Jove permits the gods to join in the battle, and they take their
respective places on either side. Æneas engages Achilles, but is
rescued by Neptune. Hector, in revenge for the death of his brother
Polydorus, also attacks Achilles, and is only saved from death by the
intervention of Apollo. Achilles then slays many Trojans.
Thus around thee, O son of Peleus, were the Achæans armed, insatiable
in fight, beside their crooked ships; and the Trojans, on the other
side, on the acclivity 640 of the plain. But Jove ordered Themis to
summon the gods to an assembly, from the top of many-valleyed Olympus,
and she, going round, ordered them to proceed to the palace of Jove.
Nor was any one of the rivers absent, save Oceanus, nor of the nymphs
who inhabit the pleasant groves and springs of rivers, and the grassy
meads. Then, coming to the habitation of cloud-compelling Jove, they
sat down upon shining polished benches, which Vulcan with cunning skill
had made for father Jove. Thus were they assembled within the palace of
Jove: nor did Neptune disobey the goddess, but he came to them from the
sea. Then he sat in the midst, and inquired the design of Jove:
Footnote 640: (return) See x. 160; xi. 56.
“Why again, O hurler of the glowing lightning, hast thou summoned the
gods to an assembly? Dost thou deliberate anything respecting the
Trojans and Greeks? For now their combat and the battle are on the
point of being kindled.”
But him cloud-compelling Jove answering, addressed:
“Thou knowest, O earth-shaker, my design within my breast, [and] for
whose sake I have assembled you; for though about to perish, they are a
care to me. I will, however, remain sitting on the top of Olympus,
whence looking, I shall delight my soul; but depart the rest of you,
that ye may go to the Trojans and Greeks. Give aid to both, according
as is the inclination of each. For if Achilles alone shall fight
against the Trojans, they will not even for a little sustain the
swift-footed son of Peleus. Formerly even beholding him, they fled
terrified; but now when he is grievously enraged in his mind on account
of his companion, I fear lest he overthrow the wall, even contrary to
fate.”
Thus spoke Saturnian Jove, and he stirred up the unyielding 641
contest; and the gods hastened to proceed to the battle, having
discordant minds. Juno, indeed, and Pallas Minerva [went] to the
assemblage of the ships, as well as earth-shaking Neptune, and useful
Mercury, who excelled in a prudent mind, with whom went Vulcan, looking
savage in his might, limping, and under him his weak limbs moved with
all their force. But to the Trojans [went] crest-tossing Mars, and with
him unshorn Phœbus, 642 and Diana, delighting in archery, Latona,
Xanthus, and laughter-loving Venus. As long as the gods were apart from
mortal men, so long the Greeks were greatly elated, because Achilles
appeared, for he had long abstained from the dire battle; and a violent
tremor came upon the Trojans, upon each of them as to their limbs,
fearing because they beheld the swift-footed son of Peleus glittering
in arms, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. But after the Olympians had
come to the crowd of men, then arose fierce Contention, the exciter of
the people, and Minerva shouted, sometimes standing beside the trench,
outside the wall, at other times she loudly shouted along the echoing
shores. But Mars yelled aloud on the other side, like unto a dark
whirlwind, keenly animating the Trojans from the lofty city, at other
times running along the Simoïs over Callicolone. 643
Thus the blessed gods, inciting both sides, engaged, and among them
made severe contention to break out. But dreadfully from above
thundered the father of gods and men; whilst beneath Neptune shook the
boundless earth and the lofty summits of the mountains. The roots and
all the summits of many-rilled Ida were shaken, and the city of the
Trojans, and the ships of the Greeks. Pluto himself, king of the nether
world, trembled beneath, and leaped up from his throne, terrified, and
shouted aloud, lest earth-shaking Neptune should rend asunder the earth
over him, and disclose to mortals and immortals his mansions, terrible,
squalid, which even the gods loathe. So great a tumult arose from the
gods engaging in combat. Against king Neptune, indeed, stood Phœbus
Apollo, having his winged shafts, and against Mars the azure-eyed
goddess Minerva. Opposed to Juno stood the goddess of the golden bow,
huntress Diana, rejoicing in archery, the sister of Apollo; and
opposite Latona, the preserver, 644 useful Mercury. Against Vulcan also
was the great deep-eddying river, which the gods call Xanthus, and men
the Scamander.
Footnote 641: (return) Buttm. Lexil. p. 406, 3: “The adjective
αλίαστος, literally _unbending, unyielding, not to be turned_, became
the epithet of a violent, uncontrollable, incessant tumult, battle,
lamentation, &c, as at Iλ. M. 471; B. 797; Ω. 760; and as an adverb at
Ω. 549.”
Footnote 642: (return) Hor. Od. i. xxii. 2: “Intonsum, pueri, dicite
Cynthium.” Tibull. i. 4, 37: “Solis æterna est Phœbo, Bacchoque
juventa: hanc decet intonsus crinis utrumque Deum.” Various reasons are
assigned for this; such as, “quia occidendo et renascendo semper est
juvenior,” Fulgent. Myth. i. 17; or, “quod ipse sit sol, et sol ignis
est, qui nunquam senescit,” Lutat. on Stat. Theb. i. 694. The
inhabitants of Hieropolis, however, worshipped a bearded Apollo.—Macr.
Sat. i. 17.
Footnote 643: (return) A rising ground which lay on the road from Troy
towards the sea-coast, on the other side of the Simoïs, commanding the
entire plain. Hence it is the rendezvous of the gods who favoured the
Trojans.
Footnote 644: (return) We find a collateral verb σωκεῖιν=_valere_, in
Æsch. Eum. 36. Apollon. Lex. p. 762; Hesych. t. ii. p. 1334, derive
σῶκως from σωσίοικος, the former connecting it with ἐριούνιος, ὁ
μεγάλως ὀνίσκων, τοῦτ’ ἔστι ὀφελῶν.
Thus indeed gods went against gods; but Achilles chiefly longed to
penetrate through the crowd against Hector, the son of Priam; for with
his blood his mind particularly ordered him to satiate Mars, the
invincible warrior. But Apollo, exciter of troops, immediately aroused
Æneas against the son of Peleus, and infused into him strong courage.
And he likened himself in voice to Lycaon, the son of Priam, and having
likened himself to him, Apollo, the son of Jove, said:
“O Æneas, counsellor of the Trojans, where are thy threats which,
whilst carousing, thou didst promise to the leaders of the Trojans,
that thou wouldst fight against Achilles, the son of Peleus?”
But him Æneas, answering, addressed in turn:
“Son of Priam, why dost thou order me, not wishing it, these things, to
fight against magnanimous Pelides? For shall I not now for the first
time stand against swift-footed Achilles, but already, on another
occasion, he chased me with his spear from Ida, when he attacked our
cattle, and laid waste Lyrnessus and Pedasus: but Jove preserved me,
who excited my strength and nimble limbs. Certainly I should have been
subdued beneath the hands of Achilles, and Minerva, who, preceding,
gave him victory, and encouraged him to slay the Lelegans and Trojans
with his brazen spear. Wherefore it is not possible that a man should
fight against Achilles, because one of the gods is ever beside him, who
averts destruction. Besides, also, his weapon flies direct, nor stops
before it has pierced through human flesh; though if the deity would
extend an equal scale of victory, not very easily would he conquer me,
although he boasts himself to be all brazen.”
But him again king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed:
“But do thou also pray, O hero, to the immortal gods, for they say that
thou too art sprung from Venus, the daughter of Jove, but he from an
inferior goddess; for the one is from Jove, and the other from the aged
sea-god. But direct thy invincible brass right against him, nor let him
at all avert thee by haughty words and threats.”
Thus saying, he breathed great courage into the shepherd of the people;
and he advanced through the front ranks, accoutred in shining brass.
Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice of white-armed Juno,
going against the son of Peleus through the ranks of men; but, calling
the gods together, she addressed them:
“Consider now, both Neptune and Minerva, in your minds, how these
things shall be. This Æneas, accoutred in shining brass, has advanced
against the son of Peleus; and Phœbus Apollo has urged him on. But
come, let us, however, turn him back again; or let some one of us stand
by Achilles, and give him great strength, nor let him at all be wanting
in courage; that he may know that the mightiest of the immortals love
him; and that those, on the contrary, are vain, who hitherto avert war
and slaughter from the Trojans. But we have all come down from Olympus,
about to participate in this battle, lest he should suffer anything
among the Trojans to-day; but hereafter he shall suffer those things,
as many as Fate at his birth wove in his thread [of destiny], 645 to
him, what time his mother brought him forth. But if Achilles shall not
learn these things from the voice of a god, he will afterwards be
afraid when any god comes against him in battle; for the gods, when
made manifest, are terrible to be seen manifestly.” 646
But her then earth-shaking Neptune answered:
“Juno, be not beyond reason enraged; nor is it at all necessary. I,
indeed, would not desire that we should engage the other gods in a
battle, since we are much more powerful. 647 Rather let us, going out
of the way, sit down upon a place of observation, 648 but the war shall
be a care to mortals. But if Mars shall begin the combat, or Apollo, or
shall restrain Achilles, and not suffer him to fight, then immediately
shall the strife of contention there arise to us; and I think that
they, having very speedily decided it, will return to Olympus, and mix
with the assembly of other gods, violently subdued by necessity under
our hands.”
Thus then having spoken, the azure-haired [god] led the way to the
lofty mound-raised wall of divine Hercules, which the Trojans and
Pallas Minerva had made, that, flying, he might escape from the
sea-monster, when pursued from the shore to the plain. There then
Neptune sat down, and the other gods, and drew an indissoluble cloud
around their shoulders; whilst on the other side they sat upon the tops
of Callicolone, around thee, O archer Apollo, and Mars, the sacker of
cities. Thus they sat on both sides, planning designs, yet both were
unwilling to commence grievous war; but Jove, sitting aloft, cheered
them on. All the plain, however, was filled with them, and glittered
with the brass of men and horses, and the earth echoed under the feet
of them rushing together. But two heroes, by far the most valiant,
advanced towards [each other] into the midst of both armies, eager to
fight,—Æneas, the son of Anchises, and noble Achilles. And first Æneas,
threatening, advanced, nodding with his strong casque; and before his
breast he held his impetuous shield, and shook his brazen spear. But on
the other side Pelides rushed against him like a destructive lion,
which men assembled together, a whole village, are anxious to kill. He,
however, at first despising them, proceeds; but when some one of
vigorous youths has wounded him with a dart, yawning, he collects
himself [for a spring], 649 and the foam arises round his teeth, and
his valiant soul groans within his breast, and he lashes his sides and
thighs on both sides with his tail, and rouses himself to battle; then,
grimly glaring, he is borne straight on by his strength, if he can kill
some of the men, or is himself destroyed in the first crowd. Thus did
his might and noble soul urge Achilles to go against magnanimous Æneas.
But when now, advancing, they approached each other, swift-footed,
noble Achilles first addressed the other:
Footnote 645: (return) See Duport, p. 114. On the web woven by the
Fates for man’s life, see Virg. Ecl. iv. 46; Catullus, lxiv. 328. But
this passage of Homer seems to imply the ancient notion, that the Fates
might be delayed, but never set aside. Cf. Nemes. de Nat. Horn. i. 36;
Censorin. de die Nat. xiv.; Serv. on Æn. vii. 398.
Footnote 646: (return) “Deos _manifesto_ in lumine vidi.”—Virg. Æn.
iv. 358. On the belief that the sight of a god was attended with
danger, cf. Liv. i. xvi. where Proculus beseeches the apparition of
Romulus “ut contra intueri fas esset.” See intpp. on Exod. xxxiii. 20;
Judges xiii. 22.
Footnote 647: (return) I am half inclined to condemn this verse as
spurious, with Ernesti. It is wanting in MS. Lips, and ed. Rom., and
does not appear to have been read by Eustathius.
Footnote 648: (return) Compare the “Contemplantes” of Lucan, sub
init., where the gods seek a similar place of observation.
Footnote 649: (return) So ἀλεὶς in xv. 403. “It is also used in the
same way of a warrior, who, whilst he is preparing to rush on his
enemy, or expecting his attack, draws himself up together, or, as we
say, puts himself in an attitude of attack or defence.”—Buttm. Lexil.
p. 258.
“Why, O Æneas, coming through so great a length of crowd, dost thou
stand against me? Does then thy soul urge thee to fight with me, hoping
that thou wilt govern the horse-breaking Trojans in the place 650 of
Priam? Yet even if thou shalt slay me, not thus will Priam place this
reward in thy hand: for he has sons; and he is himself steady, nor
inconstant. Or, if thou slayest me, have the Trojans cut off for thee
an enclosure 651 of soil surpassing others, suited to vines and the
plough, that thou mayest cultivate it? Still I hope thou wilt effect it
with difficulty. For I think I have at some other time put thee to
flight with my spear. Dost thou not remember when I impetuously drove
thee, when alone, from the oxen, with rapid feet, down the Idæan
mountains? Then indeed thou didst never turn round while flying, but
didst escape thence into Lyrnessus; but I wasted it, having attacked it
with the aid of Minerva and father Jove. The women also I led away
captives, having taken away their day of freedom; but Jove and the
other gods preserved thee. However, I do not think they will protect
thee now, as thou castest in thy mind; but I exhort thee, retiring, to
go into the crowd, nor stand against me, before thou suffer some evil;
but [it is] a fool [who] knows a thing [only] when it is done.”
Footnote 650: (return) Άγτὶ..... βασιλείας is Gaza’s correct
paraphrase.
Footnote 651: (return) Cf 194.
But him Æneas answered in turn, and said:
“Do not think, O son of Peleus, to affright me, like an infant boy,
with words; since I also well know how to utter both threats and
reproaches. But we know each other’s race, and we know our parents,
hearing the words of mortal men long since uttered; although by sight,
indeed, neither dost thou know mine, nor I thine. They say, indeed,
that thou art the offspring of renowned Peleus, and of thy mother
Thetis, the fair-haired sea-nymph; whereas I boast myself to be sprung
from magnanimous Anchises, and Venus is my mother. Of these the one or
the other shall this day lament their beloved son; for I think we shall
not return from the battle thus separated by childish words. But if
thou desirest to be taught these matters, that thou mayest well know
our race (for many men know it), cloud-compelling Jove indeed first
begat Dardanus. 652 And he built Dardania, for sacred Ilium, the city
of articulate-speaking men, was not as yet built in the plain, and they
still dwelt at the foot of many-rilled Ida. Dardanus again begat a son,
king Erichthonius, who was then the richest of mortal men; whose three
thousand mares pastured through the marsh, rejoicing in their tender
foals. Boreas, however, was enamoured of some of these when pasturing,
and having likened himself to an azure-maned steed, covered them; and
they, becoming pregnant, brought forth twelve female foals; which when
they bounded upon the fruitful earth, ran over the highest fruit of the
stalks of corn, nor did they break them: 653 but when they sported over
the broad back of the ocean, they ran along the surface of the ridge of
the hoary sea. But Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans. From
Tros again were descended three illustrious sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and
godlike Ganymede, who indeed was the handsomest of mortal men; and whom
the gods caught up into heaven, to pour out wine for Jove, 654 that, on
account of his beauty, he might be with the immortals. Ilus again begat
his renowned son Laomedon; but Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam,
Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, a branch of Mars; and Assaracus Capys,
who also begat his son Anchises. But Anchises begat me, and Priam noble
Hector. Of this race and blood do I boast myself to be. But Jove
increases and diminishes valour to men, as he pleases; for he is the
most powerful of all. But come, let us no longer talk of these things,
like little boys, standing in the middle combat of the strife. For it
is possible for both to utter very many reproaches, so that a
hundred-oared galley 655 would not contain the burthen; for the
language of mortals is voluble, 656 and the discourses in it numerous
and varied: and vast is the distribution 657 of words here and there.
Whatsoever word thou mayest speak, such also wilt thou hear. But what
need is there to us of disputes and railing, that we should quarrel
with each other like women, who, being angry with a soul-destroying
strife, proceeding into the middle of the way, chide each other with
many things true and not true: for rage also suggests those things? 658
With words, however, thou shalt not turn me, courageous, from my
valour, before thou lightest against me with thy brass; but come,
quickly let us make trial of each other with brazen spears.”
Footnote 652: (return) On Dardanus, the eponymus of Dardania, see
Grote, vol. i. p. 387, where the whole legend of Troy is admirably
discussed. Cf. Virg. Æn. i. 292; iii. 167, where the Roman poet has
made use of Homer in tracing the pedigree of Æneas to Jove.
Footnote 653: (return) This hyperbole has been emulated by numberless
poets. Cf. Oppian, Cyn. i. 231; Apollon. Rh. i. 183; Quintus Calab.
viii. 156; Virg. Æn. vii. 808; Claudian in 3rd Cons. Hon. i. 97.
Footnote 654: (return) Cf. Pindar, Ol. i. 69, and Serv. on Æn. i. 32.
Footnote 655: (return) Compare the Latin phrase, “plaustra
convitiorum,” and Duport, p. 116.]
Footnote 656: (return) Στρεπτή—ὑyρa καί εύλύγιστος.—Eustath.
Footnote 657: (return) Νομος, έπινέμησις έφ’ έκάτεοα.—Eustath. See
Kennedy.
Footnote 658: (return) “_I.e._ prompts to utter all sorts of things,
true and false.”—Oxf. Tr.
He spoke, and hurled his brazen spear against the dreadful shield,
terrible [to be seen], and the huge buckler resounded with the stroke
of the javelin. But the son of Peleus, alarmed, held the shield from
him with his strong hand, for he supposed that the long spear of
great-hearted Æneas would easily penetrate; foolish! nor did he reflect
in his mind and soul, that the glorious gifts of the gods are not easy
to be subdued by mortal men, nor to yield. Nor then did the heavy spear
of warlike Æneas penetrate the shield; but the gold stopped it, the
gift of the god. It penetrated, however, through two folds, but there
were still three; since Vulcan had drawn five folds over it, two
brazen, two inside of tin, and one golden; in which the brazen spear
was stopped. But Achilles next sent forth his long-shadowed spear, and
struck against the shield of Æneas, equal on all sides, at the outside
edge, where the thinnest brass ran round it, and the ox-hide was
thinnest upon it; but the Pelian ash broke through, and the shield was
crushed by it. But Æneas crouched, 659 and being terrified, held the
shield from him; whilst the spear [passing] over his back, stuck in the
earth eager [to go on], for it had burst through both orbs of the
mighty 660 shield. But he, having escaped the long spear, stood still,
but immoderate sadness was poured over his eyes, terrified, because the
weapon had stuck so near him. But Achilles eagerly sprang upon him,
drawing his sharp sword, and shouting dreadfully. Then Æneas seized in
his hand a stone, a great weight, which not two men could bear, such as
men now are; but he, though alone, easily wielded it. Then indeed had
Æneas smitten him, rushing on, with the stone, either upon the helmet
or the shield, which kept off grievous destruction from him; and
Pelides, in close fight, had taken away his life with the sword, had
not earth-shaking Neptune quickly perceived it, and immediately
addressed this speech to the immortal gods:
Footnote 659: (return) See on ver. 168.
Footnote 660: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 83. The Schol. and Hesych.
t. i. p. 296, interpret it “man-encircling.”
“Ye gods! certainly there now is grief to me, on account of magnanimous
Æneas, 661 who will quickly descend to Hades, subdued by the son of
Peleus, foolish, being persuaded by the words of far-darting Apollo;
nor can he by any means avert 662 sad destruction from him. But why now
should this guiltless 663 man suffer evils gratuitously, on account of
sorrows due to others, for he always presents gifts agreeable to the
gods who inhabit the wide heaven? But come, let us withdraw him from
death, lest even the son of Saturn be angry, if indeed Achilles slay
this man: moreover, it is fated that he should escape, that the race of
Dardanus, whom Jove loved above all the children that were descended
from him and mortal women, may not perish without offspring, and become
extinct. For already hath the son of Saturn hated the race of Priam,
and the might of Æneas shall now rule over the Trojans, and the sons of
his sons, who may be born in after-times.”
Footnote 661: (return) The remarks of Grote, vol. i. p. 428, sqq. on
the character and position of Æneas throughout the Iliad, deserve much
attention.
Footnote 662: (return) “The examples of χραισμεῖν are frequent enough
in Homer to enable us safely to assert, from a comparison of them, that
it never has (at least in his writings) the more general meaning of _to
be useful, to help_, but, without an exception, the more definite sense
of _to ward off_..... by examining passages we find, that even where no
accusative is expressed, the evil to be warded off may always be
inferred from the context.”—Buttm. Lexil. p. 542.
Footnote 663: (return) He had wished to restore Helen. See Liv. i. 1.
But him large-eyed venerable Juno then answered:
“O earth-shaker! do thou thyself reflect within thy mind, with respect
to Æneas, whether thou wilt withdraw him, or suffer him, being brave,
to be subdued by Achilles, the son of Peleus. For already we two, I and
Pallas Minerva, have sworn many oaths amongst all the immortals, that
we will never help to avert the evil day from the Trojans, not even
when all Troy, fired, shall burn with consuming flame, and the warlike
sons of the Greeks fire it.”
But when earth-shaking Neptune heard this, he hastened to go through
the battle and the clash of spears; and came where were Æneas and
renowned Achilles. And immediately he shed a darkness upon the eyes of
Achilles, son of Peleus, and he drew out the ashen spear, well guarded
with brass, from the shield of magnanimous Æneas; and laid it before
the feet of Achilles, and pushed on Æneas, lifting him high up from the
ground. But Æneas leaped over many ranks of men and many of horses,
impelled by the hand of the god, and came to the rear of the troubled
fight, where the Caucones were arrayed for war. But very near him came
earth-shaking Neptune, and addressing him, spoke winged words:
“O Æneas, which of the gods commanded thee, thus mad, to combat against
Achilles, who is at once more valiant than thou, and more dear to the
immortals? But retire whenever thou shalt be opposed to him, lest, even
contrary to fate, thou arrive at the habitation of Pluto. But when
Achilles shall have attained his death and destiny, then again, being
confident, fight among the front ranks, because no other of the Greeks
shall slay thee.”
So saying, he left him there, when he had told him all, and immediately
afterwards dissipated the thick darkness from the eyes of Achilles, and
he then saw very clearly with his eyes; whereupon groaning, he
addressed his magnanimous soul:
“Ye gods! certainly I behold this, a great marvel with mine eyes. The
spear indeed lies upon the ground, nor do I at all perceive the man at
whom I hurled it, desiring to kill him. Undoubtedly Æneas, too, was
dear to the immortal gods, although I supposed that he boasted thus
idly. Let him go; there will be no spirit in him hereafter to make
trial of me, who even now rejoicing, has escaped from death. But come,
having encouraged the warlike Greeks, I will make trial of the other
Trojans, going against them.”
He spoke, and sprang into the ranks, and cheered on every man:
“No longer now stand off from the Trojans, O noble Greeks, but on! let
man advance against man, and let him be eager to engage. Difficult is
it for me, although being valiant, to attack so many warriors, and to
fight with them all. Not even Mars, who is an immortal god, nor yet
Minerva, could charge and toil against the force of such a conflict.
Yet whatever I can do with hands, with feet, and with strength, I
declare that I will no longer be remiss, not ever so little; but I will
go right through their line, nor do I think that any Trojan will
rejoice, whoever may come near my javelin.”
Thus he spoke, encouraging them; but illustrious Hector, upbraiding,
animated the Trojans, and said that he would go against Achilles:
“Ye magnanimous Trojans, fear not the son of Peleus. I, too, could
fight with words even with the immortals, but with the spear it is
difficult, for they are far more powerful. Nor shall Achilles give
effect to all his words; but one part he shall fulfil, and the other
leave half imperfect. Against him will I go, even though he were like
to fire as to his hands; and to shining iron, as to his might.”
Thus he spoke, inciting them; but the Trojans opposite quickly raised
their spears; their strength was mingled together, and a shout arose.
Then also Phœbus Apollo, standing near, addressed Hector:
“Hector, do not at all fight in the van with Achilles, but receive him
in the crowd, and from the tumult, lest by any chance he hit thee, or
strike thee with the sword in close combat.”
Thus he spoke, and Hector sunk back again into the thick body of men,
dismayed when he heard the voice of the god speaking. But Achilles
leaped among the Trojans, clad with courage as to his soul, shouting
dreadfully; and first slew gallant Iphition, son of Otrynteus, the
leader of many people, whom the nymph Naïs bore to Otrynteus, the
sacker of cities, under snowy Tmolus, in the rich district of Hyda. 664
Him, eagerly rushing straight forward, noble Achilles struck with his
javelin in the middle of the head; and it was entirely split in two. He
gave a crash as he fell, and noble Achilles boasted over him:
Footnote 664: (return) A town of Mæonia in Lydia. See Steph. Byz. s.
v.
“O son of Otrynteus, most terrible of all men, thou liest; death is
here upon thee. Thy birth, however, is at the Gygæan lake, where is thy
paternal land, beside fishy Hyllus, and eddying Hermus.”
Thus he spoke, boasting; but darkness covered his (Iphition’s) eyes,
but the horses of the Greeks tore him with the tires of the wheels in
the front ranks. After him Achilles smote Demoleon, son of Antenor, a
brave repeller of the fight, in the temples, through his brazen-cheeked
helmet. Nor indeed did the brazen casque resist it, but through it the
eager javelin broke the bone, and the whole brain within was defiled;
and he subdued him, ardent. Next he wounded with his spear in the back,
Hippodamas, as he was leaping down from his chariot, while flying
before him. But he breathed out his soul, and groaned, like as when a
bull, dragged round the Heliconian king, 665 bellows, as the youths
drag him; and the earth-shaker is delighted with them: so, as he
moaned, his fierce soul left his bones. But he went with his spear
against godlike Polydorus, 666 the son of Priam; but him his father did
not permit to fight, because he was the youngest among all, and dearest
to him, and surpassed all in speed. Then, indeed, through youthful
folly, exhibiting the excellence of his speed, he ran among the front
ranks till he lost his life. Him noble swift-footed Achilles smote
rushing by, in the middle of the back, where the golden rings of his
belt clasped together, and the doubled corslet met. Right through at
the navel pierced the point of the spear, and uttering a groan, he fell
upon his knees; a black cloud enveloped him, and stooping down, he
gathered his intestines in his hands. But when Hector perceived his
brother Polydorus holding his intestines in his hands, and rolled on
the earth, a darkness was immediately poured over his eyes, nor could
he any longer be employed afar off, but advanced towards Achilles, like
unto a flame, brandishing his sharp spear. On the other hand, Achilles,
as soon as he saw him, leaped up, and boasting, spoke:
“Near is the man who has most stung my soul, who has slain my cherished
companion; no longer indeed let us dread each other through the bridges
667 of war.”
Footnote 665: (return) Neptune was a favourite god among the Ionians
(cf. Müller, Dor. vol. i. p. 417), but derived this name from Helice, a
town in the northern coast of the Peloponnese, out of which the
principal Achæan families were driven by Tisamenus, whose tomb was
shown there. See Müller, id. p. 74.
Footnote 666: (return) This is not the Polydorus of Virgil and
Euripides, but the son of Laothoe, daughter of Altas, king of the
Lelegans.
Footnote 667: (return) See iv. 371.
He spoke, and sternly regarding [him], addressed noble Hector:
“Come nearer, that thou mayest the sooner reach the end of death.”
But him, not daunted, crest-tossing Hector addressed:
“O son of Peleus, do not expect to terrify me now like a little boy, at
least with words; since I myself also well know how to speak both
revilings and reproaches. I know that thou indeed art brave, and that I
am inferior to thee. But these things indeed are placed at the knees of
the gods, whether, although being inferior, I shall take away thy life,
striking thee with my spear, since my weapon also is sharp at the
point.”
He spoke, and, brandishing, sent forth his spear; and Minerva with a
breath turned it back from glorious Achilles, having breathed very
gently; but it came back to noble Hector, and lay before his feet. But
Achilles, eager to slay him, rushed furiously on, shouting dreadfully;
but Apollo, as a god, very easily snatched him away, and covered him
with abundant haze. Thrice indeed swift-footed noble Achilles rushed on
with his brazen spear, and thrice he smote the deep haze. But when he
rushed on the fourth time, like unto a god, he, dreadfully chiding,
addressed to him winged words:
“Dog, now again hast thou escaped death. Assuredly evil came very near
thee, but Phœbus Apollo has now again preserved thee, to whom thou art
wont to pray, when going into the clang of spears. Yet will I certainly
finish thee, meeting thee hereafter, if indeed any of the gods be an
ally to me also. At present, however, I will go after others of the
Trojans, whomsoever I can.”
So saying, he struck Dryops with his spear in the middle of the neck,
and he fell before his feet. Him then he left, and then detained
Demuchus, son of Philetor, brave and great, wounding [him] in the knee,
with his spear, whom then striking with his great sword, he deprived of
life. But attacking both, he pushed Laogonus and Dardanus, the sons of
Bias, from their chariot to the ground, wounding one with his spear,
and striking the other in close combat with his sword. Also Tros, the
son of Alastor, who came towards him, taking him by the knees, if on
any terms he would spare him, and dismiss him alive, nor slay him,
taking pity on their equal age: fool! who knew not that he would not be
persuaded. For he was by no means a tender-minded nor gentle man, but
very ferocious. He (Tros) indeed clasped his knees with his hands,
desiring to supplicate him, but he (Achilles) wounded him in the liver
with his sword; and his liver fell out, and the black blood from it
filled his bosom, and darkness veiled his eyes, wanting life. But
standing near Mulius, he smote him with his javelin on the ear, and
immediately the brazen blade went through the other ear. Then, with his
large-hilted sword, he smote Echeclus, son of Antenor, in the centre of
the head, and the whole sword became tepid with blood; but purple Death
and violent Fate seized his eyes. Then Deucalion, where the tendons of
the elbow unite, there he pierced him through his hand with his brazen
spear; but he, weighed down as to his hand, awaited him, perceiving
death before him. But he (Achilles) smiting his neck with his sword,
knocked the head off afar with its helmet, and the marrow sprang forth
from the spine; and Deucalion lay extended on the ground. Then he
hastened to go towards Rigmus, the renowned son of Pireus, who had come
from fertile Thrace; whom he smote in the middle with his javelin, and
the brass was fixed in his stomach; and he fell from his chariot: and
Achilles wounded in the back, with his sharp javelin, Areïthoüs, the
attendant, while turning back the steeds, and threw him from the
chariot: and the horses were thrown into confusion. And as the blazing
fire burns through the deep dells of a dry mountain, and the dense
forest is consumed, and the wind agitating, turns round the flame on
all sides; thus he raged in every direction with his spear, like unto a
deity, following those that were to be slain; and the black earth
flowed with blood. As when any one yokes broad fore-headed bulls to
trample out white barley on the well-levelled floor, and it easily
becomes small beneath the feet of the bellowing oxen; so the
solid-hoofed horses, driven by magnanimous Achilles, trod down together
both corses and shields. And the whole axletree beneath was polluted
with gore, and the rings which were round the chariot seat, which the
drops from the horses’ hoofs spattered, as well as from the felloes.
But the son of Peleus was eager to bear away glory, and was polluted
with gore as to his invincible hands.