The Iliad of Homer · Homer
BOOK II.
As the bull Conspicuous among all the herd appears, For he surpasses all, such Jove ordain’d That day the son of Atreus, in the midst Of Heroes, eminent above them all.580 Tell me, (for ye are are heavenly, and beheld[20] A scene, whereof the faint report alone Hath reached our ears, remote and ill-informed,) Tell me, ye Muses, under whom, beneath What Chiefs of royal or of humbler note585 Stood forth the embattled Greeks? The host at large; _They_ were a multitude in number more Than with ten tongues, and with ten mouths, each mouth Made vocal with a trumpet’s throat of brass I might declare, unless the Olympian nine,590 Jove’s daughters, would the chronicle themselves Indite, of all assembled, under Troy. I will rehearse the Captains and their fleets. [21]Bœotia’s sturdy sons Peneleus led, And Leïtus, whose partners in command595 Arcesilaus and Prothoenor came, And Clonius.
Them the dwellers on the rocks Of Aulis followed, with the hardy clans Of Hyrie, Schoenos, Scholos, and the hills Of Eteon; Thespia, Græa, and the plains600 Of Mycalessus them, and Harma served, Eleon, Erythræ, Peteon; Hyle them, Hesius and Ocalea, and the strength Of Medeon; Copæ also in their train Marched, with Eutresis and the mighty men605 Of Thisbe famed for doves; nor pass unnamed Whom Coronæa, and the grassy land Of Haliartus added to the war, Nor whom Platæa, nor whom Glissa bred, And Hypothebæ,[22] and thy sacred groves610 To Neptune, dark Onchestus. Arne claims A record next for her illustrious sons, Vine-bearing Arne. Thou wast also there Mideia, and thou Nissa; nor be thine Though last, Anthedon, a forgotten name.615 These in Bœotia’s fair and gallant fleet Of fifty ships, each bearing o’er the waves Thrice forty warriors, had arrived at Troy. In thirty ships deep-laden with the brave, Aspledon and Orchomenos had sent620 Their chosen youth; them ruled a noble pair, Sons of Astyoche; she, lovely nymph, Received by stealth, on Actor’s stately roof, The embraces of a God, and bore to Mars Twins like himself, Ascalaphus the bold,625 And bold Iälmenus, expert in arms.
Beneath Epistrophus and Schedius, took Their destined station on Bœotia’s left, The brave Phocensians; they in forty ships From Cyparissus came, and from the rocks630 Of Python, and from Crissa the divine; From Anemoria, Daulis, Panopeus, And from Hyampolis, and from the banks Of the Cephissus, sacred stream, and from Lilæa, seated at its fountain-head.635 Next from beyond Eubœa’s happy isle In forty ships conveyed, stood forth well armed The Locrians; dwellers in Augeia some The pleasant, some of Opoëis possessed, Some of Calliarus; these Scarpha sent,640 And Cynus those; from Bessa came the rest, From Tarpha, Thronius, and from the brink Of loud Boagrius; Ajax them, the swift, Son of Oïleus led, not such as he From Telamon, big-boned and lofty built,645 But small of limb, and of an humbler crest; Yet he, competitor had none throughout The Grecians of what land soe’er, for skill In ushering to its mark the rapid lance. Elphenor brought (Calchodon’s mighty son)650 The Eubœans to the field. In forty ships From Histrïæa for her vintage famed, From Chalcis, from Iretria, from the gates Of maritime Cerinthus, from the heights Of Dios rock-built citadel sublime,655 And from Caristus and from Styra came His warlike multitudes, all named alike Abantes, on whose shoulders fell behind Their locks profuse,[23] and they were eager all To split the hauberk with the pointed spear.660 Nor Athens had withheld her generous sons, The people of Erectheus. Him of old The teeming glebe produced, a wondrous birth! And Pallas rear’d him: her own unctuous fane She made his habitation, where with bulls665 The youth of Athens, and with slaughter’d lambs Her annual worship celebrate. Then led Menestheus, whom, (sage Nestor’s self except, Thrice school’d in all events of human life,) None rivall’d ever in the just array670 Of horse and man to battle. Fifty ships Black-prowed, had borne them to the distant war.
Ajax from Salamis twelve vessels brought, And where the Athenian band in phalanx stood Marshall’d compact, there station’d he his powers.675 The men of Argos and Tyrintha next, And of Hermione, that stands retired With Asine, within her spacious bay; Of Epidaurus, crown’d with purple vines, And of Trœzena, with the Achaian youth680 Of sea-begirt Ægina, and with thine, Maseta, and the dwellers on thy coast, Wave-worn Eïonæ; these all obeyed The dauntless Hero Diomede, whom served Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, a Chief685 Of deathless fame, his second in command, And godlike man, Euryalus, the son Of King Mecisteus, Talaüs’ son, his third. But Diomede controll’d them all, and him Twice forty sable ships their leader own’d.690 Came Agamemnon with a hundred ships, Exulting in his powers; more numerous they, And more illustrious far than other Chief Could boast, whoever.
Clad in burnish’d brass, And conscious of pre-eminence, he stood.695 He drew his host from cities far renown’d, Mycenæ, and Corinthus, seat of wealth, Orneia, and Cleonæ bulwark’d strong, And lovely Aræthyria; Sicyon, where His seat of royal power held at the first700 Adrastus: Hyperesia, and the heights Of Gonoëssa; Ægium, with the towns That sprinkle all that far-extended coast, Pellene also and wide Helice With all their shores, were number’d in his train.705 From hollow Lacedæmon’s glen profound, From Phare, Sparta, and from Messa, still Resounding with the ring-dove’s amorous moan, From Brysia, from Augeia, from the rocks Of Laas, from Amycla, Otilus,710 And from the towers of Helos, at whose foot The surf of Ocean falls, came sixty barks With Menelaus. From the monarch’s host The royal brother ranged his own apart, and panted for revenge of Helen’s wrongs,715 And of her sighs and tears.[24] From rank to rank, Conscious of dauntless might he pass’d, and sent Into all hearts the fervor of his own. Gerenian Nestor in thrice thirty ships Had brought his warriors; they from Pylus came,720 From blithe Arene, and from Thryos, built Fast by the fords of Alpheus, and from steep And stately Æpy.
Their confederate powers Sent Amphigenia, Cyparissa veiled With broad redundance of funereal shades,725 Pteleos and Helos, and of deathless fame Dorion. In Dorion erst the Muses met Threïcian Thamyris, on his return From Eurytus, Oechalian Chief, and hush’d His song for ever; for he dared to vaunt730 That he would pass in song even themselves The Muses, daughters of Jove Ægis-arm’d. They therefore, by his boast incensed, the bard Struck blind, and from his memory dash’d severe All traces of his once celestial strains.735 Arcadia’s sons, the dwellers at the foot Of mount Cyllene, where Æpytus sleeps Intomb’d; a generation bold in fight, And warriors hand to hand; the valiant men Of Pheneus, of Orchomenos by flocks740 Grazed numberless, of Ripe, Stratia, bleak Enispe; Mantinea city fair, Stymphelus and Parrhasia, and the youth Of Tegea; royal Agapenor these, Ancæus’ offspring, had in sixty ships745 To Troy conducted; numerous was the crew, And skilled in arms, which every vessel brought, And Agamemnon had with barks himself Supplied them, for, of inland realms possessed, They little heeded maritime employs.[25]750 The dwellers in Buprasium, on the shores Of pleasant Elis, and in all the land Myrsinus and the Hyrminian plain between, The rock Olenian, and the Alysian fount; These all obey’d four Chiefs, and galleys ten755 Each Chief commanded, with Epeans filled.
Amphimachus and Thalpius govern’d these, This, son of Cteatus, the other, sprung From Eurytus, and both of Actor’s house. Diores, son of Amarynceus, those760 Led on, and, for his godlike form renown’d, Polyxenus was Chieftain o’er the rest, Son of Agasthenes, Augeias’ son. Dulichium, and her sister sacred isles The Echinades, whose opposite aspect765 Looks toward Elis o’er the curling waves, Sent forth their powers with Meges at their head, Brave son of Phyleus, warrior dear to Jove. Phyleus in wrath, his father’s house renounced, And to Dulichium wandering, there abode.770 Twice twenty ships had follow’d Meges forth. Ulysses led the Cephallenians bold. From Ithaca, and from the lofty woods Of Neritus they came, and from the rocks Of rude Ægilipa. Crocylia these,775 And these Zacynthus own’d; nor yet a few From Samos, from Epirus join’d their aid, And from the opposite Ionian shore. Them, wise as Jove himself, Ulysses led In twelve fair ships, with crimson prows adorn’d.780 From forty ships, Thoas, Andræmon’s son, Had landed his Ætolians; for extinct Was Meleager, and extinct the house Of Oeneus all, nor Oeneus self survived; To Thoas therefore had Ætolia fallen;785 Him Olenos, Pylene, Chalcis served, With Pleuro, and the rock-bound Calydon. Idomeneus, spear-practised warrior, led The numerous Cretans. In twice forty ships He brought his powers to Troy.
The warlike bands790 Of Cnossus, of Gortyna wall’d around, Of Lyctus, of Lycastus chalky-white, Of Phæstus, of Miletus, with the youth Of Rhytius him obey’d; nor these were all, But others from her hundred cities Crete795 Sent forth, all whom Idomeneus the brave Commanded, with Meriones in arms Dread as the God of battles blood-imbrued. Nine ships Tlepolemus, Herculean-born, For courage famed and for superior size,800 Fill’d with his haughty Rhodians. They, in tribes Divided, dwelt distinct. Jelyssus these, Those Lindus, and the rest the shining soil Of white Camirus occupied. Him bore To Hercules, (what time he led the nymph805 From Ephyre, and from Sellea’s banks, After full many a city laid in dust.) Astyocheia. In his father’s house Magnificent, Tlepolemus spear-famed Had scarce up-grown to manhood’s lusty prime810 When he his father’s hoary uncle slew Lycimnius, branch of Mars. Then built he ships, And, pushing forth to sea, fled from the threats Of the whole house of Hercules. Huge toil And many woes he suffer’d, till at length815 At Rhodes arriving, in three separate bands He spread himself abroad, Much was he loved Of all-commanding Jove, who bless’d him there, And shower’d abundant riches on them all.
Nireus of Syma, with three vessels came;820 Nireus, Aglæa’s offspring, whom she bore To Charopus the King; Nireus in form, (The faultless son of Peleus sole except,) Loveliest of all the Grecians call’d to Troy. But he was heartless and his men were few.[26]825 Nisyrus, Casus, Crapathus, and Cos Where reign’d Eurypylus, with all the isles Calydnæ named, under two valiant Chiefs Their troops disposed; Phidippus one, and one, His brother Antiphus, begotten both830 By Thessalus, whom Hercules begat. In thirty ships they sought the shores of Troy. The warriors of Pelasgian Argos next, Of Alus, and Alope, and who held Trechina, Phthia, and for women fair835 Distinguish’d, Hellas; known by various names Hellenes, Myrmidons, Achæans, them In fifty ships embark’d, Achilles ruled. But these were deaf to the hoarse-throated war, For there was none to draw their battle forth,840 And give them just array. Close in his ships Achilles, after loss of the bright-hair’d Brisëis, lay, resentful; her obtained Not without labor hard, and after sack Of Thebes and of Lyrnessus, where he slew845 Two mighty Chiefs, sons of Evenus both, Epistrophus and Mynes, her he mourn’d, And for her sake self-prison’d in his fleet And idle lay, though soon to rise again.
From Phylace, and from the flowery fields850 Of Pyrrhasus, a land to Ceres given By consecration, and from Iton green, Mother of flocks; from Antron by the sea, And from the grassy meads of Pteleus, came A people, whom while yet he lived, the brave855 Protesilaüs led; but him the earth Now cover’d dark and drear. A wife he left, To rend in Phylace her bleeding cheeks, And an unfinish’d mansion. First he died Of all the Greeks; for as he leap’d to land860 Foremost by far, a Dardan struck him dead. Nor had his troops, though filled with deep regret, No leader; them Podarces led, a Chief Like Mars in battle, brother of the slain, But younger born, and from Iphiclus sprung865 Who sprang from Phylacus the rich in flocks. But him Protesilaüs, as in years, So also in desert of arms excell’d Heroic, whom his host, although they saw Podarces at their head, still justly mourn’d;870 For he was fierce in battle, and at Troy With forty sable-sided ships arrived. Eleven galleys, Pheræ on the lake, And Boebe, and Iölchus, and the vale Of Glaphyræ supplied with crews robust875 Under Eumelus; him Alcestis, praised For beauty above all her sisters fair, In Thessaly to King Admetus bore.
Methone, and Olizon’s craggy coast, With Melibœa and Thaumasia sent880 Seven ships; their rowers were good archers all, And every vessel dipped into the wave Her fifty oars. Them Philoctetes, skill’d To draw with sinewy arm the stubborn bow, Commanded; but he suffering anguish keen885 Inflicted by a serpent’s venom’d tooth, Lay sick in Lemnos; him the Grecians there Had left sore-wounded, but were destined soon To call to dear remembrance whom they left. Meantime, though sorrowing for his sake, his troops890 Yet wanted not a chief; them Medon ruled, Whom Rhena to the far-famed conqueror bore Oïleus, fruit of their unsanction’d loves. From Tricca, from Ithome rough and rude With rocks and glens, and from Oechalia, town895 Of Eurytus Oechalian-born, came forth Their warlike youth by Podalirius led And by Machaon, healers both expert Of all disease, and thirty ships were theirs. The men of Ormenus, and from beside900 The fountain Hypereia, from the tops Of chalky Titan, and Asteria’s band; Them ruled Eurypylus, Evæmon’s son Illustrious, whom twice twenty ships obeyed. Orthe, Gyrtone, Oloösson white,905 Argissa and Helone; they their youth Gave to control of Polypœtes, son Undaunted of Pirithoüs, son of Jove.
Him, to Pirithoüs, (on the self-same day When he the Centaurs punish’d and pursued910 Sheer to Æthicæ driven from Pelion’s heights The shaggy race) Hippodamia bore. Nor he alone them led. With him was join’d Leonteus dauntless warrior, from the bold Coronus sprung, who Cæneus call’d his sire.915 Twice twenty ships awaited their command. Guneus from Cyphus twenty and two ships Led forth; the Enienes him obey’d, And the robust Perœbi, warriors bold, And dwellers on Dodona’s wintry brow.920 To these were join’d who till the pleasant fields Where Titaresius winds; the gentle flood Pours into Peneus all his limpid stores, But with the silver-eddied Peneus flows Unmixt as oil;[27] for Stygian is his stream,925 And Styx is the inviolable oath. Last with his forty ships, Tenthredon’s son, The active Prothoüs came. From the green banks Of Peneus his Magnesians far and near He gather’d, and from Pelion forest-crown’d.930 These were the princes and the Chiefs of Greece. Say, Muse, who most in personal desert Excell’d, and whose were the most warlike steeds And of the noblest strain. Their hue, their age, Their height the same, swift as the winds of heaven935 And passing far all others, were the mares Which drew Eumelus; on Pierian hills The heavenly Archer of the silver bow, Apollo, bred them.
But of men, the chief Was Telamonian Ajax, while wrath-bound940 Achilles lay; for he was worthier far, And more illustrious were the steeds which bore The noble son of Peleus; but revenge On Agamemnon leader of the host Was all his thought, while in his gallant ships945 Sharp-keel’d to cut the foaming flood, he lay. Meantime, along the margin of the deep His soldiers hurled the disk, or bent the bow. Or to its mark dispatch’d the quivering lance. Beside the chariots stood the unharness’d steeds950 Cropping the lotus, or at leisure browsed On celery wild, from watery freshes gleaned. Beneath the shadow of the sheltering tent The chariot stood, while they, the charioteers Roam’d here and there the camp, their warlike lord955 Regretting sad, and idle for his sake. As if a fire had burnt along the ground, Such seem’d their march; earth groan’d their steps beneath; As when in Arimi, where fame reports Typhoëus stretch’d, the fires of angry Jove960 Down darted, lash the ground, so groan’d the earth Beneath them, for they traversed swift the plain. And now from Jove, with heavy tidings charged, Wind-footed Iris to the Trojans came.
It was the time of council, when the throng965 At Priam’s gate assembled, young and old: Them, standing nigh, the messenger of heaven Accosted with the voice of Priam’s son, Polites. He, confiding in his speed For sure deliverance, posted was abroad970 On Æsyeta’s tomb,[28] intent to watch When the Achaian host should leave the fleet. The Goddess in his form thus them address’d. Oh, ancient Monarch! Ever, evermore Speaking, debating, as if all were peace;975 I have seen many a bright-embattled field, But never one so throng’d as this to-day. For like the leaves, or like the sands they come Swept by the winds, to gird the city round. But Hector! chiefly thee I shall exhort.980 In Priam’s spacious city are allies Collected numerous, and of nations wide Disseminated various are the tongues. Let every Chief his proper troop command, And marshal his own citizens to war.985 She ceased; her Hector heard intelligent, And quick dissolved the council. All took arms. Wide flew the gates; forth rush’d the multitude, Horsemen and foot, and boisterous stir arose. In front of Ilium, distant on the plain,990 Clear all around from all obstruction, stands An eminence high-raised, by mortal men Call’d Bateia, but the Gods the tomb Have named it of Myrinna swift in fight.
Troy and her aids there set the battle forth.995 Huge Priameian Hector, fierce in arms, Led on the Trojans; with whom march’d the most And the most valiant, dexterous at the spear. Æneas, (on the hills of Ida him The lovely Venus to Anchises bore,1000 A Goddess by a mortal man embraced) Led the Dardanians; but not he alone; Archilochus with him and Acamas Stood forth, the offspring of Antenor, each, And well instructed in all forms of war.1005 Fast by the foot of Ida, where they drank The limpid waters of Æsepus, dwelt The Trojans of Zeleia. Rich were they And led by Pandarus, Lycaon’s son, Whom Phœbus self graced with the bow he bore.1010 Apæsus, Adrastea, Terie steep, And Pitueia—them, Amphius clad In mail thick-woven, and Adrastus, ruled. They were the sons of the Percosian seer Merops, expert in the soothsayers’ art1015 Above all other; he his sons forbad The bloody fight, but disobedient they Still sought it, for their destiny prevailed. The warriors of Percote, and who dwelt In Practius, in Arisba, city fair,1020 In Sestus, in Abydus, march’d behind Princely Hyrtacides; his tawny steeds, Strong-built and tall, from Sellcentes’ bank And from Arisba, had him borne to Troy.
Hippothous and Pilmus, branch of Mars,1025 Both sons of Lethus the Pelasgian, they, Forth from Larissa for her fertile soil Far-famed, the spear-expert Pelasgians brought. The Thracians (all whom Hellespont includes Within the banks of his swift-racing tide)1030 Heroic Acamas and Pirous led. Euphemus, offspring of Trœzenus, son Of Jove-protected Ceas, was the Chief Whom the spear-arm’d Ciconian band obey’d. Pæonia’s archers follow’d to the field1035 Pyræchmes; they from Amydon remote Were drawn, where Axius winds; broad Axius, stream Diffused delightful over all the vale. Pylæmenes, a Chief of giant might From the Eneti for forest-mules renowned1040 March’d with his Paphlagonians; dwellers they In Sesamus and in Cytorus were, And by the stream Parthenius; Cromna these Sent forth, and those Ægialus on the lip And margin of the land, and some, the heights1045 Of Erythini, rugged and abrupt. Epistrophus and Odius from the land Of Alybe, a region far remote, Where veins of silver wind, led to the field The Halizonians. With the Mysians came1050 Chromis their Chief, and Ennomus; him skill’d In augury, but skill’d in vain, his art Saved not, but by Æacides[29] the swift, With others in the Xanthus[30] slain, he died. Ascanius, lovely youth, and Phorcis, led1055 The Phrygians from Ascania far remote, Ardent for battle.
The Mœonian race, (All those who at the foot of Tmolus dwelt,) Mesthles and Antiphus, fraternal pair, Sons of Pylæmenes commanded, both1060 Of the Gygæan lake in Lydia born. Amphimachus and Nastes led to fight The Carians, people of a barbarous speech,[31] With the Milesians, and the mountain-race Of wood-crown’d Phthira, and who dwelt beside1065 Mæander, or on Mycale sublime. Them led Amphimachus and Nastes, sons Renown’d of Nomion. Like a simple girl Came forth Amphimachus with gold bedight, But him his trappings from a woful death1070 Saved not, when whirled beneath the bloody tide To Peleus’ stormy son his spoils he left. Sarpedon with the noble Glaucus led Their warriors forth from farthest Lycia, where Xanthus deep-dimpled rolls his oozy tide.1075 The armies meet. Paris throws out a challenge to the Grecian Princes. Menelaus accepts it. The terms of the combat are adjusted solemnly by Agamemnon on the part of Greece, and by Priam on the part of Troy. The combat ensues, in which Paris is vanquished, whom yet Venus rescues. Agamemnon demands from the Trojans a performance of the covenant.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.