Zeus awakening, biddeth Apollo revive Hector, and restore the fortunes
of the Trojans. Fire is thrown on the ship of Protesilaos.
Now when they had sped in flight across the palisade and trench, and
many were overcome at the hands of the Danaans, the rest were stayed,
and abode beside the chariots in confusion, and pale with terror, and
Zeus awoke, on the peaks of Ida, beside Hera of the golden throne. Then
he leaped up, and stood, and beheld the Trojans and Achaians, those in
flight, and these driving them on from the rear, even the Argives, and
among them the prince Poseidon. And Hector he saw lying on the plain,
and around him sat his comrades, and he was gasping with difficult
breath, and his mind wandering, and was vomiting blood, for it was not
the weakest of the Achaians that had smitten him. Beholding him, the
father of men and gods had pity on him, and terribly he spoke to Hera,
with fierce look: “O thou ill to deal with, Hera, verily it is thy
crafty wile that has made noble Hector cease from the fight, and has
terrified the host. Nay, but yet I know not whether thou mayst not be
the first to reap the fruits of thy cruel treason, and I beat thee with
stripes. Dost thou not remember, when thou wert hung from on high, and
from thy feet I suspended two anvils,* and round thy hands fastened a
golden bond that might not be broken? And thou didst hang in the clear
air and the clouds, and the gods were wroth in high Olympus, but they
could not come round and unloose thee.” Nay, whomsoever I might take, I
would clutch, and throw from the threshold, to come fainting to the
earth, yd verily not even so did the ceaseless sorrow leave my soul
free: sorrow for godlike Herakles. Him didst thou drive, when thou
hadst suborned the tempest, with the help of the North Wind, over the
unvintaged deep, out of thine evil counsel, and then didst carry him
away to well-peopled Kos. Him did I rescue thence, and lead again to
Argos, the pastureland of horses, after his much labour. Of these
things will I mind thee again, that thou mayst cease from thy wiles,
that thou mayst know if it profit thee at all, the dalliance and the
love, wherein thou didst lie with me, when thou hadst come from among
the gods, and didst beguile me.”
* Or, “thunderbolts”; _i.e._ meteoric stones.
So spake he, and the ox-eyed lady Hera shuddered, and spake unto him
winged words, saying: “Let earth now be witness hereto, and wide heaven
above, and that falling water of Styx, the greatest oath and the most
terrible to the blessed gods, and thine own sacred head, and our own
bridal bed, whereby never would I forswear myself, that not by my will
does earth-shaking Poseidon trouble the Trojans and Hector, and succour
them of the other part. Nay, it is his own soul that urgeth and
commandeth him, and he had pity on the Achaians, when he beheld them
hard pressed beside the ships. I would even counsel him also to go even
where thou, lord of the storm-cloud, mayst lead him.”
So spake she, and the father of gods and men smiled, and answering her
he spake winged words: “If thou, of a truth, O ox-eyed lady Hera,
wouldst hereafter abide of one mind with me among the immortal gods,
thereon would Poseidon, howsoever much his wish be contrariwise,
quickly turn his mind otherwhere, after thy heart and mine. But if
indeed thou speakest the truth and soothly, go thou now among the
tribes of the gods, and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, the
renowned archer, that Iris may go among the host of mail-clad Achaians
and tell Poseidon the prince to cease from the war, and get him unto
his own house. But let Phoebus Apollo spur Hector on to the war, and
breathe strength into him again, and make him forget his anguish, that
now wears down his heart, and drive the Achaians back again, when he
hath stirred in them craven fear. Let them flee and fall among the
many-benched ships of Achilles son of Peleus, and he shall rouse his
own comrade, Patroklos; and him shall renowned Hector slay with the
spear, in front of Ilios, after that he has slain many other youths,
and among them my son, noble Sarpedon. In wrath therefor shall goodly
Achilles slay Hector. From that hour verily will I cause a new pursuit
from the ships, that shall endure continually, even until the Achaians
take steep Ilios, through the counsels of Athene. But before that hour
neither do I cease in my wrath, nor will I suffer any other of the
Immortals to help the Danaans there, before I accomplish that desire of
the son of Peleus, as I promised him at the first, and confirmed the
same with a nod of my head, on that day when the goddess Thetis clasped
my knees, imploring me to honour Achilles, the sacker of cities.”
So spake he, nor did the white-armed goddess Hera disobey him, and she
sped down from the hills of Ida to high Olympus. And even as when the
mind of a man darts speedily, of one that hath travelled over far
lands, and considers in his wise heart, “Would that I were here or
there,” and he thinketh him of many things, so swiftly fled she in her
eagerness, the lady Hera, and came to steep Olympus, and went among the
gathering of the immortal gods in the house of Zeus, and when they
beheld her they all rose up together, and held out their cups to her in
welcome. The others she left alone, but took the cup of Themis of the
fair cheeks, for she was the first that came running to meet her, and
speaking winged words accosted her: “Hera, wherefore hast thou come?
thou seemest like one confounded; verily the son of Kronos hath made
thee adread, thine own husband.”
Then the white-armed goddess Hera answered her, saying: “Ask me not
concerning this, O goddess Themis; thyself knowest it, how overweening
is his heart, and unyielding. But do thou begin the equal banquet of
the gods in the halls, and thus shalt thou hear among all the
Immortals, even what evil deeds Zeus declareth. Nay, methinks, not
equally will it delight the minds of all, neither of gods nor mortals,
if even now any still sit with pleasure at the feast.”
So spake the lady Hera, and sat her down, while the gods were heavy at
heart in the hall of Zeus. And she laughed with her lips, but her
forehead above her dark brows was not gladdened, and indignantly she
spake among them all: “Witless that we are to be wroth in our folly
against Zeus! Even still we are eager to draw nigh to him, and let him
from his will, by word or deed, but he sits apart and careth not, nor
takes any thought thereof, for he deems that among the immortal gods he
is manifestly pre-eminent in force and might. Wherefore do ye content
yourselves with whatsoever sorrow he sends on each of you. Already,
methinks, has sorrow been wrought for Ares, for his son has fallen in
the fight, even the dearest of men, Askalaphos, that dread Ares deemeth
to be verily his own.”
So spake she, but Ares smote his strong thighs with his hands
flatlings, and sorrowing he spake: “Hold me not now to blame, ye that
keep the mansions of Olympus, if I avenge the slaying of my son, and go
to the ships of the Achaians, even if it be my doom to be smitten with
the bolt of Zeus, and lie among the dead, in the dust and blood.”
So spake he, and bade yoke his horses, Fear and Dread, and himself did
on his shining harness. Thereby would yet a greater and more implacable
wrath and anger have been caused between Zeus and the Immortals, had
not Athene, in terror for the sake of all the gods, leaped out through
the doorway, and left the throne wherein she sat, and taken from Ares’
head the helmet, and the shield from his shoulders, and drawn the spear
of bronze from his stalwart hand, and set it apart, and then with words
she rebuked the impetuous Ares: “Mad that thou art, and distraught of
wit—this is thy bane! Verily thou hast ears and hearest not, and
perished have thine understanding and thine awe. Hearest thou not what
she saith, the white-armed goddess Hera, that even now is come from
Olympian Zeus? Dost thou wish both thyself to fill up the measure of
mischief and so return to Olympus ruefully, of necessity, and for all
the other gods to sow the seed of a great wrong? For straightway will
he leave the high-hearted Trojans and the Achaians, and to us will he
come to make tumult in Olympus: and he will clutch us each in turn, the
blameless with the guilty. Wherefore now again I bid thee to abate
thine anger for thy son, for already many a man stronger than he, and
more hardy of his hands, has fallen, or yet will fall; and a hard thing
it is to save the lineage and offspring of all men.”
So spake she, and made impetuous Ares sit down on his throne. But Hera
called Apollo without the hall and Iris, that is the messenger of the
immortal gods, and she spake winged words, and addressed them, saying:
“Zeus bids you go to Ida as swiftly as may be, and when ye have gone,
and looked on the face of Zeus, do ye whatsoever he shall order and
command.”
So spake she, and returned again, the lady Hera, and sat down on her
throne, and they flew forward speedily, and came to many-fountained
Ida, mother of wild beasts, and found far-seeing Zeus seated on topmost
Gargaros, and round him a fragrant cloud was circled like a crown. And
these twain came before the face of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, and stood
there, and he was no wise displeased at heart when he beheld them, for
that speedily they had obeyed the words of his dear wife. And to Iris
first he spake winged words: “Go, get thee, swift Iris, to the prince
Poseidon, and tell him all these things, nor be a false messenger.
Command him to cease from war and battle, and to go among the tribes of
the gods, or into the bright sea. But if he will not obey my words, but
will hold me in no regard, then let him consider in his heart and mind,
lest he dare not for all his strength to abide me when I come against
him, since I deem me to be far mightier than he, and elder born. But
this his heart feareth not,—to call himself the peer of me whom even
the other gods do hold in dread.”
So spake he, nor did the wind-footed fleet Iris disobey him, but went
down the hills of Ida to sacred Ilios. And as when snow or chill hail
fleets from the clouds beneath the stress of the North Wind born in the
clear air, so fleetly she fled in her eagerness, swift Iris, and drew
near the renowned Earth-shaker and spake to him, saying: “A certain
message to thee, O dark-haired embracer of the earth, have I come
hither to bring from aegis-bearing Zeus. He biddeth thee cease from the
battle and war, and go among the tribes of the gods, or into the bright
sea. And if thou wilt not obey his word, but wilt hold him in no
regard, he threatens that even himself will come hither against thee in
battle, and he biddeth thee avoid thee out of his hands since he
deemeth him far mightier than thou, and elder born, but thy heart
feareth not to call thyself the peer of him whom even the other gods do
hold in dread.”
Then, in great displeasure the renowned Shaker of the earth answered
her: “Out on it, verily now, for as strong as he is, he hath spoken
over-haughtily, if indeed he will subdue by force, against my will, me
that am his equal in honour. For three brethren are we, and sons of
Kronos, whom Rhea bare, Zeus, and myself, and Hades is the third, the
ruler of the folk in the under-world. And in three lots are all things
divided, and each drew a domain of his own, and to me fell the hoary
sea, to be my habitation for ever, when we shook the lots: and Hades
drew the murky darkness, and Zeus the wide heaven, in clear air and
clouds, but the earth and high Olympus are yet common to all. Wherefore
no whit will I walk after the will of Zeus, but quietly let him abide,
for all his strength, in his third portion. And with the might of his
hands let him not strive to terrify me withal, as if I were a coward.
Better for him were it to threaten with terrible words his daughters
and his sons, that himself begat, who will perforce listen to whatso he
enjoins.”
Then the fleet wind-footed Iris answered him: “Is it indeed thy will, O
dark-haired embracer of the earth, that even thus I shall carry to Zeus
this message, hard and froward, or wilt thou turn thee at all, for the
hearts of the good may be turned? Thou knowest how the Erinyes do
always follow to aid the elder-born.”
Then he answered her again, Poseidon, the Shaker of the earth: “Goddess
Iris, most duly hast thou spoken this word. Yea, an excellent thing is
this, when the bearer of a message has a prudent wit. Yet this is a
terrible grief that cometh on heart and spirit, whenso any desireth to
upbraid with angry words his peer to whom fate hath assigned an equal
share with himself. But verily now will I yield, for all mine anger;
but another thing will I tell thee, and make this threat in my heart,
that if against my will, and the will of Athene, the driver of the
prey, and of Hera and Hermes, and prince Hephaistos, Zeus shall spare
steep Ilios, nor choose utterly to destroy it, and give great might to
the Argives, let him know this, that our wrath will be inappeasable.”
So spake the Shaker of the earth, and left the host of the Achaians,
and passed to the sea, and sank, and sorely they missed him, the heroes
of the Achaians.
Then Zeus, the gatherer of the clouds, spake to Apollo, saying: “Go
now, dear Phoebus, to Hector of the helm of bronze, for, lo, already
the embracer of the world, the Earthshaker, is gone to the bright sea,
shunning our utter wrath, ay, and had he not done so, even the others
would have heard of our strife, even the gods of the nether world, that
are with Kronos. But better far is this, both for me, and for him,
that, despite his wrath, he should yield to my hands, for not without
sweat would this strife have been accomplished. But do thou take in thy
hands the tasselled aegis, and shake it fiercely and affright the
Achaian heroes. But, thou Archer-God, let glorious Hector be thy care,
and rouse in him great wrath even till the Achaians come in their
flight to the ships, and the Hellespont. And from that moment will I
devise word and deed wherewithal the Achaians may take breath again
from their toil.”
So spake he, nor was Apollo deaf to the word of the Father, but he went
down the hills of Ida like a fleet falcon, the bane of doves, that is
the swiftest of flying things. And he found the son of wise-hearted
Priam, noble Hector, sitting up, no longer lying, for he had but late
got back his life, and knew the comrades around him, and his gasping
and his sweat had ceased, from the moment when the will of
aegis-bearing Zeus began to revive him. Then far-darting Apollo stood
near him, and spake to him: “Hector, son of Priam, why dost thou sit
fainting apart from the others? Is it perchance that some trouble
cometh upon thee?”
Then, with faint breath answered him Hector of the glancing helm: “Nay,
but who art thou, best of the gods, who enquirest of me face to face?
Dost thou not know that by the hindmost row of the ships of the
Achaians, Aias of the loud war-cry smote me on the breast with a stone,
as I was slaying his comrades, and made me cease from mine impetuous
might? And verily I deemed that this very day I should pass to the
dead, and the house of Hades, when I had gasped my life away.”
Then prince Apollo the Far-darter answered him again: “Take courage
now, so great an ally hath the son of Kronos sent thee out of Ida, to
stand by thee and defend thee, even Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword,
me who of old defend thee, thyself and the steep citadel. But come now
bid thy many charioteers drive their swift steeds against the hollow
ships, and I will go before and make smooth all the way for the
chariots, and will put to flight the Achaian heroes.”
So he spake, and breathed great might into the shepherd of the host,
and even as when a stalled horse, full fed at the manger, breaks his
tether and speedeth at the gallop over the plain exultingly, being wont
to bathe in the fair-flowing stream, and holds his head on high, and
the mane floweth about his shoulders, and he trusteth in his glory, and
nimbly his knees bear him to the haunts and pasture of the mares, even
so Hector lightly moved his feet and knees, urging on his horsemen,
when he heard the voice of the god. But as when hounds and country folk
pursue a horned stag, or a wild goat, that steep rock and shady wood
save from them, nor is it their lot to find him, but at their clamour a
bearded lion hath shown himself on the way, and lightly turned them all
despite their eagerness, even so the Danaans for a while followed on
always in their companies, smiting with swords and double-pointed
spears, but when they saw Hector going up and down the ranks of men,
then were they afraid, and the hearts of all fell to their feet.
Then to them spake Thoas, son of Andraimon, far the best of the
Aitolians, skilled in throwing the dart, and good in close fight, and
in council did few of the Achaians surpass him, when the young men were
striving in debate; with good intent he made harangue and spake among
them: “Alas, and verily a great marvel is this I behold with mine eyes,
how he hath again arisen, and hath avoided the Fates, even Hector.
Surely each of us hoped in his heart, that he had died beneath the hand
of Aias, son of Telamon. But some one of the gods again hath delivered
and saved Hector, who verily hath loosened the knees of many of the
Danaans, as methinks will befall even now, for not without the will of
loud-thundering Zeus doth he rise in the front ranks, thus eager for
battle. But come, as I declare let us all obey. Let us bid the throng
turn back to the ships, but let us as many as avow us to be the best in
the host, take our stand, if perchance first we may meet him, and hold
him off with outstretched spears, and he, methinks, for all his
eagerness, will fear at heart to enter into the press of the Danaans.”
So spake he, and they heard him eagerly, and obeyed him. They that were
with Aias and the prince Idomeneus, and Teukros, and Meriones, and
Meges the peer of Ares, called to all the best of the warriors and
sustained the fight with Hector and the Trojans, but behind them the
multitude returned to the ships of the Achaians.
Now the Trojans drave forward in close ranks, and with long strides
Hector led them, while in front of him went Phoebus Apollo, his
shoulders wrapped in cloud, and still he held the fell aegis, dread,
circled with a shaggy fringe, and gleaming, that Hephaistos the smith
gave to Zeus, to bear for the terror of men; with this in his hands did
he lead the host.
Now the Argives abode them in close ranks, and shrill the cry arose on
both sides, and the arrows leaped from the bow-strings, and many spears
from stalwart hands, whereof some stood fast in the flesh of young men
swift in fight, but many halfway, ere ever they reached the white
flesh, stuck in the ground, longing to glut themselves with flesh. Now
so long as Phoebus Apollo held the aegis unmoved in his hands, so long
the darts smote either side amain, and the folk fell. But when he
looked face to face on the Danaans of the swift steeds, and shook the
aegis, and himself shouted mightily, he quelled their heart in their
breast, and they forgot their impetuous valour. And as when two wild
beasts drive in confusion a herd of kine, or a great flock of sheep, in
the dark hour of black night, coming swiftly on them when the herdsman
is not by, even so were the Achaians terror-stricken and strengthless,
for Apollo sent a panic among them, but still gave renown to the
Trojans and Hector.
Then man fell upon man, when the close fight was scattered. Hector slew
Stichios, and Arkesilaos, one a leader of the mail-clad Boiotians, the
other the true comrade of great-hearted Menestheus. And Aineias slew
Medon and Iasos, whereof one was the bastard son of divine Oileus, even
Medon, brother of Aias, but he dwelt in Phylake, far from his own
country, for that he had slain a man the brother of his stepmother
Eriopis, the wife of Oileus. But Iasos was a leader of the Athenians,
and was called the son of Sphelos, the son of Boukolos. And Polydamas
slew Mekisteus, and Polites Echios in the forefront of the battle, and
noble Agenor overcame Klonios. And Deïochos as he was flying among the
fighters in the foremost rank Paris smote behind the lower part of the
shoulder, and drave the bronze clean through.
Now while they were stripping the spoil from these, even then the
Achaians were dashing into the delved fosse, and against the palisade,
fleeing hither and thither in their terror, and were driven perforce
within the wall, but Hector called with a loud shout to the Trojans:
“Make ye against the ships, and leave the bloody spoils. Whomsoever I
shall see apart from the ships on the other side, his death will I
there devise, nor forthwith shall his kinsmen and kinswomen lay him
dead on the funeral fire, but dogs shall tear him in front of our
citadel.”
So speaking he smote his horses on the shoulder with the lash, and
called aloud on the Trojans along the ranks. And they all cried out,
and level with his held the steeds that drew their chariots, with a
marvellous din, and in front of them Phoebus Apollo lightly dashed down
with his feet the banks of the deep ditch, and cast them into the midst
thereof, making a bridgeway long and wide as is a spear-cast, when a
man throws to make trial of his strength. Thereby the Trojans poured
forward in their battalions, while in their van Apollo held the
splendid aegis. And most easily did he cast down the wall of the
Achaians, as when a boy scatters the sand beside the sea, first making
sand buildings for sport in his childishness, and then again, in his
sport, confounding them with his feet and hands; even so didst thou,
archer Apollo, confound the long toil and labour of the Argives, and
among them rouse a panic fear.
So they were halting, and abiding by the ships, calling each to other;
and lifting their hands to all the gods did each man pray vehemently,
and chiefly prayed Gerenian Nestor, the Warden of the Achaians,
stretching his hand towards the starry heaven: “O father Zeus, if ever
any one of us in wheat-bearing Argos did burn to thee fat thighs of
bull or sheep, and prayed that he might return, and thou didst promise
and assent thereto, of these things be thou mindful, and avert,
Olympian, the pitiless day, nor suffer the Trojans thus to overcome the
Achaians.”
So spake he in his prayer, and Zeus, the Lord of counsel, thundered
loudly, hearing the prayers of the ancient son of Neleus.
But the Trojans when they heard the thunder of aegis-bearing Zeus,
rushed yet the more eagerly upon the Argives, and were mindful of the
joy of battle. And as when a great wave of the wide sea sweeps over the
bulwarks of a ship, the might of the wind constraining it, which
chiefly swells the waves, even so did the Trojans with a great cry
bound over the wall, and drave their horses on, and at the hindmost row
of the ships were fighting hand to hand with double-pointed spears, the
Trojans from the chariots, but the Achaians climbing up aloft, from the
black ships with long pikes that they had lying in the ships for battle
at sea, jointed pikes shod at the head with bronze.
Now Patroklos, as long as the Achaians and Trojans were fighting about
the wall, without the swift ships, sat in the hut of kindly Eurypylos,
and was making him glad with talk, and on his cruel wound was laying
herbs, to medicine his dark pain. But when he perceived the Trojans
rushing over the wall, and the din and flight of the Danaans began,
then did he groan, and smote his two thighs with his hands flatlings,
and sorrowing he spake: “Eurypylos, no longer at all may I abide with
thee here, though great thy need, for verily a great strife has arisen.
But thee let thy squire comfort, while I hasten to Achilles, that I may
urge him to join the battle. Who knows but with god’s help I may arouse
his spirit with my persuasion? and a good thing is the persuasion of a
friend.”
Even as he spake, his feet were bearing him away, but the Achaians abode the
onset of the Trojans steadfastly, yet availed not to drive them, though fewer
they were, from the ships: neither at all could the Trojans break the ranks of
the Danaans and pour among the huts and the ships. But even as the carpenter’s
line doth straighten the timber of a ship, in the hands of a cunning shipwright
that is well skilled in all craft, by the inspiration of Athene, so equally was
strained their war and battle, and divers of them were fighting about divers
ships. Now Hector made for renowned Aias, and they twain were warring about the
same ship, nor could the one drive back the other and set fire to the ship, nor
could the other thrust him away, since the god urged him on. There did glorious
Aias smite Kaletor son of Klytios in the breast with a spear, as he was
carrying fire against the ship, and he fell with a crash, and the torch dropped
from his hand. But Hector, when he beheld with his eyes his cousin fallen in
the dust, in front of the black ship, called with a loud cry to the Trojans and
Lykians: “Ye Trojans, and Lykians, and Dardanians that fight hand to hand,
slacken not at all from the battle in this strait, but save the son of Klytios;
lest the Achaians spoil him of his harness, now that he hath fallen in the
precinct of the ships.”
So spake he, and hurled at Aias with a shining spear and Aias he
missed, but Lykophron, the son of Mastor, the Kytherian squire of Aias,
who dwelt with him, having slain a man in divine Kythera, him Hector
smote on the head above the ear with the sharp bronze, even as he stood
near Aias; and backward in the dust he fell to earth from the stern of
the ship, and his limbs were loosened. And Aias shuddered, and spake to
his brother: “Dear Teukros, lo our true comrade hath been slain, even
the son of Mastor out of Kythera whom we honoured at home in the halls
like our own parents. Him hath great-hearted Hector slain. Where now
are thy swift shafts of doom, and the bow that Phoebus Apollo gave
thee?”
So spake he, and the other marked him, and ran, and came and stood
close by him, with the bended bow in his hand, and the quiver with the
arrows, and right swiftly he showered his shafts upon the Trojans. And
he smote Kleitos, the splendid son of Peisenor, the comrade of
Polydamas, the haughty son of Panthoos, with the reins in his hand, as
he was busy with the horses, for thither was he driving them where far
the most of the companies were broken in confusion, and he was showing
a favour to Hector and the Trojans. But swiftly on himself came his
bane, that not one of them could ward off from him, despite their
desire. For the woful arrow lighted on the back of his neck, and he
fell from the chariot, and back started his horses, shaking the empty
car. But straightway the prince Polydamas beheld it, and was the first
to come over against the horses. Them he gave to Astynoos, the son of
Protiaon, and enjoined him straitly to hold the horses close at hand,
and look on, and himself went back, and mingled with the foremost
fighters. Then Teukros aimed another shaft against Hector of the helm
of bronze, and would have made cease the battle by the ships of the
Achaians, if he had smitten him in his prowess and taken his life away.
But he escaped not the wise mind of Zeus, who guarded Hector, but took
away the praise from Teukros son of Telamon, for he brake the
well-twisted string on the goodly bow, even as Teukros was aiming at
Hector, and his arrow weighted with bronze wandered otherwhere, and the
bow fell from his hands. But Teukros shuddered, and spake to his
brother saying: “Alas, now verily the god breaks altogether the purpose
of our battle, in that he hath cast the bow from my hand, and hath
broken the newly twisted cord, which I bound on but this morning, that
it might sustain the many shafts that should leap from the bow.”
Then the great Aias son of Telamon answered him saying: “Yea, friend,
but let the bow and the many arrows lie, even so, since the god has
confounded them, being jealous of the Danaans, but take in thy hands a
long spear, and a shield on thy shoulder, and war with the Trojans, and
arouse the rest of the host. Verily not without labour, for all their
victory, let them take the well-timbered ships, nay, let us be mindful
of the delight of battle.”
So spake he, and Teukros set the bow within the huts again, but round
his shoulder he set a fourfold shield, and on his mighty head a
well-wrought helmet, [with a horse-hair plume, and terribly the crest
nodded above.] And he seized a strong spear, shod with sharp bronze,
and started on his way, and started and running right speedily stood
beside Aias.
But when Hector saw the artillery of Teukros harmed, he cried, with a
mighty shout, to the Trojans and Lykians: “Trojans, and Lykians, and
Dardanians that love close fight, play the man, my friends, and be
mindful of impetuous valour, here by the hollow ships, for I have seen
with mine eyes, how the artillery of the bravest warrior was harmed by
Zeus. And most easily discerned is the aid of Zeus to men both to
whomso he gives the meed of the greater honour and whom he would minish
and hath no will to aid, as even now he minisheth the strength of the
Argives, but us he aideth. But fight in your firm companies at the
ships, and whosoever of you be smitten by dart or blow and meeteth
death and fate, so let him die. Lo, it is no dishonourable thing for
him to fall fighting for his country, but his wife and his children
after him are safe, and his house unharmed, and his lot of land, if but
the Achaians fare with their ships to their dear native land.”
So spake he and aroused the might and the spirit of every man.
But Aias again, on the other side, called unto his comrades: “Shame on
you, Argives: now is one thing sure, either that we must perish
utterly, or be saved and drive the peril from the ships. Think ye that
if Hector of the glancing helm take the ships, ye will come by dry land
each to his own country? Hear ye not Hector exhorting all the host, so
eager, verily, is he to burn the ships? Truly he bids not men to the
dance but to battle. And for us there is no better counsel nor device,
but to put forth our hands and all our might in close combat. Better it
were to risk life or death, once for all, than long to be straitened in
the dread stress of battle, thus vainly by the ships, at the hands of
worse men than we be.”
So spake he, and aroused the might and the spirit of every man. Then
Hector slew Schedios, the son of Perimedes, a leader of the Phokians,
while Aias slew Laodamas, the leader of the foot-men, the noble son of
Antenor, and Polydamas slew Otos, of Kyllene, comrade of Phyleides, a
chief of the high-hearted Epeians. And Meges, when he beheld it rushed
on him, but Polydamas stooped downwards, and him Meges missed,—for
Apollo suffered not the son of Panthoos to be smitten among the
foremost fighters,—but he wounded Kroismos in the midst of the breast
with his spear. And he fell with a crash, and the other set to
stripping the harness from his shoulders. Then Dolops rose against him,
a warrior skilled, Dolops son of Lampos, whom Lampos Laomedon’s son
begat, his bravest son, well skilled in impetuous valour; who then
smote the midst of the shield of Phyleus’ son, setting on him at close
quarters. But his well-wrought corslet guarded him, the corslet that he
wore, fashioned of plates of mail. This corslet did Phyleus once bear
out of Ephyre, from the river Selleëis. For a guest friend of his had
given him the same, even Euphetes, king of men, that he might bear it
in war, a defence against foemen; and now from his son’s flesh too it
warded off his bane. Now Meges smote with sharpened spear at the
topmost crest of his helmet of bronze with horse-hair plume, and brake
off his plume of horse-hair, and it all fell earthward in the dust,
shining with its new scarlet dye. Now while he abode, and fought, and
yet hoped for victory, there came against him to the rescue warlike
Menelaos, and stood unmarked on his flank with his spear, and smote him
on the shoulder from behind, and the eager spear rushed through his
breast, in forward flight, and then fell he forward. Then the twain
made for him to strip from his shoulders his harness of bronze. But
Hector called to all his kinsmen, and first he chid the son of
Hiketaon, the strong Melanippos. Now till then was Melanippos wont to
feed his kine of trailing gait in Perkote, far off from hostile men,
but when the curved ships of the Danaans came, he returned to Ilios,
and excelled among the Trojans, and dwelt hard by Priam, who honoured
him equally with his own children. Him did Hector chide, and spake out,
and called him by name: “Melanippos, are we to be thus slack? Is thy
heart not moved at all, at sight of thy kinsman slain? Seest thou not
how they are busied about the harness of Dolops? nay, follow on, for no
longer may we fight with the Argives from afar, till either we slay
them, or they utterly take steep Ilios, and slay her people.”
So spake he, and led on, while the other followed him, a godlike man.
But the great Aias, son of Telamon, exhorted the Argives, saying: “O
friends, play the man, and take shame in your hearts; yea, have shame
each of the other’s contempt, in the strong battle. For of men thus
shamefast more escape than fall, but of men that flee cometh neither
glory, nor any avail.”
So spake he, and they likewise themselves were eager to drive off the
others, and laid up his word in their hearts, and begirt the ships with
a ring of bronze, while Zeus urged on the Trojans. Then Menelaos of the
loud war-cry exhorted Antilochos, “Antilochos, not one of the Achaians
is younger than thou, nor swifter of foot, nor strong as art thou in
fight; see now if thou canst leap out, and smite some man of the
Trojans.”
So spake he, and hasted back again, having heartened the other, and
forth Antilochos leaped from the foremost ranks, and cast his shining
spear, glancing all around him, and the Trojans gave ground before him
when he threw. And no vain dart threw he, but smote Melanippos, the
proud son of Hiketaon, as he was returning to the combat; on the breast
hard by the nipple he smote him. And he fell with a crash, and darkness
covered his eyes. And Antilochos set on like a hound that rushes upon a
wounded fawn, that the hunter hath aimed at and smitten as it leaped
from its lair, and hath loosened all its limbs. Even so upon thee,
Melanippos, leaped Antilochos steadfast in battle, to spoil thy
harness. But noble Hector marked him, and came running against him
through the battle. But Antilochos abode not his onset, swift warrior
though he was, but he fled, like a wild beast that hath done some evil
thing, having slain a dog, or a herdsman by the kine, and flees, before
the press of men can gather; even so fled the son of Nestor. Now the
Trojans and Hector, with wonderful clamour, showered upon him their
dolorous darts, but he turned, and stood, when he had reached the host
of his comrades.
Now the Trojans, like ravening lions, rushed upon the ships, fulfilling
the behests of Zeus, that ever was rousing their great wrath, but
softened the temper of the Argives, and took away their glory, while he
spurred on the others. For the heart of Zeus was set on giving glory to
Hector, the son of Priam, that withal he might cast fierce-blazing
fire, unwearied, upon the beaked ships, and so fulfil all the
presumptuous prayer of Thetis; wherefore wise-counselling Zeus awaited,
till his eyes should see the glare of a burning ship. For even from
that hour was he to ordain the backward chase of the Trojans from the
ships, and to give glory to the Danaans. With this design was he
rousing Hector, Priam’s son, that himself was right eager, against the
hollow ships. And he was raging, like Ares, the brandisher of the
spear, or as when ruinous fire rages on the hills, in the folds of a
deep woodland; and foam grew about his mouth, and his eyes shone
beneath his dreadful brows, and around the temples of Hector as he
fought his helm shook terribly. For Zeus out of heaven was his ally,
and gave him honour and renown, he being but one man against so many.
For short of life was he to be, yea, and already Pallas Athene was
urging against him the day of destiny, at the hand of the son of
Peleus. And fain he was to break the ranks of men, trying them
wheresoever he saw the thickest press, and the goodliest harness. Yet
not even so might he break them for all his eagerness. Nay, they stood
firm, and embattled like a steep rock and a great, hard by the hoary
sea, a rock that abides the swift paths of the shrill winds, and the
swelling waves that roar against it. Even so the Danaans steadfastly
abode the Trojans and fled not away. But Hector shining with fire on
all sides leaped on the throng, and fell upon them, as when beneath the
storm-clouds a fleet wave reared of the winds falls on a swift ship,
and she is all hidden with foam, and the dread blast of the wind roars
against the sail, and the sailors fear, and tremble in their hearts,
for by but a little way are they borne forth from death, even so the
spirit was torn in the breasts of the Achaians. But he came on like a
ravening lion making against the kine, that are feeding innumerable in
the low-lying land of a great marsh, and among them is a herdsman that
as yet knoweth not well how to fight with a wild beast concerning the
slaughter of the kine of crooked horn, and ever he paces abreast with
the rear or the van of the cattle, but the lion leaps into the midst,
and devours a cow, and they all tremble for fear, even so the Achaians
all were made terribly adread by Hector and father Zeus. But Hector
slew Periphetes of Mykene only, the dear son of Kopreus, that was wont
to go on the errands of Eurystheus, to the mighty Herakles. From him, a
far baser father, was born a better son, in all manner of excellence,
in fleetness of foot, and in war, and of mind he was wise among the
first of the Mykenaeans. He thus then yielded Hector the greater glory.
For as he turned back, he tripped against the rim of his shield which
he was wont to bear, a shield that reached to the feet, a fence against
javelins—thereon he stumbled, and fell back, and his helm rang
wrondrously around his temples as he fell. And Hector quickly spied it,
and ran up swiftly and stood by him, and fixed a spear in his breast,
and slew him hard by his dear comrades that could not aid him, despite
all their sorrow for their friend, for themselves greatly dreaded noble
Hector.
Now were they come between the ships, and the prows protected them, the
prows of the ships drawn up in the first line, but the Trojans rushed
in after them. And the Argives were compelled even of necessity to give
back from the foremost ships, yet there they abode in close rank beside
the huts, and did not scatter throughout the camp. For shame and fear
restrained them and ceaselessly they kept shouting each to other. Now
Gerenian Nestor above all, the Warden of the Achaians, implored each
man by the memory of them that begat him, and spake beseechingly: “O
friends, play the man, and set shame of other men’s contempt in hearts.
Let each also be mindful of children and wives, and of his possessions,
and of them that begat him, whether any have parents yet alive or they
be already dead. For their sake do I here beseech you, for the sake of
them that are not with us, to stand stoutly, nor turn to flight.”
So spake he, and roused each man’s courage and might, and from their
eyes Athene lifted the wondrous cloud of mist, and light came mightily
upon them from either side, both from the side of the ships, and from
the quarter of even-balanced war. And they beheld Hector of the loud
war-cry, and his comrades, both them that stood in the rear and were
not fighting, and all them that fought in the battle by the swift
ships.
Nor yet did it please the spirit of high-hearted Aias, to stand in the
place whereto the other sons of the Achaians had withdrawn, but he kept
faring with long strides, up and down the decks of the ships, and he
wielded in his hands a great pike for sea-battles, jointed with rings,
two and twenty cubits in length. And even as a man right well skilled
in horsemanship that couples four horses out of many, and hurrying them
from the plain towards a great city, drives along the public way, many
men and women marvelling on him, and firmly ever he leaps, and changes
his stand from horse to horse, while they fly along, even so Aias went
with long strides, over many a deck of the swift ships, and his voice
went up unto heaven. And always with terrible cries he summoned the
Danaans to defend the ships and the huts. Nor did Hector abide in the
throng of well-armed Trojans, but even as a tawny eagle rushes on a
flock of winged fowl, that are feeding by a riverside, a flock of
geese, or cranes, or long-necked swans, even so Hector made straight
for a black-beaked ship, rushing right on it, and mightily Zeus urged
him on from behind with his strong hand, and roused on the host along
with him.
So again keen battle was set by the ships. Thou wouldst deem that
unwearied and unworn they met each other in war, so eagerly they
fought. And in their striving they were minded thus; the Achaians
verily deemed that never would they flee from the danger, but perish
there, but the heart of each Trojan hoped in his breast, that they
should fire the ships, and slay the heroes of the Achaians. With these
imaginations they stood to each other, and Hector seized the stern of a
seafaring ship, a fair ship, swift on the brine, that had borne
Protesilaos to Troia, but brought him not back again to his own
country. Now round his ship the Achaians and Trojans warred on each
other hand to hand, nor far apart did they endure the flights of
arrows, nor of darts, but standing hard each by other, with one heart,
with sharp axes and hatchets they fought, and with great swords, and
double-pointed spears. And many fair brands, dark-scabbarded and
hilted, fell to the ground, some from the hands, some from off the
shoulders of warring men, and the black earth ran with blood. But
Hector, after that once he had seized the ship’s stern, left not his
hold, keeping the ensign in his hands, and he called to the Trojans:
“Bring fire, and all with one voice do ye raise the war-cry; now hath
Zeus given us the dearest day of all,—to take the ships that came
hither against the will of the gods, and brought many woes upon us, by
the cowardice of the elders, who withheld me when I was eager to fight
at the sterns of the ships, and kept back the host. But if even then
far-seeing Zeus did harm our wits, now he himself doth urge and command
us onwards.”
So spake he, and they set yet the fiercer on the Argives. And Aias no
longer abode their onset, for he was driven back by the darts, but he
withdrew a little,—thinking that now he should die,—on to the oarsman’s
bench of seven feet long, and he left the decks of the trim ship. There
then he stood on the watch, and with his spear he ever drave the
Trojans from the ships, whosoever brought unwearied fire, and ever he
shouted terribly, calling to the Danaans: “O friends, Danaan heroes,
men of Ares’ company, play the man, my friends, and be mindful of
impetuous valour. Do we deem that there be allies at our backs, or some
wall stronger than this to ward off death from men? Verily there is not
hard by any city arrayed with towers, whereby we might defend
ourselves, having a host that could turn the balance of battle. Nay,
but we are set down in the plain of the mailed men of Troy, with our
backs against the sea, and far off from our own land. Therefore is
safety in battle, and not in slackening from the fight.”
So spake he, and rushed on ravening for battle, with his keen spear.
And whosoever of the Trojans was coming against the ship with blazing
fire, to pleasure Hector at his urging, him would Aias wound, awaiting
him with his long spear, and twelve men in front of the ships at close
quarters did he wound.