“——ut patulas saltu transmittere fossas
Horror equis; hærent trepidi, atque immane paventes
Abruptum mirantur agi.”
Footnote 395: (return) Understand ἐκ τοῦ σχεδὸν, “adstando prope ad
fossæ oram, ut saltu facilius transilias.”—Heyne.
“Hector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans, and allies, unwisely do
we drive our fleet steeds through the trench, which is very difficult
to pass; since sharp palisades stand in it, and near them is the wall
of the Greeks. Wherefore it is by no means possible for the cavalry to
descend, or to fight, for it is a narrow place, where I think they
would be wounded. For if indeed lofty-thundering Jove, designing evil,
destroys the Greeks, but wishes to assist the Trojans, certainly I
would wish this to take place even immediately, that the Greeks perish
here inglorious, away from Argos. If, however, they rally, and a
repulse from the ships take place, and we be entangled in the dug
trench, I do not suppose that then even a messenger will return back to
the city from the Greeks. But come, let us all be persuaded as I shall
advise. Let the servants keep our horses at the trench, and let us, all
on foot, clad in armour, follow Hector in a close body; but the Greeks
will not withstand us, if indeed the end of destruction hang over
them.”
Thus spake Polydamas; but the safe counsel pleased Hector; and
immediately he leaped with his armour from his chariot on the ground.
Nor did the other Trojans assemble on horseback, but dismounting, they
rushed on, when they beheld noble Hector. Then each commanded his own
charioteer to rein his steeds in good order there at the trench, and
they, separating, drawing themselves up, and being arranged in five
columns, followed along with their leaders. Some then went with Hector
and illustrious Polydamas, who were most numerous and brave, and who
were most resolutely desirous, having broken down the wall, to fight at
the hollow ships. And Cebriones followed as a third; for Hector left
another, inferior to Cebriones, with his chariot. Others Paris
commanded, and Alcathous, and Agenor. The third band Helenus and
godlike Deïphobus, two sons of Priam; but the third [commander] was the
hero Asius, Asius son of Hyrtacus, whom fiery, tall steeds brought from
Arisba, from the river Selleïs. But the fourth, Æneas, the brave son of
Anchises, led; along with him were the two sons of Antenor, Archilochus
and Acamas, well skilled in every kind of fight. But Sarpedon commanded
the illustrious allies, and chose to himself Glaucus and warlike
Asteropæus; for they appeared to him, next to himself decidedly the
bravest of the rest: for he, indeed, excelled among all. When they then
had fitted each other together 396 with interlaced ox-hide bucklers,
they advanced, full of courage, direct against the Greeks, nor expected
that they would sustain them, but that they would fall in flight into
their black ships.
Then the other Trojans and far-summoned allies obeyed the counsel of
blameless Polydamas; but Asius, son of Hyrtacus, leader of heroes, was
unwilling to relinquish his horses and attendant charioteer, but with
them advanced to the swift ships,—foolish! Nor was he destined to
return again, borne on his steeds and chariot from the ships to
wind-swept Ilium, having avoided evil destiny. For him unlucky fate
first encircled from the spear of Idomeneus, the illustrious son of
Deucalion. For he rushed towards the left of the ships, by the way in
which the Greeks were returning from the plain with their horses and
chariots. Thither he drove his horses and his chariot, nor did he find
the gates closed 397 in the portal, or the long bar up, but the men
held them wide open, that they might safely receive at the ships any of
their companions flying from the battle. He designedly guided his
steeds right onward in that way, and [his troops], shrilly shouting,
followed along with him; for they supposed that the Greeks could no
longer sustain them, but would fall in flight into the black
ships—fools! for at the gates they found two very brave heroes, the
magnanimous sons of the warlike Lapithæ, the one the son of Pirithous,
gallant Polypœtes, the other Leonteus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars.
These two then stood before the lofty gates, as tall oaks on the
mountains, which abide the wind and rain at all seasons, remaining
firmly fixed by their great and wide-spreading roots; so they too,
trusting to their hands and strength, awaited mighty Asius coming on,
nor fled. But the troops, lifting high their well-seasoned bucklers,
advanced with loud shouting directly towards the well-built wall, round
their king Asius, and Iämenus, and Orestes, Acamas, the son of Asius,
Thoon, and Œnomäus. Hitherto indeed these, remaining within, were
exhorting the well-armed Greeks to fight for the ships; but when they
perceived the Trojans rushing against the wall, and confusion and
flight of the Greeks arose, both darting out, fought before the gates,
like unto wild boars, which await the approaching tumult of men and
dogs in the mountains, and, advancing obliquely to the attack, break
down the wood around them, cutting it to the root; and a gnashing of
teeth arises from beneath, till some one, having taken aim, deprive
them of life. So resounded the shining brass upon their breasts,
smitten in front, for very valiantly they fought, trusting to the
troops above, and to their own valour. But they hurled stones down from
the well-built towers, defending themselves, their tents, and the
swift-voyaging ships. And as snow-flakes fall upon the earth, which the
violent wind, having disturbed the shady clouds, pours down thick upon
the fertile soil; thus poured the weapons from the hands as well of the
Greeks as of the Trojans; and the helmets and bossy shields, smitten
with large stones, sounded drily around. Then indeed Asius, son of
Hyrtacus, groaned, and smote both his thighs, and indignant exclaimed:
“Father Jove, surely now at least thou also hast become utterly
deceitful; for I did not expect that the Grecian heroes would abide our
strength and invincible hands. But they, as wasps flexible 398 in the
middle, and bees, [which] make their dwellings in a rugged path, nor
quit their hollow mansion; but awaiting the huntsmen, fight for their
offspring; so are these unwilling to retire from the gates, though
being only two, until they be either killed or taken.”
Footnote 396: (return) “Put for ἄραρον τὰς ἀσπίδας ἀλλήλων, ἐπ’
ἀλλήλοις, _clipeos consertos_ manibus ante se tenebant, συνασπισμῷ
facto.”—Heyne. Kennedy well observes that “we may trace here the rude
outline of the celebrated phalanx, which formed so prominent a feature
of the Macedonian tactics.”
Footnote 397: (return) From this passage, Heyne observes that the
gates must have opened inwards, being secured from within by a double
bolt (cf. ver. 455, sqq.). See D’Orville on Chariton, i. xii. p. 274,
ed. Lips. On the ὀχεῖς, on bars, cf. Pollux, x. 4.
Footnote 398: (return) Or “streaked.” See Porphyr. Quæst. iii. But
Buttmann, Lexil. p. 64, dwells much upon the force of μέσον, observing,
“in no insect is _flexibility_ more evident than in the wasp, where the
lower part of its body is joined as it were by a point with the upper.”
Thus he spake, nor did he persuade the mind of Jove, saying these
things: for his soul designed to bestow glory upon Hector. In the
meantime others were waging the battle at other gates; but difficult
would it be for me, as if I were a god, to enumerate all these things;
for around the wall in every direction a furiously-raging fire of
stones was aroused, 399 and the Greeks, although grieving, fought from
necessity for their ships; and all the gods were sorrowful in their
minds; as many as were allies to the Greeks in battle.