“To resalute the world with sacred light
Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalm’d
The earth.”—Par. Lost. xi. 132.
“My son, let us suffer him now to lie, grieved although we be, since
first he has been laid low by the counsel of the gods: but do thou
receive these distinguished arms from Vulcan, very beautiful, such as
no man has ever worn upon his shoulders.”
Having thus spoken, the goddess placed the armour before Achilles; and
they, all curiously wrought, clashed aloud. Then tremor seized all the
Myrmidons, nor did any one dare to look directly at them, but they fled
in fear. But when Achilles saw them, the more rage entered him; and his
eyes shone terribly beneath his eyelids, like a flame; and he was
delighted, holding in his hands the splendid gifts of the god. But
after he had delighted his mind, beholding these artificial works, he
immediately addressed to his mother winged words:
“Mother mine, the god hath indeed given arms, such as are fit to be
works of immortals, nor that a mortal man could make. Truly now will I
arm myself; but I very much fear lest, in the meantime, the flies,
having entered the gallant son of Menœtius, by his spear-inflicted
wounds, create maggots, and pollute the corse, (for life in it is
destroyed,) and all the parts of the body grow putrid.”
But him the silver-footed goddess Thetis then answered:
“My child, let not these things be a care to thy mind. I will endeavour
to drive away from him the fierce swarms, the flies which devour heroes
slain in battle. For although he lie an entire year, his body shall
always be uncorrupted, or even better. But do thou, having summoned the
Grecian heroes to an assembly, having renounced thy wrath towards
Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, arm thyself quickly for war, and
put on thy might.”
Thus, therefore, having spoken, she infused into him the most daring
courage, and then instilled into Patroclus, through the nostrils,
ambrosia and ruby nectar, 620 that his body might be uncorrupted.
Footnote 620: (return) Milton, P.L. v. 633: “with angels’ food, and
rubied nectar flows.”
But noble Achilles went along the shore of the sea, shouting fearfully,
and aroused the Grecian heroes; so that even those who used formerly to
remain in the assemblage of the ships, both those who were pilots, and
who held the rudders of the ships, and the pursers [who] were at the
ships, dispensers of food, even these then indeed went to the assembly,
because Achilles appeared, for he had long abstained from the grievous
battle. And two servants of Mars, the warlike son of Tydeus, and noble
Ulysses, went limping, leaning upon a spear; for they still had painful
wounds; and advancing, they sat in the front seats. But last came the
king of men, Agamemnon, having a wound; for him also, in the sharp
battle, Coon, son of Antenor, had wounded with his brazen spear. Then
when all the Greeks were assembled, swift-footed Achilles, rising up
amongst them, said:
“Son of Atreus, this would surely have been somewhat better for both
thee and me, 621 when we two, grieved at heart, raged with
soul-devouring contention for the sake of a girl. Would that Diana had
slain her with an arrow in the ships on that day, when wasting, I took
Lyrnessus; then indeed so many Greeks had not seized the mighty ground
in their teeth under the hands of the enemy, I being continually
enraged. This however was better for Hector and the Trojans, but I
think the Greeks will long remember the contention of you and me. But
let us leave these things as passed, although grieved, subduing from
necessity the soul within our bosoms. And now I terminate my wrath, nor
is it at all fit that I always obstinately be enraged; but come
quickly, incite the long-haired Achæans to battle, in order that still
I may make trial of the Trojans, going against them; if they wish to
pass the night at the ships; but of them I think that any will very
gladly bend the knee, whoever shall escape out of the destructive fight
from my spear.”
Footnote 621: (return) _I.e._ it would have been better for us to have
been friends, as we now are, than enemies. The construction is
interrupted, to suit the agitation of the speaker.
Thus he spoke; but the well-greaved Greeks rejoiced, the magnanimous
son of Peleus renouncing his wrath. But them, the king of men,
Agamemnon, also addressed out of the same place, from his seat, nor
advancing into the midst:
“O friends! heroes of the Greeks, servants of Mars, it is becoming
indeed that ye should hearken to me, thus rising, nor is it convenient
that thou shouldst interrupt; for [it is] difficult, even for one being
skilled. 622 But in a great uproar of men, how can any one hear or
speak? but he is interrupted, although being a clear-toned orator. I
indeed will direct myself to the son of Peleus; but do ye, the other
Greeks, understand, and carefully learn my meaning. Often already have
the Greeks spoken this saying to me, and have rebuked me; but I am not
to blame, 623 but Jove, and Fate, and Erinnys, roaming amid the shades,
who, during the assembly, cast into my mind a sad injury, on that day,
when I myself took away the reward of Achilles. But what could I do?
for the deity accomplishes all things; pernicious Até, the venerable
daughter of Jove, who injures all. Her feet are tender, for she does
not approach the ground, but she walks over the heads of men, injuring
mankind, and one at least 624 [she] fetters. For at one time she
injured even Jove, who, they say, is the most powerful of men and gods;
but him Juno, being a female, deceived by her guile on that day when
Alemene was about to bring forth mighty Hercules in well-walled Thebes.
He indeed, boasting, had said among all the gods:
“Hear me, 625 all ye gods and all ye goddesses, whilst I speak those
things which the mind within my bosom urges. This day Ilithyia,
presiding over births, shall bring into the light a certain man, who
shall be ruler over all his neighbours,—[one] of those men of the blood
of my race!”
Footnote 622: (return) _I.e._ even a good speaker can do nothing
without a fair hearing.
Footnote 623: (return) Cf. iii. 164. Seneca, (Ed. 1019) “Fati ista
culpa est.” Cf. Duport. p. 106. Æsch. Choeph. 910: Ἡ μοῖρα τούτων, ὧ
τέκνον, παραιτία.
Footnote 624: (return) “A delicate censure of Achilles.”—Oxford
Transl.
Footnote 625: (return) Cf. Pindar, Ol. iii. 50-105, and Il. v. iii. I
have followed Heyne’s construing, supplying τινα.
But him the august Juno addressed, devising guile: “Thou shalt lie, nor
shalt thou insure accomplishment to thy speech. But come, swear a firm
oath to me, O Olympian! that he shall indeed be ruler over all his
neighbours, who shall this day fall between the feet of a woman, among
those men, who are of the blood of thy family.”
Thus she spoke, but Jove perceived not her crafty design, but he swore
the mighty oath, and afterwards was much befooled. 626 Then Juno
springing forth, quitted the top of Olympus, and came speedily to
Achaean Argos, where she knew the noble spouse of Sthenelus, the son of
Perseus. And she, indeed, was pregnant of her beloved son; and the
seventh month was at hand; and she brought him into light, being
deficient the number of months; but kept back the delivery of Alemene,
and restrained the Ilithyiæ; and herself bearing the message, addressed
Jove, the son of Saturn:
Footnote 626: (return) Injured, vexed by his infatuation. Juno was
thinking of Eurystheus but Jove of Hercules.
“Father Jove, hurler of the red lightning, I will put a certain matter
in thy mind. A noble man is now born, who shall rule the Argives,
Eurystheus, the son of Perseus, thy offspring; nor is it unbecoming
that he should govern the Argives.”
“Thus she spoke; but sharp grief smote him in his deep mind; and
immediately he seized Até by her head of shining curls, enraged in his
mind, and swore a powerful oath, that Até, who injures all, should
never again return to Olympus and the starry heaven.
“Thus saying, he cast her from the starry heaven, whirling her round in
his hand, but she quickly reached the works of men. On her account he
always groaned, 627 when he beheld his beloved son suffering unworthy
toil under the labours of 628 Eurystheus.
“So I also, when the great crest-tossing Hector was thus 629 destroying
the Greeks at the sterns of the ships, was not able to forget the wrong
which I had formerly foolishly committed. But since I have suffered
harm, and Jove has taken away my reason, I am willing again to appease
thee, and to give infinite presents. But arise to the battle, and
incite the other people, and I myself [will pledge myself] to furnish
all the presents, as many as noble Ulysses yesterday, going to thee,
promised in thy tents. Yet, if thou wilt, wait a little, although
hastening to battle, and my servants, taking the presents from my ship,
shall bring them, that thou mayest see that I will present [thee] with
appeasing offerings.”
But him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed; “Most glorious son
of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, whether thou wilt furnish gifts, as
is meet, or keep them with thee, [will be seen]; but now let us very
quickly be mindful of the contest; for it is not fitting to waste time
in idle talk, 630 nor to delay; as a mighty work is yet undone. But as
some one may again behold Achilles among the front ranks, destroying
the phalanxes of the Trojans with his brazen spear, so also let some
one of you, keeping this in mind, fight with [his] man.”
Footnote 627: (return) On the servitude of Hercules, see Grote, vol.
i. p. 128.
Footnote 628: (return) _I.e._ imposed by.
Footnote 629: (return) “The parallel implied here is of the havoc
occasioned by Hector, and the laborious tasks imposed by Eurystheus.
Such appears to be the force of the particle.”—Kennedy.
Footnote 630: (return) Hesych.; Κλοτοπεύειν· παραλογίζεσθαι......
οτραγγύεσθαι.
But him Ulysses, of many wiles, answering, addressed: “Not thus, brave
as thou art, O godlike Achilles, urge on the sons of the Greeks,
fasting, towards Ilium, about to fight with the Trojans; for the
conflict will not be for a short time only, when once the phalanxes of
men shall mingle, and a god breathe might into both. But command the
Greeks to be fed at the ships with food and wine, for this is might and
vigour. For a man, unrefreshed by food, would not be able to fight
against [the enemy] all day to the setting sun; for although he might
desire in his mind to fight, yet his limbs gradually grow languid, and
thirst and hunger come upon him, and his knees fail him as he goes. The
man, on the other hand, who is satiated with wine and food, fights all
day with hostile men, the heart within his breast is daring, nor are
his limbs at all fatigued before that all retire from battle. But come,
dismiss the people, and order a repast to be made ready; and let the
king of men, Agamemnon, bring the gifts into the midst of the assembly,
that all the Greeks may see them with their eyes, and thou mayest be
delighted in thy mind. Let him, moreover, swear an oath to thee,
standing up among the Greeks, that he has never ascended her bed, nor
has been mingled with her, as is the custom, O king, of men and wives;
and to thee thyself, also, let the soul within thy breast be placid.
Then let him next conciliate thee by a rich banquet within his tents,
that thou mayest not have aught wanting of redress. And for the future,
O son of Atreus, thou wilt be more just towards another; for it is by
no means unworthy that a king should appease a man, when he 631 may
first have given offence.”
Footnote 631: (return) Understand βασιλεύς.
But him the king of men, Agamemnon, in return addressed:
“I rejoice, O son of Laërtes, having heard thy speech, for with
propriety hast thou gone through and enumerated all things. These
things I am willing to swear, and my mind orders me, in presence of a
god, nor will I perjure myself. But let Achilles remain here, at least
for a little while, though hastening to battle, and do all ye others
remain assembled, until they bring the gifts from my tent, and we
strike faithful leagues. To thyself, however, [O Ulysses], I give this
charge, and order thee, selecting the principal youths of all the
Greeks, to bear from my ship the gifts, as many as we yesterday
promised that we should give to Achilles, and to lead [hither] the
women. But let Talthybius also quickly prepare for me through the wide
army of the Greeks, a boar to sacrifice to Jove and the sun.”
Him answering, swift-footed Achilles then addressed:
“Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, at some other
time ought they rather to attend to these things, when any cessation of
battle hereafter be, and so much ardour be not in my bosom: but at
present those lie mangled, whom Hector, son of Priam, subdued, when
Jove gave him the glory: but ye urge [them] to food! Now indeed I
should excite the sons of the Greeks to fight, fasting, but with the
setting sun, to prepare a large supper, after we have revenged our
disgrace. Before that neither drink nor food shall pass down my throat,
my companion being slain, who lies in my tent, torn with the sharp
brass, turned towards the vestibule, whilst his comrades mourn around
these things are not a care to my mind, but slaughter and bloodshed,
and the dreadful groans of heroes.”
But him much-scheming Ulysses answering, addressed:
“O Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the bravest of the Greeks, thou art
superior indeed to me, and not a little more valiant with the spear,
but I indeed excel thee much in prudence; because I was born before
thee, and know more: wherefore let thy mind be restrained by my words.
Soon is there a satiety of contest to the men, a most abundant crop of
whom the brass pours upon the earth; but the harvest is very small,
when Jove, who is the umpire of the battle of men, inclines his scales.
It is by no means fit that the Greeks should lament the dead with the
stomach, for in great numbers and one upon another are they every day
falling; when therefore could any one respire from toil? But it is
necessary to bury him, whosoever may die, having a patient mind,
weeping for a day. 632 But as many as survive the hateful combat should
be mindful of drinking and of food, in order that we may ever the more
ceaselessly contend with our enemies, clad as to our bodies in
impenetrable brass; nor let any of the troops lie by awaiting another
exhortation. For evilly will that exhortation come upon him, whoever
may be left at the ships of the Greeks; but advancing in a body, let us
stir up the keen battle against the horse-breaking Trojans.”
Footnote 632: (return) Libanius, Or. ix. in Julian.: Ὤ πολλὰ
συγκινήσας ἐπὶ σαυτῷ δάκρυα, οὐκ ἐπ’ ἤματι κατὰ τὸ ἔπος, ὀλοφυρμοι
τυχῶν. See Duport, p. 111.
He said, and chose as his companions the sons of glorious Nestor, and
Meges, son of Phyleus, Thoas, and Meriones, Lycomedes, son of Creon,
and Melanippus; and they proceeded to go towards the tent of Agamemnon,
son of Atreus. Immediately after the word was spoken, and the work was
perfected. Seven tripods they bore from the tent, which he had promised
him, and twenty splendid goblets, and twelve steeds; and straightway
led forth seven blameless women, skilled in works, but the eighth was
fair-cheeked Briseïs. But Ulysses, placing 633 ten whole talents of
gold, led the way, and with him the other youths of the Greeks bore the
presents, and placed them in the midst of the assembly; but Agamemnon
rose up; and Talthybius, like unto a god in his voice, stood beside the
shepherd of the people, holding a boar in his hands. Then the son of
Atreus, drawing the knife with his hands, which always hung by the
great scabbard of his sword, cutting off the forelock of the boar,
prayed, lifting up his hands to Jove; but all the Greeks sat in silence
in the same spot, listening in a becoming manner to the king. But
praying, he spoke, looking towards the wide heaven:
Footnote 633: (return) _I.e._ in the scale, in order to be weighed.
“Now first let Jove be witness, the most supreme and best of gods, and
Earth, and Sun, and ye Furies, who beneath the earth chastise men,
whoever may swear a falsehood; never have I laid hands upon the maid
Briseïs, needing her for the sake of the couch, or any other purpose;
but inviolate has she remained in my tents. But if any of these things
be false, may the gods inflict on me those very many distresses which
they inflict when men sin in swearing.”
He said, and cut the throat of the boar with the ruthless brass; which
Talthybius, whirling round, cast into the mighty water of the hoary
sea, as food for fishes. But Achilles, rising, said among the
war-loving Greeks:
“O father Jove, certainly thou givest great calamities to men; for
never could Atrides have so thoroughly aroused the indignation in my
bosom, nor foolish, led away the girl, I being unwilling, but Jove for
some intent wished death should happen to many Greeks. But now go to
the repast, that we may join battle.”