How Achilles fought with the River, and chased the men of Troy within
their gates.
But when now they came unto the ford of the fair-flowing river, even
eddying Xanthos, whom immortal Zeus begat, there sundering them he
chased the one part to the plain toward the city, even where the
Achaians were flying in affright the day before, when glorious Hector
was in his fury—thither poured some in flight, and Hera spread before
them thick mist to hinder them:—but half were pent into the
deep-flowing silver eddied river, and fell therein with a mighty noise,
and the steep channel sounded, and the banks around rang loudly; for
with shouting they swam therein hither and thither whirled round the
eddies. And as when at the rush of fire locusts take wing to fly unto a
river, and the unwearying fire flameth forth on them with sudden onset,
and they huddle in the water; so before Achilles was the stream of
deep-eddying Xanthos filled with the roar and the throng of horses and
men.
Then the seed of Zeus left behind him his spear upon the bank, leant
against tamarisk bushes, and leapt in, as it were a god, keeping his
sword alone, and devised grim work at heart, and smote as he turned him
every way about: and their groaning went up ghastly as they were
stricken by the sword, and the water reddened with blood. As before a
dolphin of huge maw fly other fish and fill the nooks of some
fair-havened bay, in terror, for he devoureth amain whichsoever of them
he may catch; so along the channels of that dread stream the Trojans
crouched beneath the precipitous sides. And when his hands were weary
of slaughter he chose twelve young men alive out of the river, an
atonement for Patroklos, Menoitios’ son that was dead. These brought he
forth amazed like fawns, and bound behind them their hands with
well-cut thongs, which they themselves wore on their pliant doublets,
and gave them to his comrades to lead down to the hollow ships. Then
again he made his onset, athirst for slaying.
There met he a son of Dardanid Priam, in flight out of the river,
Lykaon, whom once himself he took and brought unwilling out of his
father’s orchard, in a night assault; he was cutting with keen bronze
young shoots of a wild fig tree, to be hand-rails of a chariot; but to
him an unlooked-for bane came goodly Achilles. And at that time he sold
him into well-peopled Lemnos, sending him on ship board, and the son of
Jason gave a price for him; and thence a guest friend freed him with a
great ransom, Eetion of Imbros, and sent him to goodly Arisbe; whence
flying secretly he came to his father’s house. Eleven days he rejoiced
among his friends after he was come from Lemnos, but on the twelfth
once more God brought him into the hands of Achilles, who was to send
him to the house of Hades though nowise fain to go. Him when
fleet-footed noble Achilles saw bare of helm and shield, neither had he
a spear, but had thrown all to the ground; for he sweated grievously as
he tried to flee out of the river, and his knees were failing him for
weariness: then in wrath spake Achilles to his great heart: “Ha! verily
great marvel is this that I behold with my eyes. Surely then will the
proud Trojans whom I have slain rise up again from beneath the murky
gloom, since thus hath this man come back escaped from his pitiless
fate, though sold into goodly Lemnos, neither hath the deep of the
hoary sea stayed him, that holdeth many against their will. But come
then, of our spear’s point shall he taste, that I may see and learn in
my mind whether likewise he shall come back even from beneath, or
whether the life-giving Earth shall hold him down, she that holdeth so
even the strong.”
Thus pondered he in his place; but the other came near amazed, fain to
touch his knees, for his soul longed exceedingly to flee from evil
death and black destruction. Then goodly Achilles lifted his long spear
with intent to smite him, but he stooped and ran under it and caught
his knees; and the spear went over his back and stood in the ground,
hungering for flesh of men. Then Lykaon besought him, with one hand
holding his knees, while with the other he held the sharp spear and
loosed it not, and spake to him winged words: “I cry thee mercy,
Achilles; have thou regard and pity for me: to thee, O fosterling of
Zeus, am I in the bonds of suppliantship. For at thy table first I
tasted meal of Demeter on the day when thou didst take me captive in
the well-ordered orchard, and didst sell me away from my father and my
friends unto goodly Lemnos, and I fetched thee the price of a hundred
oxen. And now have I been ransomed for thrice that, and this is my
twelfth morn since I came to Ilios after much pain. Now once again hath
ruinous fate delivered me unto thy hands; surely I must be hated of
father Zeus, that he hath given me a second time unto thee; and to
short life my mother bare me, Laothoe, old Altes’ daughter—Altes who
ruleth among the war-loving Leleges, holding steep Pedasos on the
Satnioeis. His daughter Priam had to wife, with many others, and of her
were we two born, and thou wilt butcher both. Him among the foremost of
the foot-soldiers didst thou lay low, even godlike Polydoros, when thou
smotest him with they sharp spear: and now will it go hard with me
here, for no hope have I to escape thy hands, since God hath delivered
me thereunto. Yet one thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to
heart: slay me not, since I am not of the same mother as Hector, who
slew thy comrade the gentle and brave.”
Thus spake to him the noble son of Priam, beseeching him with words,
but he heard a voice implacable: “Fond fool, proffer me no ransom, nor
these words. Until Patroklos met his fated day, then was it welcomer to
my soul to spare the men of Troy, and many I took alive and sold beyond
the sea: but now there is none shall escape death, whomsoever before
Ilios God shall deliver into my hands—yes, even among all Trojans, but
chiefest among Priam’s sons. Ay, friend, thou too must die: why
lamentest thou? Patroklos is dead, who was better far than thou. Seest
thou not also what manner of man am I for might and goodliness? and a
good man was my father, and a goddess mother bare me. Yet over me too
hang death and forceful fate. There cometh morn or eve or some noonday
when my life too some man shall take in battle, whether with spear he
smite or arrow from the string.”
Thus spake he, and the other’s knees and heart were unstrung. He let go
Achilles’ spear, and sat with both hands outspread. But Achilles drew
his sharp sword and smote on the collar-bone beside the neck, and all
the two-edged sword sank into him, and he lay stretched prone upon the
earth, and blood flowed dark from him and soaked the earth. Him seized
Achilles by the foot and sent him down the stream, and over him
exulting spake winged words: “There lie thou among the fishes, which
shall lick off thy wound’s blood heedlessly, nor shall thy mother lay
thee on a bed and mourn for thee, but Skamandros shall bear thee on his
eddies into the broad bosom of the sea. Leaping along the wave shall
many a fish dart up to the dark ripple to eat of the white flesh of
Lykaon. So perish all, until we reach the citadel of sacred Ilios, ye
flying and I behind destroying. Nor even the River, fair-flowing,
silver-eddied, shall avail you, to whom long time forsooth ye sacrifice
many bulls, and among his eddies throw whole-hooved horses down alive.
For all this yet shall ye die the death, until ye pay all for
Patroklos’ slaying and the slaughter of Achaians whom at the swift
ships ye slew while I tarried afar.”
Thus spake he, but the River waxed ever more wroth in his heart, and
sought in his soul how he should stay goodly Achilles from his work,
and ward destruction from the Trojans. Meanwhile the son of Peleus with
his far-shadowing spear leapt, fain to slay him, upon Asteropaios son
of Pelegon, whom wide-flowing Axios begat of Periboia eldest of the
daughters of Akessamenos. Upon him set Achilles, and Asteropaios stood
against him from the river, holding two spears; for Xanthos put courage
into his heart, being angered for the slaughtered youths whom Achilles
was slaughtering along the stream and had no pity on them. Then when
the twain were come nigh in onset on each other, unto him first spake
fleet-footed noble Achilles: “Who and whence art thou of men, that
darest to come against me? Ill-fated are they whose children match them
with my might.”
And to him, made answer Pelegon’s noble son: “High-hearted son of
Peleus, why askest thou my lineage? I come from deep-soiled Paionia, a
land far off, leading Paionian men with their long spears, and this now
is the eleventh morn since I am come to Ilios. My lineage is of
wide-flowing Axios, who begat Pelegon famous with the spear, and he,
men say, was my father. Now fight we, noble Achilles!”
Thus spake he in defiance, and goodly Achilles lifted the Pelian ash:
but the warrior Asteropaios hurled with both spears together, for he
could use both hands alike, and with the one spear smote the shield,
but pierced it not right through, for the gold stayed it, the gift of a
god; and with the other he grazed the elbow of Achilles’ right arm, and
there leapt forth dark blood, but the point beyond him fixed itself in
the earth, eager to batten on flesh. Then in his turn Achilles hurled
on Asteropaios his straight-flying ash, fain to have slain him, but
missed the man and struck the high bank, and quivering half its length
in the bank he left the ashen spear. Then the son of Peleus drew his
sharp sword from his thigh and leapt fiercely at him, and he availed
not to draw with his stout hand Achilles’ ashen shaft from the steep
bank. Thrice shook he it striving to draw it forth, and thrice gave up
the strain, but the fourth time he was fain to bend and break the ashen
spear of the seed of Aiakos, but ere that Achilles closing on him reft
him of life with his sword. For in the belly he smote him beside the
navel, and all his bowels gushed out to the earth, and darkness covered
his eyes as he lay gasping. Then Achilles trampling on his breast
stripped off his armour and spake exultingly: “Lie there! It is hard to
strive against children of Kronos’ mighty son, even though one be
sprung from a River-god. Thou truly declarest thyself the seed of a
wide-flowing River, but I avow me of the linkage of great Zeus. My sire
is a man ruling many Myrmidons, Peleus the son of Aiakos, and Aiakos
was begotten of Zeus. As Zeus is mightier than seaward-murmuring
rivers, so is the seed of Zeus made mightier than the seed of a river.
Nay, there is hard beside thee a great river, if he may anywise avail;
but against Zeus the son of Kronos it is not possible to fight. For him
not even king Acheloios is match, nor yet the great strength of
deep-flowing Ocean, from whom all rivers flow and every sea, and all
springs and deep wells: yea, even he hath fear of the lightning of
great Zeus and his dread thunder, when it pealeth out of heaven.”
He said, and from the steep bank drew his bronze spear, and left there
Asteropaios whom he had slain, lying in the sands, and the dark water
flooded him. Around him eels and fishes swarmed, tearing and gnawing
the fat about his kidneys. But Achilles went on after the charioted
Paiones who still along the eddying river huddled in fear, when they
saw their best man in the stress of battle slain violently by the hands
and the sword of the son of Peleus. There slew he Thersilochos and
Mydon and Astypylos and Mnesos and Thrasios and Ainios and Ophelestes;
and more yet of the Paiones would swift Achilles have slain, had not
the deep-eddying River called unto him in wrath, in semblance of a man,
and from an eddy’s depth sent forth a voice: “O Achilles, thy might and
thy evil work are beyond the measure of men; for gods themselves are
ever helping thee. If indeed the son of Kronos hath delivered thee all
the Trojans to destroy, at least drive them forth from me and do thy
grim deeds on the plain, for filled with dead men is my pleasant bed,
nor can I pour my stream to the great sea, being choked with dead, and
thou slayest ruthlessly. Come then, let be; I am astonished, O captain
of hosts.”
And to him answered Achilles fleet of foot: “So be it, heaven-sprung
Skamandros, even as thou biddest. But the proud Trojans I will not
cease from slaying until I have driven them into their city, and have
made trial with Hector face to face whether he is to vanquish me or I
him.”
Thus saying, he set upon the Trojans, like a god. Then unto Apollo
spake the deep-eddying River: “Out on it, lord of the silver bow, child
of Zeus, thou hast not kept the ordinance of Kronos’ son, who charged
thee straitly to stand by the Trojans and to help them, until eve come
with light late-setting, and darken the deep-soiled earth.”
He said, and spear-famed Achilles sprang from the bank and leapt into
his midst; but he rushed on him in a furious wave, and stirred up all
his streams in tumult, and swept down the many dead who lay thick in
him, slain by Achilles; these out to land he cast with bellowing like a
bull, and saved the living under his fair streams, hiding them within
eddies deep and wide. But terribly around Achilles arose his tumultuous
wave, and the stream smote violently against his shield, nor availed he
to stand firm upon his feet. Then he grasped a tall fair-grown elm, and
it fell uprooted and tore away all the bank, and reached over the fair
river bed with its thick shoots, and stemmed the River himself, falling
all within him: and Achilles, struggling out of the eddy, made haste to
fly over the plain with his swift feet, for he was afraid. But the
great god ceased not, but arose upon him with darkness on his crest,
that he might stay noble Achilles from slaughter, and ward destruction
from the men of Troy. And the son of Peleus rushed away a spear’s
throw, with the swoop of a black eagle, the mighty hunter, strongest at
once and swiftest of winged birds. Like him he sped, and on his breast
the bronze rang terribly as he fled from beneath the onset, and behind
him the River rushed on with a mighty roar. As when a field-waterer
from a dark spring leadeth water along a bed through crops and garden
grounds, a mattock in his hands, casting forth hindrances from the
ditch, and as it floweth all pebbles are swept down, and swiftly
gliding it murmureth down a sloping place, and outrunneth him that is
its guide:—thus ever the river wave caught up Achilles for all his
speed; for gods are mightier than men. For whensoever fleet-footed
noble Achilles struggled to stand against it, and know whether all
immortals be upon him who inhabit spacious heaven, then would a great
wave of the heaven-sprung River beat upon his shoulders from above, and
he sprang upward with his feet, sore vexed at heart; and the River was
wearying his knees with violent rush beneath, devouring the earth from
under his feet. Then the son of Peleus cried aloud, looking up to the
broad heaven: “Zeus, Father, how doth none of the gods take it on him
in pity to save me from the River! after that let come to me what may.
None other of the inhabitants of Heaven is chargeable so much, but only
my dear mother, who beguiled me with false words, saying that under the
wall of the mail-clad men of Troy I must die by the swift arrows of
Apollo. Would that Hector had slain me, the best of men bred here: then
brave had been the slayer, and a brave man had he slain. But now by a
sorry death am I doomed to die, pent in this mighty river, like a
swineherd boy whom a torrent sweepeth down as he essayeth to cross it
in a storm.”
Thus spake he, and quickly Poseidon and Athene came near and stood
beside him, in the likeness of men, and taking his hands in theirs
pledged him in words. And the first that spake was Poseidon, Shaker of
the earth: “Son of Peleus, tremble not, neither be afraid; such helpers
of thee are we from the gods, approved of Zeus, even Pallas Athene and
I, for to be vanquished of a river is not appointed thee, but he will
soon give back, and thou wilt thyself perceive it: but we will give
thee wise counsel, if thou wilt obey it; hold not thy hand from
hazardous battle until within Ilios’ famous walls thou have pent the
Trojan host, even all that flee before thee. But do thou, when thou
hast taken the life of Hector, go back unto the ships; this glory we
give unto thee to win.”
They having thus spoken departed to the immortals, but he toward the
plain—for the bidding of gods was strong upon him—went onward; and all
the plain was filled with water-flood, and many beautiful arms and
corpses of slain youths were drifting there. So upward sprang his knees
as he rushed against the stream right on, nor stayed him the
wide-flowing River, for Athene put great strength in him. Neither did
Skamandros slacken his fierceness, but yet more raged against the son
of Peleus, and he curled crestwise the billow of his stream, lifting
himself on high, and on Simoeis he called with a shout: “Dear brother,
the strength of this man let us both join to stay, since quickly he
will lay waste the great city of king Priam, and the Trojans abide not
in the battle. Help me with speed, and fill thy streams with water from
thy springs, and urge on all thy torrents, and raise up a great wave,
and stir huge roaring of tree-stumps and stones, that we may stay the
fierce man who now is lording it, and deeming himself match for gods.
For neither, I ween, will strength avail him nor comeliness anywise,
nor that armour beautiful, which deep beneath the flood shall be
o’erlaid with slime, and himself I will wrap him in my sands and pour
round him countless shingle without stint, nor shall the Achaians know
where to gather his bones, so vast a shroud of silt will I heap over
them. Where he dieth there shall be his tomb, neither shall he have
need of any barrow to be raised, when the Achaians make his funeral.”
He said, and rushed in tumult on Achilles, raging from on high,
thundering with foam and blood and bodies of dead men. Then did a dark
wave of the heaven-sprung River stand towering up and overwhelm the son
of Peleus. But Hera cried aloud in terror of Achilles, lest the great
deep-eddying River sweep him away, and straightway she called to
Hephaistos, her dear son: “Rise, lame god, O my son; it was against
thee we thought that eddying Xanthos was matched in fight. Help with
all speed, put forth large blast of flame. Then will I go to raise a
strong storm out of the sea of the west wind and the white south which
shall utterly consume the dead Trojans and their armour, blowing the
angry flame. Thou along Xanthos’ banks burn up his trees and wrap
himself in fire, nor let him anywise turn thee back by soft words or by
threat, nor stay thy rage—only when I cry to thee with my voice, then
hold the unwearying fire.”
Thus spake she, and Hephaistos made ready fierce-blazing fire. First on
the plain fire blazed, and burnt the many dead who lay there thick,
slain by Achilles; and all the plain was parched and the bright water
stayed. And as when in late summer the north wind swiftly parcheth a
new watered orchard, and he that tilleth it is glad, thus was the whole
plain parched, and Hephaistos consumed the dead; then against the river
he turned his gleaming flame. Elms burnt and willow trees and
tamarisks, and lotos burnt and rush and galingale which round the fair
streams of the river grew in multitude. And the eels and fishes beneath
the eddies were afflicted, which through the fair streams tumbled this
way and that, in anguish at the blast of crafty Hephaistos. And the
strong River burned, and spake and called to him by name: “Hephaistos,
there is no god can match with thee, nor will I fight thee thus ablaze
with fire. Cease strife, yea, let noble Achilles drive the Trojans
forthwith out of their city; what have I to do with strife and
succour?”
Thus spake he, burnt with fire, for his fair streams were bubbling. And
as a cauldron boileth within, beset with much fire, melting the lard of
some fatted hog spurting up on all sides, and logs of firewood lie
thereunder,—so burned his fair streams in the fire, and the water
boiled. He had no mind to flow, but refrained him, for the breath of
cunning Hephaistos violently afflicted him. Then unto Hera, earnestly
beseeching her,’ he spake winged words: “Hera, wherefore hath thy son
assailed my stream to vex it above others? I am less chargeable than
all the rest that are helpers of the Trojans. But lo, I will give over,
if thou wilt, and let thy son give over too. And I further will swear
even this, that never will I ward the day of evil from the Trojans, not
even when all Troy is burning in the blaze of hungry fire, and the
warlike sons of Achaians are the burners thereof.”
Then when the white-armed goddess Hera heard his speech, straightway
she spake unto Hephaistos her dear son: “Hephaistos, hold, famed son;
it befitteth not thus for mortals’ sake to do violence to an immortal
god.”
Thus said she and Hephaistos quenched the fierce-blazing fire, and the
wave once more rolled down the fair river-bed.
So when the rage of Xanthos was overcome, both ceased, for Hera stayed
them, though in wrath. But among the other gods fell grievous bitter
strife, and their hearts were carried diverse in their breasts. And
they clashed together with a great noise, and the wide earth groaned,
and the clarion of great Heaven rang around. Zeus heard as he sate upon
Olympus, and his heart within him laughed pleasantly when he beheld
that strife of gods. Then no longer stood they asunder, for Ares
piercer of shields began the battle and first made for Athene with his
bronze spear, and spake a taunting word: “Wherefore, O dogfly, dost
thou match gods with gods in strife, with stormy daring, as thy great
spirit moveth thee? Rememberest thou not how thou movedst Diomedes
Tydeus’ son to wound me, and thyself didst take a visible spear and
thrust it straight at me and pierce through my fair skin? Therefore
deem I now that thou shalt pay me for all that thou hast done.”
Thus saying he smote on the dread tasselled aegis that not even the
lightning of Zeus can overcome—thereon smote bloodstained Ares with his
long spear. But she, giving back, grasped with stout hand a stone that
lay upon the plain, black, rugged, huge, which men of old time set to
be the landmark of a field; this hurled she, and smote impetuous Ares
on the neck, and unstrung his limbs. Seven roods he covered in his
fall, and soiled his hair with dust, and his armour rang upon him. And
Pallas Athene laughed, and spake to him winged words exultingly: “Fool,
not even yet hast thou learnt how far better than thou I claim to be,
that thus thou matchest thy might with mine. Thus shalt thou satisfy
thy mother’s curses, who deviseth mischief against thee in her wrath,
for that thou hast left the Achaians and givest the proud Trojan’s
aid.”
Thus having said she turned from him her shining eyes. Him did
Aphrodite daughter of Zeus take by the hand and lead away, groaning
continually, for scarce gathered he his spirit back to him. But when
the white-armed goddess Hera was aware of them, straightway she spake
unto Athene winged words: “Out on it, child of aegis-bearing Zeus,
maiden invincible, lo there the dogfly is leading Ares destroyer of men
out of the fray of battle down the throng—nay then, pursue her.”
She said, and Athene sped after her with heart exultant, and made at
her and smote her with stout hand upon the breast, and straightway her
knees and heart were unstrung. So they twain lay on the bounteous
earth, and she spake winged words exultingly: “Such let all be who give
the Trojans aid when they fight against the mailed Argives. Be they
even so bold and brave as Aphrodite when she came to succour Ares and
defied my might. Then should we long ago have ceased from war, having
laid waste the stablished citadel of Ilios.”
[She said, and the white-armed goddess Hera smiled.] Then to Apollo
spake the earth-shaking lord: “Phoebus, why stand we apart? It
befitteth not after the rest have begun: that were the more shameful if
without fighting we should go to Olympus to the bronze-thresholded
house of Zeus. Begin, for thou art younger; it were not meet for me,
since I was born first and know more. Fond god, how foolish is thy
heart! Thou rememberest not all the ills we twain alone of gods endured
at Ilios, when by ordinance of Zeus we came to proud Laomedon and
served him through a year for promised recompense, and he laid on us
his commands. I round their city built the Trojans a wall, wide and
most fair, that the city might be unstormed, and thou Phoebus, didst
herd shambling crook-horned kine among the spurs of woody many-folded
Ida. But when the joyous seasons were accomplishing the term of hire,
then redoubtable Laomedon robbed us of all hire, and sent us off with
threats. He threatened that he would bind together our feet and hands
and sell us into far-off isles, and the ears of both of us he vowed to
shear off with the sword. So we went home with angry hearts, wroth for
the hire he promised and gave us not. To his folk not thou showest
favour, nor essayest with us how the proud Trojans may be brought low
and perish miserably with their children and noble wives.”
Then to him answered King Apollo the Far-darter: “Shaker of the earth,
of no sound mind wouldst thou repute me if I should fight against thee
for the sake of pitiful mortals, who like unto leaves now live in
glowing life, consuming the fruit of the earth, and now again pine into
death. Let us with all speed cease from combat, and let them do battle
by themselves.”
Thus saying he turned away, for he felt shame to deal in blows with his
father’s brother. But his sister upbraided him sore, the queen of wild
beasts, huntress Artemis, and spake a taunting word: “So then thou
fleest, Far-darter, hast quite yielded to Poseidon the victory, and
given him glory for naught! Fond god, why bearest thou an ineffectual
bow in vain? Let me not hear thee again in the halls of our sire boast
as before among the immortal gods thou wouldst stand up to fight
against Poseidon.”
Thus spake she, but far-darting Apollo answered her not. But angrily
the noble spouse of Zeus [upbraided the Archer Queen with taunting
words:] “How now art thou fain, bold vixen, to set thyself against me?
Hard were it for thee to match my might, bow-bearer though thou art,
since against women Zeus made thee a lion, and giveth thee to slay
whomso of them thou wilt. Truly it is better on the mountains to slay
wild beasts and deer than to fight amain with mightier than thou. But
if thou wilt, try war, that thou mayest know well how far stronger am
I, since thou matchest thy might with mine.”
She said, and with her left hand caught both the other’s hands by the
wrist, and with her right took the bow from off her shoulders, and
therewith, smiling, beat her on the ears as she turned this way and
that; and the swift arrows fell out of her quiver. And weeping from
before her the goddess fled like a dove that from before a falcon
flieth to a hollow rock, a cleft—for she was not fated to be
caught;—thus Artemis fled weeping, and left her bow and arrows where
they lay. Then to Leto spake the Guide, the slayer of Argus: “Leto,
with thee will I no wise fight; a grievous thing it is to come to blows
with wives of cloud-gathering Zeus; but boast to thy heart’s content
among the immortal gods that thou didst vanquish me by might and main.”
Thus said he, and Leto gathered up the curved bow and arrows fallen
hither and thither amid the whirl of dust: so taking her daughter’s bow
she went back. And the maiden came to Olympus, to the
bronze-thresholded house of Zeus, and weeping set herself on her
father’s knee, while round her her divine vesture quivered: and her
father, Kronos’ son, took her to him and asked of her, laughing gently:
“Who of the inhabitants of heaven, dear child, hath dealt with thee
thus [hastily, as though thou hadst been doing some wrong thing
openly]?”
And to him in answer spake the fair-crowned queen of the echoing chase:
“It was thy wife that buffeted me, father, the white-armed Hera, from
whom are strife and contention come upon the immortals.”
Thus talked they unto one another. Then Phoebus Apollo entered into
sacred Ilios, for he was troubled for the wall of the well-builded
city, lest the Danaans waste it before its hour upon that day. But the
other ever-living gods went to Olympus, some angry and some greatly
triumphing, and sat down beside Zeus who hideth himself in dark clouds.
Now Achilles was still slaying the Trojans, both themselves and their
whole-hooved horses. And as when a smoke goeth up to the broad heaven,
when a city burneth, kindled by the wrath of gods, and causeth toil to
all, and griefs to many, thus caused Achilles toil and griefs to the
Trojans. And the old man Priam stood on the sacred tower, and was aware
of dread Achilles, how before him the Trojans thronged in rout, nor was
any succour found of them. Then with a cry he went down from the tower,
to rouse the gallant warders along the walls: “Hold open the gates in
your hands until the folk come to the city in their rout, for closely
is Achilles chasing them—now trow I there will be deadly deeds. And
when they are gathered within the wall and are taking breath, then
again shut back the gate-wings firmly builded; for I fear lest that
murderous man spring in within the wall.”
Thus spake he, and they opened the gates and thrust back the bolts; and
the gates flung back gave safety. Then Apollo leapt forth to the front
that he might ward destruction from the Trojans. They straight for the
city and the high wall were fleeing, parched with thirst and
dust-grimed from the plain, and Achilles chased them vehemently with
his spear, for strong frenzy possessed his heart continually, and he
thirsted to win him renown. Then would the sons of the Achaians have
taken high-gated Troy, had not Phoebus Apollo aroused goodly Agenor,
Antenor’s son, a princely man and strong. In his heart he put good
courage, and himself stood by his side that he might ward off the
grievous visitations of death, leaning against the oak, and he was
shrouded in thick mist. So when Agenor was aware of Achilles waster of
cities, he halted, and his heart much wavered as he stood; and in
trouble he spake to his great heart: “Ay me, if I flee before mighty
Achilles, there where the rest are driven terror-struck, nathless will
he overtake me and slaughter me as a coward. Or what if I leave these
to be driven before Achilles the son of Peleus, and flee upon my feet
from the wall by another way to the Ileian plain, until I come to the
spurs of Ida, and hide me in the underwood? So then at evening, having
bathed in the river and refreshed me of sweat, I might return to Ilios.
Nay, why doth my heart debate thus within me? Lest he might be aware of
me as I get me from the city for the plain, and speeding after overtake
me with swift feet; then will it no more be possible to avoid the
visitation of death, for he is exceeding mighty above all mankind. What
then if in front of the city I go forth to meet him? Surely his flesh
too is penetrable by sharp bronze, and there is but one life within,
and men say he is mortal, howbeit Zeus the son of Kronos giveth him
renown.”
Thus saying, he gathered himself to await Achilles, and within him his
stout heart was set to strive and fight. As a leopardess goeth forth
from a deep thicket to affront a huntsman, nor is afraid at heart, nor
fleeth when she heareth the bay of hounds; for albeit the man first
smite her with thrust or throw, yet even pierced through with the spear
she ceaseth not from her courage until she either grapple or be slain,
so noble Antenor’s son, goodly Agenor, refused to flee till he should
put Achilles to the proof, but held before him the circle of his
shield, and aimed at him with his spear, and cried aloud: “Doubtless
thou hopest in thy heart, noble Achilles, on this day to sack the city
of the proud men of Troy. Fond man, there shall many woful things yet
be wrought before it, for within it we are many men and staunch, who in
front of our parents dear and wives and sons keep Ilios safe; but thou
shalt here meet death, albeit so redoubtable and bold a man of war.”
He said, and hurled his sharp spear with weighty hand, and smote him on
the leg beneath the knee, nor missed his mark, and the greave of
new-wrought tin rang terribly on him; but the bronze bounded back from
him it smote, nor pierced him, for the god’s gift drave it back. Then
the son of Peleus in his turn made at godlike Agenor, but Apollo
suffered him not to win renown, but caught away Agenor, and shrouded
him in thick mist, and sent him in peace to be gone out of the war.
Then by wile kept the son of Peleus away from the folk, for in complete
semblance of Agenor himself he stood before the feet of Achilles, who
hasted to run upon him and chase him. And while he chased him over the
wheat-bearing plain, edging him toward the deep-eddying river
Skamandros, as he ran but a little in front of him (for by wile Apollo
beguiled him that he kept ever hoping to overtake him in the race),
meantime the other Trojans in common rout came gladly unto their
fastness, and the city was filled with the throng of them. Neither had
they heart to await one another outside the city and wall, and to know
who might have escaped and who had perished in the fight, but
impetuously they poured into the city, whomsoever of them his feet and
knees might save.