BOOK XXIV.

THE

ILIAD OF HOMER,

TRANSLATED INTO

ENGLISH BLANK VERSE.

BOOK I.

ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK.

The book opens with an account of a pestilence that prevailed in the

Grecian camp, and the cause of it is assigned. A council is called, in

which fierce altercation takes place between Agamemnon and Achilles.

The latter solemnly renounces the field. Agamemnon, by his heralds,

demands Brisëis, and Achilles resigns her. He makes his complaint to

Thetis, who undertakes to plead his cause with Jupiter. She pleads it,

and prevails. The book concludes with an account of what passed in

Heaven on that occasion.

[The reader will please observe, that by Achaians, Argives, Danaï, are

signified Grecians. Homer himself having found these various

appellatives both graceful and convenient, it seemed unreasonable that

a Translator of him should be denied the same advantage.—Tr.]

BOOK I.

Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus’ son;

His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes

Caused to Achaia’s host, sent many a soul

Illustrious into Ades premature,

And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove)5

To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey,

When fierce dispute had separated once

The noble Chief Achilles from the son

Of Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men.

Who them to strife impell’d? What power divine?10

Latona’s son and Jove’s.[1] For he, incensed

Against the King, a foul contagion raised

In all the host, and multitudes destroy’d,

For that the son of Atreus had his priest

Dishonored, Chryses. To the fleet he came15

Bearing rich ransom glorious to redeem

His daughter, and his hands charged with the wreath

And golden sceptre[2] of the God shaft-arm’d.

His supplication was at large to all

The host of Greece, but most of all to two,20

The sons of Atreus, highest in command.

Ye gallant Chiefs, and ye their gallant host,

(So may the Gods who in Olympus dwell

Give Priam’s treasures to you for a spoil

And ye return in safety,) take my gifts25

And loose my child, in honor of the son

Of Jove, Apollo, archer of the skies.[3]

At once the voice of all was to respect

The priest, and to accept the bounteous price;

But so it pleased not Atreus’ mighty son,30

Who with rude threatenings stern him thence dismiss’d.

Beware, old man! that at these hollow barks

I find thee not now lingering, or henceforth

Returning, lest the garland of thy God

And his bright sceptre should avail thee nought.35

I will not loose thy daughter, till old age

Steal on her. From her native country far,

In Argos, in my palace, she shall ply

The loom, and shall be partner of my bed.

Move me no more. Begone; hence while thou may’st.40

He spake, the old priest trembled and obey’d.

Forlorn he roamed the ocean’s sounding shore,

And, solitary, with much prayer his King

Bright-hair’d Latona’s son, Phœbus, implored.[4]

God of the silver bow, who with thy power45

Encirclest Chrysa, and who reign’st supreme

In Tenedos and Cilla the divine,

Sminthian[5] Apollo![6] If I e’er adorned

Thy beauteous fane, or on the altar burn’d

The fat acceptable of bulls or goats,50

Grant my petition. With thy shafts avenge

On the Achaian host thy servant’s tears.

Such prayer he made, and it was heard.[7] The God,

Down from Olympus with his radiant bow

And his full quiver o’er his shoulder slung,55

Marched in his anger; shaken as he moved

His rattling arrows told of his approach.

Gloomy he came as night; sat from the ships

Apart, and sent an arrow. Clang’d the cord

[8]Dread-sounding, bounding on the silver bow.[9]60

Mules first and dogs he struck,[10] but at themselves

Dispatching soon his bitter arrows keen,

Smote them. Death-piles on all sides always blazed.

Nine days throughout the camp his arrows flew;

The tenth, Achilles from all parts convened65

The host in council. Juno the white-armed

Moved at the sight of Grecians all around

Dying, imparted to his mind the thought.[11]

The full assembly, therefore, now convened,

Uprose Achilles ardent, and began.70

Atrides! Now, it seems, no course remains

For us, but that the seas roaming again,

We hence return; at least if we survive;

But haste, consult we quick some prophet here

Or priest, or even interpreter of dreams,75

(For dreams are also of Jove,) that we may learn

By what crime we have thus incensed Apollo,

What broken vow, what hecatomb unpaid

He charges on us, and if soothed with steam

Of lambs or goats unblemish’d, he may yet80

Be won to spare us, and avert the plague.

He spake and sat, when Thestor’s son arose

Calchas, an augur foremost in his art,

Who all things, present, past, and future knew,

And whom his skill in prophecy, a gift85

Conferred by Phœbus on him, had advanced

To be conductor of the fleet to Troy;

He, prudent, them admonishing, replied.[12]

Jove-loved Achilles! Wouldst thou learn from me

What cause hath moved Apollo to this wrath,90

The shaft-arm’d King? I shall divulge the cause.

But thou, swear first and covenant on thy part

That speaking, acting, thou wilt stand prepared

To give me succor; for I judge amiss,

Or he who rules the Argives, the supreme95

O’er all Achaia’s host, will be incensed.

Wo to the man who shall provoke the King

For if, to-day, he smother close his wrath,

He harbors still the vengeance, and in time

Performs it. Answer, therefore, wilt thou save me?100

To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift.

What thou hast learn’d in secret from the God

That speak, and boldly. By the son of Jove,

Apollo, whom thou, Calchas, seek’st in prayer

Made for the Danaï, and who thy soul105

Fills with futurity, in all the host

The Grecian lives not, who while I shall breathe,

And see the light of day, shall in this camp

Oppress thee; no, not even if thou name

Him, Agamemnon, sovereign o’er us all.110

Then was the seer embolden’d, and he spake.

Nor vow nor hecatomb unpaid on us

He charges, but the wrong done to his priest

Whom Agamemnon slighted when he sought

His daughter’s freedom, and his gifts refused.115

He is the cause. Apollo for his sake

Afflicts and will afflict us, neither end

Nor intermission of his heavy scourge

Granting, till unredeem’d, no price required,

The black-eyed maid be to her father sent,120

And a whole hecatomb in Chrysa bleed.

Then, not before, the God may be appeased.

He spake and sat; when Atreus’ son arose,

The Hero Agamemnon, throned supreme.

Tempests of black resentment overcharged125

His heart, and indignation fired his eyes.

On Calchas lowering, him he first address’d.

Prophet of mischief! from whose tongue no note

Of grateful sound to me, was ever heard;

Ill tidings are thy joy, and tidings glad130

Thou tell’st not, or thy words come not to pass.

And now among the Danaï thy dreams

Divulging, thou pretend’st the Archer-God

For his priest’s sake, our enemy, because

I scorn’d his offer’d ransom of the maid135

Chrysëis, more desirous far to bear

Her to my home, for that she charms me more

Than Clytemnestra, my own first espoused,

With whom, in disposition, feature, form,

Accomplishments, she may be well compared.140

Yet, being such, I will return her hence

If that she go be best. Perish myself—

But let the people of my charge be saved

Prepare ye, therefore, a reward for me,

And seek it instant. It were much unmeet145

That I alone of all the Argive host

Should want due recompense, whose former prize

Is elsewhere destined, as ye all perceive.

To whom Achilles, matchless in the race.

Atrides, glorious above all in rank,150

And as intent on gain as thou art great,

Whence shall the Grecians give a prize to thee?

The general stock is poor; the spoil of towns

Which we have taken, hath already passed

In distribution, and it were unjust155

To gather it from all the Greeks again.

But send thou back this Virgin to her God,

And when Jove’s favor shall have given us Troy,

A threefold, fourfold share shall then be thine.

To whom the Sovereign of the host replied.160

Godlike Achilles, valiant as thou art,

Wouldst thou be subtle too? But me no fraud

Shall overreach, or art persuade, of thine.

Wouldst thou, that thou be recompensed, and I

Sit meekly down, defrauded of my due?165

And didst thou bid me yield her? Let the bold

Achaians give me competent amends,

Such as may please me, and it shall be well.

Else, if they give me none, I will command

Thy prize, the prize of Ajax, or the prize170

It may be of Ulysses to my tent,

And let the loser chafe. But this concern

Shall be adjusted at convenient time.

Come—launch we now into the sacred deep

A bark with lusty rowers well supplied;175

Then put on board Chrysëis, and with her

The sacrifice required. Go also one

High in authority, some counsellor,

Idomeneus, or Ajax, or thyself,

Thou most untractable of all mankind;180

And seek by rites of sacrifice and prayer

To appease Apollo on our host’s behalf.

Achilles eyed him with a frown, and spake.

Ah! clothed with impudence as with a cloak,

And full of subtlety, who, thinkest thou—185

What Grecian here will serve thee, or for thee

Wage covert war, or open? Me thou know’st,

Troy never wronged; I came not to avenge

Harm done to me; no Trojan ever drove

My pastures, steeds or oxen took of mine,190

Or plunder’d of their fruits the golden fields

Of Phthia[13] the deep-soil’d. She lies remote,

And obstacles are numerous interposed,

Vale-darkening mountains, and the dashing sea.

No, [14]Shameless Wolf! For thy good pleasure’s sake195

We came, and, [15]Face of flint! to avenge the wrongs

By Menelaus and thyself sustain’d,

On the offending Trojan—service kind,

But lost on thee, regardless of it all.

And now—What now? Thy threatening is to seize200

Thyself, the just requital of my toils,

My prize hard-earn’d, by common suffrage mine.

I never gain, what Trojan town soe’er

We ransack, half thy booty. The swift march

And furious onset—these I largely reap,205

But, distribution made, thy lot exceeds

Mine far; while I, with any pittance pleased,

Bear to my ships the little that I win

After long battle, and account it much.

But I am gone, I and my sable barks210

(My wiser course) to Phthia, and I judge,

Scorn’d as I am, that thou shalt hardly glean

Without me, more than thou shalt soon consume.[16]

He ceased, and Agamemnon thus replied

Fly, and fly now; if in thy soul thou feel215

Such ardor of desire to go—begone!

I woo thee not to stay; stay not an hour

On my behalf, for I have others here

Who will respect me more, and above all

All-judging Jove. There is not in the host220

King or commander whom I hate as thee,

For all thy pleasure is in strife and blood,

And at all times; yet valor is no ground

Whereon to boast, it is the gift of Heaven

Go, get ye back to Phthia, thou and thine!225

There rule thy Myrmidons.[17] I need not thee,

Nor heed thy wrath a jot. But this I say,

Sure as Apollo takes my lovely prize

Chrysëis, and I shall return her home

In mine own bark, and with my proper crew,230

So sure the fair Brisëis shall be mine.

I shall demand her even at thy tent.

So shalt thou well be taught, how high in power

I soar above thy pitch, and none shall dare

Attempt, thenceforth, comparison with me.235

He ended, and the big, disdainful heart

Throbbed of Achilles; racking doubt ensued

And sore perplex’d him, whether forcing wide

A passage through them, with his blade unsheathed

To lay Atrides breathless at his foot,240

Or to command his stormy spirit down.

So doubted he, and undecided yet

Stood drawing forth his falchion huge; when lo!

Down sent by Juno, to whom both alike

Were dear, and who alike watched over both,245

Pallas descended. At his back she stood

To none apparent, save himself alone,

And seized his golden locks. Startled, he turned,

And instant knew Minerva. Flashed her eyes

Terrific;[18] whom with accents on the wing250

Of haste, incontinent he questioned thus.

Daughter of Jove, why comest thou? that thyself

May’st witness these affronts which I endure

From Agamemnon? Surely as I speak,

This moment, for his arrogance, he dies.255

To whom the blue-eyed Deity. From heaven

Mine errand is, to sooth, if thou wilt hear,

Thine anger. Juno the white-arm’d alike

To him and thee propitious, bade me down:

Restrain thy wrath. Draw not thy falchion forth.260

Retort, and sharply, and let that suffice.

For I foretell thee true. Thou shalt receive,

Some future day, thrice told, thy present loss

For this day’s wrong. Cease, therefore, and be still.

To whom Achilles. Goddess, although much265

Exasperate, I dare not disregard

Thy word, which to obey is always best.[19]

Who hears the Gods, the Gods hear also him.

He said; and on his silver hilt the force

Of his broad hand impressing, sent the blade270

Home to its rest, nor would the counsel scorn

Of Pallas. She to heaven well-pleased return’d,

And in the mansion of Jove Ægis[20]-armed

Arriving, mingled with her kindred Gods.

But though from violence, yet not from words275

Abstained Achilles, but with bitter taunt

Opprobrious, his antagonist reproached.

Oh charged with wine, in steadfastness of face

Dog unabashed, and yet at heart a deer!

Thou never, when the troops have taken arms,280

Hast dared to take thine also; never thou

Associate with Achaia’s Chiefs, to form

The secret ambush.[21] No. The sound of war

Is as the voice of destiny to thee.

Doubtless the course is safer far, to range285

Our numerous host, and if a man have dared

Dispute thy will, to rob him of his prize.

King! over whom? Women and spiritless—

Whom therefore thou devourest; else themselves

Would stop that mouth that it should scoff no more.290

But hearken. I shall swear a solemn oath.

By this same sceptre,[22] which shall never bud,

Nor boughs bring forth as once, which having left

Its stock on the high mountains, at what time

The woodman’s axe lopped off its foliage green,295

And stript its bark, shall never grow again;

Which now the judges of Achaia bear,

Who under Jove, stand guardians of the laws,

By this I swear (mark thou the sacred oath)

Time shall be, when Achilles shall be missed;300

When all shall want him, and thyself the power

To help the Achaians, whatsoe’er thy will;

When Hector at your heels shall mow you down:

The Hero-slaughtering Hector! Then thy soul,

Vexation-stung, shall tear thee with remorse,305

That thou hast scorn’d, as he were nothing worth,

A Chief, the soul and bulwark of your cause.

So saying, he cast his sceptre on the ground

Studded with gold, and sat. On the other side

The son of Atreus all impassion’d stood,310

When the harmonious orator arose

Nestor, the Pylian oracle, whose lips

Dropped eloquence—the honey not so sweet.

Two generations past of mortals born

In Pylus, coëtaneous with himself,315

He govern’d now the third—amid them all

He stood, and thus, benevolent, began.

Ah! what calamity hath fall’n on Greece!

Now Priam and his sons may well exult,

Now all in Ilium shall have joy of heart320

Abundant, hearing of this broil, the prime

Of Greece between, in council and in arms.

But be persuaded; ye are younger both

Than I, and I was conversant of old

With Princes your superiors, yet from them325

No disrespect at any time received.

Their equals saw I never; never shall;

Exadius, Cœneus, and the Godlike son

Of Ægeus, mighty Theseus; men renown’d

For force superior to the race of man,330

Brave Chiefs they were, and with brave foes they fought,

With the rude dwellers on the mountain-heights

The Centaurs,[23] whom with havoc such as fame

Shall never cease to celebrate, they slew.

With these men I consorted erst, what time335

From Pylus, though a land from theirs remote,

They called me forth, and such as was my strength,

With all that strength I served them. Who is he?

What Prince or Chief of the degenerate race

Now seen on earth who might with these compare?340

Yet even these would listen and conform

To my advice in consultation given,

Which hear ye also; for compliance proves

Oft times the safer and the manlier course.

Thou, Agamemnon! valiant as thou art,345

Seize not the maid, his portion from the Greeks,

But leave her his; nor thou, Achilles, strive

With our imperial Chief; for never King

Had equal honor at the hands of Jove

With Agamemnon, or was throned so high.350

Say thou art stronger, and art Goddess-born,

How then? His territory passes thine,

And he is Lord of thousands more than thou.

Cease, therefore, Agamemnon; calm thy wrath;

And it shall be mine office to entreat355

Achilles also to a calm, whose might

The chief munition is of all our host.

To whom the sovereign of the Greeks replied,

The son of Atreus. Thou hast spoken well,

Old Chief, and wisely. But this wrangler here—360

Nought will suffice him but the highest place:

He must control us all, reign over all,

Dictate to all; but he shall find at least

One here, disposed to question his commands.

If the eternal Gods have made him brave,365

Derives he thence a privilege to rail?

Whom thus Achilles interrupted fierce.

Could I be found so abject as to take

The measure of my doings at thy lips,

Well might they call me coward through the camp,370

A vassal, and a fellow of no worth.

Give law to others. Think not to control

Me, subject to thy proud commands no more.

Hear yet again! And weigh what thou shalt hear.

I will not strive with thee in such a cause,375

Nor yet with any man; I scorn to fight

For her, whom having given, ye take away.

But I have other precious things on board;

Of those take none away without my leave.

Or if it please thee, put me to the proof380

Before this whole assembly, and my spear

Shall stream that moment, purpled with thy blood.

Thus they long time in opposition fierce

Maintained the war of words; and now, at length,

(The grand consult dissolved,) Achilles walked385

(Patroclus and the Myrmidons his steps

Attending) to his camp and to his fleet.

But Agamemnon order’d forth a bark,

A swift one, manned with twice ten lusty rowers;

He sent on board the Hecatomb:[24] he placed390

Chrysëis with the blooming cheeks, himself,

And to Ulysses gave the freight in charge.

So all embarked, and plow’d their watery way.

Atrides, next, bade purify the host;

The host was purified, as he enjoin’d,395

And the ablution cast into the sea.

Then to Apollo, on the shore they slew,

Of the untillable and barren deep,

Whole Hecatombs of bulls and goats, whose steam

Slowly in smoky volumes climbed the skies.400

Thus was the camp employed; nor ceased the while

The son of Atreus from his threats denounced

At first against Achilles, but command

Gave to Talthybius and Eurybates

His heralds, ever faithful to his will.405

Haste—Seek ye both the tent of Peleus’ son

Achilles. Thence lead hither by the hand

Blooming Brisëis, whom if he withhold,

Not her alone, but other spoil myself

Will take in person—He shall rue the hour.410

With such harsh message charged he them dismissed

They, sad and slow, beside the barren waste

Of Ocean, to the galleys and the tents

Moved of the Myrmidons. Him there they found

Beneath the shadow of his bark reclined,415

Nor glad at their approach. Trembling they stood,

In presence of the royal Chief, awe-struck,

Nor questioned him or spake. He not the less

Knew well their embassy, and thus began.

Ye heralds, messengers of Gods and men,420

Hail, and draw near! I bid you welcome both.

I blame not you; the fault is his alone

Who sends you to conduct the damsel hence

Brisëis. Go, Patroclus, generous friend!

Lead forth, and to their guidance give the maid.425

But be themselves my witnesses before

The blessed Gods, before mankind, before

The ruthless king, should want of me be felt

To save the host from havoc[25]—Oh, his thoughts

Are madness all; intelligence or skill,430

Forecast or retrospect, how best the camp

May be secured from inroad, none hath he.

He ended, nor Patroclus disobey’d,

But leading beautiful Brisëis forth

Into their guidance gave her; loth she went435

From whom she loved, and looking oft behind.

Then wept Achilles, and apart from all,

With eyes directed to the gloomy Deep

And arms outstretch’d, his mother suppliant sought.

Since, mother, though ordain’d so soon to die,440

I am thy son, I might with cause expect

Some honor at the Thunderer’s hands, but none

To me he shows, whom Agamemnon, Chief

Of the Achaians, hath himself disgraced,

Seizing by violence my just reward.445

So prayed he weeping, whom his mother heard

Within the gulfs of Ocean where she sat

Beside her ancient sire. From the gray flood

Ascending sudden, like a mist she came,

Sat down before him, stroked his face, and said.450

Why weeps my son? and what is thy distress?

Hide not a sorrow that I wish to share.

To whom Achilles, sighing deep, replied.

Why tell thee woes to thee already known?

At Thebes, Eëtion’s city we arrived,455

Smote, sack’d it, and brought all the spoil away.

Just distribution made among the Greeks,

The son of Atreus for his lot received

Blooming Chrysëis. Her, Apollo’s priest

Old Chryses followed to Achaia’s camp,460

That he might loose his daughter. Ransom rich

He brought, and in his hands the hallow’d wreath

And golden sceptre of the Archer God

Apollo, bore; to the whole Grecian host,

But chiefly to the foremost in command465

He sued, the sons of Atreus; then, the rest

All recommended reverence of the Seer,

And prompt acceptance of his costly gifts.

But Agamemnon might not so be pleased,

Who gave him rude dismission; he in wrath470

Returning, prayed, whose prayer Apollo heard,

For much he loved him. A pestiferous shaft

He instant shot into the Grecian host,

And heap’d the people died. His arrows swept

The whole wide camp of Greece, till at the last475

A Seer, by Phœbus taught, explain’d the cause.

I first advised propitiation. Rage

Fired Agamemnon. Rising, he denounced

Vengeance, and hath fulfilled it. She, in truth,

Is gone to Chrysa, and with her we send480

Propitiation also to the King

Shaft-arm’d Apollo. But my beauteous prize

Brisëis, mine by the award of all,

His heralds, at this moment, lead away.

But thou, wherein thou canst, aid thy own son!485

Haste hence to Heaven, and if thy word or deed

Hath ever gratified the heart of Jove,

With earnest suit press him on my behalf.

For I, not seldom, in my father’s hall

Have heard thee boasting, how when once the Gods,490

With Juno, Neptune, Pallas at their head,

Conspired to bind the Thunderer, thou didst loose

His bands, O Goddess! calling to his aid

The Hundred-handed warrior, by the Gods

Briareus, but by men, Ægeon named.[26]495

For he in prowess and in might surpassed

His father Neptune, who, enthroned sublime,

Sits second only to Saturnian Jove,

Elate with glory and joy. Him all the Gods

Fearing from that bold enterprise abstained.500

Now, therefore, of these things reminding Jove,

Embrace his knees; entreat him that he give

The host of Troy his succor, and shut fast

The routed Grecians, prisoners in the fleet,

That all may find much solace[27] in their King,505

And that the mighty sovereign o’er them all,

Their Agamemnon, may himself be taught

His rashness, who hath thus dishonor’d foul

The life itself, and bulwark of his cause.

To him, with streaming eyes, Thetis replied.510

Born as thou wast to sorrow, ah, my son!

Why have I rear’d thee! Would that without tears,

Or cause for tears (transient as is thy life,

A little span) thy days might pass at Troy!

But short and sorrowful the fates ordain515

Thy life, peculiar trouble must be thine,

Whom, therefore, oh that I had never borne!

But seeking the Olympian hill snow-crown’d,

I will myself plead for thee in the ear

Of Jove, the Thunderer. Meantime at thy fleet520

Abiding, let thy wrath against the Greeks

Still burn, and altogether cease from war.

For to the banks of the Oceanus,[28]

Where Æthiopia holds a feast to Jove,[29]

He journey’d yesterday, with whom the Gods525

Went also, and the twelfth day brings them home.

Then will I to his brazen-floor’d abode,

That I may clasp his knees, and much misdeem

Of my endeavor, or my prayer shall speed.

So saying, she went; but him she left enraged530

For fair Brisëis’ sake, forced from his arms

By stress of power. Meantime Ulysses came

To Chrysa with the Hecatomb in charge.

Arrived within the haven[30] deep, their sails

Furling, they stowed them in the bark below.535

Then by its tackle lowering swift the mast

Into its crutch, they briskly push’d to land,

Heaved anchors out, and moor’d the vessel fast.

Forth came the mariners, and trod the beach;

Forth came the victims of Apollo next,540

And, last, Chrysëis. Her Ulysses led

Toward the altar, gave her to the arms

Of her own father, and him thus address’d.

O Chryses! Agamemnon, King of men,

Hath sent thy daughter home, with whom we bring545

A Hecatomb on all our host’s behalf

To Phœbus, hoping to appease the God

By whose dread shafts the Argives now expire.

So saying, he gave her to him, who with joy

Received his daughter. Then, before the shrine550

Magnificent in order due they ranged

The noble Hecatomb.[31] Each laved his hands

And took the salted meal, and Chryses made

His fervent prayer with hands upraised on high.

God of the silver bow, who with thy power555

Encirclest Chrysa, and who reign’st supreme

In Tenedos, and Cilla the divine!

Thou prov’dst propitious to my first request,

Hast honor’d me, and punish’d sore the Greeks;

Hear yet thy servant’s prayer; take from their host560

At once the loathsome pestilence away!

So Chryses prayed, whom Phœbus heard well-pleased;

Then prayed the Grecians also, and with meal

Sprinkling the victims, their retracted necks

First pierced, then flay’d them; the disjointed thighs565

They, next, invested with the double caul,

Which with crude slices thin they overspread.

The priest burned incense, and libation poured

Large on the hissing brands, while, him beside,

Busy with spit and prong, stood many a youth570

Trained to the task. The thighs with fire consumed,

They gave to each his portion of the maw,

Then slashed the remnant, pierced it with the spits,

And managing with culinary skill

The roast, withdrew it from the spits again.575

Their whole task thus accomplish’d, and the board

Set forth, they feasted, and were all sufficed.

When neither hunger more nor thirst remained

Unsatisfied, boys crown’d the beakers high

With wine delicious, and from right to left580

Distributing the cups, served every guest.

Thenceforth the youths of the Achaian race

To song propitiatory gave the day,

Pæans[32] to Phœbus, Archer of the skies,

Chaunting melodious. Pleased, Apollo heard.585

But, when, the sun descending, darkness fell,

They on the beach beside their hawsers slept;

And, when the day-spring’s daughter rosy-palm’d

Aurora look’d abroad, then back they steer’d

To the vast camp. Fair wind, and blowing fresh,590

Apollo sent them; quick they rear’d the mast,

Then spread the unsullied canvas to the gale,

And the wind filled it. Roared the sable flood

Around the bark, that ever as she went

Dash’d wide the brine, and scudded swift away.595

Thus reaching soon the spacious camp of Greece,

Their galley they updrew sheer o’er the sands

From the rude surge remote, then propp’d her sides

With scantlings long,[33] and sought their several tents.

But Peleus’ noble son, the speed-renown’d600

Achilles, he, his well-built bark beside,

Consumed his hours, nor would in council more,

Where wise men win distinction, or in fight

Appear, to sorrow and heart-withering wo

Abandon’d; though for battle, ardent, still605

He panted, and the shout-resounding field.

But when the twelfth fair morrow streak’d the East,

Then all the everlasting Gods to Heaven

Resorted, with the Thunderer at their head,

And Thetis, not unmindful of her son,610

Prom the salt flood emerged, seeking betimes

Olympus and the boundless fields of heaven.

High, on the topmost eminence sublime

Of the deep-fork’d Olympian she perceived

The Thunderer seated, from the Gods apart.615

She sat before him, clasp’d with her left hand

His knees, her right beneath his chin she placed,

And thus the King, Saturnian Jove, implored.

Father of all, by all that I have done

Or said that ever pleased thee, grant my suit.620

Exalt my son, by destiny short-lived

Beyond the lot of others. Him with shame

The King of men hath overwhelm’d, by force

Usurping his just meed; thou, therefore, Jove,

Supreme in wisdom, honor him, and give625

Success to Troy, till all Achaia’s sons

Shall yield him honor more than he hath lost!

She spake, to whom the Thunderer nought replied,

But silent sat long time. She, as her hand

Had grown there, still importunate, his knees630

Clasp’d as at first, and thus her suit renew’d.[34]

Or grant my prayer, and ratify the grant,

Or send me hence (for thou hast none to fear)

Plainly refused; that I may know and feel

By how much I am least of all in heaven.635

To whom the cloud-assembler at the last

Spake, deep-distress’d. Hard task and full of strife

Thou hast enjoined me; Juno will not spare

For gibe and taunt injurious, whose complaint

Sounds daily in the ears of all the Gods,640

That I assist the Trojans; but depart,

Lest she observe thee; my concern shall be

How best I may perform thy full desire.

And to assure thee more, I give the sign

Indubitable, which all fear expels645

At once from heavenly minds. Nought, so confirmed,

May, after, be reversed or render’d vain.

He ceased, and under his dark brows the nod

Vouchsafed of confirmation. All around

The Sovereign’s everlasting head his curls650

Ambrosial shook,[35] and the huge mountain reeled.

Their conference closed, they parted. She, at once,

From bright Olympus plunged into the flood

Profound, and Jove to his own courts withdrew.

Together all the Gods, at his approach,655

Uprose; none sat expectant till he came,

But all advanced to meet the Eternal Sire.

So on his throne he sat. Nor Juno him

Not understood; she, watchful, had observed,

In consultation close with Jove engaged660

Thetis, bright-footed daughter of the deep,

And keen the son of Saturn thus reproved.

Shrewd as thou art, who now hath had thine ear?

Thy joy is ever such, from me apart

To plan and plot clandestine, and thy thoughts,665

Think what thou may’st, are always barred to me.

To whom the father, thus, of heaven and earth.

Expect not, Juno, that thou shalt partake

My counsels at all times, which oft in height

And depth, thy comprehension far exceed,670

Jove’s consort as thou art. When aught occurs

Meet for thine ear, to none will I impart

Of Gods or men more free than to thyself.

But for my secret thoughts, which I withhold

From all in heaven beside, them search not thou675

With irksome curiosity and vain.

Him answer’d then the Goddess ample-eyed.[36]

What word hath passed thy lips, Saturnian Jove,

Thou most severe! I never search thy thoughts,

Nor the serenity of thy profound680

Intentions trouble; they are safe from me:

But now there seems a cause. Deeply I dread

Lest Thetis, silver-footed daughter fair

Of Ocean’s hoary Sovereign, here arrived

At early dawn to practise on thee, Jove!685

I noticed her a suitress at thy knees,

And much misdeem or promise-bound thou stand’st

To Thetis past recall, to exalt her son,

And Greeks to slaughter thousands at the ships.

To whom the cloud-assembler God, incensed.690

Ah subtle! ever teeming with surmise,

And fathomer of my concealed designs,

Thy toil is vain, or (which is worse for thee,)

Shall but estrange thee from mine heart the more.

And be it as thou sayest,—I am well pleased695

That so it should be. Be advised, desist,

Hold thou thy peace. Else, if my glorious hands

Once reach thee, the Olympian Powers combined

To rescue thee, shall interfere in vain.

He said,—whom Juno, awful Goddess, heard700

Appall’d, and mute submitted to his will.

But through the courts of Jove the heavenly Powers

All felt displeasure; when to them arose

Vulcan, illustrious artist, who with speech

Conciliatory interposed to sooth705

His white-armed mother Juno, Goddess dread.

Hard doom is ours, and not to be endured,

If feast and merriment must pause in heaven

While ye such clamor raise tumultuous here

For man’s unworthy sake: yet thus we speed710

Ever, when evil overpoises good.

But I exhort my mother, though herself

Already warn’d, that meekly she submit

To Jove our father, lest our father chide

More roughly, and confusion mar the feast.715

For the Olympian Thunderer could with ease

Us from our thrones precipitate, so far

He reigns to all superior. Seek to assuage

His anger therefore; so shall he with smiles

Cheer thee, nor thee alone, but all in heaven.720

So Vulcan, and, upstarting, placed a cup

Full-charged between his mother’s hands, and said,

My mother, be advised, and, though aggrieved,

Yet patient; lest I see thee whom I love

So dear, with stripes chastised before my face,725

Willing, but impotent to give thee aid.[37]

Who can resist the Thunderer? Me, when once

I flew to save thee, by the foot he seized

And hurl’d me through the portal of the skies.

“From morn to eve I fell, a summer’s day,”730

And dropped, at last, in Lemnos. There half-dead

The Sintians found me, and with succor prompt

And hospitable, entertained me fallen.

So He; then Juno smiled, Goddess white-arm’d,

And smiling still, from his unwonted hand[38]735

Received the goblet. He from right to left

Rich nectar from the beaker drawn, alert

Distributed to all the powers divine.

Heaven rang with laughter inextinguishable

Peal after peal, such pleasure all conceived740

At sight of Vulcan in his new employ.

So spent they in festivity the day,

And all were cheered; nor was Apollo’s harp

Silent, nor did the Muses spare to add

Responsive melody of vocal sweets.745

But when the sun’s bright orb had now declined,

Each to his mansion, wheresoever built

By the lame matchless Architect, withdrew.[39]

Jove also, kindler of the fires of heaven,

His couch ascending as at other times750

When gentle sleep approach’d him, slept serene,

With golden-sceptred Juno at his side.

The first book contains the preliminaries to the commencement of

serious action. First, the visit of the priest of Apollo to ransom his

captive daughter, the refusal of Agamemnon to yield her up, and the

pestilence sent by the god upon the Grecian army in consequence.

Secondly, the restoration, the propitiation of Apollo, the quarrel of

Agamemnon and Achilles, and the withdrawing of the latter from the

Grecian army. Thirdly, the intercession of Thetis with Jupiter; his

promise, unwillingly given, to avenge Achilles; and the assembly of the

gods, in which the promise is angrily alluded to by Juno, and the

discussion peremptorily checked by Jupiter. The poet, throughout this

book, maintains a simple, unadorned style, but highly descriptive, and

happily adapted to the nature of the subject.—Felton.

BOOK II.

ARGUMENT OF THE SECOND BOOK.

Jupiter, in pursuance of his purpose to distress the Grecians in answer

to the prayer of Thetis, deceives Agamemnon by a dream. He, in

consequence of it, calls a council, the result of which is that the

army shall go forth to battle. Thersites is mutinous, and is chastised

by Ulysses. Ulysses, Nestor, and Agamemnon, harangue the people; and

preparation is made for battle. An exact account follows of the forces

on both sides.

BOOK II.

[1]All night both Gods and Chiefs equestrian slept,

But not the Sire of all. He, waking soon,

Mused how to exalt Achilles, and destroy

No few in battle at the Grecian fleet.

This counsel, at the last, as best he chose5

And likeliest; to dispatch an evil Dream

To Agamemnon’s tent, and to his side

The phantom summoning, him thus addressed.

Haste, evil Dream! Fly to the Grecian fleet,

And, entering royal Agamemnon’s tent,10

His ear possess thou thus, omitting nought

Of all that I enjoin thee. Bid him arm

His universal host, for that the time

When the Achaians shall at length possess

Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above15

No longer dwell at variance. The request

Of Juno hath prevail’d; now, wo to Troy!

So charged, the Dream departed. At the ships

Well-built arriving of Achaia’s host,

He Agamemnon, son of Atreus, sought.20

Him sleeping in his tent he found, immersed

In soft repose ambrosial. At his head

The shadow stood, similitude exact

Of Nestor, son of Neleus; sage, with whom

In Agamemnon’s thought might none compare.25

His form assumed, the sacred Dream began.

Oh son of Atreus the renown’d in arms

And in the race! Sleep’st thou? It ill behoves

To sleep all night the man of high employ,

And charged, as thou art, with a people’s care.30

Now, therefore, mark me well, who, sent from Jove,

Inform thee, that although so far remote,

He yet compassionates and thinks on thee

With kind solicitude. He bids thee arm

Thy universal host, for that the time35

When the Achaians shall at length possess

Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above

No longer dwell at variance. The requests

Of Juno have prevail’d. Now, wo to Troy

From Jove himself! Her fate is on the wing.40

Awaking from thy dewy slumbers, hold

In firm remembrance all that thou hast heard.

So spake the Dream, and vanishing, him left

In false hopes occupied and musings vain.

Full sure he thought, ignorant of the plan45

By Jove design’d, that day the last of Troy.

Fond thought! For toils and agonies to Greeks

And Trojans both, in many a bloody field

To be endured, the Thunderer yet ordain’d.

Starting he woke, and seeming still to hear50

The warning voice divine, with hasty leap

Sprang from his bed, and sat.[2] His fleecy vest

New-woven he put on, and mantle wide;

His sandals fair to his unsullied feet

He braced, and slung his argent-studded sword.55

Then, incorruptible for evermore

The sceptre of his sires he took, with which

He issued forth into the camp of Greece.

Aurora now on the Olympian heights

Proclaiming stood new day to all in heaven,60

When he his clear-voiced heralds bade convene

The Greeks in council. Went the summons forth

Into all quarters, and the throng began.

First, at the ship of Nestor, Pylian King,[3]

The senior Chiefs for high exploits renown’d65

He gather’d, whom he prudent thus address’d.

My fellow warriors, hear! A dream from heaven,

Amid the stillness of the vacant night

Approach’d me, semblance close in stature, bulk,

And air, of noble Nestor. At mine head70

The shadow took his stand, and thus he spake.

Oh son of Atreus the renown’d in arms

And in the race, sleep’st thou? It ill behoves

To sleep all night the man of high employ,

And charged as thou art with a people’s care.75

Now, therefore, mark me well, who, sent from Jove,

Inform thee, that although so far remote,

He yet compassionates and thinks on thee

With kind solicitude. He bids thee arm

Thy universal host; for that the time80

When the Achaians shall at length possess

Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above

No longer dwell at variance. The requests

Of Juno have prevail’d. Now, wo to Troy

From Jove himself! Her fate is on the wing.85

Charge this on thy remembrance. Thus he spake,

Then vanished suddenly, and I awoke.

Haste therefore, let us arm, if arm we may,[4]

The warlike sons of Greece; but first, myself

Will prove them, recommending instant flight90

With all our ships, and ye throughout the host

Dispersed, shall, next, encourage all to stay.

He ceased, and sat; when in the midst arose

Of highest fame for wisdom, Nestor, King

Of sandy Pylus, who them thus bespake.95

Friends, Counsellors, and Leaders of the Greeks!

Had any meaner Argive told his dream,

We had pronounced it false, and should the more

Have shrunk from battle; but the dream is his

Who boasts himself our highest in command.100

Haste, arm we, if we may, the sons of Greece.

So saying, he left the council; him, at once

The sceptred Chiefs, obedient to his voice,

Arising, follow’d; and the throng began.

As from the hollow rock bees stream abroad,105

And in succession endless seek the fields,

Now clustering, and now scattered far and near,

In spring-time, among all the new-blown flowers,

So they to council swarm’d, troop after troop,

Grecians of every tribe, from camp and fleet110

Assembling orderly o’er all the plain

Beside the shore of Ocean. In the midst

A kindling rumor, messenger of Jove,

Impell’d them, and they went. Loud was the din

Of the assembling thousands; groan’d the earth115

When down they sat, and murmurs ran around.

Nine heralds cried aloud—Will ye restrain

Your clamors, that your heaven-taught Kings may speak?

Scarce were they settled, and the clang had ceased,

When Agamemnon, sovereign o’er them all,120

Sceptre in hand, arose. (That sceptre erst

Vulcan with labor forged, and to the hand

Consign’d it of the King, Saturnian Jove;

Jove to the vanquisher[5] of Ino’s[6] guard,

And he to Pelops; Pelops in his turn,125

To royal Atreus; Atreus at his death

Bequeath’d it to Thyestes rich in flocks,

And rich Thyestes left it to be borne

By Agamemnon, symbol of his right

To empire over Argos and her isles)130

On that he lean’d, and rapid, thus began.[7]

Friends, Grecian Heroes, ministers of Mars!

Ye see me here entangled in the snares

Of unpropitious Jove. He promised once,

And with a nod confirm’d it, that with spoils135

Of Ilium laden, we should hence return;

But now, devising ill, he sends me shamed,

And with diminished numbers, home to Greece.

So stands his sovereign pleasure, who hath laid

The bulwarks of full many a city low,140

And more shall level, matchless in his might.

That such a numerous host of Greeks as we,

Warring with fewer than ourselves, should find

No fruit of all our toil, (and none appears)

Will make us vile with ages yet to come.145

For should we now strike truce, till Greece and Troy

Might number each her own, and were the Greeks

Distributed in bands, ten Greeks in each,

Our banded decads should exceed so far

Their units, that all Troy could not supply150

For every ten, a man, to fill us wine;

So far the Achaians, in my thought, surpass

The native Trojans. But in Troy are those

Who baffle much my purpose; aids derived

From other states, spear-arm’d auxiliars, firm155

In the defence of Ilium’s lofty towers.

Nine years have passed us over, nine long years;

Our ships are rotted, and our tackle marr’d,

And all our wives and little-ones at home

Sit watching our return, while this attempt160

Hangs still in doubt, for which that home we left.

Accept ye then my counsel. Fly we swift

With all our fleet back to our native land,

Hopeless of Troy, not yet to be subdued.

So spake the King, whom all the concourse heard165

With minds in tumult toss’d; all, save the few,

Partners of his intent. Commotion shook

The whole assembly, such as heaves the flood

Of the Icarian Deep, when South and East

Burst forth together from the clouds of Jove.170

And as when vehement the West-wind falls

On standing corn mature, the loaded ears

Innumerable bow before the gale,

So was the council shaken. With a shout

All flew toward the ships; uprais’d, the dust175

Stood o’er them; universal was the cry,

“Now clear the passages, strike down the props,

Set every vessel free, launch, and away!”

Heaven rang with exclamation of the host

All homeward bent, and launching glad the fleet.180

Then baffled Fate had the Achaians seen

Returning premature, but Juno thus,

With admonition quick to Pallas spake.

Unconquer’d daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d!

Ah foul dishonor! Is it thus at last185

That the Achaians on the billows borne,

Shall seek again their country, leaving here,

To be the vaunt of Ilium and her King,

Helen of Argos, in whose cause the Greeks

Have numerous perish’d from their home remote?190

Haste! Seek the mail-arm’d multitude, by force

Detain them of thy soothing speech, ere yet

All launch their oary barks into the flood.

She spake, nor did Minerva not comply,

But darting swift from the Olympian heights,195

Reach’d soon Achaia’s fleet. There, she perceived

Prudent as Jove himself, Ulysses; firm

He stood; he touch’d not even with his hand

His sable bark, for sorrow whelm’d his soul.

The Athenæan Goddess azure-eyed200

Beside him stood, and thus the Chief bespake.

Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!

Why seek ye, thus precipitate, your ships?

Intend ye flight? And is it thus at last,

That the Achaians on the billows borne,205

Shall seek again their country, leaving here,

To be the vaunt of Ilium and her King,

Helen of Argos, in whose cause the Greeks

Have numerous perish’d from their home remote?

Delay not. Rush into the throng; by force210

Detain them of thy soothing speech, ere yet

All launch their oary barks into the flood.

She ceased, whom by her voice Ulysses knew,

Casting his mantle from him, which his friend

Eurybates the Ithacensian caught,215

He ran; and in his course meeting the son

Of Atreus, Agamemnon, from his hand

The everlasting sceptre quick received,

Which bearing, through Achaia’s fleet he pass’d.

What King soever, or distinguish’d Greek220

He found, approaching to his side, in terms

Of gentle sort he stay’d him. Sir, he cried,

It is unseemly that a man renown’d

As thou, should tremble. Go—Resume the seat

Which thou hast left, and bid the people sit.225

Thou know’st not clearly yet the monarch’s mind.

He proves us now, but soon he will chastize.

All were not present; few of us have heard

His speech this day in council. Oh, beware,

Lest in resentment of this hasty course230

Irregular, he let his anger loose.

Dread is the anger of a King; he reigns

By Jove’s own ordinance, and is dear to Jove,

But what plebeian base soe’er he heard

Stretching his throat to swell the general cry,235

He laid the sceptre smartly on his back,

With reprimand severe. Fellow, he said,

Sit still; hear others; thy superiors hear.

For who art thou? A dastard and a drone,

Of none account in council, or in arms.240

By no means may we all alike bear sway

At Ilium; such plurality of Kings

Were evil. One suffices. One, to whom

The son of politic Saturn hath assign’d

The sceptre, and inforcement of the laws,245

That he may rule us as a monarch ought.[8]

With such authority the troubled host

He sway’d; they, quitting camp and fleet again

Rush’d back to council; deafening was the sound

As when a billow of the boisterous deep250

Some broad beach dashes, and the Ocean roars.

The host all seated, and the benches fill’d,

Thersites only of loquacious tongue

Ungovern’d, clamor’d mutinous; a wretch

Of utterance prompt, but in coarse phrase obscene255

Deep learn’d alone, with which to slander Kings.

Might he but set the rabble in a roar,

He cared not with what jest; of all from Greece

To Ilium sent, his country’s chief reproach.

Cross-eyed he was, and halting moved on legs260

Ill-pair’d; his gibbous shoulders o’er his breast

Contracted, pinch’d it; to a peak his head

Was moulded sharp, and sprinkled thin with hair

Of starveling length, flimsy and soft as down.

Achilles and Ulysses had incurr’d265

Most his aversion; them he never spared;

But now, imperial Agamemnon self

In piercing accents stridulous he charged

With foul reproach. The Grecians with contempt

Listen’d, and indignation, while with voice270

At highest pitch, he thus the monarch mock’d.

What wouldst thou now? Whereof is thy complaint

Now, Agamemnon? Thou hast fill’d thy tents

With treasure, and the Grecians, when they take

A city, choose the loveliest girls for thee.275

Is gold thy wish? More gold? A ransom brought

By some chief Trojan for his son’s release

Whom I, or other valiant Greek may bind?

Or wouldst thou yet a virgin, one, by right

Another’s claim, but made by force thine own?280

It was not well, great Sir, that thou shouldst bring

A plague on the Achaians, as of late.

But come, my Grecian sisters, soldiers named

Unfitly, of a sex too soft for war,

Come, let us homeward: let him here digest285

What he shall gorge, alone; that he may learn

If our assistance profit him or not.

For when he shamed Achilles, he disgraced

A Chief far worthier than himself, whose prize

He now withholds. But tush,—Achilles lacks290

Himself the spirit of a man; no gall

Hath he within him, or his hand long since

Had stopp’d that mouth,[9] that it should scoff no more.

Thus, mocking royal Agamemnon, spake

Thersites. Instant starting to his side, 295

Noble Ulysses with indignant brows

Survey’d him, and him thus reproved severe.

Thersites! Railer!—peace. Think not thyself,

Although thus eloquent, alone exempt

From obligation not to slander Kings.300

I deem thee most contemptible, the worst

Of Agamemnon’s followers to the war;

Presume not then to take the names revered

Of Sovereigns on thy sordid lips, to asperse

Their sacred character, and to appoint305

The Greeks a time when they shall voyage home.

How soon, how late, with what success at last

We shall return, we know not: but because

Achaia’s heroes numerous spoils allot

To Agamemnon, Leader of the host,310

Thou therefore from thy seat revilest the King.

But mark me. If I find thee, as even now,

Raving and foaming at the lips again,

May never man behold Ulysses’ head

On these my shoulders more, and may my son315

Prove the begotten of another Sire,

If I not strip thee to that hide of thine

As bare as thou wast born, and whip thee hence

Home to thy galley, sniveling like a boy.

He ceased, and with his sceptre on the back320

And shoulders smote him. Writhing to and fro,

He wept profuse, while many a bloody whelk

Protuberant beneath the sceptre sprang.

Awe-quell’d he sat, and from his visage mean,

Deep-sighing, wiped the rheums. It was no time325

For mirth, yet mirth illumined every face,

And laughing, thus they spake. A thousand acts

Illustrious, both by well-concerted plans

And prudent disposition of the host

Ulysses hath achieved, but this by far330

Transcends his former praise, that he hath quell’d

Such contumelious rhetoric profuse.

The valiant talker shall not soon, we judge,

Take liberties with royal names again.[10]

So spake the multitude. Then, stretching forth335

The sceptre, city-spoiler Chief, arose

Ulysses. Him beside, herald in form,

Appeared Minerva. Silence she enjoined

To all, that all Achaia’s sons might hear,

Foremost and rearmost, and might weigh his words.340

He then his counsel, prudent, thus proposed.

Atrides! Monarch! The Achaians seek

To make thee ignominious above all

In sight of all mankind. None recollects

His promise more in steed-famed Argos pledged,345

Here to abide till Ilium wall’d to heaven

Should vanquish’d sink, and all her wealth be ours.

No—now, like widow’d women, or weak boys,

They whimper to each other, wishing home.

And home, I grant, to the afflicted soul350

Seems pleasant.[11] The poor seaman from his wife

One month detain’d, cheerless his ship and sad

Possesses, by the force of wintry blasts,

And by the billows of the troubled deep

Fast lock’d in port. But us the ninth long year355

Revolving, finds camp’d under Ilium still.

I therefore blame not, if they mourn beside

Their sable barks, the Grecians. Yet the shame

That must attend us after absence long

Returning unsuccessful, who can bear?360

Be patient, friends! wait only till we learn

If Calchas truly prophesied, or not;

For well we know, and I to all appeal,

Whom Fate hath not already snatch’d away,

(It seems but yesterday, or at the most365

A day or two before) that when the ships

Wo-fraught for Priam, and the race of Troy,

At Aulis met, and we beside the fount

With perfect hecatombs the Gods adored

Beneath the plane-tree, from whose root a stream370

Ran crystal-clear, there we beheld a sign

Wonderful in all eyes. A serpent huge,

Tremendous spectacle! with crimson spots

His back all dappled, by Olympian Jove

Himself protruded, from the altar’s foot375

Slipp’d into light, and glided to the tree.

There on the topmost bough, close-cover’d sat

With foliage broad, eight sparrows, younglings all,

Then newly feather’d, with their dam, the ninth.

The little ones lamenting shrill he gorged,380

While, wheeling o’er his head, with screams the dam

Bewail’d her darling brood. Her also next,

Hovering and clamoring, he by the wing

Within his spiry folds drew, and devoured.

All eaten thus, the nestlings and the dam,385

The God who sent him, signalized him too,

For him Saturnian Jove transform’d to stone.

We wondering stood, to see that strange portent

Intrude itself into our holy rites,

When Calchas, instant, thus the sign explain’d.390

Why stand ye, Greeks, astonish’d? Ye behold

A prodigy by Jove himself produced,

An omen, whose accomplishment indeed

Is distant, but whose fame shall never die.[12]

E’en as this serpent in your sight devour’d395

Eight youngling sparrows, with their dam, the ninth,

So we nine years must war on yonder plain,

And in the tenth, wide-bulwark’d Troy is ours.

So spake the seer, and as he spake, is done.

Wait, therefore, brave Achaians! go not hence400

Till Priam’s spacious city be your prize.

He ceased, and such a shout ensued, that all

The hollow ships the deafening roar return’d

Of acclamation, every voice the speech

Extolling of Ulysses, glorious Chief.405

Then Nestor the Gerenian,[13] warrior old,

Arising, spake; and, by the Gods, he said,

Ye more resemble children inexpert

In war, than disciplined and prudent men.

Where now are all your promises and vows,410

Councils, libations, right-hand covenants?[14]

Burn them, since all our occupation here

Is to debate and wrangle, whereof end

Or fruit though long we wait, shall none be found.

But, Sovereign, be not thou appall’d. Be firm.415

Relax not aught of thine accustomed sway,

But set the battle forth as thou art wont.

And if there be a Grecian, here and there,

One,[15] adverse to the general voice, let such

Wither alone. He shall not see his wish420

Gratified, neither will we hence return

To Argos, ere events shall yet have proved

Jove’s promise false or true. For when we climb’d

Our gallant barks full-charged with Ilium’s fate,

Saturnian Jove omnipotent, that day,425

(Omen propitious!) thunder’d on the right.

Let no man therefore pant for home, till each

Possess a Trojan spouse, and from her lips

Take sweet revenge for Helen’s pangs of heart.

Who then? What soldier languishes and sighs430

To leave us? Let him dare to lay his hand

On his own vessel, and he dies the first.

But hear, O King! I shall suggest a course

Not trivial. Agamemnon! sort the Greeks

By districts and by tribes, that tribe may tribe435

Support, and each his fellow. This performed,

And with consent of all, thou shalt discern

With ease what Chief, what private man deserts,

And who performs his part. The base, the brave,

Such disposition made, shall both appear;440

And thou shalt also know, if heaven or we,

The Gods, or our supineness, succor Troy.

To whom Atrides, King of men, replied.

Old Chief! Thou passest all Achaia’s sons

In consultation; would to Jove our Sire,445

To Athenæan Pallas, and Apollo!

That I had ten such coadjutors, wise

As thou art, and the royal city soon

Of Priam, with her wealth, should all be ours.[16]

But me the son of Saturn, Jove supreme450

Himself afflicts, who in contentious broils

Involves me, and in altercation vain.

Thence all that wordy tempest for a girl

Achilles and myself between, and I

The fierce aggressor. Be that breach but heal’d!455

And Troy’s reprieve thenceforth is at an end.

Go—take refreshment now that we may march

Forth to our enemies. Let each whet well

His spear, brace well his shield, well feed his brisk

High-mettled horses, well survey and search460

His chariot on all sides, that no defect

Disgrace his bright habiliments of war.

So will we give the day from morn to eve

To dreadful battle. Pause there shall be none

Till night divide us. Every buckler’s thong465

Shall sweat on the toil’d bosom, every hand

That shakes the spear shall ache, and every steed

Shall smoke that whirls the chariot o’er the plain.

Wo then to whom I shall discover here

Loitering among the tents; let him escape470

My vengeance if he can. The vulture’s maw

Shall have his carcase, and the dogs his bones.

He spake; whom all applauded with a shout

Loud as against some headland cliff the waves

Roll’d by the stormy South o’er rocks that shoot475

Afar into the deep, which in all winds

The flood still overspreads, blow whence they may.

Arising, forth they rush’d, among the ships

All scatter’d; smoke from every tent arose,

The host their food preparing; next, his God480

Each man invoked (of the Immortals him

Whom he preferr’d) with sacrifice and prayer

For safe escape from danger and from death.

But Agamemnon to Saturnian Jove

Omnipotent, an ox of the fifth year485

Full-flesh’d devoted, and the Princes call’d

Noblest of all the Grecians to his feast.

First, Nestor with Idomeneus the King,

Then either Ajax, and the son he call’d

Of Tydeus, with Ulysses sixth and last,490

Jove’s peer in wisdom. Menelaus went,

Heroic Chief! unbidden, for he knew

His brother’s mind with weight of care oppress’d.

The ox encircling, and their hands with meal

Of consecration fill’d, the assembly stood,495

When Agamemnon thus his prayer preferred.

Almighty Father! Glorious above all!

Cloud-girt, who dwell’st in heaven thy throne sublime,

Let not the sun go down, till Priam’s roof

Fall flat into the flames; till I shall burn500

His gates with fire; till I shall hew away

His hack’d and riven corslet from the breast

Of Hector, and till numerous Chiefs, his friends,

Around him, prone in dust, shall bite the ground.

So prayed he, but with none effect, The God505

Received his offering, but to double toil

Doom’d them, and sorrow more than all the past.

They then, the triturated barley grain

First duly sprinkling, the sharp steel infix’d

Deep in the victim’s neck reversed, then stripp’d510

The carcase, and divided at their joint

The thighs, which in the double caul involved

They spread with slices crude, and burn’d with fire

Ascending fierce from billets sere and dry.

The spitted entrails next they o’er the coals515

Suspended held. The thighs with fire consumed,

They gave to each his portion of the maw,

Then slash’d the remnant, pierced it with the spits,

And managing with culinary skill

The roast, withdrew it from the spits again.520

Thus, all their task accomplished, and the board

Set forth, they feasted, and were all sufficed.

When neither hunger more nor thirst remain’d

Unsatisfied, Gerenian Nestor spake.

Atrides! Agamemnon! King of men!525

No longer waste we time in useless words,

Nor to a distant hour postpone the work

To which heaven calls thee. Send thine heralds forth.

Who shall convene the Achaians at the fleet,

That we, the Chiefs assembled here, may range,530

Together, the imbattled multitude,

And edge their spirits for immediate fight.

He spake, nor Agamemnon not complied.

At once he bade his clear-voiced heralds call

The Greeks to battle. They the summons loud535

Gave forth, and at the sound the people throng’d.

Then Agamemnon and the Kings of Greece

Dispatchful drew them into order just,

With whom Minerva azure-eyed advanced,

The inestimable Ægis on her arm,540

Immortal, unobnoxious to decay

A hundred braids, close twisted, all of gold,

Each valued at a hundred beeves,[17] around

Dependent fringed it. She from side to side

Her eyes cerulean rolled, infusing thirst545

Of battle endless into every breast.

War won them now, war sweeter now to each

Than gales to waft them over ocean home.[18]

As when devouring flames some forest seize

On the high mountains, splendid from afar550

The blaze appears, so, moving on the plain,

The steel-clad host innumerous flash’d to heaven.

And as a multitude of fowls in flocks

Assembled various, geese, or cranes, or swans

Lithe-neck’d, long hovering o’er Caÿster’s banks555

On wanton plumes, successive on the mead

Alight at last, and with a clang so loud

That all the hollow vale of Asius rings;

In number such from ships and tents effused,

They cover’d the Scamandrian plain; the earth560

Rebellow’d to the feet of steeds and men.

They overspread Scamander’s grassy vale,

Myriads, as leaves, or as the flowers of spring.

As in the hovel where the peasant milks

His kine in spring-time, when his pails are fill’d,565

Thick clouds of humming insects on the wing

Swarm all around him, so the Grecians swarm’d

An unsumm’d multitude o’er all the plain,

Bright arm’d, high crested, and athirst for war.

As goat-herds separate their numerous flocks570

With ease, though fed promiscuous, with like ease

Their leaders them on every side reduced

To martial order glorious;[19] among whom

Stood Agamemnon “with an eye like Jove’s,

To threaten or command,” like Mars in girth,575

And with the port of Neptune. As the bull

Conspicuous among all the herd appears,

For he surpasses all, such Jove ordain’d

That day the son of Atreus, in the midst

Of Heroes, eminent above them all.580

Tell me, (for ye are are heavenly, and beheld[20]

A scene, whereof the faint report alone

Hath reached our ears, remote and ill-informed,)

Tell me, ye Muses, under whom, beneath

What Chiefs of royal or of humbler note585

Stood forth the embattled Greeks? The host at large;

_They_ were a multitude in number more

Than with ten tongues, and with ten mouths, each mouth

Made vocal with a trumpet’s throat of brass

I might declare, unless the Olympian nine,590

Jove’s daughters, would the chronicle themselves

Indite, of all assembled, under Troy.

I will rehearse the Captains and their fleets.

[21]Bœotia’s sturdy sons Peneleus led,

And Leïtus, whose partners in command595

Arcesilaus and Prothoenor came,

And Clonius. Them the dwellers on the rocks

Of Aulis followed, with the hardy clans

Of Hyrie, Schoenos, Scholos, and the hills

Of Eteon; Thespia, Græa, and the plains600

Of Mycalessus them, and Harma served,

Eleon, Erythræ, Peteon; Hyle them,

Hesius and Ocalea, and the strength

Of Medeon; Copæ also in their train

Marched, with Eutresis and the mighty men605

Of Thisbe famed for doves; nor pass unnamed

Whom Coronæa, and the grassy land

Of Haliartus added to the war,

Nor whom Platæa, nor whom Glissa bred,

And Hypothebæ,[22] and thy sacred groves610

To Neptune, dark Onchestus. Arne claims

A record next for her illustrious sons,

Vine-bearing Arne. Thou wast also there

Mideia, and thou Nissa; nor be thine

Though last, Anthedon, a forgotten name.615

These in Bœotia’s fair and gallant fleet

Of fifty ships, each bearing o’er the waves

Thrice forty warriors, had arrived at Troy.

In thirty ships deep-laden with the brave,

Aspledon and Orchomenos had sent620

Their chosen youth; them ruled a noble pair,

Sons of Astyoche; she, lovely nymph,

Received by stealth, on Actor’s stately roof,

The embraces of a God, and bore to Mars

Twins like himself, Ascalaphus the bold,625

And bold Iälmenus, expert in arms.

Beneath Epistrophus and Schedius, took

Their destined station on Bœotia’s left,

The brave Phocensians; they in forty ships

From Cyparissus came, and from the rocks630

Of Python, and from Crissa the divine;

From Anemoria, Daulis, Panopeus,

And from Hyampolis, and from the banks

Of the Cephissus, sacred stream, and from

Lilæa, seated at its fountain-head.635

Next from beyond Eubœa’s happy isle

In forty ships conveyed, stood forth well armed

The Locrians; dwellers in Augeia some

The pleasant, some of Opoëis possessed,

Some of Calliarus; these Scarpha sent,640

And Cynus those; from Bessa came the rest,

From Tarpha, Thronius, and from the brink

Of loud Boagrius; Ajax them, the swift,

Son of Oïleus led, not such as he

From Telamon, big-boned and lofty built,645

But small of limb, and of an humbler crest;

Yet he, competitor had none throughout

The Grecians of what land soe’er, for skill

In ushering to its mark the rapid lance.

Elphenor brought (Calchodon’s mighty son)650

The Eubœans to the field. In forty ships

From Histrïæa for her vintage famed,

From Chalcis, from Iretria, from the gates

Of maritime Cerinthus, from the heights

Of Dios rock-built citadel sublime,655

And from Caristus and from Styra came

His warlike multitudes, all named alike

Abantes, on whose shoulders fell behind

Their locks profuse,[23] and they were eager all

To split the hauberk with the pointed spear.660

Nor Athens had withheld her generous sons,

The people of Erectheus. Him of old

The teeming glebe produced, a wondrous birth!

And Pallas rear’d him: her own unctuous fane

She made his habitation, where with bulls665

The youth of Athens, and with slaughter’d lambs

Her annual worship celebrate. Then led

Menestheus, whom, (sage Nestor’s self except,

Thrice school’d in all events of human life,)

None rivall’d ever in the just array670

Of horse and man to battle. Fifty ships

Black-prowed, had borne them to the distant war.

Ajax from Salamis twelve vessels brought,

And where the Athenian band in phalanx stood

Marshall’d compact, there station’d he his powers.675

The men of Argos and Tyrintha next,

And of Hermione, that stands retired

With Asine, within her spacious bay;

Of Epidaurus, crown’d with purple vines,

And of Trœzena, with the Achaian youth680

Of sea-begirt Ægina, and with thine,

Maseta, and the dwellers on thy coast,

Wave-worn Eïonæ; these all obeyed

The dauntless Hero Diomede, whom served

Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, a Chief685

Of deathless fame, his second in command,

And godlike man, Euryalus, the son

Of King Mecisteus, Talaüs’ son, his third.

But Diomede controll’d them all, and him

Twice forty sable ships their leader own’d.690

Came Agamemnon with a hundred ships,

Exulting in his powers; more numerous they,

And more illustrious far than other Chief

Could boast, whoever. Clad in burnish’d brass,

And conscious of pre-eminence, he stood.695

He drew his host from cities far renown’d,

Mycenæ, and Corinthus, seat of wealth,

Orneia, and Cleonæ bulwark’d strong,

And lovely Aræthyria; Sicyon, where

His seat of royal power held at the first700

Adrastus: Hyperesia, and the heights

Of Gonoëssa; Ægium, with the towns

That sprinkle all that far-extended coast,

Pellene also and wide Helice

With all their shores, were number’d in his train.705

From hollow Lacedæmon’s glen profound,

From Phare, Sparta, and from Messa, still

Resounding with the ring-dove’s amorous moan,

From Brysia, from Augeia, from the rocks

Of Laas, from Amycla, Otilus,710

And from the towers of Helos, at whose foot

The surf of Ocean falls, came sixty barks

With Menelaus. From the monarch’s host

The royal brother ranged his own apart,

and panted for revenge of Helen’s wrongs,715

And of her sighs and tears.[24] From rank to rank,

Conscious of dauntless might he pass’d, and sent

Into all hearts the fervor of his own.

Gerenian Nestor in thrice thirty ships

Had brought his warriors; they from Pylus came,720

From blithe Arene, and from Thryos, built

Fast by the fords of Alpheus, and from steep

And stately Æpy. Their confederate powers

Sent Amphigenia, Cyparissa veiled

With broad redundance of funereal shades,725

Pteleos and Helos, and of deathless fame

Dorion. In Dorion erst the Muses met

Threïcian Thamyris, on his return

From Eurytus, Oechalian Chief, and hush’d

His song for ever; for he dared to vaunt730

That he would pass in song even themselves

The Muses, daughters of Jove Ægis-arm’d.

They therefore, by his boast incensed, the bard

Struck blind, and from his memory dash’d severe

All traces of his once celestial strains.735

Arcadia’s sons, the dwellers at the foot

Of mount Cyllene, where Æpytus sleeps

Intomb’d; a generation bold in fight,

And warriors hand to hand; the valiant men

Of Pheneus, of Orchomenos by flocks740

Grazed numberless, of Ripe, Stratia, bleak

Enispe; Mantinea city fair,

Stymphelus and Parrhasia, and the youth

Of Tegea; royal Agapenor these,

Ancæus’ offspring, had in sixty ships745

To Troy conducted; numerous was the crew,

And skilled in arms, which every vessel brought,

And Agamemnon had with barks himself

Supplied them, for, of inland realms possessed,

They little heeded maritime employs.[25]750

The dwellers in Buprasium, on the shores

Of pleasant Elis, and in all the land

Myrsinus and the Hyrminian plain between,

The rock Olenian, and the Alysian fount;

These all obey’d four Chiefs, and galleys ten755

Each Chief commanded, with Epeans filled.

Amphimachus and Thalpius govern’d these,

This, son of Cteatus, the other, sprung

From Eurytus, and both of Actor’s house.

Diores, son of Amarynceus, those760

Led on, and, for his godlike form renown’d,

Polyxenus was Chieftain o’er the rest,

Son of Agasthenes, Augeias’ son.

Dulichium, and her sister sacred isles

The Echinades, whose opposite aspect765

Looks toward Elis o’er the curling waves,

Sent forth their powers with Meges at their head,

Brave son of Phyleus, warrior dear to Jove.

Phyleus in wrath, his father’s house renounced,

And to Dulichium wandering, there abode.770

Twice twenty ships had follow’d Meges forth.

Ulysses led the Cephallenians bold.

From Ithaca, and from the lofty woods

Of Neritus they came, and from the rocks

Of rude Ægilipa. Crocylia these,775

And these Zacynthus own’d; nor yet a few

From Samos, from Epirus join’d their aid,

And from the opposite Ionian shore.

Them, wise as Jove himself, Ulysses led

In twelve fair ships, with crimson prows adorn’d.780

From forty ships, Thoas, Andræmon’s son,

Had landed his Ætolians; for extinct

Was Meleager, and extinct the house

Of Oeneus all, nor Oeneus self survived;

To Thoas therefore had Ætolia fallen;785

Him Olenos, Pylene, Chalcis served,

With Pleuro, and the rock-bound Calydon.

Idomeneus, spear-practised warrior, led

The numerous Cretans. In twice forty ships

He brought his powers to Troy. The warlike bands790

Of Cnossus, of Gortyna wall’d around,

Of Lyctus, of Lycastus chalky-white,

Of Phæstus, of Miletus, with the youth

Of Rhytius him obey’d; nor these were all,

But others from her hundred cities Crete795

Sent forth, all whom Idomeneus the brave

Commanded, with Meriones in arms

Dread as the God of battles blood-imbrued.

Nine ships Tlepolemus, Herculean-born,

For courage famed and for superior size,800

Fill’d with his haughty Rhodians. They, in tribes

Divided, dwelt distinct. Jelyssus these,

Those Lindus, and the rest the shining soil

Of white Camirus occupied. Him bore

To Hercules, (what time he led the nymph805

From Ephyre, and from Sellea’s banks,

After full many a city laid in dust.)

Astyocheia. In his father’s house

Magnificent, Tlepolemus spear-famed

Had scarce up-grown to manhood’s lusty prime810

When he his father’s hoary uncle slew

Lycimnius, branch of Mars. Then built he ships,

And, pushing forth to sea, fled from the threats

Of the whole house of Hercules. Huge toil

And many woes he suffer’d, till at length815

At Rhodes arriving, in three separate bands

He spread himself abroad, Much was he loved

Of all-commanding Jove, who bless’d him there,

And shower’d abundant riches on them all.

Nireus of Syma, with three vessels came;820

Nireus, Aglæa’s offspring, whom she bore

To Charopus the King; Nireus in form,

(The faultless son of Peleus sole except,)

Loveliest of all the Grecians call’d to Troy.

But he was heartless and his men were few.[26]825

Nisyrus, Casus, Crapathus, and Cos

Where reign’d Eurypylus, with all the isles

Calydnæ named, under two valiant Chiefs

Their troops disposed; Phidippus one, and one,

His brother Antiphus, begotten both830

By Thessalus, whom Hercules begat.

In thirty ships they sought the shores of Troy.

The warriors of Pelasgian Argos next,

Of Alus, and Alope, and who held

Trechina, Phthia, and for women fair835

Distinguish’d, Hellas; known by various names

Hellenes, Myrmidons, Achæans, them

In fifty ships embark’d, Achilles ruled.

But these were deaf to the hoarse-throated war,

For there was none to draw their battle forth,840

And give them just array. Close in his ships

Achilles, after loss of the bright-hair’d

Brisëis, lay, resentful; her obtained

Not without labor hard, and after sack

Of Thebes and of Lyrnessus, where he slew845

Two mighty Chiefs, sons of Evenus both,

Epistrophus and Mynes, her he mourn’d,

And for her sake self-prison’d in his fleet

And idle lay, though soon to rise again.

From Phylace, and from the flowery fields850

Of Pyrrhasus, a land to Ceres given

By consecration, and from Iton green,

Mother of flocks; from Antron by the sea,

And from the grassy meads of Pteleus, came

A people, whom while yet he lived, the brave855

Protesilaüs led; but him the earth

Now cover’d dark and drear. A wife he left,

To rend in Phylace her bleeding cheeks,

And an unfinish’d mansion. First he died

Of all the Greeks; for as he leap’d to land860

Foremost by far, a Dardan struck him dead.

Nor had his troops, though filled with deep regret,

No leader; them Podarces led, a Chief

Like Mars in battle, brother of the slain,

But younger born, and from Iphiclus sprung865

Who sprang from Phylacus the rich in flocks.

But him Protesilaüs, as in years,

So also in desert of arms excell’d

Heroic, whom his host, although they saw

Podarces at their head, still justly mourn’d;870

For he was fierce in battle, and at Troy

With forty sable-sided ships arrived.

Eleven galleys, Pheræ on the lake,

And Boebe, and Iölchus, and the vale

Of Glaphyræ supplied with crews robust875

Under Eumelus; him Alcestis, praised

For beauty above all her sisters fair,

In Thessaly to King Admetus bore.

Methone, and Olizon’s craggy coast,

With Melibœa and Thaumasia sent880

Seven ships; their rowers were good archers all,

And every vessel dipped into the wave

Her fifty oars. Them Philoctetes, skill’d

To draw with sinewy arm the stubborn bow,

Commanded; but he suffering anguish keen885

Inflicted by a serpent’s venom’d tooth,

Lay sick in Lemnos; him the Grecians there

Had left sore-wounded, but were destined soon

To call to dear remembrance whom they left.

Meantime, though sorrowing for his sake, his troops890

Yet wanted not a chief; them Medon ruled,

Whom Rhena to the far-famed conqueror bore

Oïleus, fruit of their unsanction’d loves.

From Tricca, from Ithome rough and rude

With rocks and glens, and from Oechalia, town895

Of Eurytus Oechalian-born, came forth

Their warlike youth by Podalirius led

And by Machaon, healers both expert

Of all disease, and thirty ships were theirs.

The men of Ormenus, and from beside900

The fountain Hypereia, from the tops

Of chalky Titan, and Asteria’s band;

Them ruled Eurypylus, Evæmon’s son

Illustrious, whom twice twenty ships obeyed.

Orthe, Gyrtone, Oloösson white,905

Argissa and Helone; they their youth

Gave to control of Polypœtes, son

Undaunted of Pirithoüs, son of Jove.

Him, to Pirithoüs, (on the self-same day

When he the Centaurs punish’d and pursued910

Sheer to Æthicæ driven from Pelion’s heights

The shaggy race) Hippodamia bore.

Nor he alone them led. With him was join’d

Leonteus dauntless warrior, from the bold

Coronus sprung, who Cæneus call’d his sire.915

Twice twenty ships awaited their command.

Guneus from Cyphus twenty and two ships

Led forth; the Enienes him obey’d,

And the robust Perœbi, warriors bold,

And dwellers on Dodona’s wintry brow.920

To these were join’d who till the pleasant fields

Where Titaresius winds; the gentle flood

Pours into Peneus all his limpid stores,

But with the silver-eddied Peneus flows

Unmixt as oil;[27] for Stygian is his stream,925

And Styx is the inviolable oath.

Last with his forty ships, Tenthredon’s son,

The active Prothoüs came. From the green banks

Of Peneus his Magnesians far and near

He gather’d, and from Pelion forest-crown’d.930

These were the princes and the Chiefs of Greece.

Say, Muse, who most in personal desert

Excell’d, and whose were the most warlike steeds

And of the noblest strain. Their hue, their age,

Their height the same, swift as the winds of heaven935

And passing far all others, were the mares

Which drew Eumelus; on Pierian hills

The heavenly Archer of the silver bow,

Apollo, bred them. But of men, the chief

Was Telamonian Ajax, while wrath-bound940

Achilles lay; for he was worthier far,

And more illustrious were the steeds which bore

The noble son of Peleus; but revenge

On Agamemnon leader of the host

Was all his thought, while in his gallant ships945

Sharp-keel’d to cut the foaming flood, he lay.

Meantime, along the margin of the deep

His soldiers hurled the disk, or bent the bow.

Or to its mark dispatch’d the quivering lance.

Beside the chariots stood the unharness’d steeds950

Cropping the lotus, or at leisure browsed

On celery wild, from watery freshes gleaned.

Beneath the shadow of the sheltering tent

The chariot stood, while they, the charioteers

Roam’d here and there the camp, their warlike lord955

Regretting sad, and idle for his sake.

As if a fire had burnt along the ground,

Such seem’d their march; earth groan’d their steps beneath;

As when in Arimi, where fame reports

Typhoëus stretch’d, the fires of angry Jove960

Down darted, lash the ground, so groan’d the earth

Beneath them, for they traversed swift the plain.

And now from Jove, with heavy tidings charged,

Wind-footed Iris to the Trojans came.

It was the time of council, when the throng965

At Priam’s gate assembled, young and old:

Them, standing nigh, the messenger of heaven

Accosted with the voice of Priam’s son,

Polites. He, confiding in his speed

For sure deliverance, posted was abroad970

On Æsyeta’s tomb,[28] intent to watch

When the Achaian host should leave the fleet.

The Goddess in his form thus them address’d.

Oh, ancient Monarch! Ever, evermore

Speaking, debating, as if all were peace;975

I have seen many a bright-embattled field,

But never one so throng’d as this to-day.

For like the leaves, or like the sands they come

Swept by the winds, to gird the city round.

But Hector! chiefly thee I shall exhort.980

In Priam’s spacious city are allies

Collected numerous, and of nations wide

Disseminated various are the tongues.

Let every Chief his proper troop command,

And marshal his own citizens to war.985

She ceased; her Hector heard intelligent,

And quick dissolved the council. All took arms.

Wide flew the gates; forth rush’d the multitude,

Horsemen and foot, and boisterous stir arose.

In front of Ilium, distant on the plain,990

Clear all around from all obstruction, stands

An eminence high-raised, by mortal men

Call’d Bateia, but the Gods the tomb

Have named it of Myrinna swift in fight.

Troy and her aids there set the battle forth.995

Huge Priameian Hector, fierce in arms,

Led on the Trojans; with whom march’d the most

And the most valiant, dexterous at the spear.

Æneas, (on the hills of Ida him

The lovely Venus to Anchises bore,1000

A Goddess by a mortal man embraced)

Led the Dardanians; but not he alone;

Archilochus with him and Acamas

Stood forth, the offspring of Antenor, each,

And well instructed in all forms of war.1005

Fast by the foot of Ida, where they drank

The limpid waters of Æsepus, dwelt

The Trojans of Zeleia. Rich were they

And led by Pandarus, Lycaon’s son,

Whom Phœbus self graced with the bow he bore.1010

Apæsus, Adrastea, Terie steep,

And Pitueia—them, Amphius clad

In mail thick-woven, and Adrastus, ruled.

They were the sons of the Percosian seer

Merops, expert in the soothsayers’ art1015

Above all other; he his sons forbad

The bloody fight, but disobedient they

Still sought it, for their destiny prevailed.

The warriors of Percote, and who dwelt

In Practius, in Arisba, city fair,1020

In Sestus, in Abydus, march’d behind

Princely Hyrtacides; his tawny steeds,

Strong-built and tall, from Sellcentes’ bank

And from Arisba, had him borne to Troy.

Hippothous and Pilmus, branch of Mars,1025

Both sons of Lethus the Pelasgian, they,

Forth from Larissa for her fertile soil

Far-famed, the spear-expert Pelasgians brought.

The Thracians (all whom Hellespont includes

Within the banks of his swift-racing tide)1030

Heroic Acamas and Pirous led.

Euphemus, offspring of Trœzenus, son

Of Jove-protected Ceas, was the Chief

Whom the spear-arm’d Ciconian band obey’d.

Pæonia’s archers follow’d to the field1035

Pyræchmes; they from Amydon remote

Were drawn, where Axius winds; broad Axius, stream

Diffused delightful over all the vale.

Pylæmenes, a Chief of giant might

From the Eneti for forest-mules renowned1040

March’d with his Paphlagonians; dwellers they

In Sesamus and in Cytorus were,

And by the stream Parthenius; Cromna these

Sent forth, and those Ægialus on the lip

And margin of the land, and some, the heights1045

Of Erythini, rugged and abrupt.

Epistrophus and Odius from the land

Of Alybe, a region far remote,

Where veins of silver wind, led to the field

The Halizonians. With the Mysians came1050

Chromis their Chief, and Ennomus; him skill’d

In augury, but skill’d in vain, his art

Saved not, but by Æacides[29] the swift,

With others in the Xanthus[30] slain, he died.

Ascanius, lovely youth, and Phorcis, led1055

The Phrygians from Ascania far remote,

Ardent for battle. The Mœonian race,

(All those who at the foot of Tmolus dwelt,)

Mesthles and Antiphus, fraternal pair,

Sons of Pylæmenes commanded, both1060

Of the Gygæan lake in Lydia born.

Amphimachus and Nastes led to fight

The Carians, people of a barbarous speech,[31]

With the Milesians, and the mountain-race

Of wood-crown’d Phthira, and who dwelt beside1065

Mæander, or on Mycale sublime.

Them led Amphimachus and Nastes, sons

Renown’d of Nomion. Like a simple girl

Came forth Amphimachus with gold bedight,

But him his trappings from a woful death1070

Saved not, when whirled beneath the bloody tide

To Peleus’ stormy son his spoils he left.

Sarpedon with the noble Glaucus led

Their warriors forth from farthest Lycia, where

Xanthus deep-dimpled rolls his oozy tide.1075

BOOK III.

ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK.

The armies meet. Paris throws out a challenge to the Grecian Princes.

Menelaus accepts it. The terms of the combat are adjusted solemnly by

Agamemnon on the part of Greece, and by Priam on the part of Troy. The

combat ensues, in which Paris is vanquished, whom yet Venus rescues.

Agamemnon demands from the Trojans a performance of the covenant.

BOOK III.

[1]Now marshall’d all beneath their several chiefs,

With deafening shouts, and with the clang of arms,

The host of Troy advanced. Such clang is heard

Along the skies, when from incessant showers

Escaping, and from winter’s cold, the cranes5

Take wing, and over Ocean speed away;[2]

Wo to the land of dwarfs! prepared they fly

For slaughter of the small Pygmæan race.

Not so the Greeks; they breathing valor came,

But silent all, and all with faithful hearts10

On succor mutual to the last, resolved.

As when the south wind wraps the mountain top

In mist the shepherd’s dread, but to the thief

Than night itself more welcome, and the eye

Is bounded in its ken to a stone’s cast,15

Such from beneath their footsteps dun and dense

Uprose the dust, for swift they cross the plain.

When, host to host opposed, full nigh they stood,

Then Alexander[3] in the Trojan van

Advanced was seen, all beauteous as a God;20

His leopard’s skin, his falchion and his bow

Hung from his shoulder; bright with heads of brass

He shook two spears, and challenged to the fight

The bravest Argives there, defying all.

Him, striding haughtily his host before25

When Menelaus saw, such joy he felt

As hunger-pinch’d the lion feels, by chance

Conducted to some carcase huge, wild goat,

Or antler’d stag; huntsmen and baying hounds

Disturb not _him_, he gorges in their sight.30

So Menelaus at the view rejoiced

Of lovely Alexander, for he hoped

His punishment at hand. At once, all armed,

Down from his chariot to the ground he leap’d

When godlike Paris him in front beheld35

Conspicuous, his heart smote him, and his fate

Avoiding, far within the lines he shrank.[4]

As one, who in some woodland height descrying

A serpent huge, with sudden start recoils,

His limbs shake under him; with cautious step40

He slow retires; fear blanches cold his cheeks;

So beauteous Alexander at the sight

Of Atreus’ son dishearten’d sore, the ranks

Of haughty Trojans enter’d deep again:

Him Hector eyed, and thus rebuked severe.45

Curst Paris! Fair deceiver! Woman-mad!

I would to all in heaven that thou hadst died

Unborn, at least unmated! happier far

Than here to have incurr’d this public shame!

Well may the Grecians taunt, and laughing loud,50

Applaud the champion, slow indeed to fight

And pusillanimous, but wondrous fair.

Wast thou as timid, tell me, when with those

Thy loved companions in that famed exploit,

Thou didst consort with strangers, and convey55

From distant lands a warrior’s beauteous bride

To be thy father’s and his people’s curse,

Joy to our foes, but to thyself reproach?

Behold her husband! Darest thou not to face

The warlike prince? Now learn how brave a Chief60

Thou hast defrauded of his blooming spouse.

Thy lyre, thy locks, thy person, specious gifts

Of partial Venus, will avail thee nought,

Once mixt by Menelaus with the dust.

But we are base ourselves, or long ago,65

For all thy numerous mischiefs, thou hadst slept

Secure beneath a coverlet[5] of stone.[6]

Then godlike Alexander thus replied.

Oh Hector, true in temper as the axe

Which in the shipwright’s hand the naval plank70

Divides resistless, doubling all his force,

Such is thy dauntless spirit whose reproach

Perforce I own, nor causeless nor unjust.

Yet let the gracious gifts uncensured pass

Of golden Venus; man may not reject75

The glorious bounty by the Gods bestow’d,

Nor follows their beneficence our choice.

But if thy pleasure be that I engage

With Menelaus in decision fierce

Of desperate combat bid the host of Troy80

And bid the Grecians sit; then face to face

Commit us, in the vacant field between,

To fight for Helen and for all her wealth.

Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her

And hers possess’d shall bear them safe away;85

While ye (peace sworn and firm accord) shall dwell

At Troy, and these to Argos shall return

And to Achaia praised for women fair.

He ceased, whom Hector heard with joy; he moved

Into the middle space, and with his spear90

Advanced athwart push’d back the Trojan van,

And all stood fast. Meantime at him the Greeks

Discharged full volley, showering thick around

From bow and sling;[7] when with a mighty voice

Thus Agamemnon, leader of the host.95

Argives! Be still—shoot not, ye sons of Greece!

Hector bespeaks attention. Hear the Chief!

He said, at once the Grecians ceased to shoot,

And all sat silent. Hector then began.

Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye Greeks mail-arm’d,100

While I shall publish in your ears the words

Of Alexander, author of our strife.

Trojans, he bids, and Grecians on the field

Their arms dispose; while he, the hosts between,

With warlike Menelaus shall in fight105

Contend for Helen, and for all her wealth.

Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her

And hers possess’d, shall bear them safe away,

And oaths of amity shall bind the rest.

He ceased, and all deep silence held, amazed;110

When valiant Menelaus thus began.

Hear now me also, on whose aching heart

These woes have heaviest fallen. At last I hope

Decision near, Trojans and Greeks between,

For ye have suffer’d in my quarrel much,115

And much by Paris, author of the war.

Die he who must, and peace be to the rest.

But ye shall hither bring two lambs, one white,

The other black;[8] this to the Earth devote,

That to the Sun. We shall ourselves supply120

A third for Jove. Then bring ye Priam forth,

Himself to swear the covenant, (for his sons

Are faithless) lest the oath of Jove be scorn’d.

Young men are ever of unstable mind;

But when an elder interferes, he views125

Future and past together, and insures

The compact, to both parties, uninfringed.

So Menelaus spake; and in all hearts

Awaken’d joyful hope that there should end

War’s long calamities. Alighted each,130

And drew his steeds into the lines. The field

Glitter’d with arms put off, and side by side,

Ranged orderly, while the interrupted war

Stood front to front, small interval between.

Then Hector to the city sent in haste135

Two heralds for the lambs, and to invite

Priam; while Agamemnon, royal Chief,

Talthybius to the Grecian fleet dismiss’d

For a third lamb to Jove; nor he the voice

Of noble Agamemnon disobey’d.140

Iris, ambassadress of heaven, the while,

To Helen came. Laödice she seem’d,

Loveliest of all the daughters of the house

Of Priam, wedded to Antenor’s son,

King Helicäon. Her she found within,145

An ample web magnificent she wove,[9]

Inwrought with numerous conflicts for her sake

Beneath the hands of Mars endured by Greeks

Mail-arm’d, and Trojans of equestrian fame.

Swift Iris, at her side, her thus address’d.150

Haste, dearest nymph! a wondrous sight behold!

Greeks brazen-mail’d, and Trojans steed-renown’d.

So lately on the cruel work of Mars

Intent and hot for mutual havoc, sit

Silent; the war hath paused, and on his shield155

Each leans, his long spear planted at his side.

Paris and Menelaus, warrior bold,

With quivering lances shall contend for thee,

And thou art his who conquers; his for ever.

So saying, the Goddess into Helen’s soul160

Sweetest desire infused to see again

Her former Lord, her parents, and her home.

At once o’ermantled with her snowy veil

She started forth, and as she went let fall

A tender tear; not unaccompanied165

She went, but by two maidens of her train

Attended, Æthra, Pittheus’ daughter fair,

And soft-eyed Clymene. Their hasty steps

Convey’d them quickly to the Scæan gate.

There Priam, Panthous, Clytius, Lampus sat,170

Thymoetes, Hicetaon, branch of Mars,

Antenor and Ucalegon the wise,

All, elders of the people; warriors erst,

But idle now through age, yet of a voice

Still indefatigable as the fly’s[10]175

Which perch’d among the boughs sends forth at noon

Through all the grove his slender ditty sweet.

Such sat those Trojan leaders on the tower,

Who, soon as Helen on the steps they saw,

In accents quick, but whisper’d, thus remark’d.180

Trojans and Grecians wage, with fair excuse,

Long war for so much beauty.[11] Oh, how like

In feature to the Goddesses above!

Pernicious loveliness! Ah, hence away,

Resistless as thou art and all divine,185

Nor leave a curse to us, and to our sons.

So they among themselves; but Priam call’d

Fair Helen to his side.[12] My daughter dear!

Come, sit beside me. Thou shalt hence discern

Thy former Lord, thy kindred and thy friends.190

I charge no blame on thee. The Gods have caused,

Not thou, this lamentable war to Troy.[13]

Name to me yon Achaian Chief for bulk

Conspicuous, and for port. Taller indeed

I may perceive than he; but with these eyes195

Saw never yet such dignity, and grace.

Declare his name. Some royal Chief he seems.

To whom thus Helen, loveliest of her sex,

My other Sire! by me for ever held

In reverence, and with filial fear beloved!200

Oh that some cruel death had been my choice,

Rather than to abandon, as I did,

All joys domestic, matrimonial bliss,

Brethren, dear daughter, and companions dear,

A wanderer with thy son. Yet I alas!205

Died not, and therefore now, live but to weep.

But I resolve thee. Thou behold’st the son

Of Atreus, Agamemnon, mighty king,

In arms heroic, gracious in the throne,

And, (though it shame me now to call him such,)210

By nuptial ties a brother once to me.

Then him the ancient King-admiring, said.

Oh blest Atrides, happy was thy birth,

And thy lot glorious, whom this gallant host

So numerous, of the sons of Greece obey!215

To vine-famed Phrygia, in my days of youth,

I journey’d; many Phrygians there I saw,

Brave horsemen, and expert; they were the powers

Of Otreus and of Mygdon, godlike Chief,

And on the banks of Sangar’s stream encamp’d.220

I march’d among them, chosen in that war

Ally of Phrygia, and it was her day

Of conflict with the man-defying race,

The Amazons; yet multitudes like these

Thy bright-eyed Greeks, I saw not even there.225

The venerable King observing next

Ulysses, thus inquired. My child, declare

Him also. Shorter by the head he seems

Than Agamemnon, Atreus’ mighty son,

But shoulder’d broader, and of ampler chest;230

He hath disposed his armor on the plain,

But like a ram, himself the warrior ranks

Ranges majestic; like a ram full-fleeced

By numerous sheep encompass’d snowy-white.

To whom Jove’s daughter Helen thus replied.235

In him the son of old Laërtes know,

Ulysses; born in Ithaca the rude,

But of a piercing wit, and deeply wise.

Then answer thus, Antenor sage return’d.

Princess thou hast described him: hither once240

The noble Ithacan, on thy behalf

Ambassador with Menelaus, came:

Beneath my roof, with hospitable fare

Friendly I entertained them. Seeing then

Occasion opportune, I closely mark’d245

The genius and the talents of the Chiefs,

And this I noted well; that when they stood

Amid the assembled counsellors of Troy,

Then Menelaus his advantage show’d,

Who by the shoulders overtopp’d his friend.250

But when both sat, Ulysses in his air

Had more of state and dignity than he.

In the delivery of a speech address’d

To the full senate, Menelaus used

Few words, but to the matter, fitly ranged,255

And with much sweetness utter’d; for in loose

And idle play of ostentatious terms

He dealt not, thhugh he were the younger man.

But when the wise Ulysses from his seat

Had once arisen, he would his downcast eyes260

So rivet on the earth, and with a hand

That seem’d untutor’d in its use, so hold

His sceptre, swaying it to neither side,

That hadst thou seen him, thou hadst thought him, sure,

Some chafed and angry idiot, passion-fixt.265

Yet, when at length, the clear and mellow base

Of his deep voice brake forth, and he let fall

His chosen words like flakes of feather’d snow,

None then might match Ulysses; leisure, then,

Found none to wonder at his noble form.270

The third of whom the venerable king

Inquired, was Ajax.—Yon Achaian tall,

Whose head and shoulders tower above the rest,

And of such bulk prodigious—who is he?

Him answer’d Helen, loveliest of her sex.275

A bulwark of the Greeks. In him thou seest

Gigantic Ajax. Opposite appear

The Cretans, and among the Chiefs of Crete

stands, like a God, Idomeneus. Him oft

From Crete arrived, was Menelaüs wont280

To entertain; and others now I see,

Achaians, whom I could recall to mind,

And give to each his name; but two brave youths

I yet discern not; for equestrian skill

One famed, and one a boxer never foiled;285

My brothers; born of Leda; sons of Jove;

Castor and Pollux. Either they abide

In lovely Sparta still, or if they came,

Decline the fight, by my disgrace abash’d

And the reproaches which have fallen on me.[14]290

She said; but they already slept inhumed

In Lacedemon, in their native soil.

And now the heralds, through the streets of Troy

Charged with the lambs, and with a goat-skin filled

With heart-exhilarating wine prepared295

For that divine solemnity, return’d.

Idæus in his hand a beaker bore

Resplendent, with its fellow cups of gold,

And thus he summon’d ancient Priam forth.

Son of Laömedon, arise. The Chiefs300

Call thee, the Chiefs of Ilium and of Greece.

Descend into the plain. We strike a truce,

And need thine oath to bind it. Paris fights

With warlike Menelaüs for his spouse;

Their spears decide the strife. The conqueror wins305

Helen and all her treasures. We, thenceforth,

(Peace sworn and amity) shall dwell secure

In Troy, while they to Argos shall return

And to Achaia praised for women fair.

He spake, and Priam, shuddering, bade his train310

Prepare his steeds; they sedulous obey’d.

First, Priam mounting, backward stretch’d the reins;

Antenor, next, beside him sat, and through

The Scæan gate they drove into the plain.

Arriving at the hosts of Greece and Troy315

They left the chariot, and proceeded both

Into the interval between the hosts.

Then uprose Agamemnon, and uprose

All-wise Ulysses. Next, the heralds came

Conspicuous forward, expediting each320

The ceremonial; they the beaker fill’d

With wine, and to the hands of all the kings

Minister’d water. Agamemnon then

Drawing his dagger which he ever bore

Appendant to his heavy falchion’s sheath,325

Cut off the forelocks of the lambs,[15] of which

The heralds gave to every Grecian Chief

A portion, and to all the Chiefs of Troy.

Then Agamemnon raised his hands, and pray’d.

Jove, Father, who from Ida stretchest forth330

Thine arm omnipotent, o’erruling all,

And thou, all-seeing and all-hearing Sun,

Ye Rivers, and thou conscious Earth, and ye

Who under earth on human kind avenge

Severe, the guilt of violated oaths,335

Hear ye, and ratify what now we swear!

Should Paris slay the hero amber-hair’d,

My brother Menelaüs, Helen’s wealth

And Helen’s self are his, and all our host

Shall home return to Greece; but should it chance340

That Paris fall by Menelaüs’ hand,

Then Troy shall render back what she detains,

With such amercement as is meet, a sum

To be remember’d in all future times.

Which penalty should Priam and his sons345

Not pay, though Paris fall, then here in arms

I will contend for payment of the mulct

My due, till, satisfied, I close the war.

He said, and with his ruthless steel the lambs

Stretch’d panting all, but soon they ceased to pant,350

For mortal was the stroke.[16] Then drawing forth

Wine from the beaker, they with brimming cups

Hail’d the immortal Gods, and pray’d again,

And many a Grecian thus and Trojan spake.

All-glorious Jove, and ye the powers of heaven,355

Whoso shall violate this contract first,

So be the brains of them and of their sons

Pour’d out, as we this wine pour on the earth,

And may their wives bring forth to other men!

So they: but them Jove heard not. Then arose360

Priam, the son of Dardanus, and said,

Hear me, ye Trojans and ye Greeks well-arm’d.

Hence back to wind-swept Ilium I return,

Unable to sustain the sight, my son

With warlike Menelaüs match’d in arms.365

Jove knows, and the immortal Gods, to whom

Of both, this day is preordain’d the last.

So spake the godlike monarch, and disposed

Within the royal chariot all the lambs;

Then, mounting, check’d the reins; Antenor next370

Ascended, and to Ilium both return’d.

First, Hector and Ulysses, noble Chief,

Measured the ground; then taking lots for proof

Who of the combatants should foremost hurl

His spear, they shook them in a brazen casque;375

Meantime the people raised their hands on high,

And many a Grecian thus and Trojan prayed.

Jove, Father, who on Ida seated, seest

And rulest all below, glorious in power!

Of these two champions, to the drear abodes380

Of Ades him appoint who furnish’d first

The cause of strife between them, and let peace

Oath-bound, and amity unite the rest!

So spake the hosts; then Hector shook the lots,

Majestic Chief, turning his face aside.385

Forth sprang the lot of Paris. They in ranks

Sat all, where stood the fiery steeds of each,

And where his radiant arms lay on the field.

Illustrious Alexander his bright arms

Put on, fair Helen’s paramour. [17]He clasp’d390

His polish’d greaves with silver studs secured;

His brother’s corselet to his breast he bound,

Lycaon’s, apt to his own shape and size,

And slung athwart his shoulders, bright emboss’d,

His brazen sword; his massy buckler broad395

He took, and to his graceful head his casque

Adjusted elegant, which, as he moved,

Its bushy crest waved dreadful; last he seized,

Well fitted to his gripe, his ponderous spear.

Meantime the hero Menelaüs made400

Like preparation, and his arms put on.

When thus, from all the multitude apart,

Both combatants had arm’d, with eyes that flash’d

Defiance, to the middle space they strode,

Trojans and Greeks between. Astonishment405

Seized all beholders. On the measured ground

Full near they stood, each brandishing on high

His massy spear, and each was fiery wroth.

First, Alexander his long-shadow’d spear

Sent forth, and on his smooth shield’s surface struck410

The son of Atreus, but the brazen guard

Pierced not, for at the disk, with blunted point

Reflex, his ineffectual weapon stay’d.

Then Menelaüs to the fight advanced

Impetuous, after prayer offer’d to Jove.[18]415

King over all! now grant me to avenge

My wrongs on Alexander; now subdue

The aggressor under me; that men unborn

May shudder at the thought of faith abused,

And hospitality with rape repaid.420

He said, and brandishing his massy spear,

Dismiss’d it. Through the burnish’d buckler broad

Of Priam’s son the stormy weapon flew,

Transpierced his costly hauberk, and the vest

Ripp’d on his flank; but with a sideward bend425

He baffled it, and baulk’d the dreadful death.

Then Menelaüs drawing his bright blade,

Swung it aloft, and on the hairy crest

Smote him; but shiver’d into fragments small

The falchion at the stroke fell from his hand.430

Vexation fill’d him; to the spacious heavens

He look’d, and with a voice of wo exclaim’d—

Jupiter! of all powers by man adored

To me most adverse! Confident I hoped

Revenge for Paris’ treason, but my sword435

Is shivered, and I sped my spear in vain.

So saying, he sprang on him, and his long crest

Seized fast; then, turning, drew him by that hold

Toward the Grecian host. The broider’d band

That underbraced his helmet at the chin,440

Strain’d to his smooth neck with a ceaseless force,

Chok’d him; and now had Menelaus won

Deathless renown, dragging him off the field,

But Venus, foam-sprung Goddess, feeling quick

His peril imminent, snapp’d short the brace445

Though stubborn, by a slaughter’d[19] ox supplied,

And the void helmet follow’d as he pull’d.

That prize the Hero, whirling it aloft,

Threw to his Greeks, who caught it and secured,

Then with vindictive strides he rush’d again450

On Paris, spear in hand; but him involved

In mist opaque Venus with ease divine

Snatch’d thence, and in his chamber placed him, fill’d

With scents odorous, spirit-soothing sweets.

Nor stay’d the Goddess, but at once in quest455

Of Helen went; her on a lofty tower

She found, where many a damsel stood of Troy,

And twitch’d her fragrant robe. In form she seem’d

An ancient matron, who, while Helen dwelt

In Lacedæmon, her unsullied wool460

Dress’d for her, faithfullest of all her train.

Like her disguised the Goddess thus began.

Haste—Paris calls thee—on his sculptured couch,

(Sparkling alike his looks and his attire)

He waits thy wish’d return. Thou wouldst not dream465

That he had fought; he rather seems prepared

For dance, or after dance, for soft repose.

So saying, she tumult raised in Helen’s mind.

Yet soon as by her symmetry of neck,

By her love-kindling breasts and luminous eyes470

She knew the Goddess, her she thus bespake.

Ah whence, deceitful deity! thy wish

Now to ensnare me? Wouldst thou lure me, say,

To some fair city of Mæonian name

Or Phrygian, more remote from Sparta still?475

Hast thou some human favorite also there?

Is it because Atrides hath prevailed

To vanquish Paris, and would bear me home

Unworthy as I am, that thou attempt’st

Again to cheat me? Go thyself—sit thou480

Beside him—for his sake renounce the skies;

Watch him, weep for him; till at length his wife

He deign to make thee, or perchance his slave.

I go not (now to go were shame indeed)

To dress his couch; nor will I be the jest485

Of all my sex in Ilium. Oh! my griefs

Are infinite, and more than I can bear.

To whom, the foam-sprung Goddess, thus incensed.

Ah wretch! provoke not me; lest in my wrath

Abandoning thee, I not hate thee less490

Than now I fondly love thee, and beget

Such detestation of thee in all hearts,

Grecian and Trojan, that thou die abhorr’d.

The Goddess ceased. Jove’s daughter, Helen, fear’d,

And, in her lucid veil close wrapt around,495

Silent retired, of all those Trojan dames

Unseen, and Venus led, herself, the way.

Soon then as Alexander’s fair abode

They reach’d, her maidens quick their tasks resumed,

And she to her own chamber lofty-roof’d500

Ascended, loveliest of her sex. A seat

For Helen, daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d,

To Paris opposite, the Queen of smiles

Herself disposed; but with averted eyes

She sat before him, and him keen reproach’d.505

Thou hast escaped.—Ah would that thou hadst died

By that heroic arm, mine husband’s erst!

Thou once didst vaunt thee in address and strength

Superior. Go then—challenge yet again

The warlike Menelaüs forth in fight.510

But hold. The hero of the amber locks

Provoke no more so rashly, lest the point

Of his victorious spear soon stretch thee dead.

She ended, to whom Paris thus replied.

Ah Helen, wound me not with taunt severe!515

Me, Menelaüs, by Minerva’s aid,

Hath vanquish’d now, who may hereafter, him.

We also have our Gods. But let us love.

For never since the day when thee I bore

From pleasant Lacedæmon o’er the waves520

To Cranäe’s fair isle, and first enjoy’d

Thy beauty, loved I as I love thee now,

Or felt such sweetness of intense desire.

He spake, and sought his bed, whom follow’d soon

Jove’s daughter, reconciled to his embrace.525

But Menelaüs like a lion ranged

The multitude, inquiring far and near

For Paris lost. Yet neither Trojan him

Nor friend of Troy could show, whom, else, through love

None had conceal’d, for him as death itself530

All hated, but his going none had seen.

Amidst them all then spake the King of men.

Trojans, and Dardans, and allies of Troy!

The warlike Menelaüs hath prevailed,

As is most plain. Now therefore bring ye forth535

Helen with all her treasures, also bring

Such large amercement as is meet, a sum

To be remember’d in all future times.

So spake Atrides, and Achaia’s host

With loud applause confirm’d the monarch’s claim.540

BOOK IV.

ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTH BOOK.

In a Council of the Gods, a dispute arises between Jupiter and Juno,

which is at last compromised, Jove consenting to dispatch Minerva with

a charge to incite some Trojan to a violation of the truce. Minerva

descends for that purpose, and in the form of Laodocus, a son of Priam,

exhorts Pandarus to shoot at Menelaus, and succeeds. Menelaus is

wounded, and Agamemnon having consigned him to the care of Machaon,

goes forth to perform the duties of commander-in-chief, in the

encouragement of his host to battle. The battle begins.

BOOK IV.

Now, on the golden floor of Jove’s abode

The Gods all sat consulting; Hebe them,

Graceful, with nectar served;[1] they pledging each

His next, alternate quaff’d from cups of gold,

And at their ease reclined, look’d down on Troy,5

When, sudden, Jove essay’d by piercing speech

Invidious, to enkindle Juno’s ire.

Two Goddesses on Menelaus’ part

Confederate stand, Juno in Argos known,

Pallas in Alalcomene;[2] yet they10

Sequester’d sit, look on, and are amused.

Not so smile-loving Venus; she, beside

Her champion station’d, saves him from his fate,

And at this moment, by her aid, he lives.

But now, since victory hath proved the lot15

Of warlike Menelaus, weigh ye well

The matter; shall we yet the ruinous strife

Prolong between the nations, or consent

To give them peace? should peace your preference win,

And prove alike acceptable to all,20

Stand Ilium, and let Menelaus bear

Helen of Argos back to Greece again.

He ended; Juno and Minerva heard,

Low-murmuring deep disgust; for side by side

They forging sat calamity to Troy.25

Minerva through displeasure against Jove

Nought utter’d, for with rage her bosom boil’d;

But Juno check’d not hers, who thus replied.

What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove most severe!

How? wouldst thou render fruitless all my pains?30

The sweat that I have pour’d? my steeds themselves

Have fainted while I gather’d Greece in arms

For punishment of Priam and his sons.

Do it. But small thy praise shall be in heaven.

Then her the Thunderer answer’d sore displeased.35

Ah shameless! how have Priam and his sons

So much transgress’d against thee, that thou burn’st

With ceaseless rage to ruin populous Troy?

Go, make thine entrance at her lofty gates,

Priam and all his house, and all his host40

Alive devour; then, haply, thou wilt rest;

Do even as thou wilt, that this dispute

Live not between us a consuming fire

For ever. But attend; mark well the word.

When I shall also doom in future time45

Some city to destruction, dear to thee,

Oppose me not, but give my fury way

As I give way to thine, not pleased myself,

Yet not unsatisfied, so thou be pleased.

For of all cities of the sons of men,50

And which the sun and stars from heaven behold,

Me sacred Troy most pleases, Priam me

Most, and the people of the warrior King.

Nor without cause. They feed mine altar well;

Libation there, and steam of savory scent55

Fail not, the tribute which by lot is ours.

Him answer’d, then, the Goddess ample-eyed,[3]

Majestic Juno: Three fair cities me,

Of all the earth, most interest and engage,

Mycenæ for magnificence renown’d,60

Argos, and Sparta. Them, when next thy wrath

Shall be inflamed against them, lay thou waste;

I will not interpose on their behalf;

Thou shalt not hear me murmur; what avail

Complaint or force against thy matchless arm?65

Yet were it most unmeet that even I

Should toil in vain; I also boast a birth

Celestial; Saturn deeply wise, thy Sire,

Is also mine; our origin is one.

Thee I acknowledge Sovereign, yet account70

Myself entitled by a twofold claim

To veneration both from Gods and men,

The daughter of Jove’s sire, and spouse of Jove.

Concession mutual therefore both thyself

Befits and me, whom when the Gods perceive75

Disposed to peace, they also shall accord.

Come then.—To yon dread field dispatch in haste

Minerva, with command that she incite

The Trojans first to violate their oath

By some fresh insult on the exulting Greeks.80

So Juno; nor the sire of all refused,

But in wing’d accents thus to Pallas spake.

Begone; swift fly to yonder field; incite

The Trojans first to violate their oath

By some fresh insult on the exulting Greeks.85

The Goddess heard, and what she wish’d, enjoin’d,

Down-darted swift from the Olympian heights,

In form a meteor, such as from his hand

Not seldom Jove dismisses, beaming bright

And breaking into stars, an omen sent90

To mariners, or to some numerous host.

Such Pallas seem’d, and swift descending, dropp’d

Full in the midst between them. They with awe

That sign portentous and with wonder view’d,

Achaians both and Trojans, and his next95

The soldier thus bespake. Now either war

And dire hostility again shall flame,

Or Jove now gives us peace. Both are from Jove.

So spake the soldiery; but she the form

Taking of brave Laodocus, the son100

Of old Antenor, throughout all the ranks

Sought godlike Pandarus.[4] Ere long she found

The valiant son illustrious of Lycaon,

Standing encompass’d by his dauntless troops,

Broad-shielded warriors, from Æsepus’ stream105

His followers; to his side the Goddess came,

And in wing’d accents ardent him bespake.

Brave offspring of Lycaon, is there hope

That thou wilt hear my counsel? darest thou slip

A shaft at Menelaus? much renown110

Thou shalt and thanks from all the Trojans win,

But most of all, from Paris, prince of Troy.

From him illustrious gifts thou shalt receive

Doubtless, when Menelaus he shall see

The martial son of Atreus by a shaft115

Subdued of thine, placed on his funeral pile.

Come. Shoot at Menelaus, glorious Chief!

But vow to Lycian Phœbus bow-renown’d

A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock,

To fair Zeleia’s[5] walls once safe restored.120

So Pallas spake, to whom infatuate he

Listening, uncased at once his polished bow.[6]

That bow, the laden brows of a wild goat

Salacious had supplied; him on a day

Forth-issuing from his cave, in ambush placed125

He wounded with an arrow to his breast

Dispatch’d, and on the rock supine he fell.

Each horn had from his head tall growth attain’d,

Full sixteen palms; them shaven smooth the smith

Had aptly join’d, and tipt their points with gold.130

That bow he strung, then, stooping, planted firm

The nether horn, his comrades bold the while

Screening him close with shields, lest ere the prince

Were stricken, Menelaus brave in arms,

The Greeks with fierce assault should interpose.135

He raised his quiver’s lid; he chose a dart

Unflown, full-fledged, and barb’d with pangs of death.

He lodged in haste the arrow on the string,

And vow’d to Lycian Phœbus bow-renown’d

A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock,140

To fair Zeleia’s walls once safe restored.

Compressing next nerve and notch’d arrow-head

He drew back both together, to his pap

Drew home the nerve, the barb home to his bow,

And when the horn was curved to a wide arch,145

He twang’d it. Whizz’d the bowstring, and the reed

Leap’d off, impatient for the distant throng.

Thee, Menelaus, then the blessed Gods

Forgat not; Pallas huntress of the spoil,

Thy guardian then, baffled the cruel dart.150

Far as a mother wafts the fly aside[7]

That haunts her slumbering babe, so far she drove

Its course aslant, directing it herself

Against the golden clasps that join’d his belt;

For there the doubled hauberk interposed.155

The bitter arrow plunged into his belt.

It pierced his broider’d belt, stood fixt within

His twisted hauberk, nor the interior quilt,

Though penetrable least to arrow-points

And his best guard, withheld it, but it pass’d160

That also, and the Hero’s skin inscribed.

Quick flowed a sable current from the wound.

As when a Carian or Mæonian maid

Impurples ivory ordain’d to grace

The cheek of martial steed; safe stored it lies,165

By many a Chief desired, but proves at last

The stately trapping of some prince,[8] the pride

Of his high pamper’d steed, nor less his own;

Such, Menelaus, seem’d thy shapely thighs,

Thy legs, thy feet, stained with thy trickling blood.170

Shudder’d King Agamemnon when he saw

The blood fast trickling from the wound, nor less

Shudder’d himself the bleeding warrior bold.

But neck and barb observing from the flesh

Extant, he gather’d heart, and lived again.175

The royal Agamemnon, sighing, grasp’d

The hand of Menelaus, and while all

Their followers sigh’d around them, thus began.[9]