The Iliads of Homer Translated according to the Greek · Homer
ANOTHER ARGUMENT
Hector, in Chi, to death is done, By pow’r of Peleus’ angry son. Thus, chas’d like hinds, the Ilians took time to drink and eat, And to refresh them, getting off the mingled dust and sweat, And good strong rampires on instead. The Greeks then cast their shields Aloft their shoulders; and now Fate their near invasion yields Of those tough walls, her deadly hand compelling Hector’s stay Before Troy at the Scæan ports. Achilles still made way At Phœbus, who his bright head turn’d, and ask’d: “Why, Peleus’ son, Pursu’st thou, being a man, a God? Thy rage hath never done. Acknowledge not thine eyes my state? Esteems thy mind no more Thy honour in the chase of Troy, but puts my chase before Their utter conquest? They are all now hous’d in Ilion, While thou hunt’st me. What wishest thou? My blood will never run On thy proud jav’lin.” “It is thou,” replied Æacides, “That putt’st dishonour thus on me, thou worst of Deities. Thou turn’dst me from the walls, whose ports had never entertain’d Numbers now enter’d, over whom thy saving hand hath reign’d, And robb’d my honour; and all is, since all thy actions stand Past fear of reck’ning. But held I the measure in my hand, It should afford thee dear-bought scapes.”
Thus with elated spirits, Steed-like, that at Olympus’ games wears garlands for his merits, And rattles home his chariot, extending all his pride, Achilles so parts with the God. When aged Priam spied The great Greek come, spher’d round with beams and showing as if the star, Surnam’d Orion’s hound, that springs in autumn, and sends far His radiance through a world of stars, of all whose beams his own Cast greatest splendour, the midnight that renders them most shown Then being their foil; and on their points, cure-passing fevers then Come shaking down into the joints of miserable men; As this were fall’n to earth, and shot along the field his rays Now towards Priam, when he saw in great Æacides, Out flew his tender voice in shrieks, and with rais’d hands he smit His rev’rend head, then up to heav’n he cast them, showing it What plagues it sent him, down again then threw them to his son, To make him shun them. He now stood without steep Ilion, Thirsting the combat; and to him thus miserably cried The kind old king: “O Hector, fly this man, this homicide, That straight will stroy thee. He’s too strong, and would to heav’n he were As strong in heav’n’s love as in mine!
Vultures and dogs should tear His prostrate carcass, all my woes quench’d with his bloody spirits. He has robb’d me of many sons and worthy, and their merits Sold to far islands. Two of them, ah me! I miss but now, They are not enter’d, nor stay here. Laothoe, O ’twas thou, O queen of women, from whose womb they breath’d. O did the tents Detain them only, brass and gold would purchase safe events To their sad durance; ’tis within; old Altes, young in fame, Gave plenty for his daughter’s dow’r; but if they fed the flame Of this man’s fury, woe is me, woe to my wretched queen! But in our state’s woe their two deaths will nought at all be seen, So thy life quit them. Take the town, retire, dear son, and save Troy’s husbands and her wives, nor give thine own life to the grave For this man’s glory.
Pity me, me, wretch, so long alive, Whom in the door of age Jove keeps: that so he may deprive My being, in fortune’s utmost curse, to see the blackest thread Of this life’s mis’ries, my sons slain, my daughters ravishéd, Their resting chambers sack’d, their babes, torn from them, on their knees Pleading for mercy, themselves dragg’d to Grecian slaveries, And all this drawn through my red eyes. Then last of all kneel I, Alone, all helpless at my gates, before my enemy, That ruthless gives me to my dogs, all the deformity Of age discover’d; and all this thy death, sought wilfully, Will pour on me. A fair young man at all parts it beseems, Being bravely slain, to lie all gash’d, and wear the worst extremes Of war’s most cruelty; no wound, of whatsoever ruth, But is his ornament; but I, a man so far from youth, White head, white-bearded, wrinkled, pin’d, all shames must show the eye. Live, prevent this then, this most shame of all man’s misery.” Thus wept the old king, and tore off his white hair; yet all these Retir’d not Hector. Hecuba then fell upon her knees, Stripp’d nak’d her bosom, show’d her breasts, and bad him rev’rence them, And pity her.
If ever she had quieted his exclaim, He would cease hers, and take the town, not tempting the rude field When all had left it: “Think,” said she, ‘I gave thee life to yield My life recomfort; thy rich wife shall have no rites of thee, Nor do thee rites; our tears shall pay thy corse no obsequy, Being ravish’d from us, Grecian dogs nourish’d with what I nurs’d.” Thus wept both these, and to his ruth propos’d the utmost worst Of what could chance them; yet he stay’d. And now drew deadly near Mighty Achilles; yet he still kept deadly station there. Look how a dragon, when she sees a traveller bent upon Her breeding den, her bosom fed with full contagión, Gathers her forces, sits him firm, and at his nearest pace Wraps all her cavern in her folds, and thrusts a horrid face Out at his entry; Hector so, with unextinguish’d spirit, Stood great Achilles, stirr’d no foot, but at the prominent turret Bent to his bright shield, and resolv’d to bear fall’n heav’n on it. Yet all this resolute abode did not so truly fit His free election; but he felt a much more galling spur To the performance, with conceit of what he should incur Ent’ring, like others, for this cause; to which he thus gave way: “O me, if I shall take the town, Polydamas will lay This flight and all this death on me; who counsell’d me to lead My pow’rs to Troy this last black night, when so I saw make head Incens’d Achilles. I yet stay’d, though, past all doubt, that course Had much more profited than mine; which; being by so much worse As comes to all our flight and death, my folly now I fear Hath bred this scandal, all our town now burns my ominous ear With whisp’ring: ‘Hector’s self-conceit hath cast away his host.’
And, this true, this extremity that I rely on most Is best for me: stay, and retire with this man’s life; or die Here for our city with renown, since all else fled but I. And yet one way cuts both these ways: What if I hang my shield My helm and lance here on these walls, and meet in humble field Renown’d Achilles, off’ring him Helen and all the wealth, Whatever in his hollow keels bore Alexander’s stealth For both th’ Atrides? For the rest, whatever is possess’d In all this city, known or hid, by oath shall be confess’d Of all our citizens; of which one half the Greeks shall have, One half themselves. But why, lov’d soul, would these suggestions save Thy state still in me? I’ll not sue; nor would he grant, but I, Mine arms cast off, should be assur’d a woman’s death to die. To men of oak and rock, no words; virgins and youths talk thus, Virgins and youths that love and woo; there’s other war with us; What blows and conflicts urge, we cry, hates and defiances, And, with the garlands these trees bear, try which hand Jove will bless.”
These thoughts employ’d his stay; and now Achilles comes, now near His Mars-like presence terribly came brandishing his spear, His right arm shook it, his bright arms like day came glitt’ring on, Like fire-light, or the light of heav’n shot from the rising sun, This sight outwrought discourse, cold fear shook Hector from his stand; No more stay now; all ports were left; he fled in fear the hand Of that Fear-Master; who, hawk-like, air’s swiftest passenger, That holds a tim’rous dove in chase, and with command doth bear His fi’ry onset, the dove hastes, the hawk comes whizzing on, This way and that he turns and winds, and cuffs the pigeón, And, till he truss it, his great spirit lays hot charge on his wing; So urg’d Achilles Hector’s flight; so still fear’s point did sting His troubled spirit, his knees wrought hard, along the wall he flew, In that fair chariot-way that runs, beneath the tow’r of view, And Troy’s wild fig-tree, till they reach’d where those two mother-springs Of deep Scamander pour’d abroad their silver murmurings; One warm and casts out fumes as fire; the other cold as snow, Or hail dissolv’d. And when the sun made ardent summer glow, There water’s concrete crystal shin’d; near which were cisterns made, All pav’d and clear, where Trojan wives and their fair daughters had Laundry for their fine linen weeds, in times of cleanly peace, Before the Grecians brought their siege.
These captains noted these, One flying, th’ other in pursuit; a strong man flew before, A stronger follow’d him by far, and close up to him bore; Both did their best, for neither now ran for a sacrifice, Or for the sacrificer’s hide, our runners’ usual prize; These ran for tame-horse Hector’s soul. And as two running steeds, Back’d in some set race for a game, that tries their swiftest speeds, (A tripod, or a woman, giv’n for some man’s funerals) Such speed made these men, and on foot ran thrice about the walls.[1] The Gods beheld them, all much mov’d; and Jove said: “O ill sight! A man I love much, I see forc’d in most unworthy flight About great Ilion. My heart grieves; he paid so many vows, With thighs of sacrificéd beeves, both on the lofty brows Of Ida, and in Ilion’s height. Consult we, shall we free His life from death, or give it now t’ Achilles’ victory?” Minerva answer’d: “Alter Fate? One long since mark’d for death? Now take from death? Do thou; but know, he still shall run beneath Our other censures.” “Be it then,” replied the Thunderer, “My lov’d Tritonia, at thy will; in this I will prefer Thy free intention, work it all.”
Then stoop’d She from the sky To this great combat. Peleus’ son pursu’d incessantly Still-flying Hector. As a hound that having rous’d a hart, Although he tappish ne’er so oft, and ev’ry shrubby part Attempts for strength, and trembles in, the hound doth still pursue So close that not a foot he fails, but hunts it still at view; So plied Achilles Hector’s steps; as oft as he assay’d The Dardan ports and tow’rs for strength (to fetch from thence some aid With wingéd shafts) so oft forc’d he amends of pace, and stept ‘Twixt him and all his hopes, and still upon the field he kept His utmost turnings to the town. And yet, as in a dream, One thinks he gives another chase, when such a fain’d extreme Possesseth both, that he in chase the chaser cannot fly, Nor can the chaser get to hand his flying enemy;[2] So nor Achilles’ chase could reach the flight of Hector’s pace, Nor Hector’s flight enlarge itself of swift Achilles’ chace. But how chanc’d this?
How, all this time, could Hector bear the knees Of fierce Achilles with his own, and keep off destinies, If Phœbus, for his last and best, through all that course had fail’d To add his succours to his nerves, and, as his foe assail’d Near and within him, fed his ’scape? Achilles yet well knew His knees would fetch him, and gave signs to some friends (making shew Of shooting at him) to forbear, lest they detracted so From his full glory in first wounds, and in the overthrow Make his hand last. But when they reach’d the fourth time the two founts, Then Jove his golden scales weigh’d up, and took the last accounts Of fate for Hector, putting in for him and Peleus’ son Two fates of bitter death; of which high heav’n receiv’d the one, The other hell; so low declin’d the light of Hector’s life. Then Phœbus left him, when war’s Queen came to resolve the strife In th’ other’s knowledge: “Now,” said she, “Jove-lov’d Æacides, I hope at last to make renown perform a brave access To all the Grecians; we shall now lay low this champion’s height, Though never so insatiate was his great heart of fight.
Nor must he ’scape our púrsuit still, though at the feet of Jove Apollo bows into a sphere, soliciting more love To his most favour’d. Breathe thee then, stand firm, myself will haste And hearten Hector to change blows.” She went, and he stood fast, Lean’d on his lance, and much was joy’d that single strokes should try This fadging conflict. Then came close the changéd Deity To Hector, like Deiphobus in shape and voice, and said: “O brother, thou art too much urg’d to be thus combated About our own walls; let us stand, and force to a retreat Th’ insulting chaser.” Hector joy’d at this so kind deceit, And said: “O good Deiphobus, thy love was most before (Of all my brothers) dear to me, but now exceeding more It costs me honour, that, thus urg’d, thou com’st to part the charge Of my last fortunes; other friends keep town, and leave at large My rack’d endeavours.” She replied: “Good brother, ’tis most true, One after other, king and queen, and all our friends, did sue, Ev’n on their knees, to stay me there, such tremblings shake them all With this man’s terror; but my mind so griev’d to see our wall Girt with thy chases, that to death I long’d to urge thy stay.
Come, fight we, thirsty of his blood; no more let’s fear to lay Cost on our lances, but approve, if, bloodied with our spoils, He can bear glory to their fleet, or shut up all their toils In his one suff’rance on thy lance.” With this deceit she led, And, both come near, thus Hector spake: “Thrice have I compasséd This great town, Peleus’ son, in flight, with aversation That out of fate put off my steps; but now all flight is flown, The short course set up, death or life. Our resolutions yet Must shun all rudeness, and the Gods before our valour set For use of victory; and they being worthiest witnesses Of all vows, since they keep vows best, before their Deities Let vows of fit respect pass both, when conquest hath bestow’d Her wreath on either. Here I vow no fury shall be show’d, That is not manly, on thy corse, but, having spoil’d thy arms, Resign thy person; which swear thou.”
These fair and temp’rate terms Far fled Achilles; his brows bent, and out flew this reply: “Hector, thou only pestilence in all mortality To my sere spirits, never set the point ’twixt thee and me Any conditions; but as far as men and lions fly All terms of cov’nant, lambs and wolves; in so far opposite state, Impossible for love t’ atone, stand we, till our souls satiate The God of soldiers. Do not dream that our disjunction can Endure condition. Therefore now, all worth that fits a man Call to thee, all particular parts that fit a soldier, And they all this include (besides the skill and spirit of war) Hunger for slaughter, and a hate that eats thy heart to eat Thy foe’s heart. This stirs, this supplies in death the killing heat; And all this need’st thou. No more flight. Pallas Athenia Will quickly cast thee to my lance. Now, now together draw All griefs for vengeance, both in me, and all my friends late dead That bled thee, raging with thy lance.” This said, he brandishéd His long lance, and away it sung; which Hector giving view, Stoop’d low, stood firm, foreseeing it best, and quite it overflew, Fast’ning on earth. Athenia drew it, and gave her friend, Unseen of Hector.
Hector then thus spake: “Thou want’st thy end, God-like Achilles. Now I see, thou hast not learn’d my fate Of Jove at all, as thy high words would bravely intimate. Much tongue affects thee. Cunning words well serve thee to prepare Thy blows with threats, that mine might faint with want of spirit to dare. But my back never turns with breath; it was not born to bear Burthens of wounds; strike home before; drive at my breast thy spear, As mine at thine shall, and try then if heav’n’s will favour thee With scape of my lance. O would Jove would take it after me, And make thy bosom take it all! An easy end would crown Our difficult wars, were thy soul fled, thou most bane of our town.” Thus flew his dart, touch’d at the midst of his black shield, and flew A huge way from it; but his heart wrath enter’d with the view Of that hard scape, and heavy thoughts strook through him, when he spied His brother vanish’d, and no lance beside left; out he cried: “Deiphobus, another lance.” Lance nor Deiphobus Stood near his call. And then his mind saw all things ominous, And thus suggested: “Woe is me, the Gods have call’d, and I Must meet death here!
Deiphobus I well hop’d had been by With his white shield; but our strong walls shield him, and this deceit Flows from Minerva. Now, O now, ill death comes, no more flight, No more recovery. O Jove, this hath been otherwise; Thy bright son and thyself have set the Greeks a greater prize Of Hector’s blood than now; of which, ev’n jealous, you had care, But Fate now conquers; I am hers; and yet not she shall share In my renown; that life is left to every noble spirit, And that some great deed shall beget that all lives shall inherit.” Thus, forth his sword flew, sharp and broad, and bore a deadly weight, With which he rush’d in. And look how an eagle from her height Stoops to the rapture of a lamb, or cuffs a tim’rous hare; So fell in Hector; and at him Achilles; his mind’s fare Was fierce and mighty, his shield cast a sun-like radiance, Helm nodded, and his four plumes shook, and, when he rais’d his lance, Up Hesp’rus rose ’mongst th’ evening stars. His bright and sparkling eyes Look’d through the body of his foe, and sought through all that prise The next way to his thirsted life.
Of all ways, only one Appear’d to him, and that was where th’ unequal winding bone, That joins the shoulders and the neck, had place, and where there lay The speeding way to death; and there his quick eye could display The place it sought, e’en through those arms his friend Patroclus wore When Hector slew him. There he aim’d, and there his jav’lin tore Stern passage quite through Hector’s neck; yet miss’d it so his throat It gave him pow’r to change some words; but down to earth it got His fainting body. Then triumph’d divine Æacides: “Hector,” said he, “thy heart suppos’d that in my friend’s decease Thy life was safe; my absent arm not car’d for. Fool! he left One at the fleet that better’d him, and he it is that reft Thy strong knees thus; and now the dogs and fowls in foulest use Shall tear thee up, thy corse expos’d to all the Greeks’ abuse.” He, fainting, said: “Let me implore, ev’n by thy knees and soul, And thy great parents, do not see a cruelty so foul Inflicted on me. Brass and gold receive at any rate, And quit my person, that the peers and ladies of our state May tomb it, and to sacred fire turn thy profane decrees.”
“Dog,” he replied, “urge not my ruth, by parents, soul, nor knees. I would to God that any rage would let me eat thee raw, Slic’d into pieces, so beyond the right of any law I taste thy merits! And, believe, it flies the force of man To rescue thy head from the dogs. Give all the gold they can, If ten or twenty times so much as friends would rate thy price Were tender’d here, with vows of more, to buy the cruelties I here have vow’d, and after that thy father with his gold Would free thyself; all that should fail to let thy mother hold Solemnities of death with thee, and do thee such a grace To mourn thy whole corse on a bed; which piecemeal I’ll deface With fowls and dogs.” He, dying, said: “I, knowing thee well, foresaw Thy now tried tyranny, nor hop’d for any other law, Of nature, or of nations; and that fear forc’d much more Than death my flight, which never touch’d at Hector’s foot before. A soul of iron informs thee. Mark, what vengeance th’ equal fates Will give me of thee for this rage, when in the Scæan gates Phœbus and Paris meet with thee.”
Thus death’s hand clos’d his eyes, His soul flying his fair limbs to hell, mourning his destinies, To part so with his youth and strength. Thus dead, thus Thetis’ son His prophecy answer’d: “Die thou now. When my short thread is spun, I’ll bear it as the will of Jove.” This said, his brazen spear He drew, and stuck by; then his arms, that all embruéd were, He spoil’d his shoulders of. Then all the Greeks ran in to him, To see his person, and admir’d his terror-stirring limb; Yet none stood by that gave no wound to his so goodly form; When each to other said: “O Jove, he is not in the storm He came to fleet in with his fire, he handles now more soft.” “O friends,” said stern Æacides, “now that the Gods have brought This man thus down, I’ll freely say, he brought more bane to Greece Than all his aiders. Try we then, thus arm’d at ev’ry piece, And girding all Troy with our host, if now their hearts will leave Their city clear, her clear stay slain, and all their lives receive, Or hold yet, Hector being no more. But why use I a word Of any act but what concerns my friend? Dead, undeplor’d, Unsepulchred, he lies at fleet, unthought on!
Never hour Shall make his dead state, while the quick enjoys me, and this pow’r To move these movers. Though in hell, men say, that such as die Oblivion seizeth, yet in hell in me shall Memory Hold all her forms still of my friend. Now, youths of Greece, to fleet Bear we this body, pæans sing, and all our navy greet With endless honour; we have slain Hector, the period Of all Troy’s glory, to whose worth all vow’d as to a God.” This said, a work not worthy him he set to; of both feet He bor’d the nerves through from the heel to th’ ankle, and then knit Both to his chariot with a thong of whitleather, his head[3] Trailing the centre. Up he got to chariot, where he laid The arms repurchas’d, and scourg’d on his horse that freely flew. A whirlwind made of startled dust drave with them as they drew, With which were all his black-brown curls knotted in heaps and fil’d. And there lay Troy’s late Gracious, by Jupiter exil’d To all disgrace in his own land, and by his parents seen; When, like her son’s head, all with dust Troy’s miserable queen Distain’d her temples, plucking off her honour’d hair, and tore Her royal garments, shrieking out.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.