brothers whom Rhea bore to Saturn—Jove, myself, Neptune answered, “Goddess Iris, your words and Hades who rules the world below. Heaven and have been spoken in season. It is well when a mes-earth were divided into three parts, and each of us senger shows so much discretion. Nevertheless it was to have an equal share. When we cast lots, it cuts me to the very heart that any one should re-fell to me to have my dwelling in the sea for ever-buke so angrily another who is his own peer, and of more; Hades took the darkness of the realms under like empire with himself. Now, however, I will give the earth, while air and sky and clouds were the way in spite of my displeasure; furthermore let me portion that fell to Jove; but earth and great tell you, and I mean what I say—if contrary to the Olympus are the common property of all. There-desire of myself, Minerva driver of the spoil, Juno, fore I will not walk as Jove would have me. For all Mercury, and King Vulcan, Jove spares steep Ilius, his strength, let him keep to his own third share and will not let the Achæans have the great triumph 229
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of sacking it, let him understand that he will incur crests of Ida, flying like a falcon, bane of doves and our implacable resentment.” swiftest of all birds. He found Hector no longer lying Neptune now left the field to go down under the upon the ground, but sitting up, for he had just sea, and sorely did the Achæans miss him. Then come to himself again. He knew those who were Jove said to Apollo, “Go, dear Phoebus, to Hector, about him, and the sweat and hard breathing had for Neptune who holds the earth in his embrace left him from the moment when the will of ægis-has now gone down under the sea to avoid the se-bearing Jove had revived him. Apollo stood beside verity of my displeasure. Had he not done so those him and said, “Hector, son of Priam, why are you gods who are below with Saturn would have come so faint, and why are you here away from the oth-to hear of the fight between us. It is better for both ers? Has any mishap befallen you?” of us that he should have curbed his anger and kept Hector in a weak voice answered, “And which, out of my reach, for I should have had much trouble kind sir, of the gods are you, who now ask me thus?
with him. Take, then, your tasselled ægis, and shake Do you not know that Ajax struck me on the chest it furiously, so as to set the Achæan heroes in a with a stone as I was killing his comrades at the panic; take, moreover, brave Hector, O Far-Darter, ships of the Achæans, and compelled me to leave into your own care, and rouse him to deeds of dar-off fighting? I made sure that this very day I should ing, till the Achæans are sent flying back to their breathe my last and go down into the house of ships and to the Hellespont. From that point I will Hades.”
think it well over, how the Achæans may have a Then King Apollo said to him, “Take heart; the respite from their troubles.” son of Saturn has sent you a mighty helper from Apollo obeyed his father’s saying, and left the Ida to stand by you and defend you, even me, 230
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Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who have been humour for the chase—even so the Achæans were guardian hitherto not only of yourself but of your still charging on in a body, using their swords and city. Now, therefore, order your horsemen to drive spears pointed at both ends, but when they saw their chariots to the ships in great multitudes. I will Hector going about among his men they were afraid, go before your horses to smooth the way for them, and their hearts fell down into their feet.
and will turn the Achæans in flight.” Then spoke Thoas son of Andræmon, leader of As he spoke he infused great strength into the the Ætolians, a man who could throw a good throw, shepherd of his people. And as a horse, stabled and and who was staunch also in close fight, while few full-fed, breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the could surpass him in debate when opinions were plain to the place where he is wont to take his bath divided. He then with all sincerity and goodwill in the river—he tosses his head, and his mane addressed them thus: “What, in heaven’s name, do streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his I now see? Is it not Hector come to life again? Ev-strength he flies full speed to the pastures where ery one made sure he had been killed by Ajax son the mares are feeding—even so Hector, when he of Telamon, but it seems that one of the gods has heard what the god said, urged his horsemen on, again rescued him. He has killed many of us and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take Danaans already, and I take it will yet do so, for the him. As country peasants set their hounds on to a hand of Jove must be with him or he would never homed stag or wild goat—he has taken shelter un-dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of der rock or thicket, and they cannot find him, but, the battle. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let lo, a bearded lion whom their shouts have roused us order the main body of our forces to fall back stands in their path, and they are in no further upon the ships, but let those of us who profess to 231
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be the flower of the army stand firm, and see arrows flew from the bowstrings. Many a spear sped whether we cannot hold Hector back at the point from strong hands and fastened in the bodies of of our spears as soon as he comes near us; I con-many a valiant warrior, while others fell to earth ceive that he will then think better of it before he midway, before they could taste of man’s fair flesh tries to charge into the press of the Danaans.” and glut themselves with blood. So long as Phoebus Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had Apollo held his ægis quietly and without shaking said. Those who were about Ajax and King it, the weapons on either side took effect and the Idomeneus, the followers moreover of Teucer, people fell, but when he shook it straight in the Meriones, and Meges peer of Mars called all their face of the Danaans and raised his mighty battle-best men about them and sustained the fight against cry their hearts fainted within them and they for-Hector and the Trojans, but the main body fell back got their former prowess. As when two wild beasts upon the ships of the Achæans.
spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle or a The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body, with large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not Hector striding on at their head. Before him went there—even so were the Danaans struck helpless, Phoebus Apollo shrouded in cloud about his shoul-for Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory ders. He bore aloft the terrible ægis with its shaggy to Hector and the Trojans.
fringe, which Vulcan the smith had given Jove to The fight then became more scattered and they strike terror into the hearts of men. With this in his killed one another where they best could. Hector hand he led on the Trojans.
killed Stichius and Arcesilaus, the one, leader of The Argives held together and stood their ground.
the Boeotians, and the other, friend and comrade The cry of battle rose high from either side, and the of Menestheus. Æneas killed Medon and Iasus. The 232
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first was bastard son to Oileus, and brother to Ajax, As he spoke he laid his whip about his horses’
but he lived in Phylace away from his own country, shoulders and called to the Trojans throughout their for he had killed a man, a kinsman of his stepmother ranks; the Trojans shouted with a cry that rent the Eriopis whom Oileus had married. Iasus had be-air, and kept their horses neck and neck with his come a leader of the Athenians, and was son of own. Phoebus Apollo went before, and kicked down Sphelus the son of Boucolos. Polydamas killed the banks of the deep trench into its middle so as Mecisteus, and Polites Echius, in the front of the to make a great broad bridge, as broad as the throw battle, while Agenor slew Clonius. Paris struck of a spear when a man is trying his strength. The Deiochus from behind in the lower part of the shoul-Trojan battalions poured over the bridge, and Apollo der, as he was flying among the foremost, and the with his redoubtable ægis led the way. He kicked point of the spear went clean through him.
down the wall of the Achæans as easily as a child While they were spoiling these heroes of their who playing on the sea-shore has built a house of armour, the Achæans were flying pellmell to the sand and then kicks it down again and destroys it—
trench and the set stakes, and were forced back even so did you, O Apollo, shed toil and trouble upon within their wall. Hector then cried out to the Tro-the Argives, filling them with panic and confusion.
jans, “Forward to the ships, and let the spoils be. If Thus then were the Achæans hemmed in at their I see any man keeping back on the other side the ships, calling out to one another and raising their wall away from the ships I will have him killed: his hands with loud cries every man to heaven. Nestor kinsmen and kinswomen shall not give him his dues of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achæans, lifted of fire, but dogs shall tear him in pieces in front of up his hands to the starry firmament of heaven, our city.”
and prayed more fervently than any of them. “Fa-233
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ther Jove,” said he, “if ever any one in wheat-grow-jans were fighting about the wall, but were not yet ing Argos burned you fat thigh-bones of sheep or within it and at the ships, remained sitting in the heifer and prayed that he might return safely home, tent of good Eurypylus, entertaining him with his whereon you bowed your head to him in assent, conversation and spreading herbs over his wound bear it in mind now, and suffer not the Trojans to to ease his pain. When, however, he saw the Trojans triumph thus over the Achæans.” swarming through the breach in the wall, while the All counselling Jove thundered loudly in answer Achæans were clamouring and struck with panic, to die prayer of the aged son of Neleus. When the he cried aloud, and smote his two thighs with the heard Jove thunder they flung themselves yet more flat of his hands. “Eurypylus,” said he in his dis-fiercely on the Achæans. As a wave breaking over may, “I know you want me badly, but I cannot stay the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high be-with you any longer, for there is hard fighting going fore a gale—for it is the force of the wind that makes on; a servant shall take care of you now, for I must the waves so great—even so did the Trojans spring make all speed to Achilles, and induce him to fight over the wall with a shout, and drive their chariots if I can; who knows but with heaven’s help I may onwards. The two sides fought with their double-persuade him. A man does well to listen to the ad-pointed spears in hand-to-hand encounter-the Tro-vice of a friend.”
jans from their chariots, and the Achæans climbing When he had thus spoken he went his way. The up into their ships and wielding the long pikes that Achæans stood firm and resisted the attack of the were lying on the decks ready for use in a sea-fight, Trojans, yet though these were fewer in number, jointed and shod with bronze.
they could not drive them back from the ships, nei-Now Patroclus, so long as the Achæans and Tro-ther could the Trojans break the Achæan ranks and 234
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make their way in among the tents and ships. As a but he hit Lycophron a follower of Ajax, who came carpenter’s line gives a true edge to a piece of ship’s from Cythera, but was living with Ajax inasmuch timber, in the hand of some skilled workman whom as he had killed a man among the Cythereans.
Minerva has instructed in all kinds of useful arts—
Hector’s spear struck him on the head below the even so level was the issue of the fight between the ear, and he fell headlong from the ship’s prow on to two sides, as they fought some round one and some the ground with no life left in him. Ajax shook with round another.
rage and said to his brother, “Teucer, my good fel-Hector made straight for Ajax, and the two fought low, our trusty comrade the son of Mastor has fallen, fiercely about the same ship. Hector could not force he came to live with us from Cythera and whom we Ajax back and fire the ship, nor yet could Ajax drive honoured as much as our own parents. Hector has Hector from the spot to which heaven had brought him.
just killed him; fetch your deadly arrows at once Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the and the bow which Phoebus Apollo gave you.” chest with a spear as he was bringing fire towards Teucer heard him and hastened towards him with the ship. He fell heavily to the ground and the torch his bow and quiver in his hands. Forthwith he show-dropped from his hand. When Hector saw his cousin ered his arrows on the Trojans, and hit Cleitus the fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans son of Pisenor, comrade of Polydamas the noble son and Lycians saying, “ Trojans, Lycians, and of Panthous, with the reins in his hands as he was Dardanians good in close fight, bate not a jot, but attending to his horses; he was in the middle of the rescue the son of Clytius lest the Achæans strip him very thickest part of the fight, doing good service of his armour now that he has fallen.” to Hector and the Trojans, but evil had now come He then aimed a spear at Ajax, and missed him, upon him, and not one of those who were fain to 235
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do so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on Ajax son of Telamon answered, “My good fellow, the back of the neck. He fell from his chariot and let your bow and your arrows be, for Jove has made his horses shook the empty car as they swerved aside.
them useless in order to spite the Danaans. Take King Polydamas saw what had happened, and was your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder, and the first to come up to the horses; he gave them in both fight the Trojans yourself and urge others to charge to Astynous son of Protiaon, and ordered him do so. They may be successful for the moment but to look on, and to keep the horses near at hand. He if we fight as we ought they will find it a hard matter then went back and took his place in the front ranks.
to take the ships.”
Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector, and Teucer then took his bow and put it by in his there would have been no more fighting at the ships tent. He hung a shield four hides thick about his if he had hit him and killed him then and there: shoulders, and on his comely head he set his hel-Jove, however, who kept watch over Hector, had met well wrought with a crest of horse-hair that his eyes on Teucer, and deprived him of his triumph, nodded menacingly above it; he grasped his redoubt-by breaking his bowstring for him just as he was able bronze-shod spear, and forthwith he was by drawing it and about to take his aim; on this the the side of Ajax.
arrow went astray and the bow fell from his hands.
When Hector saw that Teucer’s bow was of no Teucer shook with anger and said to his brother, more use to him, he shouted out to the Trojans and
“Alas, see how heaven thwarts us in all we do; it has Lycians, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in broken my bowstring and snatched the bow from close fight, be men, my friends, and show your my hand, though I strung it this selfsame morning mettle here at the ships, for I see the weapon of one that it might serve me for many an arrow.” of their chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove.
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It is easy to see when Jove is helping people and had better chance it, life or death, once for all, than means to help them still further, or again when he fight long and without issue hemmed in at our ships is bringing them down and will do nothing for them; by worse men than ourselves.” he is now on our side, and is going against the With these words he put life and soul into them Argives. Therefore swarm round the ships and fight.
all. Hector then killed Schedius son of Perimedes, If any of you is struck by spear or sword and loses leader of the Phoceans, and Ajax killed Laodamas his life, let him die; he dies with honour who dies captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor.
fighting for his country; and he will leave his wife Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene a comrade of the and children safe behind him, with his house and son of Phyleus and chief of the proud Epeans. When allotment unplundered if only the Achæans can be Meges saw this he sprang upon him, but Polydamas driven back to their own land, they and their ships.” crouched down, and he missed him, for Apollo With these words he put heart and soul into them would not suffer the son of Panthous to fall in battle; all. Ajax on the other side exhorted his comrades but the spear hit Croesmus in the middle of his saying, “Shame on you Argives, we are now utterly chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and undone, unless we can save ourselves by driving the Meges stripped him of his armour. At that moment enemy from our ships. Do you think, if Hector takes the valiant soldier Dolops son of Lampus sprang them, that you will be able to get home by land?
upon Lampus was son of Laomedon and for his Can you not hear him cheering on his whole host valour, while his son Dolops was versed in all the to fire our fleet, and bidding them remember that ways of war. He then struck the middle of the son they are not at a dance but in battle? Our only of Phyleus’ shield with his spear, setting on him at course is to fight them with might and main; we close quarters, but his good corslet made with plates 237
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of metal saved him; Phyleus had brought it from as one of his own sons. Hector now rebuked him Ephyra and the river Selleis, where his host, King and said, “Why, Melanippus, are we thus remiss?
Euphetes, had given it him to wear in battle and do you take no note of the death of your kinsman, protect him. It now served to save the life of his and do you not see how they are trying to take son. Then Meges struck the topmost crest of Dolops’s armour? Follow me; there must be no fight-Dolops’s bronze helmet with his spear and tore away ing the Argives from a distance now, but we must its plume of horse-hair, so that all newly dyed with do so in close combat till either we kill them or scarlet as it was it tumbled down into the dust.
they take the high wall of Ilius and slay her people.” While he was still fighting and confident of victory, He led on as he spoke, and the hero Melanippus Menelaus came up to help Meges, and got by the followed after. Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was side of Dolops unperceived; he then speared him in cheering on the Argives. “My friends,” he cried, “be the shoulder, from behind, and the point, driven so men, and fear dishonour; quit yourselves in battle furiously, went through into his chest, whereon he so as to win respect from one another. Men who fell headlong. The two then made towards him to respect each other’s good opinion are less likely to strip him of his armour, but Hector called on all his be killed than those who do not, but in flight there brothers for help, and he especially upbraided brave is neither gain nor glory.” Melanippus son of Hiketaon, who erewhile used to Thus did he exhort men who were already bent pasture his herds of cattle in Percote before the war upon driving back the Trojans. They laid his words broke out; but when the ships of the Danaans came, to heart and hedged the ships as with a wall of he went back to Ilius, where he was eminent among bronze, while Jove urged on the Trojans. Menelaus the Trojans, and lived near Priam who treated him of the loud battle-cr y urged Antilochus on.
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“Antilochus,” said he, “you are young and there is which knows it has done wrong, and flies, when it none of the Achæans more fleet of foot or more has killed a dog or a man who is herding his cattle, valiant than you are. See if you cannot spring upon before a body of men can be gathered to attack it.
some Trojan and kill him.”
Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans He hurried away when he had thus spurred and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered Antilochus, who at once darted out from the front their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and ranks and aimed a spear, after looking carefully stay his flight till he had reached his comrades.
round him. The Trojans fell back as he threw, and The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on the dart did not speed from his hand without ef-towards the ships in fulfilment of the behests of fect, for it struck Melanippus the proud son of Jove who kept spurring them on to new deeds of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple as he was com-daring, while he deadened the courage of the Argives ing forward, and his armour rang rattling round him and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans. For as he fell heavily to the ground. Antilochus sprang he meant giving glory to Hector son of Priam, and upon him as a dog springs on a fawn which a hunter letting him throw fire upon the ships, till he had has hit as it was breaking away from its covert, and fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis had killed it. Even so, O Melanippus, did stalwart made him; Jove, therefore, bided his time till he Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your should see the glare of a blazing ship. From that armour; but noble Hector marked him, and came hour he was about so to order that the Trojans running up to him through the thick of the battle.
should be driven back from the ships and to vouch-Antilochus, brave soldier though he was, would not safe glory to the Achæans. With this purpose he stay to face him, but fled like some savage creature inspired Hector son of Priam, who was cager enough 239
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already, to assail the ships. His fury was as that of fierce winds roar against the mast, the hearts of the Mars, or as when a fire is raging in the glades of sailors fail them for fear, and they are saved but by some dense forest upon the mountains; he foamed a very little from destruction—even so were the at the mouth, his eyes glared under his terrible eye-hearts of the Achæans fainting within them. Or as brows, and his helmet quivered on his temples by a savage lion attacking a herd of cows while they reason of the fury with which he fought. Jove from are feeding by thousands in the low-lying meadows heaven was with him, and though he was but one by some wide-watered shore—the herdsman is at against many, vouchsafed him victory and glory; his wit’s end how to protect his herd and keeps go-for he was doomed to an early death, and already ing about now in the van and now in the rear of his Pallas Minerva was hurrying on the hour of his de-cattle, while the lion springs into the thick of them struction at the hands of the son of Peleus. Now, and fastens on a cow so that they all tremble for however, he kept trying to break the ranks of the fear—even so were the Achæans utterly panic-enemy wherever he could see them thickest, and in stricken by Hector and father Jove. Nevertheless the goodliest armour; but do what he might he could Hector only killed Periphetes of Mycenæ; he was not break through them, for they stood as a tower son of Copreus who was wont to take the orders of foursquare, or as some high cliff rising from the grey King Eurystheus to mighty Hercules, but the son sea that braves the anger of the gale, and of the was a far better man than the father in every way; waves that thunder up against it. He fell upon them he was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in under-like flames of fire from every quarter. As when a standing ranked among the foremost men of wave, raised mountain high by wind and storm, Mycenæ. He it was who then afforded Hector a breaks over a ship and covers it deep in foam, the triumph, for as he was turning back he stumbled 240
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against the rim of his shield which reached his feet, children, your wives, your property, and your par-and served to keep the javelins off him. He tripped ents whether these be alive or dead. On their behalf against this and fell face upward, his helmet ringing though they are not here, I implore you to stand loudly about his head as he did so. Hector saw him firm, and not to turn in flight.” fall and ran up to him; he then thrust a spear into With these words he put heart and soul into them his chest, and killed him close to his own comrades.
all. Minerva lifted the thick veil of darkness from These, for all their sorrow, could not help him for their eyes, and much light fell upon them, alike on they were themselves terribly afraid of Hector.
the side of the ships and on that where the fight They had now reached the ships and the prows was raging. They could see Hector and all his men, of those that had been drawn up first were on every both those in the rear who were taking no part in side of them, but the Trojans came pouring after the battle, and those who were fighting by the ships.
them. The Argives were driven back from the first Ajax could not bring himself to retreat along with row of ships, but they made a stand by their tents the rest, but strode from deck to deck with a great without being broken up and scattered; shame and sea-pike in his hands twelve cubits long and jointed fear restrained them. They kept shouting incessantly with rings. As a man skilled in feats of horseman-to one another, and Nestor of Gerene, tower of ship couples four horses together and comes tear-strength to the Achæans, was loudest in imploring ing full speed along the public way from the coun-every man by his parents, and beseeching him to try into some large town—many both men and stand firm.
women marvel as they see him for he keeps all the
“Be men, my friends,” he cried, “and respect one time changing his horse, springing from one to an-another’s good opinion. Think, all of you, on your other without ever missing his feet while the horses 241
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are at a gallop—even so did Ajax go striding from Thus were the two sides minded. Then Hector one ship’s deck to another, and his voice went up seized the stern of the good ship that had brought into the heavens. He kept on shouting his orders to Protesilaus to Troy, but never bore him back to his the Danaans and exhorting them to defend their native land. Round this ship there raged a close ships and tents; neither did Hector remain within hand-to-hand fight between Danaans and Trojans.
the main body of the Trojan warriors, but as a dun They did not fight at a distance with bows and jav-eagle swoops down upon a flock of wild-fowl feed-elins, but with one mind hacked at one another in ing near a river-geese, it may be, or cranes, or long-close combat with their mighty swords and spears necked swans—even so did Hector make straight pointed at both ends; they fought moreover with for a dark-prowed ship, rushing right towards it; keen battle-axes and with hatchets. Many a good for Jove with his mighty hand impelled him for-stout blade hilted and scabbarded with iron, fell ward, and roused his people to follow him.
from hand or shoulder as they fought, and the earth And now the battle again raged furiously at the ran red with blood. Hector, when he had seized the ships. You would have thought the men were com-ship, would not loose his hold but held on to its ing on fresh and unwearied, so fiercely did they fight; curved stern and shouted to the Trojans, “Bring fire, and this was the mind in which they were—the and raise the battle-cry all of you with a single voice.
Achæans did not believe they should escape destruc-Now has Jove vouchsafed us a day that will pay us tion but thought themselves doomed, while there for all the rest; this day we shall take the ships which was not a Trojan but his heart beat high with the came hither against heaven’s will, and which have hope of firing the ships and putting the Achæan caused us such infinite suffering through the cow-heroes to the sword.
ardice of our councillors, who when I would have 242
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done battle at the ships held me back and forbade Trojans with the sea behind us, and far from our the host to follow me; if Jove did then indeed warp own country. Our salvation, therefore, is in the might our judgements, himself now commands me and of our hands and in hard fighting.” cheers me on.”
As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fury, and when any Trojan made towards the ships fiercely on the Achæans, and Ajax no longer held with fire at Hector’s bidding, he would be on the his ground, for he was overcome by the darts that look-out for him, and drive at him with his long were flung at him, and made sure that he was spear. Twelve men did he thus kill in hand-to-hand doomed. Therefore he left the raised deck at the fight before the ships.
stern, and stepped back on to the seven-foot bench of the oarsmen. Here he stood on the look-out, and BOOK XVI
with his spear held back Trojan whom he saw bringing fire to the ships. All the time he kept on shout-THUS DID THEY FIGHT about the ship of Protesilaus.
ing at the top of his voice and exhorting the Then Patroclus drew near to Achilles with tears Danaans. “My friends,” he cried, “Danaan heroes, welling from his eyes, as from some spring whose servants of Mars, be men my friends, and fight with crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high preci-might and with main. Can we hope to find helpers pice. When Achilles saw him thus weeping he was hereafter, or a wall to shield us more surely than sorry for him and said, “Why, Patroclus, do you the one we have? There is no strong city within stand there weeping like some silly child that comes reach, whence we may draw fresh forces to turn the running to her mother, and begs to be taken up and scales in our favour. We are on the plain of the armed carried—she catches hold of her mother’s dress to 243
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stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tear-Eurypylus again has been struck with an a