The Trojans assail the rampart, and Hector, despite an omen, which
Polydamas interprets unfavourably, attacks and forces the gate, and
opens a way to the ships.
Thus then at the tents the valiant son of Menœtius was healing the
wounded Eurypylus: but the Greeks and Trojans kept fighting in masses;
nor was the ditch of the Greeks destined to prove a barrier any longer,
and the wide wall from above, which they had erected in defence of the
ships; but they had drawn a foss around (nor had they given splendid
hecatombs to the gods); that it enclosing within, might defend the
swift ships and the great booty. But it was built against the will of
the immortal gods, therefore it remained not perfect for any long
period. 390 As long as Hector was alive, and Achilles indignant, and
the city of king Priam unravaged, so long was the mighty wall of the
Greeks firm. But when all the bravest of the Trojans were dead, and
many of the Greeks were subdued, but others left surviving, when in the
tenth year the city of Priam was sacked, and the Greeks went in their
ships to their dear fatherland; then at length Neptune and Apollo took
counsel to demolish the wall, introducing the strength of rivers, as
many as flow into the sea from the Idæan mountains, both the Rhesus and
the Heptaporus, the Caresus and the Rhodius, the Granicus and the
Æsepus, the divine Scamander and the Simoïs, where many shields and
helmets fell in the dust, and the race of demigod men. The mouths of
all these Phœbus Apollo turned to the same spot, and for nine days he
directed their streams against the wall; and Jove in the meantime
rained continually, that he might the sooner render the walls
overwhelmed by the sea. But the Earth-shaker [Neptune] himself, holding
the trident in his hands, led them on; and then dispersed among the
billows all the foundations of beams and stones which the Greeks had
laid with toil. And he made [all] level along the rapid Hellespont, and
again covered the vast shore with sands, having demolished the wall:
but then he turned the rivers to go back into their own channels, in
which they had formerly poured their sweet-flowing water. 391
Footnote 390: (return) Cf. Pseudo-Socrat. Epist. i. ολλοῖς δὲ πολλὰ
καὶ τῶν ἄλλων εἴρηται ποιητῶν περὶ θεῶν’ καὶ ὅτι τὰ μὲν κατὰ τὴν αὐτῶν
βούλησιν πραττόμενα ἐπὶ τὸ λώϊον ἐκθαίνει, τὰ δὲ παρὰ θεὸν ἀλυσιτελῆ
ὑπάρχει τοῖς πράξασι, where Duport, p. 72, thinks there is a reference
to the present passage.
Footnote 391: (return) On the present state of the Troad, which
appears, from physical facts, to justify the mythical description of
Homer,—see Heyne and Kennedy. Compare Virg. Æn. ii. 610, sqq.;
Tryphiodor. 566, sqq. and 680, sqq.
Thus were Neptune and Apollo about to act hereafter; but then the
battle and clamour burned around the well-built wall, and the stricken
joists of the towers resounded: but the Greeks, subdued by the scourge
392 of Jove, were detained, hemmed in at the hollow ships, dreading
Hector, the furious cause of flight; for he fought, as formerly, equal
to a whirlwind. And as when a boar or lion is occupied amongst the dogs
and huntsmen, looking dreadfully with strength, and they, drawing
themselves up in a square form, 393 stand against him, and hurl
frequent javelins from their hands; but never is his noble heart
alarmed, nor is he put to flight; but his courage proves his death. And
frequently he turns round, trying the ranks of men; and wheresoever he
has directed his attack, there the ranks of men give way: so Hector,
going through the crowd, rolled along, inciting his companions to cross
the trench. Nor did the swift-footed horses dare [it]; 394 but they
loudly neighed, standing upon the precipitous brink; for the wide ditch
affrighted [them], nor was it easy to leap across, [by standing] near,
395 or to pass it, for overhanging brinks stood round it on both sides,
and beneath it was fortified with sharp palisades, which the sons of
the Greeks had fixed, close-set and large, as a defence against hostile
men. There a horse, drawing a swift-rolling chariot, could not readily
enter, but the infantry eagerly desired it, if they could accomplish
it. Then indeed Polydamas, standing near, addressed daring Hector:
Footnote 392: (return) Heyne compares Il. xiii. 812; Pseud.—Eur. Rhes.
37; Find. Pyth. iv. 390; Tryphiod. 596. The Scholiast on both passages,
Hesychius, t. i. p. 1006, and the Schol. on Oppian. Hal. v. 282,
suppose that the lightning is meant; but it is far better to
understand, with Heyne, “terrore divinitus immisso.”
Footnote 393: (return) See Heyne, and Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p.
1083.