Rhapsōdia Delta - Book IV
Argument:
And the gods sat beside Zeus and they were speaking as in assembly
Upon the gold'n floor, and among them was queenly Hēbē
Pouring nektar upon which in gold'n goblets made they pledges
To each other while towards the Trojans' city they cast their gaze.
And so, the son of Kronos made attempt to enrage Hērē 5
With heart-cutting words, and so addressed her provokingly:
"So Menelaos hath two helpers from the ranks of goddesses:
Those two who are Argeian Hērē and Protectress Athēnē.
But howbeit both of them sit aloof and both of them are delighted
By what they see? But yet, laughter-loving Aphroditē 10
Ever standeth beside her man and ward off from him the spirits of death;
And now she hath saved him, though he thought he was to die.
But surely this is a victory for he favored by Arēs, he Menelaos!
Let us one and all make plain how our these our works shall be:
Either yet again war and evil and the dread din of the warcry 15
We rouse, or let us send friendship betwixt the two hosts.
And if this be somehow favorable and pleasing to all,
Then shall continue Lord Priamos' city to yet stand,
While Menelaos doth take back home with him Argeian Helenē?"
Thus spake he, and murmured then Athēnaiē and also Hērē. 20
For they sat together and had in mind evils for the Trojans.
And Athēnaiē sat in silence and naught did she speak,
Angry as she was at Zeus, her father, and a wild anger took her.
But Hērē's breast did not contain her anger, and she spake forth:
"Most dread son of Kronos, what a thing hast thou said! 25
How thou will'st to render my ev'ry toil fruitless and in vain!
Sweat do I sweat in labor, and my two horses have waxed weary
To summon the men to work such ills for Priamos and his children!
Keep doing so -- but not do all of us other gods consent."
And being sorely vexed at her, spake cloud-gatherer Zeus: 30
"O my poor lady, what did Priamos or Priamos' children e'er do,
What so many ills did they work that unceasingly thou dost rage
To sack the well-built foundations of Ilion and her citadel?
If perchance thou shouldst enter unto her gates and great walls
And thereupon devour raw Priamos and Priamos' children, 35
And all the other Trojans -- then mayhap thou mightest slake thine anger.
Doest thou whatever thou will'st -- let not this quarrel at some point to come
Be between thee and me a great cause of strife betwixt us twain.
But another thing to thee I shall say, and thou put it within thy breast:
Whensoever I should henceforth desire to lay waste to a city, 40
And the one I choose be one where live men dear to thee,
Do not then hinder my anger, but instead suffer me --
For I willingly yielded to thee with unwilling heart.
For under the sun and under heaven pocked with stars
Lie cities wherein live humans who dwell upon the earth, 45
And of all of these was holy Ilion most honored in my heart,
And Priamos and his people, the fine ash-spearfighters of Priamos.
For ne'er was mine altar ever lacking a feast of equal parts,
With both drink-off'ring and burnt-off'ring, for that is our portion due."
And answered him then did ox-eyed, queenly Here: 50
"Yea, then -- there are three cities by far the dearest to me:
Argos and Sparta and also Mykene of the wide streets.
These destroy then whensoever they be hateful to thy heart.
In defense of these I do not stand, nor do I regard them too greatly.
For even if I bear thee ill-will and not ought I to suffer thee to destroy them, 55
Naught do I avail by this ill-will, for thou art much the mightier.
But it must needs that my toil come to some desired outcome,
For I too am also a god, and of that same stock whence thou came;
As the most exalted daughter which crooked-minded Kronos did beget,
And because of my descent, also thy wedded wife 60
Am I called, and thou dost lord o'er all the deathless.
But yea, let us yield to one another in this matter,
To thee shall I and thou to me and the other gods shall follow,
All the deathless. But thou quickly command Athenaie
To go among the Trojans' and Akhaioi's dread din of the warcry 65
And endeavor to make the Trojans first to do mischief,
In spite of their oaths with the Akhaioi who have great renown."
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| Hera In Conversation With Zeus, Crispijn van de Passe, 1613 |
Thus spake she, and not unpersuaded was the father of men and gods.
And then to Athenaie with winged words he addressed:
"Forthwith with all haste to the army go thou, go among Trojans and Akhaioi, 70
And endeavor to make the Trojans first to do mischief,
In spite of their oaths with the Akhaioi who have great renown."
So spoken, he spurned on to action a long-eager Athene,
And she went along Olympos' peaks, darting as she went,
Just as when a star he sendeth, he the son of crooked-minded Kronos, 75
For sailors a portent, an omen for a wide army of men,
A bright marvel whence many flashing sparks are thrown --
In like fashion did she fall to earth, she Pallas Athene,
And downwards she leapt into the midst. And amazement took the onlookers,
Both horse-taming Trojans and well-greaved Akhaioi. 80
And each one in thuswise fashion said with a glance to another:
"Shall again war and evil and the dread din of the warcry
Be our lot, or friendship betwixt the two hosts doth grant
Zeus, he who is for humankind the steward of war?"
And so thus each one said, be he either Akhaios or Trojan. 85
And she took on the appearance of a man, as a Trojan she entered the throng,
As Laodokos Antenor's son, a mighty spearfighter,
And for godlike Pandaros she set out where she might find him.
And she found Lykaon's son, he blameless and mighty,
As he stood, and about him were mighty ranks of his shield-bearing 90
Men who followed him from the streams of Aisepos.
And standing hard-by, with winged words she addressed him:
"Yea, willst thou obey me now, thou wise-minded son of Lykaon?
Wouldst thou deign to let fly at Menelaos a swift bolt?
In the eyes of all Trojans reward and renown thou wouldst gain, 95
And out of everyone most of all in the eyes of Prince Alexandros.
Yea, first before all others wouldst thou bear shining gifts,
If he should see Ares-seeming Menelaos, a son of Atreus,
By thy shaft laid low and given o'er to grievous fire.
But come now! Shoot thine arrow at Menelaos the renowned, 100
And pray to Apollon Wolf-born, known for his archery,
That thou shalt render a splendid hekatomb of firstling lambs
Upon thy return to home, to the holy city of Zeleia."
Thus spake Athenaie, and his heart she persuaded with folly.
And then he took out his smooth bow made of the horn of a bounding 105
Ibex, which he himself had successfully hit beneath the breast,
As he waited in ambush for it to come out from behind a rock,
And so he struck it in the chest, and it fell backwards upon the rock.
From its head grew horns extending sixteen palms in length,
And from these the craftsman had in polishing the horn wrought them, 110
Making the whole length smooth, and set gold at either end.
And gently aside he set this bow after he had strung it by setting it upon the ground
And then leaning on it. And their shields his noble companions held
Afore him, lest spring up might the Ares-seeming sons of the Akhaioi,
Before struck was Ares-seeming Menelaos, a son of Atreus. 115
And then he stripped off the cover from his quiver, and from it he chose an arrow
Which fletching n'er before felt flight, all freighted with dark woe,
And quickly he fitted upon the bowstring this bitter bolt.
He prayed then to Apollon Wolf-born, known for his archery,
That he would render a splendid hekatomb of firstling lambs 120
Upon his return to home, to the holy city of Zeleia.
And he drew back at the same time the nock and holding the oxhide bowstring,
The bowstring to his breast he drew, and the iron head to the bow,
And then when into a circle he had stretched the mighty bow,
Twanged the bow, and the great bowstring rang out, and flew the arrow, 125
A sharp-biting bolt seeking to fall upon the throng.
And not did they forget thee, Menelaos, they the blessed gods,
The deathless, and before all did Zeus' daughter, the driver of spoils,
Taking up her stance afore thee, the bitter-piercing shaft she warded off.
She swept it away from the flesh just as when a mother 130
Doth sweep away a fly from her child lying in sweet sleep --
But then she guided its path towards the fastening of his belt,
To those fastenings of gold where the corselet overlapped.
And there upon the fitted belt fell the bitter arrow,
And through the cleverly-wrought belt was it driven, 135
And through the handsomely-wrought corselet did it pierce
As well as the tasse worn ever as a defense for the flesh, a guard 'gainst darts,
Which offered the most defense -- and also through this it went.
The topmost part of the man's flesh did the arrow graze,
And then flowed the dark blood from out of the wound, 140
Just as when some woman staineth ivory with Phoenician red,
Some woman of Meionia or even of Kaeira to make a horse's bridle-piece,
And it lieth there in a treasure-house, and many are the knights
Who pray their horses wear it, but it lieth there as a king's delight,
A decoration for the horse and for the driver a glory -- 145
In just suchlike fashion were thy thighs, Menelaos, stained with blood,
And then thy shapely legs, and lo! now thy fine ankles below.
And then thereupon did shudder the lord of men Agamemnon,
As he beheld the dark blood gushing from out of the wound.
And also shuddered the very man, Menelaos, favored by Ares. 150
And then as he beheld the barb's base and yea, the very barb without his flesh,
Back then did his heart and spirit gather into his breast.
Groaning heavily, he spoke amongst them, he the Lord Agamemnon,
As he took Menelaos by the hand, and their companions also groaned:
"Dear brother mine, I caused thy death when I swore the armistice, 155
When alone thou didst take up stance afore the Akhaioi to fight the Trojans,
So that now thee the Trojans have hit, and trample they upon the holy oaths we made!
But in no-wise is the oath we made in vain, and the blood of the lambs,
And the libations of unmixed wine and our right hands clasped,
Wherein we put our trust! For even if the Olympian does not make them pay now, 160
In some time to come he shall make them pay, and great shall be the payment:
Yea, their own heads, and of their women, and of their children!
For well I know this in my mind and in my heart,
That there shall be a day when destroyed shall be Ilion the holy,
And Priamos and his people, the fine ash-spearfighters of Priamos. 165
And o'er them shall Zeus, Kronos' son, enthroned on high and in the heav'ns dwelleth,
Shake and brandish the murky-dark aigis o'er them all,
Angry he be at heart for this deceit! This vow shall be not unfulfilled!
But there shall be dread pain for me on thine account, O Menelaos,
If thou shouldst die and fill up thine alloted lot of thy life, 170
And I would as a most reproachful craven return to Argos, land parched with thirst;
For full of memories would the Akhaioi be for their fathers' land,
And we would be an object of boasting for Priamos and the Trojans as we quit their home
And Argeian Helene. And thy bones shall bleach and rot in this land
Where thou shall lie, here in Troy, thy work yet unfinished. 175
And in suchlike fashion would each of the over-boastful Trojans say
As they leap upon the tomb of renowned Menelaos:
'May in this same way Agamemnon always bring his wrath to fulfillment,Just as when in vain an army he led hither, a host of Akhaioi;And then he went back home, to his dear father's land, 180With empty ships he returned, but without goodly Menelaos!'
Thusly shall they say, and then may the wide earth yawn and swallow me!"
And him he wanted to have heart and so spake forth, he fair Menelaos:
"Have heart! Nay, in no-wise affright the host of the Akhaioi!
For not in a vital part has the sharp shaft been fixed, but before it could, 185
My belt warded it off, my belt of many colors lying underneath,
As well as my loincloth and my tasse, which the bronzesmiths wrought."
And to him he made answer and spake forth the Lord Agamemnon:
"Yea, if it be thus, then it be welcome, O Menelaos!
Thy wound a surgeon shall look at closely and apply thereon 190
Some drugs which should staunch and cease thy dark pain."
Yea, then to Talthybios, the godlike herald, he addressed:
"Talthybios, with all haste call, thou, hither Makhaon,
The very man, Asklepios' son, he the blameless surgeon,
So that he may see Atreus' son, Menelaos, who is like unto Ares, 195
Whom someone has shot with an arrow, someone well-skilled with the bow hath hit him,
Some Trojan or some Lykian who hath glory for himself, while we are dealt grief!"
Thus spake he, and not did his herald disobey the words he heard,
And went he to go among the host of bronze-clad Akhaioi,
With sharp eye out for the hero, Makhaon. And him he noticed 200
As he stood, and about him were mighty ranks of his shield-bearing
Men who followed him from horse-grazed Trike.
And standing hard-by, with winged words he addressed him:
"Rouse thyself, son of Asklepios, for calleth thee the Lord Agamemnon,
So that thou may'st see Atreus' son, Menelaos, who seemeth like Ares, 205
Whom someone has shot with an arrow, someone well-skilled with the bow hath hit him,
Some Trojan or some Lykian who hath glory for himself, while we are dealt grief!"
Thus spake he, and the heart within the other's breast was stirred.
And he went to go among the throng, upon the wide army of the Akhaioi,
But when he arrived where lay fair Menelaos, 210
Hit as he was, and about him so many of the best had gathered
In a tight-knit circle, and in their midst came the god-equal wight,
And then he forthwith from the fitted belt withdrew the arrow,
And the sharp barbs he broke as he pulled the arrow back.
Then he loosened belt of many colors lying underneath, 215
As well as the loincloth and the tasse, which the bronzesmiths wrought.
And then he beheld the wound the bitter arrow made when it pierced him,
And, sucking out the blood, he with full knowledge of soothing drugs
Sprinkled them thereupon, the kindly-minded gifts Kheiron of old had giv'n his father.
And while they busied themselves about Menelaos, good at the 220 warcry,
Then upon them the ranks of the Trojans came on, all armed with shields.
And yea, again they donned their gear, ever mindful of the joy of battle.
And not wouldst thou see there godlike Agamemnon
Neither crouching in fright nor find him unwilling to do battle,
But much did he strive for battle where men win renown. 225
For his team he allowed to be armed in dappled bronze,
And these steeds snorting in eagerness he his squire held back,
He Eurymedon, the son of Peiraios' son Ptolemaios.
And very much did Agamemnon bid him to be at hand whene'er toil
Did o'ertake his limbs due to his lording and marshalling of so many, 230
For on foot would be go about the ranks of his men.
And so when he would see those of the Danaoi who ride fleet steeds making ready,
These especially he would tell to have heart, and drawing them close would say these words:
"Ye Argeioi, in no-wise slacken off your strength for onrushing battle,
For not to falsehoods shall Father Zeus be favorable, 235
But those very ones first to do mischief in spite of their oaths,
May, yea, upon their tender flesh vultures feast,
And we their wives dear and young children
Lead into our ships after we take their citadel."
But those whom he would see slackening off from hateful war, 240
These especially he wrangled in quarrelling with angry words:
"Ye Argeioi, bowmen worthy of reproach, do ye not feel awe?
Why pray stand there thusly, eyes a-wide like fawns,
Which are a-wearied after running through a great plain,
And then stand still, for there is no strength within their breast. 245
Just so ye stand there, eyes all a-wide, nor do ye do battle!
Do ye stay there hard-by your ships for the Trojans to come thither,
To your well-sterned vessels drawn up on the shore of the grey-dark sea,
So that ye may see if o'er ye Kronos' son stretch forth his hand?"
In suchlike way did he lord o'er his men and ranged he through the ranks. 250
And came he to the Kretans as he went through the throng of men
Who were arming themselves about Idomeneus the battle-hearted.
Standing amidst the fore-fighters, Idomeneus was like a boar in might,
And Meriones urged onward the backmost formations.
Catching sight of these two, rejoiced then the lord of men Agamemnon, 255
And so he addressed Idomeneus with soothing words:
"Idomeneus, beyond all the Danaoi who ride fleet steeds do I honor thee,
Either in war, or in some other suchlike task,
Or even at the feast where the chieftains of the Argeioi
Mix the fiery-looking wine in kraters for oath-making. 260
For even if the other Akhaioi who wear their hair long
Each drink their own portion due, thine own cup shall always fuller
Be -- just so it is for me, to drink whenever the heard within me biddeth.
But rouse thyself for war as much as thou boast thyself to be!"
And him then in answer did speak Idomeneus, leader of the Kretai: 265
"Son of Atreus, thy faithful and trusty companion,
Yea, shall I be, as from the start I have promised and giv'n assent.
But as for these others -- rouse thine own Akhaioi who wear their hair long,
So that with greatest haste we get to the fighting, since the oaths
The Trojans have broken. May for them death and woe be worked, 270
Since those very ones first to do mischief in spite of their oaths."
Thus spake he, and passed him did Atreus' son, glad at heart,
And came he to the Aiases as he went through the throng of men.
These two were donning their helms and with them a cloud of men followed --
Just as when from a rocky lookout a goatherd sighteth a cloud 275
Coming upon the sea, pushed by the roaring blasts of Zephyros,
And to him so far off and darker than pitch this cloud
Seemeth as it floats upon the sea, and it whirls as a great hurricane,
And shivers the goatherd as he beheld it, and to a cave driveth he his herd --
In suchlike way about the two Aiases did men of Zeus-fostered might 280
Move towards dread war in close-knit ranks,
Dark and all a-bristle with shields and spears.
And he rejoiced at the sight of them, he Lord Agamemnon,
And he called to them and with winged words addressed them:
"Ye Aiases, ye chieftains of bronze-clad Argeioi, 285
Ye both it be not seemly to urge, and no orders to ye I do give,
For much do ye both bid your host to fight with might!
O ye, Zeus the father, and Athenaie, and Apollon,
Would that hearts such as yours be within the breast of all,
And would that swiftly sink into ruin the city of Lord Priamos -- 290
May by our hands it be tak'n and utterly ruined!"
Speaking thus he left them there, and went amongst the others.
And there he found Nestor, the clear-voiced speaker of Pylioi
Making ready his comrades and urging them to fight
Around great Pelagon and Alastor and Khromion 295
And Lord Aimon and Bias, shepherd of the host.
Firstly the charioteers he set to their teams and their cars,
And then at the rear went the footmen, valiant and noble
To be a bulwark of war. And the cowardly he drove to the middle,
For though they did not wish to fight, the need would drive them. 300
At the outset he bade the charioteers, for he commanded
Them to check their mounts lest they drive with tumult upon the crowd:
"Neither let any have such confidence in his horse-sense or prowess
That he yearn to fight the Trojans afore all others,
Nor let him retreat -- for ye would be all the more a-wearied. 305
But whichsoever man can come from his own car upon another's,
Then let him lunge with his spear! That is by far the better move!
In such a way did our forebearers raze cities and walls --
They had such spirit and heart in their breasts as this!"
Thus the old man urged them on, for well he knew wars of aforetimes. 310
And he rejoiced at the sight of them, he Lord Agamemnon,
And he called to him and with winged words addressed him:
"O old man, would that the heart within thy dear breast
Follow such likewise in thy knees, and the might within thee be as steadfast.
But distressing old age weighs thee down! Oh would that someone, 315
Another of the men have thy years while thou be among the younger men!"
And him then he answered, he the Gerenion horse-master, Nestor:
"Son of Atreus, very much should I wish myself to be,
As like when back when they slew god-like Ereuthalion --
But in no-wise do the gods grant all things at once to mortal men, 320
For then I was a youth, but now old age is my constant companion.
But yea, I shall among the charioteers be, and them I shall bid
With counsel and word -- for that is the prize earned by the elderly.
Spears shall the youths cast, these men younger than I,
These youths who have much trust in their own strength!" 325
Thus spake he, and passed him did Atreus' son, glad at heart,
And then he found Peteos' son, Menestheus horse-driver
As he stood, and about him were Athenians, masters of the war-cry.
And there hard-by stood many-minded Odysseus,
And about him stood ranks of Kephallenoi who are not easily wearied. 330
For not in any-wise had their host heard the war-cry,
Though newly stirred to action had been the battle-lines
Of the Trojan horse-masters and of Akhaioi. And waiting there
They stood whenever another column of Akhaioi went marching by,
To set upon the Trojans and begin anew the war. 335
And catching sight of these, he rebuked them, he lord of men, Agamemnon,
And he called to him and with winged words addressed him:
"O thou son of Peteos, thou Zeus-fostered king,
Thou who excel'st in wicked deceit, thou greedy of gain,
Wherefore pray do ye both cower and hang back, and wait for others? 340
For it be seemly for ye to be foremost in the front,
And to there stand and meet the onrush of heated battle!
For ye first at the feast do harken your ears unto me,
Whenever we Akhaioi hold a feast in honor of our elders.
There are ye happy to eat roasted flesh and cups 345
Of honey-sweet wine ye both drink down, as much as ye wish.
But now are ye happy to watch while ten columns of Akhaioi
Stand afore ye both and fight there with pitiless bronze!"
And at him yea, under his own brow did he look darkly, he many-minded Odysseus:
"Son of Atreus, what a word has brok'n free of the fence of thy teeth! 350
How sayest thou that we grow slack in battle whensoever we Akhaioi
Rouse sharp-biting Ares upon the Trojan horse-masters?
Thou shalt see if ever thou willst to see or to have a care to see
Telemakhos' dear father mingling foremost in battle
With the Trojan horse-masters! What thou sayest is empty like wind!" 355
And smiling at him he spoke forth, he Lord Agamemnon,
For he knew him to be wroth and so back he took his words:
"Zeus-born son of Laertes, much-resourceful Odysseus,
Neither do I quarrel with thee without measure, nor do I urge thee onward.
For I know that the heart within thy dear breast 360
Knoweth kindly thoughts -- thou hast the same thoughts as even I.
But come now! In the time to come we shall make amends if now an evil word
Be spok'n betwixt us, and may the gods make all that talk vainly-wrought!"
Speaking thus he left them there, and went amongst the others.
And there he found Tydeus' son, high-hearted Diomedes 365
As he stood amidst the horses and well-fitted cars.
And beside him hard-by stood Sthenelos, Kapaneios' son.
And catching sight of him, he rebuked him, he Lord Agamemnon,
And he called to him and with winged words addressed him:
"Ah me, thou son of warlike Tydeus the horse-master, 370
Why dost thou hang back and gaze curiously at the warfield?
For not would this crouching be seen as a good to Tydeus,
But nay, fighting far ahead of his dear comrades in battle,
As they say who saw him hard at work -- for my part,
I never met nor saw him, but they say that he was beyond all others. 375
For once with no intent to war with us he came himself to Mykenai
As a guest, and with him was godlike Polyneikes to gather a host,
As they then wished to field an army 'gainst the holy walls of Thebai,
And much they begged that we give them glorious allies.
And the Mykenaians wished to give them and were assenting even as they bid, 380
But Zeus turned them away upon showing them signs of ill omen,
And when therefore they left and went along their way,
They came to the Asopos, where the grassy banks are deep with rushes,
And there a message the Akhaioi readied for Tydeus.
Then he went, and met he thereupon with many Kadmeions 385
Feasting at the table within the house of mighty Eteokles.
And although there he was a stranger, the knight Tydeus
Feared not, even though he was alone among many Kadmeions,
But to compete in athletic contests he challenged them, and beat them all --
Easily, as though at his side stood there helper Athene. 390
And angered were the Kadmeions, the drivers of horses,
Such that when he went back, a cunning ambuscade they brought and laid --
Fifty youths all told! and two were their leaders,
Maion, Aimonos' son, who was like unto the deathless,
And the son of Autophonos, battle-staunch Polyphontes. 395
But yet it was Tydeus who dealt unto to them a bitter lot,
For all of them he struck down, but one he sent to go to back home --
This was Maion he let go, in obeyance to the gods' portents.
Suchlike was Tydeus the Aitolian. But as for his son --
He was born worse than his father in combat, but better in the assembly." 400
Thus spake he, and not at all did answer the mighty Diomedes,
For the reverence he had for the rebuke of his reverend king.
But to him the son of renowned Kapaneus made answer:
"Son of Atreus, lie not when thou instead knowest the truth.
Yea, we boast that greater by far than our fathers we are! 405
Yea, we did seize the throne of seven-gated Thebes!
Though we had gathered a smaller host against a greater wall,
We trusted in the portents of the gods and in the aid of Zeus,
While they were by their own recklessness destroyed.
And so, do tell me where our fathers belong in distinction." 410
And at him under his own brow he looked and then spake, mighty Diomedes:
"My good sir, do thou be silent! Heed thou this my speech:
For not should I feel resentment towards Agamemnon, shepherd of the host,
Who is stirring up the well-greaved Akhaioi to do battle.
For shall him glory follow after if ever the Akhaioi 415
Cut down the Trojans and seize the Ilion the holy --
Or shall attend him great grief if the Akhaioi are cut down instead.
But come now! Let the two of us keep battle-rushing prowess in mind!"
So speaking thus, from his car he leapt groundward, all armored,
And terribly rattled the bronze upon the prince's breast 420
As he strode, a sight which caused dread to seize even the stout-hearted.
It was just as when on a loud-resounding beach shore the sea's swells
Beat upon each other at the driving blasts of Zephyros,
Whereupon it first begins to crest upon the water, but then
Upon dry land doth it loudly roar with a crash as about the headlands 425
The curving swell then breaks and spits froth of sea foam --
Just so, one upon the other, did the ranks of the Danaoi move
Unendingly towards war. And each of the leaders bid
His own. And others went silently, and thou wouldst not say
That such a host which followed had a human voice within their breast, 430
For the fear they had of their commanders. And all about them
For the fear they had of their commanders. And all about them
The dappled metal flashed as the armored men marched in order.
As for the Trojans, like the ewes within the pen of an overly wealthy man,
Countless they stand, all a-ready to have their white milk taken,
Ceaselessly bleating at hearing the voices of their little lambs -- 435
Just so did the Trojans' cry rise up from the wide army,
For not did they all have the same speech, nor one common language,
But their tongues were mixed, called as their men were from many lands.
But among the Trojans arose Ares, and the Akhaioi flashing-eyed Athene,
And Deimos and yea, Phobos, and Eris who insatiably lusts, 440
Man-slaying Ares' sister and companion she be,
Who just a little begins at first to crest, but then
She brushes the heavens with her head while yet walking upon the earth.
Distressing strife she put in them as into their midst
She strode through the crowd and waxed the groans of the men. 445
And when to a single place came they together and clashed,
Together they threw up ox-hide shields, together spears met the might of men
Clothed in bronze, while shields with metal bosses
Enclosed each other, and loud was the din which arose.
There together mixed the wails and the prayers of men 450
Both of slayers and slain alike as ran the earth with blood --
Just as when rivers overflow with thawed snow and down the mountains run
And in a valley are mixed and crash together doth two mighty floods
From their great springs deep within hollow caverns, The thunderous crashing of which a shepherd in the far off mountains harkens -- 455
From just a scene as this was born the cry and crash of the fighting men.
First of all did Antilokhos slay a Trojan donned in full armor,
Him a noble man amidst the forefighters, Ekhepolon, son of Thalysios.
Upon the ridge of his horsehair-crested helm did the Akhaian hit,
And between his eyes, straight through the skull within he drove 460
His bronze spearpoint -- and then darkness covered the man's eyes,
And he fell, just as when a tower collapses amidst a mighty conflict.
And the falling man lord Elephenor seized by his feet,
Yea, he the son of Khalkodon, he the captain of the great-hearted Abantes,
And he dragged him from out of missile range, eager with all haste 465
To strip the corpse of gear -- so short a time was granted to gain this aim,
For upon catching sight of him dragging the corpse, great-hearted Agenor
Did upon his side left exposed and uncovered by his shield
Land a hit with his bronze-tipped spear, and loosed he his limbs;
And as his heart left him, about him was toil waged and wrought, 470
A grievous work for Trojans and Akhaioi, for as wolves
Did they spring upon each other, man throwing down man.
And there Telemonian Aias threw the son of Anthemion,
Yea, the unmarried and stout Simoeisios, whom his mother once
After coming down from Ida's mount, did along the shores of Simoeis 475
Bear, when with her parents she followed to watch after the flocks --
On account of this they called him Simoeisios. But not to his parents
Did he pay back to them for his kind rearing, for his life was cut short
By the over-powering spear wielded by the great-hearted Aias.
As former went foremost, him the latter hit in the breast beside the nipple, 480
On his right-side; and straight through the shoulder the bronze spear
Went, and into the dust of the ground did he fall as a black poplar,
Which on the riverbanks of a mighty backwater marshland
Grows thin of branches except at the topmost point where they grow thick;
This tree doth a chariot-builder with gleaming iron 485
Cut and fell, and, so that hence the rims for a beauteous chariot he might bend,
He then leaves the wood there to dry along the river's shore --
Just so did he strip Anthemion's son, Simoeisios,
He Zeus-born Aias. And at him did Antiphos, donned in a shining breastplate,
He a son of Priamos, from the throng hurl a keen spear. 490
Though he missed him, it was Leukos, noble companion of Odysseus
He hit in the groin as the man was dragging a corpse to the other side,
And fell he upon the corpse as it slipped from his grasp.
At his slaying, Odysseus waxed greatly wroth in his heart,
And went he helmed with flashing bronze through the fore-fighters, 495
And, coming hard-by, he made his stand and hurled his flashing spear
After taking a glance about him. Trojans shrank back
From his cast, and not in vain did he waste his shot,
For a bastard son of Priamos he hit, Demokoon,
Who hailed and came from Abydos of the swift mares -- 500
Odysseus, waxing wroth for his companion, hit him with his spear
On the forehead, and through the other side drove
The sharpened point. And darkness covered the man's eyes
As he fell with a heavy crash, and rattled his armor about him.
Then gave ground did the fore-fighters and radiant Hektor. 505
And the Argeioi shouted loudly, and dragged back their corpses,
But pressed on forward. And full of indignant anger was Apollon
As down from Pergamon he gazed, and urged on the Trojans by shouting:
"Rise up, ye horse-master Trojans, and not yet retire from battle
With the Argeioi -- for neither stone nor iron is their skin to withstand 510
A cutting wound caused by a cast of your bronze spears!
Yea, verily not doth Akhilleus, son of lovely-tressed Thetis,
Fight, but beside the ships broods he o'er his heart-grieving anger!"
Thus spake the terrible god from the city. But it was the Akhaioi
Whom Zeus' daughter, most honored Tritogeneia drove onward 515
As she strode throughout the throng, wherever she might espy them giving way.
Then it was Amarynkeis' son, Diorea whom Fate caught in her net --
For he was hit on the ankle by a rock with many keen edges,
Hit on his right-hand side; and cast it did the chief of the Threikoi tribe,
He Peiroos, the son of Imbrasios, who came thence, from Ainos. 520
And both the tendons and the bones did the ruthless stone
Utterly crush. And so the man laid back in the dust
After falling, and stretched he out his hands to his dear companions
As he breathed out his heart. And ran up to him did the very man who hit him,
He Peiroos, and he struck him with his spear beside the navel -- then poured 525
Out all his guts onto the ground as darkness covered the man's eyes.
As the other man retreated, Thoas the Aitolian hit him with his spear
In the breast next to the nipple, and into his lung was the bronze fixed.
And drawing near to him came Thoas, and the sharp spear
He pulled from his breast, and drawing his sharp sword, 530
And thereupon his belly he smote and took his life from him.
But his armor he did not strip from him, for around him stood his companions,
The top-knotted Threikes holding long spears in their hands,
Who, although the other was great, and strong, and illustrious,
Thrust him back from them and as he shrank back he shook. 535
As two in the dust alongside each other lay stretched out,
The one being the Threikan, the other of the bronze-clad Epeioi --
And many around them were slain, yea, many more besides.
And then could no longer any man make light of this toil
Who might move unhit or unwounded by keen bronze 540
In the midst of the fray, whom Pallas Athene might drive on
And take by the hand and keep off the hurt done by darts.
For many of the Trojans and Akhaioi on that day did indeed
Fall into the dust and lay there stretched out alongside each other.
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