Rhapsōdia E-psilon - Book V
Argument:
And then to Tydeus' son, Diomedes, did Pallas Athene
Give wrath and heart, so that exceedingly sightly would he be among
All the Argeioi and he might take for himself noble renown.
And glowing from the crest of his helm and shield was an unceasing blaze
Resembling the late-harvest Dog Star, which beyond all others 5
Shineth after he hath risen from his bathwaters of wide Okeanos --
Such did a flame burn from the warrior's head and also his shoulders,
As the goddess sent him into the midst where the most men clashed.
There was one among the Trojans, Dares, wealthy and blameless,
A holy man of Hephaistos -- he had two sons as well, 10
Phegeus and Idaios, both well-knowing in all kinds of warcraft.
The twain of them drew apart from the others as they went forth,
The twain in a chariot, while Diomedes strode upon his feet.
And when they were hard by, coming against each other,
Phegeus first did strike forth, casting his long-shadow'd spear -- 15
But over the left shoulder of Tydeus' son did fly the point
Of the spear, and not did he hit him -- but charged with his bronze
Of the spear, and not did he hit him -- but charged with his bronze
Did Tydeus' son, and not fruitless was the cast from his hand,
For he struck his foe in the middle of his chest, and pushed him out of the car.
And Idaios jumped forth, quitting his beautifully-wrought ride, 20
Not did he suffer to protect his brother who had been slain,
Nay, for not would he himself have escaped the dark dæmons of death,
If Hephaistos had not shielded him and saved him, wrapping him in night,
So that not for two sons would the old holy man be in mourning.
Their horses did the great-hearted son of Tydeus drive forth, 25
And he gave them to his companions to lead to the hollow ships.
When the great-hearted Trojans saw the twain sons of Dares,
The one running in flight, while the other lay slain beside his car,
The hearts within them all were distraught. But flashing-eyed Athene,
Taking Ares by the hand then addressed the furious god: 30
"O Ares, thou Ares, bane of mortals, murderous stormer of cities,
Yea, should we not allow the Trojans and the Akhaioi
To do battle, and to whichever side should Father Zeus render glory,
Let us both quit this place, and avoid the wrath of Zeus?"
Thus she spoke and led out from the battle furious Ares, 35
And him she made sit down alongside the high-banked Skamandros,
While the Danaoi made the Trojans turn in flight -- for each got his man,
Yea, each of the Akhaian leaders: first did the lord of men, Agamemnon
Throw the leader of the Halizones, great Odios, from his car,
Planting his spearshaft into the man's back as he turned to flee, 40
Betwixt the shoulders it went and out he drove it through his breast --
Upon falling, the corpse made a heavy thud, and his armor rattled about him.
And then Idomeneus slew Phaistos, the son of Boros
The Meionian, who had come from Tarne the clod-filled.
And him did then spear-famed Idomeneus with his great shaft 45
Stab through the man's right shoulder as he was trying to mount his ride --
And he fell from his chariot, and hateful darkness took him;
Him they stripped of his armor, they the squires of Idomeneus.
And the son of Stophios, Skamandrios who was skillful at the hunt,
Did Atreus' son, Menelaos, get with his sharp spear, 50
Despite the former being a good hunter -- yea, for Artemis herself did teach him
To shoot at all beasts which the forests in the mountaintops foster,
But in no way now did arrow-pouring Artemis protect him,
Nor did his skill in archery, in which beforehand he had excelled.
Yea, then did the son of Atreus, he spear-famed Menelaos 55
Wound with his spearshaft as the man was running back in flight;
Betwixt the shoulders it went and out he drove it through his breast --
And the corpse fell face-downward, and his armor rattled about him.
And then Meriones slew Phereklos, the son of Tekton,
Who was Harmon's son; and with his hands he knew to construct all manner 60
Of clever crafts -- yea, for him did above all Pallas Athene love.
And he had for Alexandros built the even-keeled ships,
The beginning of the evils which had worked such ill upon all Trojans
And, yea, upon himself, since no warning of the gods made him ware.
Yea, then did Meriones catch him after running hot in pursuit, 65
And he struck him through the right buttock, and right through
The other side, through the bladder under the bone did the point pass --
Upon bent knees he fell wailing before Death enshrouded him.
And then Pedaios, Antenor's son, Meges did slay;
The man was a bastard, and godlike Theano reared him 70
As if he were one of her own, so doing a service for her husband.
Him Phyleos' son, Meges, famed for his spear, came nigher towards
And struck at the back of Pedaios' head with his sharp spear;
And through the teeth the biting bronze went, slicing off his tongue --
Fell he into the dust and he bit the cold bronze with his teeth. 75
And Euaimon's son, Eurypylos, got godlike Hypsenor,
Who was high-hearted Dolopion's son, who had become Skamandros'
Holy man, and as a god was he among the commons --
Yea, him Eurypylos, Euaimon's splendid son then did get,
Striking him mid-run as the man was running back in flight, 80
And with a swing of his blade off he chopped his heavy arm.
And the blood-drenched arm plainwards fell, and o'er both his eyes
Did onrushing Death and also mighty Orlay take hold.
And as they all toiled together in terrible and mighty battle,
Tydeus' son thou wouldst not ken among the one side or the other, 85
Be he either alongside the Trojans or sallying forth with the Akhaioi;
For he rushed upon the plain like a river over-brimming
With snowmelt, a cascade which quickly drowns and bursts asunder any dam,
And not can any dam at all confine or, nay, even stop,
Just as no fence of any flourishing garden can keep out 90
The sudden downpour which Zeus lets fall upon the land;
And razed by the waters are so many works, such beautiful works of might --
Just so by Tydeus' son were scattered the thickly-packed battle-ranks
Of the Trojans, nor were any standing against him, though they were many.
As the splendid son of Lykaon become ware of this man, 95
Who was rushing upon the plain and scattering the battle-ranks before him,
Forthwith did he take aim at Tydeus' son with his bent bow
And hit him as the man hasten'd to assail him, chancing upon his right shoulder,
At the corselet there, and through it the bitter bolt flew,
Right through it went, and besprinkled was his armor with blood. 100
O'er him the the splendid son of Lykaon loudly shouted:
"Rouse yourself, ye great-hearted Trojans, ye drivers of horses!
For hath been hit the best of the Akhaioi, and not do I proclaim him
To long suffer the hurt of my mighty arrow, if rightly indeed did
The high king, the son of Zeus, set me upon my way as I set forth from Lykia!" 105
Thus spake he in boast; but not Tydeus' son did the swift shaft o'erpower,
But, after withdrawing back to his horses and his chariot,
He stood his ground, and Sthenelos, Kapaneus' son did he address:
"Rouse thyself, my good son of Kapaneus -- get down from thy car,
So that from my shoulder thou mayest draw out this bitter bolt." 110
And so spake he, and Sthenelos from his car then groundwards did leap,
And , taking a stance alongside him, the swift shaft through his shoulder he drew;
And his blood spattered upon the chain-armor'd shirt he wore.
And then prayed aloud Diomedes, good at the war-cry:
"Harken unto me, aigis-bearing Zeus' child, Athene Atrytone, the Unwearied: 115
If ever thou with kindly thought towards my father didst stand beside him
In destructive war, now be kind to me, O thou Athene!
Grant that I get this man and that he come within the range of my spear,
This man who hath hit me ere I was ware of him, he who boasts and saieth
That not for long shall I gaze upon the bright light of the sun!" 120
And so he spoke in prayer, and unto him did harken Pallas Athene,
And into his limbs she put weightlessness, and then in his feet and hands above.
Hard by she stood and with winged words address'd him:
"Take heart now, Diomedes: against the Trojans do thou battle.
For yea, into thy breast thy father's wrath I have sent, 125
The fearless might such as wielded by the shield-bearing horseman, Tydeus.
E'en more so: the mist upon thine eyes I have taken away whence before it rested --
So now well mayest thou know and discern both god and man.
Therefore, now if a god wishing to test thee should hither come,
In nowise art thou to do battle face-to-face with the deathless gods, 130
Any of the others -- but yet, if Zeus' daughter, Aphrodite
Should enter the fray, then her mayest thou strike with thy sharp bronze."
Having thus spoken, away went gleaming-eyed Athene,
And Tydeus' son bestirr'd himself anew and mingl'd among the frontlines,
For though aforetimes was he fore-hearted to do battle with the Trojans, 135
Yea, now did wrath thrice-fold take ahold of him -- just as a lion,
Which a shepherd in the field keeping watch o'er his woolly sheep
Hath wounded after the beast leapt o'er his fence, and not hath the man master'd it;
But while the latter's strength hath been rous'd, no more doth he avail,
So among the farmsteads he slinks away, and flee do the sheep, 140
The thickly-crowded flocks a-scattering all over each other in heaps,
And then the eager lion doth leap out o'er the high-built fence --
With eagerness just so did mingle with the Trojans mighty Diomedes. `
Then he got Astynoos and Hypeiron, shepherds of men:
The one he hit above the nipple with a heft of his bronze-tipped spear, 145
And the other with his great sword 'gainst the collarbone beside the shoulder
He struck a blow, slicing the shoulder off from the neck, and yea, through the back.
These two he let be, and in pursuit of Abas and Polyeidos,
Sons of Eurydamas, the dreamseer, the old man --
That his sons would not return, the old man did not divine in his dreams, 150
But from the twain of them did mighty Diomedes strip their arms.
And he went after Xanthos and Thoon, sons both of Phainops,
Both well-loved; the father was sapp'd by baneful old age,
And a son of his no other had he beget to leave his goodly property.
There did Diomedes slay them, and robb'd them both of their dear life, 155
The twain of them, while to the father both wailing and weeping
He had left, since not alive upon their return home from war
Would he embrace them, but come instead some far-off kinsmen thither to divvy up his property.
And there two sons of Priamos, son of Dardanos, Diomedes got,
Named Ekhemmon and Khromios, who were in the same car -- 160
Just as a lion doth spring upon cattle and breaketh the necks
Of a heifer or cow which is grazing among the thicket --
Just so were these princes both from their car by Tydeus's son
Brought low 'gainst their will; and then he stripped off their gear,
And their horses he gave to his brothers-in-arms to be tak'n to the ships. 165
 |
| The Combat of Diomedes, Jacques-Louis David, 1776, Albertina Museum, Vienna |
And then of him did Aineias catch sight as the Akhaian wrecked the ranks of men,
So made himself to go unto the melee and unto the confusion of spears,
For he was seeking godlike Pandaros, if somewhere he might find him.
And he found Lykaon's blameless and strong son
And stood before him and addressed him face-to-face with these words: 170
"Pandaros, wherever is thy bow? Lo! where are thy winged arrows
And thy renown? In this matter, none here can strive with thee -- no man at all,
Nor can anyone in Lykia boast that they be better than thee!
But come! Let fly a bolt at that man after thou hast lifted up thy hands to Zeus,
At that man who o'erpowers our men and is working many ills upon 175
The Trojans! Since the knees of many noble warriors he hath loosed,
Might he be not some god who hath become aggrieved at the Trojans,
Fill'd as he is with wrath? For hard be the wrath of a god upon men."
And then to him did make reply Lykaon's splendid son:
"O Aineias, thou counsellor to the brazen-cuirass'd Trojans -- 180
As for Tydeus' warlike son: him do I liken in all ways,
When I recognize him by his shield and his high-crested helm,
And when looking upon his horses -- that not entirely do I know him not to be a god.
But if he be the man whom I declare him to be, he warlike Tydeus' son,
Not without some god doth he rage so, but someone hard by him 185
Stands, one of the deathless enfolding his shoulders in a cloud,
And this person turn'd aside the sharp bolt I shot at him elsewhither.
Yea, for I have let fly a bolt at him, and I hit him in the shoulder,
The right one, and right through the front of his cuirass!
So him I did declare that I would sent down to the house of Aidoneus -- 190
Yet even so, I have not master'd him. Now some god he is, a wrathful one.
Of horses there are none at hand, no car upon which I could leap;
Ah, but there in halls of Lykaon's palace stood eleven chariots,
Good ones too, newly furnish'd, newly made, and o'er them cloths
Were spread, and alongside ev'ry each one were double-yoked steeds 195
Standing ready, enjoying their food of white barley and wheat.
Earnestly much did the old man, the spearfighter Lykaon
Charge me as I went to set out from our well-built house:
'Upon horse,' my sire bid me, 'and in car go thou forth in war
To lead the ranks of Trojans into mighty combat in arms!' 200
But I did not obey -- oh, how much more would it have been better had I!
The horses I spared, lest I lack the fodder to feed such creatures,
Which, though pack'd in with so many people, are still wont to eat their fill.
So I left them behind, and on foot to Ilion have I hither come,
Relying on my archery -- but these things mayhaps will avail me not. 205
For already have I tak'n aim at two of their mightiest warriors,
Tydeus' son and the son of Atreus, and from either of the twain
Have I for certain hit and drawn forth blood, but all the more I rous'd them!
Ah me! What a wicked lot when down from its peg my curved bow
I took; what a wicked day it was when to lovely Ilion 210
I led my men to the Trojans, for the sake of godlike Hektor.
If I should return home again and look with mine own eyes
Upon my father's land, and my wife, and great, high-roof'd house,
Then may from me my head be cut off by some foreign wight,
If not do I put my bow into the flames of a blazing bonfire 215
After breaking it in twain with my hands -- wind-like it seemeth to me."
And to him then Aineias, a leader of the Trojans, made reply:
"Do not thusly speak -- but yea, it shall not otherwise be
Until we both upon the man with horses and chariots
Face him together and with our arms make trial of him. 220
But come now, mount upon mine own car, so thou mayest see
How Trojan horses handle, how skill'd they are when
Upon the plain they hither and thither race in swift pursuit or flight.
The two of them shall carry us twain safely to the city, if yet again
Zeus shall hand glory to the son of Tydeus, Diomedes. 225
But come now! Take up thy whip and thy glittering reins,
And from my mounts I shall leap down, so that I may do battle;
Or do thou await his coming, and I will tend to the steeds."
And him then he addressed, he the splendid son of Lykaon:
"Aineias, keep thou thine own reins and thy horses twain. 230
Better under their usual driver shall they bear the curved car,
If indeed it should come to pass that we must needs flee Tydeus' son.
I would have them not tarry in their terror, and be unwilling
To bear us from battle for the loss of thy wonted words,
And upon the two of us would leap the great-hearted son of Tydeus 235
In order to slay us both and drive away the hoof'd horses.
But thou do onward drive thy chariot and thy mounts,
While our oncoming foe I shall receive with my sharp spear."
Having spok'n thus, towards the well-wrought car they went
In haste, eager to drive the fleet steeds upon the son of Tydeus. 240
And them did Sthenelos, Kapaneus' splendid son sight,
And straightaway did he address Tydeus' son with winged words:
"Tydeus' son, oh thou most dear to my heart, Diomedes --
Two men do I espy -- a mighty twain -- who are in haste to eagerly fight thee,
Both possessing strength immeasurable. The one is well-known for his bow, 245
He Pandaros, who vaunteth himself to be the son of Lykaon;
And the other is Aineias, who the son of blameless Ankhises
Vaunteth himself to be, and yea, his mother is Aphrodite.
But come now, let us retire within this car -- for my sake,
Rush not thou amidst the frontlines lest thou somehow lose thy dear heart." 250
And at him yea, under his own brow did he look darkly, he mighty Diomedes:
"Nothing of fearful retreat speak thou to me, for not wilt thou persuade me, methinks.
Not do the men of my bloodline shirk from fighting in battle,
Nor do we cower low -- yet within me doth my fighting spirit still burn strong.
I will not shame myself to climb in the car, but yea, even so 255
Will I face these twain, for to slink away would Pallas Athene not allow.
Not back again shall the swift horses of those two carry them
Away from us, even should one of them escape in flight.
And another thing I'll say, and store it thou within thy breast:
If to me should much-counseling Athene grant great glory 260
Such that the twain of them I slay, then thou do restrain
These swift steeds by wrapping their reins about the rim of the car,
And then keep thou in mind to rush upon Aineias' horses
And drive them from the Trojans towards the well-greaved Akhaioi.
For they are of the stock which to Tros did far-seeing Zeus 265
Give as payment for the king's son, Ganymedes, so they are the best
Among all mounts who gallops under both dawn and sun;
And some breeding of this stock did that lord of men Ankhises steal,
For without Laomedon's knowledge, he pair'd his mares with them,
And for these efforts were six foals born within his palace-walls -- 270
Four of these he kept to raise himself in his own stable,
While the other two authors of rout did he give to Aineias.
If we could take these two, great would be the glory we would get."
And so in suchwise like they spoke back and forth to each other,
As then swiftly came they nigh to the others driving their fleet steeds; 275
The first to speak aloud was Lykaon's splendid son:
"Thou'rt mighty at heart and glorious in battle, thou son of Tydeus --
Verily not did my swift shaft lay thee low, yea, my bitter arrow!
Now with my spear shall I make another trial of thee, if I may land a hit!"
So spake he, and, after brandishing his spear, he let it fly, 280
And he hit Tydeus' son's shield, but right though it went
The spear-tip forg'd of bronze, speeding tow'rds his cuirass.
And upon him shouted aloud Lykaon's splendid son:
"Thou'rt struck in thy gut -- pierced right through! Not methinks
Will it be long that thou wilt hold thyself up. To me hast thou giv'n great glory!" 285
But, feeling not the slightest fear, spoke then did mighty Diomedes:
"Thou miss'd -- not didst thou hit me! But as for the twain of ye, methinks
Ye will not cease until either one or the other hath fall'n
And with his blood gluts the war-god Ares of the bull-hide shield!"
Thus spake he and he let fly -- and the shaft Athene guided straight 290
Through the man's nose beside his eye, and on it went through his white teeth;
His tongue the indestructible bronze shore off at the root,
And the spear-tip came out the other side through his chin.
He fell from his car, and his armor rattled about him,
His gear all a-glittering and a-gleam as the swift-hoof'd horses 295
Started in fear. And so, on that spot was undone his soul and fighting spirit.
Aineias then jumped down with his shield and great spear,
For he feared lest from him the Akhaioi might take the corpse.
So over the body he strode like a lion trusting in his strength,
And before him he held both his spear and his well-balanced shield. 300
 | ||
| Aeneas attempts to save the body of Pandarus, Workshop of Bernard Picart, 1710 |
Eager was the man to slay whosoever came forth to face him,
And he let out a terrifying yell; but then Tydeus' son grabb'd a stone
--
A mighty toil -- one which two men might be able to bear
Such as men are today, but he hefted it lightly, even by himself.
He cast the stone at Aineias, and the man's hip-joint it struck, 305
Where hip and thigh meet -- the socket, men call it --
And its weight crushed the socket and both sinews it tore,
And yea, the jagged stone tore away the skin there. And the warrior
Fell on bended knees and leaned himself upright with a mighty hand
Upon the earth; and then both his eyes did dark night cover. 310
And here and now would be slain this lord of men, he Aineias,
If not had Zeus' daughter noticed this, she lady Aphrodite,
The very man's mother, who had born him to Ankhises while the father tended his flock.
About her dear son she wrapped both her white arms,
And before him she spread the folds of her shining cloak, 315
Enfolding him in a shield against arrows, lest any of the horse-swift Danaoi
Cast a bronze weapon against his breast and take from him his heart.
 |
| The Duel Between Diomedes and Aeneas, Attic red figure, c. 490 - 480 B.C. |
Not did the son of Kapaneus forget the instructions,
The ones which good-at-the-war-cry Diomedes did give him, 320
So his own single-hoof'd horses he held back in restraint
Far from the din of battle, and he bound the reins to the chariot-rim,
And then upon Aineias' finely-maned steeds he rushed
And drove them from the Trojans towards the well-greaved Akhaioi.
These he gave to Deipylos, his dear companion, whom above all 325
He would honor among all his like-aged friends, for they shared mind and heart;
Toward the hollow ships he bid them be driven, and then the warrior,
Mounting his car again, took up the finely wrought reins,
And forthwith to Tydeus' son did he set his strong-hoof'd horses to seek
With all eagerness. But Diomedes with pitiless bronze was seeking Kypris, 330
For he knew her to be a feeble deity, not like other goddesses,
The ones who lead and lord o'er men in bitter battle --
No Athene was she, nor was she the sacker of cities, Enyo.
But when he reached her after pursuing his quarry through the great crowd,
Then he struck her, he the great-hearted son of Tydeus, 335
And the flesh of her skin he wounded after thrusting with his sharp spear --
That oh, so delicate flesh he pierced with his spear,
Right through the ambrosial gown which the Graces wove for her,
And wounded her wrist below the palm; and flowed forth the goddess' deathless blood,
The ikhor, the very kind suchlike floweth within the blessed gods. 340
For not grain do they eat, not fire-flashing wine do they drink,
Which is why they are bloodless, and are called the deathless.
Loudly crying out, the goddess dropped her son from her,
But him did Phoibos Apollon catch up in his arms
And within a dark cloud, lest any of the horse-swift Danaoi 345
Cast a bronze weapon against his breast and take from him his heart.
 |
| Diomedes Wounding Aphrodite When She Tries to Recover The Body of Aeneas, by Arthur Heinrich Wilhelm Fitger |
And to her did call aloud Diomedes, good at the war-cry:
"Quit, thou daughter of Zeus, from warfare and the dread of battle!
Is it not enough that thou dost wheedle weak women with wooing?
But if thou shouldst fain to enter into warfare, then methinks 350
That shalt shudder at the very name, even when thou hear'st it from afar!"
Thus spake he, and she departed in distress, terribly sore at heart.
Wind-swift Iris caught her up and and led her out of the throng;
Wracked as she was with woe, her beautiful skin darkened by blood.
Then she found on the left flank of the fight furious Ares 355
Just waiting there; upon the air had his spear been set to lean and nearby were his two swift steeds.
Falling upon her knees, her dear brother much she begged and beseech'd
As she ask'd him for his steeds decked out with gold'n harnesses:
"Brother dear, save me and give to me thy steeds,
So that I might go to Olympos, the seat of the deathless. 360
So deeply and painfully wounded am I -- a man hath harmed me,
The son of Tydeus, a mortal who now would battle even Father Zeus!"
Thus spake she, and to her did Ares give his steeds decked out with gold'n harnesses.
Into the chariot she went, grief filling her dear heart,
And alongside her Iris went and the reins she took in her hands, 365
And whipped the team into a run, and not unwillingly did they fly.
Forthwith then they came unto the seat of the gods, steep Olympos.
And there did wind-footed, flighty Iris stay the steeds,
Loose them from the car, and throw towards them their ambrosial feed.
Upon the knees of Dione did the goddess Aphrodite fall, 370
She the goddess' mother, who into her arms took her dear daughter,
And caress'd her with her hand and spake and call'd her by name:
"Who hath dealt thus with thee, dear child? Who of the sons of Heaven
Hath acted so recklessly, as if thou wert working ill before the eyes of all?"
And her then she answered, she laughter-loving Aphrodite: 375
"He wounded me, he Tydeus' son, high-hearted Diomedes,
On account that I was carrying my dear son away from war,
Ah, my Aineias, who to me is by far the dearest of all men.
For no longer is the dread din of battle between just Trojans and Akhaioi,
But yea, the Danaoi now fight even against the deathless gods!" 380
And to her then made reply Dione, most heavenly among goddesses:
"Endure this disgrace, my child, and lift up thy grieving heart!
For suffer do many of those who have their homes on Olympos
At the hands of men who work cruel woes upon each other.
Suffered did Ares when Otos the mighty and Ephialtes, 385
Children of Aloeus, bound him in strong fetters,
And then in a bronze pot was he enclosed for thirteen moons;
Then would have perished Ares who is insatiable for warfare,
If not the giants' stepmother, the beauteous Eeriboia,
Sent a message to Hermes, who in turn stole Ares from his chains, 390
And yea, was that god sorely vex'd, for those bitter bonds had overcome him.
Suffered did Hera when the strong son of Amphitryon
Hit her on the righthand breast with an arrow which was
Three-barbed; then did incurable pain take hold of her.
Suffered did Aïdes among the other mighty deathless when a swift shaft 395
The selfsame son of aigis-bearing Zeus did let loose upon him
In Pylos among the dead, and gave unto him hurtful pains.
For went he then to the home of Zeus upon great Olympos,
Aggrieved in his heart and pierced by pains, for the arrow
Was driven through his strong shoulder and troubled his heart. 400
Upon his wound did Paieon sprinkle pain-stifling simples
To heal him, for he was in no-wise born with mortal flesh.
Yea, what a headstrong worker of woe he was who heeded not the evil he did
When with his bow he troubled the gods who hold Olympos.
Upon thee hath the goddess gleaming-eyed Athene sent this man. 405
Silly mortal -- not in his heart doth the son of Tydeus ken
That not long-lived is one who does battle with the deathless,
Nor doth he have any children who prattle about their papa's knee
When he cometh home from war and dread death of battle.
Now, as for Tydeus' son, even though he may be so strong, 410
Let him be ware lest someone better than thou fights him,
Lest indeed shrewd Aigialeia, the daughter of Adrastos,
Rouse from sleep her entire household with her wailings
As for her wedded husband, the best of the Akhaioi,
Yearneth the stately wife of Diomedes, tamer of horses." 415
So spake she and with both of her hands wiped away the ikhor from her arm --
Whole and sound became her arm, and the heavy pains were lighten'd.
As they cast their gaze in her direction, Athenaie and also Here
Began with heart-cutting words to anger Zeus, Kronos' son.
Betwixt them was the goddess, gleaming-eyed Athene first to speak: 420
"O Father Zeus, wilt thou be in any way wroth with me when I say --
That Kypris hath been urging some Akhaian woman
To follow after the Trojans whom she now loves so exceedingly,
And, while caressing this fair-dressed woman of Akhaia,
Upon her gold'n brooch did thy daughter scratch her dainty hand." 425
Thus spake she, and smiled the father of men and also of gods,
And, calling upon his daughter, addressed he gold'n Aphrodite:
"Not to thee, daughter mine, have been giv'n the works of war;
But as for thee: go thou after the delightful works of marriage,
While to fleet Ares and Athene shall fall the care of these warlike deeds." 430
And so they spoke thuswise towards each other in conversation,
While upon Aineias did springing leap Diomedes, good at the war-cry,
Though he sensed that o'er his fall'n foe did Apollo himself hold his hands in protection --
For revering the god's might not one whit, still ever he kept
After Aineias to slay him and strip from his corpse his splendid arms. 435
Thrice Diomedes thrust out, earnestly eager in his heart to kill his quarry,
And thrice Apollo thrust him back, striking his shining shield;
But when for the fourth time did he lash out with dæmonic fury,
Terribly did the god upbraid him, and spake to him did far-worker Apollo:
"Think thou again, Tydeus' son -- now fall back! Do not wish 440
To become like unto the gods, since never are the two races equal,
The race of deathless gods and the humans who creep upon the ground!"
Thus spake he, and the son of Tydeus was made to fall back a bit,
And in so doing thus avoided the wrath of far-shooter Apollo.
And Aineias did Apollo take some distance from the throng and place 445
Within holy Pergamos, where the god's own temple had been built;
And upon Aineias who lay there before the god's very statue
Did Leto and arrow-pouring Artemis restore his health and glory.
But then a phantasm did silver-bow'd Apollo make,
A ghost in the likeness of Aineias and armor'd alike him besides, 450
And about the phantom did the Trojans and the godlike Akhaioi
Rend in combat the bulls-hide shields protecting each other's breasts,
Their rounded shields and smaller, fluttering bucklers.
Then did he address fury-rushing Ares, he Phoibos Apollo:
"Ares, O Ares, thou Mortal-Bane, O murder-stained wrecker of walls, 455
Wilt thou not come into the fray and draw out this man,
The son of Tydeus, a mortal who now would battle even Father Zeus?
Kypris he did first wound hard by her hand at the wrist,
And then even upon me did he lash out with dæmonic fury!"
Having spok'n thus, he sat himself down upon high Pergamos, 460
While amidst the ranks of Trojan soldiers did baneful Ares range and onward urge,
After taking on the form of fleet Akamas, leader of the Threikoi;
And to the Zeus-foster'd sons of Priamos he called aloud:
"O ye sons of Zeus-foster'd Priamos who is king,
For how long will ye allow the Akhaioi to slaughter your kind -- 465
Until all the way to our own well-wrought gates they come a-fighting?
Lieth low a man we honored who is like unto godlike Hektor,
He who is Aineias, the son of great-hearted Ankhises!
But come now! Let us save our noble companion from the roar of war!"
Having spoken thus, he roused the battle-rage and fighting heart of each. 470
And then Sarpedon sharply wrangled with godlike Hektor:
"Hektor, whither indeed hath flown that battle-rage which thou aforetimes had?
Thou didst doubtless say that without armies and allies thou wouldst hold the city,
With both thy brothers of marriage and thy brothers of blood!
But now none of these am I able to espy, nor do I recognize them, 475
But they cower as dogs do when they are about a lion,
While it is we who fight, we who live afar in allied lands!
For I, thine ally in arms, have come from quite afar for thee,
For far off is the land of Lykia beside the whirling Xanthos,
There my dearly wedded wife I left behind, as well as mine infant son, 480
And very much wealth besides for which any in need doth eagerly long!
But even so, the men of Lykia I do spur on and I myself do purpose
To fight each mine ev'ry foe -- truly there is no wight of mine
Whom the Akhaioi might try to carry off as booty or drive away!
But as for thee? Thou dost stand there, but not dost thou bid the other 485
Men to stand their ground and ward off destruction from their wives!
Beware! lest thou and thy men, caught in a net of all-ensnaring flax,
Become booty and spoils for the foes they are fighting!
Then forthwith will they utterly destroy thy well-peopl'd city!
Thou must needs shoulder all these cares each night and day 490
As well as beseech the leaders of thy far-famed friends and allies
To unflinchingly stand their ground and lay aside any stern rebuke!"
Thus spake Sarpedon, and his words took a bite out of the heart of Hektor:
And then from his car the fully-armor'd prince leapt earthwards.
Brandishing his sharp spears, he ranged among the army everywhere, 495
Urging them on to fight, and so he rous'd the dread din of battle.
And so, they rallied and turn'd, and then stood facing the Akhaioi.
And the many-throng'd Argeioi abode their advance, nor did fear make them flee.
And just as when the wind blows the chaff about holy threshing floors
As the men winnow the wheat, and then flax'n-hair'd Demeter 500
At the head of gusting blasts doth separate the wheat from the chaff,
And the heaps of chaff grow white -- just so, did the Akhaioi
Grow white on their heads and shoulders from the dust-cloud which,
In fearful trampling, their horses' hoofbeats kick'd up to the braz'n heav'ns,
As renew'd was the fighting, and the chariots wheel'd back around. 505
And they bore the battle-rage of their hands forth, as all about them
On-rushing Ares enfolded within night, for he was succoring the Trojans
And everywhither ranging. And so he had fulfilled the behest of
Phoibos Apollon who wields a gold'n blade, he who bade him
To rouse the heart of the Trojans when he saw Pallas Athene 510
Taking her leave -- for it was she who was acting as helper to the Danaoi.
In the meantime, he himself sent Aineias from out of his so-wealthy temple,
And put he battle-wrath within the breast of a shepherd of men.
And Aineias amidst his companions stood, and glad were they
When they saw him alive and returning to them safe and sound 515
With excellent battle-spirit within him -- but they question'd him not a bit,
For another task hinder'd them, a toil which the Silver-Bow rous'd for them,
With help from Ares Mortal-Bane and Eris who rageth unceasingly.
And then did the two Aiantes, and Odysseus, and Diomedes
Rouse the Danaoi to war: for it were these very wights who 520
Neither for the power of Trojans nor their onslaughts had any fear,
But stay'd they motionless just like unto clouds which Kronos' son
Makes to stand still when sitteth he upon the peaks of the mountaintops,
So that in sleep may stay the gusting wrath of Boreas and the other
Raging winds which would scatter the shadowy clouds of heaven 525
With the gusts of their shrill wailing as they blow this way and that --
Just so were the Danaoi staying their ground and not did they fear.
And the son of Atreus went about the throng, issuing many orders:
"O friends! Be men! And have ye within yourselves a stout heart,
And feel each other's shameful gaze as we engage in mighty battle! 530
When men know such shame, more men are saved than are slain!
When men flee, they neither with renown are bestowed, nor with any strength!"
And his dart he then nimbly cast and aim'd it at the nearest man --
A companion of Aineias he hit, great-hearted Deikoon,
Pergasos' son, whom the Trojans so honor'd even alongside Priamos' children, 535
Since he was wont to do combat amidst the foremost fighters.
For it was right against his shield which Lord Agamemnon did hit,
But not was the spearhead stopped, but right through the bronze point went
And into his lower belly through the man's belt did he drive it;
Upon falling, the corpse made a heavy thud, and his armor rattled about him. 540
And then Aineias got the noblest warriors of the Danaoi,
The twain sons of Diokles, they both Krethon and Orsilokhos,
Whose father once dwelt far-off in well-built Phere,
And was also a rich man whose stock was of the River
Alpheios, which flows in wide floods through the land of the Pylioi, 545
And who did birth Ortilokhos to be warlord o'er many men.
And Ortilokhos then begat Diokles the great-hearted,
And from this Diokles were in turn born twin sons,
Krethon and Orsilokhos, who were well-versed in ev'ry warcraft;
When these twain grew to manhood, upon the black ships 550
To horse-abounding Ilion they did follow with the Argeioi
To win honor and booty for Atreus' sons, Agamemnon and Menelaos:
But there in that land they met their doom when Death shrouded them.
The twain of them were like unto lions upon the mountaintops' peaks
Which had been reared by their mother within the deep forests; 555
And the twain of them go about snatching cattle and fat sheep
As the farmsteads of men they ransack together, until they themselves
Are slain by those same men who brandish sharp bronze in their hands --
Just so were the twain of them laid low beneath Aineias' hands,
And fall'n they were both, cut down like lofty silver firs. 560
Upon the twain who fell did he have pity, he dear to Ares, Menelaos,
And through the forefighters he went, a-helm'd in fire-flashing bronze
All the while a-shaking his spear. It was the man's battle-wrath which Ares rous'd,
And the aim of the wargod's thought was that at the hands of Aineias he in turn be laid low.
And Menelaos then Antilokhos did espy, he great-hearted Nestor's son, 565
And through the forefighters he went, and around the shepherd of men he ranged
Lest should aught happen, and it deny them the fruits of their toil.
And yea, they both held in their hands their sharp spears,
And, thus facing each other, came they together in haste to eagerly fight,
While Antilokhos stood hard-by besides the shepherd of men. 570
And then Aineias awaited them not, although a swift warrior he was,
Since he saw the two wights awaiting side-by-side for him.
And when they then had dragged the corpses behind the line of Akhaioi,
The bodies of the those two wretches they pass'd to the hands of their comrades;
Having done thus, they turn'd about and join'd the foray amidst the foremost. 575
And then the twain of them got Pylaimenes, peer of Ares,
And captain of the great-hearted Paphlagonian shieldbearers --
'Twas him whom Atreus' son, spear-famed Menelaos stabb'd
With his spear once the man stopp'd moving, piercing him through the collarbone.
And Antilokhos got Mydon, Pylaimenes' driver and squire both, 580
He the noble son of Atymnios; while Mydon turn'd his single-hoof'd horses,
With a stone Antilokhos struck him at the elbow, and then from his hands
The reins, white with ivory, earthwards fell and lay in the dust.
And Antilokhos then leapt forth and with his sword struck against Mydon's temple;
Gasping for breath, the dying man fell from his finely fashion'd car, 585
Headlong upon the dust he landed on his head and shoulders.
Long time he stood there, for he chanced upon some very deep sand,
Until his horses twain kicked out, and they cast him down in the dust;
These Antilokhos then whipped onward, and he drove them into the Akhaian army.
And them did Hektor espy across the ranks of men, and rose he upon them 590
While crying aloud -- and together with him followed the battle-array of the Trojans,
All strongly armored. And at their head went Ares and queenly Enyo,
The ruthless bringer of death who hath Kydoimos, Battle-Roar, in her train;
And Ares was in his hands brandishing a great spear of mighty size,
And ranged the god now in front of Hektor, and now behind him. 595
At the sight of him shuddered Diomedes, good at the war-cry,
Just as when a helpless man goeth o'er a great plain
And standeth he upon the banks of a swift-flowing stream rushing seaward;
As he watches the waters churn with foam, a-sudden back he runs --
Just so did Tydeus' son backwards recoil and spake he to his men: 600
"Friends -- we do indeed in wonder gaze at how godlike Hektor is,
And what a spear-fighter he is, and what a daring warrior --
But around him ever is at least one of the gods who wardeth ruin from him.
Now about him yonder ranges Ares in the likeness of a mortal man.
But ever keeping your front towards the Trojans, backwards 605
Give ye ground! Desire not to do furious battle with the gods!"
Thus he spoke, and then the Trojans came very close to them.
And there did Hektor lay low two men who had much knowledge of warfare,
The twain in one car, they Menesthes and Ankhialos;
And as the both of them fell, great-hearted Telamonion Aias pitied them, 610
And so broke out in a run to stand very close by them, and cast he with his shining spear,
And yea, hit he Amphios, Selagos' son, who in Paisos
Did once abide, where he was rich in wealth and grain-crops -- but his lot
Led him here to offer his spear in service of Priamos and his sons.
Him did he hit in his belt, he Aias the son of Telamon -- 615
Below the belly the Akhaian's long-shadow'd spear bit deeply,
And with a heavy thud the corpse fell; so forth ran glorious Aias
To set upon and strip off the gear. But the Trojans let fly their spears on him;
Their sharp darts fell like pouring rain, but his shield stopped many.
And with his foot thrust upon his lifeless foe, his bronze spear 620
He at last withdrew, but not still was he able to pull the beauteous gear
From off the body's shoulders, for he was being pelted with arrows.
And he feared a mighty defense of their fall'n comrade by the Trojan lords,
The many nobles who beset him with sharp spears in their hands,
And, even though he be great and strong and noble, they pushed him 625
Away from them, and caused him to retire all a-shaking --
And thus did they continue to toil away in ferocious fighting.
And then did dreadful doom drive Tlepolemos, a son of Herakles,
Great and noble though he be, to face off against Sarpedon.
And when the twain of them came near to the one, either striding to his foe, 630
The one the son, the other the grandson of Zeus, cloud-gatherer,
First did Tlepolemos utter words to the other and spake:
"O Sarpedon, thou counsellor of the Lykians, why must needs thee
Cower here? Is it due to thee being a man ignorant of battle?
Liars are they who declare thee to be an offspring of aigis-bearing Zeus, 635
Since thou are certainly lacking far more than the other men
Who were begat by Zeus in the former days of yore long pass'd!
But as for the other sort, of whom men assert mighty Herakles
Be tallied -- my sire! -- he the brave-spirited and lion-hearted hero!
He once upon a time did come hither for the famed steeds of Laomedon 640
With only six ships and an even smaller crew of fighting men --
Yet the city of Ilion he sack'd, and made he her streets desolate and empty!
As for thee -- cowardly is thy heart, and thy men are failing and falling!
And not at all do I think that thou shalt be for the Trojans a defense
In thy coming here from Lykia, for thou art not very strong, 645
But at my hands shalt thou be laid low and sent to the gates of Haides!"
And him in answer did he address, he Sarpedon, leader of Lykians:
"O Tlepolemos, yea, in troth did thy father destroy Ilion the holy
Through the follies of that kingly man, Laomedon,
Who upraided with ill speech a man who had done him good work, 650
Nor did he give him the steeds for which he had come from afar.
But as for thee -- I say that here shall doom and the dark dæmons of death
Be dealt out from my hand, that a great boast shalt thou be for me,
When I lay thee low and send thy soul to Haides who rideth famed steeds!" 655
Thus spake Sarpedon, and aloft Tlepolemos held his ashen spear --
And at the same instant did both their great darts leave
From their hands. While right through the throat did Sarpedon
Hit his man, and the grief-bearing spearpoint buried deep,
And then both his eyes did dark night cover,
Tlepolemos did strike his man in turn, hitting his left thigh 660
With his great spear, and the point eagerly bit deep and went through,
Almost touching the bone -- for his father still warded off his ruin.
Then godlike companions of god-seeming Sarpedon bore him
Away from the fray. And the great spear within him weighed him down
For it dragged upon the ground, and none did declare nor gave a thought 665
To withdrawing from his thigh the ash'n spear so that he might himself
Withdraw on his own -- so hard beset they were while carrying him.
And on the other side did the well-greaved Akhaioi bear Tlepolemos
Away from the fray. And take notice of this did godlike Odysseus,
Who was of stout soul, and waxed the dear heart within him.
And he worried then in both his heart and, indeed, in his soul
Whether he should give chase to the son of loud-thundering Zeus,
Or should he rob more of the Lykian men of their lives.
But not was it the lot ordain'd for great-hearted Odysseus
To slay the son of Zeus with his sharp bronze --
And so, against the throng of Lykians did Athene turn his spirit.
And then slew he Koiranos, and Alastor, and Khromios even,
And Alkandros, and Alios, and Noemon, and Prytanis also --
And now indeed more Lykians would have godlike Odysseus slain,
If the Trojan prince had not seen him, he great flashing-helm'd Hektor.
And he went through the fore-fighters, all a-glow in gleaming bronze
And bearing fear upon the Danaoi. And rejoiced at his coming
Did Sarpedon, Zeus' son, and woeful words spake he:
"Priamos' son, let me not become carrion for the Danaoi to despoil,
A helpless corpse, but thou aid me!
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