The Iliad of Homer, Homer [reading fiction TXT] 📗

against each other, Mars first, over the yoke and the reins of the steeds, stretched himself forward with his brazen spear, eager to take away his life. It then the azure-eyed goddess Minerva having caught in her hand, turned from the chariot, so as to be borne away in vain. But next Diomede, valiant in the din of war, made the attack with his brazen spear; and Pallas Minerva firmly fastened it in his lowest flank, where he was girt with his belt. In that very part striking, she wounded him, and tore his beautiful skin, and drew out the spear again. Then roared brazen Mars, as loud as nine or ten thousand men roar in war, joining the strife of battle. And then fear seized the terrified Greeks and Trojans, so loud bellowed Mars, insatiate of war.

And as when from the clouds, a gloomy haze appears, a heavy-blowing wind arising from heat; such did brazen Mars appear to Diomede, son of Tydeus, going amid the clouds into the broad heaven. Quickly he reached lofty Olympus, the seat of the gods, and sat near Saturnian Jove, grieving in his heart, and showed the immortal blood flowing down from the wound, and complaining, he spoke winged words:

"Father Jove, art thou not incensed beholding these violent deeds? Ever, of a truth, are we deities suffering most grievous woes from the machinations of each other, and [whilst] conferring favour upon men. We all are indignant with thee; 232 for thou hast begotten a mad, pernicious daughter, to whom evil works are ever a care. For all the other gods, as many as are in Olympus, obey thee, and unto thee each of us is subject. But her thou restrainest not by words, nor by any act, but dost indulge her, since thou thyself didst beget this destructive daughter. Who now has urged on Diomede, the overbearing son of Tydeus, to rage against the immortal gods. Venus he first wounded, in close fight, in the hand at the wrist; and, equal to a god, he afterwards rushed on myself; but my swift feet withdrew me; [otherwise] I should certainly for a long time have endured woes there amidst the dreadful heaps of slain, or living should have been exhausted by the strokes of the brass."

Footnote 232:(return) Or, "through thee we are all at variance," taking σοί as put for διά σέ with Lesbonax, πεοί σχημ. p. 186; Hesychius, t. ii. p. 1234, and the Scholiast.

Him sternly regarding, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: "Complain not to me, inconstant one, sitting by me: for thou art most hateful to me, of all the gods that possess Olympus: for to thee discord is ever grateful, and wars and battles: thou hast thy mother Juno's insufferable and unbending disposition, which I myself can scarcely repress with words. Wherefore I think thou sufferest these things by her instigation. Yet no longer can I endure thy suffering pain, for thou art my offspring, and to me thy mother brought thee forth. But hadst thou, destructive as thou art, been born of any other of the gods, even long since hadst thou been far lower than the sons of Uranus."

Thus he spoke, and ordered Pæon to heal him: and Pæon healed him, spreading [on his wound] pain-assuaging medicines; for he was not by any means mortal. As when fig-tree juice, 233 on being stirred about, curdles the white milk, fluid before, and it very rapidly coagulates, while one is mixing it; thus at that time did he speedily heal impetuous Mars. Hebe then washed him, and put on him beautiful garments. Then, exulting in glory, near Saturnian Jove he sat down.

And now again Argive Juno and the powerful assistant Minerva returned to the palace of mighty Jove, after having stayed man-slaying Mars from his deeds of slaughter.

Footnote 233:(return) Used as rennet.

BOOK THE SIXTH.

ARGUMENT.

The gods having left the field, victory now inclines to the side of the Greeks, and Helenus counsels Hector to order a public supplication to Minerva in the citadel. While Hector is gone to the city for that purpose, Diomedes and Glaucus recognize the friendship which had formerly existed between their fathers, and exchange armour in token of amity. Hecuba and the Trojan matrons present a robe to Minerva, and offer up prayers for their country. Hector reproves Paris, and brings him back to the field, having first taken an affecting farewell of his wife and child.

And now the dreadful battle of the Trojans and the Greeks was abandoned. Often here and there the battle raged through the plain, [the combatants] directing against each other their brass-tipped spears, between the rivers of Simois and Xanthus.

First Telamonian Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks, broke through the phalanx of the Trojans, and gave light 234 to his companions, smiting the good and mighty hero Acamas, son of Eyssorus, who was the bravest amongst the Thracians. First he struck him on the ridge of the horse-haired helmet; and the brazen spear fixed itself in his forehead, and passed on within the bone; but darkness veiled his eyes.

Footnote 234:(return) I. e. the light of hope. Cf. Virg. Æn. ii, 281: "O lux Dardaniæ, spes ô fidissima Teucrûm." Quintus Calab. iii. 561. Έπεὶ σύ μοι ὶερoν ᾗμαρ, καὶ ϕάος ὴελίοιο πέλες.

But Diomede, brave in the din of war, slew Axylus, the son of Teuthras, who dwelt in well-built Arisba, rich in wealth, and he was beloved by men, for dwelling in a house near the public way, he was wont to afford entertainment to all. But none of them [his guests] coming up before him, warded off sad death; but [Diomede] deprived both of life, himself and his attendant Calesius, who then was the charioteer of his steeds, and both these entered the earth.

And Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius; and afterwards went against Æsepus and Pedasus, whom formerly the Naiad nymph Abarbarea brought forth to blameless Bucolion. Bucolion was the son of illustrious Laomedon, eldest by birth, but him his mother brought forth secretly. While [Bucolion] was a shepherd, he was mingled in love and nuptials with her amongst the sheep; but she becoming pregnant, brought forth twin sons. And truly the son of Mecisteus 235 relaxed their strength and their illustrious limbs, and tore the armour from their shoulders. And next warlike Polypœtes slew Astyalus. Ulysses killed Percosian Pidytes with his brazen spear; and Agamemnon, king of men, slew Elatus. He dwelt at lofty Pedasus, on the banks of fair-flowing Satniois. The hero Leïtus slew Phylacus flying; and Eurypylus killed and spoiled Melanthius.

Footnote 235:(return) Euryalus.

In the next place Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, took Adrastus alive; for his two steeds, flying bewildered over the plain, coming in violent contact with a branch of tamarisk, and having broken the curved chariot at the extremity of the pole, themselves flew towards the city, whither others also fled terrified. But he was rolled from his chariot near the wheel, prone in the dust on his mouth: but near him stood Menelaus, the son of Atreus, holding his long-shadowed spear. Adrastus then embracing his knees supplicated him:

"Take me alive, O son of Atreus, and receive a worthy ransom; in my wealthy father's [house] 236 lie abundant stores, brass and gold, and well-wrought steel; out of which my sire will bestow on thee countless ransom-gifts, if he shall hear that I am alive at the ships of the Greeks."

Thus he spoke; and persuaded his mind in his breast, and already he was on the point of consigning him to the care of his attendant to conduct him to the ships of the Greeks: but Agamemnon running up, met him, and shouting in a chiding tone, spoke:

"O soft one, O Menelaus, why art thou thus so much concerned for these men? In sooth very kind offices were done to thee in thy family by the Trojans. 237 Of whom let none escape utter destruction, and our hands; not even him whom the mother carries, being an infant in her womb, let not even him escape; but let all the inhabitants of Ilium perish totally, without burial-rites, and obscure."

Footnote 236:(return) Supply οϊκῳ or δόμω. Footnote 237:(return) Ironically spoken.

Thus having said, the hero changed his brother's mind, having advised right things: but he, with his hand, thrust back the hero Adrastus from him; and him king Agamemnon smote in the belly, and he was cast supine. But the son of Atreus planting his heel upon his breast, drew out the ashen spear.

Then Nestor exhorted the Greeks, exclaiming aloud: "O friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, let no one now, desirous of spoil, linger behind, that he may return bringing abundance to the ships; but let us slay the men, and afterwards at your leisure, shall ye spoil the dead bodies through the plain."

Thus having said, he aroused the might and courage of each. And then truly had the Trojans retreated into Ilium, under the influence of the Mars-beloved Greeks, conquered through their own cowardice, had not Helenus, son of Priam, by far the best of augurs, standing near, spoken these words to Æneas and to Hector:

"Æneas and Hector, since upon you chiefly of the Trojans and Lydians the labour devolves, because ye are the bravest for every purpose, both to fight and to take counsel, stand here, and stay the forces before the gates, running in all directions, before that, on the contrary, flying they fall into the arms of their wives, and become a triumph to the enemies. But after ye have exhorted all the phalanxes, we remaining here will fight against the Greeks, though much pressed, for necessity urges us. But Hector, do thou go to the city, and then speak to thy mother and mine; and let her, collecting together the matrons of distinction 238 into the temple of azure-eyed Minerva, on the lofty citadel, [and] having opened the doors of the sacred house with the key, let her place on the knees of fair-haired Minerva the robe which seems to her the most beautiful, and the largest in her palace, and which is much the most dear to her. And let her promise to sacrifice to that goddess in her temple twelve yearling heifers, as yet ungoaded, if she will take compassion on the city and on the wives and infant children of the Trojans: if indeed she will avert from sacred Ilium the son of Tydeus, that ferocious warrior, the dire contriver of flight: whom I declare to be the bravest of the Greeks; nor have we ever to such a degree dreaded Achilles, chiefest of men, whom they say is from a goddess: but this man rages excessively, nor can any equal him in might."

Footnote 238:(return) Hesych. Γεραιάς ἐντίμους γυναὶκας, τὰς γέρας τι ἐχούσας.

Thus he said, but Hector was by no means disobedient to his brother; and instantly from his chariot he leaped to the ground with his arms, and brandishing his sharp spears, he went in all directions through the army, inciting them to fight: and he stirred up dreadful battle. But they rallied round, and stood opposite the Greeks. But the Greeks retreated, and desisted from slaughter; for they thought that some of the immortals, from the starry heaven, had descended to aid the Trojans, in such a way did they rally. But Hector exhorted the Trojans, exclaiming aloud:

"Courageous Trojans and far-summoned 239 allies, be men, my friends, and recall to mind your daring valour, whilst I go to Ilium, and tell to the aged counsellors, and to our wives, to pray to the gods, and to