The Iliad by Homer. - HTML preview

BOOK XXIII

stained hand on the breast of his friend. “Fare well,” he cried, “Patroclus, even in the house of Hades. I THUS DID THEY MAKE THEIR MOAN throughout the city, will now do all that I erewhile promised you; I will while the Achæans when they reached the drag Hector hither and let dogs devour him raw; Hellespont went back every man to his own ship.

twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and your pyre to avenge you.”

spoke to his brave comrades saying, “Myrmidons, As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector famed horsemen and my own trusted friends, not with contumely, laying it at full length in the dust yet, forsooth, let us unyoke, but with horse and beside the bier of Patroclus. The others then put chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus, off every man his armour, took the horses from their in due honour to the dead. When we have had full chariots, and seated themselves in great multitude comfort of lamentation we will unyoke our horses by the ship of the fleet descendant of Æacus, who and take supper all of us here.” thereon feasted them with an abundant funeral On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and banquet. Many a goodly ox, with many a sheep and Achilles led them in their lament. Thrice did they bleating goat did they butcher and cut up; many a drive their chariots all sorrowing round the body, tusked boar moreover, fat and well-fed, did they and Thetis stirred within them a still deeper yearn-singe and set to roast in the flames of Vulcan; and ing. The sands of the seashore and the men’s armour rivulets of blood flowed all round the place where were wet with their weeping, so great a minister of the body was lying.

fear was he whom they had lost. Chief in all their Then the princes of the Achæans took the son of mourning was the son of Peleus: he laid his blood-Peleus to Agamemnon, but hardly could they per-353

The Iliad – Book XXIII

suade him to come with them, so wroth was he for were satisfied. As soon as they had had had enough the death of his comrade. As soon as they reached to eat and drink, the others went to their rest each Agamemnon’s tent they told the serving-men to set in his own tent, but the son of Peleus lay grieving a large tripod over the fire in case they might per-among his Myrmidons by the shore of the sound-suade the son of Peleus ‘to wash the clotted gore ing sea, in an open place where the waves came surg-from this body, but he denied them sternly, and ing in one after another. Here a very deep slumber swore it with a solemn oath, saying, “Nay, by King took hold upon him and eased the burden of his Jove, first and mightiest of all gods, it is not meet sorrows, for his limbs were weary with chasing Hec-that water should touch my body, till I have laid tor round windy Ilius. Presently the sad spirit of Patroclus on the flames, have built him a barrow, Patroclus drew near him, like what he had been in and shaved my head—for so long as I live no such stature, voice, and the light of his beaming eyes, second sorrow shall ever draw nigh me. Now, there-clad, too, as he had been clad in life. The spirit fore, let us do all that this sad festival demands, hovered over his head and said—

but at break of day, King Agamemnon, bid your

“You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; you men bring wood, and provide all else that the dead loved me living, but now that I am dead you think may duly take into the realm of darkness; the fire for me no further. Bury me with all speed that I shall thus burn him out of our sight the sooner, and may pass the gates of Hades; the ghosts, vain shad-the people shall turn again to their own labours.” ows of men that can labour no more, drive me away Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had from them; they will not yet suffer me to join those said. They made haste to prepare the meal, they that are beyond the river, and I wander all desolate ate, and every man had his full share so that all by the wide gates of the house of Hades. Give me 354

The Iliad – Book XXIII

now your hand I pray you, for when you have once come hither to lay these charges upon me? will of given me my dues of fire, never shall I again come my own self do all as you have bidden me. Draw forth out of the house of Hades. Nevermore shall closer to me, let us once more throw our arms around we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the liv-one another, and find sad comfort in the sharing of ing; the cruel fate which was my birth-right has our sorrows.”

yawned its wide jaws around me—nay, you too He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and Achilles, peer of gods, are doomed to die beneath would have clasped him in them, but there was the wall of the noble Trojans.

nothing, and the spirit vanished as a vapour, gib-

“One prayer more will I make you, if you will bering and whining into the earth. Achilles sprang grant it; let not my bones be laid apart from yours, to his feet, smote his two hands, and made lamen-Achilles, but with them; even as we were brought tation saying, “Of a truth even in the house of Ha-up together in your own home, what time des there are ghosts and phantoms that have no life Menoetius brought me to you as a child from Opoeis in them; all night long the sad spirit of Patroclus because by a sad spite I had killed the son of has hovered over head making piteous moan, tell-Amphidamas—not of set purpose, but in childish ing me what I am to do for him, and looking won-quarrel over the dice. The knight Peleus took me drously like himself.”

into his house, entreated me kindly, and named me Thus did he speak and his words set them all to be your squire; therefore let our bones lie in but weeping and mourning about the poor dumb dead, a single urn, the two-handled golden vase given to till rosy-fingered morn appeared. Then King you by your mother.”

Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of And Achilles answered, “Why, true heart, are you the camp, to bring wood, and Meriones, squire to 355

The Iliad – Book XXIII

Idomeneus, was in charge over them. They went their armour and mounted each his chariot—they out with woodmen’s axes and strong ropes in their and their charioteers with them. The chariots went hands, and before them went the mules. Up hill before, and they that were on foot followed as a and down dale did they go, by straight ways and cloud in their tens of thousands after. In the midst crooked, and when they reached the heights of of them his comrades bore Patroclus and covered many-fountained Ida, they laid their axes to the him with the locks of their hair which they cut off roots of many a tall branching oak that came thun-and threw upon his body. Last came Achilles with dering down as they felled it. They split the trees his head bowed for sorrow, so noble a comrade was and bound them behind the mules, which then he taking to the house of Hades.

wended their way as they best could through the When they came to the place of which Achilles thick brushwood on to the plain. All who had been had told them they laid the body down and built cutting wood bore logs, for so Meriones squire to up the wood. Achilles then bethought him of an-Idomeneus had bidden them, and they threw them other matter. He went a space away from the pyre, down in a line upon the seashore at the place where and cut off the yellow lock which he had let grow Achilles would make a mighty monument for for the river Spercheius. He looked all sorrowfully Patroclus and for himself.

out upon the dark sea, and said, “Spercheius, in When they had thrown down their great logs of vain did my father Peleus vow to you that when I wood over the whole ground, they stayed all of them returned home to my loved native land I should where they were, but Achilles ordered his brave cut off this lock and offer you a holy hecatomb; Myrmidons to gird on their armour, and to yoke fifty she-goats was I to sacrifice to you there at your each man his horses; they therefore rose, girded on springs, where is your grove and your altar fragrant 356

The Iliad – Book XXIII

with burnt-offerings. Thus did my father vow, but and Achilles took fat from all of them and wrapped you have not fulfilled his prayer; now, therefore, the body therein from head to foot, heaping the that I shall see my home no more, I give this lock as flayed carcases all round it. Against the bier he a keepsake to the hero Patroclus.” leaned two-handled jars of honey and unguents; four As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his proud horses did he then cast upon the pyre, groan-dear comrade, and all who stood by were filled with ing the while he did so. The dead hero had had yearning and lamentation. The sun would have gone house-dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw down upon their mourning had not Achilles pres-upon the pyre; he also put twelve brave sons of noble ently said to Agamemnon, “Son of Atreus, for it is Trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest, to you that the people will give ear, there is a time for he was full of bitterness and fury. Then he com-to mourn and a time to cease from mourning; bid mitted all to the resistless and devouring might of the people now leave the pyre and set about get-the fire; he groaned aloud and callid on his dead ting their dinners: we, to whom the dead is dearest, comrade by name. “Fare well,” he cried, “Patroclus, will see to what is wanted here, and let the other even in the house of Hades; I am now doing all that princes also stay by me.”

I have promised you. Twelve brave sons of noble When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed Trojans shall the flames consume along with your-the people to their ships, but those who were about self, but dogs, not fire, shall devour the flesh of the dead heaped up wood and built a pyre a hun-Hector son of Priam.”

dred feet this way and that; then they laid the dead Thus did he vaunt, but the dogs came not about all sorrowfully upon the top of it. They flayed and the body of Hector, for Jove’s daughter Venus kept dressed many fat sheep and oxen before the pyre, them off him night and day, and anointed him with 357

The Iliad – Book XXIII

ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be back to the streams of Oceanus and the land of the torn when Achilles was dragging him about.

Ethiopians who are offering hecatombs to the im-Phoebus Apollo moreover sent a dark cloud from mortals, and I would have my share; but Achilles heaven to earth, which gave shade to the whole place prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to where Hector lay, that the heat of the sun might him, and he vows them goodly offerings; he would not parch his body.

have you blow upon the pyre of Patroclus for whom Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not all the Achæans are lamenting.” kindle. Achilles therefore bethought him of another With this she left them, and the two winds rose matter; he went apart and prayed to the two winds with a cry that rent the air and swept the clouds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly offerings.

before them. They blew on and on until they came He made them many drink-offerings from the to the sea, and the waves rose high beneath them, golden cup and besought them to come and help but when they reached Troy they fell upon the pyre him that the wood might make haste to kindle and till the mighty flames roared under the blast that the dead bodies be consumed. Fleet Iris heard him they blew. All night long did they blow hard and praying and started off to fetch the winds. They beat upon the fire, and all night long did Achilles were holding high feast in the house of boisterous grasp his double cup, drawing wine from a mixing-Zephyrus when Iris came running up to the stone bowl of gold, and calling upon the spirit of dead threshold of the house and stood there, but as soon Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground until the as they set eyes on her they all came towards her earth was drenched. As a father mourns when he is and each of them called her to him, but Iris would burning the bones of his bridegroom son whose not sit down. “I cannot stay,” she said, “I must go death has wrung the hearts of his parents, even so 358

The Iliad – Book XXIII

did Achilles mourn while burning the body of his in a golden urn, in two layers of fat, against the time comrade, pacing round the bier with piteous groan-when I shall myself go down into the house of Ha-ing and lamentation.

des. As for the barrow, labour not to raise a great one At length as the Morning Star was beginning to now, but such as is reasonable. Afterwards, let those herald the light which saffron-mantled Dawn was Achæans who may be left at the ships when I am soon to suffuse over the sea, the flames fell and the gone, build it both broad and high.” fire began to die. The winds then went home be-Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the yond the Thracian sea, which roared and boiled as son of Peleus. First they poured red wine upon the they swept over it. The son of Peleus now turned thick layer of ashes and quenched the fire. With away from the pyre and lay down, overcome with many tears they singled out the whitened bones of toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber. Presently they their loved comrade and laid them within a golden who were about the son of Atreus drew near in a urn in two layers of fat: they then covered the urn body, and roused him with the noise and tramp of with a linen cloth and took it inside the tent. They their coming. He sat upright and said, “Son of Atreus, marked off the circle where the barrow should be, and all other princes of the Achæans, first pour red made a foundation for it about the pyre, and forth-wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us with heaped up the earth. When they had thus then gather the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius, raised a mound they were going away, but Achilles singling them out with care; they are easily found, stayed the people and made them sit in assembly.

for they lie in the middle of the pyre, while all else, He brought prizes from the ships-cauldrons, tripods, both men and horses, has been thrown in a heap horses and mules, noble oxen, women with fair and burned at the outer edge. We will lay the bones girdles, and swart iron.

359

The Iliad – Book XXIII

The first prize he offered was for the chariot them in clear water and anointed their manes with races—a woman skilled in all useful arts, and a three-oil. See how they stand weeping here, with their legged cauldron that had ears for handles, and would manes trailing on the ground in the extremity of hold twenty-two measures. This was for the man their sorrow. But do you others set yourselves in who came in first. For the second there was a six-order throughout the host, whosoever has confi-year old mare, unbroken, and in foal to a he-ass; dence in his horses and in the strength of his the third was to have a goodly cauldron that had chariot.”

never yet been on the fire; it was still bright as when Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of it left the maker, and would hold four measures.

chariots bestirred themselves. First among them all The fourth prize was two talents of gold, and the uprose Eumelus, king of men, son of Admetus, a fifth a two-handled urn as yet unsoiled by smoke.

man excellent in horsemanship. Next to him rose Then he stood up and spoke among the Argives mighty Diomed son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan saying—“Son of Atreus, and all other Achæans, horses which he had taken from Æneas, when Apollo these are the prizes that lie waiting the winners of bore him out of the fight. Next to him, yellow-haired the chariot races. At any other time I should carry Menelaus son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet off the first prize and take it to my own tent; you horses, Agamemnon’s mare Æthe, and his own horse know how far my steeds excel all others—for they Podargus. The mare had been given to Agamemnon are immortal; Neptune gave them to my father by echepolus son of Anchises, that he might not Peleus, who in his turn gave them to myself; but I have to follow him to Ilius, but might stay at home shall hold aloof, I and my steeds that have lost their and take his ease; for Jove had endowed him with brave and kind driver, who many a time has washed great wealth and he lived in spacious Sicyon. This 360

The Iliad – Book XXIII

mare, all eager for the race, did Menelaus put un-whereas a man who knows what he is doing may der the yoke.

have worse horses, but he will keep them well in Fourth in order Antilochus, son to noble Nestor hand when he sees the doubling-post; he knows the son of Neleus, made ready his horses. These were precise moment at which to pull the rein, and keeps bred in Pylos, and his father came up to him to give his eye well on the man in front of him. I will give him good advice of which, however, he stood in but you this certain token which cannot escape your little need. “Antilochus,” said Nestor, “you are notice. There is a stump of a dead tree-oak or pine young, but Jove and Neptune have loved you well, as it may be—some six feet above the ground, and and have made you an excellent horseman. I need not yet rotted away by rain; it stands at the fork of not therefore say much by way of instruction. You the road; it has two white stones set one on each are skilful at wheeling your horses round the post, side, and there is a clear course all round it. It may but the horses themselves are very slow, and it is have been a monument to some one long since dead, this that will, I fear, mar your chances. The other or it may have been used as a doubling-post in days drivers know less than you do, but their horses are gone by; now, however, it has been fixed on by Achil-fleeter; therefore, my dear son, see if you cannot hit les as the mark round which the chariots shall turn; upon some artifice whereby you may insure that hug it as close as you can, but as you stand in your the prize shall not slip through your fingers. The chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on your woodman does more by skill than by brute force; right-hand horse with voice and lash, and give him by skill the pilot guides his storm-tossed barque over a loose rein, but let the left-hand horse keep so close the sea, and so by skill one driver can beat another.

in, that the nave of your wheel shall almost graze If a man go wide in rounding this way and that, the post; but mind the stone, or you will wound 361

The Iliad – Book XXIII

your horses and break your chariot in pieces, which father’s follower Phoenix as umpire, to note the would be sport for others but confusion for your-running, and report truly.

self. Therefore, my dear son, mind well what you At the same instant they all of them lashed their are about, for if you can be first to round the post horses, struck them with the reins, and shouted at there is no chance of any one giving you the goby them with all their might. They flew full speed over later, not even though you had Adrestus’s horse the plain away from the ships, the dust rose from Arion behind you horse which is of divine race—or under them as it were a cloud or whirlwind, and those of Laomedon, which are the noblest in this their manes were all flying in the wind. At one mo-country.”

ment the chariots seemed to touch the ground, and When Nestor had made an end of counselling then again they bounded into the air; the drivers his son he sat down in his place, and fifth in order stood erect, and their hearts beat fast and furious Meriones got ready his horses. They then all in their lust of victory. Each kept calling on his mounted their chariots and cast lots.—Achilles horses, and the horses scoured the plain amid the shook the helmet, and the lot of Antilochus son of clouds of dust that they raised.

Nestor fell out first; next came that of King Eumelus, It was when they were doing the last part of the and after his, those of Menelaus son of Atreus and course on their way back towards the sea that their of Meriones. The last place fell to the lot of Diomed pace was strained to the utmost and it was seen son of Tydeus, who was the best man of them all.

what each could do. The horses of the descendant They took their places in line; Achilles showed them of Pheres now took the lead, and close behind them the doubling-post round which they were to turn, came the Trojan stallions of Diomed. They seemed some way off upon the plain; here he stationed his as if about to mount Eumelus’s chariot, and he could 362

The Iliad – Book XXIII

feel their warm breath on his back and on his broad Menelaus son of Atreus came next behind him, shoulders, for their heads were close to him as they but Antilochus called to his father’s horses. “On flew over the course. Diomed would have now passed with you both,” he cried, “and do your very ut-him, or there would have been a dead heat, but most. I do not bid you try to beat the steeds of the Phoebus Apollo to spite him made him drop his whip.

son of Tydeus, for Minerva has put running into Tears of anger fell from his eyes as he saw the mares them, and has covered Diomed with glory; but you going on faster than ever, while his own horses lost must overtake the horses of the son of Atreus and ground through his having no whip. Minerva saw not be left behind, or Æthe who is so fleet will taunt the trick which Apollo had played the son of Tydeus, you. Why, my good fellows, are you lagging? I tell so she brought him his whip and put spirit into his you, and it shall surely be—Nestor will keep nei-horses; moreover she went after the son of Admetus ther of you, but will put both of you to the sword, in a rage and broke his yoke for him; the mares went if we win any the worse a prize through your care-one to one side the course, and the other to the other, lessness, fly after them at your utmost speed; I will and the pole was broken against the ground. Eumelus hit on a plan for passing them in a narrow part of was thrown from his chariot close to the wheel; his the way, and it shall not fail me.” elbows, mouth, and nostrils were all torn, and his They feared the rebuke of their master, and for a forehead was bruised above his eyebrows; his eyes short space went quicker. Presently Antilochus saw filled with tears and he could find no utterance. But a narrow place where the road had sunk. The ground the son of Tydeus turned his horses aside and shot was broken, for the winter’s rain had gathered and far ahead, for Minerva put fresh strength into them had worn the road so that the whole place was deep-and covered Diomed himself with glory.

ened. Menelaus was making towards it so as to get 363

The Iliad – Book XXIII

there first, for fear of a foul, but Antilochus turned the prize without sworn protest on my part.” his horses out of the way, and followed him a little Then he called on his horses and said to them, on one side. The son of Atreus was afraid and

“Keep your pace, and slacken not; the limbs of the shouted out, “Antilochus, you are driving recklessly; other horses will weary sooner than yours, for they rein in your horses; the road is too narrow here, it are neither of them young.” will be wider soon, and you can pass me then; if The horses feared the rebuke of their master, and you foul my chariot you may bring both of us to a went faster, so that they were soon nearly up with mischief.”

the others.

But Antilochus plied his whip, and drove faster, Meanwhile the Achæans from their seats were as though he had not heard him. They went side by watching how the horses went, as they scoured the side for about as far as a young man can hurl a disc plain amid clouds of their own dust. Idomeneus from his shoulder when he is trying his strength, captain of the Cretans was first to make out the and then Menelaus’s mares drew behind, for he left running, for he was not in the thick of the crowd, off driving for fear the horses should foul one an-but stood on the most commanding part of the other and upset the chariots; thus, while pressing ground. The driver was a long way off, but on in quest of victory, they might both come head-Idomeneus could hear him shouting, and could see long to the ground. Menelaus then upbraided the foremost horse quite plainly—a chestnut with Antilochus and said, “There is no greater trickster a round white star, like the moon, on its forehead.

living than you are; go, and bad luck go with you; He stood up and said among the Argives, “My the Achæans say not well that you have understand-friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, can ing, and come what may you shall not bear away you see the running as well as I can? There seems 364

The Iliad – Book XXIII

to be another pair in front now, and another driver; Eumelus’s horses are in front now, as they always those that led off at the start must have been dis-have been, and he is on the chariot holding the abled out on the plain. I saw them at first making reins.”

their way round the doubling-post, but now, though The captain of the Cretans was angry, and an-I search the plain of Troy, I cannot find them. Per-swered, “Ajax you are an excellent railer, but you haps the reins fell from the driver’s hand so that he have no judgement, and are wanting in much else lost command of his horses at the doubling-post, as well, for you have a vile temper. I will wager you and could not turn it. I suppose he must have been a tripod or cauldron, and Agamemnon son of Atreus thrown out there, and broken his chariot, while his shall decide whose horses are first. You will then mares have left the course and gone off wildly in a know to your cost.”

panic. Come up and see for yourselves, I cannot Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry make out for certain, but the driver seems an answer, and there would have been yet further brawl-

Ætolian by descent, ruler over the Argives, brave ing between them, had not Achilles risen in his place Diomed the son of Tydeus.”

and said, “Cease your railing Ajax and Idomeneus; Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and it is not you would be scandalised if you saw any said, “Idomeneus, why should you be in such a hurry one else do the like: sit down and keep your eyes to tell us all about it, when the mares are still so far on the horses; they are speeding towards the win-out upon the plain? You are none of the youngest, ning-post and will be bere directly. You will then nor your eyes none of the sharpest, but you are both of you know whose horses are first, and whose always laying down the law. You have no right to come after.”

do so, for there are better men here than you are.

As he was speaking, the son of Tydeus came driv-365

The Iliad – Book XXIII

ing in, plying his whip lustily from his shoulder, tyre of the wheel, and there is never much space and his horses stepping high as they flew over the between wheel and horse when the chariot is go-course. The sand and grit rained thick on the driver, ing; Menelaus was no further than this behind and the chariot inlaid with gold and tin ran close Antilochus, though at first he had been a full disc’s behind his fleet horses. There was little trace of throw behind him. He had soon caught him up wheel-marks in the fine dust, and the horses came again, for Agamemnon’s mare Æthe kept pulling flying in at their utmost speed. Diomed stayed them stronger and stronger, so that if the course had been in the middle of the crowd, and the sweat from their longer he would have passed him, and there would manes and chests fell in streams on to the ground.

not even have been a dead heat. Idomeneus’s brave Forthwith he sprang from his goodly chariot, and squire Meriones was about a spear’s cast behind leaned his whip against his horses’ yoke; brave Menelaus. His horses were slowest of all, and he Sthenelus now lost no time, but at once brought on was the worst driver. Last of them all came the son the prize, and gave the woman and the ear-handled of Admetus, dragging his chariot and driving his cauldron to his comrades to take away. Then he horses on in front. When Achilles saw him he was unyoked the horses.

sorry, and stood up among the Argives saying, “The Next after him came in Antilochus of the race of best man is coming in last. Let us give him a prize Neleus, who had passed Menelaus by a trick and for it is reasonable. He shall have the second, but not by the fleetness of his horses; but even so the first must go to the son of Tydeus.” Menelaus came in as close behind him as the wheel Thus did he speak and the others all of them ap-is to the horse that draws both the chariot and its plauded his saying, and were for doing as he had master. The end hairs of a horse’s tail touch the said, but Nestor’s son Antilochus stood up and 366

The Iliad – Book XXIII

claimed his rights from the son of Peleus. “Achil-He bade his comrade Automedon bring the breast-les,” said he, “I shall take it much amiss if you do plate from his tent, and he did so. Achilles then this thing; you would rob me of my prize, because gave it over to Eumelus, who received it gladly.

you think Eumelus’s chariot and horses were thrown But Menelaus got up in a rage, furiously angry out, and himself too, good man that he is. He should with Antilochus. An attendant placed his staff in have prayed duly to the immortals; he would not his hands and bade the Argives keep silence: the have come in fast if he had done so. If you are sorry hero then addressed them. “Antilochus,” said he, for him and so choose, you have much gold in your

“what is this from you who have been so far blame-tents, with bronze, sheep, cattle and horses. Take less? You have made me cut a poor figure and something from this store if you would have the baulked my horses by flinging your own in front Achæans speak well of you, and give him a better of them, though yours are much worse than mine prize even than that which you have now offered; are; therefore, O princes and counsellors of the but I will not give up the mare, and he that will Argives, judge between us and show no favour, lest fight me for her, let him come on.” one of the Achæans say, ‘Menelaus has got the mare Achilles smiled as he heard this, and was pleased through lying and corruption; his horses were far with Antilochus, who was one of his dearest com-