The Iliad of Homer · Homer
BOOK XIII.
Then, for Alcathoüs, into contest close605 Arm’d with long spears they rush’d; on every breast Dread rang the brazen corselet, each his foe Assailing opposite; but two, the rest Surpassing far, terrible both as Mars, Æneas and Idomeneus, alike610 Panted to pierce each other with the spear. Æneas, first, cast at Idomeneus, But, warn’d, he shunn’d the weapon, and it pass’d. Quivering in the soil Æneas’ lance Stood, hurl’d in vain, though by a forceful arm.615 Not so the Cretan; at his waist he pierced Oenomaüs, his hollow corselet clave, And in his midmost bowels drench’d the spear; Down fell the Chief, and dying, clench’d the dust. Instant, his massy spear the King of Crete620 Pluck’d from the dead, but of his radiant arms Despoil’d him not, by numerous weapons urged; For now, time-worn, he could no longer make Brisk sally, spring to follow his own spear, Or shun another, or by swift retreat625 Vanish from battle, but the evil day Warded in stationary fight alone. At him retiring, therefore, step by step Deiphobus, who had with bitterest hate Long time pursued him, hurl’d his splendid lance,630 But yet again erroneous, for he pierced Ascalaphus instead, offspring of Mars; Right through his shoulder flew the spear; he fell Incontinent, and dying, clench’d the dust.
But tidings none the brazen-throated Mars635 Tempestuous yet received, that his own son In bloody fight had fallen, for on the heights Olympian over-arch’d with clouds of gold He sat, where sat the other Powers divine, Prisoners together of the will of Jove.640 Meantime, for slain Ascalaphus arose Conflict severe; Deiphobus his casque Resplendent seized, but swift as fiery Mars Assailing him, Meriones his arm Pierced with a spear, and from his idle hand645 Fallen, the casque sonorous struck the ground. Again, as darts the vulture on his prey, Meriones assailing him, the lance Pluck’d from his arm, and to his band retired. Then, casting his fraternal arms around650 Deiphobus, him young Polites led From the hoarse battle to his rapid steeds And his bright chariot in the distant rear, Which bore him back to Troy, languid and loud- Groaning, and bleeding from his recent wound.655 Still raged the war, and infinite arose The clamor. Aphareus, Caletor’s son, Turning to face Æneas, in his throat Instant the hero’s pointed lance received. With head reclined, and bearing to the ground660 Buckler and helmet with him, in dark shades Of soul-divorcing death involved, he fell.
Antilochus, observing Thoön turn’d To flight, that moment pierced him; from his back He ripp’d the vein which through the trunk its course665 Winds upward to the neck; that vein he ripp’d All forth; supine he fell, and with both hands Extended to his fellow-warriors, died. Forth sprang Antilochus to strip his arms, But watch’d, meantime, the Trojans, who in crowds670 Encircling him, his splendid buckler broad Smote oft, but none with ruthless point prevail’d Even to inscribe the skin of Nestor’s son, Whom Neptune, shaker of the shores, amid Innumerable darts kept still secure.675 Yet never from his foes he shrank, but faced From side to side, nor idle slept his spear, But with rotation ceaseless turn’d and turn’d To every part, now levell’d at a foe Far-distant, at a foe, now, near at hand.680 Nor he, thus occupied, unseen escaped By Asius’ offspring Adamas, who close Advancing, struck the centre of his shield. But Neptune azure-hair’d so dear a life Denied to Adamas, and render’d vain685 The weapon; part within his disk remain’d Like a seer’d stake, and part fell at his feet.
Then Adamas, for his own life alarm’d, Retired, but as he went, Meriones Him reaching with his lance, the shame between690 And navel pierced him, where the stroke of Mars Proves painful most to miserable man. There enter’d deep the weapon; down he fell, And in the dust lay panting as an ox Among the mountains pants by peasants held695 In twisted bands, and dragg’d perforce along; So panted dying Adamas, but soon Ceased, for Meriones, approaching, pluck’d The weapon forth, and darkness veil’d his eyes. Helenus, with his heavy Thracian blade700 Smiting the temples of Deipyrus, Dash’d off his helmet; from his brows remote It fell, and wandering roll’d, till at his feet Some warrior found it, and secured; meantime The sightless shades of death him wrapp’d around.705 Grief at that spectacle the bosom fill’d Of valiant Menelaus; high he shook His radiant spear, and threatening him, advanced On royal Helenus, who ready stood With his bow bent. They met; impatient, one,710 To give his pointed lance its rapid course, And one, to start his arrow from the nerve. The arrow of the son of Priam struck Atrides’ hollow corselet, but the reed Glanced wide.
As vetches or as swarthy beans715 Leap from the van and fly athwart the floor, By sharp winds driven, and by the winnower’s force, So from the corselet of the glorious Greek Wide-wandering flew the bitter shaft away. But Menelaus the left-hand transpierced720 Of Helenus, and with the lance’s point Fasten’d it to his bow; shunning a stroke More fatal, Helenus into his band Retired, his arm dependent at his side, And trailing, as he went, the ashen beam;725 There, bold Agenor from his hand the lance Drew forth, then folded it with softest wool Around, sling-wool, and borrow’d from the sling Which his attendant into battle bore. Then sprang Pisander on the glorious Chief730 The son of Atreus, but his evil fate Beckon’d him to his death in conflict fierce, Oh Menelaus, mighty Chief! with thee. And now they met, small interval between. Atrides hurl’d his weapon, and it err’d.735 Pisander with his spear struck full the shield Of glorious Menelaus, but his force Resisted by the stubborn buckler broad Fail’d to transpierce it, and the weapon fell Snapp’d at the neck. Yet, when he struck, the heart740 Rebounded of Pisander, full of hope.
But Menelaus, drawing his bright blade, Sprang on him, while Pisander from behind His buckler drew a brazen battle-axe By its long haft of polish’d olive-wood,745 And both Chiefs struck together. He the crest That crown’d the shaggy casque of Atreus’ son Hew’d from its base, but Menelaus him In his swift onset smote full on the front Above his nose; sounded the shatter’d bone,750 And his eyes both fell bloody at his feet. Convolved with pain he lay; then, on his breast Atrides setting fast his heel, tore off His armor, and exulting thus began. So shall ye leave at length the Grecian fleet,755 Traitors, and never satisfied with war! Nor want ye other guilt, dogs and profane! But me have injured also, and defied The hot displeasure of high-thundering Jove The hospitable, who shall waste in time,760 And level with the dust your lofty Troy. I wrong’d not you, yet bore ye far away My youthful bride who welcomed you, and stole My treasures also, and ye now are bent To burn Achaia’s gallant fleet with fire765 And slay her heroes; but your furious thirst Of battle shall hereafter meet a check. Oh, Father Jove!
Thee wisest we account In heaven or earth, yet from thyself proceed All these calamities, who favor show’st770 To this flagitious race the Trojans, strong In wickedness alone, and whose delight In war and bloodshed never can be cloy’d. All pleasures breed satiety, sweet sleep, Soft dalliance, music, and the graceful dance,775 Though sought with keener appetite by most Than bloody war; but Troy still covets blood. So spake the royal Chief, and to his friends Pisander’s gory spoils consigning, flew To mingle in the foremost fight again.780 Him, next, Harpalion, offspring of the King Pylæmenes assail’d; to Troy he came Following his sire, but never thence return’d. He, from small distance, smote the central boss Of Menelaus’ buckler with his lance,785 But wanting power to pierce it, with an eye Of cautious circumspection, lest perchance Some spear should reach him, to his band retired. But him retiring with a brazen shaft Meriones pursued; swift flew the dart790 To his right buttock, slipp’d beneath the bone, His bladder grazed, and started through before. There ended his retreat; sudden he sank And like a worm lay on the ground, his life Exhaling in his fellow-warrior’s arms,795 And with his sable blood soaking the plain.
Around him flock’d his Paphlagonians bold, And in his chariot placed drove him to Troy, With whom his father went, mourning with tears A son, whose death he never saw avenged.800 Him slain with indignation Paris view’d, For he, with numerous Paphlagonians more His guest had been; he, therefore, in the thirst Of vengeance, sent a brazen arrow forth. There was a certain Greek, Euchenor, son805 Of Polyides the soothsayer, rich And brave in fight, and who in Corinth dwelt He, knowing well his fate, yet sail’d to Troy For Polyides oft, his reverend sire, Had prophecied that he should either die810 By some dire malady at home, or, slain By Trojan hands, amid the fleet of Greece. He, therefore, shunning the reproach alike Of the Achaians, and that dire disease, Had join’d the Grecian host; him Paris pierced815 The ear and jaw beneath; life at the stroke Left him, and darkness overspread his eyes. So raged the battle like devouring fire. But Hector dear to Jove not yet had learn’d, Nor aught surmised the havoc of his host820 Made on the left, where victory crown’d well-nigh The Grecians animated to the fight By Neptune seconding himself their arms. He, where he first had started through the gate After dispersion of the shielded Greeks825 Compact, still persevered.
The galleys there Of Ajax and Protesilaüs stood Updrawn above the hoary Deep; the wall Was there of humblest structure, and the steeds And warriors there conflicted furious most.830 The Epeans there and Iäonians[12] robed- Prolix, the Phthians,[13] Locrians, and the bold Bœtians check’d the terrible assault Of Hector, noble Chief, ardent as flame, Yet not repulsed him. Chosen Athenians form’d835 The van, by Peteos’ son, Menestheus, led, Whose high command undaunted Bias shared, Phidas and Stichius. The Epean host Under Amphion, Dracius, Meges, fought. Podarces brave in arms the Phthians ruled,840 And Medon (Medon was by spurious birth Brother of Ajax Oïliades, And for his uncle’s death, whom he had slain, The brother of Oïleus’ wife, abode In Phylace; but from Iphiclus sprang845 Podarces;) these, all station’d in the front Of Phthias’ hardy sons, together strove With the Bœotians for the fleet’s defence.
Ajax the swift swerved never from the side Of Ajax son of Telamon a step,850 But as in some deep fallow two black steers Labor combined, dragging the ponderous plow, The briny sweat around their rooted horns Oozes profuse; they, parted as they toil Along the furrow, by the yoke alone,855 Cleave to its bottom sheer the stubborn glebe, So, side by side, they, persevering fought.[14] The son of Telamon a people led Numerous and bold, who, when his bulky limbs Fail’d overlabor’d, eased him of his shield.860 Not so attended by his Locrians fought Oïleus’ valiant son; pitch’d battle them Suited not, unprovided with bright casques Of hairy crest, with ashen spears, and shields Of ample orb; for, trusting in the bow865 And twisted sling alone, they came to Troy, And broke with shafts and volley’d stones the ranks. Thus occupying, clad in burnish’d arms, The van, these two with Hector and his host Conflicted, while the Locrians from behind870 Vex’d them with shafts, secure; nor could the men Of Ilium stand, by such a shower confused. Then, driven with dreadful havoc thence, the foe To wind-swept Ilium had again retired. Had not Polydamas, at Hector’s side875 Standing, the dauntless hero thus address’d. Hector!
Thou ne’er canst listen to advice; But think’st thou, that if heaven in feats of arms Give thee pre-eminence, thou must excel Therefore in council also all mankind?880 No. All-sufficiency is not for thee. To one, superior force in arms is given, Skill to another in the graceful dance, Sweet song and powers of music to a third, And to a fourth loud-thundering Jove imparts885 Wisdom, which profits many, and which saves Whole cities oft, though reverenced but by few. Yet hear; I speak as wisest seems to me. War, like a fiery circle, all around Environs thee; the Trojans, since they pass’d890 The bulwark, either hold themselves aloof, Or, wide-dispersed among the galleys, cope With numbers far superior to their own. Retiring, therefore, summon all our Chiefs To consultation on the sum of all,895 Whether (should heaven so prosper us) to rush Impetuous on the gallant barks of Greece, Or to retreat secure; for much I dread Lest the Achaians punctually refund All yesterday’s arrear, since yonder Chief[15]900 Insatiable with battle still abides Within the fleet, nor longer, as I judge, Will rest a mere spectator of the field. So spake Polydamas, whose safe advice Pleased Hector; from his chariot down he leap’d905 All arm’d, and in wing’d accents thus replied.
Polydamas! here gather all the Chiefs; I haste into the fight, and my commands Once issued there, incontinent return. He ended, and conspicuous as the height910 Of some snow-crested mountain, shouting ranged The Trojans and confederates of Troy. They swift around Polydamas, brave son Of Panthus, at the voice of Hector, ran. Himself with hasty strides the front, meantime,915 Of battle roam’d, seeking from rank to rank Asius Hyrtacides, with Asius’ son Adamas, and Deiphobus, and the might Of Helenus, his royal brother bold. Them neither altogether free from hurt920 He found, nor living all. Beneath the sterns Of the Achaian ships some slaughter’d lay By Grecian hands; some stricken by the spear Within the rampart sat, some by the sword. But leftward of the woful field he found,925 Ere long, bright Helen’s paramour his band Exhorting to the fight. Hector approach’d, And him, in fierce displeasure, thus bespake. Curst Paris, specious, fraudulent and lewd! Where is Deiphobus, and where the might930 Of royal Helenus? Where Adamas Offspring of Asius, and where Asius, son Of Hyrtacus, and where Othryoneus? Now lofty Ilium from her topmost height Falls headlong, now is thy own ruin sure!935 To whom the godlike Paris thus replied.
Since Hector! thou art pleased with no just cause To censure me, I may decline, perchance, Much more the battle on some future day, For I profess some courage, even I.940 Witness our constant conflict with the Greeks Here, on this spot, since first led on by thee The host of Troy waged battle at the ships. But those our friends of whom thou hast inquired Are slain, Deiphobus alone except945 And royal Helenus, who in the hand Bear each a wound inflicted by the spear, And have retired; but Jove their life preserved. Come now—conduct us whither most thine heart Prompts thee, and thou shalt find us ardent all950 To face like danger; what we can, we will, The best and most determined can no more. So saying, the hero soothed his brother’s mind. Then moved they both toward the hottest war Together, where Polydamas the brave,955 Phalces, Cebriones, Orthæus fought, Palmys and Polyphœtes, godlike Chief, And Morys and Ascanius, gallant sons Both of Hippotion. They at Troy arrived From fair Ascania the preceding morn,960 In recompense for aid[16] by Priam lent Erewhile to Phrygia, and, by Jove impell’d, Now waged the furious battle side by side.
The march of these at once, was as the sound Of mighty winds from deep-hung thunder-clouds965 Descending; clamorous the blast and wild With ocean mingles; many a billow, then, Upridged rides turbulent the sounding flood, Foam-crested billow after billow driven, So moved the host of Troy, rank after rank970 Behind their Chiefs, all dazzling bright in arms. Before them Priameian Hector strode Fierce as gore-tainted Mars, and his broad shield Advancing came, heavy with hides, and thick- Plated with brass; his helmet on his brows975 Refulgent shook, and in its turn he tried The force of every phalanx, if perchance Behind his broad shield pacing he might shake Their steadfast order; but he bore not down The spirit of the firm Achaian host.980 Then Ajax striding forth, him, first, defied. Approach. Why temptest thou the Greeks to fear? No babes are we in aught that appertains To arms, though humbled by the scourge of Jove. Thou cherishest the foolish hope to burn985 Our fleet with fire; but even we have hearts Prepared to guard it, and your populous Troy, By us dismantled and to pillage given, Shall perish sooner far.
Know this thyself Also; the hour is nigh when thou shalt ask990 In prayer to Jove and all the Gods of heaven, That speed more rapid than the falcon’s flight May wing thy coursers, while, exciting dense The dusty plain, they whirl thee back to Troy. While thus he spake, sublime on the right-hand995 An eagle soar’d; confident in the sign The whole Achaian host with loud acclaim Hail’d it. Then glorious Hector thus replied. Brainless and big, what means this boast of thine, Earth-cumberer Ajax? Would I were the son1000 As sure, for ever, of almighty Jove And Juno, and such honor might receive Henceforth as Pallas and Apollo share, As comes this day with universal wo Fraught for the Grecians, among whom thyself1005 Shalt also perish if thou dare abide My massy spear, which shall thy pamper’d flesh Disfigure, and amid the barks of Greece Falling, thou shalt the vultures with thy bulk Enormous satiate, and the dogs of Troy.1010 He spake, and led his host; with clamor loud They follow’d him, and all the distant rear Came shouting on. On the other side the Greeks Re-echoed shout for shout, all undismay’d, And waiting firm the bravest of their foes.1015 Upwent the double roar into the heights Ethereal, and among the beams of Jove. Agamemnon and the other wounded Chiefs taking Nestor with them, visit the battle. Juno having borrowed the Cestus of Venus, first engages the assistance of Sleep, then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails. Jove sleeps; and Neptune takes that opportunity to succor the Grecians.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.