The Iliad of Homer · Homer
BOOK XVIII.
Before The Scæan gate from morn to eve they fought,565 And on that self-same day had Ilium fallen, But that Apollo, to advance the fame Of Hector, slew Menœtius’ noble son Full-flush’d with victory. Therefore at thy knees Suppliant I fall, imploring from thine art570 A shield and helmet, greaves of shapely form With clasps secured, and corselet for my son. For those, once his, his faithful friend hath lost, Slain by the Trojans, and Achilles lies, Himself, extended mournful on the ground.575 Her answer’d then the artist of the skies. Courage! Perplex not with these cares thy soul. I would that when his fatal hour shall come, I could as sure secrete him from the stroke Of destiny, as he shall soon have arms580 Illustrious, such as each particular man Of thousands, seeing them, shall wish his own. He said, and to his bellows quick repair’d, Which turning to the fire he bade them heave. Full twenty bellows working all at once595 Breathed on the furnace, blowing easy and free The managed winds, now forcible, as best Suited dispatch, now gentle, if the will Of Vulcan and his labor so required.
Impenetrable brass, tin, silver, gold,590 He cast into the forge, then, settling firm His ponderous anvil on the block, one hand With his huge hammer fill’d, one with the tongs. [10]He fashion’d first a shield massy and broad Of labor exquisite, for which he form’d595 A triple border beauteous, dazzling bright, And loop’d it with a silver brace behind. The shield itself with five strong folds he forged, And with devices multiform the disk Capacious charged, toiling with skill divine.600 There he described the earth, the heaven, the sea, The sun that rests not, and the moon full-orb’d. There also, all the stars which round about As with a radiant frontlet bind the skies, The Pleiads and the Hyads, and the might605 Of huge Orion, with him Ursa call’d, Known also by his popular name, the Wain, That spins around the pole looking toward Orion, only star of these denied To slake his beams in ocean’s briny baths.610 Two splendid cities also there he form’d Such as men build. In one were to be seen Rites matrimonial solemnized with pomp Of sumptuous banquets; from their chambers forth Leading the brides they usher’d them along615 With torches through the streets, and sweet was heard The voice around of Hymenæal song.
Here striplings danced in circles to the sound Of pipe and harp, while in the portals stood Women, admiring, all, the gallant show.620 Elsewhere was to be seen in council met The close-throng’d multitude. There strife arose. Two citizens contended for a mulct The price of blood. This man affirm’d the fine All paid,[11] haranguing vehement the crowd,625 That man denied that he had aught received, And to the judges each made his appeal Eager for their award. Meantime the people, As favor sway’d them, clamor’d loud for each. The heralds quell’d the tumult; reverend sat630 On polish’d stones the elders in a ring, Each with a herald’s sceptre in his hand, Which holding they arose, and all in turn Gave sentence. In the midst two talents lay Of gold, his destined recompense whose voice635 Decisive should pronounce the best award.
The other city by two glittering hosts Invested stood, and a dispute arose Between the hosts, whether to burn the town And lay all waste, or to divide the spoil.640 Meantime, the citizens, still undismay’d, Surrender’d not the town, but taking arms Secretly, set the ambush in array, And on the walls their wives and children kept Vigilant guard, with all the ancient men.645 They sallied; at their head Pallas and Mars Both golden and in golden vests attired Advanced, proportion each showing divine, Large, prominent, and such as Gods beseem’d. Not such the people, but of humbler size.650 Arriving at the spot for ambush chosen, A river’s side, where cattle of each kind Drank, down they sat, all arm’d in dazzling brass. Apart from all the rest sat also down Two spies, both looking for the flocks and herds.655 Soon they appear’d, and at their side were seen Two shepherd swains, each playing on his pipe Careless, and of the danger nought apprized, Swift ran the spies, perceiving their approach, And intercepting suddenly the herds660 And flocks of silver fleece, slew also those Who fed them.
The besiegers, at that time In council, by the sound alarm’d, their steeds Mounted, and hasted, instant, to the place; Then, standing on the river’s brink they fought665 And push’d each other with the brazen lance. There Discord raged, there Tumult, and the force Of ruthless Destiny; she now a Chief Seized newly wounded, and now captive held Another yet unhurt, and now a third670 Dragg’d breathless through the battle by his feet And all her garb was dappled thick with blood Like living men they traversed and they strove, And dragg’d by turns the bodies of the slain. He also graved on it a fallow field675 Rich, spacious, and well-till’d. Plowers not few, There driving to and fro their sturdy teams, Labor’d the land; and oft as in their course They came to the field’s bourn, so oft a man Met them, who in their hands a goblet placed680 Charged with delicious wine. They, turning, wrought Each his own furrow, and impatient seem’d To reach the border of the tilth, which black Appear’d behind them as a glebe new-turn’d, Though golden. Sight to be admired by all!685 There too he form’d the likeness of a field Crowded with corn, in which the reapers toil’d Each with a sharp-tooth’d sickle in his hand.
Along the furrow here, the harvest fell In frequent handfuls, there, they bound the sheaves.690 Three binders of the sheaves their sultry task All plied industrious, and behind them boys Attended, filling with the corn their arms And offering still their bundles to be bound. Amid them, staff in hand, the master stood695 Silent exulting, while beneath an oak Apart, his heralds busily prepared The banquet, dressing a well-thriven ox New slain, and the attendant maidens mix’d Large supper for the hinds of whitest flour.700 There also, laden with its fruit he form’d A vineyard all of gold; purple he made The clusters, and the vines supported stood By poles of silver set in even rows. The trench he color’d sable, and around705 Fenced it with tin. One only path it show’d By which the gatherers when they stripp’d the vines Pass’d and repass’d. There, youths and maidens blithe In frails of wicker bore the luscious fruit, While, in the midst, a boy on his shrill harp710 Harmonious play’d, still as he struck the chord Carolling to it with a slender voice. They smote the ground together, and with song And sprightly reed came dancing on behind.[12] There too a herd he fashion’d of tall beeves715 Part gold, part tin.
They, lowing, from the stalls Rush’d forth to pasture by a river-side Rapid, sonorous, fringed with whispering reeds. Four golden herdsmen drove the kine a-field By nine swift dogs attended. Dreadful sprang720 Two lions forth, and of the foremost herd Seized fast a bull. Him bellowing they dragg’d, While dogs and peasants all flew to his aid. The lions tore the hide of the huge prey And lapp’d his entrails and his blood. Meantime725 The herdsmen, troubling them in vain, their hounds Encouraged; but no tooth for lions’ flesh Found they, and therefore stood aside and bark’d. There also, the illustrious smith divine Amidst a pleasant grove a pasture form’d730 Spacious, and sprinkled o’er with silver sheep Numerous, and stalls and huts and shepherds’ tents. To these the glorious artist added next, With various skill delineated exact, A labyrinth for the dance, such as of old735 In Crete’s broad island Dædalus composed For bright-hair’d Ariadne.[13] There the youths And youth-alluring maidens, hand in hand, Danced jocund, every maiden neat-attired In finest linen, and the youths in vests740 Well-woven, glossy as the glaze of oil.
These all wore garlands, and bright falchions, those, Of burnish’d gold in silver trappings hung:—[14] They with well-tutor’d step, now nimbly ran The circle, swift, as when, before his wheel745 Seated, the potter twirls it with both hands For trial of its speed,[15] now, crossing quick They pass’d at once into each other’s place. On either side spectators numerous stood Delighted, and two tumblers roll’d themselves750 Between the dancers, singing as they roll’d. Last, with the might of ocean’s boundless flood He fill’d the border of the wondrous shield. When thus the massy shield magnificent He had accomplish’d, for the hero next755 He forged, more ardent than the blaze of fire, A corselet; then, a ponderous helmet bright Well fitted to his brows, crested with gold, And with laborious art divine adorn’d. He also made him greaves of molten tin.760 The armor finish’d, bearing in his hand The whole, he set it down at Thetis’ feet. She, like a falcon from the snowy top Stoop’d of Olympus, bearing to the earth The dazzling wonder, fresh from Vulcan’s hand.765 Achilles is reconciled to Agamemnon, and clothed in new armor forged by Vulcan, leads out the Myrmidons to battle.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.