to fight for Sarpedon, and then you yourself also must fight for me with the bronze spear. For I shall be a thing of shame and a reproach said of you afterwards, all your days forever, if the Achaians strip my armour here where I fell by the ships assembled. But hold strongly on and stir up all the rest of our people.'

He spoke, and as he spoke death's end closed over his nostrils and eyes, and Patroklos stepping heel braced to chest dragged the spear out of his body, and the midriff came away with it so that he drew out with the spearhead the life of Sarpedon, and the Myrmidons close by held in the hard-breathing horses as they tried to bolt away, once free of their master's chariot.

But when he heard the voice a hard sorrow came upon Glaukos, and the heart was stirred within him, and he could not defend Sarpedon. He took his arm in his hand and squeezed it, since the wound hurt him where Teukros had hit him with an arrow shot as he swept in on the high wall, and fended destruction from his companions. He spoke in prayer to him who strikes from afar, Apollo: 'Hear me, my lord. You are somewhere in the rich Lykian countryside or here in Troy, and wherever you are you can listen to a man in pain, as now this pain has descended upon me. For see, I have this strong wound on me, and my arm on both sides is driven with sharp pains about, my blood is not able to dry and stop running, my shoulder is aching beneath it. I cannot hold my spear up steady, I cannot go forward to fight against the enemy. And the best of men has perished, Sarpedon, son of Zeus; who will not stand by his children. No, but you at least, my lord, make well this strong wound; and put the pains to sleep, give me strength, so that I may call out to my companions, the Lykians, and stir them to fight on, and I myself do battle over the fallen body.' So he spoke in prayer, and Phoibos Apollo heard him. At once he made the pains stop, and dried away from the hard wound the dark running of blood, and put strength into his spirit. And Glaukos knew in his heart what was done, and was happy that the great god had listened to his prayer. And first of all he roused toward battle all the men who were lords of the Lykians, going everywhere among them, to fight for Sarpedon; afterwards he ranged in long strides among the Trojans, by Poulydamas the son of Panthoös and brilliant Agenor, and went to Aineias and to Hektor of the brazen helmet and stood near them and addressed them in winged words: 'Hektor, now you have utterly forgotten your armed companions who for your sake, far from their friends and the land of their fathers, are wearing their lives away, and you will do nothing to help them. Sarpedon has fallen, the lord of the shield-armoured Lykians, who defended Lykia in his strength and the right of his justice. Now brazen Ares has struck him down by the spear of Patroklos. Then, friends, stand beside me, let the thought be shame in your spirit that they might strip away his arms, and dishonour his body, these Myrmidons, in anger for all the Danaans perished, those whom we Lykians have killed with the spear by the swift ships.'

He spoke, and the Trojans were taken head to heel with a sorrow untakeable, not to be endured, since he was their city's stay, always, though he was an outlander, and many people came with him, but he was the best of them all in battle always. They went straight for the Danaans, raging, and Hektor led them, in anger for Sarpedon. Meanwhile the Achaians roused to the savage heart of Patroklos, the son of Menoitios. First he spoke to the Aiantes, who were burning for battle already: 'Aiantes, now your desire must be to defend yourselves, and be such as you were among men before, or even more valiant. The man is fallen who first scaled the wall of the Achaians, Sarpedon. If only we could win and dishonour his body and strip the armour from his shoulders, and kill with the pitiless bronze some one of his companions who fight to defend him.' He spoke, and they likewise grew furious in their defence, and when they on either side had made massive their battalions, Trojans and Lykians, and Myrmidons and Achaians, they clashed together in battle over the perished body howling terribly, with a high crash of the men in their armour, while Zeus swept ghastly night far over the strong encounter that over his dear son might be deadly work in the fighting.

First the Trojans shouldered back the glancing-eyed Achaians when a man, and not the worst of the Myrmidons, was struck down, son of high-hearted Agakles, Epeigeus the brilliant. He was one who was lord before in strong-founded Boudeion, but now, since he had happened to kill his high-born cousin, had come suppliant to Peleus and to Thetis the silver-footed, and these sent him to follow Achilleus, who broke men in battle, to Ilion of the horses and the battle against the Trojans. As he caught at a dead man glorious Hektor hit him with a stone in the head, and all the head broke into two pieces inside the heavy helmet, and he in the dust face downward dropped, while death breaking the spirit drifted about him. And the sorrow took hold of Patroklos for his fallen companion. He steered his way through the ranks of the front fighters, like a flying hawk who scatters into flight the daws and the starlings. So straight for the Lykians, o lord of horses, Patroklos, you swept, and for the Trojans, heart angered for your companion. Now he struck Sthenelaos, beloved son of Ithaimenes, in the neck with a stone, and broke the tendons loose from about it. The champions of Troy gave back then, and glorious Hektor. As far as goes the driving cast of a slender javelin which a man throws making trial of his strength, either in a contest or else in battle, under the heart-breaking hostilities, so far the Trojans gave way with the Achaians pushing them. But Glaukos was first, lord of the shield-armoured Lykians, to turn again, and killed Bathykles the great-hearted, beloved son of Chalkon, who had dwelled in his home in Hellas conspicuous for wealth and success among all the Myrmidons. It was he whom Glaukos stabbed in the middle of the chest, turning suddenly back with his spear as he overtook him. He fell, thunderously, and the closing sorrow came over the Achaians as the great man went down, but the Trojans were gladdened greatly and came and stood in a pack about him, nor did the Achaians let go of their fighting strength, but steered their fury straight at them. And there Meriones cut down a chief man of the Trojans, Laogonos, bold son of Onetor, who was Idaian, Zeus' priest, and who was honoured in his countryside as a god is. Meriones struck him by jaw and ear, and at once the life spirit fled from his limbs, and the hateful darkness closed in about him. But Aineias threw his bronze spear at Meriones, hoping to hit him as he came forward under his shield's covering, but Meriones with his eyes straight on him avoided the bronze spear. For he bent forward, and behind his back the long spearshaft was driven into the ground so that the butt end was shaken on the spear. Then and there Ares the huge took the force from it [so that the vibrant shaft of Aineias was driven groundward since it had been thrown in a vain cast from his big hand]. But Aineias was angered in his spirit, and called out to him: 'Meriones, though you are a dancer my spear might have stopped you now and for all time, if only I could have hit you.'

Then in turn Meriones the spear-famed answered him: 'Aineias, strong fighter though you are, it would be hard for you to quench the strength of every man who might come against you and defend himself, since you also are made as a mortal. But if I could throw and hit you with the sharp bronze in the middle, then strong as you are and confident in your hands' work, you might give the glory to me, and your soul to Hades of the horses.'

He spoke, but the fighting son of Menoitios reprimanded him: 'Meriones, when you are a brave fighter, why say such things?-- See, dear friend, the Trojans will not give back from the body for hard words spoken. Sooner the ground will cover them. Warfare's finality lies in the work of hands, that of words in counsel. It is not for us now to pile up talk, but to fight in battle.' He spoke, and led the way, and the other followed, a mortal like a god. As the tumult goes up from men who are cutting timber in the mountain valleys, and the sound is heard from far off, such was the dull crashing that rose from earth of the wide ways, from the bronze shields, the skins and the strong-covering ox-hides as the swords and leaf-headed spears stabbed against them. No longer could a man, even a knowing one, have made out the godlike Sarpedon, since he was piled from head to ends of feet under a mass of weapons, the blood and the dust, while others about him kept forever swarming over his dead body, as flies through a sheepfold thunder about the pails overspilling milk, in the season of spring when the milk splashes in the buckets. So they swarmed over the dead man, nor did Zeus ever turn the glaring of his eyes from the strong encounter, but kept gazing forever upon them, in spirit reflective, and pondered hard over many ways for the death of Patroklos; whether this was now the time, in this strong encounter, when there over godlike Sarpedon glorious Hektor should kill him with the bronze, and strip the armour away from his shoulders, or whether to increase the steep work of fighting for more men. In the division of his heart this way seemed best to him, for the strong henchman of Achilleus, the son of Peleus, once again to push the Trojans and bronze-helmed Hektor back on their city, and tear the life from many. In Hektor first of all he put a temper that was without strength. He climbed to his chariot and turned to flight, and called to the other Trojans to run, for he saw the way of Zeus' sacred balance. Nor did the powerful Lykians stand now, but were all scattered to flight, when they had seen their king with a spear in his heart, lying under the pile of dead men, since many others had fallen above him, once Zeus had strained fast the powerful conflict. But the Achaians took from Sarpedon's shoulders the armour glaring and brazen, and this the warlike son of Menoitios gave to his companions to carry back to the hollow ships. And now Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke a word to Apollo: 'Go if you will, beloved Phoibos, and rescue Sarpedon from under the weapons, wash the dark suffusion of blood from him, then carry him far away and wash him in a running river, anoint him in ambrosia, put ambrosial clothing upon him; then give him into the charge of swift messengers to carry him, of Sleep and Death, who are twin brothers, and these two shall lay him down presently within the rich countryside of broad Lykia where his brothers and countrymen shall give him due burial with tomb and gravestone. Such is the privilege of those who have perished.' He spoke so, and Apollo, not disregarding his father, went down along the mountains of Ida, into the grim fight, and lifting brilliant Sarpedon out from under the weapons carried him far away, and washed him in a running river, and anointed him in ambrosia, put ambrosial clothing upon him, then gave him into the charge of swift messengers to carry him, of Sleep and Death, who are twin brothers, and these two presently laid him down within the rich countryside of broad Lykia.

But Patroklos, with a shout to Automedon and his horses, went after Trojans and Lykians in a huge blind fury. Besotted: had he only kept the command of Peleiades he might have got clear away from the evil spirit of black death. But always the mind of Zeus is a stronger thing than a man's mind. He terrifies even the warlike man, he takes away victory lightly, when he himself has driven a man into battle as now he drove on the fury in the heart of Patroklos.

Then who was it you slaughtered first, who was the last one, Patroklos, as the gods called you to your death? Adrestos first, and after him Autonoös and Echeklos, Perimos, son of Megas, and Epistor, and Melanippos, and after these Elasos, and Moulios, and Pylartes. These he killed, while each man of the rest was bent on escaping.

There the sons of the Achaians might have taken gate-towering Ilion under the hands of Patroklos, who raged with the spear far before them, had not Phoibos Apollo taken his stand on the strong-built tower, with thoughts of death for him, but help for the Trojans. Three times Patroklos tried to mount the angle of the towering wall, and three times Phoibos Apollo battered him backward with the immortal hands beating back the bright shield. As Patroklos for the fourth time, like something more than a man, came at him he called aloud, and spoke winged words in the voice of danger: 'Give way, illustrious Patroklos: it is not destined that the city of the proud Trojans shall fall before your spear nor even at the hand of Achilleus, who is far better than you are.'

He spoke, and Patroklos gave ground before him a great way, avoiding the anger of him who strikes from afar, Apollo.

But Hektor inside the Skaian Gates held his single-foot horses, and wondered whether to drive back into the carnage, and fight there, or call aloud to his people to rally inside the wall. Thus as he was pondering Phoibos Apollo came and stood by him, assuming the likeness of a man, a young and a strong one, Asios, who was uncle to Hektor, breaker of horses, since he was brother of Hekabe, and the son of Dymas, and had made his home in Phrygia by the stream of Sangarios. In the likeness of this man Zeus' son Apollo spoke to him: 'Hektor, why have you stopped fighting? You should not do it. If I were as much stronger than you as now I am weaker! So might you, in this evil way, hold back from the fighting. But come! Hold straight against Patroklos your strong-footed horses. You might be able to kill him. Apollo might give you such glory.'

He spoke, and went once more, a divinity, into the mortals' struggle, while glorious Hektor called to wise Kebriones to lash their horses into the fighting. Meanwhile Apollo went down into the battle, and launched a deadly confusion upon the Argives, and gave glory to the Trojans and Hektor. Now Hektor let the rest of the Danaans be, and he would not kill them, but drove his strong-footed horses straight for Patroklos. On the other side Patroklos sprang to the ground from his chariot holding his spear in his left hand. In the other he caught up a stone, jagged and shining, in the hold of his hand, and threw it, leaning into the throw, nor fell short of the man he aimed at nor threw vainly, but hit the charioteer of Hektor, Kebriones, a bastard son of glorious Priam, as he held the reins on his horses. The sharp stone hit him in the forehead and smashed both brows in on each other, nor could the bone hold the rock, but his eyes fell out into the dust before him there at his feet, so that he vaulted to earth like a diver from the carefully wrought chariot, and the life left his bones. Now you spoke in bitter mockery over him, rider Patroklos: 'See now, what a light man this is, how agile an acrobat. If only he were somewhere on the sea, where the fish swarm, he could fill the hunger of many men, by diving for oysters; he could go overboard from a boat even in rough weather the way he somersaults so light to the ground from his chariot now. So, to be sure, in Troy also they have their acrobats.'

He spoke so, and strode against the hero Kebriones with the spring of a lion, who as he ravages the pastures has been hit in the chest, and his own courage destroys him. So in your fury you pounced, Patroklos, above Kebriones. On the other side Hektor sprang to the ground from his chariot, and the two fought it out over Kebriones, like lions who in the high places of a mountain, both in huge courage and both hungry, fight together over a killed deer. So above Kebriones these two, urgent for battle, Patroklos, son of Menoitios, and glorious Hektor, were straining with the pitiless bronze to tear at each other; since Hektor had caught him by the head, and would not let go of him, and Patroklos had his foot on the other side, while the other Trojans and Danaans drove together the strength of their onset.

As east wind and south wind fight it out with each other in the valleys of the mountains to shake the deep forest timber, oak tree and ash and the cornel with the delicate bark; these whip their wide-reaching branches against one another in inhuman noise, and the crash goes up from the splintering timber; so Trojans and Achaians springing against one another cut men down, nor did either side think of disastrous panic, and many sharp spears were driven home about Kebriones and many feathered arrows sprung from the bowstrings, many great throwing stones pounded against the shields, as they fought on hard over his body, as he in the turning dust lay mightily in his might, his horsemanship all forgotten.

So long as the sun was climbing still to the middle heaven, so long the thrown weapons of both took hold, and men dropped under them; but when the sun had gone to the time for unyoking of cattle, then beyond their very destiny the Achaians were stronger and dragged the hero Kebriones from under the weapons and the clamour of the Trojans, and stripped the armour from his shoulders. And Patroklos charged with evil intention in on the Trojans. Three times he charged in with the force of the running war god, screaming a terrible cry, and three times he cut down nine men; but as for the fourth time he swept in, like something greater than human, there, Patroklos, the end of your life was shown forth, since Phoibos came against you there in the strong encounter dangerously, nor did Patroklos see him as he moved through the battle, and shrouded in a deep mist came in against him and stood behind him, and struck his back and his broad shoulders with a flat stroke of the hand so that his eyes spun. Phoibos Apollo now struck away from his head the helmet four-horned and hollow-eyed, and under the feet of the horses it rolled clattering, and the plumes above it were defiled by blood and dust. Before this time it had not been permitted to defile in the dust this great helmet crested in horse-hair; rather it guarded the head and the gracious brow of a godlike man, Achilleus; but now Zeus gave it over to Hektor to wear on his head, Hektor whose own death was close to him. And in his hands was splintered all the huge, great, heavy, iron-shod, far-shadowing spear, and away from his shoulders dropped to the ground the shield with its shield sling and its tassels. The lord Apollo, son of Zeus, broke the corselet upon him. Disaster caught his wits, and his shining body went nerveless. He stood stupidly, and from close behind his back a Dardanian man hit him between the shoulders with a sharp javelin: Euphorbos, son of Panthoös, who surpassed all men of his own age with the throwing spear, and in horsemanship and the speed of his feet. He had already brought down twenty men from their horses since first coming, with his chariot and his learning in warfare. He first hit you with a thrown spear, o rider Patroklos, nor broke you, but ran away again, snatching out the ash spear from your body, and lost himself in the crowd, not enduring to face Patroklos, naked as he was, in close combat. Now Patroklos, broken by the spear and the god's blow, tried to shun death and shrink back into the swarm of his own companions.

But Hektor, when he saw high-hearted Patroklos trying to get away, saw how he was wounded with the sharp javelin, came close against him across the ranks, and with the spear stabbed him in the depth of the belly and drove the bronze clean through. He fell, thunderously, to the horror of all the Achaian people. As a lion overpowers a weariless boar in wild combat as the two fight in their pride on the high places of a mountain over a little spring of water, both wanting to drink there, and the lion beats him down by force as he fights for his breath, so Hektor, Priam's son, with a close spear-stroke stripped the life from the fighting son of Menoitios, who had killed so many, and stood above him, and spoke aloud the winged words of triumph: 'Patroklos, you thought perhaps of devastating our city, of stripping from the Trojan women the day of their liberty and dragging them off in ships to the beloved land of your fathers. Fool! When in front of them the running horses of Hektor strained with their swift feet into the fighting, and I with my own spear am conspicuous among the fighting Trojans, I who beat from them the day of necessity. For you, here the vultures shall eat you. Wretch! Achilleus, great as he was, could do nothing to help you. When he stayed behind, and you went, he must have said much to you: "Patroklos, lord of horses, see that you do not come back to me and the hollow ships, until you have torn in blood the tunic of manslaughtering Hektor about his chest. In some such" manner he spoke to you, and persuaded the fool's heart in you.'

And now, dying, you answered him, o rider Patroklos: 'Now is your time for big words, Hektor. Yours is the victory given by Kronos' son, Zeus, and Apollo, who have subdued me easily, since they themselves stripped the arms from my shoulders. Even though twenty such as you had come in against me, they would all have been broken beneath my spear, and have perished. No, deadly destiny, with the son of Leto, has killed me, and of men it was Euphorbos; you are only my third slayer. And put away in your heart this other thing that I tell you. You yourself are not one who shall live long, but now already death and powerful destiny are standing beside you, to go down under the hands of Aiakos' great son, Achilleus.'

He spoke, and as he spoke the end of death closed in upon him, and the soul fluttering free of his limbs went down into Death's house mourning her destiny, leaving youth and manhood behind her. Now though he was a dead man glorious Hektor spoke to him: 'Patroklos, what is this prophecy of my headlong destruction? Who knows if even Achilleus, son of lovely-haired Thetis, might before this be struck by my spear, and his own life perish?'

He spoke, and setting his heel upon him wrenched out the bronze spear from the wound, then spurned him away on his back from the spear. Thereafter armed with the spear he went on, aiming a cast at Automedon, the godlike henchman for the swift-footed son of Aiakos, with the spear as he was carried away by those swift and immortal horses the gods had given as shining gifts to Peleus.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 17

 As Patroklos went down before the Trojans in the hard fighting he was not unseen by Atreus' son, warlike Menelaos, who stalked through the ranks of the champions, helmed in the bright bronze, and bestrode the body, as over a first-born calf the mother cow stands lowing, she who has known no children before this. So Menelaos of the fair hair stood over Patroklos and held the spear and the perfect circle of his shield before him, raging to cut down any man who might come forth against him. Nor did the fall of blameless Patroklos pass unattended by Panthoös' son of the strong ash spear, Euphorbos, who standing close to face him spoke a word to warlike Menelaos: 'Son of Atreus, Menelaos, illustrious, leader of armies: give way, let the bloody spoils be, get back from this body, since before me no one of the Trojans, or renowned companions, struck Patroklos down with the spear in the strong encounter. Thereby let me win this great glory among the Trojans before I hit you and strip the sweetness of life away from you.'

Deeply stirred, Menelaos of the fair hair answered him: 'Father Zeus, it is not well for the proud man to glory. Neither the fury of the leopard is such, not such is the lion's, nor the fury of the devastating wild boar, within whose breast the spirit is biggest and vaunts in the pride of his strength, is so great as goes the pride in these sons of Panthoös of the strong ash spear. Yet even the strength of Hyperenor, breaker of horses, had no joy of his youth when he stood against me and taunted me and said that among all the Danaans I was the weakest in battle. Yet I think that his feet shall no more carry him back, to pleasure his beloved wife and his honoured parents. So I think I can break your strength as well, if you only stand against me. No, but I myself tell you to get back into the multitude, not stand to face me, before you take some harm. Once a thing has been done, the fool sees it.'

He spoke so, but did not persuade Euphorbos, who answered: 'Then, lordly Menelaos, you must now pay the penalty for my brother, whom you killed, and boast that you did it, and made his wife a widow in the depth of a young bride chamber and left to his parents the curse of lamentation and sorrow. Yet I might stop the mourning of these unhappy people if I could carry back to them your head, and your armour, and toss them into Panthoös' hands, and to Phrontis the lovely. No, this struggle shall not go long untested between us nor yet unfought, whether it prove our strength or our terror.'

He spoke, and stabbed Menelaos' shield in its perfect circle, nor did the bronze break its way through, but the spearhead bent back in the strong shield. And after him Atreus' son, Menelaos, made his prayer to father Zeus and lunged with the bronze spear and as he was drawing back caught him in the pit of the gullet and leaned in on the stroke in the confidence of his strong hand, and clean through the soft part of the neck the spearpoint was driven. He fell, thunderously, and his armour clattered upon him, and his hair, lovely as the Graces, was splattered with blood, those braided locks caught waspwise in gold and silver. As some slip of an olive tree strong-growing that a man raises in a lonely place, and drenched it with generous water, so that it blossoms into beauty, and the blasts of winds from all quarters tremble it, and it bursts into pale blossoming. But then a wind suddenly in a great tempest descending upon it wrenches it out of its stand and lays it at length on the ground; such was Euphorbos of the strong ash spear, the son of Panthoös, whom Menelaos Atreides killed, and was stripping his armour.

As when in the confidence of his strength some lion hill-reared snatches the finest cow in a herd as it pastures; first the lion breaks her neck caught fast in the strong teeth, then gulps down the blood and all the guts that are inward savagely, as the dogs and the herdsmen raise a commotion loudly about him, but from a distance, and are not willing to go in and face him, since the hard green fear has hold of them; so no heart in the breast of any Trojan had courage to go in and face glorious Menelaos. Then easily the son of Atreus might have taken the glorious armour from Panthoös' son, only Phoibos Apollo begrudged him and stirred up Hektor, a match for the running war god, against him in semblance of a man, the leader of the Kikones, Mentes, and spoke aloud to him, and addressed him in winged words: 'While you, Hektor, run after what can never be captured, the horses of valiant Aiakides; they are difficult horses for mortal man to manage, or even to ride behind them for all except Achilleus, who was born of an immortal mother; meanwhile Menelaos, the warlike son of Atreus, stands over Patroklos and has killed the best man of the Trojans, Euphorbos, Panthoös' son, and stopped his furious valour.'

So he spoke, and went back, a god, to the mortals' struggle. But bitter sorrow closed over Hektor's heart in its darkness. He looked about then across the ranks, and at once was aware of the two men, one stripping the glorious armour, the other sprawled on the ground, and blood running from the gash of the spear-thrust. He stalked through the ranks of the champions helmed in the bright bronze with a shrill scream, and looking like the flame of Hephaistos, weariless. Nor did Atreus' son fail to hear the sharp cry. Deeply troubled, he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit: 'Ah me; if I abandon here the magnificent armour, and Patroklos, who has fallen here for the sake of my honour, shall not some one of the Danaans, seeing it, hold it against me? Yet if I fight, alone as I am, the Trojans and Hektor for shame, shall they not close in, many against one, about me? Hektor of the shining helm leads all of the Trojans here. Then why does my own heart within me debate this? When a man, in the face of divinity, would fight with another whom some god honours, the big disaster rolls sudden upon him. Therefore, let no Danaan seeing it hold it against me if I give way before Hektor, who fights from God. Yet if somewhere I could only get some word of Aias of the great war cry, we two might somehow go, and keep our spirit of battle even in the face of divinity, if we might win the body for Peleïd Achilleus. It would be our best among evils.'

Now as he was pondering this in his heart and his spirit meanwhile the ranks of the Trojans came on, and Hektor led them; and Menelaos backed away from them and left the dead man, but kept turning on his way like some great bearded lion when dogs and men drive him off from a steading with weapons and shouts, and in the breast of the lion the strong heart of valour freezes, and he goes reluctant away from the fenced ground. So fair-haired Menelaos moved from Patroklos, but turning stood fast when he had got back to the swarm of his own companions, and looked all about for huge Aias, the son of Telamon, and saw soon where he was, at the left of the entire battle encouraging his companions and urging them into the fighting, since Phoibos Apollo had smitten them all with unearthly terror. He went on the run, and presently stood beside him and spoke to him: 'This way, Aias, we must make for fallen Patroklos to try if we can carry back to Achilleus the body which is naked; Hektor of the shining helm has taken his armour.'

So he spoke, and stirred the spirit in valiant Aias who strode among the champions, fair-haired Menelaos with him. But Hektor, when he had stripped from Patroklos the glorious armour, dragged at him, meaning to cut his head from his shoulders with the sharp bronze, to haul off the body and give it to the dogs of Troy; but meanwhile Aias came near him, carrying like a wall his shield, and Hektor drew back to the company of his own companions and sprang to his chariot, but handed over the beautiful armour to the Trojans, to take back to the city and to be his great glory. Now Aias covering the son of Menoitios under his broad shield stood fast, like a lion over his young, when the lion is leading his little ones along, and men who are hunting come upon them in the forest. He stands in the pride of his great strength hooding his eyes under the cover of down-drawn eyelids. Such was Aias as he bestrode the hero Patroklos, while on the other side Atreus' son, warlike Menelaos, stood fast, feeding still bigger the great sorrow within him.

But Glaukos, lord of the Lykian men, the son of Hippolochos, looked at Hektor, scowling, and laid a harsh word upon him: 'Hektor, splendid to look at, you come far short in your fighting. That fame of yours, high as it is, belongs to a runner. Take thought now how to hold fast your town, your citadel by yourself, with those your people who were born in Ilion; since no Lykian will go forth now to fight with the Danaans for the sake of your city, since after all we got no gratitude for our everlasting hard struggle against your enemies. How then, o hard-hearted, shall you save a worse man in all your company, when you have abandoned Sarpedon, your guest-friend and own companion, to be the spoil and prey of the Argives, who was of so much use to you, yourself and your city while he lived? Now you have not the spirit to keep the dogs from him. Therefore now, if any of the Lykian men will obey me, we are going home, and the headlong destruction of Troy shall be manifest. For if the Trojans had any fighting strength that were daring and unshaken, such as comes on men who, for the sake of their country, have made the hard hateful work come between them and their enemies, we could quickly get the body of Patroklos inside Ilion. If, dead man though he be, he could be brought into the great city of lord Priam, if we could tear him out of the fighting, the Argives must at once give up the beautiful armour of Sarpedon, and we could carry his body inside Ilion. Such is the man whose henchman is killed. He is far the greatest of the Argives by the ships, and his men fight hard at close quarters. No, but you could not bring yourself to stand up against Aias of the great heart, nor to look at his eyes in the clamour of fighting men, nor attack him direct, since he is far better than you are.'

Looking darkly at him tall Hektor of the shining helm answered: 'Glaukos, why did a man like you speak this word of annoyance? I am surprised. I thought that for wits you surpassed all others of those who dwell in Lykia where the soil is generous; and yet now I utterly despise your heart for the thing you have spoken when you said I cannot stand in the face of gigantic Aias. I am not one who shudders at attack and the thunder of horses. But always the mind of Zeus is a stronger thing than a man's mind. He terrifies even the warlike man, he takes away victory lightly, when he himself has driven a man into battle. Come here, friend, and watch me at work; learn, standing beside me, whether I shall be a coward all day, as you proclaim me, or whether I stop some Danaan, for all of his fury, from his fighting strength and from the defence of fallen Patroklos.'

So speaking he called afar in a great voice to the Trojans: 'Trojans, Lykians, Dardanians who fight at close quarters, be men now, dear friends, remember your furious valour while I am putting on the beautiful armour of blameless Achilleus, which I stripped from Patroklos the strong when I killed him.'

So spoke Hektor of the shining helm, and departed from the hateful battle, and running caught up with his companions very soon, since he went on quick feet, and they had not gone far carrying the glorious armour of Peleus' son toward the city. He stood apart from the sorrowful fighting, and changed his armour, and gave what he had worn to the fighting Trojans to carry to sacred Ilion, and himself put on that armour immortal of Peleïd Achilleus, which the Uranian gods had given to his loved father; and he in turn grown old had given it to his son; but a son who never grew old in his father's armour.

When Zeus who gathers the clouds saw him, apart from the others arming himself in the battle gear of godlike Peleïdes, he stirred his head and spoke to his own spirit: 'Ah, poor wretch! There is no thought of death in your mind now, and yet death stands close beside you as you put on the immortal armour of a surpassing man. There are others who tremble before him. Now you have killed this man's dear friend, who was strong and gentle, and taken the armour, as you should not have done, from his shoulders and head. Still for the present I will invest you with great strength to make up for it that you will not come home out of the fighting, nor Andromache take from your hands the glorious arms of Achilleus.' He spoke, the son of Kronos, and nodded his head with the dark brows. The armour was fitted to Hektor's skin, and Ares the dangerous war god entered him, so that the inward body was packed full of force and fighting strength. He went onward calling in a great voice to his renowned companions in arms, and figured before them flaming in the battle gear of great-hearted Peleion. He ranged their ranks, and spoke a word to encourage each captain, to Mesthles and Glaukos, to Thersilochos and Medon, Deisenor and Hippothoös and Asteropaios, to Phorkys and Chromios and the bird interpreter Ennomos, and stirring all of these forward called to them in winged words: 'Hear me, you numberless hordes of companions who live at our borders. It was not for any desire nor need of a multitude that man by man I gathered you to come here from your cities, but so that you might have good will to defend the innocent children of the Trojans, and their wives, from the fighting Achaians. With such a purpose I wear out my own people for presents and food, wherewith I make strong the spirit within each one of you. Therefore a man must now turn his face straight forward, and perish or survive. This is the sweet invitation of battle. That man of you who drags Patroklos, dead as he is, back among Trojans, breakers of horses, and Aias gives way before him, I will give him half the spoils for his portion, and keep half for myself, and his glory shall be as great as mine is.'

So he spoke, and they lifted their spears and went straight for the Danaans who felt their weight, and inside each man the spirit was hopeful to get the body away from Telamonian Aias. Fools! Since over the dead man he tore the life out of many. Then Aias himself spoke to Menelaos of the great war cry: 'Illustrious Menelaos, dear friend, I no longer have hope that even you and I can win back out of the fighting. My fear is not so much for the dead body of Patroklos who presently must glut the dogs and the birds of Troy, so much as I fear for my own head, my life, and what may befall it, and for yours, since this cloud of war is darkened on all things, this Hektor, while for you and me sheer death is emerging. Come then, call the great men of the Danaans, if one might hear you.'

He spoke, and Menelaos of the great war cry obeyed him. He lifted his voice and called in a piercing cry to the Danaans: 'Friends, o leaders and men of counsel among the Argives, you that beside Agamemnon and Menelaos, the two sons of Atreus, drink the community's wine and give, each man, his orders to the people; and from Zeus the respect and honour attend you. It is hard for me to discriminate among you each man who is a leader, so big is the bitter fight that has blazed up. Then let a man come of his own accord, think it shameful that Patroklos be given to the dogs of Troy to delight them.'

He spoke, and swift Aias son of Oïleus was sharp to hear him and was first to come running along the battle, and join him, and after him Idomeneus, and Idomeneus' companion Meriones, a match for the murderous lord of battles. But what man could tell forth from his heart the names of the others, all who after these waked the war strength of the Achaians? The Trojans came down on them in a pack, and Hektor led them. As when at the outpouring place of a rain-glutted river the huge surf of the sea roars against the current, out-jutting beaches thunder aloud to the backwash of the salt water, with such a bellow the Trojans came on, but now the Achaians stood fast about the son of Menoitios, in a single courage and fenced beneath their bronze-armoured shields, while the son of Kronos drifted across the glitter of their helmets a deepening mist; since before this time he had not hated Menoitios' son, while he lived yet and was Achilleus' companion, and loathed now that he should become the spoil of the hated Trojans' dogs, and stirred his companions on to defend him.

First the Trojans shouldered back the glancing-eyed Achaians, who abandoned the body and ran for terror, nor did the high-hearted Trojans take any with their spears, for all of their striving, but dragged at the dead man, only the Achaians were not long destined to fail him, since they were pulled around in sudden speed by Aias, who for his beauty and the work of his hands surpassed all other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus. He steered through the front fighters in pride of strength like a savage wild boar, who among the mountains easily scatters the dogs and strong young men when he turns at bay in the valley. So now the son of haughty Telamon, glorious Aias, turned to charge and easily scatter the Trojan battalions, who had taken their stand bestriding Patroklos, in high hope of dragging him off to their own city, and so winning honour.

Indeed, Hippothoös, glorious son of Pelasgian Lethos, was trying to drag him by the foot through the strong encounter by fastening the sling of his shield round the ankle tendons for the favour of Hektor and the Trojans, but the sudden evil came to him, and none for all their desire could defend him. The son of Telamon, sweeping in through the mass of the fighters, struck him at close quarters through the brazen cheeks of his helmet and the helm crested with horse-hair was riven about the spearhead to the impact of the huge spear and the weight of the hand behind it and the brain ran from the wound along the spear by the eye-hole, bleeding. There his strength was washed away, and from his hands he let fall to the ground the foot of great-hearted Patroklos to lie there, and himself collapsed prone over the dead man far away from generous Larisa, and he could not render again the care of his dear parents; he was short-lived, beaten down beneath the spear of high-hearted Aias.

Again Hektor threw at Aias with the shining javelin, but Aias with his eyes straight on him avoided the bronze spear by a little, and Hektor struck Schedios, the son of high-hearted Iphitos and far the best of the Phokians, one who lived in his home in famous Panopeus and was lord over many people. He struck him fair beneath the collar-bone, and the pointed bronze head tore clean through and came out by the base of the shoulder. He fell, thunderously, and his armour clattered upon him.

But Aias in turn cut at Phorkys, the wise son of Phainops, in the middle of the belly as he stood over fallen Hippothoös, and broke the hollow of the corselet, so that the entrails spurted from the bronze, and he went down clawing the dust in his fingers. The champions of Troy gave back then, and glorious Hektor, and the Argives gave a great cry and dragged back the bodies of Hippothoös and Phorkys, and eased the armour from their shoulders.

Then, once more, might the Trojans have climbed back into Ilion's wall, subdued by terror before the warlike Achaians, and the Argives, even beyond Zeus' destiny, might have won glory by their own force and strength, had not Apollo in person stirred on Aineias; he had assumed the form of the herald Periphas, Epytos' son, growing old in his herald's office by Aineias' aged father, and a man whose thoughts were of kindness. In the likeness of this man Zeus' son Apollo spoke to him: 'Aineias, how could you be the men to defend sheer Ilion even against a god's will, as I have seen other men do it in the confidence of their own force and strength, their own manhood and their own numbers, though they had too few people for it? But now Zeus wishes the victory far rather for our side than the Danaans', only yourselves keep blenching and will not fight them.'

So he spoke, but Aineias knew far-striking Apollo as he looked him straight in the face, and called in a great voice to Hektor: 'Hektor, and you other lords of the Trojans and their companions, here is a shameful thing! We are climbing back into Ilion's wall, subdued by terror before the warlike Achaians. Yet see, some one of the gods is standing beside me, and tells me that Zeus the supreme counsellor lends his weight to our fighting. Therefore we must go straight for the Danaans, so that they may not carry thus easily back to their ships the fallen Patroklos.'

He spoke, and with a long leap stood far before the front fighters, and the Trojans turned and held their ground against the Achaians. And now Aineias killed Leiokritos, with a spear-thrust, the son of Arisbas and noble companion of Lykomedes; but as he fell the warrior Lykomedes pitied him, and stood close in, and made a cast with the shining javelin and struck Apisaon, son of Hippasos, shepherd of the people, in the liver under the midriff, and the strength of his knees was broken. He was one who had come from Paionia of the rich soil and was best of her men in fighting next to Asteropaios.

As this man fell, warlike Asteropaios pitied him and he in turn drove forward eager to fight with the Danaans, but was not able to do it, for they, standing about Patroklos, fenced him behind their shields on all sides, and held their spears out-thrust. For Aias ranged their whole extent with his numerous orders, and would not let any man give back from the body, nor let one go out and fight by himself far in front of the other Achaians, but made them stand hard and fast about him and fight at close quarters. Such were the orders of gigantic Aias. The ground ran with red blood, the dead men dropped one after another from the ranks alike of Trojans and their mighty companions and Danaans also, since these fought not without bloodletting, but far fewer of them went down, since they ever remembered always to stand massed and beat sudden death from each other.

So they fought on in the likeness of fire, nor would you have thought the sun was still secure in his place in the sky, nor the moon, since the mist was closed over all that part of the fight where the bravest stood about Patroklos, the fallen son of Menoitios. Now elsewhere the rest of the Trojans and strong-greaved Achaians fought naturally in the bright air, with the sun's sharp glitter everywhere about them, no cloud was showing anywhere on earth nor on the mountains. They fought their battle by intervals standing each well off at a distance, avoiding the painful shots from the other side; but they in the middle were suffering distress in the mist and the fighting, with the cruel bronze wearing them. These men were the bravest, but there were two men of glory, Thrasymedes and Antilochos, who had not yet heard how Patroklos the blameless had been killed, but still thought he was alive and fighting in the first shock with the Trojans. But these two, watching against death or flight in their company, fought their separate battle, since such was their order from Nestor as he was urging them forth from the black ships into the fighting.

So for these daylong the hard bitterness of the wearing battle rose. With the ever-relentless sweat and the weariness knees, legs, and feet that supported from underneath each fighter, their hands and eyes also were running wet as they fought on over the brave henchman of swift-footed Aiakides. As when a man gives the hide of a great ox, a bullock, drenched first deep in fat, to all his people to stretch out; the people take it from him and stand in a circle about it and pull, and presently the moisture goes and the fat sinks in, with so many pulling, and the bull's hide is stretched out level; so the men of both sides in a cramped space tugged at the body in both directions; and the hearts of the Trojans were hopeful to drag him away to Ilion, those of the Achaians to get him back to the hollow ships. And about him a savage struggle arose. Not Ares who rallies men, not Athene, watching this fight could have scorned it, not even in some strong anger, such was the wicked work of battle for men and for horses Zeus strained tight above Patroklos that day. But the brilliant Achilleus did not yet know at all that Patroklos had fallen. Since now the men were fighting far away from the fast ships under the Trojan wall, and Achilleus had no expectation that Patroklos was dead, but thought he was alive and close under the gates, and would come back. He had not thought that Patroklos would storm the city without himself, nor with himself either; for often he had word from his mother, not known to mortals; she was ever telling him what was the will of great Zeus; but this time his mother did not tell Achilleus of all the evil that had been done, nor how his dearest companion had perished.

So they about the body gripping their headed spears kept inexorably close together, and slaughtered on both sides. And such would be the saying of some bronze-armoured Achaian: 'Friends, there is no glory for us if we go back again to our hollow ships, but here and now let the black earth open gaping for all; this would soon be far better for us if we give up this man to the Trojans, breakers of horses, to take away to their own city and win glory from him.'

And such in turn would be the cry of some high-hearted Trojan: 'O friends, though it be destined for all of us to be killed here over this man, still none of us must give ground from the fighting.' Thus a man would speak, and stir the spirit in each one of his fellowship. So they fought on, and the iron tumult went up into the brazen sky through the barren bright air. But the horses of Aiakides standing apart from the battle wept, as they had done since they heard how their charioteer had fallen in the dust at the hands of murderous Hektor. In truth Automedon, the powerful son of Diores, hit them over and over again with the stroke of the flying lash, or talked to them, sometimes entreating them, sometimes threatening. They were unwilling to go back to the wide passage of Helle and the ships, or back into the fighting after the Achaians, but still as stands a grave monument which is set over the mounded tomb of a dead man or lady, they stood there holding motionless in its place the fair-wrought chariot, leaning their heads along the ground, and warm tears were running earthward from underneath the lids of the mourning horses who longed for their charioteer, while their bright manes were made dirty as they streamed down either side of the yoke from under the yoke pad.

As he watched the mourning horses the son of Kronos pitied them, and stirred his head and spoke to his own spirit: 'Poor wretches,

why then did we ever give you to the lord Peleus, a mortal man, and you yourselves are immortal and ageless? Only so that among unhappy men you also might be grieved? Since among all creatures that breathe on earth and crawl on it there is not anywhere a thing more dismal than man is. At least the son of Priam, Hektor, shall not mount behind you in the carefully wrought chariot. I will not let him. Is it not enough for him that he has the armour and glories in wearing it? But now I will put vigour into your knees and your spirits so that you bring back Automedon out of the fighting safe to the hollow ships; since I shall still give the Trojans the glory of killing, until they win to the strong-benched vessels, until the sun goes down and the blessed darkness comes over.' So spoke Zeus, and breathed great vigour into the horses, and they shaking the dust from their manes to the ground lightly carried the running chariot among the Achaians and Trojans. Automedon fought from them, though grieving for his companion. He would dash in, like a vulture among geese, with his horses, and lightly get away out of the Trojans' confusion and lightly charge in again in pursuit of a great multitude, and yet could kill no men when he swept in in chase of them. He had no way while he was alone in a separate chariot to lunge with the spear and still keep in hand his fast-running horses. But at last there was one of his companions who laid eyes upon him: Alkimedon, the son of Laerkes, descended from Haimon. He stood behind the chariot and called to Automedon: 'Automedon, what god put this unprofitable purpose into your heart, and has taken away the better wits, so that you are trying to fight the Trojans in the first shock of encounter by yourself, since your companion has been killed, and Hektor glories in wearing Aiakides' armour on his own shoulders?'

In turn Automedon answered him, the son of Diores: 'Alkimedon, which other of the Achaians could handle the management and the strength of immortal horses as you can, were it not Patroklos, the equal of the immortals in counsel, while he lived? Now death and fate have closed in upon him. Therefore take over from me the whip and the glittering guide reins while I dismount from behind the horses, so I may do battle.'

He spoke, and Alkimedon vaulted up to the charging chariot and quickly gathered up the reins and the lash in his hands, while Automedon sprang down. But glorious Hektor saw them and immediately spoke to Aineias, who stood close beside him: 'Aineias, lord of the counsels of the bronze-armoured Trojans, I see before us the horses of swift-footed Aiakides who appear now in the fighting with weak charioteers. Therefore I could be hopeful of their capture, if you were willing in heart to go with me. If we two went forth against them they would not dare to stand their ground and do battle against us.' He spoke, and the strong son of Anchises did not disobey him. The two went strongly forward, hooding their shoulders in well-tanned and stubborn hides of oxen with deep bronze beaten upon them. Along with these went Chromios and godlike Aretos both together, and the spirit within each had high hopes of killing the men and driving away the strong-necked horses; poor fools, who were not going to come back from Automedon without the shedding of blood; and he with a prayer to Zeus father was filled about the darkening heart with war-strength and courage, and spoke now to Alkimedon his trusted companion: 'Alkimedon, no longer check the horses back from me but keep them breathing right against my back. I have no thought that I can stand up to the strength of Hektor the son of Priam. Sooner, I think, he will kill us and mount behind the mane-floating horses of Achilleus, and scatter the ranks of the Argive fighting men; or else himself go down in the first rush.'

He spoke, and called to the two Aiantes and Menelaos: 'Aiantes, lords of the Argives, and Menelaos, we call you to leave the dead man in the care of those who are fittest to stand bestriding him and fend off the ranks of the Trojans while you beat back the day without pity from us who are living. For Hektor and Aineias, the greatest men of the Trojans, are leaning the weight of their charge this way through the sorrowful battle. Yet all these are things that are lying upon the gods' knees. I myself will cast; and Zeus will look after the issue.'

So he spoke, and balanced the spear far-shadowed, and threw it, and struck the shield of Aretos on its perfect circle, nor could the shield hold off the spear, but the bronze smashed clean through and was driven on through the belt to the deep of the belly. As when a strong-grown man with sharp axe in his hands chops at an ox, ranger of the fields, behind the horns, cutting all the way through the sinew, and the ox springing forward topples, so Aretos sprang forward, then toppled back, and sharp-driven into the depth of his belly the quivering spear unstrung him. Then Hektor made a cast with the shining spear at Automedon, but he, keeping his eyes straight on him, avoided the bronze spear. For he bent forward, and behind his back the long spearshaft was driven into the ground so that the butt end was shaken on the spear. Then and there Ares the huge took the force from it. And now they would have gone for each other with swords at close quarters, had not the two Aiantes driven strongly between them, who came on through the battle at the call of their companion, and in fear before them Hektor and Aineias and godlike Chromios gave ground back and away once more, leaving Aretos lying there where he was with a wound in his vitals. Then Automedon, a match for the running god of battles, stripped the armour, and spoke a word of boasting above him: 'Now I have put a little sorrow from my heart for Patroklos' death, although the man I killed was not great as he was.'

So he spoke, and took up the bloody war spoils and laid them inside the chariot, and himself mounted it, the blood running from hands and feet, as on some lion who has eaten a bullock.

Once again over Patroklos was close drawn a strong battle weary and sorrowful, and Athene from the sky descending waked the bitter fighting, since Zeus of the wide brows sent her down to stir the Danaans, for now his purpose had shifted. As when in the sky Zeus strings for mortals the shimmering rainbow, to be a portent and sign of war, or of wintry storm, when heat perishes, such storm as stops mortals' work upon the face of the earth, and afflicts their cattle, so Athene shrouded in the shimmering cloud about her merged among the swarming Achaians, and wakened each man. And first she spoke, stirring him on, to the son of Atreus, strong Menelaos, since he was the one who was standing close to her. She likened hereself in form and weariless voice to Phoinix: 'Menelaos, this will be a thing of shame, a reproach said of you, if under the wall of the Trojans the dogs in their fury can mutilate the staunch companion of haughty Achilleus. But hold strongly on, and stir up all the rest of your people.'

Then in turn Menelaos of the great war cry answered her: 'Phoinix, my father, aged and honoured, if only Athene would give me such strength, and hold the volleying missiles off from me! So for my part I would be willing to stand by Patroklos and defend him, since in his death he hurt my heart greatly. Yet Hektor holds still the awful strength of a fire, nor falters in raging with the bronze spear, since Zeus is giving him glory.'

So he spoke, and the goddess grey-eyed Athene was happy that first among all the divinities his prayer had bespoken her. She put strength into the man's shoulders and knees, inspiring in his breast the persistent daring of that mosquito who though it is driven hard away from a man's skin, even so, for the taste of human blood, persists in biting him. With such daring she darkened to fullness the heart inside him. He stood over Patroklos, and made a cast with the shining spear. There was one among the Trojans, Podes, Eëtion's son, a rich man and good, whom Hektor prized above others in the countryside, since he was his friend and ate at his table. Now fair-haired Menelaos struck this man, at the war belt as he swept away in flight, and drove the bronze spear clean through it. He fell, thunderously, and Atreus' son Menelaos dragged the body away from the Trojans among his companions.

But now Apollo came and stood beside Hektor, and stirred him, assuming the shape of Phainops, Asios' son, who among all guest friends was dearest to Hektor, and lived at home in Abydos. In the likeness of this man far-striking Apollo spoke to him: 'Hektor, what other Achaian now shall be frightened before you? See, you have shrunk before Menelaos, who in times before this was a soft spearfighter; and now he has gone taking off single-handed a body from among the Trojans. He has killed your trusted companion, valiant among the champions, Podes, the son of Eëtion.'

He spoke, and the dark cloud of sorrow closed over Hektor. He took his way among the champions helmed in the shining bronze. And now the son of Kronos caught up the betasselled glaring aegis, and shrouded Ida in mists. He let go a lightning flash and a loud thunderstroke, shaking the mountain, gave victory to the Trojans, and terrified the Achaians. First to begin the flight was Peneleos the Boiotian. For he, turning always toward the attack, was hit in the shoulder's end, a slight wound, but the spear of Poulydamas, who had thrown it from a stance very close to him, had grated the bone's edge. Then Hektor wounded in the hand by the wrist Leïtos, the son of great-hearted Alektryon, and halted his warcraft, and he drew back staring about him since his spirit had hope no longer of holding a spear steady in his hand to fight with the Trojans. Now as Hektor made a rush for Leïtos, Idomeneus struck him on the corselet over the chest by the nipple, but the long shaft was broken behind the head, and the Trojans shouted. Now Hektor made a cast at Deukalian Idomeneus as he stood in his chariot, and missed him by only a little, but struck the follower and charioteer of Meriones, Koiranos, who had come with him from strong-founded Lyktos. Now Idomeneus at the first had come on foot, leaving the oarswept ships, and now would have given the Trojans a mighty triumph, had not Koiranos swiftly come up with the fast-running horses; came as light to the other and beat from him the day without pity, but himself lost his life at the hands of manslaughtering Hektor, who hit him under the jaw by the ear, and the spearshaft pushed out his teeth by the roots from the base, and split the tongue through the middle. He toppled from the chariot, with the reins on the ground scattered, but Meriones leaning down caught these up in his own hands from the surface of the plain, and called aloud to Idomeneus: 'Lash them now, until you can get back to our fast ships. You see yourself there is no more strength left in the Achaians.'

So he spoke, and Idomeneus whipped the mane-floating horses back to the hollow ships, with fear fallen upon his spirit.

Nor was it unseen by great-hearted Aias how Zeus shifted the strength of the fighting toward the Trojans, nor by Menelaos. First of the two to speak was huge Telamonian Aias: 'Shame on it! By now even one with a child's innocence could see how father Zeus himself is helping the Trojans. The weapons of each of these take hold, no matter who throws them, good fighter or bad, since Zeus is straightening all of them equally, while ours fall to the ground and are utterly useless. Therefore let us deliberate with ourselves upon the best counsel, how at the same time to rescue the dead body, and also win back ourselves, and bring joy to our beloved companions who look our way and sorrow for us, and believe no longer that the fury of manslaughtering Hektor, his hands irresistible, can be held, but must be driven on to the black ships. But there should be some companion who could carry the message quickly to Peleus' son, since I think he has not yet heard the ghastly news, how his beloved companion has fallen. Yet I cannot make out such a man among the Achaians, since they are held in the mist alike, the men and their horses. Father Zeus, draw free from the mist the sons of the Achaians, make bright the air, and give sight back to our eyes; in shining daylight destroy us, if to destroy us be now your pleasure.'

He spoke thus, and as he wept the father took pity upon him, and forthwith scattered the mist and pushed the darkness back from them, and the sun blazed out, and all the battle was plain before them. Now Aias spoke to him of the great war cry, Menelaos: 'Look hard, illustrious Menelaos, if you can discover Antilochos still living, the son of great-hearted Nestor, and send him out to run with a message to wise Achilleus how one who was far the dearest of his companions has fallen.'

He spoke, and Menelaos of the great war cry obeyed him, and went on his way, as from a mid-fenced ground some lion who has been harrying dogs and men, but his strength is worn out; they will not let him tear out the fat of the oxen, watching nightlong against him, and he in his hunger for meat closes in but can get nothing of what he wants, for the raining javelins thrown from the daring hands of the men beat ever against him, and the flaming torches, and these he balks at for all of his fury, and with the daylight goes away, disappointed of desire; so Menelaos of the great war cry went from Patroklos much unwilling, and was afraid for him, lest the Achaians under pressure of fear might leave him as spoil for the enemy, and had much to urge on Meriones and the Aiantes: 'Aiantes, o lords of the Argives, and you, Meriones, now let each one of you remember unhappy Patroklos who was gentle, and understood how to be kindly toward all men while he lived. Now death and fate have closed in upon him.'

So spoke fair-haired Menelaos, and went away from them peering about on all sides, like an eagle, who, as men say, sees most sharply of all winged creatures under the heaven, and lofty though he hover the cowering hare, the swift-footed, escapes not his sight as he crouches in the shaggy bush, but the eagle plunges suddenly to grab him and tear the life from him. So now in you, Menelaos, illustrious, the eyes shining circled everywhere your swarming hordes of companions, if the man might see anywhere Nestor's son, still living, and saw soon where he was, at the left of the entire battle, encouraging his companions and urging them into the fighting. Menelaos the fair-haired stood beside him and spoke to him: 'Antilochos, turn this way, illustrious, and hear from me the ghastly message of a thing I wish never had happened. You can see for yourself, I think, already, from watching, how the god is wheeling disaster against the Danaans and how the Trojans are winning. The best of the Achaians has fallen, Patroklos, and a huge loss is inflicted upon the Danaans. Run then quickly to Achilleus, by the ships of the Achaians, and tell him. He might in speed win back to his ship the dead body which is naked. Hektor of the shining helm has taken his armour.'

So he spoke, and Antilochos hated his word as he listened. He stayed for a long time without a word, speechless, and his eyes filled with tears, the springing voice was held still within him, yet even so he neglected not Menelaos' order but went on the run, handing his war gear to a blameless companion, Laodokos, who had turned nearby his single-foot horses.

Now as his feet carried him, weeping, out of the battle, with his message of evil for the son of Peleus, Achilleus, so now, Menelaos, the spirit in you, illustrious, wished not to defend his stricken companions, after Antilochos was gone from them, and his loss wrought greatly upon the Pylians; rather he sent Thrasymedes the brilliant over to help them, while he himself went back again to the hero Patroklos running, and took his place beside the Aiantes, and spoke to them: 'Now I have sent the man you spoke of back to the fast ships on his way to swift-footed Achilleus, yet think not even he can come now, for all his great anger with Hektor the brilliant. There is no way he could fight bare of armour against the Trojans. We by ourselves must deliberate upon the best counsel how at the same time to rescue the dead body, and also ourselves escape death and destiny from the clamouring Trojans.'

Then in turn huge Telamonian Aias answered him: 'All you have said, renowned Menelaos, is fair and orderly. But come: you and Meriones stoop and shoulder the body at once, and carry it out of the hard fighting. Behind you we two shall fight off the Trojans and glorious Hektor, we, who have the same name, the same spirit, and who in times past have stood fast beside each other in the face of the bitter war god.'

He spoke, and they caught the body from the ground in their arms, lifting him high with a great heave, and the Trojan people behind them shouted aloud as they saw the Achaians lifting the dead man, and made a rush against them like dogs, who sweep in rapidly on a wounded wild boar, ahead of the young men who hunt him, and for the moment race in raging to tear him to pieces until in the confidence of his strength he turns on them, at bay, and they give ground and scatter for fear one way and another; so the Trojans until that time kept always in close chase assembled, stabbing at them with swords and leaf-headed spears, but every time the two Aiantes would swing round to face them and stand fast, the colour of their skin changed, and no longer could any endure to sweep in further and fight for the body.

So these, straining, carried the dead man out of the battle and back to the hollow ships, and the fight that was drawn fast between them was wild as fire which, risen suddenly, storming a city of men sets it ablaze, and houses diminish before it in the high glare, and the force of the wind on it roars it to thunder; so, as the Danaans made their way back, the weariless roaring of horses, chariots, and spearmen was ever upon them. But they, as mules who have put the on-drive of strength upon them drag down from the high ground along a steep stony trail either a beam or some big timber for a ship, and the heart in them wearies under the hard work and sweat of their urgent endeavour; so these, straining, carried the dead man away, and behind them the two Aiantes held them off, as a timbered rock ridge holds off water, one that is placed to divide an entire plain, which, though flood-currents of strong rivers drive sorely against it, holds them off and beats back the waters of them all to be scattered over the plain, and all the strength of their streams cannot break it; so behind the Achaians the Aiantes held off forever the Trojan attack. But these stayed close, and two beyond others, Aineias, who was son of Anchises, and glorious Hektor. But before these, as goes a cloud of daws or of starlings screaming terror when they have seen coming forth against them the hawk, whose coming is murder for the little birds, so now before Aineias and Hektor the young Achaian warriors went, screaming terror, all the delight of battle forgotten. Many fine pieces of armour littered the ground on both sides of the ditch, as the Danaans fled. There was no check in the fighting.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 18

 So these fought on in the likeness of blazing fire. Meanwhile, Antilochos came, a swift-footed messenger, to Achilleus, and found him sitting in front of the steep-horned ships, thinking over in his heart of things which had now been accomplished. Disturbed, Achilleus spoke to the spirit in his own great heart: 'Ah me, how is it that once again the flowing-haired Achaians are driven out of the plain on their ships in fear and confusion? May the gods not accomplish vile sorrows upon the heart in me in the way my mother once made it clear to me, when she told me how while I yet lived the bravest of all the Myrmidons must leave the light of the sun beneath the hands of the Trojans. Surely, then, the strong son of Menoitios has perished. Unhappy! and yet I told him, once he had beaten the fierce fire off, to come back to the ships, not fight in strength against Hektor.'

Now as he was pondering this in his heart and his spirit, meanwhile the son of stately Nestor was drawing near him and wept warm tears, and gave Achilleus his sorrowful message: 'Ah me, son of valiant Peleus; you must hear from me the ghastly message of a thing I wish never had happened. Patroklos has fallen, and now they are fighting over his body which is naked. Hektor of the shining helm has taken his armour.'

He spoke, and the black cloud of sorrow closed on Achilleus. In both hands he caught up the grimy dust, and poured it over his head and face, and fouled his handsome countenance, and the black ashes were scattered over his immortal tunic. And he himself, mightily in his might, in the dust lay at length, and took and tore at his hair with his hands, and defiled it. And the handmaidens Achilleus and Patroklos had taken captive, stricken at heart cried out aloud, and came running out of doors about valiant Achilleus, and all of them beat their breasts with their hands, and the limbs went slack in each of them. On the other side Antilochos mourned with him, letting the tears fall, and held the hands of Achilleus as he grieved in his proud heart, fearing Achilleus might cut his throat with the iron. He cried out terribly, aloud, and the lady his mother heard him as she sat in the depths of the sea at the side of her aged father, and she cried shrill in turn, and the goddesses gathered about her, all who along the depth of the sea were daughters of Nereus. For Glauke was there, Kymodoke and Thaleia, Nesaie and Speio and Thoë, and ox-eyed Halia; Kymothoëwas there, Aktaia and Limnoreia, Melite and Iaira, Amphithoëand Agauë, Doto and Proto, Dynamene and Pherousa, Dexamene and Amphinome and Kallianeira; Doris and Panope and glorious Galateia, Nemertes and Apseudes and Kallianassa; Klymene was there, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maira and Oreithyia and lovely-haired Amatheia, and the rest who along the depth of the sea were daughters of Nereus. The silvery cave was filled with these, and together all of them beat their breasts, and among them Thetis led out the threnody: 'Hear me, Nereids, my sisters; so you may all know well all the sorrows that are in my heart, when you hear of them from me. Ah me, my sorrow, the bitterness in this best of child-bearing, since I gave birth to a son who was without fault and powerful, conspicuous among heroes; and he shot up like a young tree, and I nurtured him, like a tree grown in the pride of the orchard. I sent him away with the curved ships into the land of Ilion to fight with the Trojans; but I shall never again receive him won home again to his country and into the house of Peleus. Yet while I see him live and he looks on the sunlight, he has sorrows, and though I go to him I can do nothing to help him. Yet I shall go, to look on my dear son, and to listen to the sorrow that has come to him as he stays back from the fighting.'

So she spoke, and left the cave, and the others together went with her in tears, and about them the wave of the water was broken. Now these, when they came to the generous Troad, followed each other out on the sea-shore, where close together the ships of the Myrmidons were hauled up about swift Achilleus. There as he sighed heavily the lady his mother stood by him and cried out shrill and aloud, and took her son's head in her arms, then sorrowing for him she spoke to him in winged words: 'Why then, child, do you lament? What sorrow has come to your heart now? Speak out, do not hide it. These things are brought to accomplishment through Zeus: in the way that you lifted your hands and prayed for, that all the sons of the Achaians be pinned on their grounded vessels by reason of your loss, and suffer things that are shameful.'

Then sighing heavily Achilleus of the swift feet answered her: 'My mother, all these things the Olympian brought to accomplishment. But what pleasure is this to me, since my dear companion has perished, Patroklos, whom I loved beyond all other companions, as well as my own life. I have lost him, and Hektor, who killed him, has stripped away that gigantic armour, a wonder to look on and splendid, which the gods gave Peleus, a glorious present, on that day they drove you to the marriage bed of a mortal. I wish you had gone on living then with the other goddesses of the sea, and that Peleus had married some mortal woman. As it is, there must be on your heart a numberless sorrow for your son's death, since you can never again receive him won home again to his country; since the spirit within does not drive me to go on living and be among men, except on condition that Hektor first be beaten down under my spear, lose his life and pay the price for stripping Patroklos, the son of Menoitios.'

Then in turn Thetis spoke to him, letting the tears fall: 'Then I must lose you soon, my child, by what you are saying, since it is decreed your death must come soon after Hektor's.'

Then deeply disturbed Achilleus of the swift feet answered her: 'I must die soon, then; since I was not to stand by my companion when he was killed. And now, far away from the land of his fathers, he has perished, and lacked my fighting strength to defend him. Now, since I am not going back to the beloved land of my fathers, since I was no light of safety to Patroklos, nor to my other companions, who in their numbers went down before glorious Hektor, but sit here beside my ships, a useless weight on the good land, I, who am such as no other of the bronze-armoured Achaians in battle, though there are others also better in council-- why, I wish that strife would vanish away from among gods and mortals, and gall, which makes a man grow angry for all his great mind, that gall of anger that swarms like smoke inside of a man's heart and becomes a thing sweeter to him by far than the dripping of honey. So it was here that the lord of men Agamemnon angered me. Still, we will let all this be a thing of the past, and for all our sorrow beat down by force the anger deeply within us. Now I shall go, to overtake that killer of a dear life, Hektor; then I will accept my own death, at whatever time Zeus wishes to bring it about, and the other immortals. For not even the strength of Herakles fled away from destruction, although he was dearest of all to lord Zeus, son of Kronos, but his fate beat him under, and the wearisome anger of Hera. So I likewise, if such is the fate which has been wrought for me, shall lie still, when I am dead. Now I must win excellent glory, and drive some one of the women of Troy, or some deep-girdled Dardanian woman, lifting up to her soft cheeks both hands to wipe away the close bursts of tears in her lamentation, and learn that I stayed too long out of the fighting. Do not hold me back from the fight, though you love me. You will not persuade me.'

In turn the goddess Thetis of the silver feet answered him: 'Yes, it is true, my child, this is no cowardly action, to beat aside sudden death from your afflicted companions. Yet, see now, your splendid armour, glaring and brazen, is held among the Trojans, and Hektor of the shining helmet wears it on his own shoulders, and glories in it. Yet I think he will not glory for long, since his death stands very close to him. Therefore do not yet go into the grind of the war god, not before with your own eyes you see me come back to you. For I am coming to you at dawn and as the sun rises bringing splendid armour to you from the lord Hephaistos.'

So she spoke, and turned, and went away from her son, and turning now to her sisters of the sea she spoke to them: 'Do you now go back into the wide fold of the water to visit the ancient of the sea and the house of our father, and tell him everything. I am going to tall Olympos and to Hephaistos, the glorious smith, if he might be willing to give me for my son renowned and radiant armour.'

She spoke, and they plunged back beneath the wave of the water, while she the goddess Thetis of the silver feet went onward to Olympos, to bring back to her son the glorious armour.

So her feet carried her to Olympos; meanwhile the Achaians with inhuman clamour before the attack of manslaughtering Hektor fled until they were making for their own ships and the Hellespont; nor could the strong-greaved Achaians have dragged the body of Patroklos, henchman of Achilleus, from under the missiles, for once again the men and the horses came over upon him, and Hektor, Priam's son, who fought like a flame in his fury. Three times from behind glorious Hektor caught him by the feet, trying to drag him, and called aloud on the Trojans. Three times the two Aiantes with their battle-fury upon them beat him from the corpse, but he, steady in the confidence of his great strength, kept making, now a rush into the crowd, or again at another time stood fast, with his great cry, but gave not a bit of ground backward. And as herdsmen who dwell in the fields are not able to frighten a tawny lion in his great hunger away from a carcass, so the two Aiantes, marshals of men, were not able to scare Hektor, Priam's son, away from the body. And now he would have dragged it away and won glory forever had not swift wind-footed Iris come running from Olympos with a message for Peleus' son to arm. She came secretly from Zeus and the other gods, since it was Hera who sent her. She came and stood close to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Rise up, son of Peleus, most terrifying of all men. Defend Patroklos, for whose sake the terrible fighting stands now in front of the ships. They are destroying each other; the Achaians fight in defence over the fallen body while the others, the Trojans, are rushing to drag the corpse off to windy Ilion, and beyond all glorious Hektor rages to haul it away, since the anger within him is urgent to cut the head from the soft neck and set it on sharp stakes. Up, then, lie here no longer; let shame come into your heart, lest Patroklos become sport for the dogs of Troy to worry, your shame, if the body goes from here with defilement upon it.'

Then in turn Achilleus of the swift feet answered her: 'Divine Iris, what god sent you to me with a message?'

Then in turn swift wind-footed Iris spoke to him: 'Hera sent me, the honoured wife of Zeus; but the son of Kronos, who sits on high, does not know this, nor any other immortal, of all those who dwell by the snows of Olympos.'

Then in answer to her spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'How shall I go into the fighting? They have my armour. And my beloved mother told me I must not be armoured, not before with my own eyes I see her come back to me. She promised she would bring magnificent arms from Hephaistos. Nor do I know of another whose glorious armour I could wear unless it were the great shield of Telamonian Aias. But he himself wears it, I think, and goes in the foremost of the spear-fight over the body of fallen Patroklos.'

Then in turn swift wind-footed Iris spoke to him: 'Yes, we also know well how they hold your glorious armour. But go to the ditch, and show yourself as you are to the Trojans, if perhaps the Trojans might be frightened, and give way from their attack, and the fighting sons of the Achaians get wind again after hard work. There is little breathing space in the fighting.'

So speaking Iris of the swift feet went away from him; but Achilleus, the beloved of Zeus, rose up, and Athene swept about his powerful shoulders the fluttering aegis; and she, the divine among goddesses, about his head circled a golden cloud, and kindled from it a flame far-shining. As when a flare goes up into the high air from a city from an island far away, with enemies fighting about it who all day long are in the hateful division of Ares fighting from their own city, but as the sun goes down signal fires blaze out one after another, so that the glare goes pulsing high for men of the neighbouring islands to see it, in case they might come over in ships to beat off the enemy; so from the head of Achilleus the blaze shot into the bright air. He went from the wall and stood by the ditch, nor mixed with the other Achaians, since he followed the close command of his mother. There he stood, and shouted, and from her place Pallas Athene gave cry, and drove an endless terror upon the Trojans. As loud as comes the voice that is screamed out by a trumpet by murderous attackers who beleaguer a city, so then high and clear went up the voice of Aiakides. But the Trojans, when they heard the brazen voice of Aiakides, the heart was shaken in all, and the very floating-maned horses turned their chariots about, since their hearts saw the coming afflictions. The charioteers were dumbfounded as they saw the unwearied dangerous fire that played above the head of great-hearted Peleion blazing, and kindled by the goddess grey-eyed Athene. Three times across the ditch brilliant Achilleus gave his great cry, and three times the Trojans and their renowned companions were routed. There at that time twelve of the best men among them perished upon their own chariots and spears. Meanwhile the Achaians gladly pulled Patroklos out from under the missiles and set him upon a litter, and his own companions about him stood mourning, and along with them swift-footed Achilleus went, letting fall warm tears as he saw his steadfast companion lying there on a carried litter and torn with the sharp bronze, the man he had sent off before with horses and chariot into the fighting; who never again came home to be welcomed.

Now the lady Hera of the ox eyes drove the unwilling weariless sun god to sink in the depth of the Ocean, and the sun went down, and the brilliant Achaians gave over their strong fighting, and the doubtful collision of battle.

The Trojans on the other side moved from the strong encounter in their turn, and unyoked their running horses from under the chariots, and gathered into assembly before taking thought for their supper. They stood on their feet in assembly, nor did any man have the patience to sit down, but the terror was on them all, seeing that Achilleus had appeared, after he had stayed so long from the difficult fighting. First to speak among them was the careful Poulydamas, Panthoös' son, who alone of them looked before and behind him. He was companion to Hektor, and born on the same night with him, but he was better in words, the other with the spear far better. He in kind intention toward all stood forth and addressed them: 'Now take careful thought, dear friends; for I myself urge you to go back into the city and not wait for the divine dawn in the plain beside the ships. We are too far from the wall now. While this man was still angry with great Agamemnon, for all that time the Achaians were easier men to fight with. For I also used then to be one who was glad to sleep out near their ships, and I hoped to capture the oarswept vessels. But now I terribly dread the swift-footed son of Peleus. So violent is the valour in him, he will not be willing to stay here in the plain, where now Achaians and Trojans from either side sunder between them the wrath of the war god. With him, the fight will be for the sake of our city and women. Let us go into the town; believe me; thus it will happen. For this present, immortal night has stopped the swift-footed son of Peleus, but if he catches us still in this place tomorrow, and drives upon us in arms, a man will be well aware of him, be glad to get back into sacred Ilion, the man who escapes; there will be many Trojans the vultures and dogs will feed on. But let such a word be out of my hearing! If all of us will do as I say, though it hurts us to do it, this night we will hold our strength in the market place, and the great walls and the gateways, and the long, smooth-planed, close-joined gate timbers that close to fit them shall defend our city. Then, early in the morning, under dawn, we shall arm ourselves in our war gear and take stations along the walls. The worse for him, if he endeavours to come away from the ships and fight us here for our city. Back he must go to his ships again, when he wears out the strong necks of his horses, driving them at a gallop everywhere by the city. His valour will not give him leave to burst in upon us nor sack our town. Sooner the circling dogs will feed on him.'

Then looking darkly at him Hektor of the shining helm spoke: 'Poulydamas, these things that you argue please me no longer when you tell us to go back again and be cooped in our city. Have you not all had your glut of being fenced in our outworks? There was a time when mortal men would speak of the city of Priam as a place with much gold and much bronze. But now the lovely treasures that lay away in our houses have vanished, and many possessions have been sold and gone into Phrygia and into Maionia the lovely, when great Zeus was angry. But now, when the son of devious-devising Kronos has given me the winning of glory by the ships, to pin the Achaians on the sea, why, fool, no longer show these thoughts to our people. Not one of the Trojans will obey you. I shall not allow it. Come, then, do as I say and let us all be persuaded. Now, take your supper by positions along the encampment, and do not forget your watch, and let every man be wakeful. And if any Trojan is strongly concerned about his possessions, let him gather them and give them to the people, to use them in common. It is better for one of us to enjoy them than for the Achaians. In the morning, under dawn, we shall arm ourselves in our war gear and waken the bitter god of war by the hollow vessels. If it is true that brilliant Achilleus is risen beside their ships, then the worse for him if he tries it, since I for my part will not run from him out of the sorrowful battle, but rather stand fast, to see if he wins the great glory, or if I can win it. The war god is impartial. Before now he has killed the killer.'

So spoke Hektor, and the Trojans thundered to hear him; fools, since Pallas Athene had taken away the wits from them. They gave their applause to Hektor in his counsel of evil, but none to Poulydamas, who had spoken good sense before them. They took their supper along the encampment. Meanwhile the Achaians mourned all night in lamentation over Patroklos. Peleus' son led the thronging chant of their lamentation, and laid his manslaughtering hands over the chest of his dear friend with outbursts of incessant grief. As some great bearded lion when some man, a deer hunter, has stolen his cubs away from him out of the close wood; the lion comes back too late, and is anguished, and turns into many valleys quartering after the man's trail on the chance of finding him, and taken with bitter anger; so he, groaning heavily, spoke out to the Myrmidons:

'Ah me. It was an empty word I cast forth on that day when in his halls I tried to comfort the hero Menoitios. I told him I would bring back his son in glory to Opous with Ilion sacked, and bringing his share of war spoils allotted. But Zeus does not bring to accomplishment all thoughts in men's minds. Thus it is destiny for us both to stain the same soil here in Troy; since I shall never come home, and my father, Peleus the aged rider, will not welcome me in his great house, nor Thetis my mother, but in this place the earth will receive me. But seeing that it is I, Patroklos, who follow you underground, I will not bury you till I bring to this place the armour and the head of Hektor, since he was your great-hearted murderer. Before your burning pyre I shall behead twelve glorious children of the Trojans, for my anger over your slaying. Until then, you shall lie where you are in front of my curved ships and beside you women of Troy and deep-girdled Dardanian women shall sorrow for you night and day and shed tears for you, those whom you and I worked hard to capture by force and the long spear in days when we were storming the rich cities of mortals.'

So speaking brilliant Achilleus gave orders to his companions to set a great cauldron across the fire, so that with all speed they could wash away the clotted blood from Patroklos. They set up over the blaze of the fire a bath-water cauldron and poured water into it and put logs underneath and kindled them. The fire worked on the swell of the cauldron, and the water heated. But when the water had come to a boil in the shining bronze, then they washed the body and anointed it softly with olive oil and stopped the gashes in his body with stored-up unguents and laid him on a bed, and shrouded him in a thin sheet from head to foot, and covered that over with a white mantle. Then all night long, gathered about Achilleus of the swift feet, the Myrmidons mourned for Patroklos and lamented over him. But Zeus spoke to Hera, who was his wife and his sister: 'So you have acted, then, lady Hera of the ox eyes. You have roused up Achilleus of the swift feet. It must be then that the flowing-haired Achaians are born of your own generation.'

Then the goddess the ox-eyed lady Hera answered him: 'Majesty, son of Kronos, what sort of thing have you spoken? Even one who is mortal will try to accomplish his purpose for another, though he be a man and knows not such wisdom as we do. As for me then, who claim I am highest of all the goddesses, both ways, since I am eldest born and am called your consort, yours, and you in turn are lord over all the immortals, how could I not weave sorrows for the men of Troy, when I hate them?'

Now as these two were saying things like this to each other, Thetis of the silver feet came to the house of Hephaistos, imperishable, starry, and shining among the immortals, built in bronze for himself by the god of the dragging footsteps. She found him sweating as he turned here and there to his bellows busily, since he was working on twenty tripods which were to stand against the wall of his strong-founded dwelling. And he had set golden wheels underneath the base of each one so that of their own motion they could wheel into the immortal gathering, and return to his house: a wonder to look at. These were so far finished, but the elaborate ear handles were not yet on. He was forging these, and beating the chains out. As he was at work on this in his craftsmanship and his cunning meanwhile the goddess Thetis the silver-footed drew near him. Charis of the shining veil saw her as she came forward, she, the lovely goddess the renowned strong-armed one had married. She came, and caught her hand and called her by name and spoke to her: 'Why is it, Thetis of the light robes, you have come to our house now? We honour you and love you; but you have not come much before this. But come in with me, so I may put entertainment before you.' She spoke, and, shining among divinities, led the way forward and made Thetis sit down in a chair that was wrought elaborately and splendid with silver nails, and under it was a footstool. She called to Hephaistos the renowned smith and spoke a word to him: 'Hephaistos, come this way; here is Thetis, who has need of you.' Hearing her the renowned smith of the strong arms answered her: 'Then there is a goddess we honour and respect in our house. She saved me when I suffered much at the time of my great fall through the will of my own brazen-faced mother, who wanted to hide me, for being lame. Then my soul would have taken much suffering had not Eurynome and Thetis caught me and held me, Eurynome, daughter of Ocean, whose stream bends back in a circle. With them I worked nine years as a smith, and wrought many intricate things; pins that bend back, curved clasps, cups, necklaces, working there in the hollow of the cave, and the stream of Ocean around us went on forever with its foam and its murmur. No other among the gods or among mortal men knew about us except Eurynome and Thetis. They knew, since they saved me. Now she has come into our house; so I must by all means do everything to give recompense to lovely-haired Thetis for my life. Therefore set out before her fair entertainment while I am putting away my bellows and all my instruments.'

He spoke, and took the huge blower off from the block of the anvil limping; and yet his shrunken legs moved lightly beneath him. He set the bellows away from the fire, and gathered and put away all the tools with which he worked in a silver strongbox. Then with a sponge he wiped clean his forehead, and both hands, and his massive neck and hairy chest, and put on a tunic, and took up a heavy stick in his hand, and went to the doorway limping. And in support of their master moved his attendants. These are golden, and in appearance like living young women. There is intelligence in their hearts, and there is speech in them and strength, and from the immortal gods they have learned how to do things. These stirred nimbly in support of their master, and moving near to where Thetis sat in her shining chair, Hephaistos caught her by the hand and called her by name and spoke a word to her: 'Why is it, Thetis of the light robes, you have come to our house now? We honour you and love you; but you have not come much before this. Speak forth what is in your mind. My heart is urgent to do it if I can, and if it is a thing that can be accomplished.'

Then in turn Thetis answered him, letting the tears fall: 'Hephaistos, is there among all the goddesses on Olympos one who in her heart has endured so many grim sorrows as the griefs Zeus, son of Kronos, has given me beyond others? Of all the other sisters of the sea he gave me to a mortal, to Peleus, Aiakos' son, and I had to endure mortal marriage though much against my will. And now he, broken by mournful old age, lies away in his halls. Yet I have other troubles. For since he has given me a son to bear and to raise up conspicuous among heroes, and he shot up like a young tree, I nurtured him, like a tree grown in the pride of the orchard. I sent him away in the curved ships to the land of Ilion to fight with the Trojans; but I shall never again receive him won home again to his country and into the house of Peleus. Yet while I see him live and he looks on the sunlight, he has sorrows, and though I go to him I can do nothing to help him. And the girl the sons of the Achaians chose out for his honour powerful Agamemnon took her away again out of his hands. For her his heart has been wasting in sorrow; but meanwhile the Trojans pinned the Achaians against their grounded ships, and would not let them win outside, and the elders of the Argives entreated my son, and named the many glorious gifts they would give him. But at that time he refused himself to fight the death from them; nevertheless he put his own armour upon Patroklos and sent him into the fighting, and gave many men to go with him. All day they fought about the Skaian Gates, and on that day they would have stormed the city, if only Phoibos Apollo had not killed the fighting son of Menoitios there in the first ranks after he had wrought much damage, and given the glory to Hektor. Therefore now I come to your knees; so might you be willing to give me for my short-lived son a shield and a helmet and two beautiful greaves fitted with clasps for the ankles and a corselet. What he had was lost with his steadfast companion when the Trojans killed him. Now my son lies on the ground, heart sorrowing.'

Hearing her the renowned smith of the strong arms answered her: 'Do not fear. Let not these things be a thought in your mind. And I wish that I could hide him away from death and its sorrow at that time when his hard fate comes upon him, as surely as there shall be fine armour for him, such as another man out of many men shall wonder at, when he looks on it.'

So he spoke, and left her there, and went to his bellows. He turned these toward the fire and gave them their orders for working. And the bellows, all twenty of them, blew on the crucibles, from all directions blasting forth wind to blow the flames high now as he hurried to be at this place and now at another, wherever Hephaistos might wish them to blow, and the work went forward. He cast on the fire bronze which is weariless, and tin with it and valuable gold, and silver, and thereafter set forth upon its standard the great anvil, and gripped in one hand the ponderous hammer, while in the other he grasped the pincers.

First of all he forged a shield that was huge and heavy, elaborating it about, and threw around it a shining triple rim that glittered, and the shield strap was cast of silver. There were five folds composing the shield itself, and upon it he elaborated many things in his skill and craftsmanship.

He made the earth upon it, and the sky, and the sea's water, and the tireless sun, and the moon waxing into her fullness, and on it all the constellations that festoon the heavens, the Pleiades and the Hyades and the strength of Orion and the Bear, whom men give also the name of the Wagon, who turns about in a fixed place and looks at Orion and she alone is never plunged in the wash of the Ocean.

On it he wrought in all their beauty two cities of mortal men. And there were marriages in one, and festivals. They were leading the brides along the city from their maiden chambers under the flaring of torches, and the loud bride song was arising. The young men followed the circles of the dance, and among them the flutes and lyres kept up their clamour as in the meantime the women standing each at the door of her court admired them. The people were assembled in the market place, where a quarrel had arisen, and two men were disputing over the blood price for a man who had been killed. One man promised full restitution in a public statement, but the other refused and would accept nothing. Both then made for an arbitrator, to have a decision; and people were speaking up on either side, to help both men. But the heralds kept the people in hand, as meanwhile the elders were in session on benches of polished stone in the sacred circle and held in their hands the staves of the heralds who lift their voices. The two men rushed before these, and took turns speaking their cases, and between them lay on the ground two talents of gold, to be given to that judge who in this case spoke the straightest opinion.

But around the other city were lying two forces of armed men shining in their war gear. For one side counsel was divided whether to storm and sack, or share between both sides the property and all the possessions the lovely citadel held hard within it. But the city's people were not giving way, and armed for an ambush. Their beloved wives and their little children stood on the rampart to hold it, and with them the men with age upon them, but meanwhile the others went out. And Ares led them, and Pallas Athene. These were gold, both, and golden raiment upon them, and they were beautiful and huge in their armour, being divinities, and conspicuous from afar, but the people around them were smaller. These, when they were come to the place that was set for their ambush, in a river, where there was a watering place for all animals, there they sat down in place shrouding themselves in the bright bronze. But apart from these were sitting two men to watch for the rest of them and waiting until they could see the sheep and the shambling cattle, who appeared presently, and two herdsmen went along with them playing happily on pipes, and took no thought of the treachery. Those others saw them, and made a rush, and quickly thereafter cut off on both sides the herds of cattle and the beautiful flocks of shining sheep, and killed the shepherds upon them. But the other army, as soon as they heard the uproar arising from the cattle, as they sat in their councils, suddenly mounted behind their light-foot horses, and went after, and soon overtook them. These stood their ground and fought a battle by the banks of the river, and they were making casts at each other with their spears bronze-headed; and Hate was there with Confusion among them, and Death the destructive; she was holding a live man with a new wound, and another one unhurt, and dragged a dead man by the feet through the carnage. The clothing upon her shoulders showed strong red with the men's blood. All closed together like living men and fought with each other and dragged away from each other the corpses of those who had fallen.

He made upon it a soft field, the pride of the tilled land, wide and triple-ploughed, with many ploughmen upon it who wheeled their teams at the turn and drove them in either direction. And as these making their turn would reach the end-strip of the field, a man would come up to them at this point and hand them a flagon of honey-sweet wine, and they would turn again to the furrows in their haste to come again to the end-strip of the deep field. The earth darkened behind them and looked like earth that has been ploughed though it was gold. Such was the wonder of the shield's forging.

He made on it the precinct of a king, where the labourers were reaping, with the sharp reaping hooks in their hands. Of the cut swathes some fell along the lines of reaping, one after another, while the sheaf-binders caught up others and tied them with bind-ropes. There were three sheaf-binders who stood by, and behind them were children picking up the cut swathes, and filled their arms with them and carried and gave them always; and by them the king in silence and holding his staff stood near the line of the reapers, happily. And apart and under a tree the heralds made a feast ready and trimmed a great ox they had slaughtered. Meanwhile the women scattered, for the workmen to eat, abundant white barley.

He made on it a great vineyard heavy with clusters, lovely and in gold, but the grapes upon it were darkened and the vines themselves stood out through poles of silver. About them he made a field-ditch of dark metal, and drove all around this a fence of tin; and there was only one path to the vineyard, and along it ran the grape-bearers for the vineyard's stripping. Young girls and young men, in all their light-hearted innocence, carried the kind, sweet fruit away in their woven baskets, and in their midst a youth with a singing lyre played charmingly upon it for them, and sang the beautiful song for Linos in a light voice, and they followed him, and with singing and whistling and light dance-steps of their feet kept time to the music.

He made upon it a herd of horn-straight oxen. The cattle were wrought of gold and of tin, and thronged in speed and with lowing out of the dung of the farmyard to a pasturing place by a sounding river, and beside the moving field of a reed bed. The herdsmen were of gold who went along with the cattle, four of them, and nine dogs shifting their feet followed them. But among the foremost of the cattle two formidable lions had caught hold of a bellowing bull, and he with loud lowings was dragged away, as the dogs and the young men went in pursuit of him. But the two lions, breaking open the hide of the great ox, gulped the black blood and the inward guts, as meanwhile the herdsmen were in the act of setting and urging the quick dogs on them. But they, before they could get their teeth in, turned back from the lions, but would come and take their stand very close, and bayed, and kept clear.

And the renowned smith of the strong arms made on it a meadow large and in a lovely valley for the glimmering sheepflocks, with dwelling places upon it, and covered shelters, and sheepfolds.

And the renowned smith of the strong arms made elaborate on it a dancing floor, like that which once in the wide spaces of Knosos Daidalos built for Ariadne of the lovely tresses. And there were young men on it and young girls, sought for their beauty with gifts of oxen, dancing, and holding hands at the wrist. These wore, the maidens long light robes, but the men wore tunics of finespun work and shining softly, touched with olive oil. And the girls wore fair garlands on their heads, while the young men carried golden knives that hung from sword-belts of silver. At whiles on their understanding feet they would run very lightly, as when a potter crouching makes trial of his wheel, holding it close in his hands, to see if it will run smooth. At another time they would form rows, and run, rows crossing each other. And around the lovely chorus of dancers stood a great multitude happily watching. And among them sang an inspired singer playing his lyre, while with them two acrobats led the measures of song and dance revolving among them.

He made on it the great strength of the Ocean River which ran around the uttermost rim of the shield's strong structure.

Then after he had wrought this shield, which was huge and heavy, he wrought for him a corselet brighter than fire in its shining, and wrought him a helmet, massive and fitting close to his temples, lovely and intricate work, and laid a gold top-ridge along it, and out of pliable tin wrought him leg-armour. Thereafter

when the renowned smith of the strong arms had finished the armour he lifted it and laid it before the mother of Achilleus. And she like a hawk came sweeping down from the snows of Olympos and carried with her the shining armour, the gift of Hephaistos.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 19

Now Dawn the yellow-robed arose from the river of Ocean to carry her light to men and to immortals. And Thetis came to the ships and carried with her the gifts of Hephaistos. She found her beloved son lying in the arms of Patroklos crying shrill, and his companions in their numbers about him mourned. She, shining among divinities, stood there beside them. She clung to her son's hand and called him by name and spoke to him: 'My child, now, though we grieve for him, we must let this man lie dead, in the way he first was killed through the gods' designing. Accept rather from me the glorious arms of Hephaistos, so splendid, and such as no man has ever worn on his shoulders.'

The goddess spoke so, and set down the armour on the ground before Achilleus, and all its elaboration clashed loudly. Trembling took hold of all the Myrmidons. None had the courage to look straight at it. They were afraid of it. Only Achilleus looked, and as he looked the anger came harder upon him and his eyes glittered terribly under his lids, like sunflare. He was glad, holding in his hands the shining gifts of Hephaistos. But when he had satisfied his heart with looking at the intricate armour, he spoke to his mother and addressed her in winged words: 'My mother, the god has given me these weapons; they are such as are the work of immortals. No mortal man could have made them. Therefore now I shall arm myself in them. Yet I am sadly afraid, during this time, for the warlike son of Menoitios that flies might get into the wounds beaten by bronze in his body and breed worms in them, and these make foul the body, seeing that the life is killed in him, and that all his flesh may be rotted.'

In turn the goddess Thetis the silver-footed answered him: 'My child, no longer let these things be a care in your mind. I shall endeavour to drive from him the swarming and fierce things, those flies, which feed upon the bodies of men who have perished; and although he lie here till a year has gone to fulfilment, still his body shall be as it was, or firmer than ever. Go then and summon into assembly the fighting Achaians, and unsay your anger against Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, and arm at once for the fighting, and put your war strength upon you.'

She spoke so, and drove the strength of great courage into him; and meanwhile through the nostrils of Patroklos she distilled ambrosia and red nectar, so that his flesh might not spoil.

But he, brilliant Achilleus, walked along by the sea-shore crying his terrible cry, and stirred up the fighting Achaians. And even those who before had stayed where the ships were assembled, they who were helmsmen of the ships and handled the steering oar, they who were stewards among the ships and dispensers of rations, even these came then to assembly, since now Achilleus had appeared, after staying so long from the sorrowful battle. And there were two who came limping among them, henchmen of Ares both, Tydeus' son the staunch in battle, and brilliant Odysseus, leaning on spears, since they had the pain of their wounds yet upon them, and came and took their seats in the front rank of those assembled. And last of them came in the lord of men Agamemnon with a wound on him, seeing that Koön, the son of Antenor, had stabbed him with the bronze edge of the spear in the strong encounter. But now, when all the Achaians were in one body together, Achilleus of the swift feet stood up before them and spoke to them: 'Son of Atreus, was this after all the better way for both, for you and me, that we, for all our hearts' sorrow, quarrelled together for the sake of a girl in soul-perishing hatred? I wish Artemis had killed her beside the ships with an arrow on that day when I destroyed Lyrnessos and took her. For thus not all these too many Achaians would have bitten the dust, by enemy hands, when I was away in my anger. This way was better for the Trojans and Hektor; yet I think the Achaians will too long remember this quarrel between us. Still, we will let all this be a thing of the past, though it hurts us, and beat down by constraint the anger that rises inside us. Now I am making an end of my anger. It does not become me unrelentingly to rage on. Come, then! The more quickly drive on the flowing-haired Achaians into the fighting, so that I may go up against the Trojans, and find out if they still wish to sleep out beside the ships. I think rather they will be glad to rest where they are, whoever among them gets away with his life from the fury of our spears' onset.'

He spoke, and the strong-greaved Achaians were pleasured to hear him and how the great-hearted son of Peleus unsaid his anger. Now among them spoke forth the lord of men Agamemnon from the place where he was sitting, and did not stand up among them: 'Fighting men and friends, o Danaans, henchmen of Ares: it is well to listen to the speaker, it is not becoming to break in on him. This will be hard for him, though he be able. How among the great murmur of people shall anyone listen or speak either? A man, though he speak very clearly, is baffled. I shall address the son of Peleus; yet all you other Argives listen also, and give my word careful attention. This is the word the Achaians have spoken often against me and found fault with me in it, yet I am not responsible but Zeus is, and Destiny, and Erinys the mist-walking who in assembly caught my heart in the savage delusion on that day I myself stripped from him the prize of Achilleus. Yet what could I do? It is the god who accomplishes all things. Delusion is the elder daughter of Zeus, the accursed who deludes all; her feet are delicate and they step not on the firm earth, but she walks the air above men's heads and leads them astray. She has entangled others before me. Yes, for once Zeus even was deluded, though men say he is the highest one of gods and mortals. Yet Hera who is female deluded even Zeus in her craftiness on that day when in strong wall-circled Thebe Alkmene was at her time to bring forth the strength of Herakles. Therefore Zeus spoke forth and made a vow before all the immortals: "Hear me, all you gods and all you goddesses: hear me while I speak forth what the heart within my breast urges. This day Eileithyia of women's child-pains shall bring forth a man to the light who, among the men sprung of the generation of my blood, shall be lord over all those dwelling about him." Then in guileful intention the lady Hera said to him: "You will be a liar, not put fulfilment on what you have spoken. Come, then, lord of Olympos, and swear before me a strong oath that he shall be lord over all those dwelling about him who this day shall fall between the feet of a woman, that man who is born of the blood of your generation. So Hera" spoke. And Zeus was entirely unaware of her falsehood, but swore a great oath, and therein lay all his deception. But Hera in a flash of speed left the horn of Olympos and rapidly came to Argos of Achaia, where she knew was the mighty wife of Sthenelos, descended of Perseus. And she was carrying a son, and this was the seventh month for her, but she brought him sooner into the light, and made him premature, and stayed the childbirth of Alkmene, and held back the birth pangs. She went herself and spoke the message to Zeus, son of Kronos: "Father Zeus of the shining bolt, I will tell you a message for your heart. A great man is born, who will be lord over the Argives, Eurystheus, son of Sthenelos, of the seed of Perseus, your generation. It is not unfit that he should rule over the Argives. She spoke, and the sharp sorrow struck at his deep heart." He caught by the shining hair of her head the goddess Delusion in the anger of his heart, and swore a strong oath, that never after this might Delusion, who deludes all, come back to Olympos and the starry sky. So speaking, he whirled her about in his hand and slung her out of the starry heaven, and presently she came to men's establishments. But Zeus would forever grieve over her each time that he saw his dear son doing some shameful work of the tasks that Eurystheus set him. So I in my time, when tall Hektor of the shining helm was forever destroying the Argives against the sterns of their vessels, could not forget Delusion, the way I was first deluded. But since I was deluded and Zeus took my wits away from me, I am willing to make all good and give back gifts in abundance. Rise up, then, to the fighting and rouse the rest of the people. Here am I, to give you all those gifts, as many as brilliant Odysseus yesterday went to your shelter and promised. Or if you will, hold back, though you lean hard into the battle, while my followers take the gifts from my ship and bring them to you, so you may see what I give to comfort your spirit.'

Then in answer to him spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly and king of men, Agamemnon, the gifts are yours to give if you wish, and as it is proper, or to keep with yourself. But now let us remember our joy in warcraft, immediately, for it is not fitting to stay here and waste time nor delay, since there is still a big work to be done. So can a man see once more Achilleus among the front fighters with the bronze spear wrecking the Trojan battalions. Therefore let each of you remember this and fight his antagonist.'

Then in answer to him spoke resourceful Odysseus: 'Not that way, good fighter that you are, godlike Achilleus. Do not drive the sons of the Achaians on Ilion when they are hungry, to fight against the Trojans, since not short will be the time of battle, once the massed formations of men have encountered together, with the god inspiring fury in both sides. Rather tell the men of Achaia here by their swift ships, to take food and wine, since these make fighting fury and warcraft. For a man will not have strength to fight his way forward all day long until the sun goes down if he is starved for food. Even though in his heart he be very passionate for the battle, yet without his knowing it his limbs will go heavy, and hunger and thirst will catch up with him and cumber his knees as he moves on. But when a man has been well filled with wine and with eating and then does battle all day long against the enemy, why, then the heart inside him is full of cheer, nor do his limbs get weary, until all are ready to give over the fighting. Come then, tell your men to scatter and bid them get ready a meal; and as for the gifts, let the lord of men Agamemnon bring them to the middle of our assembly so all the Achaians can see them before their eyes, so your own heart may be pleasured. And let him stand up before the Argives and swear an oath to you that he never entered into her bed and never lay with her as is natural for people, my lord, between men and women. And by this let the spirit in your own heart be made gracious. After that in his own shelter let him appease you with a generous meal, so you will lack nothing of what is due you. And you, son of Atreus, after this be more righteous to another man. For there is no fault when even one who is a king appeases a man, when the king was the first one to be angry.'

Then in turn the lord of men Agamemnon answered him: 'Hearing what you have said, son of Laertes, I am pleased with you. Fairly have you gone through everything and explained it. And all this I am willing to swear to, and my heart urges me, and I will not be foresworn before the gods. Let Achilleus stay here the while, though he lean very hard toward the work of the war god, and remain the rest of you all here assembled, until the gifts come back from my shelter and while we cut our oaths of fidelity. And for you yourself, Odysseus, I give you this errand, this order, that you choose out excellent young men of all the Achaians and bring the gifts back here from my ship, all that you promised yesterday to Achilleus, and bring the women back also. And in the wide host of the Achaians let Talthybios make ready a boar for me, and dedicate it to Zeus and Helios.'

Then in answer to him spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'Son of Atreus, most lordly and king of men, Agamemnon, at some other time rather you should busy yourself about these things, when there is some stopping point in the fighting, at some time when there is not so much fury inside of my heart. But now as things are they lie there torn whom the son of Priam Hektor has beaten down, since Zeus was giving him glory, and then you urge a man to eating. No, but I would now drive forward the sons of the Achaians into the fighting starving and unfed, and afterwards when the sun sets make ready a great dinner, when we have paid off our defilement. But before this, for me at least, neither drink nor food shall go down my very throat, since my companion has perished and lies inside my shelter torn about with the cutting bronze, and turned against the forecourt while my companions mourn about him. Food and drink mean nothing to my heart but blood does, and slaughter, and the groaning of men in the hard work.'

Then in answer to him spoke resourceful Odysseus: 'Son of Peleus, Achilleus, far greatest of the Achaians, you are stronger than I am and greater by not a little with the spear, yet I in turn might overpass you in wisdom by far, since I was born before you and have learned more things. Therefore let your heart endure to listen to my words. When there is battle men have suddenly their fill of it when the bronze scatters on the ground the straw in most numbers and the harvest is most thin, when Zeus has poised his balance, Zeus, who is administrator to men in their fighting. There is no way the Achaians can mourn a dead man by denying the belly. Too many fall day by day, one upon another, and how could anyone find breathing space from his labour? No, but we must harden our hearts and bury the man who dies, when we have wept over him on the day, and all those who are left about from the hateful work of war must remember food and drink, so that afterwards all the more strongly we may fight on forever relentless against our enemies with the weariless bronze put on about our bodies. Let one not wait longing for any other summons to stir on the people. This summons now shall be an evil on anyone left behind by the ships of the Argives. Therefore let us drive on together and wake the bitter war god on the Trojans, breakers of horses.'

He spoke, and went away with the sons of glorious Nestor, with Meges, the son of Phyleus, and Meriones, and Thoas, and Lykomedes, the son of Kreion, and Melanippos. These went on their way to the shelter of Atreus' son Agamemnon. No sooner was the order given than the thing had been done. They brought back seven tripods from the shelter, those Agamemnon had promised, and twenty shining cauldrons, twelve horses. They brought back immediately the seven women the work of whose hands was blameless, and the eighth of them was Briseis of the fair cheeks. Odysseus weighed out ten full talents of gold and led them back, and the young men of the Achaians carried the other gifts. They brought these into the midst of assembly, and Agamemnon stood up, and Talthybios in voice like an immortal stood beside the shepherd of the people with the boar in his hands. Atreus' son laid hands upon his work-knife, and drew it from where it hung ever beside the great sheath of his war sword, and cut first hairs away from the boar, and lifting his hands up to Zeus, prayed, while all the Argives stayed fast at their places in silence and in order of station, and listened to their king. He spoke before them in prayer gazing into the wide sky: 'Let Zeus first be my witness, highest of the gods and greatest, and Earth, and Helios the Sun, and Furies, who underground avenge dead men, when any man has sworn to a falsehood, that I have never laid a hand on the girl Briseis on pretext to go to bed with her, or for any other reason, but she remained, not singled out, in my shelter. If any of this is falsely sworn, may the gods give me many griefs, all that they inflict on those who swear falsely before them.' So he spoke, and with pitiless bronze he cut the boar's throat. Talthybios whirled the body about, and threw it in the great reach of the grey sea, to feed the fishes. Meanwhile Achilleus stood up among the battle-fond Achaians, and spoke to them: 'Father Zeus, great are the delusions with which you visit men. Without you, the son of Atreus could never have stirred so the heart inside my breast, nor taken the girl away from me against my will, and be in helplessness. No, but Zeus somehow wished that death should befall great numbers of the Achaians. Go now and take your dinner, so we may draw on the battle.' So he spoke, and suddenly broke up the assembly. Now these scattered away each man to his own ship. Meanwhile the great-hearted Myrmidons disposed of the presents. They went on their way carrying them to the ship of godlike Achilleus, and stowed the gifts in the shelters, and let the women be settled, while proud henchmen drove the horses into Achilleus' horse-herd.

And now, in the likeness of golden Aphrodite, Briseis when she saw Patroklos lying torn with sharp bronze, folding him in her arms cried shrilly above him and with her hands tore at her breasts and her soft throat and her beautiful forehead. The woman like the immortals mourning for him spoke to him: 'Patroklos, far most pleasing to my heart in its sorrows, I left you here alive when I went away from the shelter, but now I come back, lord of the people, to find you have fallen. So evil in my life takes over from evil forever. The husband on whom my father and honoured mother bestowed me I saw before my city lying torn with the sharp bronze, and my three brothers, whom a single mother bore with me and who were close to me, all went on one day to destruction. And yet you would not let me, when swift Achilleus had cut down my husband, and sacked the city of godlike Mynes, you would not let me sorrow, but said you would make me godlike Achilleus' wedded lawful wife, that you would take me back in the ships to Phthia, and formalize my marriage among the Myrmidons. Therefore I weep your death without ceasing. You were kind always.'

So she spoke, lamenting, and the women sorrowed around her grieving openly for Patroklos, but for her own sorrows each. But the lords of Achaia were gathered about Achilleus beseeching him to eat, but he with a groan denied them: 'I beg of you, if any dear companion will listen to me, stop urging me to satisfy the heart in me with food and drink, since this strong sorrow has come upon me. I will hold out till the sun goes down and endure, though it be hard.'

So he spoke, and caused the rest of the kings to scatter; but the two sons of Atreus stayed with him, and brilliant Odysseus, and Nestor, and Idomeneus, and the aged charioteer, Phoinix, comforting him close in his sorrow, yet his heart would not be comforted, till he went into the jaws of the bleeding battle. Remembering Patroklos he sighed much for him, and spoke aloud: 'There was a time, ill fated, o dearest of all my companions, when you yourself would set the desirable dinner before me quickly and expertly, at the time the Achaians were urgent to carry sorrowful war on the Trojans, breakers of horses. But now you lie here torn before me, and my heart goes starved for meat and drink, though they are here beside me, by reason of longing for you. There is nothing worse than this I could suffer, not even if I were to hear of the death of my father who now, I think, in Phthia somewhere lets fall a soft tear for bereavement of such a son, for me, who now in a strange land make war upon the Trojans for the sake of accursed Helen; or the death of my dear son, who is raised for my sake in Skyros now, if godlike Neoptolemos is still one of the living. Before now the spirit inside my breast was hopeful that I alone should die far away from horse-pasturing Argos here in Troy; I hoped you would win back again to Phthia so that in a fast black ship you could take my son back from Skyros to Phthia, and show him all my possessions, my property, my serving men, my great high-roofed house. For by this time I think that Peleus must altogether have perished, or still keeps a little scant life in sorrow for the hatefulness of old age and because he waits ever from me the evil message, for the day he hears I have been killed.'

So he spoke, mourning, and the elders lamented around him remembering each those he had left behind in his own halls. The son of Kronos took pity on them as he watched them mourning and immediately spoke in winged words to Athene: 'My child, have you utterly abandoned the man of your choice? Is there no longer deep concern in your heart for Achilleus? Now he has sat down before the steep horned ships and is mourning for his own beloved companion, while all the others have gone to take their dinner, but he is fasting and unfed. Go then to him and distil nectar inside his chest, and delicate ambrosia, so the weakness of hunger will not come upon him.'

Speaking so, he stirred Athene, who was eager before this, and she in the likeness of a wide-winged, thin-crying hawk plummeted from the sky through the bright air. Now the Achaians were arming at once along the encampment. She dropped the delicate ambrosia and the nectar inside the breast of Achilleus softly, so no sad weakness of hunger would come on his knees, and she herself went back to the close house of her powerful father, while they were scattering out away from the fast ships. As when in their thickness the snowflakes of Zeus come fluttering cold beneath the blast of the north wind born in the bright sky, so now in their thickness the pride of the helms bright shining were carried out from the ships, and shields massive in the middle and the corselets strongly hollowed and the ash spears were worn forth. The shining swept to the sky and all earth was laughing about them under the glitter of bronze and beneath their feet stirred the thunder of men, within whose midst brilliant Achilleus helmed him. A clash went from the grinding of his teeth, and his eyes glowed as if they were the stare of a fire, and the heart inside him was entered with sorrow beyond endurance. Raging at the Trojans he put on the gifts of the god, that Hephaistos wrought him with much toil. First he placed along his legs the fair greaves linked with silver fastenings to hold the greaves at the ankles. Afterward he girt on about his chest the corselet, and across his shoulders slung the sword with the nails of silver, a bronze sword, and caught up the great shield, huge and heavy next, and from it the light glimmered far, as from the moon. And as when from across water a light shines to mariners from a blazing fire, when the fire is burning high in the mountains in a desolate steading, as the mariners are carried unwilling by storm winds over the fish-swarming sea, far away from their loved ones; so the light from the fair elaborate shield of Achilleus shot into the high air. And lifting the helm he set it massive upon his head, and the helmet crested with horse-hair shone like a star, the golden fringes were shaken about it which Hephaistos had driven close along the horn of the helmet. And brilliant Achilleus tried himself in his armour, to see if it fitted close, and how his glorious limbs ran within it, and the armour became as wings and upheld the shepherd of the people. Next he pulled out from its standing place the spear of his father, huge, heavy, thick, which no one else of all the Achaians could handle, but Achilleus alone knew how to wield it, the Pelian ash spear which Cheiron had brought to his father from high on Pelion, to be death for fighters in battle. Automedon and Alkimos, in charge of the horses, yoked them, and put the fair breast straps about them, and forced the bits home between their jaws, and pulled the reins back against the compacted chariot seat, and one, Automedon, took up the shining whip caught close in his hand and vaulted up to the chariot, while behind him Achilleus helmed for battle took his stance shining in all his armour like the sun when he crosses above us, and cried in a terrible voice on the horses of his father: 'Xanthos, Balios, Bay and Dapple, famed sons of Podarge, take care to bring in another way your charioteer back to the company of the Danaans, when we give over fighting, not leave him to lie fallen there, as you did to Patroklos.'

Then from beneath the yoke the gleam-footed horse answered him, Xanthos, and as he spoke bowed his head, so that all the mane fell away from the pad and swept the ground by the cross-yoke; the goddess of the white arms, Hera, had put a voice in him: 'We shall still keep you safe for this time, o hard Achilleus. And yet the day of your death is near, but it is not we who are to blame, but a great god and powerful Destiny. For it was not because we were slow, because we were careless, that the Trojans have taken the armour from the shoulders of Patroklos, but it was that high god, the child of lovely-haired Leto, who killed him among the champions and gave the glory to Hektor. But for us, we two could run with the blast of the west wind who they say is the lightest of all things; yet still for you there is destiny to be killed in force by a god and a mortal.' When he had spoken so the Furies stopped the voice in him, but deeply disturbed, Achilleus of the swift feet answered him: 'Xanthos, why do you prophesy my death? This is not for you. I myself know well it is destined for me to die here far from my beloved father and mother. But for all that I will not stop till the Trojans have had enough of my fighting.' He spoke, and shouting held on in the foremost his single-foot horses.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 20

 So these now, the Achaians, beside the curved ships were arming around you, son of Peleus, insatiate of battle, while on the other side at the break of the plain the Trojans armed. But Zeus, from the many-folded peak of Olympos, told Themis to summon all the gods into assembly. She went everywhere, and told them to make their way to Zeus' house. There was no river who was not there, except only Ocean, there was not any one of the nymphs who live in the lovely groves, and the springs of rivers and grass of the meadows, who came not. These all assembling into the house of Zeus cloud gathering took places among the smooth-stone cloister walks which Hephaistos had built for Zeus the father by his craftsmanship and contrivance.

So they were assembled within Zeus' house; and the shaker of the earth did not fail to hear the goddess, but came up among them from the sea, and sat in the midst of them, and asked Zeus of his counsel: 'Why, lord of the shining bolt, have you called the gods to assembly once more? Are you deliberating Achaians and Trojans? For the onset of battle is almost broken to flame between them.'

In turn Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to him in answer: 'You have seen, shaker of the earth, the counsel within me, and why I gathered you. I think of these men though they are dying. Even so, I shall stay here upon the fold of Olympos sitting still, watching, to pleasure my heart. Meanwhile all you others go down, wherever you may go among the Achaians and Trojans and give help to either side, as your own pleasure directs you. For if we leave Achilleus alone to fight with the Trojans they will not even for a little hold off swift-footed Peleion. For even before now they would tremble whenever they saw him, and now, when his heart is grieved and angered for his companion's death, I fear against destiny he may storm their fortress.' So spoke the son of Kronos and woke the incessant battle, and the gods went down to enter the fighting, with purposes opposed. Hera went to the assembled ships with Pallas Athene and with Poseidon who embraces the earth, and with generous Hermes, who within the heart is armed with astute thoughts. Hephaistos went the way of these in the pride of his great strength limping, and yet his shrunken legs moved lightly beneath him. But Ares of the shining helm went over to the Trojans, and with him Phoibos of the unshorn hair, and the lady of arrows Artemis, and smiling Aphrodite, Leto, and Xanthos.

Now in the time when the gods were still distant from the mortals, so long the Achaians were winning great glory, since now Achilleus showed among them, who had stayed too long from the sorrowful fighting. But the Trojans were taken every man in the knees with trembling and terror, as they looked on the swift-footed son of Peleus shining in all his armour, a man like the murderous war god. But after the Olympians merged in the men's company strong Hatred, defender of peoples, burst out, and Athene bellowed standing now beside the ditch dug at the wall's outside and now again at the thundering sea's edge gave out her great cry, while on the other side Ares in the likeness of a dark stormcloud bellowed, now from the peak of the citadel urging the Trojans sharply on, now running beside the sweet banks of Simoeis.

So the blessed gods stirring on the opponents drove them together, and broke out among themselves the weight of their quarrel. From high above the father of gods and men made thunder terribly, while Poseidon from deep under them shuddered all the illimitable earth, the sheer heads of the mountains. And all the feet of Ida with her many waters were shaken and all her crests, and the city of Troy, the ships of the Achaians. Aïdoneus, lord of the dead below, was in terror and sprang from his throne and screamed aloud, for fear that above him he who circles the land, Poseidon, might break the earth open and the houses of the dead lie open to men and immortals, ghastly and mouldering, so the very gods shudder before them; such was the crash that sounded as the gods came driving together in wrath. For now over against the lord Poseidon Phoibos Apollo took his stand with his feathered arrows, and against Enyalios the goddess grey-eyed Athene. Against Hera stood the lady of clamour, of the golden distaff, of the showering arrows, Artemis, sister of the far striker. Opposite Leto stood the strong one, generous Hermes, and against Hephaistos stood the great deep-eddying river who is called Xanthos by the gods, but by mortals Skamandros.

Thus gods went on to encounter gods; and meanwhile Achilleus was straining to plunge into the combat opposite Hektor Priam's son, since beyond all others his anger was driving him to glut with his blood Ares the god who fights under the shield's guard. But it was Aineias whom Apollo defender of people drove straight against Peleion, and inspired vast power within him. Zeus' son Apollo made his voice like that of Lykaon Priam's son, and assumed his appearance, and spoke to Aineias: 'Aineias, lord of the Trojans' counsels. Where are those threats gone which as you drank your wine you made before Troy's kings, solemnly, that you would match your battle strength with Peleian Achilleus?'

In turn Aineias spoke to him in answer: 'Lykaon son of Priam, why do you urge me on against my will to fight in the face of Peleus' son and his too great fury? Since this will not be the first time I stand up against swift-footed Achilleus, but another time before now he drove me with the spear from Ida, when he came there after our cattle the time he sacked Lyrnessos and Pedasos. But Zeus rescued me when he put strength inside me and made my knees quick. Otherwise I should have gone down at Achilleus' hands, and those of Athene who goes before him and makes light before him, who then was urging him on with the brazen spear to destroy Leleges and Trojans. Thereby it is not for any man to fight with Achilleus. There is always some one of the gods with him to beat death from him. Without this, even, his spear wings straight to its mark, nor gives out until it has gone through a man's body. But if the god only would pull out even the issue of war, he would not so easily win, not even though he claims to be made all of bronze.'

In turn the lord the son of Zeus Apollo spoke to him: 'Hero, then make your prayer, you also, to the everlasting gods, since they say that you yourself are born of Zeus' daughter Aphrodite, but Achilleus was born of a lesser goddess, Aphrodite being daughter of Zeus, Thetis of the sea's ancient. Carry your weariless bronze straight against him, let him by no means turn you back by blustering words and his threats of terror.'

So speaking, he inspired enormous strength in the shepherd of the people, who strode on his way among the champions helmed in the bright bronze, nor did Hera of the white arms fail to see the son of Anchises as he went through the thronging men to face the son of Peleus, and drew the other immortals about her and spoke to them, saying: 'Poseidon and Athene, now take counsel between you and within your hearts as to how these matters shall be accomplished. Here is Aineias gone helmed in the shining bronze against Peleus' son, and it was Phoibos Apollo who sent him. Come then, we must even go down ourselves and turn him back from here, or else one of us must stand by Achilleus and put enormous strength upon him, and let him not come short in courage, but let him know that they love him who are the highest of the immortals, but those who before now fended the fury of war, as now, from the Trojans are as wind and nothing. For all of us have come down from Olympos to take our part in this battle, so nothing may be done to him by the Trojans on this day. Afterwards he shall suffer such things as Destiny wove with the strand of his birth that day he was born to his mother. But if Achilleus does not hear all this from gods' voices he will be afraid, when a god puts out his strength against him in the fighting. It is hard for gods to be shown in their true shape.'

In turn Poseidon the shaker of the earth answered her: 'Hera, do not be angry without purpose. It does not become you, since I at least would not have the rest of us gods encounter in battle, since indeed we are far too strong for them. Let us then go away and sit down together off the path at a viewing place, and let the men take care of their fighting. Only if Ares begins to fight, or Phoibos Apollo, or if they hold Achilleus back and will not let him fight, then at once they will have a quarrel with us on their hands in open battle. But soon, I think, when they have fought with us they will get back to Olympos and the throng of the other gods beaten back by the overmastering strength of our hands.'

So he spoke, Poseidon of the dark hair, and led the way to the stronghold of godlike Herakles, earth-piled on both sides, a high place, which the Trojans and Pallas Athene had built him as a place of escape where he could get away from the Sea Beast when the charging monster drove him away to the plain from the seashore. There Poseidon and the gods who were with him sat down and gathered a breakless wall of cloud to darken their shoulders; while they of the other side sat down on the brows of the sweet bluffs around you, lord Apollo, and Ares sacker of cities.

So they on either side took their places, deliberating counsels, reluctant on both sides to open the sorrowful attack. But Zeus sitting on high above urged them on.

But all the plain was filled and shining with bronze of the mortals, their men and horses, and underneath their feet the earth staggered as they swept together. Two men far greater than all the others were coming to encounter, furious to fight with each other, Aineias, the son of Anchises, and brilliant Achilleus. First of the two Aineias had strode forth in menace, tossing his head beneath the heavy helm, and he held the stark shield in front of his chest, and shook the brazen spear. From the other side the son of Peleus rose like a lion against him, the baleful beast, when men have been straining to kill him, the county all in the hunt, and he at the first pays them no attention but goes his way, only when some one of the impetuous young men has hit him with the spear he whirls, jaws open, over his teeth foam breaks out, and in the depth of his chest the powerful heart groans; he lashes his own ribs with his tail and the flanks on both sides as he rouses himself to fury for the fight, eyes glaring, and hurls himself straight onward on the chance of killing some one of the men, or else being killed himself in the first onrush. So the proud heart and fighting fury stirred on Achilleus to go forward in the face of great-hearted Aineias. Now as these in their advance had come close to each other first of the two to speak was swift-footed brilliant Achilleus: 'Aineias, why have you stood so far forth from the multitude against me? Does the desire in your heart drive you to combat in hope you will be lord of the Trojans, breakers of horses, and of Priam's honour. And yet even if you were to kill me Priam would not because of that rest such honour on your hand. He has sons, and he himself is sound, not weakened. Or have the men of Troy promised you a piece of land, surpassing all others, fine ploughland and orchard for you to administer if you kill me? But I think that killing will not be easy. Another time before this, I tell you, you ran from my spear. Or do you not remember when, apart from your cattle, I caught you alone, and chased you in the speed of your feet down the hills of Ida headlong, and that time as you ran you did not turn to look back. Then you got away into Lyrnessos, but I went after you and stormed that place, with the help of Athene and of Zeus father, and took the day of liberty away from their women and led them as spoil, but Zeus and the other gods saved you. I think they will not save you now, as your expectation tells you they will. No, but I myself urge you to get back into the multitude, not stand to face me, before you take some harm. Once a thing has been done, the fool sees it.'

Then in turn Aineias spoke to him and made his answer: 'Son of Peleus, never hope by words to frighten me as if I were a baby. I myself understand well enough how to speak in vituperation and how to make insults. You and I know each other's birth, we both know our parents since we have heard the lines of their fame from mortal men; only I have never with my eyes seen your parents, nor have you seen mine. For you, they say you are the issue of blameless Peleus and that your mother was Thetis of the lovely hair, the sea's lady; I in turn claim I am the son of great-hearted Anchises but that my mother was Aphrodite; and that of these parents one group or the other will have a dear son to mourn for this day. Since I believe we will not in mere words, like children, meet, and separate and go home again out of the fighting. Even so, if you wish to learn all this and be certain of my genealogy: there are plenty of men who know it. First of all Zeus who gathers the clouds had a son, Dardanos who founded Dardania, since there was yet no sacred Ilion made a city in the plain to be a centre of peoples, but they lived yet in the underhills of Ida with all her waters. Dardanos in turn had a son, the king, Erichthonios, who became the richest of mortal men, and in his possession were three thousand horses who pastured along the low grasslands, mares in their pride with their young colts; and with these the North Wind fell in love as they pastured there, and took on upon him the likeness of a dark-maned stallion, and coupled with them, and the mares conceiving of him bore to him twelve young horses. Those, when they would play along the grain-giving tilled land would pass along the tassels of corn and not break the divine yield, but again, when they played across the sea's wide ridges they would run the edge of the wave where it breaks on the grey salt water. Erichthonios had a son, Tros, who was lord of the Trojans, and to Tros in turn there were born three sons unfaulted, Ilos and Assarakos and godlike Ganymedes who was the loveliest born of the race of mortals, and therefore the gods caught him away to themselves, to be Zeus' wine-pourer, for the sake of his beauty, so he might be among the immortals. Ilos in turn was given a son, the blameless Laomedon, and Laomedon had sons in turn, Tithonos and Priam, Lampos, Klytios and Hiketaon, scion of Ares; but Assarakos had Kapys, and Kapys' son was Anchises, and I am Anchises' son, and Priam's is Hektor the brilliant. Such is the generation and blood I claim to be born from. Zeus builds up and Zeus diminishes the strength in men, the way he pleases, since his power is beyond all others'. But come, let us no longer stand here talking of these things like children, here in the space between the advancing armies. For there are harsh things enough that could be spoken against us both, a ship of a hundred locks could not carry the burden. The tongue of man is a twisty thing, there are plenty of words there of every kind, the range of words is wide, and their variance. The sort of thing you say is the thing that will be said to you. But what have you and I to do with the need for squabbling and hurling insults at each other, as if we were two wives who when they have fallen upon a heart-perishing quarrel go out in the street and say abusive things to each other, much true, and much that is not, and it is their rage that drives them. You will not by talking turn me back from the strain of my warcraft, not till you have fought to my face with the bronze. Come on then and let us try each other's strength with the bronze of our spearheads.'

He spoke, and on the terrible grim shield drove the ponderous pike, so that the great shield moaned as it took the spearhead. The son of Peleus with his heavy hand held the shield away from him, in fright, since he thought the far-shadowing spear of great-hearted Aineias would lightly be driven through it. Fool, and the heart and spirit in him could not understand how the glorious gifts of the gods are not easily broken by mortal men, how such gifts will not give way before them. Nor this time could the ponderous spear of war-wise Aineias smash the shield, since the gold stayed it, the god's gift. Indeed he did drive the spear through two folds, but there were three left still, since the god of the dragging feet had made five folds on it, two of bronze on the outside and on the inside two of tin and between them the single gold, and in this the ash spear was held fast.

After him Achilleus let go his spear far shadowing and struck the shield of Aineias along its perfect circle at the utter rim where the circle of bronze ran thinnest about it and the oxhide was laid thinnest there. The Pelian ash spear crashed clean through it there, and the shield cried out as it went through. Aineias shrank down and held the shield away and above him in fright, and the spear went over his back and crashed its way to the ground, and fixed there, after tearing apart two circles of the man-covering shield. But Aineias, free of the long spear, stood still, and around his eyes gathered the enormous emotion and fear, that the weapon had fixed so close to him. Now Achilleus drew his tearing sword and swept in fury upon him crying a terrible cry, but Aineias now in his hand caught up a stone, a huge thing which no two men could carry such as men are now, but by himself he lightly hefted it. And there Aineias would have hit him with the stone as he swept in, on helm or shield, which would have fended the bitter death from him, and Peleus' son would have closed with the sword and stripped the life from him, had not the shaker of the earth Poseidon sharply perceived all and immediately spoken his word out among the immortals: 'Ah me; I am full of sorrow for great-hearted Aineias who must presently go down to death, overpowered by Achilleus, because he believed the words of Apollo, the far ranging; poor fool, since Apollo will do nothing to keep grim death from him. But why does this man, who is guiltless, suffer his sorrows for no reason, for the sake of others' unhappiness, and always he gives gifts that please them to the gods who hold the wide heaven. But come, let us ourselves get him away from death, for fear the son of Kronos may be angered if now Achilleus kills this man. It is destined that he shall be the survivor, that the generation of Dardanos shall not die, without seed obliterated, since Dardanos was dearest to Kronides of all his sons that have been born to him from mortal women. For Kronos' son has cursed the generation of Priam, and now the might of Aineias shall be lord over the Trojans, and his sons' sons, and those who are born of their seed hereafter.'

In turn the lady of the ox eyes, Hera, answered him: 'Shaker of the earth, you yourself must decide in your own heart about Aineias, whether to rescue him or to let him go down, for all his strength, before Peleus' son, Achilleus. For we two, Pallas Athene and I, have taken numerous oaths and sworn them in the sight of all the immortals never to drive the day of evil away from the Trojans, not even when all the city of Troy is burned in the ravening fire, on that day when the warlike sons of the Achaians burn it.'

When he had heard this, the shaker of the earth Poseidon went on his way through the confusion of spears and the fighting, and came to where Aineias was, and renowned Achilleus. There quickly he drifted a mist across the eyes of one fighter, Achilleus, Peleus' son, and from the shield of Aineias of the great heart pulled loose the strong bronze-headed ash spear and laid it down again before the feet of Achilleus; but Aineias he lifted high from the ground, and slung him through the air so that many ranks of fighting men, many ranks of horses, were overvaulted by Aineias, hurled by the god's hand. He landed at the uttermost edge of the tossing battle where the Kaukonians were arming them for the order of fighting. And Poseidon, shaker of the earth, came and stood very near him and spoke to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Aineias, which one of the gods is it who urges you to such madness that you fight in the face of Peleus' son, against his high courage though he is both stronger than you and dearer to the immortals? Give back rather, whenever you find yourself thrown against him, lest beyond your fate you go down into the house of the death god. But once Achilleus has fulfilled his death and his destiny, then take courage, and go on, and fight with their foremost, since there shall be no other Achaian able to kill you.' He spoke, and left him there, when he had told him all this, and at once scattered the mist away from the eyes of Achilleus that the gods had sent, and now he looked with his eyes, and saw largely, and in disgust spoke then to his own great-hearted spirit: 'Can this be? Here is a strange thing I see with my own eyes. Here is my spear lying on the ground, but I can no longer see the man, whom I was charging in fury to kill him. Aineias was then one beloved of the immortal gods. I thought what he said was ineffectual boasting. Let him go. He will not again have daring to try me in battle, since even now he was glad to escape my onset. Come! I must urge on the Danaans whose delight is in battle and go on to face the rest of the Trojans, and see what they can do.'

He spoke, and leapt back into the ranks, and urged each man on: 'No longer stand away from the Trojans, o great Achaians, but let each one go to face his man, furious to fight him. It is a hard thing for me, for all my great strength, to harry the flight of men in such numbers or to fight with all of them. Not Ares, who is a god immortal, not even Athene could take the edge of such masses of men and fight a way through them. But what I can do with hands and feet and strength I tell you I will do, and I shall not hang back even a little but go straight on through their formation, and I think that no man of the Trojans will be glad when he comes within my spear's range.'

He spoke, urging them on, but glorious Hektor called out in a great voice to the Trojans, and was minded to face Achilleus: 'Do not be afraid of Peleion, o high-hearted Trojans. I myself could fight in words against the immortals, but with the spear it were hard, since they are far stronger than we are. Even Achilleus will not win achievement of everything he says. Part he will accomplish, but part shall be baulked halfway done. I am going to stand against him now, though his hands are like flame, and his heart like the shining of iron.'

He spoke, urging the Trojans, and they lifted their spears to face them. Their fury gathered into bulk and their battle cry rose up. But now Phoibos Apollo stood by Hektor and spoke to him: 'Hektor, do not go out all alone to fight with Achilleus, but wait for him in the multitude and out of the carnage lest he hit you with the spear or the stroke of the sword from close in.'

He spoke, and Hektor plunged back into the swarm of the fighting men, in fear, when he heard the voice of the god speaking. But Achilleus, gathering the fury upon him, sprang on the Trojans with a ghastly cry, and the first of them he killed was Iphition the great son of Otrynteus and a lord over numbers of people, born of a naiad nymph to Otrynteus, sacker of cities, under the snows of Tmolos in the rich countryside of Hydë. Great Achilleus struck him with the spear as he came in fury, in the middle of the head, and all the head broke into two pieces. He fell, thunderously. Great Achilleus vaunted above him: 'Lie there, Otrynteus' son, most terrifying of all men. Here is your death, but your generation was by the lake waters of Gyge, where is the allotted land of your fathers by fish-swarming Hyllos and the whirling waters of Hermos.' He spoke, vaunting, but darkness shrouded the eyes of the other, and the running rims of Achaian chariots cut him to pieces in the van of the onrush. Next, after him, facing Demoleon lord defender of battle and son of Antenor, Achilleus stabbed him in the temple through the brazen sides of the helmet, and the brazen helmet could not hold, but the bronze spearhead driven on through smashed the bone apart, and the inward brain was all spattered forth. So he beat him down in his fury. Next he stabbed with a spear-stroke in the back Hippodamas as he fled away before him and sprang from behind his horses. He blew his life away, bellowing, as when a bull bellows as he is dragged for Poseidon, lord of Helike, and the young men drag him. In such bulls the earth shaker glories. Such was his bellowing as the proud spirit flitted from his bones. Next he went with the spear after godlike Polydoros, Priam's son, whom his father would not let go into battle because he was youngest born of all his sons to him, and also the most beloved, and in speed of his feet outpassed all the others. But now, in his young thoughtlessness and display of his running he swept among the champions until thus he destroyed his dear life. For as he shot by swift-footed brilliant Achilleus hit him with a spear thrown in the middle of the back where the clasps of the war belt were golden and came together at the joining halves of the corselet. The spearhead held its way straight on and came out by the navel, and he dropped, moaning, on one knee as the dark mist gathered about him, and sagged, and caught with his hands at his bowels in front of him.

But now when Hektor saw Polydoros, his own brother, going limp to the ground and catching his bowels in his hands, the mist closed about his eyes also, he could stand no longer to turn there at a distance, but went out to face Achilleus hefting his sharp spear, like a flame. Seeing him Achilleus balanced his spear in turn, and called out to him, and challenged him: 'Here is the man who beyond all others has troubled my anger, who slaughtered my beloved companion. Let us no longer shrink away from each other along the edgeworks of battle.'

He spoke, and looking darkly at brilliant Hektor spoke to him: 'Come nearer, so that sooner you may reach your appointed destruction.'

But with no fear Hektor of the shining helm answered him: 'Son of Peleus, never hope by words to frighten me as if I were a baby. I myself understand well enough how to speak in vituperation and how to make insults. I know that you are great and that I am far weaker than you are. Still, all this lies upon the knees of the gods; and it may be that weaker as I am I might still strip the life from you with a cast of the spear, since my weapon too has been sharp before this.'

He spoke, and balanced the spear and let it fly. But Athene blew against it and turned it back from renowned Achilleus with an easy blast. It came back again to glorious Hektor and dropped to the ground in front of his feet. Meanwhile Achilleus made a furious charge against him, raging to kill him with a terrible cry, but Phoibos Apollo caught up Hektor easily, since he was a god, and wrapped him in thick mist. Three times swift-footed brilliant Achilleus swept in against him with the brazen spear. Three times his stroke went into the deep mist. But as a fourth time, like something more than a man, he charged in, Achilleus with a terrible cry called in winged words after him: 'Once again now you escaped death, dog. And yet the evil came near you, but now once more Phoibos Apollo has saved you, he to whom you must pray when you go into the thunder of spears thrown. Yet I may win you, if I encounter you ever hereafter, if beside me also there is some god who will help me. Now I must chase whoever I can overtake of the others.'

He spoke, and with the spear full in the neck stabbed Dryops so that he dropped in front of his feet. He left him to lie there and with a spear thrown against the knee stopped the charge of Demouchos, Philetor's son, a huge man and powerful. After the spearcast with an inward plunge of the great sword he took the life from him. Then Achilleus swooping on Dardanos and Laogonos, sons both of Bias, dashed them to the ground from behind their horses, one with a spearcast, one with a stroke of the sword from close up. Now Tros, Alastor's son: he had come up against Achilleus' knees, to catch them and be spared and his life given to him if Achilleus might take pity upon his youth and not kill him; fool, and did not see there would be no way to persuade him, since this was a man with no sweetness in his heart, and not kindly but in a strong fury; now Tros with his hands was reaching for the knees, bent on supplication, but he stabbed with his sword at the liver so that the liver was torn from its place, and from it the black blood drenched the fold of his tunic and his eyes were shrouded in darkness as the life went. Next from close in he thrust at Moulios with the pike at the ear, so the bronze spearhead pushed through and came out at the other ear. Now he hit Echeklos the son of Agenor with the hilted sword, hewing against his head in the middle so all the sword was smoking with blood, and over both eyes closed the red death and the strong destiny. Now Deukalion was struck in the arm, at a place in the elbow where the tendons come together. There through the arm Achilleus transfixed him with the bronze spearhead, and he, arm hanging heavy, waited and looked his death in the face. Achilleus struck with the sword's edge at his neck, and swept the helmed head far away, and the marrow gushed from the neckbone, and he went down to the ground at full length. Now he went on after the blameless son of Peires, Rhigmos, who had come over from Thrace where the soil is rich. This man he stabbed in the middle with the spear, and the spear stuck fast in his belly. He dropped from the chariot, but as Areïthoös his henchman turned the horses away Achilleus stabbed him with the sharp spear in the back, and thrust him from the chariot. And the horses bolted.

As inhuman fire sweeps on in fury through the deep angles of a drywood mountain and sets ablaze the depth of the timber and the blustering wind lashes the flame along, so Achilleus swept everywhere with his spear like something more than a mortal harrying them as they died, and the black earth ran blood. Or as when a man yokes male broad-foreheaded oxen to crush white barley on a strong-laid threshing floor, and rapidly the barley is stripped beneath the feet of the bellowing oxen, so before great-hearted Achilleus the single-foot horses trampled alike dead men and shields, and the axle under the chariot was all splashed with blood and the rails which encircled the chariot, struck by flying drops from the feet of the horses, from the running rims of the wheels. The son of Peleus was straining to win glory, his invincible hands spattered with bloody filth.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 21

 BUT when they came to the crossing place of the fair-running river of whirling Xanthos, a stream whose father was Zeus the immortal, there Achilleus split them and chased some back over the flat land toward the city, where the Achaians themselves had stampeded in terror on the day before, when glorious Hektor was still in his fury. Along this ground they were streaming in flight; but Hera let fall a deep mist before them to stay them. Meanwhile the other half were crowded into the silvery whirls of the deep-running river and tumbled into it in huge clamour, and the steep-running water sounded, and the banks echoed hugely about them, as they out-crying tried to swim this way and that, spun about in the eddies. As before the blast of a fire the locusts escaping into a river swarm in air, and the fire unwearied blazes from a sudden start, and the locusts huddle in water; so before Achilleus the murmuring waters of Xanthos the deep-whirling were filled with confusion of men and of horses.

But heaven-descended Achilleus left his spear there on the bank leaning against the tamarisks, and leapt in like some immortal, with only his sword, but his heart was bent upon evil actions, and he struck in a circle around him. The shameful sound of their groaning rose as they were struck with the sword, and the water was reddened with blood. As before a huge-gaping dolphin the other fishes escaping cram the corners of a deepwater harbour in fear, for he avidly eats up any he can catch; so the Trojans along the course of the terrible river shrank under the bluffs. He, when his hands grew weary with killing, chose out and took twelve young men alive from the river to be vengeance for the death of Patroklos, the son of Menoitios. These, bewildered with fear like fawns, he led out of the water and bound their hands behind them with thongs well cut out of leather, with the very belts they themselves wore on their ingirt tunics, and gave them to his companions to lead away to the hollow ships, then himself whirled back, still in a fury to kill men.

And there he came upon a son of Dardanian Priam as he escaped from the river, Lykaon, one whom he himself had taken before and led him unwilling from his father's gardens on a night foray. He with the sharp bronze was cutting young branches from a fig tree, so that they could make him rails for a chariot, when an unlooked-for evil thing came upon him, the brilliant Achilleus, who that time sold him as slave in strong-founded Lemnos carrying him there by ship, and the son of Jason paid for him; from there a guest and friend who paid a great price redeemed him, Eëtion of Imbros, and sent him to shining Arisbe; and from there he fled away and came to the house of his father. For eleven days he pleasured his heart with friends and family after he got back from Lemnos, but on the twelfth day once again the god cast him into the hands of Achilleus, who this time was to send him down unwilling on his way to the death god. Now as brilliant swift-footed Achilleus saw him and knew him naked and without helm or shield, and he had no spear left but had thrown all these things on the ground, being weary and sweating with the escape from the river, and his knees were beaten with weariness, disturbed, Achilleus spoke to his own great-hearted spirit: 'Can this be? Here is a strange thing that my eyes look on. Now the great-hearted Trojans, even those I have killed already, will stand and rise up again out of the gloom and the darkness as this man has come back and escaped the day without pity though he was sold into sacred Lemnos; but the main of the grey sea could not hold him, though it holds back many who are unwilling. But come now, he must be given a taste of our spearhead so that I may know inside my heart and make certain whether he will come back even from there, or the prospering earth will hold him, she who holds back even the strong man.'

So he pondered, waiting, and the other in terror came near him in an agony to catch at his knees, and the wish in his heart was to get away from the evil death and the dark fate. By this brilliant Achilleus held the long spear uplifted above him straining to stab, but he under-ran the stroke and caught him by the knees, bending, and the spear went over his back and stood fast in the ground, for all its desire to tear a man's flesh. Lykaon with one hand had taken him by the knees in supplication and with the other held and would not let go of the edged spear and spoke aloud to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Achilleus, I am at your knees. Respect my position, have mercy upon me. I am in the place, illustrious, of a suppliant who must be honoured, for you were the first beside whom I tasted the yield of Demeter on that day you captured me in the strong-laid garden and took me away from my father and those near me, and sold me away into sacred Lemnos, and a hundred oxen I fetched you. My release was ransom three times as great; and this is the twelfth dawn since I came back to Ilion, after much suffering. Now again cursed destiny has put me in your hands; and I think I must be hated by Zeus the father who has given me once more to you, and my mother bore me to a short life, Laothoë, daughter of aged Altes, Altes, lord of the Leleges, whose delight is in battle, and holds headlong Pedasos on the river Satnioeis. His daughter was given to Priam, who had many wives beside her. We are two who were born to her. You will have cut the throats of both, since one you beat down in the forefront of the foot-fighters, Polydoros the godlike, with a cast of the sharp spear. This time the evil shall be mine in this place, since I do not think I shall escape your hands, since divinity drove me against them. Still, put away in your heart this other thing I say to you. Do not kill me. I am not from the same womb as Hektor, he who killed your powerful and kindly companion.'

So the glorious son of Priam addressed him, speaking in supplication, but heard in turn the voice without pity: 'Poor fool, no longer speak to me of ransom, nor argue it. In the time before Patroklos came to the day of his destiny then it was the way of my heart's choice to be sparing of the Trojans, and many I took alive and disposed of them. Now there is not one who can escape death, if the gods send him against my hands in front of Ilion, not one of all the Trojans and beyond others the children of Priam. So, friend, you die also. Why all this clamour about it? Patroklos also is dead, who was better by far than you are. Do you not see what a man I am, how huge, how splendid and born of a great father, and the mother who bore me immortal? Yet even I have also my death and my strong destiny, and there shall be a dawn or an afternoon or a noontime when some man in the fighting will take the life from me also either with a spearcast or an arrow flown from the bowstring.'

So he spoke, and in the other the knees and the inward heart went slack. He let go of the spear and sat back, spreading wide both hands; but Achilleus drawing his sharp sword struck him beside the neck at the collar-bone, and the double-edged sword plunged full length inside. He dropped to the ground, face downward, and lay at length, and the black blood flowed, and the ground was soaked with it. Achilleus caught him by the foot and slung him into the river to drift, and spoke winged words of vaunting derision over him: 'Lie there now among the fish, who will lick the blood away from your wound, and care nothing for you, nor will your mother lay you on the death-bed and mourn over you, but Skamandros will carry you spinning down to the wide bend of the salt water. And a fish will break a ripple shuddering dark on the water as he rises to feed upon the shining fat of Lykaon. Die on, all; till we come to the city of sacred Ilion, you in flight and I killing you from behind; and there will not be any rescue for you from your silvery-whirled strong-running river, for all the numbers of bulls you dedicate to it and drown single-foot horses alive in its eddies. And yet even so, die all an evil death, till all of you pay for the death of Patroklos and the slaughter of the Achaians whom you killed beside the running ships, when I was not with them.'

He spoke, but the anger was rising now in the heart of the river and he pondered in his heart as to how he could stop the labour of brilliant Achilleus, and fend destruction away from the Trojans. And now with the spear far shadowing in his hands Peleus' son was springing, furious to kill him, on Asteropaios the son of Pelegon; who in turn was born of the wide-running river Axios, and of Periboia, eldest of the daughters of Akessamenos, for she lay in love with the deep-whirling river. Against this man Achilleus rose up, and he came out to face him from the river, holding two spears, for Xanthos had inspired valour into his heart, in anger for the slaughter of the young men whom Achilleus had slain beside his waters and taken no pity. Now as these two in their advance encountered together first of the two to speak was swift-footed brilliant Achilleus: 'What man are you, and whence, who dare stand up to my onset? Since unhappy are those whose sons match warcraft against me.'

Then in turn the glorious son of Pelegon answered him: 'High-hearted son of Peleus, why ask of my generation? I am from Paionia far away, where the soil is generous, and lead the men of Paionia with long spears; and this for me is the eleventh day since I arrived in Ilion. For my generation, it is from the broad waters of Axios, Axios, who floods the land with the loveliest waters. His son was Pelegon the spear-famed; but men say I am Pelegon's son; now, glorious Achilleus, we shall fight together.'

So he spoke, challenging, and brilliant Achilleus uplifted the Pelian ash spear, but the warrior Asteropaios threw with both spears at the same time, being ambidextrous. With the one spear he hit the shield but could not altogether break through the shield, since the gold stayed it that the god had given. With the other spear he struck Achilleus on the right forearm and grazed it so that the blood gushed out in a dark cloud, and the spear overpassed him and fixed in the ground, straining to reach his body. Throwing second Achilleus let fly at Asteropaios with the straight-flying ash spear in a fury to kill him, but missed his man and hit the high bank, so that the ash spear was driven half its length and stuck in the bank of the river. But the son of Peleus, drawing from beside his thigh the sharp sword, sprang upon him in fury; and Asteropaios could not with his heavy hand wrench Achilleus' ash spear free of the river-bank. Three times he struggled straining to wrench it clear, and three times gave over the effort, and now for the fourth time he was bending over the ash spear of Aiakides, trying to break it, but before this Achilleus took his life with the sword from close up for he struck him in the belly next the navel, and all his guts poured out on the ground, and a mist of darkness closed over both eyes as he gasped life out, and springing upon his chest Achilleus stripped his armour away and spoke in triumph above him: 'Lie so: it is hard even for those sprung of a river to fight against the children of Kronos, whose strength is almighty. You said you were of the generation of the wide-running river, but I claim that I am of the generation of great Zeus. The man is my father who is lord over many Myrmidons, Peleus, Aiakos' son, but Zeus was the father of Aiakos. And as Zeus is stronger than rivers that run to the sea, so the generation of Zeus is made stronger than that of a river. For here is a great river beside you, if he were able to help; but it is not possible to fight Zeus, son of Kronos. Not powerful Acheloios matches his strength against Zeus, not the enormous strength of Ocean with his deep-running waters, Ocean, from whom all rivers are and the entire sea and all springs and all deep wells have their waters of him, yet even Ocean is afraid of the lightning of great Zeus and the dangerous thunderbolt when it breaks from the sky crashing.'

So he spoke, and pulled the bronze spear free of the river bluff and left him there, when he had torn the heart of life from him, sprawled in the sands and drenched in the dark water. And about Asteropaios the eels and the other fish were busy tearing him and nibbling the fat that lay by his kidneys. But Achilleus went on after the Paionians crested with horse-hair who had scattered in fear along the banks of the eddying river when they had seen their greatest man in the strong encounter gone down by force under the sword and the hands of Peleïdes. There he killed Thersilochos and Astypylos and Mydon, Mnesos and Thrasios, and Ainios and Ophelestes. Now swift Achilleus would have killed even more Paionians except that the deep-whirling river spoke to him in anger and in mortal likeness, and the voice rose from the depth of the eddies: 'O Achilleus, your strength is greater, your acts more violent than all men's; since always the very gods are guarding you. If the son of Kronos has given all Trojans to your destruction, drive them at least out of me to the plain, and there work your havoc. For the loveliness of my waters is crammed with corpses, I cannot find a channel to cast my waters into the bright sea since I am congested with the dead men you kill so brutally. Let me alone, then; lord of the people, I am confounded.'

Then in answer to him spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: 'All this, illustrious Skamandros, shall be as you order. But I will not leave off my killing of the proud Trojans until I have penned them inside their city, and attempted Hektor strength against strength, until he has killed me or I have killed him.'

He spoke, and like something more than mortal swept down on the Trojans. And now the deep-whirling river called aloud to Apollo: 'Shame, lord of the silver bow, Zeus' son; you have not kept the counsels of Kronion, who very strongly ordered you to stand by the Trojans and defend them, until the sun setting at last goes down and darkens all the generous ploughland.'

He spoke: and spear-famed Achilleus leapt into the middle water with a spring from the bluff, but the river in a boiling surge was upon him and rose making turbulent all his waters, and pushed off the many dead men whom Achilleus had killed piled in abundance in the stream; these, bellowing like a bull, he shoved out on the dry land, but saved the living in the sweet waters hiding them under the huge depths of the whirling current. And about Achilleus in his confusion a dangerous wave rose up, and beat against his shield and pushed it. He could not brace himself with his feet, but caught with his hands at an elm tree tall and strong grown, but this uptorn by the roots and tumbling ripped away the whole cliff and with its dense tangle of roots stopped the run of the lovely current and fallen full length in the water dammed the very stream. Achilleus uprising out of the whirlpool made a dash to get to the plain in the speed of his quick feet in fear, but the great god would not let him be, but rose on him in a darkening edge of water, minded to stop the labour of brilliant Achilleus and fend destruction away from the Trojans. The son of Peleus sprang away the length of a spearcast running with the speed of the black eagle, the marauder who is at once the strongest of flying things and the swiftest. In the likeness of this he sped away, on his chest the bronze armour clashed terribly, and bending away to escape from the river he fled, but the river came streaming after him in huge noise. And as a man running a channel from a spring of dark water guides the run of the water among his plants and his gardens with a mattock in his hand and knocks down the blocks in the channel; in the rush of the water all the pebbles beneath are torn loose from place, and the water that has been dripping suddenly jets on in a steep place and goes too fast even for the man who guides it; so always the crest of the river was overtaking Achilleus for all his speed of foot, since gods are stronger than mortals. And every time swift-footed brilliant Achilleus would begin to turn and stand and fight the river, and try to discover if all the gods who hold the wide heaven were after him, every time again the enormous wave of the sky-fed river would strike his shoulders from above. He tried, in his desperation, to keep a high spring with his feet, but the river was wearing his knees out as it ran fiercely beneath him and cut the ground from under his feet. Peleïdes groaned aloud, gazing into the wide sky: 'Father Zeus, no god could endure to save me from the river who am so pitiful. And what then shall become of me? It is not so much any other Uranian god who has done this but my own mother who beguiled me with falsehoods, who told me that underneath the battlements of the armoured Trojans I should be destroyed by the flying shafts of Apollo. I wish now Hektor had killed me, the greatest man grown in this place. A brave man would have been the slayer, as the slain was a brave man. But now this is a dismal death I am doomed to be caught in, trapped in a big river as if I were a boy and a swineherd swept away by a torrent when he tries to cross in a rainstorm.'

So he spoke, and Poseidon and Athene swiftly came near him and stood beside him with their shapes in the likeness of mortals and caught him hand by hand and spoke to him in assurance. First of them to speak was the shaker of the earth, Poseidon. 'Do not be afraid, son of Peleus, nor be so anxious, such are we two of the gods who stand beside you to help you, by the consent of Zeus, myself and Pallas Athene. Thereby it is not your destiny to be killed by the river, but he shall be presently stopped, and you yourself shall behold it. 'But we also have close counsel to give you, if you will believe us. Do not let stay your hands from the collision of battle until you have penned the people of Troy, those who escape you, inside the famed wall of Ilion. Then when you have taken Hektor's life go back again to the ships. We grant you the winning of glory.'

So speaking the two went back again among the immortals, but Achilleus went on, and the urgency of the gods strongly stirred him, into the plain. But the river filled with an outrush of water and masses of splendid armour from the young men who had perished floated there, and their bodies, but against the hard drive of the river straight on he kept a high spring with his feet, and the river wide running could not stop him now, since he was given great strength by Athene. But Skamandros did not either abate his fury, but all the more raged at Peleion, and high uplifting the wave of his waters gathered it to a crest, and called aloud upon Simoeis: 'Beloved brother, let even the two of us join to hold back the strength of a man, since presently he will storm the great city of lord Priam. The Trojans cannot stand up to him in battle. But help me beat him off with all speed, and make full your currents with water from your springs, and rouse up all of your torrents and make a big wave rear up and wake the heavy confusion and sound of timbers and stones, so we can stop this savage man who is now in his strength and rages in fury like the immortals. For I say that his strength will not be enough for him nor his beauty nor his arms in their splendour, which somewhere deep down under the waters shall lie folded under the mud; and I will whelm his own body deep, and pile it over with abundance of sands and rubble numberless, nor shall the Achaians know where to look for his bones to gather them, such ruin will I pile over him. And there shall his monument be made, and he will have no need of any funeral mound to be buried in by the Achaians.'

He spoke, and rose against Achilleus, turbulent, boiling to a crest, muttering in foam and blood and dead bodies until the purple wave of the river fed from the bright sky lifted high and caught in its waters the son of Peleus. But Hera, greatly fearing for Achilleus, cried in a loud voice lest he be swept away in the huge deep-eddying river, and at once thereafter appealed to her own dear son, Hephaistos: 'Rise up, god of the dragging feet, my child; for we believe that whirling Xanthos would be fit antagonist for you in battle. Go now quickly to the help of Achilleus, make shine a great flame while I raise up and bring in out of the sea a troublesome storm of the west wind and the whitening south wind, a storm that will burn the heads of the Trojans and burn their armour carrying the evil flame, while you by the banks of Xanthos set fire to the trees and throw fire on the river himself, and do not by any means let him turn you with winning words or revilements. Do not let your fury be stopped until such time as I lift my voice and cry to you. Then stay your weariless burning.' Hera spoke, and Hephaistos set on them an inhuman fire. First he kindled a fire in the plain and burned the numerous corpses that lay there in abundance, slain by Achilleus, and all the plain was parched and the shining water was straitened. As when the north wind of autumn suddenly makes dry a garden freshly watered and makes glad the man who is tending it, so the entire flat land was dried up with Hephaistos burning the dead bodies. Then he turned his flame in its shining into the river. The elms burned, the willows and tamarisks, the clover burned and the rushes and the galingale, all those plants that grew in abundance by the lovely stream of the river. The eels were suffering and the fish in the whirl of the water who leaped out along the lovely waters in every direction in affliction under the hot blast of resourceful Hephaistos. The strength of the river was burning away; he gave voice and called out by name: 'Hephaistos, not one of the gods could stand up against you. I for one could not fight the flame of a fire like this one. Leave your attack. Brilliant Achilleus can capture the city of the Trojans, now, for me. What have I to do with this quarrel?' He spoke, blazing with fire, and his lovely waters were seething. And as a cauldron that is propped over a great fire boils up dancing on its whole circle with dry sticks burning beneath it as it melts down the fat of swine made tender, so Xanthos' lovely streams were burned with the fire, and the water was boiling and would not flow along but was stopped under stress of the hot blast strongly blown by resourceful Hephaistos. And now the river cried out to Hera in the winged words of strong supplication: 'Hera, why did your son assault me to trouble my waters beyond others'? It is not so much I who have done anything against you as all the rest of the gods who stand by to help the Trojans. Now indeed I will leave off, if such is your order, but let him leave off too, I will swear you a promise not ever to drive the day of evil away from the Trojans, not even when all the city of Troy is burned in the ravening fire, on that day when the warlike sons of the Achaians burn it.'

Now when the goddess of the white arms, Hera, had heard this immediately she spoke to her own dear son, Hephaistos: 'Hephaistos, hold, my glorious child, since it is not fitting to batter thus an immortal god for the sake of mortals.'

So she spoke, and Hephaistos quenched his inhuman fire. Now the lovely waters ran their ripples back in the channel.

But when the strength of Xanthos had been beaten, these two gods rested, since Hera, for all she was still angry, restrained them. But upon the other gods descended the wearisome burden of hatred, and the wind of their fury blew from division, and they collided with a grand crash, the broad earth echoing and the huge sky sounded as with trumpets. Zeus heard it from where he sat on Olympos, and was amused in his deep heart for pleasure, as he watched the gods' collision in conflict. Thereafter they stood not long apart from each other, for Ares began it, the shield-stabber, and rose up against Athene with the brazen spear in his hand, and spoke a word of revilement: 'Why once more, you dogfly, have you stirred up trouble among the gods with the blast of your blown fury, and the pride of your heart driving you? Do you not remember how you set on Diomedes, Tydeus' son, to spear me, and yourself laying hold of the far-seen pike pushed it straight into me and tore my skin in its beauty. So now I am minded to pay you back for all you have done me.'

He spoke, and stabbed against the ghastly aegis with fluttering straps, which gives way not even before the bolt of Zeus' lightning. There blood-dripping Ares made his stab with the long spear, but Athene giving back caught up in her heavy hand a stone that lay in the plain, black and rugged and huge, one which men of a former time had set there as boundary mark of the cornfield. With this she hit furious Ares in the neck, and unstrung him. He spread over seven acres in his fall, and his hair dragged in the dust, and his armour clashed. But Pallas Athene laughing stood above him and spoke to him in the winged words of triumph: 'You child; you did not think even this time how much stronger I can claim I am than you, when you match your fury against me. Therefore you are paying atonement to your mother's furies since she is angry and wishes you ill, because you abandoned the Achaians, and have given your aid to the insolent Trojans.'

She spoke, and turned the shining of her eyes away. But taking Ares by the hand the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, led him away, groaning always, his strength scarce gathered back into him. But now, as the goddess of the white arms, Hera, noticed her immediately she spoke to Pallas Athene her winged words: 'For shame now, Atrytone, daughter of Zeus of the aegis. Here again is this dogfly leading murderous Ares out of the fighting and through the confusion. Quick, go after her!'

She spoke, and Athene swept in pursuit, heart full of gladness, and caught up with her and drove a blow at her breasts with her ponderous hand, so that her knees went slack and the heart inside her. Those two both lay sprawled on the generous earth. But Athene stood above them and spoke to them in the winged words of triumph: 'Now may all who bring their aid to the Trojans be in such case as these, when they do battle with the armoured Argives, as daring and as unfortunate, as now Aphrodite came companion in arms to Ares, and faced my fury. So we should long ago have rested after our fighting once having utterly stormed the strong-founded city of Ilion.' She spoke, and the goddess of the white arms, Hera, smiled on her. But now the powerful shaker of the earth spoke to Apollo: 'Phoibos, why do you and I stand yet apart. It does not suit when the others have begun, and it were too shameful if without fighting we go back to the brazen house of Zeus on Olympos. Begin, you; you are younger born than I; it is not well for me to, since I am elder born than you, and know more. Young fool, what a mindless heart you have. Can you not even now remember all the evils we endured here by Ilion, you and I alone of the gods, when to proud Laomedon we came down from Zeus and for a year were his servants for a stated hire, and he told us what to do, and to do it? Then I built a wall for the Trojans about their city, wide, and very splendid, so none could break into their city, but you, Phoibos, herded his shambling horn-curved cattle along the spurs of Ida with all her folds and her forests. But when the changing seasons brought on the time for our labour to be paid, then headstrong Laomedon violated and made void all our hire, and sent us away, and sent threats after us. For he threatened to hobble our feet and to bind our arms, to carry us away for slaves in the far-lying islands. He was even going to strip with bronze the ears from both of us. Then you and I took our way back with hearts full of anger and wrath for our hire which he promised us and would not accomplish it. Yet to his people you give now your grace, and you will not try with us to bring destruction on the insolent Trojans evil and complete, with their honoured wives and their children.'

In turn the lord who strikes from afar, Apollo, answered him: 'Shaker of the earth, you would have me be as one without prudence if I am to fight even you for the sake of insignificant mortals, who are as leaves are, and now flourish and grow warm with life, and feed on what the ground gives, but then again fade away and are dead. Therefore let us with all speed give up this quarrel and let the mortals fight their own battles.'

He spoke so and turned away, for he was too modest to close and fight in strength of hand with his father's brother. But his sister, Artemis of the wild, the lady of wild beasts, scolded him bitterly and spoke a word of revilement: 'You run from him, striker from afar. You have yielded Poseidon the victory entire. He can brag, where nothing has happened. Fool, then why do you wear that bow, which is wind and nothing. Let me not hear you in the halls of my father boasting ever again, as you did before among the immortals, that you could match your strength in combat against Poseidon.'

So she spoke, but Apollo who strikes from afar said nothing to her; but the august consort of Zeus, full of anger, scolded the lady of showering arrows in words of revilement: 'How have you had the daring, you shameless hussy, to stand up and face me? It will be hard for you to match your strength with mine even if you wear a bow, since Zeus has made you a lion among women, and given you leave to kill any at your pleasure. Better for you to hunt down the ravening beasts in the mountains and deer of the wilds, than try to fight in strength with your betters. But if you would learn what fighting is, come on. You will find out how much stronger I am when you try to match strength against me.'

She spoke, and caught both of her arms at the wrists in her left hand and with her right hand stripped away the bow from her shoulders, then with her own bow, smiling, boxed her ears as Artemis tried to twist away, and the flying arrows were scattered. She got under and free and fled in tears, as a pigeon in flight from a hawk wings her way into some rock-hollow and a cave, since it was not destiny for the hawk to catch her. So she left her archery on the ground, and fled weeping. Meanwhile the Guide, Argeïphontes, addressed him to Leto: 'Leto, I will not fight with you; since it is a hard thing to come to blows with the brides of Zeus who gathers the clouds. No, sooner you may freely speak among the immortal gods, and claim that you were stronger than I, and beat me.'

So he spoke, but Leto picked up the curved bow and the arrows which had fallen in the turn of the dust one way and another. When she had taken up the bow she went back to her daughter. But the maiden came to the bronze-founded house on Olympos of Zeus, and took her place kneeling at the knees of her father and the ambrosial veil trembled about her. Her father Kronides caught her against him, and laughed softly, and questioned her: 'Who now of the Uranian gods, dear child, has done such things to you, rashly, as if you were caught doing something wicked?'

Artemis sweet-garlanded lady of clamours answered him: 'It was your wife, Hera of the white arms, who hit me, father, since hatred and fighting have fastened upon the immortals.'

Now as these two were talking thus to each other, meanwhile Phoibos Apollo went into the sacred city of Ilion, since he was concerned for the wall of the strong-founded city lest the Danaans storm it on that day, before they were fated. The rest of the gods who live forever went back to Olympos, some in anger and others glorying greatly, and sat down at the side of their father the dark-misted. Meanwhile Achilleus was destroying alike the Trojans themselves and their single-foot horses; and as when smoke ascending goes up into the wide sky from a burning city, with the anger of the gods let loose upon it which inflicted labour upon them all, and sorrow on many, so Achilleus inflicted labour and sorrow upon the Trojans.

The aged Priam had taken his place on the god-built bastion, and looked out and saw gigantic Achilleus, where before him the Trojans fled in the speed of their confusion, no war strength left them. He groaned and descended to the ground from the bastion and beside the wall set in motion the glorious guards of the gateway; 'Hold the gates wide open in your hands, so that our people in their flight can get inside the city, for here is Achilleus close by, stampeding them, and I think there will be disaster. But once they are crowded inside the city and get wind again, shut once more the door-leaves closely fitted together. I am afraid this ruinous man may spring into our stronghold.'

He spoke, and they spread open the gates and shoved back the door bars and the gates opening let in daylight. Meanwhile Apollo sprang out to meet them, so that he could fend off destruction from the Trojans, who, straight for the city and the lift of the rampart dusty from the plain and throats rugged with thirst, fled away, and Achilleus followed fiercely with the spear, strong madness forever holding his heart and violent after his glory.

There the sons of the Achaians might have taken gate-towering Ilion had not Phoibos Apollo sent on them brilliant Agenor, a man who was the son of Antenor, blameless and powerful. He drove courage into his heart, and stood there beside him in person, so as to beat the dragging death spirits from him, and leaned there on an oak tree with close mist huddled about him. When Agenor was aware of Achilleus, sacker of cities, he stood fast, but the heart was a storm in him as he waited, and deeply disturbed he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit: 'Ah me! if I run away before the strength of Achilleus in the way that others are stampeded in terror before him, he will catch me even so and cut my throat like a coward's. But if I leave these men to be driven in flight by Achilleus, Peleus' son, and run on my feet in another direction away from the wall to the plain of Ilion, until I come to the spurs of Ida, and take cover there within the undergrowth, then in the evening, when I have bathed in the river, and washed off the sweat, I could make my way back again to Ilion. Yet still, why does the heart within me debate on these things? This way, he might see me as I started to the plain from the city, and go in pursuit, and in the speed of his feet overtake me. Then there will be no way to escape death and the death spirits. He is too strong, his strength is beyond all others'. But then if I go out in front of the city and stand fast against him, I think even his body might be torn by the sharp bronze. There is only one life in him, and people say he is mortal. It is only that Zeus, the son of Kronos, is granting him glory.'

He spoke, and gathered himself to await Achilleus, and in him the fighting heart was urgent for the encounter of battle. But as a leopard emerges out of her timbered cover to face the man who is hunting her, and takes no terror in her heart nor thought of flight when she hears them baying against her; and even though one be too quick for her with spear thrust or spear thrown stuck with the shaft though she be she will not give up her fighting fury, till she has closed with one of them or is overthrown; so the son of proud Antenor, brilliant Agenor, was unwilling to run away until he had tested Achilleus, but held the perfect circle of his shield in front of him, and with the spear aimed at him and cried out in a great voice: 'You must have hoped within your heart, o shining Achilleus, on this day to storm the city of the proud Trojans. You fool! There is much hard suffering to be done for its winning, since there are many of us inside, and men who are fighters, who will stand before our beloved parents, our wives and our children, to defend Ilion; but in this place you will find your destiny, for all you are so headlong and so bold a warrior.'

He spoke, and from his heavy hand let fly with the sharp spear and struck him in the leg below the knee, nor entirely missed him, and taking the spear the greave of new-wrought tin clattered horribly, and back from the struck greave the bronze rebounded without getting through, but the gift of the god defended Achilleus. After him Peleus' son made his spring at godlike Agenor, but Apollo would no further grant him the winning of glory but caught Agenor away closing him in a dense mist and sent him to make his way quietly out of the battle. Then by deception he kept Peleion away from the people. The striker from afar likened himself in all ways to Agenor and stood there before his feet, and Achilleus sprang in chase of him in the speed of his feet; for the time he chased him across the wheat-bearing plain, turning him toward the deep whirls of the river Skamandros as he ran a little in front; with the trick Apollo beguiled him so that he hoped ever by running to catch up with him; all this time the rest of the Trojans fled in a body gladly into the town, and the city was filled with their swarming. They dared no longer outside the wall and outside the city to wait for each other and find out which one had got away and who had died in the battle, so hastily were they streaming into the city, each man as his knees and feet could rescue him.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 22

 So along the city the Trojans, who had run like fawns, dried the sweat off from their bodies and drank and slaked their thirst, leaning along the magnificent battlements. Meanwhile the Achaians sloping their shields across their shoulders came close to the rampart. But his deadly fate held Hektor shackled, so that he stood fast in front of Ilion and the Skaian gates. Now Phoibos Apollo spoke aloud to Peleion: 'Why, son of Peleus, do you keep after me in the speed of your feet, being mortal while I am an immortal god? Even yet you have not seen that I am a god, but strain after me in your fury. Now hard fighting with the Trojans whom you stampeded means nothing to you. They are crowded in the city, but you bent away here. You will never kill me. I am not one who is fated.'

Deeply vexed Achilleus of the swift feet spoke to him: 'You have balked me, striker from afar, most malignant of all gods, when you turned me here away from the rampart, else many Trojans would have caught the soil in their teeth before they got back into Ilion. Now you have robbed me of great glory, and rescued these people lightly, since you have no retribution to fear hereafter. Else I would punish you, if only the strength were in me.'

He spoke, and stalked away against the city, with high thoughts in mind, and in tearing speed, like a racehorse with his chariot who runs lightly as he pulls the chariot over the flat land. Such was the action of Achilleus in feet and quick knees.

The aged Priam was the first of all whose eyes saw him as he swept across the flat land in full shining, like that star which comes on in the autumn and whose conspicuous brightness far outshines the stars that are numbered in the night's darkening, the star they give the name of Orion's Dog, which is brightest among the stars, and yet is wrought as a sign of evil and brings on the great fever for unfortunate mortals. Such was the flare of the bronze that girt his chest in his running. The old man groaned aloud and with both hands high uplifted beat his head, and groaned amain, and spoke supplicating his beloved son, who there still in front of the gateway stood fast in determined fury to fight with Achilleus. The old man stretching his hands out called pitifully to him:

'Hektor, beloved child, do not wait the attack of this man alone, away from the others. You might encounter your destiny beaten down by Peleion, since he is far stronger than you are. A hard man: I wish he were as beloved of the immortal as loved by me. Soon he would lie dead, and the dogs and the vultures would eat him, and bitter sorrow so be taken from my heart. He has made me desolate of my sons, who were brave and many. He killed them, or sold them away among the far-lying islands. Even now there are two sons, Lykaon and Polydoros, whom I cannot see among the Trojans pent up in the city, sons Laothoëa princess among women bore to me. But if these are alive somewhere in the army, then I can set them free for bronze and gold; it is there inside, since Altes the aged and renowned gave much with his daughter. But if they are dead already and gone down to the house of Hades, it is sorrow to our hearts, who bore them, myself and their mother, but to the rest of the people a sorrow that will be fleeting beside their sorrow for you, if you go down before Achilleus. Come then inside the wall, my child, so that you can rescue the Trojans and the women of Troy, neither win the high glory for Peleus' son, and yourself be robbed of your very life. Oh, take pity on me, the unfortunate still alive, still sentient but ill-starred, whom the father, Kronos' son, on the threshold of old age will blast with hard fate, after I have looked upon evils and seen my sons destroyed and my daughters dragged away captive and the chambers of marriage wrecked and the innocent children taken and dashed to the ground in the hatefulness of war, and the wives of my sons dragged off by the accursed hands of the Achaians. And myself last of all, my dogs in front of my doorway will rip me raw, after some man with stroke of the sharp bronze spear, or with spearcast, has torn the life out of my body; those dogs I raised in my halls to be at my table, to guard my gates, who will lap my blood in the savagery of their anger and then lie down in my courts. For a young man all is decorous when he is cut down in battle and torn with the sharp bronze, and lies there dead, and though dead still all that shows about him is beautiful; but when an old man is dead and down, and the dogs mutilate the grey head and the grey beard and the parts that are secret, this, for all sad mortality, is the sight most pitiful.'

So the old man spoke, and in his hands seizing the grey hairs tore them from his head, but could not move the spirit in Hektor. And side by side with him his mother in tears was mourning and laid the fold of her bosom bare and with one hand held out a breast, and wept her tears for him and called to him in winged words: 'Hektor, my child, look upon these and obey, and take pity on me, if ever I gave you the breast to quiet your sorrow. Remember all these things, dear child, and from inside the wall beat off this grim man. Do not go out as champion against him, o hard one; for if he kills you I can no longer mourn you on the death-bed, sweet branch, o child of my bearing, nor can your generous wife mourn you, but a big way from us beside the ships of the Argives the running dogs will feed on you.'

So these two in tears and with much supplication called out to their dear son, but could not move the spirit in Hektor, but he awaited Achilleus as he came on, gigantic. But as a snake waits for a man by his hole, in the mountains, glutted with evil poisons, and the fell venom has got inside him, and coiled about the hole he stares malignant, so Hektor would not give ground but kept unquenched the fury within him and sloped his shining shield against the jut of the bastion. Deeply troubled he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit: 'Ah me! If I go now inside the wall and the gateway, Poulydamas will be first to put a reproach upon me, since he tried to make me lead the Trojans inside the city on that accursed night when brilliant Achilleus rose up, and I would not obey him, but that would have been far better. Now, since by my own recklessness I have ruined my people, I feel shame before the Trojans and the Trojan women with trailing robes, that someone who is less of a man than I will say of me: Hektor believed in his own strength and ruined his people. Thus they will speak; and as for me, it would be much better at that time, to go against Achilleus, and slay him, and come back, or else be killed by him in glory in front of the city. Or if again I set down my shield massive in the middle and my ponderous helm, and lean my spear up against the rampart and go out as I am to meet Achilleus the blameless and promise to give back Helen, and with her all her possessions, all those things that once in the hollow ships Alexandros brought back to Troy, and these were the beginning of the quarrel; to give these to Atreus' sons to take away, and for the Achaians also to divide up all that is hidden within the city, and take an oath thereafter for the Trojans in conclave not to hide anything away, but distribute all of it, as much as the lovely citadel keeps guarded within it; yet still, why does the heart within me debate on these things? I might go up to him, and he take no pity upon me nor respect my position, but kill me naked so, as if I were a woman, once I stripped my armour from me. There is no way any more from a tree or a rock to talk to him gently whispering like a young man and a young girl, in the way a young man and a young maiden whisper together. Better to bring on the fight with him as soon as it may be. We shall see to which one the Olympian grants the glory.'

So he pondered, waiting, but Achilleus was closing upon him in the likeness of the lord of battles, the helm-shining warrior, and shaking from above his shoulder the dangerous Pelian ash spear, while the bronze that closed about him was shining like the flare of blazing fire or the sun in its rising. And the shivers took hold of Hektor when he saw him, and he could no longer stand his ground there, but left the gates behind, and fled, frightened, and Peleus' son went after him in the confidence of his quick feet. As when a hawk in the mountains who moves lightest of things flying makes his effortless swoop for a trembling dove, but she slips away from beneath and flies and he shrill screaming close after her plunges for her again and again, heart furious to take her; so Achilleus went straight for him in fury, but Hektor fled away under the Trojan wall and moved his knees rapidly. They raced along by the watching point and the windy fig tree always away from under the wall and along the wagon-way and came to the two sweet-running well springs. There there are double springs of water that jet up, the springs of whirling Skamandros. One of these runs hot water and the steam on all sides of it rises as if from a fire that was burning inside it. But the other in the summer-time runs water that is like hail or chill snow or ice that forms from water. Beside these in this place, and close to them, are the washing-hollows of stone, and magnificent, where the wives of the Trojans and their lovely daughters washed the clothes to shining, in the old days when there was peace, before the coming of the sons of the Achaians. They ran beside these, one escaping, the other after him. It was a great man who fled, but far better he who pursued him rapidly, since here was no festal beast, no ox-hide they strove for, for these are prizes that are given men for their running. No, they ran for the life of Hektor, breaker of horses. As when about the turnposts racing single-foot horses run at full speed, when a great prize is laid up for their winning, a tripod or a woman, in games for a man's funeral, so these two swept whirling about the city of Priam in the speed of their feet, while all the gods were looking upon them. First to speak among them was the father of gods and mortals: 'Ah me, this is a man beloved whom now my eyes watch being chased around the wall; my heart is mourning for Hektor who has burned in my honour many thigh pieces of oxen on the peaks of Ida with all her folds, or again on the uttermost part of the citadel, but now the brilliant Achilleus drives him in speed of his feet around the city of Priam. Come then, you immortals, take thought and take counsel, whether to rescue this man or whether to make him, for all his valour, go down under the hands of Achilleus, the son of Peleus.'

Then in answer the goddess grey-eyed Athene spoke to him: 'Father of the shining bolt, dark misted, what is this you said? Do you wish to bring back a man who is mortal, one long since doomed by his destiny, from ill-sounding death and release him? Do it, then; but not all the rest of us gods shall approve you.'

Then Zeus the gatherer of the clouds spoke to her in answer: 'Tritogeneia, dear daughter, do not lose heart; for I say this not in outright anger, and my meaning toward you is kindly. Act as your purpose would have you do, and hold back no longer.'

So he spoke, and stirred on Athene, who was eager before this, and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. But swift Achilleus kept unremittingly after Hektor, chasing him, as a dog in the mountains who has flushed from his covert a deer's fawn follows him through the folding ways and the valleys, and though the fawn crouched down under a bush and be hidden he keeps running and noses him out until he comes on him; so Hektor could not lose himself from swift-footed Peleion. If ever he made a dash right on for the gates of Dardanos to get quickly under the strong-built bastions, endeavouring that they from above with missiles thrown might somehow defend him, each time Achilleus would get in front and force him to turn back into the plain, and himself kept his flying course next the city. As in a dream a man is not able to follow one who runs from him, nor can the runner escape, nor the other pursue him, so he could not run him down in his speed, nor the other get clear. How then could Hektor have escaped the death spirits, had not Apollo, for this last and uttermost time, stood by him close, and driven strength into him, and made his knees light? But brilliant Achilleus kept shaking his head at his own people and would not let them throw their bitter projectiles at Hektor for fear the thrower might win the glory, and himself come second. But when for the fourth time they had come around to the well springs then the Father balanced his golden scales, and in them he set two fateful portions of death, which lays men prostrate, one for Achilleus, and one for Hektor, breaker of horses, and balanced it by the middle; and Hektor's death-day was heavier and dragged downward toward death, and Phoibos Apollo forsook him. But the goddess grey-eyed Athene came now to Peleion and stood close beside him and addressed him in winged words: 'Beloved of Zeus, shining Achilleus, I am hopeful now that you and I will take back great glory to the ships of the Achaians, after we have killed Hektor, for all his slakeless fury for battle. Now there is no way for him to get clear away from us, not though Apollo who strikes from afar should be willing to undergo much, and wallow before our father Zeus of the aegis. Stand you here then and get your wind again, while I go to this man and persuade him to stand up to you in combat.'

So spoke Athene, and he was glad at heart, and obeyed her, and stopped, and stood leaning on his bronze-barbed ash spear. Meanwhile Athene left him there, and caught up with brilliant Hektor, and likened herself in form and weariless voice to Deïphobos. She came now and stood close to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Dear brother, indeed swift-footed Achilleus is using you roughly and chasing you on swift feet around the city of Priam. Come on, then; let us stand fast against him and beat him back from us.'

Then tall Hektor of the shining helm answered her: 'Deïphobos, before now you were dearest to me by far of my brothers, of all those who were sons of Priam and Hekabe, and now I am minded all the more within my heart to honour you, you who dared for my sake, when your eyes saw me, to come forth from the fortifications, while the others stand fast inside them.'

Then in turn the goddess grey-eyed Athene answered him: 'My brother, it is true our father and the lady our mother, taking my knees in turn, and my companions about me, entreated that I stay within, such was the terror upon all of them. But the heart within me was worn away by hard sorrow for you. But now let us go straight on and fight hard, let there be no sparing of our spears, so that we can find out whether Achilleus will kill us both and carry our bloody war spoils back to the hollow ships, or will himself go down under your spear.'

So Athene spoke and led him on by beguilement. Now as the two in their advance were come close together, first of the two to speak was tall helm-glittering Hektor: 'Son of Peleus, I will no longer run from you, as before this I fled three times around the great city of Priam, and dared not stand to your onfall. But now my spirit in turn has driven me to stand and face you. I must take you now, or I must be taken. Come then, shall we swear before the gods? For these are the highest who shall be witnesses and watch over our agreements. Brutal as you are I will not defile you, if Zeus grants to me that I can wear you out, and take the life from you. But after I have stripped your glorious armour, Achilleus, I will give your corpse back to the Achaians. Do you do likewise.'

Then looking darkly at him swift-footed Achilleus answered: 'Hektor, argue me no agreements. I cannot forgive you. As there are no trustworthy oaths between men and lions, nor wolves and lambs have spirit that can be brought to agreement but forever these hold feelings of hate for each other, so there can be no love between you and me, nor shall there be oaths between us, but one or the other must fall before then to glut with his blood Ares the god who fights under the shield's guard. Remember every valour of yours, for now the need comes hardest upon you to be a spearman and a bold warrior. There shall be no more escape for you, but Pallas Athene will kill you soon by my spear. You will pay in a lump for all those sorrows of my companions you killed in your spear's fury.'

So he spoke, and balanced the spear far shadowed, and threw it; but glorious Hektor kept his eyes on him, and avoided it, for he dropped, watchful, to his knee, and the bronze spear flew over his shoulder and stuck in the ground, but Pallas Athene snatched it, and gave it back to Achilleus, unseen by Hektor shepherd of the people. But now Hektor spoke out to the blameless son of Peleus: 'You missed; and it was not, o Achilleus like the immortals, from Zeus that you knew my destiny; but you thought so; or rather you are someone clever in speech and spoke to swindle me, to make me afraid of you and forget my valour and war strength. You will not stick your spear in my back as I run away from you but drive it into my chest as I storm straight in against you; if the god gives you that; and now look out for my brazen spear. I wish it might be taken full length in your body. And indeed the war would be a lighter thing for the Trojans if you were dead, seeing that you are their greatest affliction.'

So he spoke, and balanced the spear far shadowed, and threw it, and struck the middle of Peleïdes' shield, nor missed it, but the spear was driven far back from the shield, and Hektor was angered because his swift weapon had been loosed from his hand in a vain cast. He stood discouraged, and had no other ash spear; but lifting his voice he called aloud on Deïphobos of the pale shield, and asked him for a long spear, but Deïphobos was not near him. And Hektor knew the truth inside his heart, and spoke aloud: 'No use. Here at last the gods have summoned me deathward. I thought Deïphobos the hero was here close beside me, but he is behind the wall and it was Athene cheating me, and now evil death is close to me, and no longer far away, and there is no way out. So it must long since have been pleasing to Zeus, and Zeus' son who strikes from afar, this way; though before this they defended me gladly. But now my death is upon me. Let me at least not die without a struggle, inglorious, but do some big thing first, that men to come shall know of it.'

So he spoke, and pulling out the sharp sword that was slung at the hollow of his side, huge and heavy, and gathering himself together, he made his swoop, like a high-flown eagle who launches himself out of the murk of the clouds on the flat land to catch away a tender lamb or a shivering hare; so Hektor made his swoop, swinging his sharp sword, and Achilleus charged, the heart within him loaded with savage fury. In front of his chest the beautiful elaborate great shield covered him, and with the glittering helm with four horns he nodded; the lovely golden fringes were shaken about it which Hephaistos had driven close along the horn of the helmet. And as a star moves among stars in the night's darkening, Hesper, who is the fairest star who stands in the sky, such was the shining from the pointed spear Achilleus was shaking in his right hand with evil intention toward brilliant Hektor. He was eyeing Hektor's splendid body, to see where it might best give way, but all the rest of the skin was held in the armour, brazen and splendid, he stripped when he cut down the strength of Patroklos; yet showed where the collar-bones hold the neck from the shoulders, the throat, where death of the soul comes most swiftly; in this place brilliant Achilleus drove the spear as he came on in fury, and clean through the soft part of the neck the spearpoint was driven. Yet the ash spear heavy with bronze did not sever the windpipe, so that Hektor could still make exchange of words spoken. But he dropped in the dust, and brilliant Achilleus vaunted above him: 'Hektor, surely you thought as you killed Patroklos you would be safe, and since I was far away you thought nothing of me, o fool, for an avenger was left, far greater than he was, behind him and away by the hollow ships. And it was I; and I have broken your strength; on you the dogs and the vultures shall feed and foully rip you; the Achaians will bury Patroklos.'

In his weakness Hektor of the shining helm spoke to him: 'I entreat you, by your life, by your knees, by your parents, do not let the dogs feed on me by the ships of the Achaians, but take yourself the bronze and gold that are there in abundance, those gifts that my father and the lady my mother will give you, and give my body to be taken home again, so that the Trojans and the wives of the Trojans may give me in death my rite of burning.'

But looking darkly at him swift-footed Achilleus answered: 'No more entreating of me, you dog, by knees or parents. I wish only that my spirit and fury would drive me to hack your meat away and eat it raw for the things that you have done to me. So there is no one who can hold the dogs off from your head, not if they bring here and set before me ten times and twenty times the ransom, and promise more in addition, not if Priam son of Dardanos should offer to weigh out your bulk in gold; not even so shall the lady your mother who herself bore you lay you on the death-bed and mourn you: no, but the dogs and the birds will have you all for their feasting.'

Then, dying, Hektor of the shining helmet spoke to him: 'I know you well as I look upon you, I know that I could not persuade you, since indeed in your breast is a heart of iron. Be careful now; for I might be made into the gods' curse upon you, on that day when Paris and Phoibos Apollo destroy you in the Skaian gates, for all your valour.'

He spoke, and as he spoke the end of death closed in upon him, and the soul fluttering free of the limbs went down into Death's house mourning her destiny, leaving youth and manhood behind her. Now though he was a dead man brilliant Achilleus spoke to him: 'Die: and I will take my own death at whatever time Zeus and the rest of the immortals choose to accomplish it.'

He spoke, and pulled the brazen spear from the body, and laid it on one side, and stripped away from the shoulders the bloody armour. And the other sons of the Achaians came running about him, and gazed upon the stature and on the imposing beauty of Hektor; and none stood beside him who did not stab him; and thus they would speak one to another, each looking at his neighbour: 'See now, Hektor is much softer to handle than he was when he set the ships ablaze with the burning firebrand.' So as they stood beside him they would speak, and stab him. But now, when he had despoiled the body, swift-footed brilliant Achilleus stood among the Achaians and addressed them in winged words: 'Friends, who are leaders of the Argives and keep their counsel: since the gods have granted me the killing of this man who has done us much damage, such as not all the others together have done, come, let us go in armour about the city to see if we can find out what purpose is in the Trojans, whether they will abandon their high city, now that this man has fallen, or are minded to stay, though Hektor lives no longer. Yet still, why does the heart within me debate on these things? There is a dead man who lies by the ships, unwept, unburied: Patroklos: and I will not forget him, never so long as I remain among the living and my knees have their spring beneath me. And though the dead forget the dead in the house of Hades, even there I shall still remember my beloved companion. But now, you young men of the Achaians, let us go back, singing a victory song, to our hollow ships; and take this with us. We have won ourselves enormous fame; we have killed the great Hektor whom the Trojans glorified as if he were a god in their city.' He spoke, and now thought of shameful treatment for glorious Hektor. In both of his feet at the back he made holes by the tendons in the space between ankle and heel, and drew thongs of ox-hide through them, and fastened them to the chariot so as to let the head drag, and mounted the chariot, and lifted the glorious armour inside it, then whipped the horses to a run, and they winged their way unreluctant. A cloud of dust rose where Hektor was dragged, his dark hair was falling about him, and all that head that was once so handsome was tumbled in the dust; since by this time Zeus had given him over to his enemies, to be defiled in the land of his fathers.

So all his head was dragged in the dust; and now his mother tore out her hair, and threw the shining veil far from her and raised a great wail as she looked upon her son; and his father beloved groaned pitifully, and all his people about him were taken with wailing and lamentation all through the city. It was most like what would have happened, if all lowering Ilion had been burning top to bottom in fire. His people could scarcely keep the old man in his impatience from storming out of the Dardanian gates; he implored them all, and wallowed in the muck before them calling on each man and naming him by his name: 'Give way, dear friends, and let me alone though you care for me, leave me to go out from the city and make my way to the ships of the Achaians. I must be suppliant to this man, who is harsh and violent, and he might have respect for my age and take pity upon it since I am old, and his father also is old, as I am, Peleus, who begot and reared him to be an affliction on the Trojans. He has given us most sorrow, beyond all others, such is the number of my flowering sons he has cut down. But for all of these I mourn not so much, in spite of my sorrow, as for one, Hektor, and the sharp grief for him will carry me downward into Death's house. I wish he had died in my arms, for that way we two, I myself and his mother who bore him unhappy, might so have glutted ourselves with weeping for him and mourning.'

So he spoke, in tears, and beside him mourned the citizens. But for the women of Troy Hekabe led out the thronging chant of sorrow: 'Child, I am wretched. What shall my life be in my sorrows, now you are dead, who by day and in the night were my glory in the town, and to all of the Trojans and the women of Troy a blessing throughout their city. They adored you as if you were a god, since in truth you were their high honour while you lived. Now death and fate have closed in upon you.'

So she spoke in tears but the wife of Hektor had not yet heard: for no sure messenger had come to her and told her how her husband had held his ground there outside the gates; but she was weaving a web in the inner room of the high house, a red folding robe, and inworking elaborate figures. She called out through the house to her lovely-haired handmaidens to set a great cauldron over the fire, so that there would be hot water for Hektor's bath as he came back out of the fighting; poor innocent, nor knew how, far from waters for bathing, Pallas Athene had cut him down at the hands of Achilleus. She heard from the great bastion the noise of mourning and sorrow. Her limbs spun, and the shuttle dropped from her hand to the ground. Then she called aloud to her lovely-haired handmaidens: 'Come here. Two of you come with me, so I can see what has happened. I heard the voice of Hektor's honoured mother; within me my own heart rising beats in my mouth, my limbs under me are frozen. Surely some evil is near for the children of Priam. May what I say come never close to my ear; yet dreadfully I fear that great Achilleus might have cut off bold Hektor alone, away from the city, and be driving him into the flat land, might put an end to that bitter pride of courage, that always was on him, since he would never stay back where the men were in numbers but break far out in front, and give way in his fury to no man.'

So she spoke, and ran out of the house like a raving woman with pulsing heart, and her two handmaidens went along with her. But when she came to the bastion and where the men were gathered she stopped, staring, on the wall; and she saw him being dragged in front of the city, and the running horses dragged him at random toward the hollow ships of the Achaians. The darkness of night misted over the eyes of Andromache. She fell backward, and gasped the life breath from her, and far off threw from her head the shining gear that ordered her headdress, the diadem and the cap, and the holding-band woven together, and the circlet, which Aphrodite the golden once had given her on that day when Hektor of the shining helmet led her forth from the house of Eëtion, and gave numberless gifts to win her. And about her stood thronging her husband's sisters and the wives of his brothers and these, in her despair for death, held her up among them. But she, when she breathed again and the life was gathered back into her, lifted her voice among the women of Troy in mourning: 'Hektor, I grieve for you. You and I were born to a single destiny, you in Troy in the house of Priam, and I in Thebe, underneath the timbered mountain of Plakos in the house of Eëtion, who cared for me when I was little, ill-fated he, I ill-starred. I wish he had never begotten me. Now you go down to the house of Death in the secret places of the earth, and left me here behind in the sorrow of mourning, a widow in your house, and the boy is only a baby who was born to you and me, the unfortunate. You cannot help him, Hektor, any more, since you are dead. Nor can he help you. Though he escape the attack of the Achaians with all its sorrows, yet all his days for your sake there will be hard work for him and sorrows, for others will take his lands away from him. The day of bereavement leaves a child with no agemates to befriend him. He bows his head before every man, his cheeks are bewept, he goes, needy, a boy among his father's companions, and tugs at this man by the mantle, that man by the tunic, and they pity him, and one gives him a tiny drink from a goblet, enough to moisten his lips, not enough to moisten his palate. But one whose parents are living beats him out of the banquet hitting him with his fists and in words also abuses him: Get out, you! Your father is not dining among us. And the boy goes away in tears to his widowed mother, Astyanax, who in days before on the knees of his father would eat only the marrow or the flesh of sheep that was fattest. And when sleep would come upon him and he was done with his playing, he would go to sleep in a bed, in the arms of his nurse, in a soft bed, with his heart given all its fill of luxury. Now, with his dear father gone, he has much to suffer: he, whom the Trojans have called Astyanax, lord of the city, since it was you alone who defended the gates and the long walls. But now, beside the curving ships, far away from your parents, the writhing worms will feed, when the dogs have had enough of you, on your naked corpse, though in your house there is clothing laid up that is fine-textured and pleasant, wrought by the hands of women. But all of these I will burn up in the fire's blazing, no use to you, since you will never be laid away in them; but in your honour, from the men of Troy and the Trojan women.' So she spoke, in tears; and the women joined in her mourning.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 23

 So they were mourning through the city. Meanwhile, the Achaians, after they had made their way back to their ships and the Hellespont, scattered, the rest of them, each man to his own ship. Except Achilleus would not allow the Myrmidons to be scattered, but called out to his companions whose delight was in battle: 'Myrmidons, you of the fast horses, my steadfast companions, we must not yet slip free of the chariots our single-foot horses, but with these very horses and chariots we must drive close up to Patroklos and mourn him, since such is the privilege of the perished. Then, when we have taken full satisfaction from the sorrowful dirge, we shall set our horses free, and all of us eat here.' He spoke, and all of them assembled moaned, and Achilleus led them. Three times, mourning, they drove their horses with flowing manes about the body, and among them Thetis stirred the passion for weeping. The sands were wet, and the armour of men was wet with their tears. Such was their longing after Patroklos, who drove men to thoughts of terror. Peleus' son led the thronging chant of their lamentation, and laid his manslaughtering hands over the chest of his dear friend: 'Good-bye, Patroklos. I hail you even in the house of the death god. All that I promised you in time past I am accomplishing, that I would drag Hektor here and give him to the dogs to feed on raw, and before your burning pyre to behead twelve glorious children of the Trojans for my anger over your slaying.'

He spoke, and thought of shameful treatment for glorious Hektor. He laid him on his face in the dust by the bier of Menoitios' son. Meanwhile the others took off each man his glittering brazen armour, and all unyoked their proud neighing horses and sat down in their thousands beside the ship of swift-footed Aiakides, who set the funeral feast in abundance before them; and many shining oxen were slaughtered with the stroke of the iron, and many sheep and bleating goats and numerous swine with shining teeth and the fat abundant upon them were singed and stretched out across the flame of Hephaistos. The blood ran and was caught in cups all around the dead man.

But now the kings of the Achaians brought the swift-footed lord, the son of Peleus, to great Agamemnon, hardly persuading him, since his heart was still angered for his companion. When these had made their way to the shelter of Agamemnon straightway they gave orders to the heralds, the clear crying, to set a great cauldron over the fire, if so they might persuade the son of Peleus to wash away the filth of the bloodstains, but he denied them stubbornly and swore an oath on it: 'No, before Zeus, who is greatest of gods and the highest, there is no right in letting water come near my head, until I have laid Patroklos on the burning pyre, and heaped the mound over him, and cut my hair for him, since there will come no second sorrow like this to my heart again while I am still one of the living. Then let us now give way to the gloomy feast; and with the dawn cause your people to rise, o lord of men Agamemnon, and bring in timber and lay it by, with all that is fitting for the dead man to have when he goes down under the gloom and the darkness, so that with the more speed the unwearying fire may burn him away from our eyes, and the people turn back to that which they must do.' So he spoke, and they listened well to him and obeyed him, and in speed and haste they got the dinner ready, and each man feasted, nor was any men's hunger denied a fair portion. But when they had put aside their desire for eating and drinking, they went away to sleep, each man into his own shelter, but along the beach of the thunderous sea the son of Peleus lay down, groaning heavily, among the Myrmidon numbers in a clear place where the waves washed over the beach; and at that time sleep caught him and was drifted sweetly about him, washing the sorrows out of his mind, for his shining limbs were grown weary indeed, from running in chase of Hektor toward windy Ilion; and there appeared to him the ghost of unhappy Patroklos all in his likeness for stature, and the lovely eyes, and voice, and wore such clothing as Patroklos had worn on his body. The ghost came and stood over his head and spoke a word to him: 'You sleep, Achilleus; you have forgotten me; but you were not careless of me when I lived, but only in death. Bury me as quickly as may be, let me pass through the gates of Hades. The souls, the images of dead men, hold me at a distance, and will not let me cross the river and mingle among them, but I wander as I am by Hades' house of the wide gates. And I call upon you in sorrow, give me your hand; no longer shall I come back from death, once you give me my rite of burning. No longer shall you and I, alive, sit apart from our other beloved companions and make our plans, since the bitter destiny that was given me when I was born has opened its jaws to take me. And you, Achilleus like the gods, have your own destiny; to be killed under the wall of the prospering Trojans. There is one more thing I will say, and ask of you, if you will obey me: do not have my bones laid apart from yours, Achilleus, but with them, just as we grew up together in your house, when Menoitios brought me there from Opous, when I was little, and into your house, by reason of a baneful manslaying, on that day when I killed the son of Amphidamas. I was a child only, nor intended it, but was angered over a dice game. There the rider Peleus took me into his own house, and brought me carefully up, and named me to be your henchman. Therefore, let one single vessel, the golden two-handled urn the lady your mother gave you, hold both our ashes.'

Then in answer to him spoke swift-footed Achilleus: 'How is it, o hallowed head of my brother, you have come back to me here, and tell me all these several things? Yet surely I am accomplishing all, and I shall do as you tell me. But stand closer to me, and let us, if only for a little, embrace, and take full satisfaction from the dirge of sorrow.'

So he spoke, and with his own arms reached for him, but could not take him, but the spirit went underground, like vapour, with a thin cry, and Achilleus started awake, staring, and drove his hands together, and spoke, and his words were sorrowful: 'Oh, wonder! Even in the house of Hades there is left something, a soul and an image, but there is no real heart of life in it. For all night long the phantom of unhappy Patroklos stood over me in lamentation and mourning, and the likeness to him was wonderful, and it told me each thing I should do.'

So he spoke, and stirred in all of them the passion of mourning, and Dawn of the rose fingers showed on them as still they mourned about the forlorn body. Now powerful Agamemnon gave order for men and mules to assemble from all the shelters and bring in timber, and a great man led them in motion, Meriones, the henchman of courtly Idomeneus. These then went out and in their hands carried axes to cut wood and ropes firmly woven, and their mules went on ahead of them. They went many ways, uphill, downhill, sidehill and slantwise; but when they came to the spurs of Ida with all her well springs, they set to hewing with the thin edge of bronze and leaning their weight to the strokes on towering-leafed oak trees that toppled with huge crashing; then the Achaians splitting the timbers fastened them to the mules and these with their feet tore up the ground as they pulled through the dense undergrowth to the flat land. All the woodcutters carried logs themselves; such was the order of Meriones, the henchman of courtly Idomeneus. These then threw down their burdens in order along the beach, where Achilleus had chosen place for a huge grave mound, for himself and Patroklos.

Then when on all sides they had thrown down abundance of timber, they sat down where they were, assembled. And now Achilleus gave order at once to the Myrmidons, whose delight was in battle, to belt themselves in bronze and each man to yoke his horses to the chariot. And they rose up and got into their armour and stepped up, charioteer and sideman, into the chariots with the horsemen in front, and behind them came on a cloud of foot-soldiers by thousands; and in the midst his companions carried Patroklos. They covered all the corpse under the locks of their hair, which they cut off and dropped on him, and behind them brilliant Achilleus held the head sorrowing, for this was his true friend he escorted toward Hades.

When these had come to the place Achilleus had spoken of to them they laid him down, and quickly piled up abundant timber. And now brilliant swift-footed Achilleus remembered one more thing. He stood apart from the pyre and cut off a lock of fair hair which he had grown long to give to the river Spercheios, and gazing in deep distress out over the wine-blue water, he spoke forth: 'Spercheios, it was in vain that Peleus my father vowed to you that there, when I had won home to the beloved land of my fathers, I would cut my hair for you and make you a grand and holy sacrifice of fifty rams consecrate to the waters of your springs, where is your holy ground and your smoking altar. So the old man vowed, but you did not accomplish his purpose. Now, since I do not return to the beloved land of my fathers, I would give my hair into the keeping of the hero Patroklos.'

He spoke, and laid his hair in the hands of his beloved companion, and stirred in all of them the passion of mourning. And now the light of the sum would have set on their lamentation had not Achilleus soon stood by Agamemnon and spoken: 'Son of Atreus, beyond others the people of the Achaians will obey your words. There can be enough, even in mourning. Now cause them to scatter from the fire and bid them make ready their dinner; and we, who are most nearly concerned with the dead man, shall do this work; except only let the leaders stay near us.'

Then the lord of men, Agamemnon, when he had heard this, at once caused the people to disperse among the balanced ships, but the close mourners stayed by the place and piled up the timber, and built a pyre a hundred feet long this way and that way, and on the peak of the pyre they laid the body, sorrowful at heart; and in front of it skinned and set in order numbers of fat sheep and shambling horn-curved cattle; and from all great-hearted Achilleus took the fat and wrapped the corpse in it from head to foot, and piled up the skinned bodies about it. Then he set beside him two-handled jars of oil and honey leaning them against the bier, and drove four horses with strong necks swiftly aloft the pyre with loud lamentation. And there were nine dogs of the table that had belonged to the lord Patroklos. Of these he cut the throats of two, and set them on the pyre; and so also killed twelve noble sons of the great-hearted Trojans with the stroke of bronze, and evil were the thoughts in his heart against them, and let loose the iron fury of the fire to feed on them. Then he groaned, and called by name on his beloved companion: 'Good-bye, Patroklos. I hail you even in the house of the death god For all that I promised you in time past I am accomplishing. Here are twelve noble sons of the great-hearted Trojans whom the fire feeds on, all, as it feeds on you. But I will not give Hektor, Priam's son, to the fire, but the dogs, to feast on.'

So he spoke his threat. But the dogs did not deal with Hektor, for Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, drove the dogs back from him by day and night, and anointed him with rosy immortal oil, so Achilleus, when he dragged him about, might not tear him. And Phoibos Apollo brought down a darkening mist about him from the sky to the plain, and covered with it all the space that was taken by the dead man, to keep the force of the sum from coming first, and wither his body away by limbs and sinews.

But the pyre of dead Patroklos would not light. Then swift-footed brilliant Achilleus thought of one more thing that he must do. He stood apart from the pyre and made his prayer to the two winds Boreas and Zephyros, north wind and west, and promised them splendid offerings, and much outpouring from a golden goblet entreated them to come, so that the bodies might with best speed burn in the fire and the timber burst into flame. And Iris, hearing his prayer, went swiftly as messenger to the winds for him. Now the winds assembled within the house of storm-blowing Zephyros were taking part in a feast, and Iris paused in her running and stood on the stone doorsill; but they, when their eyes saw her, sprang to their feet, and each one asked her to sit beside him. But she refused to be seated and spoke her word to them: 'I must not sit down. I am going back to the running waters of Ocean and the Aithiopians' land, where they are making grand sacrifice to the immortals; there I, too, shall partake of the sacraments. But Achilleus' prayer is that Boreas and blustering Zephyros may come to him, and he promises them splendid offerings, so that you may set ablaze the funeral pyre, whereon lies Patroklos, with all Achaians mourning about him.'

She spoke so, and went away, and they with immortal clamour rose up, and swept the clouds in confusion before them. They came with a sudden blast upon the sea, and the waves rose under the whistling wind. They came to the generous Troad and hit the pyre, and a huge inhuman blaze rose, roaring. Nightlong they piled the flames on the funeral pyre together and blew with a screaming blast, and nightlong swift-footed Achilleus from a golden mixing-bowl, with a two-handled goblet in his hand, drew the wine and poured it on the ground and drenched the ground with it, and called upon the soul of unhappy Patroklos. And as a father mourns as he burns the bones of a son, who was married only now, and died to grieve his unhappy parents, so Achilleus was mourning as he burned his companion's bones, and dragged himself by the fire in close lamentation.

At that time when the dawn star passes across earth, harbinger of light, and after him dawn of the saffron mantle is scattered across the sea, the fire died down and the flames were over. The winds took their way back toward home again, crossing the Thracian water, and it boiled with a moaning swell as they crossed it. The son of Peleus turned aside and away from the burning and lay down exhausted, and sweet sleep rose upon him. But now they who were with the son of Atreus assembled together and the sound and murmur of their oncoming wakened Achilleus, who straightened himself and sat upright and spoke a word to him: 'Son of Atreus, and you other greatest of all the Achaians, first put out with gleaming wine the pyre that is burning, all that still has on it the fury of fire; and afterwards we shall gather up the bones of Patroklos, the son of Menoitios, which we shall easily tell apart, since they are conspicuous where he lay in the middle of the pyre and the others far from him at the edge burned, the men indiscriminately with the horses. And let us lay his bones in a golden jar and a double fold of fat, until I myself enfold him in Hades. And I would have you build a grave mound which is not very great but such as will be fitting, for now; afterwards, the Achaians can make it broad and high--such of you Achaians as may be left to survive me here by the benched ships, after I am gone.' So he spoke, and they did as swift-footed Peleion told them. First with gleaming wine they put out the pyre that was burning, as much as was still aflame, and the ashes dropped deep from it. Then they gathered up the white bones of their gentle companion, weeping, and put them into a golden jar with a double fold of fat, and laid it away in his shelter, and covered it with a thin veil; then laid out the tomb and cast down the holding walls around the funeral pyre, then heaped the loose earth over them and piled the tomb, and turned to go away. But Achilleus held the people there, and made them sit down in a wide assembly, and brought prizes for games out of his ships, cauldrons and tripods, and horses and mules and the powerful high heads of cattle and fair-girdled women and grey iron. First of all

he set forth the glorious prizes for speed of foot for the horsemen; a woman faultless in the work of her hands to lead away and a tripod with ears and holding twenty-two measures for the first prize; and for the second he set forth a six-year-old unbroken mare who carried a mule foal within her. Then for the third prize he set forth a splendid unfired cauldron, which held four measures, with its natural gloss still upon it. For the fourth place he set out two talents' weight of gold, and for the fifth place set forth an unfired jar with two handles. He stood upright and spoke his word out among the Argives: 'Son of Atreus and all you other strong-greaved Achaians, these prizes are in the place of games and wait for the horsemen. Now if we Achaians were contending for the sake of some other hero, I myself should take the first prize away to my shelter. You know how much my horses surpass in their speed all others; yes, for they are immortal horses, and Poseidon gave them to Peleus my father, who in turn gave them into my hands. But I stay here at the side, and my single-foot horses stay with me; such is the high glory of the charioteer they have lost, the gentle one, who so many times anointed their manes with soft olive oil, after he had washed them in shining water. Therefore these two horses stand here and grieve, and their manes are swept along the ground as they stand with hearts full of sorrow. But take, the rest of you, places in the field, whichever Achaian has confidence in his horses and his compacted chariot.' So spoke the son of Peleus, and the swift riders gathered. Far the first to rise up was the lord of men Eumelos, own son of Admetos, who surpassed in horsemanship. After him rose up the son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes, and led under the yoke the Trojan horses whom he had taken by force from Aineias, but Aineias himself was saved by Apollo. After him rose the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaos the sky-descended, and led beneath the yoke the swift horses, Aithe, Agamemnon's mare, and his own Podargos. Echepolos, son of Anchises, gave her to Agamemnon as a gift, so as not to have to go with him to windy Ilion but stay where he was and enjoy himself, since Zeus had given him great wealth, and he made his home in the wide spaces of Sikyon. This mare, who was straining hard for the race, Menelaos harnessed. Fourth to order his horses with flowing manes was Antilochos, the glorious son of Nestor, Neleus' son, the high-hearted lord, and fast-running horses out of the breed of Pylos pulled his chariot, and his father standing close beside him gave well-intentioned advice to his own good understanding: 'Antilochos, you are young indeed, but Zeus and Poseidon have loved you and taught you horsemanship in all of its aspects. Therefore there is no great need to instruct you; you yourself know well how to double the turning-post. Yet in this race your horses should run slowest. Therefore I think your work will be heavy. The horses of these men are faster, but they themselves do not understand any more than you of the science of racing. Remember then, dear son, to have your mind full of every resource of skill, so that the prizes may not elude you. The woodcutter is far better for skill than he is for brute strength. It is by skill that the sea captain holds his rapid ship on its course, though torn by winds, over the wine-blue water. By skill charioteer outpasses charioteer. He who has put all his confidence in his horses and chariot and recklessly makes a turn that is loose one way or another finds his horses drifting out of the course and does not control them. But the man, though he drive the slower horses, who takes his advantage, keeps his eye always on the post and turns tight, ever watchful, pulled with the ox-hide reins on the course, as in the beginning, and holds his horses steady in hand, and watches the leader. I will give you a clear mark and you cannot fail to notice it. There is a dry stump standing up from the ground about six feet, oak, it may be, or pine, and not rotted away by rain-water, and two white stones are leaned against it, one on either side, at the joining place of the ways, and there is smooth driving around it. Either it is the grave-mark of someone who died long ago, or was set as a racing goal by men who lived before our time. Now swift-footed brilliant Achilleus has made it the turning-post. You must drive your chariot and horses so as to hug this, and yourself, in the strong-fabricated chariot, lean over a little to the left of the course, and as for your right horse, whip him and urge him along, slackening your hands to give him his full rein, but make your left-hand horse keep hard against the turning-post so that the hub's edge of your fashioned wheel will seem to be touching it, yet take care not really to brush against it, for, if so, you might damage your horses and break your chariot, and that will be a thing of joy for the others, and a failure for you. So, dear son, drive thoughtfully and be watchful. For if you follow the others but get first by the turning-post, there is none who could sprint to make it up, nor close you, nor pass you, not if the man behind you were driving the great Arion, the swift horse of Adrestos, whose birth is from the immortals, or Laomedon's horses, who were the pride of those raised in this country.'

So spoke Nestor the son of Neleus, and turned back to his place and sat down, having talked to his son of each stage in the contest. Fifth to order his horses with flowing manes was Meriones. They climbed to the chariots and deposited the lots. Achilleus shook them, and the first to fall out was that of Antilochos, Nestor's son, and strong Eumelos drew next after him, and after him the son of Atreus, Menelaos the spear-famed. Meriones drew the next lane to drive, and the last for the driving of horses was drawn by far the best of them all, Diomedes. They stood in line for the start, and Achilleus showed them the turn-post far away on the level plain, and beside it he stationed a judge, Phoinix the godlike, the follower of his father, to mark and remember the running and bring back a true story.

Then all held their whips high-lifted above their horses, then struck with the whip thongs and in words urged their horses onward into speed. Rapidly they made their way over the flat land and presently were far away from the ships. The dust lifting clung beneath the horses' chests like cloud or a stormwhirl. Their manes streamed along the blast of the wind, the chariots rocking now would dip to the earth who fosters so many and now again would spring up clear of the ground, and the drivers stood in the chariots, with the spirit beating in each man with the strain to win, and each was calling aloud upon his own horses, and the horses flew through the dust of the flat land.

But as the rapid horses were running the last of the race-course back, and toward the grey sea, then the mettle of each began to show itself, and the field of horses strung out, and before long out in front was the swift-stepping team of the son of Pheres, Eumelos, and after him the stallions of Diomedes, the Trojan horses, not far behind at all, but close on him, for they seemed forever on the point of climbing his chariot and the wind of them was hot on the back and on the broad shoulders of Eumelos. They lowered their heads and flew close after him. And now he might have passed him or run to a doubtful decision, had not Phoibos Apollo been angry with Diomedes, Tydeus' son, and dashed the shining whip from his hands, so that the tears began to stream from his eyes, for his anger as he watched how the mares of Eumelos drew far ahead of him while his own horses ran without the whip and were slowed. Yet Athene did not fail to see the foul play of Apollo on Tydeus' son. She swept in speed to the shepherd of the people and gave him back his whip, and inspired strength into his horses. Then in her wrath she went on after the son of Admetos and she, a goddess, smashed his chariot yoke, and his horses ran on either side of the way, the pole dragged, and Eumelos himself was sent spinning out beside the wheel of the chariot so that his elbows were all torn, and his mouth, and his nostrils, and his forehead was lacerated about the brows, and his eyes filled with tears, and the springing voice was held fast within him. Then the son of Tydeus, turning his single-foot horses to pass him, went far out in front of the others, seeing that Athene had inspired strength in his horses and to himself gave the glory. After him came the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaos. But Antilochos cried out aloud to his father's horses: 'Come on, you two. Pull, as fast as you can! I am not trying to make you match your speed with the speed of those others, the horses of Tydeus' valiant son, to whom now Athene has granted speed and to their rider has given the glory. But make your burst to catch the horses of the son of Atreus nor let them leave you behind, for fear Aithe who is female may shower you in mockery. Are you falling back, my brave horses? For I will tell you this, and it will be a thing accomplished. There will be no more care for you from the shepherd of the people, Nestor, but he will slaughter you out of hand with the edge of bronze, if we win the meaner prize because you are unwilling. Keep on close after him and make all the speed you are able. I myself shall know what to do and contrive it, so that we get by in the narrow place of the way. He will not escape me.'

So he spoke, and they fearing the angry voice of their master ran harder for a little while, and presently after this battle-stubborn Antilochos saw where the hollow way narrowed. There was a break in the ground where winter water had gathered and broken out of the road, and made a sunken place all about. Menelaos shrinking from a collision of chariots steered there, but Antilochos also turned out his single-foot horses from the road, and bore a little way aside, and went after him; and the son of Atreus was frightened and called out aloud to Antilochos: 'Antilochos, this is reckless horsemanship. Hold in your horses. The way is narrow here, it will soon be wider for passing. Be careful not to crash your chariot and wreck both of us.'

So he spoke, but Antilochos drove on all the harder with a whiplash for greater speed, as if he had never heard him. As far as is the range of a discus swung from the shoulder and thrown by a stripling who tries out the strength of his young manhood, so far they ran even, but then the mares of Atreides gave way and fell back, for he of his own will slackened his driving for fear that in the road the single-foot horses might crash and overturn the strong-fabricated chariots, and the men themselves go down in the dust through their hard striving for victory. But Menelaos of the fair hair called to him in anger: 'Antilochos, there is no other man more cursed than you are. Damn you. We Achaians lied when we said you had good sense. Even so, you will not get this prize without having to take oath.'

He spoke, and lifted his voice and called aloud to his horses: 'Never hold back now, never stop, for all your hearts are sorrowful. The feet of these and their knees will weary before yours do, seeing that the youth is gone from those horses.'

So he spoke, and they fearing the angry voice of their master ran the harder, and soon were close up behind the others.

Now the Argives who sat in their assembly were watching the horses, and the horses flew through the dust of the flat land. Idomeneus, lord of the Kretans, was first to make out the horses, for he sat apart from the others assembled, and higher up, where he could see all ways, and from far off he heard Diomedes calling, and knew him, and made out one horse ahead of the others who was conspicuous, all red, except on his forehead there was a white mark, round, like the full moon. Idomeneus rose to his feet upright and spoke his word out to the Argives: 'Friends, who are leaders of the Argives and keep their counsel: am I the only one who can see the horses, or can you also? It seems to me there are other horses leading and I make out another charioteer. The mares of Eumelos must have come to grief somewhere in the plain, who led on the way out, for those I saw running out in front as they made the turn-post I can see no longer anywhere, though I watch and though my eyes look everywhere about the plain of Troy. But it must be that the reins got away from the charioteer, or he could not hold them well in hand at the goal and failed to double the turn-post. There I think he must have been thrown out and his chariot broken, and the mares bolted away with the wildness upon their spirit. But you also stand up and look for yourselves; I cannot well make out, but it seems to me the man who is leading is an Aitolian by birth, but lord of the Argives, the son of Tydeus, breaker of horses, strong Diomedes.'

Swift Aias, son of Oïleus, spoke shamefully to him in anger: 'Idomeneus, what was all this windy talk? The light-footed horses are still far where they sweep over the great plain. You are not by so much the youngest among the Argives, nor do the eyes in your head see so much sharper than others. But forever you are windy with your words, and you should not be a windy speaker. There are others here better than you are. The horses who are in front are the same as before, and they are those of Eumelos, and he stands holding the reins behind them.'

The lord of the Kretans answered him to his face in anger: 'Aias, surpassing in abuse, yet stupid, in all else you are worst of the Argives with that stubborn mind of yours. Come then, let us put up a wager of a tripod or cauldron and make Agamemnon, son of Atreus, witness between us as to which horses lead. And when you pay, you will find out.'

So he spoke, and swift Aias, son of Oïleus, was rising up, angry in turn, to trade hard words with him. And now the quarrel between the two of them would have gone still further, had not Achilleus himself risen up and spoken between them: 'No longer now, Aias and Idomeneus, continue to exchange this bitter and evil talk. It is not becoming. If another acted so, you yourselves would be angry. Rather sit down again among those assembled and watch for the horses, and they in their strain for victory will before long be here. Then you each can see for himself, and learn which of the Argives horses have run first and which have run second.'

He spoke, and now Tydeus' son in his rapid course was close on them and he lashed them always with the whipstroke from the shoulder. His horses still lifted their feet light and high as they made their swift passage. Dust flying splashed always the charioteer, and the chariot that was overlaid with gold and tin still rolled hard after the flying feet of the horses, and in their wake there was not much trace from the running rims of the wheels left in the thin dust. The horses came in running hard. Diomedes stopped them in the middle of where the men were assembled, with the dense sweat starting and dripping to the ground from neck and chest of his horses. He himself vaulted down to the ground from his shining chariot and leaned his whip against the yoke. Nor did strong Sthenelos delay, but made haste to take up the prizes, and gave the woman to his high-hearted companions to lead away and the tripod with ears to carry, while Diomedes set free the horses.

After him Neleian Antilochos drove in his horses, having passed Menelaos, not by speed but by taking advantage. But even so Menelaos held his fast horses close on him. As far as from the wheel stands the horse who is straining to pull his master with the chariot over the flat land; the extreme hairs in the tail of the horse brush against the running rim of the wheel, and he courses very close, there is not much space between as he runs a great way over the flat land; by so much Menelaos was left behind by Antilochos the blameless. At first he was left behind the length of a discus thrown, but was overhauling him fast, with Aithe of the fair mane, Agamemnon's mare, putting on a strong burst. If both of them had had to run the course any further, Menelaos would have passed him, and there could have been no argumen But Meriones, strong henchman of Idomeneus, was left a spearcast's length behind by glorious Menelaos. For his horses with splendid manes were slowest of all, and likewise he himself was of least account for the racing of chariots. Last and behind them all came in the son of Admetos dragging his fine chariot and driving his horses before him, and seeing this, brilliant swift-footed Achilleus took pity upon him and stood forth among the Argives and spoke to them all in winged words: 'The best man is driving his single-foot horses in last. Come then, we must give some kind of prize, and well he deserves it; second prize; let first place go to the son of Tydeus.' So he spoke, and all gave approval to what he was urging, and he would have given him the horse, since all the Achaians approved, had not Antilochos, son of great-hearted Nestor, stood up to answer Peleid Achilleus, and argue: 'Achilleus, I shall be very angry with you if you accomplish what you have said. You mean to take my prize away from me, with the thought in mind that his chariot fouled and his running horses but he himself is great. He should have prayed to the immortal gods. That is why he came in last of all in the running. But if you are sorry for him and he is dear to your liking, there is abundant gold in your shelter, and there is bronze there and animals, and there are handmaidens and single-foot horses. You can take from these, and give him afterwards a prize still greater than mine, or now at once, and have the Achaians applaud you. But the mare I will not give up, and the man who wants her must fight me for her with his hands before he can take her.'

So he spoke, but brilliant swift-footed Achilleus, favouring Antilochos, smiled, since he was his beloved companion, and answered him and addressed him in winged words: 'Antilochos, if you would have me bring some other thing out of my dwelling as special gift for Eumelos, then for your sake I will do it. I will give him that corselet I stripped from Asteropaios; it is bronze, but there is an overlay circled about it in shining tin. It will be a gift that will mean much to him.'

He spoke, and told Automedon, his beloved companion, to bring it out of the shelter, and he went away, and brought it back, and put it in Eumelos' hands. And he accepted it joyfully.

But now Menelaos, heart full of bitterness, stood up among them in relentless anger against Antilochos, and the herald put the staff into his hand and gave the call for the Argives to be silent. And he stood forth, a man like a god, and spoke to them: 'Antilochos, you had good sense once. See what you have done. You have defiled my horsemanship, you have fouled my horses by throwing your horses in their way, though yours were far slower. Come then, o leaders of the Argives and their men of counsel: judge between the two of us now; and without favour; so that no man of the bronze-armoured Achaians shall say of us: "Menelaos using lies and force against Antilochos went off with the mare he won, for his horses were far slower but he himself was greater in power and degree. Or rather" come, I myself will give the judgment, and I think no other man of the Danaans can call it in question, for it will be right. Antilochos, beloved of Zeus, come here. This is justice. Stand in front of your horses and chariot, and in your hand take up the narrow whip with which you drove them before, then lay your hand on the horses and swear by him who encircles the earth and shakes it you used no guile to baffle my chariot.'

Then in turn Antilochos of the good counsel answered him: 'Enough now. For I, my lord Menelaos, am younger by far than you, and you are the greater and go before me. You know how greedy transgressions flower in a young man, seeing that his mind is the more active but his judgment is lightweight. Therefore I would have your heart be patient with me. I myself will give you the mare I won, and if there were something still greater you asked for out of my house, I should still be willing at once to give it to you, beloved of Zeus, rather than all my days fall from your favour and be in the wrong before the divinities.'

He spoke, the son of Nestor the great-hearted, and leading the mare up gave her to Menelaos' hands. But his anger was softened, as with dew the ears of corn are softened in the standing corn growth of a shuddering field. For you also the heart, o Menelaos, was thus softened within you. He spoke to him aloud and addressed him in winged words: 'Antilochos, I myself, who was angry, now will give way before you, since you were not formerly loose-minded or vain. It is only that this time your youth got the better of your intelligence. Beware another time of playing tricks on your betters. Any other man of the Achaians might not have appeased me. But you have suffered much for me, and done much hard work, and your noble father, too, and your brother for my sake. Therefore I will be ruled by your supplication. I will even give you the mare, though she is mine, so that these men too may be witnesses that the heart is never arrogant nor stubborn within me.'

He spoke, and gave Antilochos' companion, Noëmon, the mare to lead away, and himself took the glittering cauldron. Fourth, in the order he had driven, Meriones took up the two talents' weight of gold. But the fifth prize, the two-handled jar, was left. Achilleus carried it through the assembly of the Argives, and gave it to Nestor, and stood by and spoke to him: 'This, aged sir, is yours to lay away as a treasure in memory of the burial of Patroklos; since never again will you see him among the Argives. I give you this prize for the giving; since never again will you fight with your fists nor wrestle, nor enter again the field for the spear-throwing, nor race on your feet; since now the hardship of old age is upon you.'

He spoke, and put it in the hands of Nestor, who took it joyfully and spoke in answer and addressed him in winged words: 'Yes, child: all this you said to me was true as you said it. My limbs are no longer steady, dear friend; not my feet, neither do my arms, as once they did, swing light from my shoulders. I wish I were young again and the strength still unshaken within me as once, when great Amaryngkeus was buried by the Epeians at Bouprasion, and his sons gave games for a king's funeral. There there was no man like me, not among the Epeians nor yet of the Pylians themselves or great-hearted Aitolians. At boxing I won against Klytomedes, the son of Enops, at wrestling against Angkaios of Pleuron, who stood up against me. In the foot-race, for all his speed, I outran Iphiklos, and with the spear I out-threw Polydoros and Phyleus. It was only in the chariot-race that the sons of Aktor defeated me, crossing me in the crowd, so intent on winning were they, for the biggest prizes had been left for the horse-race. Now these sons of Aktor were twins; one held the reins at his leisure, held the reins at his leisure while the other lashed on the horses. This was I, once. Now it is for the young men to encounter in such actions, and for me to give way to the persuasion of gloomy old age. But once I shone among the young heroes. Go now, and honour the death of your companion with contests. I accept this from you gratefully, and my heart is happy that you have remembered me and my kindness, that I am not forgotten for the honour that should be my honour among the Achaians. May the gods, for what you have done for me, give you great happiness.'

He spoke, and Peleides went back among the great numbers of Achaians assembled, when he had listened to all the praise spoken by Neleus' son, and set forth the prizes for the painful boxing. He led out into the field and tethered there a hard-working six-year-old unbroken jenny, the kind that is hardest to break; and for the loser set out a two-handled goblet. He stood upright and spoke his word out among the Argives: 'Son of Atreus, and all you other strong-greaved-Achaians, we invite two men, the best among you, to contend for these prizes with their hands up for the blows of boxing. He whom Apollo grants to outlast the other, and all the Achaians witness it, let him lead away the hard-working jenny to his own shelter. The beaten man shall take away the two-handled goblet.'

He spoke, and a man huge and powerful, well skilled in boxing, rose up among them; the son of Panopeus, Epeios. He laid his hand on the hard-working jenny, and spoke out: 'Let the man come up who will carry off the two-handled goblet. I say no other of the Achaians will beat me at boxing and lead off the jenny. I claim I am the champion. Is it not enough that I fall short in battle? Since it could not be ever, that a man could be a master in every endeavour. For I'tell you this straight out, and it will be a thing accomplished. I will smash his skin apart and break his bones on each other. Let those who care for him wait nearby in a huddle about him to carry him out, after my fists have beaten him under.' So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence. Alone Euryalos stood up to face him, a godlike man, son of lord Mekisteus of the seed of Talaos; of him who came once to Thebes and the tomb of Oidipous after his downfall, and there in boxing defeated all the Kadmeians. The spear-famed son of Tydeus was his second, and talked to him in encouragement, and much desired the victory for him. First he pulled on the boxing belt about his waist, and then gave him the thongs carefully cut from the hide of a ranging ox. The two men, girt up, strode into the midst of the circle and faced each other, and put up their ponderous hands at the same time and closed, so that their heavy arms were crossing each other, and there was a fierce grinding of teeth, the sweat began to run everywhere from their bodies. Great Epeios came in, and hit him as he peered out from his guard, on the cheek, and he could no longer keep his feet, but where he stood the glorious limbs gave. As in the water roughened by the north wind a fish jumps in the weeds of the beach-break, then the dark water closes above him, so Euryalos left the ground from the blow, but great-hearted Epeios took him in his arms and set him upright, and his true companions stood about him, and led him out of the circle, feet dragging as he spat up the thick blood and rolled his head over on one side. He was dizzy when they brought him back and set him among them. But they themselves went and carried off the two-handled goblet.

Now Peleides set forth the prizes for the third contest, for the painful wrestling, at once, and displayed them before the Danaans. There was a great tripod, to set over fire, for the winner. The Achaians among themselves valued it at the worth of twelve oxen. But for the beaten man he set in their midst a woman skilled in much work of her hands, and they rated her at four oxen. He stood upright and spoke his word out among the Argives: 'Rise up, two who would endeavour this prize.' So he spoke and presently there rose up huge Telamonian Aias, and resourceful Odysseus rose, who was versed in every advantage. The two men, girt up, strode out into the midst of the circle, and grappled each other in the hook of their heavy arms, as when rafters lock, when a renowned architect has fitted them in the roof of a high house to keep out the force of the winds' spite. Their backs creaked under stress of violent hands that tugged them stubbornly, and the running sweat broke out, and raw places frequent all along their ribs and their shoulders broke out bright red with blood, as both of them kept up their hard efforts for success and the prize of the wrought tripod. Neither Odysseus was able to bring Aias down or throw him to the ground, nor could Aias, but the great strength of Odysseus held out against him. But now as they made the strong-greaved Achaians begin to be restless, at last great Telamonian Aias said to the other: 'Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus: lift me, or I will lift you. All success shall be as Zeus gives it.'

He spoke, and heaved; but not forgetting his craft Odysseus caught him with a stroke behind the hollow of the knee, and unnerved the tendons, and threw him over backward, so that Odysseus fell on his chest as the people gazed upon them and wondered. Next, brilliant much-enduring Odysseus endeavoured to lift him and budged him a little from the ground, but still could not raise him clear, then hooked a knee behind, so that both of them went down together to the ground, and lay close, and were soiled in the dust. Then they would have sprung to their feet once more and wrestled a third fall, had not Achilleus himself stood up and spoken to stop them: 'Wrestle no more now; do not wear yourselves out and get hurt. You have both won. Therefore take the prizes in equal division and retire, so the rest of the Achaians can have their contests.'

So he spoke, and they listened close to him and obeyed him and wiped the dust away from their bodies, and put on their tunics.

At once the son of Peleus set out prizes for the foot-race: a mixing-bowl of silver, a work of art, which held only six measures, but for its loveliness it surpassed all others on earth by far, since skilled Sidonian craftsmen had wrought it well, and Phoenicians carried it over the misty face of the water and set it in the harbour, and gave it for a present to Thoas. Euneos, son of Jason, gave it to the hero Patroklos to buy Lykaon, Priam's son, out of slavery, and now Achilleus made it a prize in memory of his companion, for that man who should prove in the speed of his feet to run lightest. For second place he set out a great ox with fat deep upon him, and for the last runner half a talent's weight of gold. He stood upright then and spoke his word out among the Argives: 'Rise up, you who would endeavour this prize.' So he spoke and presently there rose up swift Aias, the son of Oïleus, and Odysseus the resourceful rose up, and after him Nestor's son, Antilochos, the best runner among all the young men. They stood in line for the start, and Achilleus showed them the turn-post. The field was strung out from the scratch, and not long afterwards Oïleus' son was out in front, but brilliant Odysseus overhauled him close, as near as to the breast of a woman fair-girdled is the rod she pulls in her hands carefully as she draws the spool out and along the warp, and holds it close to her chest. So Odysseus ran close up, but behind him, and his feet were hitting the other's tracks before the dust settled. Great Odysseus was breathing on the back of the head of Aias as he ran and held his speed, and all the Achaians were shouting for his effort to win, and hallooed him hard along in his running. But as they were running the last part of the race, then Odysseus said a prayer inside his own mind to grey-eyed Athene: 'Hear me, goddess; be kind; and come with strength for my footsteps.' So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him. She made his limbs light, both his feet and the hands above them. Now as they were for making their final sprint for the trophy, there Aias slipped in his running, for Athene unbalanced him, where dung was scattered on the ground from the bellowing oxen slaughtered by swift-footed Achilleus, those he slew to honour Patroklos; and his mouth and nose were filled with the cow dung, so that Odysseus the great and much enduring took off the mixing-bowl, seeing he had passed him and come in first, and the ox went to glorious Aias. He stood there holding in his hands the horn of the field-ox, spitting the dung from his mouth, and spoke his word to the Argives: 'Ah, now! That goddess made me slip on my feet, who has always stood over Odysseus like a mother, and taken good care of him.' He spoke, and all the rest of them laughed happily at him. In turn Antilochos took up prize for last place, and carried it off, and grinning spoke his word out among the Argives: 'Friends, you all know well what I tell you, that still the immortals continue to favour the elder men. For see now, Aias is elder than I, if only by a little, but this man is out of another age than ours and one of the ancients. But his, they say, is a green old age. It would be a hard thing for any Achaian to match his speed. Except for Achilleus.' So he spoke, and glorified the swift-footed Peleion. And Achilleus gave him an answer for what he said, and spoke to him: 'Antilochos, your good word for me shall not have been spoken in vain. I shall give you another half-talent of gold in addition.' He spoke, and put it in Antilochos' hands, who received it joyfully. Then the son of Peleus carried into the circle and set down a far-shadowing spear, and set down beside it a shield and a helmet: the armour of Sarpedon, that Patroklos stripped from his body. He stood upright and spoke his word out among the Argives: 'We invite two men, the best among you, to contend for these prizes. Let them draw their armour upon them and take up the rending bronze spears and stand up to each other in the trial of close combat. The fighter who is first of the two to get in a stroke at the other's fair body, to get through armour and dark blood and reach to the vitals, to that man I will give this magnificent silver-nailed sword of Thrace I stripped from the body of Asteropaios. But let both men carry off this armour and have it in common; and we shall set out a brave dinner before them both in our shelters.'

So he spoke, and there rose up huge Telamonian Aias, and next the son of Tydeus rose up, strong Diomedes. When these were in their armour on either side of the assembly, they came together in the middle space, furious for the combat, with dangerous looks, and wonder settled on all the Achaians. Then as, moving forward, the two were closing in on each other, there were three charges, three times they swept in close. Then Aias stabbed at Diomedes' shield on its perfect circle but did not get through to the skin, for the corselet inside it guarded him. The son of Tydeus, over the top of the huge shield, was always menacing the neck of Aias with the point of the shining spear, but when the Achaians saw it in fear for Aias they called for them to stop and divide the prizes evenly. But the hero Achilleus carried the great sword, with its scabbard and carefully cut sword belt, and gave it to Diomedes.

Now the son of Peleus set in place a lump of pig-iron, which had once been the throwing-weight of Eëtion in his great strength; but now swift-footed brilliant Achilleus had slain him and taken the weight away in the ships along with the other possessions. He stood upright and spoke his word out among the Argives: 'Rise up, you who would endeavour to win this prize also. For although the rich demesnes of him who wins it lie far off indeed, yet for the succession of five years he will have it to use; for his shepherd for want of iron will not have to go in to the city for it, nor his ploughman either. This will supply them.'

So he spoke, and up stood Polypoites the stubborn in battle, and Leonteus in his great strength, a godlike man, and there rose up Aias, the son of Telamon, and brilliant Epeios. They stood in order to throw, and great Epeios took up the weight and whirled and threw it, and all the Achaians laughed when they saw him. Second to throw in turn was Leonteus, scion of Ares, and third in turn huge Telamonian Aias threw it from his ponderous hand, and overpassed the marks of all others. But when Polypoites stubborn in battle caught up the iron, he overthrew the entire field by as far as an ox-herd can cast with his throwing stick which spins through the air and comes down where the cattle graze in their herds, and all the Achaians applauded, and the companions of powerful Polypoites uprising carried the prize of the king away to the hollow vessels.

But Achilleus set gloomy iron forth once more, for the archers. He set ten double-bladed axes forth, ten with single blades, and planted far away on the sands the mast pole of a dark-prowed ship, and tethered a tremulous wild pigeon to it by a thin string attached to her foot, then challenged the archers to shoot at her: 'Now let the man who hits the wild pigeon take up and carry away home with him all the full axes. But if one should miss the bird and still hit the string, that man, seeing that he is the loser, still shall have the half-axes.'

So he spoke, and there rose up in his strength the lord Teukros, and Meriones rose up, Idomeneus' powerful henchman. They chose their lots, and shook them up in a brazen helmet, and Teukros was allotted first place to shoot. He let fly a strong-shot arrow, but did not promise the lord of archery that he would accomplish for him a grand sacrifice of lambs first born. He missed the bird, for Apollo begrudged him that, but he did hit the string beside the foot where the bird was tied, and the tearing arrow went straight through and cut the string, and the pigeon soared swift up toward the sky, while the string dropped and dangled toward the ground. But still the Achaians thundered approval. Meriones in a fury of haste caught the bow from his hand, but had had out an arrow before, while Teukros was aiming, and forthwith promised to the one who strikes from afar, Apollo, that he would accomplish for him a grand sacrifice of lambs first born. Way up under the clouds he saw the tremulous wild dove and as she circled struck her under the wing in the body and the shaft passed clean through and out of her, so that it dropped back and stuck in the ground beside the foot of Meriones, but the bird dropped and fell on top of the mast of the dark-prowed vessel and drooped her neck and the beating wings went slack, and the spirit of life fled swift away from her limbs. Far down from the mast peak she dropped to earth. And the people gazed upon it and wondered. Then Meriones gathered up all ten double axes, but Teukros carried the half-axes back to the hollow ships.

Then the son of Peleus carried into the circle and set down a far-shadowing spear and an unfired cauldron with patterns of flowers on it, the worth of an ox. And the spear-throwers rose up. The son of Atreus rose, wide-powerful Agamemnon, and Meriones rose up, Idomeneus' powerful henchman. But now among them spoke swift-footed brilliant Achilleus: 'Son of Atreus, for we know how much you surpass all others, by how much you are greatest for strength among the spear-throwers, therefore take this prize and keep it and go back to your hollow ships; but let us give the spear to the hero Meriones; if your own heart would have it this way, for so I invite you.'

He spoke, nor did Agamemnon lord of men disobey him. The hero gave the bronze spear to Meriones, and thereafter handed his prize, surpassingly lovely, to the herald Talthybios.

 


Ίλιας Βιβλίο 24

 AND the games broke up, and the people scattered to go away, each man to his fast-running ship, and the rest of them took thought of their dinner and of sweet sleep and its enjoyment; only Achilleus wept still as he remembered his beloved companion, nor did sleep who subdues all come over him, but he tossed from one side to the other in longing for Patroklos, for his manhood and his great strength and all the actions he had seen to the end with him, and the hardships he had suffered; the wars of men; hard crossing of the big waters. Remembering all these things he let fall the swelling tears, lying sometimes along his side, sometimes on his back, and now again prone on his face; then he would stand upright, and pace turning in distraction along the beach of the sea, nor did dawn rising escape him as she brightened across the sea and the beaches. Then, when he had yoked running horses under the chariot he would fasten Hektor behind the chariot, so as to drag him, and draw him three times around the tomb of Menoitios' fallen son, then rest again in his shelter, and throw down the dead man and leave him to lie sprawled on his face in the dust. But Apollo had pity on him, though he was only a dead man, and guarded the body from all ugliness, and hid all of it under the golden aegis, so that it might not be torn when Achilleus dragged it.

So Achilleus in his standing fury outraged great Hektor. The blessed gods as they looked upon him were filled with compassion and kept urging clear-sighted Argeïphontes to steal the body. There this was pleasing to all the others, but never to Hera nor Poseidon, nor the girl of the grey eyes, who kept still their hatred for sacred Ilion as in the beginning, and for Priam and his people, because of the delusion of Paris who insulted the goddesses when they came to him in his courtyard and favoured her who supplied the lust that led to disaster. But now, as it was the twelfth dawn after the death of Hektor, Phoibos Apollo spoke his word out among the immortals: 'You are hard, you gods, and destructive. Now did not Hektor burn thigh pieces of oxen and unblemished goats in your honour? Now you cannot bring yourselves to save him, though he is only a corpse, for his wife to look upon, his child and his mother and Priam his father, and his people, who presently thereafter would burn his body in the fire and give him his rites of burial. No, you gods; your desire is to help this cursed Achilleus within whose breast there are no feelings of justice, nor can his mind be bent, but his purposes are fierce, like a lion who when he has given way to his own great strength and his haughty spirit, goes among the flocks of men, to devour them. So Achilleus has destroyed pity, and there is not in him any shame; which does much harm to men but profits them also. For a man must some day lose one who was even closer than this; a brother from the same womb, or a son. And yet he weeps for him, and sorrows for him, and then it is over, for the Destinies put in mortal men the heart of endurance. But this man, now he has torn the heart of life from great Hektor, ties him to his horses and drags him around his beloved companion's tomb; and nothing is gained thereby for his good, or his honour. Great as he is, let him take care not to make us angry; for see, he does dishonour to the dumb earth in his fury.'

Then bitterly Hera of the white arms answered him, saying: 'What you have said could be true, lord of the silver bow, only if you give Hektor such pride of place as you give to Achilleus. But Hektor was mortal, and suckled at the breast of a woman, while Achilleus is the child of a goddess, one whom I myself nourished and brought up and gave her as bride to her husband Peleus, one dear to the hearts of the immortals, for you all went, you gods, to the wedding; and you too feasted among them and held your lyre, o friend of the evil, faithless forever.'

In turn Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to her in answer: 'Hera, be not utterly angry with the gods, for there shall not be the same pride of place given both. Yet Hektor also was loved by the gods, best of all the mortals in Ilion. I loved him too. He never failed of gifts to my liking. Never yet has my altar gone without fair sacrifice, the smoke and the savour of it, since that is our portion of honour. The stealing of him we will dismiss, for it is not possible to take bold Hektor secretly from Achilleus, since always his mother is near him night and day; but it would be better if one of the gods would summon Thetis here to my presence so that I can say a close word to her, and see that Achilleus is given gifts by Priam and gives back the body of Hektor.'

He spoke, and Iris storm-footed sprang away with the message, and at a point between Samos and Imbros of the high cliffs plunged in the dark water, and the sea crashed moaning about her. She plummeted to the sea floor like a lead weight which, mounted along the horn of an ox who ranges the fields, goes downward and takes death with it to the raw-ravening fish. She found Thetis inside the hollow of her cave, and gathered about her sat the rest of the sea goddesses, and she in their midst was mourning the death of her blameless son, who so soon was destined to die in Troy of the rich soil, far from the land of his fathers. Iris the swift-foot came close beside her and spoke to her: 'Rise, Thetis. Zeus whose purposes are infinite calls you.' In turn Thetis the goddess, the silver-footed, answered her: 'What does he, the great god, want with me? I feel shamefast to mingle with the immortals, and my heart is confused with sorrows. But I will go. No word shall be in vain, if he says it.'

So she spoke, and shining among the divinities took up her black veil, and there is no darker garment. She went on her way, and in front of her rapid wind-footed Iris guided her, and the wave of the water opened about them. They stepped out on the dry land and swept to the sky. There they found the son of Kronos of the wide brows, and gathered about him sat all the rest of the gods, the blessed, who live forever. She sat down beside Zeus father, and Athene made a place for her. Hera put into her hand a beautiful golden goblet and spoke to her to comfort her, and Thetis accepting drank from it. The father of gods and men began the discourse among them: 'You have come to Olympos, divine Thetis, for all your sorrow, with an unforgotten grief in your heart. I myself know this. But even so I will tell you why I summoned you hither. For nine days there has risen a quarrel among the immortals over the body of Hektor, and Achilleus, stormer of cities. They keep urging clear-sighted Argeïphontes to steal the body, but I still put upon Achilleus the honour that he has, guarding your reverence and your love for me into time afterwards. Go then in all speed to the encampment and give to your son this message: tell him that the gods frown upon him, that beyond all other immortals I myself am angered that in his heart's madness he holds Hektor beside the curved ships and did not give him back. Perhaps in fear of me he will give back Hektor. Then I will send Iris to Priam of the great heart, with an order to ransom his dear son, going down to the ships of the Achaians and bringing gifts to Achilleus which might soften his anger.'

He spoke and the goddess silver-foot Thetis did not disobey him but descended in a flash of speed from the peaks of Olympos and made her way to the shelter of her son, and there found him in close lamentation, and his beloved companions about him were busy at their work and made ready the morning meal, and there stood a great fleecy sheep being sacrificed in the shelter. His honoured mother came close to him and sat down beside him, and stroked him with her hand and called him by name and spoke to him: 'My child, how long will you go on eating your heart out in sorrow and lamentation, and remember neither your food nor going to bed? It is a good thing even to lie with a woman in love. For you will not be with me long, but already death and powerful destiny stand closely above you. But listen hard to me, for I come from Zeus with a message. He says that the gods frown upon you, that beyond all other immortals he himself is angered that in your heart's madness you hold Hektor beside the curved ships and did not redeem him. Come, then, give him up and accept ransom for the body.'

Then in turn Achilleus of the swift feet answered her: 'So be it. He can bring the ransom and take off the body, if the Olympian himself so urgently bids it.'

So, where the ships were drawn together, the son and his mother conversed at long length in winged words. But the son of Kronos stirred Iris to go down to sacred Ilion, saying: 'Go forth, Iris the swift, leaving your place on Olympos, and go to Priam of the great heart within Ilion, tell him to ransom his dear son, going down to the ships of the Achaians and bringing gifts to Achilleus which might soften his anger: alone, let no other man of the Trojans go with him, but only let one elder herald attend him, one who can manage the mules and the easily running wagon, so he can carry the dead man, whom great Achilleus slew, back to the city. Let death not be a thought in his heart, let him have no fear; such an escort shall I send to guide him, Argeïphontes who shall lead him until he brings him to Achilleus. And after he has brought him inside the shelter of Achilleus, neither will the man himself kill him, but will hold back all the others, for he is no witless man nor unwatchful, nor is he wicked, but will in all kindness spare one who comes to him as a suppliant.' He spoke, and storm-footed Iris swept away with the message and came to the house of Priam. There she found outcry and mourning. The sons sitting around their father inside the courtyard made their clothes sodden with their tears, and among them the old man sat veiled, beaten into his mantle. Dung lay thick on the head and neck of the aged man, for he had been rolling in it, he had gathered and smeared it on with his hands. And his daughters all up and down the house and the wives of his sons were mourning as they remembered all those men in their numbers and valour who lay dead, their lives perished at the hands of the Argives. The messenger of Zeus stood beside Priam and spoke to him in a small voice, and yet the shivers took hold of his body: 'Take heart, Priam, son of Dardanos, do not be frightened. I come to you not eyeing you with evil intention but with the purpose of good toward you. I am a messenger of Zeus, who far away cares much for you and is pitiful. The Olympian orders you to ransom Hektor the brilliant, to bring gifts to Achilleus which may soften his anger: alone, let no other man of the Trojans go with you, but only let one elder herald attend you, one who can manage the mules and the easily running wagon, so he can carry the dead man, whom great Achilleus slew, back to the city. Let death not be a thought in your heart, you need have no fear, such an escort shall go with you to guide you, Argeïphontes who will lead you till he brings you to Achilleus. And after he has brought you inside the shelter of Achilleus, neither will the man himself kill you but will hold back all the others; for he is no witless man nor unwatchful, nor is he wicked but will in all kindness spare one who comes to him as a suppliant.'

So Iris the swift-footed spoke and went away from him. Thereupon he ordered his sons to make ready the easily rolling mule wagon, and to fasten upon it the carrying basket. He himself went into the storeroom, which was fragrant and of cedar, and high-ceilinged, with many bright treasures inside it. He called out to Hekabe his wife, and said to her: 'Dear wife, a messenger came to me from Zeus on Olympos, that I must go to the ships of the Achaians and ransom my dear son, bringing gifts to Achilleus which may soften his anger. Come then, tell me. What does it seem best to your own mind for me to do? My heart, my strength are terribly urgent that I go there to the ships within the wide army of the Achaians.'

So he spoke, and his wife cried out aloud, and answered him: 'Ah me, where has that wisdom gone for which you were famous in time before, among outlanders and those you rule over? How can you wish to go alone to the ships of the Achaians before the eyes of a man who has slaughtered in such numbers such brave sons of yours? The heart in you is iron. For if he has you within his grasp and lays eyes upon you, that man who is savage and not to be trusted will not take pity upon you nor have respect for your rights. Let us sit apart in our palace now, and weep for Hektor, and the way at the first strong Destiny spun with his life line when he was born, when I gave birth to him, that the dogs with their shifting feet should feed on him, far from his parents, gone down before a stronger man; I wish I could set teeth in the middle of his liver and eat it. That would be vengeance for what he did to my son; for he slew him when he was no coward but standing before the men of Troy and the deep-girdled women of Troy, with no thought in his mind of flight or withdrawal.'

In turn the aged Priam, the godlike, answered her saying: 'Do not hold me back when I would be going, neither yourself be a bird of bad omen in my palace. You will not persuade me. If it had been some other who ordered me, one of the mortals, one of those who are soothsayers, or priests, or diviners, I might have called it a lie and we might rather have rejected it. But now, for I myself heard the god and looked straight upon her, I am going, and this word shall not be in vain. If it is my destiny to die there by the ships of the bronze-armoured Achaians, then I wish that. Achilleus can slay me at once, with my own son caught in my arms, once I have my fill of mourning above him.'

He spoke, and lifted back the fair covering of his clothes-chest and from inside took out twelve robes surpassingly lovely and twelve mantles to be worn single, as many blankets, as many great white cloaks, also the same number of tunics. He weighed and carried out ten full talents of gold, and brought forth two shining tripods, and four cauldrons, and brought out a goblet of surpassing loveliness that the men of Thrace had given him when he went to them with a message, but now the old man spared not even this in his halls, so much was it his heart's desire to ransom back his beloved son. But he drove off the Trojans all from his cloister walks, scolding them with words of revilement: 'Get out, you failures, you disgraces. Have you not also mourning of your own at home that you come to me with your sorrows? Is it not enought that Zeus, son of Kronos, has given me sorrow in losing the best of my sons? You also shall be aware of this since you will be all the easier for the Achaians to slaughter now he is dead. But, for myself, before my eyes look upon this city as it is destroyed and its people are slaughtered, my wish is to go sooner down to the house of the death god.'

He spoke, and went after the men with a stick, and they fled outside before the fury of the old man. He was scolding his children and cursing Helenos, and Paris, Agathon the brilliant, Pammon and Antiphonos, Polites of the great war cry, Deïphobos and Hippothoös and proud Dios. There were nine sons to whom now the old man gave orders and spoke to them roughly: 'Make haste, wicked children, my disgraces. I wish all of you had been killed beside the running ships in the place of Hektor. Ah me, for my evil destiny. I have had the noblest of sons in Troy, but I say not one of them is left to me, Mestor like a god and Troilos whose delight was in horses, and Hektor, who was a god among men, for he did not seem like one who was child of a mortal man, but of a god. All these Ares has killed, and all that are left me are the disgraces, the liars and the dancers, champions of the chorus, the plunderers of their own people in their land of lambs and kids. Well then, will you not get my wagon ready and be quick about it, and put all these things on it, so we can get on with our journey?'

So he spoke, and they in terror at the old man's scolding hauled out the easily running wagon for mules, a fine thing new-fabricated, and fastened the carrying basket upon it. They took away from its peg the mule yoke made of boxwood with its massive knob, well fitted with guiding rings, and brought forth the yoke lashing (together with the yoke itself) of nine cubits and snugged it well into place upon the smooth-polished wagon-pole at the foot of the beam, then slipped the ring over the peg, and lashed it with three turns on either side to the knob, and afterwards fastened it all in order and secured it under a hooked guard. Then they carried out and piled into the smooth-polished mule wagon all the unnumbered spoils to be given for the head of Hektor, then yoked the powerful-footed mules who pulled in the harness and whom the Mysians gave once as glorious presents to Priam; but for Priam they led under the yoke those horses the old man himself had kept, and cared for them at his polished manger.

Now in the high house the yoking was done for the herald and Priam, men both with close counsels in their minds. And now came Hekabe with sorrowful heart and stood close beside them carrying in her right hand the kind, sweet wine in a golden goblet, so that before they went they might pour a drink-offering. She stood in front of the horses, called Priam by name and spoke to him: 'Here, pour a libation to Zeus father, and pray you may come back home again from those who hate you, since it seems the spirit within you drives you upon the ships, though I would not have it. Make your prayer then to the dark-misted, the son of Kronos on Ida, who looks out on all the Troad, and ask him for a bird of omen, a rapid messenger, which to his own mind is dearest of all birds and his strength is the biggest, one seen on the right, so that once your eyes have rested upon him you can trust in him and go to the ships of the fast-mounted Danaans. But if Zeus of the wide brows will not grant you his own messenger, then I, for one, would never urge you on nor advise you to go to the Argive ships, for all your passion to do it.'

Then in answer to her again spoke Priam the godlike: 'My lady, I will not disregard this wherein you urge me. It is well to lift hands to Zeus and ask if he will have mercy.'

The old man spoke, and told the housekeeper who attended them to pour unstained water over his hands. She standing beside them and serving them held the washing-bowl in her hands, and a pitcher. He washed his hands and took the cup from his wife. He stood up in the middle of the enclosure, and prayed, and poured the wine out looking up into the sky, and gave utterance and spoke, saying: 'Father Zeus, watching over us from Ida, most high, most honoured: grant that I come to Achilleus for love and pity; but send me a bird of omen, a rapid messenger which to your own mind is dearest of all birds and his strength is biggest, one seen on the right, so that once my eyes have rested upon him I may trust in him and go to the ships of the fast-mounted Danaans.'

So he spoke in prayer, and Zeus of the counsels heard him. Straightway he sent down the most lordly of birds, an eagle, the dark one, the marauder, called as well the black eagle. And as big as is the build of the door to a towering chamber in the house of a rich man, strongly fitted with bars, of such size was the spread of his wings on either side. He swept through the city appearing on the right hand, and the people looking upon him were uplifted and the hearts made glad in the breasts of all of them.

Now in urgent haste the old man mounted into his chariot and drove out through the forecourt and the thundering close. Before him the mules hauled the wagon on its four wheels, Idaios the sober-minded driving them, and behind him the horses came on as the old man laid the lash upon them and urged them rapidly through the town, and all his kinsmen were following much lamenting, as if he went to his death. When the two men had gone down through the city, and out, and come to the flat land, the rest of them turned back to go to Ilion, the sons and the sons-in-law. And Zeus of the wide brows failed not to notice the two as they showed in the plain. He saw the old man and took pity upon him, and spoke directly to his beloved son, Hermes: 'Hermes, for to you beyond all other gods it is dearest to be man's companion, and you listen to whom you will, go now on your way, and so guide Priam inside the hollow ships of the Achaians, that no man shall see him, none be aware of him, of the other Danaans, till he has come to the son of Peleus.' He spoke, nor disobeyed him the courier, Argeïphontes. Immediately he bound upon his feet the fair sandals golden and immortal, that carried him over the water as over the dry land of the main abreast of the wind's blast. He caught up the staff, with which he mazes the eyes of those mortals whose eyes he would maze, or wakes again the sleepers. Holding this in his hands, strong Argeïphontes winged his way onward until he came suddenly to Troy and the Hellespont, and there walked on, and there took the likeness of a young man, a noble, with beard new grown, which is the most graceful time of young manhood.

Now when the two had driven past the great tomb of Ilos they stayed their mules and horses to water them in the river, for by this time darkness had descended on the land; and the herald made out Hermes, who was coming toward them at a short distance. He lifted his voice and spoke aloud to Priam: 'Take thought, son of Dardanos. Here is work for a mind that is careful. I see a man; I think he will presently tear us to pieces. Come then, let us run away with our horses, or if not, then clasp his knees and entreat him to have mercy upon us.'

So he spoke, and the old man's mind was confused, he was badly frightened, and the hairs stood up all over his gnarled body and he stood staring, but the kindly god himself coming closer took the old man's hand, and spoke to him and asked him a question 'Where, my father, are you thus guiding your mules and horses through the immortal night while other mortals are sleeping? Have you no fear of the Achaians whose wind is fury, who hate you, who are your enemies, and are near? For if one of these were to see you, how you are conveying so many treasures through the swift black night, what then could you think of? You are not young yourself, and he who attends you is aged for beating off any man who might pick a quarrel with you. But I will do you no harm myself, I will even keep off another who would. You seem to me like a beloved father.'

In answer to him again spoke aged Priam the godlike: 'Yes, in truth, dear child, all this is much as you tell me; yet still there is some god who has held his hand above me, who sent such a wayfarer as you to meet me, an omen of good, for such you are by your form, your admired beauty and the wisdom in your mind. Your parents are fortunate in you.'

Then in turn answered him the courier Argeïphontes: 'Yes, old sir, all this that you said is fair and orderly. But come, tell me this thing and recite it to me accurately. Can it be you convey these treasures in all their numbers and beauty to outland men, so that they can be still kept safe for you? Or are all of you by now abandoning sacred Ilion in fear, such a one was he who died, the best man among you, your son; who was never wanting when you fought against the Achaians.'

In answer to him again spoke aged Priam the godlike: 'But who are you, o best of men, and who are your parents? Since you spoke of my ill-starred son's death, and with honour.'

Then in turn answered him the courier Argeïphontes: 'You try me out, aged sir. You ask me of glorious Hektor whom many a time my eyes have seen in the fighting where men win glory, as also on that time when he drove back the Argives on their ships and kept killing them with the stroke of the sharp bronze, and we stood by and wondered at him; for then Achilleus would not let us fight by reason of his anger at Agamemnon. For I am Achilleus' henchman, and the same strong-wrought vessel brought us here; and I am a Myrmidon, and my father is Polyktor; a man of substance, but aged, as you are. He has six sons beside, and I am the seventh, and I shook lots with the others, and it was my lot to come on this venture. But now I have come to the plain away from the ships, for at daybreak the glancing-eyed Achaians will do battle around the city. They chafe from sitting here too long, nor have the Achaians' kings the strength to hold them back as they break for the fighting.'

In answer to him again spoke aged Priam the godlike: 'If then you are henchman to Peleïd Achilleus, come, tell me the entire truth, and whether my son lies still beside the ships, or whether by now he has been hewn limb from limb and thrown before the dogs by Achilleus.'

Then in turn answered him the courier Argeïphontes: 'Aged sir, neither have any dogs eaten him, nor have the birds, but he lies yet beside the ship of Achilleus at the shelters, and as he was; now here is the twelfth dawn he has lain there, nor does his flesh decay, nor do worms feed on him, they who devour men who have fallen in battle. It is true, Achilleus drags him at random around his beloved companion's tomb, as dawn on dawn appears, yet he cannot mutilate him; you yourself can see when you go there how fresh with dew he lies, and the blood is all washed from him, nor is there any corruption, and all the wounds have been closed up where he was struck, since many drove the bronze in his body. So it is that the blessed immortals care for your son, though he is nothing but a dead man; because in their hearts they loved him.'

He spoke, and the old man was made joyful and answered him, saying: 'My child, surely it is good to give the immortals their due gifts; because my own son, if ever I had one, never forgot in his halls the gods who live on Olympos. Therefore they remembered him even in death's stage. Come, then, accept at my hands this beautiful drinking-cup, and give me protection for my body, and with the gods' grace be my escort until I make my way to the shelter of the son of Peleus.'

In turn answered him the courier Argeïphontes: 'You try me out, aged sir, for I am young, but you will not persuade me, telling me to accept your gifts when Achilleus does not know. I fear him at heart and have too much reverence to rob him. Such a thing might be to my sorrow hereafter. But I would be your escort and take good care of you, even till I came to glorious Argos in a fast ship or following on foot, and none would fight you because he despised your escort.'

The kind god spoke, and sprang up behind the horses and into the chariot, and rapidly caught in his hands the lash and the guide reins, and breathed great strength into the mules and horses. Now after they had got to the fortifications about the ships, and the ditch, there were sentries, who had just begun to make ready their dinner, but about these the courier Argeïphontes drifted sleep, on all, and quickly opened the gate, and shoved back the door-bars, and brought in Priam and the glorious gifts on the wagon. But when they had got to the shelter of Peleus' son: a towering shelter the Myrmidons had built for their king, hewing the timbers of pine, and they made a roof of thatch above it shaggy with grass that they had gathered out of the meadows; and around it made a great courtyard for their king, with hedgepoles set close together; the gate was secured by a single door-piece of pine, and three Achaians could ram it home in its socket and three could pull back and open the huge door-bar; three other Achaians, that is, but Achilleus all by himself could close it. At this time Hermes, the kind god, opened the gate for the old man and brought in the glorious gifts for Peleus' son, the swift-footed, and dismounted to the ground from behind the horses, and spoke forth: 'Aged sir, I who came to you am a god immortal, Hermes. My father sent me down to guide and go with you. But now I am going back again, and I will not go in before the eyes of Achilleus, for it would make others angry for an immortal god so to face mortal men with favour. But go you in yourself and clasp the knees of Peleion and entreat him in the name of his father, the name of his mother of the lovely hair, and his child, and so move the spirit within him.'

So Hermes spoke, and went away to the height of Olympos, but Priam vaulted down to the ground from behind the horses and left Idaios where he was, for he stayed behind, holding in hand the horses and mules. The old man made straight for the dwelling where Achilleus the beloved of Zeus was sitting. He found him inside, and his companions were sitting apart, as two only, Automedon the hero and Alkimos, scion of Ares, were busy beside him. He had just now got through with his dinner, with eating and drinking, and the table still stood by. Tall Priam came in unseen by the other men and stood close beside him and caught the knees of Achilleus in his arms, and kissed the hands that were dangerous and manslaughtering and had killed so many of his sons. As when dense disaster closes on one who has murdered a man in his own land, and he comes to the country of others, to a man of substance, and wonder seizes on those who behold him, so Achilleus wondered as he looked on Priam, a godlike man, and the rest of them wondered also, and looked at each other. But now Priam spoke to him in the words of a suppliant: 'Achilleus like the gods, remember your father, one who is of years like mine, and on the door-sill of sorrowful old age. And they who dwell nearby encompass him and afflict him, nor is there any to defend him against the wrath, the destruction. Yet surely he, when he hears of you and that you are still living, is gladdened within his heart and all his days he is hopeful that he will see his beloved son come home from the Troad. But for me, my destiny was evil. I have had the noblest of sons in Troy, but I say not one of them is left to me. Fifty were my sons, when the sons of the Achaians came here. Nineteen were born to me from the womb of a single mother, and other women bore the rest in my palace; and of these violent Ares broke the strength in the knees of most of them, but one was left me who guarded my city and people, that one you killed a few days since as he fought in defence of his country, Hektor; for whose sake I come now to the ships of the Achaians to win him back from you, and I bring you gifts beyond number. Honour then the gods, Achilleus, and take pity upon me remembering your father, yet I am still more pitiful; I have gone through what no other mortal on earth has gone through; I put my lips to the hands of the man who has killed my children.'

So he spoke, and stirred in the other a passion of grieving for his own father. He took the old man's hand and pushed him gently away, and the two remembered, as Priam sat huddled at the feet of Achilleus and wept close for manslaughtering Hektor and Achilleus wept now for his own father, now again for Patroklos. The sound of their mourning moved in the house. Then when great Achilleus had taken full satisfaction in sorrow and the passion for it had gone from his mind and body, thereafter he rose from his chair, and took the old man by the hand, and set him on his feet again, in pity for the grey head and the grey beard, and spoke to him and addressed him in winged words: 'Ah, unlucky, surely you have had much evil to endure in your spirit. How could you dare to come alone to the ships of the Achaians and before my eyes, when I am one who have killed in such numbers such brave sons of yours? The heart in you is iron. Come, then, and sit down upon this chair, and you and I will even let our sorrows lie still in the heart for all our grieving. There is not any advantage to be won from grim lamentation. Such is the way the gods spun life for unfortunate mortals, that we live in unhappiness, but the gods themselves have no sorrows. There are two urns that stand on the door-sill of Zeus. They are unlike for the gifts they bestow: an urn of evils, an urn of blessings. If Zeus who delights in thunder mingles these and bestows them on man, he shifts, and moves now in evil, again in good fortune. But when Zeus bestows from the urn of sorrows, he makes a failure of man, and the evil hunger drives him over the shining earth, and he wanders respected neither of gods nor mortals. Such were the shining gifts given by the gods to Peleus from his birth, who outshone all men beside for his riches and pride of possession, and was lord over the Myrmidons.

The Odyssey

 


Οδύσσεια Βιβλίο 1

A GODDESS INTERVENES Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.

 He saw the townlands and learned the minds of many distant men, and weathered many bitter nights and days in his deep heart at sea, while he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home. But not by will nor valor could he save them, for their own recklessness destroyed them all— children and fools, they killed and feasted on the cattle of Lord Hêlios, the Sun, and he who moves all day through heaven took from their eyes the dawn of their return.

 Of these adventures, Muse, daughter of Zeus, tell us in our time, lift the great song again. Begin when all the rest who left behind them headlong death in battle or at sea had long ago returned, while he alone still hungered for home and wife. Her ladyship Kalypso clung to him in her sea-hollowed caves— a nymph, immortal and most beautiful, who craved him for her own.

 And when long years and seasons wheeling brought around that point of time ordained for him to make his passage homeward, trials and dangers, even so, attended him even in Ithaka, near those he loved. Yet all the gods had pitied Lord Odysseus, all but Poseidon, raging cold and rough against the brave king till he came ashore at last on his own land.

 But now that god had gone far off among the sunburnt races, most remote of men, at earth’s two verges, in sunset lands and lands of the rising sun, to be regaled by smoke of thighbones burning, haunches of rams and bulls, a hundred fold. He lingered delighted at the banquet side.

 In the bright hall of Zeus upon Olympos the other gods were all at home, and Zeus, the father of gods and men, made conversation. For he had meditated on Aigísthos, dead by the hand of Agamémnon’s son, Orestês, and spoke his thought aloud before them all:

 “My word, how mortals take the gods to task! All their afflictions come from us, we hear. And what of their own failings? Greed and folly double the suffering in the lot of man. See how Aigísthos, for his double portion, stole Agamémnon’s wife and killed the soldier on his homecoming day. And yet Aigísthos knew that his own doom lay in this. We gods had warned him, sent down Hermês Argeiphontês, our most observant courier, to say: ‘Don’t kill the man, don’t touch his wife, or face a reckoning with Orestês the day he comes of age and wants his patrimony.’ Friendly advice—but would Aigísthos take it? Now he has paid the reckoning in full.”

 The grey-eyed goddess Athena replied to Zeus:

 “O Majesty, O Father of us all, that man is in the dust indeed, and justly. So perish all who do what he had done. But my own heart is broken for Odysseus, the master mind of war, so long a castaway upon an island in the running sea; a wooded island, in the sea’s middle, and there’s a goddess in the place, the daughter of one whose baleful mind knows all the deeps of the blue sea—Atlas, who holds the columns that bear from land the great thrust of the sky. His daughter will not let Odysseus go, poor mournful man; she keeps on coaxing him with her beguiling talk, to turn his mind from Ithaka. But such desire is in him merely to see the hearthsmoke leaping upward from his own island, that he longs to die. Are you not moved by this, Lord of Olympos? Had you no pleasure from Odysseus’ offerings beside the Argive ships, on Troy’s wide seaboard? O Zeus, what do you hold against him now?”

 To this the summoner of cloud replied:

 “My child, what strange remarks you let escape you. Could I forget that kingly man, Odysseus? There is no mortal half so wise; no mortal gave so much to the lords of open sky. Only the god who laps the land in water, Poseidon, bears the fighter an old grudge since he poked out the eye of Polyphemos, brawniest of the Kyklopes. Who bore that giant lout? Thoösa, daughter of Phorkys, an offshore sea lord: for this nymph had lain with Lord Poseidon in her hollow caves. Naturally, the god, after the blinding— mind you, he does not kill the man; he only buffets him away from home. But come now, we are all at leisure here, let us take up this matter of his return, that he may sail. Poseidon must relent for being quarrelsome will get him nowhere, one god, flouting the will of all the gods.”

 The grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him:

 “O Majesty, O Father of us all, if it now please the blissful gods that wise Odysseus reach his home again, let the Wayfinder, Hermês, cross the sea to the island of Ogýgia; let him tell our fixed intent to the nymph with pretty braids, and let the steadfast man depart for home. For my part, I shall visit Ithaka to put more courage in the son, and rouse him to call an assembly of the islanders, Akhaian gentlemen with flowing hair. He must warn off that wolf pack of the suitors who prey upon his flocks and dusky cattle. I’ll send him to the mainland then, to Sparta by the sand beach of Pylos; let him find news of his dear father where he may and win his own renown about the world.”

 She bent to tie her beautiful sandals on, ambrosial, golden, that carry her over water or over endless land on the wings of the wind, and took the great haft of her spear in hand— that bronzeshod spear this child of Power can use to break in wrath long battle lines of fighters.

 Flashing down from Olympos’ height she went to stand in Ithaka, before the Manor, just at the doorsill of the court. She seemed a family friend, the Taphian captain, Mentes, waiting, with a light hand on her spear. Before her eyes she found the lusty suitors casting dice inside the gate, at ease on hides of oxen—oxen they had killed.

 Their own retainers made a busy sight with houseboys mixing bowls of water and wine, or sopping water up in sponges, wiping tables to be placed about in hall, or butchering whole carcasses for roasting.

 Long before anyone else, the prince Telémakhos now caught sight of Athena—for he, too, was sitting there unhappy among the suitors, a boy, daydreaming. What if his great father came from the unknown world and drove these men like dead leaves through the place, recovering honor and lordship in his own domains? Then he who dreamed in the crowd gazed out at Athena.

 Straight to the door he came, irked with himself to think a visitor had been kept there waiting, and took her right hand, grasping with his left her tall bronze-bladed spear. Then he said warmly:

 “Greetings, stranger! Welcome to our feast. There will be time to tell your errand later.”

 He led the way, and Pallas Athena followed into the lofty hall. The boy reached up and thrust her spear high in a polished rack against a pillar where tough spear on spear of the old soldier, his father, stood in order. Then, shaking out a splendid coverlet, he seated her on a throne with footrest—all finely carved—and drew his painted armchair near her, at a distance from the rest. To be amid the din, the suitors’ riot, would ruin his guest’s appetite, he thought, and he wished privacy to ask for news about his father, gone for years.

 A maid brought them a silver finger bowl and filled it out of a beautiful spouting golden jug, then drew a polished table to their side.

 The larder mistress with her tray came by and served them generously. A carver lifted cuts of each roast meat to put on trenchers before the two. He gave them cups of gold, and these the steward as he went his rounds filled and filled again.

 Now came the suitors, young bloods trooping in to their own seats on thrones or easy chairs. Attendants poured water over their fingers, while the maids piled baskets full of brown loaves near at hand, and houseboys brimmed the bowls with wine. Now they laid hands upon the ready feast and thought of nothing more. Not till desire for food and drink had left them were they mindful of dance and song, that are the grace of feasting. A herald gave a shapely cithern harp to Phêmios, whom they compelled to sing— and what a storm he plucked upon the strings for prelude! High and clear the song arose.

 Telémakhos now spoke to grey-eyed Athena, his head bent close, so no one else might hear:

 “Dear guest, will this offend you, if I speak? It is easy for these men to like these things, harping and song; they have an easy life, scot free, eating the livestock of another— a man whose bones are rotting somewhere now, white in the rain on dark earth where they lie, or tumbling in the groundswell of the sea. If he returned, if these men ever saw him, faster legs they’d pray for, to a man, and not more wealth in handsome robes or gold. But he is lost; he came to grief and perished, and there’s no help for us in someone’s hoping he still may come; that sun has long gone down. But tell me now, and put it for me clearly— who are you? Where do you come from? Where’s your home and family? What kind of ship is yours, and what course brought you here? Who are your sailors? I don’t suppose you walked here on the sea. Another thing—this too I ought to know— is Ithaka new to you, or were you ever a guest here in the old days? Far and near friends knew this house; for he whose home it was had much acquaintance in the world.”

 To this the grey-eyed goddess answered:

 “As you ask, I can account most clearly for myself. Mentês I’m called, son of the veteran Ankhíalos; I rule seafaring Taphos. I came by ship, with a ship’s company, sailing the winedark sea for ports of call on alien shores—to Témesê, for copper, bringing bright bars of iron in exchange. My ship is moored on a wild strip of coast in Reithron Bight, under the wooded mountain. Years back, my family and yours were friends, as Lord Laërtês knows; ask when you see him. I hear the old man comes to town no longer, stays up country, ailing, with only one old woman to prepare his meat and drink when pain and stiffness take him in the legs from working on his terraced plot, his vineyard. As for my sailing here— the tale was that your father had come home, therefore I came. I see the gods delay him. But never in this world is Odysseus dead— only detained somewhere on the wide sea, upon some island, with wild islanders; savages, they must be, to hold him captive. Well, I will forecast for you, as the gods put the strong feeling in me—I see it all, and I’m no prophet, no adept in bird-signs. He will not, now, be long away from Ithaka, his father’s dear land; though he be in chains he’ll scheme a way to come; he can do anything.

 But tell me this now, make it clear to me: You must be, by your looks, Odysseus’ boy? The way your head is shaped, the fine eyes—yes, how like him! We took meals like this together many a time, before he sailed for Troy with all the lords of Argos in the ships. I have not seen him since, nor has he seen me.”

 And thoughtfully Telémakhos replied:

 “Friend, let me put it in the plainest way. My mother says I am his son; I know not surely. Who has known his own engendering? I wish at least I had some happy man as father, growing old in his own house— but unknown death and silence are the fate of him that, since you ask, they call my father.”

 Then grey-eyed Athena said:

 “The gods decreed no lack of honor in this generation: such is the son Penelope bore in you. But tell me now, and make this clear to me: what gathering, what feast is this? Why here? A wedding? Revel? At the expense of all? Not that, I think. How arrogant they seem, these gluttons, making free here in your house! A sensible man would blush to be among them.”

 To this Telémakhos answered:

 “Friend, now that you ask about these matters, our house was always princely, a great house, as long as he of whom we speak remained here. But evil days the gods have brought upon it, making him vanish, as they have, so strangely.

 Were his death known, I could not feel such pain— if he had died of wounds in Trojan country or in the arms of friends, after the war. They would have made a tomb for him, the Akhaians, and I should have all honor as his son. Instead, the whirlwinds got him, and no glory. He’s gone, no sign, no word of him; and I inherit trouble and tears—and not for him alone, the gods have laid such other burdens on me. For now the lords of the islands, Doulíkhion and Samê, wooded Zakýnthos, and rocky Ithaka’s young lords as well, are here courting my mother; and they use our house as if it were a house to plunder. Spurn them she dare not, though she hates that marriage, nor can she bring herself to choose among them. Meanwhile they eat their way through all we have, and when they will, they can demolish me.”

 Pallas Athena was disturbed, and said:

 “Ah, bitterly you need Odysseus, then! High time he came back to engage these upstarts. I wish we saw him standing helmeted there in the doorway, holding shield and spear, looking the way he did when I first knew him. That was at our house, where he drank and feasted after he left Ephyra, homeward bound from a visit to the son of Mérmeris, Ilos. He took his fast ship down the gulf that time for a fatal drug to dip his arrows in and poison the bronze points; but young Ilos turned him away, fearing the gods’ wrath. My father gave it, for he loved him well. I wish these men could meet the man of those days! They’d know their fortune quickly: a cold bed. Aye! but it lies upon the gods’ great knees whether he can return and force a reckoning in his own house, or not.

 If I were you, I should take steps to make these men disperse. Listen, now, and attend to what I say: at daybreak call the islanders to assembly, and speak your will, and call the gods to witness: the suitors must go scattering to their homes. Then here’s a course for you, if you agree: get a sound craft afloat with twenty oars and go abroad for news of your lost father— perhaps a traveller’s tale, or rumored fame issued from Zeus abroad in the world of men. Talk to that noble sage at Pylos, Nestor, then go to Meneláos, the red-haired king at Sparta, last man home of all the Akhaians. If you should learn your father is alive and coming home, you could hold out a year. Or if you learn that he is dead and gone, then you can come back to your own dear country and raise a mound for him, and burn his gear, with all the funeral honors due the man, and give your mother to another husband.

 When you have done all this, or seen it done, it will be time to ponder concerning these contenders in your house— how you should kill them, outright or by guile. You need not bear this insolence of theirs, you are a child no longer. Have you heard what glory young Orestês won when he cut down that two-faced man, Aigísthos, for killing his illustrious father? Dear friend, you are tall and well set-up, I see; be brave—you, too—and men in times to come will speak of you respectfully.

 Now I must join my ship; my crew will grumble if I keep them waiting. Look to yourself; remember what I told you.” Telémakhos replied:

 “Friend, you have done me kindness, like a father to his son, and I shall not forget your counsel ever. You must get back to sea, I know, but come take a hot bath, and rest; accept a gift to make your heart lift up when you embark— some precious thing, and beautiful, from me, a keepsake, such as dear friends give their friends.”

 But the grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him:

 “Do not delay me, for I love the sea ways. As for the gift your heart is set on giving, let me accept it on my passage home, and you shall have a choice gift in exchange.”

 With this Athena left him as a bird rustles upward, off and gone. But as she went she put new spirit in him, a new dream of his father, clearer now, so that he marvelled to himself divining that a god had been his guest. Then godlike in his turn he joined the suitors.

 The famous minstrel still sang on before them, and they sat still and listened, while he sang that bitter song, the Homecoming of Akhaians— how by Athena’s will they fared from Troy; and in her high room careful Penélopê, Ikarios’ daughter, heeded the holy song. She came, then, down the long stairs of her house, this beautiful lady, with two maids in train attending her as she approached the suitors; and near a pillar of the roof she paused, her shining veil drawn over across her cheeks, the two girls close to her and still, and through her tears spoke to the noble minstrel:

 “Phêmios, other spells you know, high deeds of gods and heroes, as the poets tell them; let these men hear some other; let them sit silent and drink their wine. But sing no more this bitter tale that wears my heart away. It opens in me again the wound of longing for one incomparable, ever in my mind— his fame all Hellas knows, and midland Argos.”

 But Telémakhos intervened and said to her:

 “Mother, why do you grudge our own dear minstrel joy of song, wherever his thought may lead? Poets are not to blame, but Zeus who gives what fate he pleases to adventurous men. Here is no reason for reproof: to sing the news of the Danaans! Men like best a song that rings like morning on the ear. But you must nerve yourself and try to listen. Odysseus was not the only one at Troy never to know the day of his homecoming. Others, how many others, lost their lives!”

 The lady gazed in wonder and withdrew, her son’s clear wisdom echoing in her mind. But when she had mounted to her rooms again with her two handmaids, then she fell to weeping for Odysseus, her husband. Grey-eyed Athena presently cast a sweet sleep on her eyes.

 Meanwhile the din grew loud in the shadowy hall as every suitor swore to lie beside her, but Telémakhos turned now and spoke to them:

 “You suitors of my mother! Insolent men, now we have dined, let us have entertainment and no more shouting. There can be no pleasure so fair as giving heed to a great minstrel like ours, whose voice itself is pure delight. At daybreak we shall sit down in assembly and I shall tell you—take it as you will— you are to leave this hall. Go feasting elsewhere, consume your own stores. Turn and turn about, use one another’s houses. If you choose to slaughter one man’s livestock and pay nothing, this is rapine; and by the eternal gods I beg Zeus you shall get what you deserve: a slaughter here, and nothing paid for it!”

 By now their teeth seemed fixed in their under-lips, Telémakhos’ bold speaking stunned them so. Antínoös, Eupeithes’ son, made answer:

 “Telémakhos, no doubt the gods themselves are teaching you this high and mighty manner. Zeus forbid you should be king in Ithaka, though you are eligible as your father’s son.”

 Telémakhos kept his head and answered him:

 “Antínoös, you may not like my answer, but I would happily be king, if Zeus conferred the prize. Or do you think it wretched? I shouldn’t call it bad at all. A king will be respected, and his house will flourish. But there are eligible men enough, heaven knows, on the island, young and old, and one of them perhaps may come to power after the death of King Odysseus. All I insist on is that I rule our house and rule the slaves my father won for me.”

 Eurymakhos, Pólybos’ son, replied:

 “Telémakhos, it is on the gods’ great knees who will be king in sea-girt Ithaka. But keep your property, and rule your house, and let no man, against your will, make havoc of your possessions, while there’s life on Ithaka. But now, my brave young friend, a question or two about the stranger. Where did your guest come from? Of what country?

 Where does he say his home is, and his family? Has he some message of your father’s coming, or business of his own, asking a favor? He left so quickly that one hadn’t time to meet him, but he seemed a gentleman.”

 Telémakhos made answer, cool enough:

 “Eurýmakhos, there’s no hope for my father. I would not trust a message, if one came, nor any forecaster my mother invites to tell by divination of time to come. My guest, however, was a family friend, Mentês, son of Ankhialos. He rules the Taphian people of the sea.”

 So said Telémakhos, though in his heart he knew his visitor had been immortal. But now the suitors turned to play again with dance and haunting song. They stayed till nightfall, indeed black night came on them at their pleasure, and half asleep they left, each for his home.

 Telémakhos’ bedroom was above the court, a kind of tower, with a view all round; here he retired to ponder in the silence, while carrying brands of pine alight beside him Eurýkleia went padding, sage and old. Her father had been Ops, Peisênor’s son, and she had been a purchase of Laërtês when she was still a blossoming girl. He gave the price of twenty oxen for her, kept her as kindly in his house as his own wife, though, for the sake of peace, he never touched her. No servant loved Telémakhos as she did, she who had nursed him in his infancy. So now she held the light, as he swung open the door of his neat freshly painted chamber. There he sat down, pulling his tunic off, and tossed it into the wise old woman’s hands.

 She folded it and smoothed it, and then hung it beside the inlaid bed upon a bar; then, drawing the door shut by its silver handle she slid the catch in place and went away. And all night long, wrapped in the finest fleece, he took in thought the course Athena gave him.

 


Οδύσσεια Βιβλίο 2

A HERO’S SON AWAKENS When primal Dawn spread on the eastern sky her fingers of pink light, Odysseus’ true son stood up, drew on his tunic and his mantle, slung on a sword-belt and a new-edged sword, tied his smooth feet into good rawhide sandals, and left his room, a god’s brilliance upon him. He found the criers with clarion voices and told them to muster the unshorn Akhaians in full assembly. The call sang out, and the men came streaming in; and when they filled the assembly ground, he entered, spear in hand, with two quick hounds at heel; Athena lavished on him a sunlit grace that held the eye of the multitude. Old men made way for him as he took his father’s chair.

 Now Lord Aigýptios, bent down and sage with years, opened the assembly. This man’s son had served under the great Odysseus, gone in the decked ships with him to the wild horse country of Troy—a spearman, Antiphos by name. The ravenous Kyklops in the cave destroyed him last in his feast of men. Three other sons the old man had, and one, Eurýnomos, went with the suitors; two farmed for their father; but even so the old man pined, remembering the absent one, and a tear welled up as he spoke:

 “Hear me, Ithakans! Hear what I have to say. No meeting has been held here since our king, Odysseus, left port in the decked ships. Who finds occasion for assembly, now? one of the young men? one of the older lot? Has he had word our fighters are returning— news to report if he got wind of it— or is it something else, touching the realm? The man has vigor, I should say; more power to him. Whatever he desires, may Zeus fulfill it.”

 The old man’s words delighted the son of Odysseus, who kept his chair no longer but stood up, eager to speak, in the midst of all the men. The crier, Peisênor, master of debate, brought him the staff and placed it in his hand; then the boy touched the old man’s shoulder, and said: “No need to wonder any more, Sir, whc called this session. The distress is mine. As to our troops returning, I have no news— news to report if I got wind of it— nor have I public business to propose; only my need, and the trouble of my house— the troubles.

 My distinguished father is lost, who ruled among you once, mild as a father, and there is now this greater evil still: my home and all I have are being ruined. Mother wanted no suitors, but like a pack they came—sons of the best men here among them— lads with no stomach for an introduction to Ikarios, her father across the sea; he would require a wedding gift, and give her to someone who found favor in her eyes. No; these men spend their days around our house killing our beeves and sheep and fatted goats, carousing, soaking up our good dark wine, not caring what they do. They squander everything. We have no strong Odysseus to defend us, and as to putting up a fight ourselves— we’d only show our incompetence in arms. Expel them, yes, if I only had the power; the whole thing’s out of hand, insufferable. My house is being plundered: is this courtesy? Where is your indignation? Where is your shame? Think of the talk in the islands all around us, and fear the wrath of the gods, or they may turn, and send you some devilry. Friends, by Olympian Zeus and holy Justice that holds men in assembly and sets them free, make an end of this! Let me lament in peace my private loss. Or did my father, Odysseus, ever do injury to the armed Akhaians? Is this your way of taking it out on me, giving free rein to these young men? I might as well—might better—see my treasure and livestock taken over by you all; then, if you fed on them, I’d have some remedy, and when we met, in public, in the town, I’d press my claim; you might make restitution. This way you hurt me when my hands are tied.”

 And in hot anger now he threw the staff to the ground, his eyes grown bright with tears. A wave of sympathy ran through the crowd, all hushed; and no one there had the audacity to answer harshly except Antínoös, who said:

 “What high and mighty talk, Telémakhos! No holding you! You want to shame us, and humiliate us, but you should know the suitors are not to blame— it is your own dear, incomparably cunning mother. For three years now—and it will soon be four— she has been breaking the hearts of the Akhaians, holding out hope to all, and sending promises to each man privately—but thinking otherwise.

 Here is an instance of her trickery: she had her great loom standing in the hall and the fine warp of some vast fabric on it; we were attending her, and she said to us: ‘Young men, my suitors, now my lord is dead, let me finish my weaving before I marry, or else my thread will have been spun in vain. It is a shroud I weave for Lord Laërtês, when cold death comes to lay him on his bier. The country wives would hold me in dishonor if he, with all his fortune, lay unshrouded.’ We have men’s hearts; she touched them; we agreed. So every day she wove on the great loom— but every night by torchlight she unwove it; and so for three years she deceived the Akhaians. But when the seasons brought the fourth around, one of her maids, who knew the secret, told us; we found her unraveling the splendid shroud. She had to finish then, although she hated it.

 Now here is the suitors’ answer— you and all the Akhaians, mark it well: dismiss your mother from the house, or make her marry the man her father names and she prefers. Does she intend to keep us dangling forever? She may rely too long on Athena’s gifts— talent in handicraft and a clever mind; so cunning—history cannot show the like among the ringleted ladies of Akhaia, Mykene with her coronet, Alkmene, Tyro. Wits like Penelope’s never were before, but this time—well, she made poor use of them. For here are suitors eating up your property as long as she holds out—a plan some god put in her mind. She makes a name for herself, but you can feel the loss it means for you. Our own affairs can wait; we’ll never go anywhere else, until she takes an Akhaian to her liking.”

 But clear-headed Telémakhos replied:

 “Antínoös, can I banish against her will the mother who bore me and took care of me? My father is either dead or far away, but dearly I should pay for this at Ikarios’ hands, if ever I sent her back. The powers of darkness would requite it, too, my mother’s parting curse would call hell’s furies to punish me, along with the scorn of men. No: I can never give the word for this. But if your hearts are capable of shame, leave my great hall, and take your dinner elsewhere, consume your own stores. Turn and turn about, use one another’s houses. If you choose to slaughter one man’s livestock and pay nothing, this is rapine; and by the eternal gods I beg Zeus you shall get what you deserve: a slaughter here, and nothing paid for it!”

 Now Zeus who views the wide world sent a sign to him, launching a pair of eagles from a mountain crest in gliding flight down the soft blowing wind, wing-tip to wing-tip quivering taut, companions, till high above the assembly of many voices they wheeled, their dense wings beating, and in havoc dropped on the heads of the crowd—a deathly omen— wielding their talons, tearing cheeks and throats; then veered away on the right hand through the city. Astonished, gaping after the birds, the men felt their hearts flood, foreboding things to come. And now they heard the old lord Halithersês, son of Mastor, keenest among the old at reading birdflight into accurate speech; in his anxiety for them, he rose and said:

 “Hear me, Ithakans! Hear what I have to say, and may I hope to open the suitors’ eyes to the black wave towering over them. Odysseus will not be absent from his family long: he is already near, carrying in him a bloody doom for all these men, and sorrow for many more on our high seamark, Ithaka. Let us think how to stop it; let the suitors drop their suit; they had better, without delay. I am old enough to know a sign when I see one, and I say all has come to pass for Odysseus as I foretold when the Argives massed on Troy, and he, the great tactician, joined the rest. My forecast was that after nineteen years, many blows weathered, all his shipmates lost, himself unrecognized by anyone, he would come home. I see this all fulfilled.”

 But Pólybos’ son, Eurýmakhos, retorted:

 “Old man, go tell the omens for your children at home, and try to keep them out of trouble. I am more fit to interpret this than you are. Bird life aplenty is found in the sunny air, not all of it significant. As for Odysseus, he perished far from home. You should have perished with him— then we’d be spared this nonsense in assembly, as good as telling Telémakhos to rage on; do you think you can gamble on a gift from him? Here is what I foretell, and it’s quite certain: if you, with what you know of ancient lore, encourage bitterness in this young man, it means, for him, only the more frustration— he can do nothing whatever with two eagles— and as for you, old man, we’ll fix a penalty that you will groan to pay. Before the whole assembly I advise Telémakhos to send his mother to her father’s house; let them arrange her wedding there, and fix a portion suitable for a valued daughter. Until he does this, courtship is our business, vexing though it may be; we fear no one, certainly not Telémakhos, with his talk; and we care nothing for your divining, uncle, useless talk; you win more hatred by it. We’ll share his meat, no thanks or fee to him, as long as she delays and maddens us. It is a long, long time we have been waiting in rivalry for this beauty. We could have gone elsewhere and found ourselves very decent wives.”

 Clear-headed Telémakhos replied to this:

 “Eurýmakhos, and noble suitors all, I am finished with appeals and argument. The gods know, and the Akhaians know, these things. But give me a fast ship and a crew of twenty who will see me through a voyage, out and back. I’ll go to sandy Pylos, then to Sparta, for news of Father since he sailed from Troy— some traveller’s tale, perhaps, or rumored fame issued from Zeus himself into the world. If he’s alive, and beating his way home, I might hold out for another weary year; but if they tell me that he’s dead and gone, then I can come back to my own dear country and raise a mound for him, and burn his gear, with all the funeral honors that befit him, and give my mother to another husband.”

 The boy sat down in silence. Next to stand was Mentor, comrade in arms of the prince Odysseus, an old man now. Odysseus left him authority over his house and slaves, to guard them well. In his concern, he spoke to the assembly:

 “Hear me, Ithakans! Hear what I have to say. Let no man holding scepter as a king be thoughtful, mild, kindly, or virtuous; let him be cruel, and practice evil ways; it is so clear that no one here remembers how like a gentle father Odysseus ruled you.

 I find it less revolting that the suitors carry their malice into violent acts; at least they stake their lives when they go pillaging the house of Odysseus— their lives upon it, he will not come again. What sickens me is to see the whole community sitting still, and never a voice or a hand raised against them—a mere handful compared with you.”

 Leókritos, Euenor’s son, replied to him: “Mentor, what mischief are you raking up? Will this crowd risk the sword’s edge over a dinner? Suppose Odysseus himself indeed came in and found the suitors at his table: he might be hot to drive them out. What then? Never would he enjoy his wife again— the wife who loves him well; he’d only bring down abject death on himself against those odds. Madness, to talk of fighting in either case. Now let all present go about their business! Halithersês and Mentor will speed the traveller; they can help him: they were his father’s friends. I rather think he will be sitting here a long time yet, waiting for news on Ithaka; that seafaring he spoke of is beyond him.”

 On this note they were quick to end their parley. The assembly broke up; everyone went home— the suitors home to Odysseus’ house again. But Telémakhos walked down along the shore and washed his hands in the foam of the grey sea, then said this prayer:

 “O god of yesterday, guest in our house, who told me to take ship on the hazy sea for news of my lost father, listen to me, be near me: the Akhaians only wait, or hope to hinder me, the damned insolent suitors most of all.”

 Athena was nearby and came to him, putting on Mentor’s figure and his tone, the warm voice in a lucid flight of words:

 “You’ll never be fainthearted or a fool, Telémakhos, if you have your father’s spirit; he finished what he cared to say, and what he took in hand he brought to pass. The sea routes will yield their distances to his true son, Penélopê’s true son,— I doubt another’s luck would hold so far. The son is rare who measures with his father, and one in a thousand is a better man, but you will have the sap and wit and prudence—for you get that from Odysseus— to give you a fair chance of winning through. So never mind the suitors and their ways, there is no judgment in them, neither do they know anything of death and the black terror close upon them—doom’s day on them all. You need not linger over going to sea. I sailed beside your father in the old days, I’ll find a ship for you, and help you sail her. So go on home, as if to join the suitors, but get provisions ready in containers— wine in two-handled jugs and barley meal, the staying power of oarsmen, in skin bags, watertight. I’ll go the rounds and call a crew of volunteers together. Hundreds of ships are beached on sea-girt Ithaka; let me but choose the soundest, old or new, we’ll rig her and take her out on the broad sea.”

 This was the divine speech Telémakhos heard from Athena, Zeus’s daughter. He stayed no longer, but took his heartache home, and found the robust suitors there at work, skinning goats and roasting pigs in the courtyard. Antínoös came straight over, laughing at him, and took him by the hand with a bold greeting: “High-handed Telémakhos, control your temper! Come on, get over it, no more grim thoughts, but feast and drink with me, the way you used to. The Akhaians will attend to all you ask for— ship, crew, and crossing to the holy land of Pylos, for the news about your father.”

 Telémakhos replied with no confusion:

 “Antínoös, I cannot see myself again taking a quiet dinner in this company. Isn’t it enough that you could strip my house under my very nose when I was young? Now that I know, being grown, what others say, I understand it all, and my heart is full. I’ll bring black doom upon you if I can— either in Pylos, if I go, or in this country. And I will go, go all the way, if only as someone’s passenger. I have no ship, no oarsmen: and it suits you that I have none.”

 Calmly he drew his hand from Antínoös’ hand. At this the suitors, while they dressed their meat, began to exchange loud mocking talk about him. One young toplofty gallant set the tone:

 “Well, think of that! Telémakhos has a mind to murder us. He’s going to lead avengers out of Pylos, or Sparta, maybe; oh, he’s wild to do it. Or else he’ll try the fat land of Ephyra— he can get poison there, and bring it home, doctor the wine jar and dispatch us all.”

 Another took the cue:

 “Well now, who knows? He might be lost at sea, just like Odysseus, knocking around in a ship, far from his friends. And what a lot of trouble that would give us, making the right division of his things!

 We’d keep his house as dowry for his mother— his mother and the man who marries her.”

 That was the drift of it. Telémakhos went on through to the storeroom of his father, a great vault where gold and bronze lay piled along with chests of clothes, and fragrant oil. And there were jars of earthenware in rows holding an old wine, mellow, unmixed, and rare; cool stood the jars against the wall, kept for whatever day Odysseus, worn by hardships, might come home. The double folding doors were tightly locked and guarded, night and day, by the serving woman, Eurykleia, grand-daughter of Peisênor, in all her duty vigilant and shrewd. Telémakhos called her to the storeroom, saying:

 “Nurse, get a few two-handled travelling jugs filled up with wine—the second best, not that you keep for your unlucky lord and king, hoping he may have slipped away from death and may yet come again—royal Odysseus. Twelve amphorai will do; seal them up tight. And pour out barley into leather bags— twenty bushels of barley meal ground fine. Now keep this to yourself! Collect these things, and after dark, when mother has retired and gone upstairs to bed, I’ll come for them. I sail to sandy Pylos, then to Sparta, to see what news there is of Father’s voyage.”

 His loving nurse Eurýkleia gave a cry, and tears sprang to her eyes as she wailed softly:

 “Dear child, whatever put this in your head? Why do you want to go so far in the world— and you our only darling? Lord Odysseus died in some strange place, far from his homeland. Think how, when you have turned your back, these men will plot to kill you and share all your things! Stay with your own, dear, do. Why should you suffer hardship and homelessness on the wild sea?”

 But seeing all clear, Telémakhos replied:

 “Take heart, Nurse, there’s a god behind this plan. And you must swear to keep it from my mother, until the eleventh day, or twelfth, or till she misses me, or hears that I am gone. She must not tear her lovely skin lamenting.”

 So the old woman vowed by all the gods, and vowed again, to carry out his wishes; then she filled up the amphorai with wine and sifted barley meal into leather bags. Telémakhos rejoined the suitors.

 Meanwhile the goddess with grey eyes had other business: disguised as Telémakhos, she roamed the town taking each likely man aside and telling him: “Meet us at nightfall at the ship!” Indeed, she asked Noêmon, Phronios’ wealthy son, to lend her a fast ship, and he complied. Now when at sundown shadows crossed the lanes she dragged the cutter to the sea and launched it, fitted out with tough seagoing gear, and tied it up, away at the harbor’s edge. The crewmen gathered, sent there by the goddess. Then it occurred to the grey-eyed goddess Athena to pass inside the house of the hero Odysseus, showering a sweet drowsiness on the suitors, whom she had presently wandering in their wine; and soon, as they could hold their cups no longer, they straggled off to find their beds in town, eyes heavy-lidded, laden down with sleep. Then to Telémakhos the grey-eyed goddess appeared again with Mentor’s form and voice, calling him out of the lofty emptied hall: “Telémakhos, your crew of fighting men is ready at the oars, and waiting for you; come on, no point in holding up the sailing.”

 And Pallas Athena turned like the wind, running ahead of him. He followed in her footsteps down to the seaside, where they found the ship, and oarsmen with flowing hair at the water’s edge. Telémakhos, now strong in the magic, cried:

 “Come with me, friends, and get our rations down! They are all packed at home, and my own mother knows nothing!—only one maid was told.”

 He turned and led the way, and they came after, carried and stowed all in the well-trimmed ship as the dear son of Odysseus commanded. Telémakhos then stepped aboard; Athena took her position aft, and he sat by her. The two stroke oars cast off the stern hawsers and vaulted over the gunnels to their benches. Grey-eyed Athena stirred them a following wind, soughing from the north-west on the winedark sea, and as he felt the wind, Telémakhos called to all hands to break out mast and sail. They pushed the fir mast high and stepped it firm amidships in the box, made fast the forestays, then hoisted up the white sail on its halyards until the wind caught, booming in the sail; and a flushing wave sang backward from the bow on either side, as the ship got way upon her, holding her steady course. Now they made all secure in the fast black ship, and, setting out the winebowls all a-brim, they made libation to the gods, the undying, the ever-new, most of all to the grey-eyed daughter of Zeus. And the prow sheared through the night into the dawn.

 


Οδύσσεια Βιβλίο 3

THE LORD OF THE WESTERN APPROACHES The sun rose on the flawless brimming sea into a sky all brazen—all one brightening for gods immortal and for mortal men on plowlands kind with grain.

 And facing sunrise the voyagers now lay off Pylos town, compact stronghold of Neleus. On the shore black bulls were being offered by the people to the blue-maned god who makes the islands tremble: nine congregations, each five hundred strong, led out nine bulls apiece to sacrifice, taking the tripes to eat, while on their altars thighbones in fat lay burning for the god. Here they put in, furled sail, and beached the ship; but Telémakhos hung back in disembarking, so that Athena turned and said:

 “Not the least shyness, now, Telémakhos, You came across the open sea for this— to find out where the great earth hides your father and what the doom was that he came upon. Go to old Nestor, master charioteer, so we may broach the storehouse of his mind. Ask him with courtesy, and in his wisdom he will tell you history and no lies.”

 But clear-headed Telémakhos replied:

 “Mentor; how can I do it, how approach him? I have no practice in elaborate speeches, and for a young man to interrogate an old man seems disrespectful—”

 But the grey-eyed goddess said: “Reason and heart will give you words, Telémakhos; and a spirit will counsel others. I should say the gods were never indifferent to your life.”

 She went on quickly, and he followed her to where the men of Pylos had their altars. Nestor appeared enthroned among his sons, while friends around them skewered the red beef or held it scorching. When they saw the strangers a hail went up, and all that crowd came forward calling out invitations to the feast. Peisístratos in the lead, the young prince, caught up their hands in his and gave them places on curly lambskins flat on the sea sand near Thrasymêdês, his brother, and his father; he passed them bits of the food of sacrifice, and, pouring wine in a golden cup, he said to Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus:

 “Friend, I must ask you to invoke Poseidon: you find us at this feast, kept in his honor. Make the appointed offering then, and pray, and give the honeyed winecup to your friend so he may do the same. He, too, must pray to the gods on whom all men depend, but he is just my age, you are the senior, so here, I give the goblet first to you.”

 And he put the cup of sweet wine in her hand. Athena liked his manners, and the equity that gave her precedence with the cup of gold, so she besought Poseidon at some length: “Earthshaker, listen and be well disposed. Grant your petitioners everything they ask: above all, honor to Nestor and his sons; second, to every man of Pylos town a fair gift in exchange for this hekatomb; third, may Telémakhos and I perform the errand on which last night we put to sea.”

 This was the prayer of Athena— granted in every particular by herself. She passed the beautiful wine cup to Telémakhos, who tipped the wine and prayed as she had done. Meanwhile the spits were taken off the fire, portions of crisp meat for all. They feasted, and when they had eaten and drunk their fill, at last they heard from Nestor, prince of charioteers:

 “Now is the time,” he said, “for a few questions, now that our young guests have enjoyed their dinner. Who are you, strangers? Where are you sailing from, and where to, down the highways of sea water? Have you some business here? or are you, now, reckless wanderers of the sea, like those corsairs who risk their lives to prey on other men?”

 Clear-headed Telémakhos responded cheerfully, for Athena gave him heart. By her design his quest for news about his father’s wandering would bring him fame in the world’s eyes. So he said:

 “Nestor, pride of Akhaians, Neleus’ son, you ask where we are from, and I can tell you: our home port is under Mount Neion, Ithaka. We are not here on Ithakan business, though, but on my own. I want news of my father, Odysseus, known for his great heart, and I will comb the wide world for it. People say he fought along with you when Troy was taken. As to the other men who fought that war, we know where each one died, and how he died; but Zeus allotted my father death and mystery.

 No one can say for sure where he was killed, whether some hostile landsmen or the sea, the stormwaves on the deep sea, got the best of him. And this is why I come to you for help. Tell me of his death, sir, if perhaps you witnessed it, or have heard some wanderer tell the tale. The man was born for trouble. Spare me no part of it for kindness’ sake, but put the scene before me as you saw it. If ever Odysseus my noble father served you by promise kept or work accomplished in the land of Troy, where you Akhaians suffered, recall those things for me the way they were.”

 Then Nestor, prince of charioteers, made answer:

 “Dear friend, you take me back to all the trouble we went through in that country, we Akhaians: rough days aboard ship on the cloudy sea cruising away for pillage after Akhilleus; rough days of battle around Priam’s town. Our losses, then—so many good men gone: Ares’ great Aias lies there, Akhilleus lies there, Patróklos, too, the wondrous counselor, and my own strong and princely son, Antílokhos— fastest man of them all, and a born fighter. Other miseries, and many, we endured there. Could any mortal man tell the whole story? Not if you stayed five years or six to hear how hard it was for the flower of the Akhaians; you’d go home weary, and the tale untold. Think: we were there nine years, and we tried everything, all stratagems against them, up to the bitter end that Zeus begrudged us. And as to stratagems, no man would claim Odysseus’ gift for those. He had no rivals, your father, at the tricks of war.

 Your father? Well, I must say I marvel at the sight of you: your manner of speech couldn’t be more like his; one would say No; no boy could speak so well. And all that time at Ilion, he and I were never at odds in council or assembly— saw things the same way, had one mind between us in all the good advice we gave the Argives. But when we plundered Priam’s town and tower and took to the ships, God scattered the Akhaians. He had a mind to make homecoming hard for them, seeing they would not think straight nor behave, or some would not. So evil days came on them, and she who had been angered, Zeus’s dangerous grey-eyed daughter, did it, starting a fight between the sons of Atreus. First they were fools enough to call assembly at sundown, unheard of hour; the Akhaian soldiers turned out, soaked with wine, to hear talk, talk about it from their commanders: Menelaos harangued them to get organized— time to ride home on the sea’s broad back, he said; but Agamemnon wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted to hold the troops, make sacrifice, a hekatomb, something to pacify Athena’s rage. Folly again, to think that he could move her. Will you change the will of the everlasting gods in a night or a day’s time? The two men stood there hammering at each other until the army got to its feet with a roar, and no decision, wanting it both ways. That night no one slept well, everyone cursing someone else. Here was the bane from Zeus. At dawn we dragged our ships to the lordly water, stowed aboard all our plunder and the slave women in their low hip girdles. But half the army elected to stay behind with Agamemnon as their corps commander; the other half embarked and pulled away. We made good time, the huge sea smoothed before us, and held our rites when we reached Ténedos, being wild for home. But Zeus, not willing yet, now cruelly set us at odds a second time, and one lot turned, put back in the rolling ships, under command of the subtle captain, Odysseus; their notion was to please Lord Agamemnon. Not I. I fled, with every ship I had; I knew fate had some devilment brewing there. Diomedes roused his company and fled, too, and later Menelaos, the red-haired captain, caught up with us at Lesbos, while we mulled over the long sea route, unsure whether to lay our course northward of Khios, keeping the Isle of Psyria off to port, or inside Khios, coasting by windy Mimas. We asked for a sign from heaven, and the sign came to cut across the open sea to Euboia, and lose no time putting our ills behind us. The wind freshened astern, and the ships ran before the wind on paths of the deep sea fish, making Geraistos before dawn. We thanked Poseidon with many a charred thighbone for that crossing. On the fourth day, Diomedes’ company under full sail put in at Argos port, and I held on for Pylos. The fair wind, once heaven set it blowing, never failed.

 So this, dear child, was how I came from Troy, and saw no more of the others, lost or saved. But you are welcome to all I’ve heard since then at home; I have no reason to keep it from you. The Myrmidon spearfighters returned, they say, under the son of lionhearted Akhilleus; and so did Poias’ great son, Philoktetes. Idomeneus brought his company back to Krete; the sea took not a man from him, of all who lived through the long war. And even as far away as Ithaka you’ve heard of Agamémnon—how he came home, how Aigisthos waited to destroy him but paid a bitter price for it in the end.

 That is a good thing, now, for a man to leave a son behind him, like the son who punished Aigisthos for the murder of his great father. You, too, are tall and well set-up, I see; be brave, you too, so men in times to come will speak well of you.”

 Then Telémakhos said: “Nestor, pride of Akhaians, Neleus’ son, that was revenge, and far and wide the Akhaians will tell the tale in song for generations. I wish the gods would buckle his arms on me! I’d be revenged for outrage on my insidious and brazen enemies. But no such happy lot was given to me or to my father. Still, I must hold fast.”

 To this Lord Nestor of Gerênia said:

 “My dear young friend, now that you speak of it, I hear a crowd of suitors for your mother lives with you, uninvited, making trouble. Now tell me how you take this. Do the people side against you, hearkening to some oracle? Who knows, your father might come home someday alone or backed by troops, and have it out with them. If grey-eyed Athena loved you the way she did Odysseus in the old days, in Troy country, where we all went through so much— never have I seen the gods help any man as openly as Athena did your father— well, as I say, if she cared for you that way, there would be those to quit this marriage game.”

 But prudently Telémakhos replied:

 “I can’t think what you say will ever happen, sir. It is a dazzling hope. But not for me. It could not be—even if the gods willed it.”

 At this grey-eyed Athena broke in, saying:

 “What strange talk you permit yourself, Telémakhos, A god could save the man by simply wishing it— from the farthest shore in the world. If I were he, I should prefer to suffer years at sea, and then be safe at home; better that than a knife at my hearthside where Agamemnon found it—killed by adulterers. Though as for death, of course all men must suffer it: the gods may love a man, but they can’t help him when cold death comes to lay him on his bier.”

 Telémakhos replied:

 “Mentor, grievously though we miss my father, why go on as if that homecoming could happen? You know the gods had settled it already, years ago, when dark death came for him. But there is something else I imagine Nestor can tell us, knowing as he does the ways of men. They say his rule goes back over three generations, so long, so old, it seems death cannot touch him. Nestor, Neleus’ son, true sage, say how did the Lord of the Great Plains, Agamemnon, die? What was the trick Aigisthos used to kill the better man? And Meneláos, where was he? Not at Argos in Akhaia, but blown off course, held up in some far country, is that what gave the killer nerve to strike?”

 Lord Nestor of Gerenia made answer:

 “Well, now, my son, I’ll tell you the whole story. You know, yourself, what would have come to pass if red-haired Menelaos, back from Troy, had caught Aigisthos in that house alive. There would have been no burial mound for him, but dogs and carrion birds to huddle on him in the fields beyond the wall, and not a soul bewailing him, for the great wrong he committed.

 While we were hard-pressed in the war at Troy he stayed safe inland in the grazing country, making light talk to win Agamémnon’s queen. But the Lady Klytaimnestra, in the first days, rebuffed him, being faithful still; then, too, she had at hand as her companion a minstrel Agamemnon left attending her, charged with her care, when he took ship for Troy. Then came the fated hour when she gave in. Her lover tricked the poet and marooned him on a bare island for the seabirds’ picking, and took her home, as he and she desired. Many thighbones he burned on the gods’ altars and many a woven and golden ornament hung to bedeck them, in his satisfaction; he had not thought life held such glory for him.

 Now Menelaos and I sailed home together on friendly terms, from Troy, but when we came off Sunion Point in Attika, the ships still running free, Onetor’s son Phrontis, the steersman of Menelaos’ ship, fell over with a death grip on the tiller: some unseen arrow from Apollo hit him. No man handled a ship better than he did in a high wind and sea, so Meneláos put down his longing to get on, and landed to give this man full honor in funeral. His own luck turned then. Out on the winedark sea in the murmuring hulls again, he made Cape Malea, but Zeus who views the wide world sent a gloom over the ocean, and a howling gale came on with seas increasing, mountainous, parting the ships and driving half toward Krete where the Kydonians live by lardanos river. Off Gortyn’s coastline in the misty sea there a reef, a razorback, cuts through the water, and every westerly piles up a pounding surf along the left side, going toward Phaistos— big seas buffeted back by the narrow stone. They were blown here, and fought in vain for sea room; the ships kept going in to their destruction, slammed on the reef. The crews were saved. But now those five that weathered it got off to southward, taken by wind and current on to Egypt; and there Menelaos stayed. He made a fortune in sea traffic among those distant races, but while he did so, the foul crime was planned and carried out in Argos by Aigisthos, who ruled over golden Mykenai seven years. Seven long years, with Agamemnon dead, he held the people down, before the vengeance. But in the eighth year, back from exile in Attika, Orestes killed the snake who killed his father. He gave his hateful mother and her soft man a tomb together, and proclaimed the funeral day a festal day for all the Argive people. That day Lord Meneláos of the great war cry made port with all the gold his ships could carry. And this should give you pause, my son: don’t stay too long away from home, leaving your treasure there, and brazen suitors near; they’ll squander all you have or take it from you, and then how will your journey serve? I urge you, though, to call on Menelaos, he being but lately home from distant parts in the wide world. A man could well despair of getting home at all, if the winds blew him over the Great South Sea—that weary waste, even the wintering birds delay one winter more before the northward crossing. Well, take your ship and crew and go by water, or if you’d rather go by land, here are horses, a car, and my own sons for company as far as the ancient land of Lakedaimon and Meneláos, the red-haired captain there. Ask him with courtesy, and in his wisdom he will tell you history and no lies.”

 While Nestor talked, the sun went down the sky and gloom came on the land, and now the grey-eyed goddess Athena said:

 “Sir, this is all most welcome and to the point, but why not slice the bulls’ tongues now, and mix libations for Poseidon and the gods? Then we can all retire; high time we did; the light is going under the dark world’s rim, better not linger at the sacred feast.”

 When Zeus’s daughter spoke, they turned to listen, and soon the squires brought water for their hands, while stewards filled the winebowls and poured out a fresh cup full for every man. The company stood up to fling the tongues and a shower of wine over the flames, then drank their thirst away. Now finally Telémakhos and Athena bestirred themselves, turning away to the ship, but Nestor put a hand on each, and said:

 “Now Zeus forbid, and the other gods as well, that you should spend the night on board, and leave me as though I were some pauper without a stitch, no blankets in his house, no piles of rugs, no sleeping soft for host or guest! Far from it! I have all these, blankets and deep-piled rugs, and while I live the only son of Odysseus will never make his bed on a ship’s deck— no, not while sons of mine are left at home to welcome any guest who comes to us.”

 The grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him:

 “You are very kind, sir, and Telémakhos should do as you ask. That is the best thing. He will go with you, and will spend the night under your roof. But I must join our ship and talk to the crew, to keep their spirits up, since I’m the only senior in the company. The rest are boys who shipped for friendship’s sake, no older than Telémakhos, any of them. Let me sleep out, then, by the black hull’s side, this night at least. At daybreak I’ll be off to see the Kaukonians about a debt they owe me, an old one and no trifle. As for your guest, send him off in a car, with one of your sons, and give him thoroughbreds, a racing team.”

 Even as she spoke, Athena left them—seeming a seahawk, in a clap of wings,—and all the Akhaians of Pylos town looked up astounded. Awed then by what his eyes had seen, the old man took Telémakhos’ hand and said warmly:

 “My dear child, I can have no fears for you, no doubt about your conduct or your heart, if, at your age, the gods are your companions. Here we had someone from Olympos—clearly the glorious daughter of Zeus, his third child, who held your father dear among the Argives. O, Lady, hear me! Grant an illustrious name to me and to my children and my dear wife! A noble heifer shall be yours in sacrifice, one that no man has ever yoked or driven; my gift to you—her horns all sheathed in gold.”

 So he ended, praying; and Athena heard him. Then Nestor of Gerenia led them all, his sons and sons-in-law, to his great house; and in they went to the famous hall of Nestor, taking their seats on thrones and easy chairs, while the old man mixed water in a wine bowl with sweet red wine, mellowed eleven years before his housekeeper uncapped the jar. He mixed and poured his offering, repeating prayers to Athena, daughter of royal Zeus. The others made libation, and drank deep, then all the company went to their quarters, and Nestor of Gerenia showed Telémakhos under the echoing eastern entrance hall to a fine bed near the bed of Peisistratos, captain of spearmen, his unmarried son. Then he lay down in his own inner chamber where his dear faithful wife had smoothed his bed.

 When Dawn spread out her finger tips of rose, Lord Nestor of Gerenia, charioteer, left his room for a throne of polished stone, white and gleaming as though with oil, that stood before the main gate of the palace; Neleus here had sat before him—masterful in kingship, Neleus, long ago a prey to death, gone down to the night of the underworld. So Nestor held his throne and scepter now, lord of the western approaches to Akhaia. And presently his sons came out to join him, leaving the palace: Ekhéphron and Stratios, Perseus and Arêtós and Thrasymêdês, and after them the prince Peisistratos, bringing Telémakhos along with him. Seeing all present, the old lord Nestor said:

 “Dear sons, here is my wish, and do it briskly to please the gods, Athena first of all, my guest in daylight at our holy feast. One of you must go for a young heifer and have the cowherd lead her from the pasture. Another call on Lord Telémakhos’ ship to invite his crewmen, leaving two behind; and someone else again send for the goldsmith, Laerkes, to gild the horns. The rest stay here together. Tell the servants a ritual feast will be prepared in hall. Tell them to bring seats, firewood and fresh water.”

 Before he finished, they were about these errands. The heifer came from pasture, the crewmen of Telémakhos from the ship, the smith arrived, bearing the tools of his trade— hammer and anvil, and the precision tongs he handled fiery gold with,—and Athena came as a god comes, numinous, to the rites.

 The smith now gloved each horn in a pure foil beaten out of the gold that Nestor gave him— a glory and delight for the goddess’ eyes— while Ekhéphron and Stratios held the horns. Arêtós brought clear lustral water in a bowl quivering with fresh-cut flowers, a basket of barley in his other hand. Thrasymedes who could stand his ground in war, stood ready, with a sharp two-bladed axe, for the stroke of sacrifice, and Perseus held a bowl for the blood. And now Nestor, strewing the barley grains, and water drops, pronounced his invocation to Athena and burned a pinch of bristles from the victim. When prayers were said and all the grain was scattered great-hearted Thrasymedes in a flash swung the axe, at one blow cutting through the neck tendons. The heifer’s spirit failed. Then all the women gave a wail of joy— daughters, daughters-in-law, and the Lady Eurydíkê, Klyménos’ eldest daughter. But the men still held the heifer, shored her up from the wide earth where the living go their ways, until Peisistratos cut her throat across, the black blood ran, and life ebbed from her marrow. The carcass now sank down, and they disjointed shoulder and thigh bone, wrapping them in fat, two layers, folded, with raw strips of flesh. These offerings Nestor burned on the split-wood fire and moistened with red wine. His sons took up five-tined forks in their hands, while the altar flame ate through the bones, and bits of tripe went round. Then came the carving of the quarters, and they spitted morsels of lean meat on the long sharp tines and broiled them at arm’s length upon the fire.

 Polykástê, a fair girl, Nestor’s youngest, had meanwhile given a bath to Telémakhos— bathing him first, then rubbing him with oil. She held fine clothes and a cloak to put around him when he came godlike from the bathing place; then out he went to take his place with Nestor. When the best cuts were broiled and off the spits, they all sat down to banquet. Gentle squires kept every golden wine cup brimming full. And so they feasted to their heart’s content, until the prince of charioteers commanded:

 “Sons, harness the blood mares for Telémakhos; hitch up the car, and let him take the road.”

 They swung out smartly to do the work, and hooked the handsome horses to a chariot shaft. The mistress of the stores brought up provisions of bread and wine, with victuals fit for kings, and Telémakhos stepped up on the painted car. Just at his elbow stood Peisistratos, captain of spearmen, reins in hand. He gave a flick to the horses, and with streaming manes they ran for the open country. The tall town of Pylos sank behind them in the distance, as all day long they kept the harness shaking.

 The sun was low and shadows crossed the lanes when they arrived at Pherai. There Dióklês, son of Ortilokhos whom Alpheios fathered, qwelcomed the young men, and they slept the night. But up when the young Dawn’s finger tips of rose opened in the east, they hitched the team once more to the painted car, and steered out eastward through the echoing gate, whipping their fresh horses into a run. That day they made the grainlands of Lakedaimon, where, as the horses held to a fast clip, they kept on to their journey’s end. Behind them the sun went down and all the roads grew dark.

 


Οδύσσεια Βιβλίο 4

THE RED-HAIRED KING AND HIS LADY By vales and sharp ravines in Lakedaimon the travellers drove to Meneláos’ mansion, and found him at a double wedding feast for son and daughter.

 Long ago at Troy he pledged her to the heir of great Akhilleus, breaker of men—a match the gods had ripened; so he must send her with a chariot train to the town and glory of the Myrmidons. And that day, too, he brought Alektor’s daughter to marry his tall scion, Megapénthês, born of a slave girl during the long war— for the gods had never after granted Helen a child to bring into the sunlit world after the first, rose-lipped Hermionê, a girl like the pale-gold goddess Aphrodite.

 Down the great hall in happiness they feasted, neighbors of Meneláos, and his kin, for whom a holy minstrel harped and sang; and two lithe tumblers moved out on the song with spins and handsprings through the company. Now when Telémakhos and Nestor’s son pulled up their horses at the main gate, one of the king’s companions in arms, Eteóneus, going outside, caught sight of them. He turned and passed through court and hall to tell the master, stepping up close to get his ear. Said he:

 “Two men are here—two strangers, Menelaos, but nobly born Akhaians, they appear. What do you say, shall we unhitch their team, or send them on to someone free to receive them?”

 The red-haired captain answered him in anger:

 . “You were no idiot before, Eteóneus, but here you are talking like a child of ten. Could we have made it home again—and Zeus give us no more hard roving!—if other men had never fed us, given us lodging?

 Bring these men to be our guests: unhitch their team!”

 Eteóneus left the long room like an arrow, calling equerries after him, on the run. Outside, they freed the sweating team from harness, stabled the horses, tied them up, and showered bushels of wheat and barley in the feed box; then leaned the chariot pole against the gleaming entry wall of stone and took the guests in. What a brilliant place that mansion of the great prince seemed to them! A-glitter everywhere, as though with fiery points of sunlight, lusters of the moon. The young men gazed in joy before they entered into a room of polished tubs to bathe. Maidservants gave them baths, anointed them, held out fresh tunics, cloaked them warm; and soon they took tall thrones beside the son of Atreus. Here a maid tipped out water for their hands from a golden pitcher into a silver bowl, and set a polished table near at hand; the larder mistress with her tray of loaves and savories came, dispensing all her best, and then a carver heaped their platters high with various meats, and put down cups of gold. Now said the red-haired captain, Meneláos, gesturing:

 “Welcome; and fall to; in time, when you have supped, we hope to hear your names, forbears and families