The Iliad ...............................................................................................................................................................1

Homer......................................................................................................................................................1

Translated by Samuel Butler .......................................................................................................1

Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a

brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for

so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great

And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was the son of Jove and Leto; for he was angry

with the king and sent a pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son of Atreus had

dishonoured Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and

had brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a

suppliant's wreath and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus, who were their

"Sons of Atreus," he cried, "and all other Achaeans, may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack

the city of Priam, and to reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter, and accept a ransom for her, in

On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he

offered; but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. "Old man," said he,

"let me not find you tarrying about our ships, nor yet coming hereafter. Your sceptre of the god and your

wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall grow old in my house at Argos far from her own

home, busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch; so go, and do not provoke me or it shall be the

The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went by the shore of the sounding sea and

prayed apart to King Apollo whom lovely Leto had borne. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, that

protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest Tenedos with thy might, hear me oh thou of Sminthe. If I have

ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned your thighbones in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer,

Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He came down furious from the summits of Olympus, with his

bow and his quiver upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage that trembled within

him. He sat himself down away from the ships with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death as

he shot his arrow in the midst of them. First he smote their mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his

shafts at the people themselves, and all day long the pyres of the dead were burning.

For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon the tenth day Achilles called them in

assembly moved thereto by Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their deaththroes and had compassion upon

"Son of Atreus," said he, "I deem that we should now turn roving home if we would escape destruction, for

we are being cut down by war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet, or some reader of

dreams (for dreams, too, are of Jove) who can tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry, and say whether it is

for some vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered, and whether he will accept the

savour of lambs and goats without blemish, so as to take away the plague from us."

With these words he sat down, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest of augurs, who knew things past present

and to come, rose to speak. He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilius, through the

prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed

"Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but

consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I know that I shall offend

one who rules the Argives with might, to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand

against the anger of a king, who if he swallow his displeasure now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked

And Achilles answered, "Fear not, but speak as it is borne in upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas,

to whom you pray, and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his hand upon you,

while I yet live to look upon the face of the earthno, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by far

Thereon the seer spoke boldly. "The god," he said, "is angry neither about vow nor hecatomb, but for his

priest's sake, whom Agamemnon has dishonoured, in that he would not free his daughter nor take a ransom

for her; therefore has he sent these evils upon us, and will yet send others. He will not deliver the Danaans

from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without fee or ransom to her father, and has sent a

With these words he sat down, and Agamemnon rose in anger. His heart was black with rage, and his eyes

flashed fire as he scowled on Calchas and said, "Seer of evil, you never yet prophesied smooth things

concerning me, but have ever loved to foretell that which was evil. You have brought me neither comfort nor

performance; and now you come seeing among Danaans, and saying that Apollo has plagued us because I

would not take a ransom for this girl, the daughter of Chryses. I have set my heart on keeping her in my own

house, for I love her better even than my own wife Clytemnestra, whose peer she is alike in form and feature,

in understanding and accomplishments. Still I will give her up if I must, for I would have the people live, not

die; but you must find me a prize instead, or I alone among the Argives shall be without one. This is not well;

And Achilles answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond all mankind, how shall the Achaeans

find you another prize? We have no common store from which to take one. Those we took from the cities

have been awarded; we cannot disallow the awards that have been made already. Give this girl, therefore, to

the god, and if ever Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy we will requite you three and fourfold."

Then Agamemnon said, "Achilles, valiant though you be, you shall not thus outwit me. You shall not

overreach and you shall not persuade me. Are you to keep your own prize, while I sit tamely under my loss

and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will

come and take your own, or that of Ajax or of Ulysses; and he to whomsoever I may come shall rue my

coming. But of this we will take thought hereafter; for the present, let us draw a ship into the sea, and find a

crew for her expressly; let us put a hecatomb on board, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief

man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you

Achilles scowled at him and answered, "You are steeped in insolence and lust of gain. With what heart can

any of the Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I came not warring here for any ill

the Trojans had done me. I have no quarrel with them. They have not raided my cattle nor my horses, nor cut

down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia; for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain

and sounding sea. We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your pleasure, not ours to gain satisfaction from

the Trojans for your shameless self and for Menelaus. You forget this, and threaten to rob me of the prize for

which I have toiled, and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Never when the Achaeans sack any

rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of

the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is far the largest, and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships,

take what I can get and be thankful, when my labour of fighting is done. Now, therefore, I shall go back to

Phthia; it will be much better for me to return home with my ships, for I will not stay here dishonoured to

And Agamemnon answered, "Fly if you will, I shall make you no prayers to stay you. I have others here who

will do me honour, and above all Jove, the lord of counsel. There is no king here so hateful to me as you are,

for you are ever quarrelsome and ill affected. What though you be brave? Was it not heaven that made you

so? Go home, then, with your ships and comrades to lord it over the Myrmidons. I care neither for you nor for

your anger; and thus will I do: since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me, I shall send her with my

ship and my followers, but I shall come to your tent and take your own prize Briseis, that you may learn how

much stronger I am than you are, and that another may fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with

The son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword,

push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and check his anger. While he was thus

in two minds, and was drawing his mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heaven (for

Juno had sent her in the love she bore to them both), and seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible

to him alone, for of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in amaze, and by the fire that flashed

from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva. "Why are you here," said he, "daughter of aegisbearing

Jove? To see the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus? Let me tell you and it shall surely be he shall pay

And Minerva said, "I come from heaven, if you will hear me, to bid you stay your anger. Juno has sent me,

who cares for both of you alike. Cease, then, this brawling, and do not draw your sword; rail at him if you

will, and your railing will not be vain, for I tell you and it shall surely be that you shall hereafter receive

gifts three times as splendid by reason of this present insult. Hold, therefore, and obey."

"Goddess," answered Achilles, "however angry a man may be, he must do as you two command him. This

He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword, and thrust it back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him.

Then she went back to Olympus among the other gods, and to the house of aegisbearing Jove.

But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus, for he was still in a rage. "Winebibber," he

cried, "with the face of a dog and the heart of a hind, you never dare to go out with the host in fight, nor yet

with our chosen men in ambuscade. You shun this as you do death itself. You had rather go round and rob his

prizes from any man who contradicts you. You devour your people, for you are king over a feeble folk;

otherwise, son of Atreus, henceforward you would insult no man. Therefore I say, and swear it with a great

oath nay, by this my sceptre which shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor bud anew from the day on which

it left its parent stem upon the mountains for the axe stripped it of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the

Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven so surely and solemnly do I swear that

hereafter they shall look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him. In the day of your distress, when your

men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and shall rend your

heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the Achaeans."

With this the son of Peleus dashed his goldbestudded sceptre on the ground and took his seat, while the son

of Atreus was beginning fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then uprose smoothtongued Nestor,

the facile speaker of the Pylians, and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two generations of men

born and bred in Pylos had passed away under his rule, and he was now reigning over the third. With all

"Of a truth," he said, "a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean land. Surely Priam with his sons would

rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two, who are so excellent

in fight and counsel. I am older than either of you; therefore be guided by me. Moreover I have been the

familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels. Never again can I

behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his people, or as Caeneus, Exadius, godlike

Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus, peer of the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born

upon this earth: mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly

overthrew them. I came from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would have me come, and I

fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were

persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon,

though you be strong, take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles;

and you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has

like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong, and have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is

stronger than you, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your anger, I implore you; end

this quarrel with Achilles, who in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans."

And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, all that you have said is true, but this fellow must needs become our lord

and master: he must be lord of all, king of all, and captain of all, and this shall hardly be. Granted that the

gods have made him a great warrior, have they also given him the right to speak with railing?"

Achilles interrupted him. "I should be a mean coward," he cried, "were I to give in to you in all things. Order

other people about, not me, for I shall obey no longer. Furthermore I say and lay my saying to your heart I

shall fight neither you nor any man about this girl, for those that take were those also that gave. But of all else

that is at my ship you shall carry away nothing by force. Try, that others may see; if you do, my spear shall be

When they had quarrelled thus angrily, they rose, and broke up the assembly at the ships of the Achaeans.

The son of Peleus went back to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company, while

Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Chryseis on

These, then, went on board and sailed their ways over the sea. But the son of Atreus bade the people purify

themselves; so they purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea. Then they offered hecatombs of bulls

and goats without blemish on the seashore, and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling up

Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host. But Agamemnon did not forget the threat that he had

made Achilles, and called his trusty messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates. "Go," said he, "to the

tent of Achilles, son of Peleus; take Briseis by the hand and bring her hither; if he will not give her I shall

He charged them straightly further and dismissed them, whereon they went their way sorrowfully by the

seaside, till they came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons. They found Achilles sitting by his tent and his

ships, and illpleased he was when he beheld them. They stood fearfully and reverently before him, and

never a word did they speak, but he knew them and said, "Welcome, heralds, messengers of gods and men;

draw near; my quarrel is not with you but with Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl Briseis. Therefore,

Patroclus, bring her and give her to them, but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods, by mortal men, and

by the fierceness of Agamemnon's anger, that if ever again there be need of me to save the people from ruin,

they shall seek and they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how to look before and

Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him. He brought Briseis from the tent and gave her over to the

heralds, who took her with them to the ships of the Achaeans and the woman was loth to go. Then Achilles

went all alone by the side of the hoar sea, weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters. He

raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother, "Mother," he cried, "you bore me doomed to live but for a

little season; surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might have made that little glorious. It is not so.

Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has done me dishonour, and has robbed me of my prize by force."

As he spoke he wept aloud, and his mother heard him where she was sitting in the depths of the sea hard by

the old man her father. Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves, sat down before him as he

stood weeping, caressed him with her hand, and said, "My son, why are you weeping? What is it that grieves

Achilles drew a deep sigh and said, "You know it; why tell you what you know well already? We went to

Thebe the strong city of Eetion, sacked it, and brought hither the spoil. The sons of the Achaeans shared it

duly among themselves, and chose lovely Chryseis as the meed of Agamemnon; but Chryses, priest of

Apollo, came to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and brought with him a great ransom:

moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he besought the

"On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he

offered; but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. So he went back in

anger, and Apollo, who loved him dearly, heard his prayer. Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the Argives,

and the people died thick on one another, for the arrows went everywhither among the wide host of the

Achaeans. At last a seer in the fulness of his knowledge declared to us the oracles of Apollo, and I was

myself first to say that we should appease him. Whereon the son of Atreus rose in anger, and threatened that

which he has since done. The Achaeans are now taking the girl in a ship to Chryse, and sending gifts of

sacrifice to the god; but the heralds have just taken from my tent the daughter of Briseus, whom the Achaeans

"Help your brave son, therefore, if you are able. Go to Olympus, and if you have ever done him service in

word or deed, implore the aid of Jove. Ofttimes in my father's house have I heard you glory in that you alone

of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruin, when the others, with Juno, Neptune, and Pallas Minerva

would have put him in bonds. It was you, goddess, who delivered him by calling to Olympus the

hundredhanded monster whom gods call Briareus, but men Aegaeon, for he is stronger even than his father;

when therefore he took his seat allglorious beside the son of Saturn, the other gods were afraid, and did not

bind him. Go, then, to him, remind him of all this, clasp his knees, and bid him give succour to the Trojans.

Let the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships, and perish on the seashore, that they may reap

what joy they may of their king, and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to the foremost

Thetis wept and answered, "My son, woe is me that I should have borne or suckled you. Would indeed that

you had lived your span free from all sorrow at your ships, for it is all too brief; alas, that you should be at

once short of life and long of sorrow above your peers: woe, therefore, was the hour in which I bore you;

nevertheless I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus, and tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer:

meanwhile stay where you are with your ships, nurse your anger against the Achaeans, and hold aloof from

fight. For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus, to a feast among the Ethiopians, and the other gods went with

him. He will return to Olympus twelve days hence; I will then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will

On this she left him, still furious at the loss of her that had been taken from him. Meanwhile Ulysses reached

Chryse with the hecatomb. When they had come inside the harbour they furled the sails and laid them in the

ship's hold; they slackened the forestays, lowered the mast into its place, and rowed the ship to the place

where they would have her lie; there they cast out their mooringstones and made fast the hawsers. They then

got out upon the seashore and landed the hecatomb for Apollo; Chryseis also left the ship, and Ulysses led

her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her father. "Chryses," said he, "King Agamemnon has sent me

to bring you back your child, and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans, that we may propitiate

So saying he gave the girl over to her father, who received her gladly, and they ranged the holy hecatomb all

orderly round the altar of the god. They washed their hands and took up the barleymeal to sprinkle over the

victims, while Chryses lifted up his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of

the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla, and rulest Tenedos with thy might. Even as thou didst

hear me aforetime when I prayed, and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay

Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barleymeal,

they drew back the heads of the victims and killed and flayed them. They cut out the thighbones, wrapped

them round in two layers of fat, set some pieces of raw meat on the top of them, and then Chryses laid them

on the wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young men stood near him with fivepronged spits in

their hands. When the thighbones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up

small, put the pieces upon the spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off: then, when they had

finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were

satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, pages filled the mixingbowl with wine and water

Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song, hymning him and chaunting the joyous

paean, and the god took pleasure in their voices; but when the sun went down, and it came on dark, they laid

themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of the ship, and when the child of morning, rosyfingered

Dawn, appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Apollo sent them a fair wind, so they raised

their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deep

blue water, and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward. When they reached the

widestretching host of the Achaeans, they drew the vessel ashore, high and dry upon the sands, set her

But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger. He went not to the honourable assembly, and sallied not

Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to Olympus, and Jove led the way. Thetis was

not unmindful of the charge her son had laid upon her, so she rose from under the sea and went through great

heaven with early morning to Olympus, where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon its

topmost ridges. She sat herself down before him, and with her left hand seized his knees, while with her right

"Father Jove, if I ever did you service in word or deed among the immortals, hear my prayer, and do honour

to my son, whose life is to be cut short so early. King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by taking his prize

and keeping her. Honour him then yourself, Olympian lord of counsel, and grant victory to the Trojans, till

Jove sat for a while silent, and without a word, but Thetis still kept firm hold of his knees, and besought him

a second time. "Incline your head," said she, "and promise me surely, or else deny me for you have nothing

At this Jove was much troubled and answered, "I shall have trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno, for

she will provoke me with her taunting speeches; even now she is always railing at me before the other gods

and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans. Go back now, lest she should find out. I will consider the

matter, and will bring it about as wish. See, I incline my head that you believe me. This is the most solemn

that I can give to any god. I never recall my word, or deceive, or fail to do what I say, when I have nodded

As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows, and the ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head,

When the pair had thus laid their plans, they parted Jove to his house, while the goddess quitted the

splendour of Olympus, and plunged into the depths of the sea. The gods rose from their seats, before the

coming of their sire. Not one of them dared to remain sitting, but all stood up as he came among them. There,

then, he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him, knew that he and the old merman's daughter,

silverfooted Thetis, had been hatching mischief, so she at once began to upbraid him. "Trickster," she cried,

"which of the gods have you been taking into your counsels now? You are always settling matters in secret

behind my back, and have never yet told me, if you could help it, one word of your intentions."

"Juno," replied the sire of gods and men, "you must not expect to be informed of all my counsels. You are my

wife, but you would find it hard to understand them. When it is proper for you to hear, there is no one, god or

man, who will be told sooner, but when I mean to keep a matter to myself, you must not pry nor ask

"Dread son of Saturn," answered Juno, "what are you talking about? I? Pry and ask questions? Never. I let

you have your own way in everything. Still, I have a strong misgiving that the old merman's daughter Thetis

has been talking you over, for she was with you and had hold of your knees this selfsame morning. I

believe, therefore, that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles, and to kill much people at the

"Wife," said Jove, "I can do nothing but you suspect me and find it out. You will take nothing by it, for I shall

only dislike you the more, and it will go harder with you. Granted that it is as you say; I mean to have it so;

sit down and hold your tongue as I bid you for if I once begin to lay my hands about you, though all heaven

On this Juno was frightened, so she curbed her stubborn will and sat down in silence. But the heavenly beings

were disquieted throughout the house of Jove, till the cunning workman Vulcan began to try and pacify his

mother Juno. "It will be intolerable," said he, "if you two fall to wrangling and setting heaven in an uproar

about a pack of mortals. If such ill counsels are to prevail, we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me

then advise my mother and she must herself know that it will be better to make friends with my dear father

Jove, lest he again scold her and disturb our feast. If the Olympian Thunderer wants to hurl us all from our

seats, he can do so, for he is far the strongest, so give him fair words, and he will then soon be in a good

As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar, and placed it in his mother's hand. "Cheer up, my dear mother,"

said he, "and make the best of it. I love you dearly, and should be very sorry to see you get a thrashing;

however grieved I might be, I could not help for there is no standing against Jove. Once before when I was

trying to help you, he caught me by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold. All day long from

morn till eve, was I falling, till at sunset I came to ground in the island of Lemnos, and there I lay, with very

Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled she took the cup from her son's hands. Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar

from the mixingbowl, and served it round among the gods, going from left to right; and the blessed gods

laughed out a loud applause as they saw him ing bustling about the heavenly mansion.

Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they feasted, and every one had his full share, so

that all were satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the Muses lifted up their sweet voices, calling and

answering one another. But when the sun's glorious light had faded, they went home to bed, each in his own

abode, which lame Vulcan with his consummate skill had fashioned for them. So Jove, the Olympian Lord of

Thunder, hied him to the bed in which he always slept; and when he had got on to it he went to sleep, with

Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept soundly, but Jove was wakeful, for he was

thinking how to do honour to Achilles, and destroyed much people at the ships of the Achaeans. In the end he

deemed it would be best to send a lying dream to King Agamemnon; so he called one to him and said to it,

"Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, into the tent of Agamemnon, and say to him word to word as

I now bid you. Tell him to get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for he shall take Troy. There are no longer

divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans."

The dream went when it had heard its message, and soon reached the ships of the Achaeans. It sought

Agamemnon son of Atreus and found him in his tent, wrapped in a profound slumber. It hovered over his

head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honoured above all his councillors, and

"You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his

shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at once, for I come as a messenger from Jove, who, though he be

not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you

shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them over to her

own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Jove. Remember this, and when you wake see that it

The dream then left him, and he thought of things that were, surely not to be accomplished. He thought that

on that same day he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in the mind of Jove, who had

many another hardfought fight in store alike for Danaans and Trojans. Then presently he woke, with the

divine message still ringing in his ears; so he sat upright, and put on his soft shirt so fair and new, and over

this his heavy cloak. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, and slung his silverstudded sword about

his shoulders; then he took the imperishable staff of his father, and sallied forth to the ships of the Achaeans.

The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she might herald day to Jove and to the other

immortals, and Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly; so they called them and the

people gathered thereon. But first he summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor king of Pylos,

"My friends," said he, "I have had a dream from heaven in the dead of night, and its face and figure

resembled none but Nestor's. It hovered over my head and said, 'You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has

the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at once, for

I am a messenger from Jove, who, though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids

you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels

among the gods; Juno has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of

Jove. Remember this.' The dream then vanished and I awoke. Let us now, therefore, arm the sons of the

Achaeans. But it will be well that I should first sound them, and to this end I will tell them to fly with their

He then sat down, and Nestor the prince of Pylos with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "My

friends," said he, "princes and councillors of the Argives, if any other man of the Achaeans had told us of this

dream we should have declared it false, and would have had nothing to do with it. But he who has seen it is

the foremost man among us; we must therefore set about getting the people under arms."

With this he led the way from the assembly, and the other sceptred kings rose with him in obedience to the

word of Agamemnon; but the people pressed forward to hear. They swarmed like bees that sally from some

hollow cave and flit in countless throng among the spring flowers, bunched in knots and clusters; even so did

the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the assembly, and range themselves upon the

widewatered shore, while among them ran Wildfire Rumour, messenger of Jove, urging them ever to the

fore. Thus they gathered in a pellmell of mad confusion, and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as

the people sought their places. Nine heralds went crying about among them to stay their tumult and bid them

listen to the kings, till at last they were got into their several places and ceased their clamour. Then King

Agamemnon rose, holding his sceptre. This was the work of Vulcan, who gave it to Jove the son of Saturn.

Jove gave it to Mercury, slayer of Argus, guide and guardian. King Mercury gave it to Pelops, the mighty

charioteer, and Pelops to Atreus, shepherd of his people. Atreus, when he died, left it to Thyestes, rich in

flocks, and Thyestes in his turn left it to be borne by Agamemnon, that he might be lord of all Argos and of

"My friends," he said, "heroes, servants of Mars, the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me. Cruel

Jove gave me his solemn promise that I should sack the city of Priam before returning, but he has played me

false, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people. Such is the will of

Jove, who has laid many a proud city in the dust, as he will yet lay others, for his power is above all. It will

be a sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host, at once so great and valiant, battled in vain against men fewer

in number than themselves; but as yet the end is not in sight. Think that the Achaeans and Trojans have

sworn to a solemn covenant, and that they have each been numbered the Trojans by the roll of their

householders, and we by companies of ten; think further that each of our companies desired to have a Trojan

householder to pour out their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a company would have

to go without its cupbearer. But they have in the town allies from other places, and it is these that hinder me

from being able to sack the rich city of Ilius. Nine of Jove years are gone; the timbers of our ships have

rotted; their tackling is sound no longer. Our wives and little ones at home look anxiously for our coming, but

the work that we came hither to do has not been done. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say: let us sail back to

With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude, so many of them as knew not the cunning counsel of

Agamemnon. They surged to and fro like the waves of the Icarian Sea, when the east and south winds break

from heaven's clouds to lash them; or as when the west wind sweeps over a field of corn and the ears bow

beneath the blast, even so were they swayed as they flew with loud cries towards the ships, and the dust from

under their feet rose heavenward. They cheered each other on to draw the ships into the sea; they cleared the

channels in front of them; they began taking away the stays from underneath them, and the welkin rang with

Then surely the Argives would have returned after a fashion that was not fated. But Juno said to Minerva,

"Alas, daughter of aegisbearing Jove, unweariable, shall the Argives fly home to their own land over the

broad sea, and leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the

Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to

Minerva was not slack to do her bidding. Down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus, and in a

moment she was at the ships of the Achaeans. There she found Ulysses, peer of Jove in counsel, standing

alone. He had not as yet laid a hand upon his ship, for he was grieved and sorry; so she went close up to him

and said, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, are you going to fling yourselves into your ships and be off home to

your own land in this way? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose

sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and

Ulysses knew the voice as that of the goddess: he flung his cloak from him and set off to run. His servant

Eurybates, a man of Ithaca, who waited on him, took charge of the cloak, whereon Ulysses went straight up

to Agamemnon and received from him his ancestral, imperishable staff. With this he went about among the

Whenever he met a king or chieftain, he stood by him and spoke him fairly. "Sir," said he, "this flight is

cowardly and unworthy. Stand to your post, and bid your people also keep their places. You do not yet know

the full mind of Agamemnon; he was sounding us, and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his displeasure.

We were not all of us at the council to hear what he then said; see to it lest he be angry and do us a mischief;

But when he came across any common man who was making a noise, he struck him with his staff and

rebuked him, saying, "Sirrah, hold your peace, and listen to better men than yourself. You are a coward and

no soldier; you are nobody either in fight or council; we cannot all be kings; it is not well that there should be

many masters; one man must be supreme one king to whom the son of scheming Saturn has given the

Thus masterfully did he go about among the host, and the people hurried back to the council from their tents

and ships with a sound as the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the shore, and all the sea is

The rest now took their seats and kept to their own several places, but Thersites still went on wagging his

unbridled tongue a man of many words, and those unseemly; a monger of sedition, a railer against all who

were in authority, who cared not what he said, so that he might set the Achaeans in a laugh. He was the

ugliest man of all those that came before Troy bandylegged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders

rounded and hunched over his chest. His head ran up to a point, but there was little hair on the top of it.

Achilles and Ulysses hated him worst of all, for it was with them that he was most wont to wrangle; now,

however, with a shrill squeaky voice he began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon. The Achaeans were angry

and disgusted, yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at the son of Atreus.

"Agamemnon," he cried, "what ails you now, and what more do you want? Your tents are filled with bronze

and with fair women, for whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. Would you have yet more

gold, which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom for his son, when I or another Achaean has taken him

prisoner? or is it some young girl to hide and lie with? It is not well that you, the ruler of the Achaeans,

should bring them into such misery. Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail home, and leave

this fellow here at Troy to stew in his own meeds of honour, and discover whether we were of any service to

him or no. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has treated him robbing him of his prize

and keeping it himself. Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never

Thus railed Thersites, but Ulysses at once went up to him and rebuked him sternly. "Check your glib tongue,

Thersites," said be, "and babble not a word further. Chide not with princes when you have none to back you.

There is no viler creature come before Troy with the sons of Atreus. Drop this chatter about kings, and

neither revile them nor keep harping about going home. We do not yet know how things are going to be, nor

whether the Achaeans are to return with good success or evil. How dare you gibe at Agamemnon because the

Danaans have awarded him so many prizes? I tell you, therefore and it shall surely bethat if I again catch

you talking such nonsense, I will either forfeit my own head and be no more called father of Telemachus, or I

will take you, strip you stark naked, and whip you out of the assembly till you go blubbering back to the

On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders till he dropped and fell aweeping. The

golden sceptre raised a bloody weal on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain, looking foolish as he

wiped the tears from his eyes. The people were sorry for him, yet they laughed heartily, and one would turn

to his neighbour saying, "Ulysses has done many a good thing ere now in fight and council, but he never did

the Argives a better turn than when he stopped this fellow's mouth from prating further. He will give the

Thus said the people. Then Ulysses rose, sceptre in hand, and Minerva in the likeness of a herald bade the

people be still, that those who were far off might hear him and consider his council. He therefore with all

"King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are for making you a byword among all mankind. They forget the

promise they made you when they set out from Argos, that you should not return till you had sacked the town

of Troy, and, like children or widowed women, they murmur and would set off homeward. True it is that they

have had toil enough to be disheartened. A man chafes at having to stay away from his wife even for a single

month, when he is on shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea, but it is now nine long years that we have

been kept here; I cannot, therefore, blame the Achaeans if they turn restive; still we shall be shamed if we go

home empty after so long a stay therefore, my friends, be patient yet a little longer that we may learn

"All who have not since perished must remember as though it were yesterday or the day before, how the ships

of the Achaeans were detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on Priam and the

Trojans. We were ranged round about a fountain offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars, and

there was a fine planetree from beneath which there welled a stream of pure water. Then we saw a prodigy;

for Jove sent a fearful serpent out of the ground, with bloodred stains upon its back, and it darted from under

the altar on to the planetree. Now there was a brood of young sparrows, quite small, upon the topmost

bough, peeping out from under the leaves, eight in all, and their mother that hatched them made nine. The

serpent ate the poor cheeping things, while the old bird flew about lamenting her little ones; but the serpent

threw his coils about her and caught her by the wing as she was screaming. Then, when he had eaten both the

sparrow and her young, the god who had sent him made him become a sign; for the son of scheming Saturn

turned him into stone, and we stood there wondering at that which had come to pass. Seeing, then, that such a

fearful portent had broken in upon our hecatombs, Calchas forthwith declared to us the oracles of heaven.

'Why, Achaeans,' said he, 'are you thus speechless? Jove has sent us this sign, long in coming, and long ere it

be fulfilled, though its fame shall last for ever. As the serpent ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that

hatched them, which makes nine, so shall we fight nine years at Troy, but in the tenth shall take the town.'

This was what he said, and now it is all coming true. Stay here, therefore, all of you, till we take the city of

On this the Argives raised a shout, till the ships rang again with the uproar. Nestor, knight of Gerene, then

addressed them. "Shame on you," he cried, "to stay talking here like children, when you should fight like

men. Where are our covenants now, and where the oaths that we have taken? Shall our counsels be flung into

the fire, with our drinkofferings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste

our time in words, and for all our talking here shall be no further forward. Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by

your own steadfast purpose; lead the Argives on to battle, and leave this handful of men to rot, who scheme,

and scheme in vain, to get back to Argos ere they have learned whether Jove be true or a liar. For the mighty

son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed, when we Argives set sail to bring death and

destruction upon the Trojans. He showed us favourable signs by flashing his lightning on our right hands;

therefore let none make haste to go till he has first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and avenged the toil and

sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless, if any man is in such haste to be at home

again, let him lay his hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all. But, O king, consider and

give ear to my counsel, for the word that I say may not be neglected lightly. Divide your men, Agamemnon,

into their several tribes and clans, that clans and tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and

if the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who, both chiefs and peoples, are brave, and who are cowards;

for they will vie against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the counsel of heaven or the

And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, you have again outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by

Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councillors, for the city of King

Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it. But the son of Saturn afflicts me with

bootless wranglings and strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to

offend; if we can be of one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day. Now, therefore,

get your morning meal, that our hosts join in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your

shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the

livelong day; for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part us. The bands that bear your

shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears, your

horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it

at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures."

Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared applause. As when the waves run high before the blast of the south

wind and break on some lofty headland, dashing against it and buffeting it without ceasing, as the storms

from every quarter drive them, even so did the Achaeans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships. There

they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner, offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods,

and praying each one of them that he might live to come out of the fight. Agamemnon, king of men,

sacrificed a fat fiveyearold bull to the mighty son of Saturn, and invited the princes and elders of his host.

First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus, then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixthly Ulysses,

peer of gods in counsel; but Menelaus came of his own accord, for he knew how busy his brother then was.

They stood round the bull with the barleymeal in their hands, and Agamemnon prayed, saying, "Jove, most

glorious, supreme, that dwellest in heaven, and ridest upon the stormcloud, grant that the sun may not go

down, nor the night fall, till the palace of Priam is laid low, and its gates are consumed with fire. Grant that

my sword may pierce the shirt of Hector about his heart, and that full many of his comrades may bite the dust

Thus he prayed, but the son of Saturn would not fulfil his prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less

increased their toil continually. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barleymeal upon the victim,

they drew back its head, killed it, and then flayed it. They cut out the thighbones, wrapped them round in

two layers of fat, and set pieces of raw meat on the top of them. These they burned upon the split logs of

firewood, but they spitted the inward meats, and held them in the flames to cook. When the thighbones were

burned, and they had tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon spits, roasted

them till they were done, and drew them off; then, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready,

they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat

and drink, Nestor, knight of Gerene, began to speak. "King Agamemnon," said he, "let us not stay talking

here, nor be slack in the work that heaven has put into our hands. Let the heralds summon the people to

gather at their several ships; we will then go about among the host, that we may begin fighting at once."

Thus did he speak, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He at once sent the criers round to call the people in

assembly. So they called them, and the people gathered thereon. The chiefs about the son of Atreus chose

their men and marshalled them, while Minerva went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows

neither age nor death. From it there waved a hundred tassels of pure gold, all deftly woven, and each one of

them worth a hundred oxen. With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts of the Achaeans,

urging them forward, and putting courage into the heart of each, so that he might fight and do battle without

ceasing. Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than returning home in their ships. As when some great

forest fire is raging upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar, even so as they marched the gleam of their

They were like great flocks of geese, or cranes, or swans on the plain about the waters of Cayster, that wing

their way hither and thither, glorying in the pride of flight, and crying as they settle till the fen is alive with

their screaming. Even thus did their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the Scamander, and the

ground rang as brass under the feet of men and horses. They stood as thick upon the flowerbespangled field

As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman's homestead in the time of spring when the pails are

drenched with milk, even so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans and destroy them.

The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight began, drafting them out as easily as

goatherds draft their flocks when they have got mixed while feeding; and among them went King

Agamemnon, with a head and face like Jove the lord of thunder, a waist like Mars, and a chest like that of

Neptune. As some great bull that lords it over the herds upon the plain, even so did Jove make the son of

And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus, tell me for you are goddesses and are in all

places so that you see all things, while we know nothing but by report who were the chiefs and princes of

the Danaans? As for the common soldiers, they were so that I could not name every single one of them

though I had ten tongues, and though my voice failed not and my heart were of bronze within me, unless you,

O Olympian Muses, daughters of aegisbearing Jove, were to recount them to me. Nevertheless, I will tell

Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Prothoenor, and Clonius were captains of the Boeotians. These were they that

dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis, and who held Schoenus, Scolus, and the highlands of Eteonus, with

Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of Mycalessus. They also held Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and they had

Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong fortress of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe the haunt of

doves; Coronea, and the pastures of Haliartus; Plataea and Glisas; the fortress of Thebes the less; holy

Onchestus with its famous grove of Neptune; Arne rich in vineyards; Midea, sacred Nisa, and Anthedon upon

the sea. From these there came fifty ships, and in each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the

Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Mars, led the people that dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus the realm of

Minyas. Astyoche a noble maiden bore them in the house of Actor son of Azeus; for she had gone with Mars

secretly into an upper chamber, and he had lain with her. With these there came thirty ships.

The Phoceans were led by Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of mighty Iphitus the son of Naubolus. These were

they that held Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; they also that dwelt in Anemorea

and Hyampolis, and about the waters of the river Cephissus, and Lilaea by the springs of the Cephissus; with

their chieftains came forty ships, and they marshalled the forces of the Phoceans, which were stationed next

Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the

son of Telamon. He was a little man, and his breastplate was made of linen, but in use of the spear he

excelled all the Hellenes and the Achaeans. These dwelt in Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair

Augeae, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrius. With him there came forty ships of the Locrians

The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Chalcis, Eretria, Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea,

and the rockperched town of Dium; with them were also the men of Carystus and Styra; Elephenor of the

race of Mars was in command of these; he was son of Chalcodon, and chief over all the Abantes. With him

they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear

open the corslets of their foes with their long ashen spears. Of these there came fifty ships.

And they that held the strong city of Athens, the people of great Erechtheus, who was born of the soil itself,

but Jove's daughter, Minerva, fostered him, and established him at Athens in her own rich sanctuary. There,

year by year, the Athenian youths worship him with sacrifices of bulls and rams. These were commanded by

Menestheus, son of Peteos. No man living could equal him in the marshalling of chariots and foot soldiers.

Nestor could alone rival him, for he was older. With him there came fifty ships.

Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis, and stationed them alongside those of the Athenians.

The men of Argos, again, and those who held the walls of Tiryns, with Hermione, and Asine upon the gulf;

Troezene, Eionae, and the vineyard lands of Epidaurus; the Achaean youths, moreover, who came from

Aegina and Mases; these were led by Diomed of the loud battlecry, and Sthenelus son of famed Capaneus.

With them in command was Euryalus, son of king Mecisteus, son of Talaus; but Diomed was chief over them

Those who held the strong city of Mycenae, rich Corinth and Cleonae; Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon,

where Adrastus reigned of old; Hyperesia, high Gonoessa, and Pellene; Aegium and all the coastland round

about Helice; these sent a hundred ships under the command of King Agamemnon, son of Atreus. His force

was far both finest and most numerous, and in their midst was the king himself, all glorious in his armour of

gleaming bronze foremost among the heroes, for he was the greatest king, and had most men under him.

And those that dwelt in Lacedaemon, lying low among the hills, Pharis, Sparta, with Messe the haunt of

doves; Bryseae, Augeae, Amyclae, and Helos upon the sea; Laas, moreover, and Oetylus; these were led by

Menelaus of the loud battlecry, brother to Agamemnon, and of them there were sixty ships, drawn up apart

from the others. Among them went Menelaus himself, strong in zeal, urging his men to fight; for he longed to

The men of Pylos and Arene, and Thryum where is the ford of the river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis,

and Amphigenea; Pteleum, Helos, and Dorium, where the Muses met Thamyris, and stilled his minstrelsy for

ever. He was returning from Oechalia, where Eurytus lived and reigned, and boasted that he would surpass

even the Muses, daughters of aegisbearing Jove, if they should sing against him; whereon they were angry,

and maimed him. They robbed him of his divine power of song, and thenceforth he could strike the lyre no

more. These were commanded by Nestor, knight of Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships.

And those that held Arcadia, under the high mountain of Cyllene, near the tomb of Aepytus, where the people

fight hand to hand; the men of Pheneus also, and Orchomenus rich in flocks; of Rhipae, Stratie, and bleak

Enispe; of Tegea and fair Mantinea; of Stymphelus and Parrhasia; of these King Agapenor son of Ancaeus

was commander, and they had sixty ships. Many Arcadians, good soldiers, came in each one of them, but

Agamemnon found them the ships in which to cross the sea, for they were not a people that occupied their

The men, moreover, of Buprasium and of Elis, so much of it as is enclosed between Hyrmine, Myrsinus upon

the seashore, the rock Olene and Alesium. These had four leaders, and each of them had ten ships, with

many Epeans on board. Their captains were Amphimachus and Thalpius the one, son of Cteatus, and the

other, of Eurytus both of the race of Actor. The two others were Diores, son of Amarynces, and Polyxenus,

And those of Dulichium with the sacred Echinean islands, who dwelt beyond the sea off Elis; these were led

by Meges, peer of Mars, and the son of valiant Phyleus, dear to Jove, who quarrelled with his father, and

Ulysses led the brave Cephallenians, who held Ithaca, Neritum with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips,

Samos and Zacynthus, with the mainland also that was over against the islands. These were led by Ulysses,

Thoas, son of Andraemon, commanded the Aetolians, who dwelt in Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Chalcis by the

sea, and rocky Calydon, for the great king Oeneus had now no sons living, and was himself dead, as was also

goldenhaired Meleager, who had been set over the Aetolians to be their king. And with Thoas there came

The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Cnossus, and the wellwalled city of Gortys;

Lyctus also, Miletus and Lycastus that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaestus and Rhytium,

with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred cities of Crete. All these were led by Idomeneus, and by

Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, a man both brave and large of stature, brought nine ships of lordly warriors

from Rhodes. These dwelt in Rhodes which is divided among the three cities of Lindus, Ielysus, and

Cameirus, that lies upon the chalk. These were commanded by Tlepolemus, son of Hercules by Astyochea,

whom he had carried off from Ephyra, on the river Selleis, after sacking many cities of valiant warriors.

When Tlepolemus grew up, he killed his father's uncle Licymnius, who had been a famous warrior in his

time, but was then grown old. On this he built himself a fleet, gathered a great following, and fled beyond the

sea, for he was menaced by the other sons and grandsons of Hercules. After a voyage. during which he

suffered great hardship, he came to Rhodes, where the people divided into three communities, according to

their tribes, and were dearly loved by Jove, the lord, of gods and men; wherefore the son of Saturn showered

And Nireus brought three ships from Syme Nireus, who was the handsomest man that came up under Ilius

of all the Danaans after the son of Peleusbut he was a man of no substance, and had but a small following.

And those that held Nisyrus, Crapathus, and Casus, with Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnian

islands, these were commanded by Pheidippus and Antiphus, two sons of King Thessalus the son of

Those again who held Pelasgic Argos, Alos, Alope, and Trachis; and those of Phthia and Hellas the land of

fair women, who were called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans; these had fifty ships, over which Achilles

was in command. But they now took no part in the war, inasmuch as there was no one to marshal them; for

Achilles stayed by his ships, furious about the loss of the girl Briseis, whom he had taken from Lyrnessus at

his own great peril, when he had sacked Lyrnessus and Thebe, and had overthrown Mynes and Epistrophus,

sons of king Evenor, son of Selepus. For her sake Achilles was still grieving, but ere long he was again to

And those that held Phylace and the flowery meadows of Pyrasus, sanctuary of Ceres; Iton, the mother of

sheep; Antrum upon the sea, and Pteleum that lies upon the grass lands. Of these brave Protesilaus had been

captain while he was yet alive, but he was now lying under the earth. He had left a wife behind him in

Phylace to tear her cheeks in sorrow, and his house was only half finished, for he was slain by a Dardanian

warrior while leaping foremost of the Achaeans upon the soil of Troy. Still, though his people mourned their

chieftain, they were not without a leader, for Podarces, of the race of Mars, marshalled them; he was son of

Iphiclus, rich in sheep, who was the son of Phylacus, and he was own brother to Protesilaus, only younger,

Protesilaus being at once the elder and the more valiant. So the people were not without a leader, though they

And those that held Pherae by the Boebean lake, with Boebe, Glaphyrae, and the populous city of Iolcus,

these with their eleven ships were led by Eumelus, son of Admetus, whom Alcestis bore to him, loveliest of

And those that held Methone and Thaumacia, with Meliboea and rugged Olizon, these were led by the skilful

archer Philoctetes, and they had seven ships, each with fifty oarsmen all of them good archers; but Philoctetes

was lying in great pain in the Island of Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaeans left him, for he had been

bitten by a poisonous water snake. There he lay sick and sorry, and full soon did the Argives come to miss

him. But his people, though they felt his loss were not leaderless, for Medon, the bastard son of Oileus by

Those, again, of Tricca and the stony region of Ithome, and they that held Oechalia, the city of Oechalian

Eurytus, these were commanded by the two sons of Aesculapius, skilled in the art of healing, Podalirius and

The men, moreover, of Ormenius, and by the fountain of Hypereia, with those that held Asterius, and the

white crests of Titanus, these were led by Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon, and with them there came forty

Those that held Argissa and Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone, and the white city of Oloosson, of these brave Polypoetes

was leader. He was son of Pirithous, who was son of Jove himself, for Hippodameia bore him to Pirithous on

the day when he took his revenge on the shaggy mountain savages and drove them from Mt. Pelion to the

Aithices. But Polypoetes was not sole in command, for with him was Leonteus, of the race of Mars, who was

Guneus brought two and twenty ships from Cyphus, and he was followed by the Enienes and the valiant

Peraebi, who dwelt about wintry Dodona, and held the lands round the lovely river Titaresius, which sends its

waters into the Peneus. They do not mingle with the silver eddies of the Peneus, but flow on the top of them

Of the Magnetes, Prothous son of Tenthredon was commander. They were they that dwelt about the river

Peneus and Mt. Pelion. Prothous, fleet of foot, was their leader, and with him there came forty ships.

Such were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans. Who, then, O Muse, was the foremost, whether man or

Of the horses, those of the son of Pheres were by far the finest. They were driven by Eumelus, and were as

fleet as birds. They were of the same age and colour, and perfectly matched in height. Apollo, of the silver

bow, had bred them in Perea both of them mares, and terrible as Mars in battle. Of the men, Ajax, son of

Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles' anger lasted, for Achilles excelled him greatly and he

had also better horses; but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his quarrel with

Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the sea shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a

mark, and in archery. Their horses stood each by his own chariot, champing lotus and wild celery. The

chariots were housed under cover, but their owners, for lack of leadership, wandered hither and thither about

Thus marched the host like a consuming fire, and the earth groaned beneath them when the lord of thunder is

angry and lashes the land about Typhoeus among the Arimi, where they say Typhoeus lies. Even so did the

And now Iris, fleet as the wind, was sent by Jove to tell the bad news among the Trojans. They were gathered

in assembly, old and young, at Priam's gates, and Iris came close up to Priam, speaking with the voice of

Priam's son Polites, who, being fleet of foot, was stationed as watchman for the Trojans on the tomb of old

Aesyetes, to look out for any sally of the Achaeans. In his likeness Iris spoke, saying, "Old man, you talk

idly, as in time of peace, while war is at hand. I have been in many a battle, but never yet saw such a host as

is now advancing. They are crossing the plain to attack the city as thick as leaves or as the sands of the sea.

Hector, I charge you above all others, do as I say. There are many allies dispersed about the city of Priam

from distant places and speaking divers tongues. Therefore, let each chief give orders to his own people,

Thus she spoke, but Hector knew that it was the goddess, and at once broke up the assembly. The men flew to

arms; all the gates were opened, and the people thronged through them, horse and foot, with the tramp as of a

Now there is a high mound before the city, rising by itself upon the plain. Men call it Batieia, but the gods

know that it is the tomb of lithe Myrine. Here the Trojans and their allies divided their forces.

Priam's son, great Hector of the gleaming helmet, commanded the Trojans, and with him were arrayed by far

The Dardanians were led by brave Aeneas, whom Venus bore to Anchises, when she, goddess though she

was, had lain with him upon the mountain slopes of Ida. He was not alone, for with him were the two sons of

They that dwelt in Telea under the lowest spurs of Mt. Ida, men of substance, who drink the limpid waters of

the Aesepus, and are of Trojan blood these were led by Pandarus son of Lycaon, whom Apollo had taught to

They that held Adresteia and the land of Apaesus, with Pityeia, and the high mountain of Tereia these were

led by Adrestus and Amphius, whose breastplate was of linen. These were the sons of Merops of Percote,

who excelled in all kinds of divination. He told them not to take part in the war, but they gave him no heed,

They that dwelt about Percote and Practius, with Sestos, Abydos, and Arisbe these were led by Asius, son of

Hyrtacus, a brave commanderAsius, the son of Hyrtacus, whom his powerful dark bay steeds, of the breed

Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen, who dwelt in fertile Larissa Hippothous, and Pylaeus of

Acamas and the warrior Peirous commanded the Thracians and those that came from beyond the mighty

Euphemus, son of Troezenus, the son of Ceos, was captain of the Ciconian spearsmen.

Pyraechmes led the Paeonian archers from distant Amydon, by the broad waters of the river Axius, the fairest

The Paphlagonians were commanded by stouthearted Pylaemanes from Enetae, where the mules run wild in

herds. These were they that held Cytorus and the country round Sesamus, with the cities by the river

Odius and Epistrophus were captains over the Halizoni from distant Alybe, where there are mines of silver.

Chromis, and Ennomus the augur, led the Mysians, but his skill in augury availed not to save him from

destruction, for he fell by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus in the river, where he slew others also of

Phorcys, again, and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the far country of Ascania, and both were eager

Mesthles and Antiphus commanded the Meonians, sons of Talaemenes, born to him of the Gygaean lake.

Nastes led the Carians, men of a strange speech. These held Miletus and the wooded mountain of Phthires,

with the water of the river Maeander and the lofty crests of Mt. Mycale. These were commanded by Nastes

and Amphimachus, the brave sons of Nomion. He came into the fight with gold about him, like a girl; fool

that he was, his gold was of no avail to save him, for he fell in the river by the hand of the fleet descendant of

Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Lycians from their distant land, by the eddying waters of the Xanthus.

When the companies were thus arrayed, each under its own captain, the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild

fowl or cranes that scream overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters of Oceanus to

bring death and destruction on the Pygmies, and they wrangle in the air as they fly; but the Achaeans

As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the mountain tops, bad for shepherds but better than

night for thieves, and a man can see no further than he can throw a stone, even so rose the dust from under

When they were close up with one another, Alexandrus came forward as champion on the Trojan side. On his

shoulders he bore the skin of a panther, his bow, and his sword, and he brandished two spears shod with

bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the Achaeans to meet him in single fight. Menelaus saw him thus

stride out before the ranks, and was glad as a hungry lion that lights on the carcase of some goat or horned

stag, and devours it there and then, though dogs and youths set upon him. Even thus was Menelaus glad when

his eyes caught sight of Alexandrus, for he deemed that now he should be revenged. He sprang, therefore,

Alexandrus quailed as he saw Menelaus come forward, and shrank in fear of his life under cover of his men.

As one who starts back affrighted, trembling and pale, when he comes suddenly upon a serpent in some

mountain glade, even so did Alexandrus plunge into the throng of Trojan warriors, terrorstricken at the sight

Then Hector upbraided him. "Paris," said he, "evilhearted Paris, fair to see, but womanmad, and false of

tongue, would that you had never been born, or that you had died unwed. Better so, than live to be disgraced

and looked askance at. Will not the Achaeans mock at us and say that we have sent one to champion us who

is fair to see but who has neither wit nor courage? Did you not, such as you are, get your following together

and sail beyond the seas? Did you not from your a far country carry off a lovely woman wedded among a

people of warriors to bring sorrow upon your father, your city, and your whole country, but joy to your

enemies, and hangdog shamefacedness to yourself? And now can you not dare face Menelaus and learn

what manner of man he is whose wife you have stolen? Where indeed would be your lyre and your

lovetricks, your comely locks and your fair favour, when you were lying in the dust before him? The

Trojans are a weakkneed people, or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones for the wrongs you have

And Alexandrus answered, "Hector, your rebuke is just. You are hard as the axe which a shipwright wields at

his work, and cleaves the timber to his liking. As the axe in his hand, so keen is the edge of your scorn. Still,

taunt me not with the gifts that golden Venus has given me; they are precious; let not a man disdain them, for

the gods give them where they are minded, and none can have them for the asking. If you would have me do

battle with Menelaus, bid the Trojans and Achaeans take their seats, while he and I fight in their midst for

Helen and all her wealth. Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the woman and

all she has, to bear them to his home, but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you

Trojans shall stay here in Troy, while the others go home to Argos and the land of the Achaeans."

When Hector heard this he was glad, and went about among the Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle

to keep them back, and they all sat down at his bidding: but the Achaeans still aimed at him with stones and

arrows, till Agamemnon shouted to them saying, "Hold, Argives, shoot not, sons of the Achaeans; Hector

They ceased taking aim and were still, whereon Hector spoke. "Hear from my mouth," said he, "Trojans and

Achaeans, the saying of Alexandrus, through whom this quarrel has come about. He bids the Trojans and

Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground, while he and Menelaus fight in the midst of you for Helen and

all her wealth. Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the woman and all she has,

to bear them to his own home, but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace."

Thus he spoke, and they all held their peace, till Menelaus of the loud battlecry addressed them. "And now,"

he said, "hear me too, for it is I who am the most aggrieved. I deem that the parting of Achaeans and Trojans

is at hand, as well it may be, seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and the wrong

he did me. Let him who shall die, die, and let the others fight no more. Bring, then, two lambs, a white ram

and a black ewe, for Earth and Sun, and we will bring a third for Jove. Moreover, you shall bid Priam come,

that he may swear to the covenant himself; for his sons are highhanded and ill to trust, and the oaths of Jove

must not be transgressed or taken in vain. Young men's minds are light as air, but when an old man comes he

The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this, for they thought that they should now have rest.

They backed their chariots toward the ranks, got out of them, and put off their armour, laying it down upon

the ground; and the hosts were near to one another with a little space between them. Hector sent two

messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam come, while Agamemnon told Talthybius to fetch

Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sisterinlaw, wife of the son of Antenor, for Helicaon, son

of Antenor, had married Laodice, the fairest of Priam's daughters. She found her in her own room, working at

a great web of purple linen, on which she was embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans, that

Mars had made them fight for her sake. Iris then came close up to her and said, "Come hither, child, and see

the strange doings of the Trojans and Achaeans till now they have been warring upon the plain, mad with lust

of battle, but now they have left off fighting, and are leaning upon their shields, sitting still with their spears

planted beside them. Alexandrus and Menelaus are going to fight about yourself, and you are to the the wife

Thus spoke the goddess, and Helen's heart yearned after her former husband, her city, and her parents. She

threw a white mantle over her head, and hurried from her room, weeping as she went, not alone, but attended

by two of her handmaids, Aethrae, daughter of Pittheus, and Clymene. And straightway they were at the

The two sages, Ucalegon and Antenor, elders of the people, were seated by the Scaean gates, with Priam,

Panthous, Thymoetes, Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the race of Mars. These were too old to fight, but

they were fluent orators, and sat on the tower like cicales that chirrup delicately from the boughs of some

high tree in a wood. When they saw Helen coming towards the tower, they said softly to one another, "Small

wonder that Trojans and Achaeans should endure so much and so long, for the sake of a woman so

marvellously and divinely lovely. Still, fair though she be, let them take her and go, or she will breed sorrow

But Priam bade her draw nigh. "My child," said he, "take your seat in front of me that you may see your

former husband, your kinsmen and your friends. I lay no blame upon you, it is the gods, not you who are to

blame. It is they that have brought about this terrible war with the Achaeans. Tell me, then, who is yonder

huge hero so great and goodly? I have seen men taller by a head, but none so comely and so royal. Surely he

"Sir," answered Helen, "father of my husband, dear and reverend in my eyes, would that I had chosen death

rather than to have come here with your son, far from my bridal chamber, my friends, my darling daughter,

and all the companions of my girlhood. But it was not to be, and my lot is one of tears and sorrow. As for

your question, the hero of whom you ask is Agamemnon, son of Atreus, a good king and a brave soldier,

The old man marvelled at him and said, "Happy son of Atreus, child of good fortune. I see that the Achaeans

are subject to you in great multitudes. When I was in Phrygia I saw much horsemen, the people of Otreus and

of Mygdon, who were camping upon the banks of the river Sangarius; I was their ally, and with them when

the Amazons, peers of men, came up against them, but even they were not so many as the Achaeans."

The old man next looked upon Ulysses; "Tell me," he said, "who is that other, shorter by a head than

Agamemnon, but broader across the chest and shoulders? His armour is laid upon the ground, and he stalks in

And Helen answered, "He is Ulysses, a man of great craft, son of Laertes. He was born in rugged Ithaca, and

On this Antenor said, "Madam, you have spoken truly. Ulysses once came here as envoy about yourself, and

Menelaus with him. I received them in my own house, and therefore know both of them by sight and

conversation. When they stood up in presence of the assembled Trojans, Menelaus was the broader

shouldered, but when both were seated Ulysses had the more royal presence. After a time they delivered their

message, and the speech of Menelaus ran trippingly on the tongue; he did not say much, for he was a man of

few words, but he spoke very clearly and to the point, though he was the younger man of the two; Ulysses, on

the other hand, when he rose to speak, was at first silent and kept his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was

no play nor graceful movement of his sceptre; he kept it straight and stiff like a man unpractised in oratory

one might have taken him for a mere churl or simpleton; but when he raised his voice, and the words came

driving from his deep chest like winter snow before the wind, then there was none to touch him, and no man

Priam then caught sight of Ajax and asked, "Who is that great and goodly warrior whose head and broad

"That," answered Helen, "is huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, and on the other side of him, among the

Cretans, stands Idomeneus looking like a god, and with the captains of the Cretans round him. Often did

Menelaus receive him as a guest in our house when he came visiting us from Crete. I see, moreover, many

other Achaeans whose names I could tell you, but there are two whom I can nowhere find, Castor, breaker of

horses, and Pollux the mighty boxer; they are children of my mother, and own brothers to myself. Either they

have not left Lacedaemon, or else, though they have brought their ships, they will not show themselves in

She knew not that both these heroes were already lying under the earth in their own land of Lacedaemon.

Meanwhile the heralds were bringing the holy oathofferings through the city two lambs and a goatskin of

wine, the gift of earth; and Idaeus brought the mixing bowl and the cups of gold. He went up to Priam and

said, "Son of Laomedon, the princes of the Trojans and Achaeans bid you come down on to the plain and

swear to a solemn covenant. Alexandrus and Menelaus are to fight for Helen in single combat, that she and

all her wealth may go with him who is the victor. We are to swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby we

others shall dwell here in Troy, while the Achaeans return to Argos and the land of the Achaeans."

The old man trembled as he heard, but bade his followers yoke the horses, and they made all haste to do so.

He mounted the chariot, gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor took his seat beside him; they then drove

through the Scaean gates on to the plain. When they reached the ranks of the Trojans and Achaeans they left

Agamemnon and Ulysses both rose to meet them. The attendants brought on the oathofferings and mixed

the wine in the mixingbowls; they poured water over the hands of the chieftains, and the son of Atreus drew

the dagger that hung by his sword, and cut wool from the lambs' heads; this the menservants gave about

among the Trojan and Achaean princes, and the son of Atreus lifted up his hands in prayer. "Father Jove," he

cried, "that rulest in Ida, most glorious in power, and thou oh Sun, that seest and givest ear to all things, Earth

and Rivers, and ye who in the realms below chastise the soul of him that has broken his oath, witness these

rites and guard them, that they be not vain. If Alexandrus kills Menelaus, let him keep Helen and all her

wealth, while we sail home with our ships; but if Menelaus kills Alexandrus, let the Trojans give back Helen

and all that she has; let them moreover pay such fine to the Achaeans as shall be agreed upon, in testimony

among those that shall be born hereafter. Aid if Priam and his sons refuse such fine when Alexandrus has

As he spoke he drew his knife across the throats of the victims, and laid them down gasping and dying upon

the ground, for the knife had reft them of their strength. Then they poured wine from the mixingbowl into

the cups, and prayed to the everlasting gods, saying, Trojans and Achaeans among one another, "Jove, most

great and glorious, and ye other everlasting gods, grant that the brains of them who shall first sin against their

oaths of them and their children may be shed upon the ground even as this wine, and let their wives

Thus they prayed, but not as yet would Jove grant them their prayer. Then Priam, descendant of Dardanus,

spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, I will now go back to the windbeaten city of Ilius: I dare

not with my own eyes witness this fight between my son and Menelaus, for Jove and the other immortals

On this he laid the two lambs on his chariot and took his seat. He gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor

sat beside him; the two then went back to Ilius. Hector and Ulysses measured the ground, and cast lots from a

helmet of bronze to see which should take aim first. Meanwhile the two hosts lifted up their hands and prayed

saying, "Father Jove, that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power, grant that he who first brought about this

war between us may die, and enter the house of Hades, while we others remain at peace and abide by our

Great Hector now turned his head aside while he shook the helmet, and the lot of Paris flew out first. The

others took their several stations, each by his horses and the place where his arms were lying, while

Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, put on his goodly armour. First he greaved his legs with greaves of

good make and fitted with ancleclasps of silver; after this he donned the cuirass of his brother Lycaon, and

fitted it to his own body; he hung his silverstudded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty

shield. On his comely head he set his helmet, wellwrought, with a crest of horsehair that nodded

menacingly above it, and he grasped a redoubtable spear that suited his hands. In like fashion Menelaus also

When they had thus armed, each amid his own people, they strode fierce of aspect into the open space, and

both Trojans and Achaeans were struck with awe as they beheld them. They stood near one another on the

measured ground, brandishing their spears, and each furious against the other. Alexandrus aimed first, and

struck the round shield of the son of Atreus, but the spear did not pierce it, for the shield turned its point.

Menelaus next took aim, praying to Father Jove as he did so. "King Jove," he said, "grant me revenge on

Alexandrus who has wronged me; subdue him under my hand that in ages yet to come a man may shrink

He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it at the shield of Alexandrus. Through shield and cuirass it went,

and tore the shirt by his flank, but Alexandrus swerved aside, and thus saved his life. Then the son of Atreus

drew his sword, and drove at the projecting part of his helmet, but the sword fell shivered in three or four

pieces from his hand, and he cried, looking towards Heaven, "Father Jove, of all gods thou art the most

despiteful; I made sure of my revenge, but the sword has broken in my hand, my spear has been hurled in

With this he flew at Alexandrus, caught him by the horsehair plume of his helmet, and began dragging him

towards the Achaeans. The strap of the helmet that went under his chin was choking him, and Menelaus

would have dragged him off to his own great glory had not Jove's daughter Venus been quick to mark and to

break the strap of oxhide, so that the empty helmet came away in his hand. This he flung to his comrades

among the Achaeans, and was again springing upon Alexandrus to run him through with a spear, but Venus

snatched him up in a moment (as a god can do), hid him under a cloud of darkness, and conveyed him to his

Then she went to call Helen, and found her on a high tower with the Trojan women crowding round her. She

took the form of an old woman who used to dress wool for her when she was still in Lacedaemon, and of

whom she was very fond. Thus disguised she plucked her by perfumed robe and said, "Come hither;

Alexandrus says you are to go to the house; he is on his bed in his own room, radiant with beauty and dressed

in gorgeous apparel. No one would think he had just come from fighting, but rather that he was going to a

With these words she moved the heart of Helen to anger. When she marked the beautiful neck of the goddess,

her lovely bosom, and sparkling eyes, she marvelled at her and said, "Goddess, why do you thus beguile me?

Are you going to send me afield still further to some man whom you have taken up in Phrygia or fair

Meonia? Menelaus has just vanquished Alexandrus, and is to take my hateful self back with him. You are

come here to betray me. Go sit with Alexandrus yourself; henceforth be goddess no longer; never let your

feet carry you back to Olympus; worry about him and look after him till he make you his wife, or, for the

matter of that, his slave but me? I shall not go; I can garnish his bed no longer; I should be a byword

Venus was very angry, and said, "Bold hussy, do not provoke me; if you do, I shall leave you to your fate and

hate you as much as I have loved you. I will stir up fierce hatred between Trojans and Achaeans, and you

At this Helen was frightened. She wrapped her mantle about her and went in silence, following the goddess

When they came to the house of Alexandrus the maidservants set about their work, but Helen went into her

own room, and the laughterloving goddess took a seat and set it for her facing Alexandrus. On this Helen,

daughter of aegisbearing Jove, sat down, and with eyes askance began to upbraid her husband.

"So you are come from the fight," said she; "would that you had fallen rather by the hand of that brave man

who was my husband. You used to brag that you were a better man with hands and spear than Menelaus. go,

but I then, an challenge him again but I should advise you not to do so, for if you are foolish enough to meet

And Paris answered, "Wife, do not vex me with your reproaches. This time, with the help of Minerva,

Menelaus has vanquished me; another time I may myself be victor, for I too have gods that will stand by me.

Come, let us lie down together and make friends. Never yet was I so passionately enamoured of you as at this

moment not even when I first carried you off from Lacedaemon and sailed away with younot even when I

had converse with you upon the couch of love in the island of Cranae was I so enthralled by desire of you as

Thus they laid themselves on the bed together; but the son of Atreus strode among the throng, looking

everywhere for Alexandrus, and no man, neither of the Trojans nor of the allies, could find him. If they had

seen him they were in no mind to hide him, for they all of them hated him as they did death itself. Then

Agamemnon, king of men, spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies. The victory has been

with Menelaus; therefore give back Helen with all her wealth, and pay such fine as shall be agreed upon, in

Now the gods were sitting with Jove in council upon the golden floor while Hebe went round pouring out

nectar for them to drink, and as they pledged one another in their cups of gold they looked down upon the

town of Troy. The son of Saturn then began to tease Juno, talking at her so as to provoke her. "Menelaus,"

said he, "has two good friends among the goddesses, Juno of Argos, and Minerva of Alalcomene, but they

only sit still and look on, while Venus keeps ever by Alexandrus' side to defend him in any danger; indeed

she has just rescued him when he made sure that it was all over with him for the victory really did lie with

Menelaus. We must consider what we shall do about all this; shall we set them fighting anew or make peace

between them? If you will agree to this last Menelaus can take back Helen and the city of Priam may remain

Minerva and Juno muttered their discontent as they sat side by side hatching mischief for the Trojans.

Minerva scowled at her father, for she was in a furious passion with him, and said nothing, but Juno could not

contain herself. "Dread son of Saturn," said she, "what, pray, is the meaning of all this? Is my trouble, then, to

go for nothing, and the sweat that I have sweated, to say nothing of my horses, while getting the people

together against Priam and his children? Do as you will, but we other gods shall not all of us approve your

Jove was angry and answered, "My dear, what harm have Priam and his sons done you that you are so hotly

bent on sacking the city of Ilius? Will nothing do for you but you must within their walls and eat Priam raw,

with his sons and all the other Trojans to boot? Have it your own way then; for I would not have this matter

become a bone of contention between us. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, if ever I want to sack

a city belonging to friends of yours, you must not try to stop me; you will have to let me do it, for I am giving

in to you sorely against my will. Of all inhabited cities under the sun and stars of heaven, there was none that

I so much respected as Ilius with Priam and his whole people. Equitable feasts were never wanting about my

"My own three favourite cities," answered Juno, "are Argos, Sparta, and Mycenae. Sack them whenever you

may be displeased with them. I shall not defend them and I shall not care. Even if I did, and tried to stay you,

I should take nothing by it, for you are much stronger than I am, but I will not have my own work wasted. I

too am a god and of the same race with yourself. I am Saturn's eldest daughter, and am honourable not on this

ground only, but also because I am your wife, and you are king over the gods. Let it be a case, then, of

giveandtake between us, and the rest of the gods will follow our lead. Tell Minerva to go and take part in

the fight at once, and let her contrive that the Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the

The sire of gods and men heeded her words, and said to Minerva, "Go at once into the Trojan and Achaean

hosts, and contrive that the Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the Achaeans."

This was what Minerva was already eager to do, so down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus.

She shot through the sky as some brilliant meteor which the son of scheming Saturn has sent as a sign to

mariners or to some great army, and a fiery train of light follows in its wake. The Trojans and Achaeans were

struck with awe as they beheld, and one would turn to his neighbour, saying, "Either we shall again have war

Thus did they converse. Then Minerva took the form of Laodocus, son of Antenor, and went through the

ranks of the Trojans to find Pandarus, the redoubtable son of Lycaon. She found him standing among the

stalwart heroes who had followed him from the banks of the Aesopus, so she went close up to him and said,

"Brave son of Lycaon, will you do as I tell you? If you dare send an arrow at Menelaus you will win honour

and thanks from all the Trojans, and especially from prince Alexandrushe would be the first to requite you

very handsomely if he could see Menelaus mount his funeral pyre, slain by an arrow from your hand. Take

your home aim then, and pray to Lycian Apollo, the famous archer; vow that when you get home to your

strong city of Zelea you will offer a hecatomb of firstling lambs in his honour."

His fool's heart was persuaded, and he took his bow from its case. This bow was made from the horns of a

wild ibex which he had killed as it was bounding from a rock; he had stalked it, and it had fallen as the arrow

struck it to the heart. Its horns were sixteen palms long, and a worker in horn had made them into a bow,

smoothing them well down, and giving them tips of gold. When Pandarus had strung his bow he laid it

carefully on the ground, and his brave followers held their shields before him lest the Achaeans should set

upon him before he had shot Menelaus. Then he opened the lid of his quiver and took out a winged arrow that

had yet been shot, fraught with the pangs of death. He laid the arrow on the string and prayed to Lycian

Apollo, the famous archer, vowing that when he got home to his strong city of Zelea he would offer a

hecatomb of firstling lambs in his honour. He laid the notch of the arrow on the oxhide bowstring, and drew

both notch and string to his breast till the arrowhead was near the bow; then when the bow was arched into a

halfcircle he let fly, and the bow twanged, and the string sang as the arrow flew gladly on over the heads of

But the blessed gods did not forget thee, O Menelaus, and Jove's daughter, driver of the spoil, was the first to

stand before thee and ward off the piercing arrow. She turned it from his skin as a mother whisks a fly from

off her child when it is sleeping sweetly; she guided it to the part where the golden buckles of the belt that

passed over his double cuirass were fastened, so the arrow struck the belt that went tightly round him. It went

right through this and through the cuirass of cunning workmanship; it also pierced the belt beneath it, which

he wore next his skin to keep out darts or arrows; it was this that served him in the best stead, nevertheless the

arrow went through it and grazed the top of the skin, so that blood began flowing from the wound.

As when some woman of Meonia or Caria strains purple dye on to a piece of ivory that is to be the

cheekpiece of a horse, and is to be laid up in a treasure house many a knight is fain to bear it, but the king

keeps it as an ornament of which both horse and driver may be proud even so, O Menelaus, were your

When King Agamemnon saw the blood flowing from the wound he was afraid, and so was brave Menelaus

himself till he saw that the barbs of the arrow and the thread that bound the arrowhead to the shaft were still

outside the wound. Then he took heart, but Agamemnon heaved a deep sigh as he held Menelaus's hand in his

own, and his comrades made moan in concert. "Dear brother, "he cried, "I have been the death of you in

pledging this covenant and letting you come forward as our champion. The Trojans have trampled on their

oaths and have wounded you; nevertheless the oath, the blood of lambs, the drinkofferings and the right

hands of fellowship in which have put our trust shall not be vain. If he that rules Olympus fulfil it not here

and now, he. will yet fulfil it hereafter, and they shall pay dearly with their lives and with their wives and

children. The day will surely come when mighty Ilius shall be laid low, with Priam and Priam's people, when

the son of Saturn from his high throne shall overshadow them with his awful aegis in punishment of their

present treachery. This shall surely be; but how, Menelaus, shall I mourn you, if it be your lot now to die? I

should return to Argos as a byword, for the Achaeans will at once go home. We shall leave Priam and the

Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, and the earth will rot your bones as you lie here at Troy with your

purpose not fulfilled. Then shall some braggart Trojan leap upon your tomb and say, 'Ever thus may

Agamemnon wreak his vengeance; he brought his army in vain; he is gone home to his own land with empty

ships, and has left Menelaus behind him.' Thus will one of them say, and may the earth then swallow me."

But Menelaus reassured him and said, "Take heart, and do not alarm the people; the arrow has not struck me

in a mortal part, for my outer belt of burnished metal first stayed it, and under this my cuirass and the belt of

And Agamemnon answered, "I trust, dear Menelaus, that it may be even so, but the surgeon shall examine

He then said to Talthybius, "Talthybius, tell Machaon, son to the great physician, Aesculapius, to come and

see Menelaus immediately. Some Trojan or Lycian archer has wounded him with an arrow to our dismay, and

Talthybius did as he was told, and went about the host trying to find Machaon. Presently he found standing

amid the brave warriors who had followed him from Tricca; thereon he went up to him and said, "Son of

Aesculapius, King Agamemnon says you are to come and see Menelaus immediately. Some Trojan or Lycian

Thus did he speak, and Machaon was moved to go. They passed through the spreading host of the Achaeans

and went on till they came to the place where Menelaus had been wounded and was lying with the chieftains

gathered in a circle round him. Machaon passed into the middle of the ring and at once drew the arrow from

the belt, bending its barbs back through the force with which he pulled it out. He undid the burnished belt,

and beneath this the cuirass and the belt of mail which the bronzesmiths had made; then, when he had seen

the wound, he wiped away the blood and applied some soothing drugs which Chiron had given to

While they were thus busy about Menelaus, the Trojans came forward against them, for they had put on their

You would not have then found Agamemnon asleep nor cowardly and unwilling to fight, but eager rather for

the fray. He left his chariot rich with bronze and his panting steeds in charge of Eurymedon, son of

Ptolemaeus the son of Peiraeus, and bade him hold them in readiness against the time his limbs should weary

of going about and giving orders to so many, for he went among the ranks on foot. When he saw men hasting

to the front he stood by them and cheered them on. "Argives," said he, "slacken not one whit in your onset;

father Jove will be no helper of liars; the Trojans have been the first to break their oaths and to attack us;

therefore they shall be devoured of vultures; we shall take their city and carry off their wives and children in

But he angrily rebuked those whom he saw shirking and disinclined to fight. "Argives," he cried, "cowardly

miserable creatures, have you no shame to stand here like frightened fawns who, when they can no longer

scud over the plain, huddle together, but show no fight? You are as dazed and spiritless as deer. Would you

wait till the Trojans reach the sterns of our ships as they lie on the shore, to see, whether the son of Saturn

Thus did he go about giving his orders among the ranks. Passing through the crowd, he came presently on the

Cretans, arming round Idomeneus, who was at their head, fierce as a wild boar, while Meriones was bringing

up the battalions that were in the rear. Agamemnon was glad when he saw him, and spoke him fairly.

"Idomeneus," said he, "I treat you with greater distinction than I do any others of the Achaeans, whether in

war or in other things, or at table. When the princes are mixing my choicest wines in the mixingbowls, they

have each of them a fixed allowance, but your cup is kept always full like my own, that you may drink

whenever you are minded. Go, therefore, into battle, and show yourself the man you have been always proud

Idomeneus answered, "I will be a trusty comrade, as I promised you from the first I would be. Urge on the

other Achaeans, that we may join battle at once, for the Trojans have trampled upon their covenants. Death

and destruction shall be theirs, seeing they have been the first to break their oaths and to attack us."

The son of Atreus went on, glad at heart, till he came upon the two Ajaxes arming themselves amid a host of

footsoldiers. As when a goatherd from some high post watches a storm drive over the deep before the west

wind black as pitch is the offing and a mighty whirlwind draws towards him, so that he is afraid and drives

his flock into a caveeven thus did the ranks of stalwart youths move in a dark mass to battle under the Ajaxes,

horrid with shield and spear. Glad was King Agamemnon when he saw them. "No need," he cried, "to give

orders to such leaders of the Argives as you are, for of your own selves you spur your men on to fight with

might and main. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo that all were so minded as you are, for the city

With this he left them and went onward to Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians, who was marshalling his

men and urging them on, in company with Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, Haemon, and Bias shepherd of his

people. He placed his knights with their chariots and horses in the front rank, while the footsoldiers, brave

men and many, whom he could trust, were in the rear. The cowards he drove into the middle, that they might

fight whether they would or no. He gave his orders to the knights first, bidding them hold their horses well in

hand, so as to avoid confusion. "Let no man," he said, "relying on his strength or horsemanship, get before

the others and engage singly with the Trojans, nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your attack; but

let each when he meets an enemy's chariot throw his spear from his own; this be much the best; this is how

Thus did the old man charge them, for he had been in many a fight, and King Agamemnon was glad. "I

wish," he said to him, that your limbs were as supple and your strength as sure as your judgment is; but age,

the common enemy of mankind, has laid his hand upon you; would that it had fallen upon some other, and

And Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered, "Son of Atreus, I too would gladly be the man I was when I slew

mighty Ereuthalion; but the gods will not give us everything at one and the same time. I was then young, and

now I am old; still I can go with my knights and give them that counsel which old men have a right to give.

The wielding of the spear I leave to those who are younger and stronger than myself."

Agamemnon went his way rejoicing, and presently found Menestheus, son of Peteos, tarrying in his place,

and with him were the Athenians loud of tongue in battle. Near him also tarried cunning Ulysses, with his

sturdy Cephallenians round him; they had not yet heard the battlecry, for the ranks of Trojans and Achaeans

had only just begun to move, so they were standing still, waiting for some other columns of the Achaeans to

attack the Trojans and begin the fighting. When he saw this Agamemnon rebuked them and said, "Son of

Peteos, and you other, steeped in cunning, heart of guile, why stand you here cowering and waiting on

others? You two should be of all men foremost when there is hard fighting to be done, for you are ever

foremost to accept my invitation when we councillors of the Achaeans are holding feast. You are glad enough

then to take your fill of roast meats and to drink wine as long as you please, whereas now you would not care

Ulysses glared at him and answered, "Son of Atreus, what are you talking about? How can you say that we

are slack? When the Achaeans are in full fight with the Trojans, you shall see, if you care to do so, that the

father of Telemachus will join battle with the foremost of them. You are talking idly."

When Agamemnon saw that Ulysses was angry, he smiled pleasantly at him and withdrew his words.

"Ulysses," said he, "noble son of Laertes, excellent in all good counsel, I have neither fault to find nor orders

to give you, for I know your heart is right, and that you and I are of a mind. Enough; I will make you amends

for what I have said, and if any ill has now been spoken may the gods bring it to nothing."

He then left them and went on to others. Presently he saw the son of Tydeus, noble Diomed, standing by his

chariot and horses, with Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside him; whereon he began to upbraid him. "Son

of Tydeus," he said, "why stand you cowering here upon the brink of battle? Tydeus did not shrink thus, but

was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe so, at least, say they that saw him in battle,

for I never set eyes upon him myself. They say that there was no man like him. He came once to Mycenae,

not as an enemy but as a guest, in company with Polynices to recruit his forces, for they were levying war

against the strong city of Thebes, and prayed our people for a body of picked men to help them. The men of

Mycenae were willing to let them have one, but Jove dissuaded them by showing them unfavourable omens.

Tydeus, therefore, and Polynices went their way. When they had got as far the deepmeadowed and

rushgrown banks of the Aesopus, the Achaeans sent Tydeus as their envoy, and he found the Cadmeans

gathered in great numbers to a banquet in the house of Eteocles. Stranger though he was, he knew no fear on

finding himself singlehanded among so many, but challenged them to contests of all kinds, and in each one

of them was at once victorious, so mightily did Minerva help him. The Cadmeans were incensed at his

success, and set a force of fifty youths with two captains the godlike hero Maeon, son of Haemon, and

Polyphontes, son of Autophonus at their head, to lie in wait for him on his return journey; but Tydeus slew

every man of them, save only Maeon, whom he let go in obedience to heaven's omens. Such was Tydeus of

Diomed made no answer, for he was shamed by the rebuke of Agamemnon; but the son of Capaneus took up

his words and said, "Son of Atreus, tell no lies, for you can speak truth if you will. We boast ourselves as

even better men than our fathers; we took sevengated Thebes, though the wall was stronger and our men

were fewer in number, for we trusted in the omens of the gods and in the help of Jove, whereas they perished

through their own sheer folly; hold not, then, our fathers in like honour with us."

Diomed looked sternly at him and said, "Hold your peace, my friend, as I bid you. It is not amiss that

Agamemnon should urge the Achaeans forward, for the glory will be his if we take the city, and his the

As he spoke he sprang from his chariot, and his armour rang so fiercely about his body that even a brave man

As when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the west wind has lashed it into fury it has

reared its head afar and now comes crashing down on the shore; it bows its arching crest high over the jagged

rocks and spews its salt foam in all directions even so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans march

steadfastly to battle. The chiefs gave orders each to his own people, but the men said never a word; no man

would think it, for huge as the host was, it seemed as though there was not a tongue among them, so silent

were they in their obedience; and as they marched the armour about their bodies glistened in the sun. But the

clamour of the Trojan ranks was as that of many thousand ewes that stand waiting to be milked in the yards

of some rich flockmaster, and bleat incessantly in answer to the bleating of their lambs; for they had not one

speech nor language, but their tongues were diverse, and they came from many different places. These were

inspired of Mars, but the others by Minerva and with them came Panic, Rout, and Strife whose fury never

tires, sister and friend of murderous Mars, who, from being at first but low in stature, grows till she uprears

her head to heaven, though her feet are still on earth. She it was that went about among them and flung down

When they were got together in one place shield clashed with shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle.

The bossed shields beat one upon another, and there was a tramp as of a great multitude deathcry and

shout of triumph of slain and slayers, and the earth ran red with blood. As torrents swollen with rain course

madly down their deep channels till the angry floods meet in some gorge, and the shepherd the hillside hears

their roaring from afar even such was the toil and uproar of the hosts as they joined in battle.

First Antilochus slew an armed warrior of the Trojans, Echepolus, son of Thalysius, fighting in the foremost

ranks. He struck at the projecting part of his helmet and drove the spear into his brow; the point of bronze

pierced the bone, and darkness veiled his eyes; headlong as a tower he fell amid the press of the fight, and as

he dropped King Elephenor, son of Chalcodon and captain of the proud Abantes began dragging him out of

reach of the darts that were falling around him, in haste to strip him of his armour. But his purpose was not

for long; Agenor saw him haling the body away, and smote him in the side with his bronzeshod spear for

as he stooped his side was left unprotected by his shield and thus he perished. Then the fight between

Trojans and Achaeans grew furious over his body, and they flew upon each other like wolves, man and man

Forthwith Ajax, son of Telamon, slew the fair youth Simoeisius, son of Anthemion, whom his mother bore

by the banks of the Simois, as she was coming down from Mt. Ida, where she had been with her parents to

see their flocks. Therefore he was named Simoeisius, but he did not live to pay his parents for his rearing, for

he was cut off untimely by the spear of mighty Ajax, who struck him in the breast by the right nipple as he

was coming on among the foremost fighters; the spear went right through his shoulder, and he fell as a poplar

that has grown straight and tall in a meadow by some mere, and its top is thick with branches. Then the

wheelwright lays his axe to its roots that he may fashion a felloe for the wheel of some goodly chariot, and it

lies seasoning by the waterside. In such wise did Ajax fell to earth Simoeisius, son of Anthemion. Thereon

Antiphus of the gleaming corslet, son of Priam, hurled a spear at Ajax from amid the crowd and missed him,

but he hit Leucus, the brave comrade of Ulysses, in the groin, as he was dragging the body of Simoeisius over

to the other side; so he fell upon the body and loosed his hold upon it. Ulysses was furious when he saw

Leucus slain, and strode in full armour through the front ranks till he was quite close; then he glared round

about him and took aim, and the Trojans fell back as he did so. His dart was not sped in vain, for it struck

Democoon, the bastard son of Priam, who had come to him from Abydos, where he had charge of his father's

mares. Ulysses, infuriated by the death of his comrade, hit him with his spear on one temple, and the bronze

point came through on the other side of his forehead. Thereon darkness veiled his eyes, and his armour rang

rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Hector, and they that were in front, then gave round while

the Argives raised a shout and drew off the dead, pressing further forward as they did so. But Apollo looked

down from Pergamus and called aloud to the Trojans, for he was displeased. "Trojans," he cried, "rush on the

foe, and do not let yourselves be thus beaten by the Argives. Their skins are not stone nor iron that when hit

them you do them no harm. Moreover, Achilles, the son of lovely Thetis, is not fighting, but is nursing his

Thus spoke the mighty god, crying to them from the city, while Jove's redoubtable daughter, the Tritoborn,

went about among the host of the Achaeans, and urged them forward whenever she beheld them slackening.

Then fate fell upon Diores, son of Amarynceus, for he was struck by a jagged stone near the ancle of his right

leg. He that hurled it was Peirous, son of Imbrasus, captain of the Thracians, who had come from Aenus; the

bones and both the tendons were crushed by the pitiless stone. He fell to the ground on his back, and in his

death throes stretched out his hands towards his comrades. But Peirous, who had wounded him, sprang on

him and thrust a spear into his belly, so that his bowels came gushing out upon the ground, and darkness

veiled his eyes. As he was leaving the body, Thoas of Aetolia struck him in the chest near the nipple, and the

point fixed itself in his lungs. Thoas came close up to him, pulled the spear out of his chest, and then drawing

his sword, smote him in the middle of the belly so that he died; but he did not strip him of his armour, for his

Thracian comrades, men who wear their hair in a tuft at the top of their heads, stood round the body and kept

him off with their long spears for all his great stature and valour; so he was driven back. Thus the two corpses

lay stretched on earth near to one another, the one captain of the Thracians and the other of the Epeans; and

And now no man would have made light of the fighting if he could have gone about among it scatheless and

unwounded, with Minerva leading him by the hand, and protecting him from the storm of spears and arrows.

For many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay stretched side by side face downwards upon the earth.

Then Pallas Minerva put valour into the heart of Diomed, son of Tydeus, that he might excel all the other

Argives, and cover himself with glory. She made a stream of fire flare from his shield and helmet like the star

that shines most brilliantly in summer after its bath in the waters of Oceanus even such a fire did she kindle

upon his head and shoulders as she bade him speed into the thickest hurlyburly of the fight.

Now there was a certain rich and honourable man among the Trojans, priest of Vulcan, and his name was

Dares. He had two sons, Phegeus and Idaeus, both of them skilled in all the arts of war. These two came

forward from the main body of Trojans, and set upon Diomed, he being on foot, while they fought from their

chariot. When they were close up to one another, Phegeus took aim first, but his spear went over Diomed's

left shoulder without hitting him. Diomed then threw, and his spear sped not in vain, for it hit Phegeus on the

breast near the nipple, and he fell from his chariot. Idaeus did not dare to bestride his brother's body, but

sprang from the chariot and took to flight, or he would have shared his brother's fate; whereon Vulcan saved

him by wrapping him in a cloud of darkness, that his old father might not be utterly overwhelmed with grief;

but the son of Tydeus drove off with the horses, and bade his followers take them to the ships. The Trojans

were scared when they saw the two sons of Dares, one of them in fright and the other lying dead by his

chariot. Minerva, therefore, took Mars by the hand and said, "Mars, Mars, bane of men, bloodstained stormer

of cities, may we not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight it out, and see to which of the two Jove

So saying, she drew Mars out of the battle, and set him down upon the steep banks of the Scamander. Upon

this the Danaans drove the Trojans back, and each one of their chieftains killed his man. First King

Agamemnon flung mighty Odius, captain of the Halizoni, from his chariot. The spear of Agamemnon caught

him on the broad of his back, just as he was turning in flight; it struck him between the shoulders and went

right through his chest, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.

Then Idomeneus killed Phaesus, son of Borus the Meonian, who had come from Varne. Mighty Idomeneus

speared him on the right shoulder as he was mounting his chariot, and the darkness of death enshrouded him

The squires of Idomeneus spoiled him of his armour, while Menelaus, son of Atreus, killed Scamandrius the

son of Strophius, a mighty huntsman and keen lover of the chase. Diana herself had taught him how to kill

every kind of wild creature that is bred in mountain forests, but neither she nor his famed skill in archery

could now save him, for the spear of Menelaus struck him in the back as he was flying; it struck him between

the shoulders and went right through his chest, so that he fell headlong and his armour rang rattling round

Meriones then killed Phereclus the son of Tecton, who was the son of Hermon, a man whose hand was skilled

in all manner of cunning workmanship, for Pallas Minerva had dearly loved him. He it was that made the

ships for Alexandrus, which were the beginning of all mischief, and brought evil alike both on the Trojans

and on Alexandrus himself; for he heeded not the decrees of heaven. Meriones overtook him as he was

flying, and struck him on the right buttock. The point of the spear went through the bone into the bladder, and

Meges, moreover, slew Pedaeus, son of Antenor, who, though he was a bastard, had been brought up by

Theano as one of her own children, for the love she bore her husband. The son of Phyleus got close up to him

and drove a spear into the nape of his neck: it went under his tongue all among his teeth, so he bit the cold

And Eurypylus, son of Euaemon, killed Hypsenor, the son of noble Dolopion, who had been made priest of

the river Scamander, and was honoured among the people as though he were a god. Eurypylus gave him

chase as he was flying before him, smote him with his sword upon the arm, and lopped his strong hand from

off it. The bloody hand fell to the ground, and the shades of death, with fate that no man can withstand, came

Thus furiously did the battle rage between them. As for the son of Tydeus, you could not say whether he was

more among the Achaeans or the Trojans. He rushed across the plain like a winter torrent that has burst its

barrier in full flood; no dykes, no walls of fruitful vineyards can embank it when it is swollen with rain from

heaven, but in a moment it comes tearing onward, and lays many a field waste that many a strong man hand

has reclaimed even so were the dense phalanxes of the Trojans driven in rout by the son of Tydeus, and

Now when the son of Lycaon saw him scouring the plain and driving the Trojans pellmell before him, he

aimed an arrow and hit the front part of his cuirass near the shoulder: the arrow went right through the metal

and pierced the flesh, so that the cuirass was covered with blood. On this the son of Lycaon shouted in

triumph, "Knights Trojans, come on; the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded, and he will not hold out much

Thus did he vaunt; but his arrow had not killed Diomed, who withdrew and made for the chariot and horses

of Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus. "Dear son of Capaneus," said he, "come down from your chariot, and draw

Sthenelus sprang from his chariot, and drew the arrow from the wound, whereon the blood came spouting out

through the hole that had been made in his shirt. Then Diomed prayed, saying, "Hear me, daughter of

aegisbearing Jove, unweariable, if ever you loved my father well and stood by him in the thick of a fight, do

the like now by me; grant me to come within a spear's throw of that man and kill him. He has been too quick

for me and has wounded me; and now he is boasting that I shall not see the light of the sun much longer."

Thus he prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard him; she made his limbs supple and quickened his hands and his

feet. Then she went up close to him and said, "Fear not, Diomed, to do battle with the Trojans, for I have set

in your heart the spirit of your knightly father Tydeus. Moreover, I have withdrawn the veil from your eyes,

that you know gods and men apart. If, then, any other god comes here and offers you battle, do not fight him;

but should Jove's daughter Venus come, strike her with your spear and wound her."

When she had said this Minerva went away, and the son of Tydeus again took his place among the foremost

fighters, three times more fierce even than he had been before. He was like a lion that some mountain

shepherd has wounded, but not killed, as he is springing over the wall of a sheepyard to attack the sheep.

The shepherd has roused the brute to fury but cannot defend his flock, so he takes shelter under cover of the

buildings, while the sheep, panicstricken on being deserted, are smothered in heaps one on top of the other,

and the angry lion leaps out over the sheepyard wall. Even thus did Diomed go furiously about among the

He killed Astynous, and shepherd of his people, the one with a thrust of his spear, which struck him above the

nipple, the other with a sword cut on the collarbone, that severed his shoulder from his neck and back. He

let both of them lie, and went in pursuit of Abas and Polyidus, sons of the old reader of dreams Eurydamas:

they never came back for him to read them any more dreams, for mighty Diomed made an end of them. He

then gave chase to Xanthus and Thoon, the two sons of Phaenops, both of them very dear to him, for he was

now worn out with age, and begat no more sons to inherit his possessions. But Diomed took both their lives

and left their father sorrowing bitterly, for he nevermore saw them come home from battle alive, and his

Then he came upon two sons of Priam, Echemmon and Chromius, as they were both in one chariot. He

sprang upon them as a lion fastens on the neck of some cow or heifer when the herd is feeding in a coppice.

For all their vain struggles he flung them both from their chariot and stripped the armour from their bodies.

When Aeneas saw him thus making havoc among the ranks, he went through the fight amid the rain of spears

to see if he could find Pandarus. When he had found the brave son of Lycaon he said, "Pandarus, where is

now your bow, your winged arrows, and your renown as an archer, in respect of which no man here can rival

you nor is there any in Lycia that can beat you? Lift then your hands to Jove and send an arrow at this fellow

who is going so masterfully about, and has done such deadly work among the Trojans. He has killed many a

brave manunless indeed he is some god who is angry with the Trojans about their sacrifices, and and has set

And the son of Lycaon answered, "Aeneas, I take him for none other than the son of Tydeus. I know him by

his shield, the visor of his helmet, and by his horses. It is possible that he may be a god, but if he is the man I

say he is, he is not making all this havoc without heaven's help, but has some god by his side who is shrouded

in a cloud of darkness, and who turned my arrow aside when it had hit him. I have taken aim at him already

and hit him on the right shoulder; my arrow went through the breastpiece of his cuirass; and I made sure I

should send him hurrying to the world below, but it seems that I have not killed him. There must be a god

who is angry with me. Moreover I have neither horse nor chariot. In my father's stables there are eleven

excellent chariots, fresh from the builder, quite new, with cloths spread over them; and by each of them there

stand a pair of horses, champing barley and rye; my old father Lycaon urged me again and again when I was

at home and on the point of starting, to take chariots and horses with me that I might lead the Trojans in

battle, but I would not listen to him; it would have been much better if I had done so, but I was thinking about

the horses, which had been used to eat their fill, and I was afraid that in such a great gathering of men they

might be illfed, so I left them at home and came on foot to Ilius armed only with my bow and arrows. These

it seems, are of no use, for I have already hit two chieftains, the sons of Atreus and of Tydeus, and though I

drew blood surely enough, I have only made them still more furious. I did ill to take my bow down from its

peg on the day I led my band of Trojans to Ilius in Hector's service, and if ever I get home again to set eyes

on my native place, my wife, and the greatness of my house, may some one cut my head off then and there if

Aeneas answered, "Say no more. Things will not mend till we two go against this man with chariot and

horses and bring him to a trial of arms. Mount my chariot, and note how cleverly the horses of Tros can speed

hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or flight. If Jove again vouchsafes glory to the son of Tydeus they

will carry us safely back to the city. Take hold, then, of the whip and reins while I stand upon the car to fight,

"Aeneas." replied the son of Lycaon, "take the reins and drive; if we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the

horses will go better for their own driver. If they miss the sound of your voice when they expect it they may

be frightened, and refuse to take us out of the fight. The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and take the

horses. Therefore drive them yourself and I will be ready for him with my spear."

They then mounted the chariot and drove fullspeed towards the son of Tydeus. Sthenelus, son of Capaneus,

saw them coming and said to Diomed, "Diomed, son of Tydeus, man after my own heart, I see two heroes

speeding towards you, both of them men of might the one a skilful archer, Pandarus son of Lycaon, the other,

Aeneas, whose sire is Anchises, while his mother is Venus. Mount the chariot and let us retreat. Do not, I

Diomed looked angrily at him and answered: "Talk not of flight, for I shall not listen to you: I am of a race

that knows neither flight nor fear, and my limbs are as yet unwearied. I am in no mind to mount, but will go

against them even as I am; Pallas Minerva bids me be afraid of no man, and even though one of them escape,

their steeds shall not take both back again. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart if Minerva sees fit

to vouchsafe me the glory of killing both, stay your horses here and make the reins fast to the rim of the

chariot; then be sure you spring Aeneas' horses and drive them from the Trojan to the Achaean ranks. They

are of the stock that great Jove gave to Tros in payment for his son Ganymede, and are the finest that live and

move under the sun. King Anchises stole the blood by putting his mares to them without Laomedon's

knowledge, and they bore him six foals. Four are still in his stables, but he gave the other two to Aeneas. We

Thus did they converse, but the other two had now driven close up to them, and the son of Lycaon spoke first.

"Great and mighty son," said he, "of noble Tydeus, my arrow failed to lay you low, so I will now try with my

He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him. It struck the shield of the son of Tydeus; the bronze

point pierced it and passed on till it reached the breastplate. Thereon the son of Lycaon shouted out and said,

"You are hit clean through the belly; you will not stand out for long, and the glory of the fight is mine."

But Diomed all undismayed made answer, "You have missed, not hit, and before you two see the end of this

With this he hurled his spear, and Minerva guided it on to Pandarus's nose near the eye. It went crashing in

among his white teeth; the bronze point cut through the root of his to tongue, coming out under his chin, and

his glistening armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. The horses started aside for

Aeneas sprang from his chariot armed with shield and spear, fearing lest the Achaeans should carry off the

body. He bestrode it as a lion in the pride of strength, with shield and on spear before him and a cry of battle

on his lips resolute to kill the first that should dare face him. But the son of Tydeus caught up a mighty stone,

so huge and great that as men now are it would take two to lift it; nevertheless he bore it aloft with ease

unaided, and with this he struck Aeneas on the groin where the hip turns in the joint that is called the

"cupbone." The stone crushed this joint, and broke both the sinews, while its jagged edges tore away all the

flesh. The hero fell on his knees, and propped himself with his hand resting on the ground till the darkness of

night fell upon his eyes. And now Aeneas, king of men, would have perished then and there, had not his

mother, Jove's daughter Venus, who had conceived him by Anchises when he was herding cattle, been quick

to mark, and thrown her two white arms about the body of her dear son. She protected him by covering him

with a fold of her own fair garment, lest some Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and kill him.

Thus, then, did she bear her dear son out of the fight. But the son of Capaneus was not unmindful of the

orders that Diomed had given him. He made his own horses fast, away from the hurlyburly, by binding the

reins to the rim of the chariot. Then he sprang upon Aeneas's horses and drove them from the Trojan to the

Achaean ranks. When he had so done he gave them over to his chosen comrade Deipylus, whom he valued

above all others as the one who was most likeminded with himself, to take them on to the ships. He then

remounted his own chariot, seized the reins, and drove with all speed in search of the son of Tydeus.

Now the son of Tydeus was in pursuit of the Cyprian goddess, spear in hand, for he knew her to be feeble and

not one of those goddesses that can lord it among men in battle like Minerva or Enyo the waster of cities, and

when at last after a long chase he caught her up, he flew at her and thrust his spear into the flesh of her

delicate hand. The point tore through the ambrosial robe which the Graces had woven for her, and pierced the

skin between her wrist and the palm of her hand, so that the immortal blood, or ichor, that flows in the veins

of the blessed gods, came pouring from the wound; for the gods do not eat bread nor drink wine, hence they

have no blood such as ours, and are immortal. Venus screamed aloud, and let her son fall, but Phoebus

Apollo caught him in his arms, and hid him in a cloud of darkness, lest some Danaan should drive a spear

into his breast and kill him; and Diomed shouted out as he left her, "Daughter of Jove, leave war and battle

alone, can you not be contented with beguiling silly women? If you meddle with fighting you will get what

The goddess went dazed and discomfited away, and Iris, fleet as the wind, drew her from the throng, in pain

and with her fair skin all besmirched. She found fierce Mars waiting on the left of the battle, with his spear

and his two fleet steeds resting on a cloud; whereon she fell on her knees before her brother and implored him

to let her have his horses. "Dear brother," she cried, "save me, and give me your horses to take me to

Olympus where the gods dwell. I am badly wounded by a mortal, the son of Tydeus, who would now fight

Thus she spoke, and Mars gave her his goldbedizened steeds. She mounted the chariot sick and sorry at

heart, while Iris sat beside her and took the reins in her hand. She lashed her horses on and they flew forward

nothing loth, till in a trice they were at high Olympus, where the gods have their dwelling. There she stayed

them, unloosed them from the chariot, and gave them their ambrosial forage; but Venus flung herself on to

the lap of her mother Dione, who threw her arms about her and caressed her, saying, "Which of the heavenly

beings has been treating you in this way, as though you had been doing something wrong in the face of day?"

And laughterloving Venus answered, "Proud Diomed, the son of Tydeus, wounded me because I was

bearing my dear son Aeneas, whom I love best of all mankind, out of the fight. The war is no longer one

between Trojans and Achaeans, for the Danaans have now taken to fighting with the immortals."

"Bear it, my child," replied Dione, "and make the best of it. We dwellers in Olympus have to put up with

much at the hands of men, and we lay much suffering on one another. Mars had to suffer when Otus and

Ephialtes, children of Aloeus, bound him in cruel bonds, so that he lay thirteen months imprisoned in a vessel

of bronze. Mars would have then perished had not fair Eeriboea, stepmother to the sons of Aloeus, told

Mercury, who stole him away when he was already wellnigh worn out by the severity of his bondage. Juno,

again, suffered when the mighty son of Amphitryon wounded her on the right breast with a threebarbed

arrow, and nothing could assuage her pain. So, also, did huge Hades, when this same man, the son of

aegisbearing Jove, hit him with an arrow even at the gates of hell, and hurt him badly. Thereon Hades went

to the house of Jove on great Olympus, angry and full of pain; and the arrow in his brawny shoulder caused

him great anguish till Paeeon healed him by spreading soothing herbs on the wound, for Hades was not of

mortal mould. Daring, headstrong, evildoer who recked not of his sin in shooting the gods that dwell in

Olympus. And now Minerva has egged this son of Tydeus on against yourself, fool that he is for not

reflecting that no man who fights with gods will live long or hear his children prattling about his knees when

he returns from battle. Let, then, the son of Tydeus see that he does not have to fight with one who is stronger

than you are. Then shall his brave wife Aegialeia, daughter of Adrestus, rouse her whole house from sleep,

So saying, she wiped the ichor from the wrist of her daughter with both hands, whereon the pain left her, and

her hand was healed. But Minerva and Juno, who were looking on, began to taunt Jove with their mocking

talk, and Minerva was first to speak. "Father Jove," said she, "do not be angry with me, but I think the

Cyprian must have been persuading some one of the Achaean women to go with the Trojans of whom she is

so very fond, and while caressing one or other of them she must have torn her delicate hand with the gold pin

The sire of gods and men smiled, and called golden Venus to his side. "My child," said he, "it has not been

given you to be a warrior. Attend, henceforth, to your own delightful matrimonial duties, and leave all this

Thus did they converse. But Diomed sprang upon Aeneas, though he knew him to be in the very arms of

Apollo. Not one whit did he fear the mighty god, so set was he on killing Aeneas and stripping him of his

armour. Thrice did he spring forward with might and main to slay him, and thrice did Apollo beat back his

gleaming shield. When he was coming on for the fourth time, as though he were a god, Apollo shouted to

him with an awful voice and said, "Take heed, son of Tydeus, and draw off; think not to match yourself

against gods, for men that walk the earth cannot hold their own with the immortals."

The son of Tydeus then gave way for a little space, to avoid the anger of the god, while Apollo took Aeneas

out of the crowd and set him in sacred Pergamus, where his temple stood. There, within the mighty sanctuary,

Latona and Diana healed him and made him glorious to behold, while Apollo of the silver bow fashioned a

wraith in the likeness of Aeneas, and armed as he was. Round this the Trojans and Achaeans hacked at the

bucklers about one another's breasts, hewing each other's round shields and light hidecovered targets. Then

Phoebus Apollo said to Mars, "Mars, Mars, bane of men, bloodstained stormer of cities, can you not go to

this man, the son of Tydeus, who would now fight even with father Jove, and draw him out of the battle? He

first went up to the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist, and afterwards sprang upon me too,

He then took his seat on the top of Pergamus, while murderous Mars went about among the ranks of the

Trojans, cheering them on, in the likeness of fleet Acamas chief of the Thracians. "Sons of Priam," said he,

"how long will you let your people be thus slaughtered by the Achaeans? Would you wait till they are at the

walls of Troy? Aeneas the son of Anchises has fallen, he whom we held in as high honour as Hector himself.

With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Then Sarpedon rebuked Hector very sternly. "Hector,"

said he, "where is your prowess now? You used to say that though you had neither people nor allies you

could hold the town alone with your brothers and brothersinlaw. I see not one of them here; they cower as

hounds before a lion; it is we, your allies, who bear the brunt of the battle. I have come from afar, even from

Lycia and the banks of the river Xanthus, where I have left my wife, my infant son, and much wealth to tempt

whoever is needy; nevertheless, I head my Lycian soldiers and stand my ground against any who would fight

me though I have nothing here for the Achaeans to plunder, while you look on, without even bidding your

men stand firm in defence of their wives. See that you fall not into the hands of your foes as men caught in

the meshes of a net, and they sack your fair city forthwith. Keep this before your mind night and day, and

beseech the captains of your allies to hold on without flinching, and thus put away their reproaches from

So spoke Sarpedon, and Hector smarted under his words. He sprang from his chariot clad in his suit of

armour, and went about among the host brandishing his two spears, exhorting the men to fight and raising the

terrible cry of battle. Then they rallied and again faced the Achaeans, but the Argives stood compact and

firm, and were not driven back. As the breezes sport with the chaff upon some goodly threshingfloor, when

men are winnowing while yellow Ceres blows with the wind to sift the chaff from the grain, and the chaff

heaps grow whiter and whiter even so did the Achaeans whiten in the dust which the horses' hoofs raised to

the firmament of heaven, as their drivers turned them back to battle, and they bore down with might upon the

foe. Fierce Mars, to help the Trojans, covered them in a veil of darkness, and went about everywhere among

them, inasmuch as Phoebus Apollo had told him that when he saw Pallas, Minerva leave the fray he was to

put courage into the hearts of the Trojans for it was she who was helping the Danaans. Then Apollo sent

Aeneas forth from his rich sanctuary, and filled his heart with valour, whereon he took his place among his

comrades, who were overjoyed at seeing him alive, sound, and of a good courage; but they could not ask him

how it had all happened, for they were too busy with the turmoil raised by Mars and by Strife, who raged

The two Ajaxes, Ulysses and Diomed, cheered the Danaans on, fearless of the fury and onset of the Trojans.

They stood as still as clouds which the son of Saturn has spread upon the mountain tops when there is no air

and fierce Boreas sleeps with the other boisterous winds whose shrill blasts scatter the clouds in all

directions even so did the Danaans stand firm and unflinching against the Trojans. The son of Atreus went

about among them and exhorted them. "My friends," said he, "quit yourselves like brave men, and shun

dishonour in one another's eyes amid the stress of battle. They that shun dishonour more often live than get

As he spoke he hurled his spear and hit one of those who were in the front rank, the comrade of Aeneas,

Deicoon son of Pergasus, whom the Trojans held in no less honour than the sons of Priam, for he was ever

quick to place himself among the foremost. The spear of King Agamemnon struck his shield and went right

through it, for the shield stayed it not. It drove through his belt into the lower part of his belly, and his armour

Then Aeneas killed two champions of the Danaans, Crethon and Orsilochus. Their father was a rich man who

lived in the strong city of Phere and was descended from the river Alpheus, whose broad stream flows

through the land of the Pylians. The river begat Orsilochus, who ruled over much people and was father to

Diocles, who in his turn begat twin sons, Crethon and Orsilochus, well skilled in all the arts of war. These,

when they grew up, went to Ilius with the Argive fleet in the cause of Menelaus and Agamemnon sons of

Atreus, and there they both of them fell. As two lions whom their dam has reared in the depths of some

mountain forest to plunder homesteads and carry off sheep and cattle till they get killed by the hand of man,

so were these two vanquished by Aeneas, and fell like high pinetrees to the ground.

Brave Menelaus pitied them in their fall, and made his way to the front, clad in gleaming bronze and

brandishing his spear, for Mars egged him on to do so with intent that he should be killed by Aeneas; but

Antilochus the son of Nestor saw him and sprang forward, fearing that the king might come to harm and thus

bring all their labour to nothing; when, therefore Aeneas and Menelaus were setting their hands and spears

against one another eager to do battle, Antilochus placed himself by the side of Menelaus. Aeneas, bold

though he was, drew back on seeing the two heroes side by side in front of him, so they drew the bodies of

Crethon and Orsilochus to the ranks of the Achaeans and committed the two poor fellows into the hands of

They killed Pylaemenes peer of Mars, leader of the Paphlagonian warriors. Menelaus struck him on the

collarbone as he was standing on his chariot, while Antilochus hit his charioteer and squire Mydon, the son

of Atymnius, who was turning his horses in flight. He hit him with a stone upon the elbow, and the reins,

enriched with white ivory, fell from his hands into the dust. Antilochus rushed towards him and struck him on

the temples with his sword, whereon he fell head first from the chariot to the ground. There he stood for a

while with his head and shoulders buried deep in the dust for he had fallen on sandy soil till his horses

kicked him and laid him flat on the ground, as Antilochus lashed them and drove them off to the host of the

But Hector marked them from across the ranks, and with a loud cry rushed towards them, followed by the

strong battalions of the Trojans. Mars and dread Enyo led them on, she fraught with ruthless turmoil of battle,

while Mars wielded a monstrous spear, and went about, now in front of Hector and now behind him.

Diomed shook with passion as he saw them. As a man crossing a wide plain is dismayed to find himself on

the brink of some great river rolling swiftly to the sea he sees its boiling waters and starts back in fear even

so did the son of Tydeus give ground. Then he said to his men, "My friends, how can we wonder that Hector

wields the spear so well? Some god is ever by his side to protect him, and now Mars is with him in the

likeness of mortal man. Keep your faces therefore towards the Trojans, but give ground backwards, for we

As he spoke the Trojans drew close up, and Hector killed two men, both in one chariot, Menesthes and

Anchialus, heroes well versed in war. Ajax son of Telamon pitied them in their fall; he came close up and

hurled his spear, hitting Amphius the son of Selagus, a man of great wealth who lived in Paesus and owned

much corngrowing land, but his lot had led him to come to the aid of Priam and his sons. Ajax struck him in

the belt; the spear pierced the lower part of his belly, and he fell heavily to the ground. Then Ajax ran towards

him to strip him of his armour, but the Trojans rained spears upon him, many of which fell upon his shield.

He planted his heel upon the body and drew out his spear, but the darts pressed so heavily upon him that he

could not strip the goodly armour from his shoulders. The Trojan chieftains, moreover, many and valiant,

came about him with their spears, so that he dared not stay; great, brave and valiant though he was, they

Thus, then, did the battle rage between them. Presently the strong hand of fate impelled Tlepolemus, the son

of Hercules, a man both brave and of great stature, to fight Sarpedon; so the two, son and grandson of great

Jove, drew near to one another, and Tlepolemus spoke first. "Sarpedon," said he, "councillor of the Lycians,

why should you come skulking here you who are a man of peace? They lie who call you son of aegisbearing

Jove, for you are little like those who were of old his children. Far other was Hercules, my own brave and

lionhearted father, who came here for the horses of Laomedon, and though he had six ships only, and few

men to follow him, sacked the city of Ilius and made a wilderness of her highways. You are a coward, and

your people are falling from you. For all your strength, and all your coming from Lycia, you will be no help

And Sarpedon, captain of the Lycians, answered, "Tlepolemus, your father overthrew Ilius by reason of

Laomedon's folly in refusing payment to one who had served him well. He would not give your father the

horses which he had come so far to fetch. As for yourself, you shall meet death by my spear. You shall yield

Thus spoke Sarpedon, and Tlepolemus upraised his spear. They threw at the same moment, and Sarpedon

struck his foe in the middle of his throat; the spear went right through, and the darkness of death fell upon his

eyes. Tlepolemus's spear struck Sarpedon on the left thigh with such force that it tore through the flesh and

His comrades bore Sarpedon out of the fight, in great pain by the weight of the spear that was dragging from

his wound. They were in such haste and stress as they bore him that no one thought of drawing the spear from

his thigh so as to let him walk uprightly. Meanwhile the Achaeans carried off the body of Tlepolemus,

whereon Ulysses was moved to pity, and panted for the fray as he beheld them. He doubted whether to pursue

the son of Jove, or to make slaughter of the Lycian rank and file; it was not decreed, however, that he should

slay the son of Jove; Minerva, therefore, turned him against the main body of the Lycians. He killed

Coeranus, Alastor, Chromius, Alcandrus, Halius, Noemon, and Prytanis, and would have slain yet more, had

not great Hector marked him, and sped to the front of the fight clad in his suit of mail, filling the Danaans

with terror. Sarpedon was glad when he saw him coming, and besought him, saying, "Son of Priam, let me

not he here to fall into the hands of the Danaans. Help me, and since I may not return home to gladden the

hearts of my wife and of my infant son, let me die within the walls of your city."

Hector made him no answer, but rushed onward to fall at once upon the Achaeans and. kill many among

them. His comrades then bore Sarpedon away and laid him beneath Jove's spreading oak tree. Pelagon, his

friend and comrade drew the spear out of his thigh, but Sarpedon fainted and a mist came over his eyes.

Presently he came to himself again, for the breath of the north wind as it played upon him gave him new life,

Meanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by Mars and Hector, nor yet did they attack

them; when they knew that Mars was with the Trojans they retreated, but kept their faces still turned towards

the foe. Who, then, was first and who last to be slain by Mars and Hector? They were valiant Teuthras, and

Orestes the renowned charioteer, Trechus the Aetolian warrior, Oenomaus, Helenus the son of Oenops, and

Oresbius of the gleaming girdle, who was possessed of great wealth, and dwelt by the Cephisian lake with the

Now when the goddess Juno saw the Argives thus falling, she said to Minerva, "Alas, daughter of

aegisbearing Jove, unweariable, the promise we made Menelaus that he should not return till he had sacked

the city of Ilius will be of none effect if we let Mars rage thus furiously. Let us go into the fray at once."

Minerva did not gainsay her. Thereon the august goddess, daughter of great Saturn, began to harness her

goldbedizened steeds. Hebe with all speed fitted on the eightspoked wheels of bronze that were on either

side of the iron axletree. The felloes of the wheels were of gold, imperishable, and over these there was a

tire of bronze, wondrous to behold. The naves of the wheels were silver, turning round the axle upon either

side. The car itself was made with plaited bands of gold and silver, and it had a double toprail running all

round it. From the body of the car there went a pole of silver, on to the end of which she bound the golden

yoke, with the bands of gold that were to go under the necks of the horses Then Juno put her steeds under the

Meanwhile Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture, made with her own hands, on to her father's

threshold, and donned the shirt of Jove, arming herself for battle. She threw her tasselled aegis about. her

shoulders, wreathed round with Rout as with a fringe, and on it were Strife, and Strength, and Panic whose

blood runs cold; moreover there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon,, grim and awful to behold,

portent of aegisbearing Jove. On her head she set her helmet of gold, with four plumes, and coming to a

peak both in front and behind decked with the emblems of a hundred cities; then she stepped into her

flaming chariot and grasped the spear, so stout and sturdy and strong, with which she quells the ranks of

heroes who have displeased her. Juno lashed the horses on, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew

open of their own accord gates over which the flours preside, in whose hands are Heaven and Olympus,

either to open the dense cloud that hides them, or to close it. Through these the goddesses drove their

obedient steeds, and found the son of Saturn sitting all alone on the topmost ridges of Olympus. There Juno

stayed her horses, and spoke to Jove the son of Saturn, lord of all. "Father Jove," said she, "are you not angry

with Mars for these high doings? how great and goodly a host of the Achaeans he has destroyed to my great

grief, and without either right or reason, while the Cyprian and Apollo are enjoying it all at their ease and

setting this unrighteous madman on to do further mischief. I hope, Father Jove, that you will not be angry if I

And Jove answered, "Set Minerva on to him, for she punishes him more often than any one else does."

Juno did as he had said. She lashed her horses, and they flew forward nothing loth midway betwixt earth and

sky. As far as a man can see when he looks out upon the sea from some high beacon, so far can the

loudneighing horses of the gods spring at a single bound. When they reached Troy and the place where its

two flowing streams Simois and Scamander meet, there Juno stayed them and took them from the chariot.

She hid them in a thick cloud, and Simois made ambrosia spring up for them to eat; the two goddesses then

went on, flying like turtledoves in their eagerness to help the Argives. When they came to the part where the

bravest and most in number were gathered about mighty Diomed, fighting like lions or wild boars of great

strength and endurance, there Juno stood still and raised a shout like that of brazenvoiced Stentor, whose cry

was as loud as that of fifty men together. "Argives," she cried; "shame on cowardly creatures, brave in

semblance only; as long as Achilles was fighting, fi his spear was so deadly that the Trojans dared not show

themselves outside the Dardanian gates, but now they sally far from the city and fight even at your ships."

With these words she put heart and soul into them all, while Minerva sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus,

whom she found near his chariot and horses, cooling the wound that Pandarus had given him. For the sweat

caused by the hand that bore the weight of his shield irritated the hurt: his arm was weary with pain, and he

was lifting up the strap to wipe away the blood. The goddess laid her hand on the yoke of his horses and said,

"The son of Tydeus is not such another as his father. Tydeus was a little man, but he could fight, and rushed

madly into the fray even when I told him not to do so. When he went all unattended as envoy to the city of

Thebes among the Cadmeans, I bade him feast in their houses and be at peace; but with that high spirit which

was ever present with him, he challenged the youth of the Cadmeans, and at once beat them in all that he

attempted, so mightily did I help him. I stand by you too to protect you, and I bid you be instant in fighting

the Trojans; but either you are tired out, or you are afraid and out of heart, and in that case I say that you are

Diomed answered, "I know you, goddess, daughter of aegisbearing Jove, and will hide nothing from you. I

am not afraid nor out of heart, nor is there any slackness in me. I am only following your own instructions;

you told me not to fight any of the blessed gods; but if Jove's daughter Venus came into battle I was to wound

her with my spear. Therefore I am retreating, and bidding the other Argives gather in this place, for I know

"Diomed, son of Tydeus," replied Minerva, "man after my own heart, fear neither Mars nor any other of the

immortals, for I will befriend you. Nay, drive straight at Mars, and smite him in close combat; fear not this

raging madman, villain incarnate, first on one side and then on the other. But now he was holding talk with

Juno and myself, saying he would help the Argives and attack the Trojans; nevertheless he is with the

With this she caught hold of Sthenelus and lifted him off the chariot on to the ground. In a second he was on

the ground, whereupon the goddess mounted the car and placed herself by the side of Diomed. The oaken

axle groaned aloud under the burden of the awful goddess and the hero; Pallas Minerva took the whip and

reins, and drove straight at Mars. He was in the act of stripping huge Periphas, son of Ochesius and bravest of

the Aetolians. Bloody Mars was stripping him of his armour, and Minerva donned the helmet of Hades, that

he might not see her; when, therefore, he saw Diomed, he made straight for him and let Periphas lie where he

had fallen. As soon as they were at close quarters he let fly with his bronze spear over the reins and yoke,

thinking to take Diomed's life, but Minerva caught the spear in her hand and made it fly harmlessly over the

chariot. Diomed then threw, and Pallas Minerva drove the spear into the pit of Mars's stomach where his

undergirdle went round him. There Diomed wounded him, tearing his fair flesh and then drawing his spear

out again. Mars roared as loudly as nine or ten thousand men in the thick of a fight, and the Achaeans and

As a dark cloud in the sky when it comes on to blow after heat, even so did Diomed son of Tydeus see Mars

ascend into the broad heavens. With all speed he reached high Olympus, home of the gods, and in great pain

sat down beside Jove the son of Saturn. He showed Jove the immortal blood that was flowing from his

wound, and spoke piteously, saying, "Father Jove, are you not angered by such doings? We gods are

continually suffering in the most cruel manner at one another's hands while helping mortals; and we all owe

you a grudge for having begotten that mad termagant of a daughter, who is always committing outrage of

some kind. We other gods must all do as you bid us, but her you neither scold nor punish; you encourage her

because the pestilent creature is your daughter. See how she has been inciting proud Diomed to vent his rage

on the immortal gods. First he went up to the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist, and then

he sprang upon me too as though he were a god. Had I not run for it I must either have lain there for long

enough in torments among the ghastly corpes, or have been eaten alive with spears till I had no more strength

Jove looked angrily at him and said, "Do not come whining here, Sir Facingbothways. I hate you worst of

all the gods in Olympus, for you are ever fighting and making mischief. You have the intolerable and

stubborn spirit of your mother Juno: it is all I can do to manage her, and it is her doing that you are now in

this plight: still, I cannot let you remain longer in such great pain; you are my own offspring, and it was by

me that your mother conceived you; if, however, you had been the son of any other god, you are so

destructive that by this time you should have been lying lower than the Titans."

He then bade Paeeon heal him, whereon Paeeon spread painkilling herbs upon his wound and cured him, for

he was not of mortal mould. As the juice of the figtree curdles milk, and thickens it in a moment though it is

liquid, even so instantly did Paeeon cure fierce Mars. Then Hebe washed him, and clothed him in goodly

But Juno of Argos and Minerva of Alalcomene, now that they had put a stop to the murderous doings of

The fight between Trojans and Achaeans was now left to rage as it would, and the tide of war surged hither

and thither over the plain as they aimed their bronzeshod spears at one another between the streams of

First, Ajax son of Telamon, tower of strength to the Achaeans, broke a phalanx of the Trojans, and came to

the assistance of his comrades by killing Acamas son of Eussorus, the best man among the Thracians, being

both brave and of great stature. The spear struck the projecting peak of his helmet: its bronze point then went

Then Diomed killed Axylus son of Teuthranus, a rich man who lived in the strong city of Arisbe, and was

beloved by all men; for he had a house by the roadside, and entertained every one who passed; howbeit not

one of his guests stood before him to save his life, and Diomed killed both him and his squire Calesius, who

Euryalus killed Dresus and Opheltius, and then went in pursuit of Aesepus and Pedasus, whom the naiad

nymph Abarbarea had borne to noble Bucolion. Bucolion was eldest son to Laomedon, but he was a bastard.

While tending his sheep he had converse with the nymph, and she conceived twin sons; these the son of

Mecisteus now slew, and he stripped the armour from their shoulders. Polypoetes then killed Astyalus,

Ulysses Pidytes of Percote, and Teucer Aretaon. Ablerus fell by the spear of Nestor's son Antilochus, and

Agamemnon, king of men, killed Elatus who dwelt in Pedasus by the banks of the river Satnioeis. Leitus

Then Menelaus of the loud warcry took Adrestus alive, for his horses ran into a tamarisk bush, as they were

flying wildly over the plain, and broke the pole from the car; they went on towards the city along with the

others in full flight, but Adrestus rolled out, and fell in the dust flat on his face by the wheel of his chariot;

Menelaus came up to him spear in hand, but Adrestus caught him by the knees begging for his life. "Take me

alive," he cried, "son of Atreus, and you shall have a full ransom for me: my father is rich and has much

treasure of gold, bronze, and wrought iron laid by in his house. From this store he will give you a large

Thus did he plead, and Menelaus was for yielding and giving him to a squire to take to the ships of the

Achaeans, but Agamemnon came running up to him and rebuked him. "My good Menelaus," said he, "this is

no time for giving quarter. Has, then, your house fared so well at the hands of the Trojans? Let us not spare a

single one of themnot even the child unborn and in its mother's womb; let not a man of them be left alive, but

Thus did he speak, and his brother was persuaded by him, for his words were just. Menelaus, therefore, thrust

Adrestus from him, whereon King Agamemnon struck him in the flank, and he fell: then the son of Atreus

Meanwhile Nestor shouted to the Argives, saying, "My friends, Danaan warriors, servants of Mars, let no

man lag that he may spoil the dead, and bring back much booty to the ships. Let us kill as many as we can;

the bodies will lie upon the plain, and you can despoil them later at your leisure."

With these words he put heart and soul into them all. And now the Trojans would have been routed and

driven back into Ilius, had not Priam's son Helenus, wisest of augurs, said to Hector and Aeneas, "Hector and

Aeneas, you two are the mainstays of the Trojans and Lycians, for you are foremost at all times, alike in fight

and counsel; hold your ground here, and go about among the host to rally them in front of the gates, or they

will fling themselves into the arms of their wives, to the great joy of our foes. Then, when you have put heart

into all our companies, we will stand firm here and fight the Danaans however hard they press us, for there is

nothing else to be done. Meanwhile do you, Hector, go to the city and tell our mother what is happening. Tell

her to bid the matrons gather at the temple of Minerva in the acropolis; let her then take her key and open the

doors of the sacred building; there, upon the knees of Minerva, let her lay the largest, fairest robe she has in

her house the one she sets most store by; let her, moreover, promise to sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that

have never yet felt the goad, in the temple of the goddess, if she will take pity on the town, with the wives

and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the son of Tydeus from falling on the goodly city of Ilius; for he

fights with fury and fills men's souls with panic. I hold him mightiest of them all; we did not fear even their

great champion Achilles, son of a goddess though he be, as we do this man: his rage is beyond all bounds,

Hector did as his brother bade him. He sprang from his chariot, and went about everywhere among the host,

brandishing his spears, urging the men on to fight, and raising the dread cry of battle. Thereon they rallied

and again faced the Achaeans, who gave ground and ceased their murderous onset, for they deemed that some

one of the immortals had come down from starry heaven to help the Trojans, so strangely had they rallied.

And Hector shouted to the Trojans, "Trojans and allies, be men, my friends, and fight with might and main,

while I go to Ilius and tell the old men of our council and our wives to pray to the gods and vow hecatombs in

With this he went his way, and the black rim of hide that went round his shield beat against his neck and his

Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus, and the son of Tydeus went into the open space between the hosts to fight

in single combat. When they were close up to one another Diomed of the loud warcry was the first to speak.

"Who, my good sir," said he, "who are you among men? I have never seen you in battle until now, but you

are daring beyond all others if you abide my onset. Woe to those fathers whose sons face my might. If,

however, you are one of the immortals and have come down from heaven, I will not fight you; for even

valiant Lycurgus, son of Dryas, did not live long when he took to fighting with the gods. He it was that drove

the nursing women who were in charge of frenzied Bacchus through the land of Nysa, and they flung their

thyrsi on the ground as murderous Lycurgus beat them with his oxgoad. Bacchus himself plunged

terrorstricken into the sea, and Thetis took him to her bosom to comfort him, for he was scared by the fury

with which the man reviled him. Thereon the gods who live at ease were angry with Lycurgus and the son of

Saturn struck him blind, nor did he live much longer after he had become hateful to the immortals. Therefore

I will not fight with the blessed gods; but if you are of them that eat the fruit of the ground, draw near and

And the son of Hippolochus answered, son of Tydeus, why ask me of my lineage? Men come and go as

leaves year by year upon the trees. Those of autumn the wind sheds upon the ground, but when spring returns

the forest buds forth with fresh vines. Even so is it with the generations of mankind, the new spring up as the

old are passing away. If, then, you would learn my descent, it is one that is well known to many. There is a

city in the heart of Argos, pasture land of horses, called Ephyra, where Sisyphus lived, who was the craftiest

of all mankind. He was the son of Aeolus, and had a son named Glaucus, who was father to Bellerophon,

whom heaven endowed with the most surpassing comeliness and beauty. But Proetus devised his ruin, and

being stronger than he, drove him from the land of the Argives, over which Jove had made him ruler. For

Antea, wife of Proetus, lusted after him, and would have had him lie with her in secret; but Bellerophon was

an honourable man and would not, so she told lies about him to Proteus. 'Proetus,' said she, 'kill Bellerophon

or die, for he would have had converse with me against my will.' The king was angered, but shrank from

killing Bellerophon, so he sent him to Lycia with lying letters of introduction, written on a folded tablet, and

containing much ill against the bearer. He bade Bellerophon show these letters to his fatherinlaw, to the

end that he might thus perish; Bellerophon therefore went to Lycia, and the gods convoyed him safely.

"When he reached the river Xanthus, which is in Lycia, the king received him with all goodwill, feasted him

nine days, and killed nine heifers in his honour, but when rosyfingered morning appeared upon the tenth

day, he questioned him and desired to see the letter from his soninlaw Proetus. When he had received the

wicked letter he first commanded Bellerophon to kill that savage monster, the Chimaera, who was not a

human being, but a goddess, for she had the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent, while her body was that of

a goat, and she breathed forth flames of fire; but Bellerophon slew her, for he was guided by signs from

heaven. He next fought the farfamed Solymi, and this, he said, was the hardest of all his battles. Thirdly, he

killed the Amazons, women who were the peers of men, and as he was returning thence the king devised yet

another plan for his destruction; he picked the bravest warriors in all Lycia, and placed them in ambuscade,

but not a man ever came back, for Bellerophon killed every one of them. Then the king knew that he must be

the valiant offspring of a god, so he kept him in Lycia, gave him his daughter in marriage, and made him of

equal honour in the kingdom with himself; and the Lycians gave him a piece of land, the best in all the

"The king's daughter bore Bellerophon three children, Isander, Hippolochus, and Laodameia. Jove, the lord of

counsel, lay with Laodameia, and she bore him noble Sarpedon; but when Bellerophon came to be hated by

all the gods, he wandered all desolate and dismayed upon the Alean plain, gnawing at his own heart, and

shunning the path of man. Mars, insatiate of battle, killed his son Isander while he was fighting the Solymi;

his daughter was killed by Diana of the golden reins, for she was angered with her; but Hippolochus was

father to myself, and when he sent me to Troy he urged me again and again to fight ever among the foremost

and outvie my peers, so as not to shame the blood of my fathers who were the noblest in Ephyra and in all

Thus did he speak, and the heart of Diomed was glad. He planted his spear in the ground, and spoke to him

with friendly words. "Then," he said, you are an old friend of my father's house. Great Oeneus once

entertained Bellerophon for twenty days, and the two exchanged presents. Oeneus gave a belt rich with

purple, and Bellerophon a double cup, which I left at home when I set out for Troy. I do not remember

Tydeus, for he was taken from us while I was yet a child, when the army of the Achaeans was cut to pieces

before Thebes. Henceforth, however, I must be your host in middle Argos, and you mine in Lycia, if I should

ever go there; let us avoid one another's spears even during a general engagement; there are many noble

Trojans and allies whom I can kill, if I overtake them and heaven delivers them into my hand; so again with

yourself, there are many Achaeans whose lives you may take if you can; we two, then, will exchange armour,

With these words they sprang from their chariots, grasped one another's hands, and plighted friendship. But

the son of Saturn made Glaucus take leave of his wits, for he exchanged golden armour for bronze, the worth

Now when Hector reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree, the wives and daughters of the Trojans came

running towards him to ask after their sons, brothers, kinsmen, and husbands: he told them to set about

Presently he reached the splendid palace of King Priam, adorned with colonnades of hewn stone. In it there

were fifty bedchambers all of hewn stone built near one another, where the sons of Priam slept, each with

his wedded wife. Opposite these, on the other side the courtyard, there were twelve upper rooms also of hewn

stone for Priam's daughters, built near one another, where his sonsinlaw slept with their wives. When

Hector got there, his fond mother came up to him with Laodice the fairest of her daughters. She took his hand

within her own and said, "My son, why have you left the battle to come hither? Are the Achaeans, woe betide

them, pressing you hard about the city that you have thought fit to come and uplift your hands to Jove from

the citadel? Wait till I can bring you wine that you may make offering to Jove and to the other immortals, and

may then drink and be refreshed. Wine gives a man fresh strength when he is wearied, as you now are with

And Hector answered, "Honoured mother, bring no wine, lest you unman me and I forget my strength. I dare

not make a drinkoffering to Jove with unwashed hands; one who is bespattered with blood and filth may not

pray to the son of Saturn. Get the matrons together, and go with offerings to the temple of Minerva driver of

the spoil; there, upon the knees of Minerva, lay the largest and fairest robe you have in your house the one

you set most store by; promise, moreover, to sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the

goad, in the temple of the goddess if she will take pity on the town, with the wives and little ones of the

Trojans, and keep the son of Tydeus from off the goodly city of Ilius, for he fights with fury, and fills men's

souls with panic. Go, then, to the temple of Minerva, while I seek Paris and exhort him, if he will hear my

words. Would that the earth might open her jaws and swallow him, for Jove bred him to be the bane of the

Trojans, and of Priam and Priam's sons. Could I but see him go down into the house of Hades, my heart

His mother went into the house and called her waitingwomen who gathered the matrons throughout the city.

She then went down into her fragrant storeroom, where her embroidered robes were kept, the work of

Sidonian women, whom Alexandrus had brought over from Sidon when he sailed the seas upon that voyage

during which he carried off Helen. Hecuba took out the largest robe, and the one that was most beautifully

enriched with embroidery, as an offering to Minerva: it glittered like a star, and lay at the very bottom of the

When they reached the temple of Minerva, lovely Theano, daughter of Cisseus and wife of Antenor, opened

the doors, for the Trojans had made her priestess of Minerva. The women lifted up their hands to the goddess

with a loud cry, and Theano took the robe to lay it upon the knees of Minerva, praying the while to the

daughter of great Jove. "Holy Minerva," she cried, "protectress of our city, mighty goddess, break the spear

of Diomed and lay him low before the Scaean gates. Do this, and we will sacrifice twelve heifers that have

never yet known the goad, in your temple, if you will have pity upon the town, with the wives and little ones

While they were thus praying to the daughter of great Jove, Hector went to the fair house of Alexandrus,

which he had built for him by the foremost builders in the land. They had built him his house, storehouse, and

courtyard near those of Priam and Hector on the acropolis. Here Hector entered, with a spear eleven cubits

long in his hand; the bronze point gleamed in front of him, and was fastened to the shaft of the spear by a ring

of gold. He found Alexandrus within the house, busied about his armour, his shield and cuirass, and handling

his curved bow; there, too, sat Argive Helen with her women, setting them their several tasks; and as Hector

saw him he rebuked him with words of scorn. "Sir," said he, "you do ill to nurse this rancour; the people

perish fighting round this our town; you would yourself chide one whom you saw shirking his part in the

And Alexandrus answered, "Hector, your rebuke is just; listen therefore, and believe me when I tell you that I

am not here so much through rancour or illwill towards the Trojans, as from a desire to indulge my grief.

My wife was even now gently urging me to battle, and I hold it better that I should go, for victory is ever

fickle. Wait, then, while I put on my armour, or go first and I will follow. I shall be sure to overtake you."

Hector made no answer, but Helen tried to soothe him. "Brother," said she, "to my abhorred and sinful self,

would that a whirlwind had caught me up on the day my mother brought me forth, and had borne me to some

mountain or to the waves of the roaring sea that should have swept me away ere this mischief had come

about. But, since the gods have devised these evils, would, at any rate, that I had been wife to a better man

to one who could smart under dishonour and men's evil speeches. This fellow was never yet to be depended

upon, nor never will be, and he will surely reap what he has sown. Still, brother, come in and rest upon this

seat, for it is you who bear the brunt of that toil that has been caused by my hateful self and by the sin of

Alexandrus both of whom Jove has doomed to be a theme of song among those that shall be born hereafter."

And Hector answered, "Bid me not be seated, Helen, for all the goodwill you bear me. I cannot stay. I am in

haste to help the Trojans, who miss me greatly when I am not among them; but urge your husband, and of his

own self also let him make haste to overtake me before I am out of the city. I must go home to see my

household, my wife and my little son, for I know not whether I shall ever again return to them, or whether the

Then Hector left her, and forthwith was at his own house. He did not find Andromache, for she was on the

wall with her child and one of her maids, weeping bitterly. Seeing, then, that she was not within, he stood on

the threshold of the women's rooms and said, "Women, tell me, and tell me true, where did Andromache go

when she left the house? Was it to my sisters, or to my brothers' wives? or is she at the temple of Minerva

His good housekeeper answered, "Hector, since you bid me tell you truly, she did not go to your sisters nor to

your brothers' wives, nor yet to the temple of Minerva, where the other women are propitiating the awful

goddess, but she is on the high wall of Ilius, for she had heard the Trojans were being hard pressed, and that

the Achaeans were in great force: she went to the wall in frenzied haste, and the nurse went with her carrying

Hector hurried from the house when she had done speaking, and went down the streets by the same way that

he had come. When he had gone through the city and had reached the Scaean gates through which he would

go out on to the plain, his wife came running towards him, Andromache, daughter of great Eetion who ruled

in Thebe under the wooded slopes of Mt. Placus, and was king of the Cilicians. His daughter had married

Hector, and now came to meet him with a nurse who carried his little child in her bosom a mere babe.

Hector's darling son, and lovely as a star. Hector had named him Scamandrius, but the people called him

Astyanax, for his father stood alone as chief guardian of Ilius. Hector smiled as he looked upon the boy, but

he did not speak, and Andromache stood by him weeping and taking his hand in her own. "Dear husband,"

said she, "your valour will bring you to destruction; think on your infant son, and on my hapless self who ere

long shall be your widow for the Achaeans will set upon you in a body and kill you. It would be better for

me, should I lose you, to lie dead and buried, for I shall have nothing left to comfort me when you are gone,

save only sorrow. I have neither father nor mother now. Achilles slew my father when he sacked Thebe the

goodly city of the Cilicians. He slew him, but did not for very shame despoil him; when he had burned him in

his wondrous armour, he raised a barrow over his ashes and the mountain nymphs, daughters of

aegisbearing Jove, planted a grove of elms about his tomb. I had seven brothers in my father's house, but on

the same day they all went within the house of Hades. Achilles killed them as they were with their sheep and

cattle. My mother her who had been queen of all the land under Mt. Placus he brought hither with the

spoil, and freed her for a great sum, but the archer queen Diana took her in the house of your father. Nay

Hector you who to me are father, mother, brother, and dear husband have mercy upon me; stay here upon

this wall; make not your child fatherless, and your wife a widow; as for the host, place them near the figtree,

where the city can be best scaled, and the wall is weakest. Thrice have the bravest of them come thither and

assailed it, under the two Ajaxes, Idomeneus, the sons of Atreus, and the brave son of Tydeus, either of their

And Hector answered, "Wife, I too have thought upon all this, but with what face should I look upon the

Trojans, men or women, if I shirked battle like a coward? I cannot do so: I know nothing save to fight bravely

in the forefront of the Trojan host and win renown alike for my father and myself. Well do I know that the

day will surely come when mighty Ilius shall be destroyed with Priam and Priam's people, but I grieve for

none of these not even for Hecuba, nor King Priam, nor for my brothers many and brave who may fall in the

dust before their foes for none of these do I grieve as for yourself when the day shall come on which some

one of the Achaeans shall rob you for ever of your freedom, and bear you weeping away. It may be that you

will have to ply the loom in Argos at the bidding of a mistress, or to fetch water from the springs Messeis or

Hypereia, treated brutally by some cruel taskmaster; then will one say who sees you weeping, 'She was wife

to Hector, the bravest warrior among the Trojans during the war before Ilius.' On this your tears will break

forth anew for him who would have put away the day of captivity from you. May I lie dead under the barrow

that is heaped over my body ere I hear your cry as they carry you into bondage."

He stretched his arms towards his child, but the boy cried and nestled in his nurse's bosom, scared at the sight

of his father's armour, and at the horsehair plume that nodded fiercely from his helmet. His father and

mother laughed to see him, but Hector took the helmet from his head and laid it all gleaming upon the

ground. Then he took his darling child, kissed him, and dandled him in his arms, praying over him the while

to Jove and to all the gods. "Jove," he cried, "grant that this my child may be even as myself, chief among the

Trojans; let him be not less excellent in strength, and let him rule Ilius with his might. Then may one say of

him as he comes from battle, 'The son is far better than the father.' May he bring back the bloodstained

With this he laid the child again in the arms of his wife, who took him to her own soft bosom, smiling

through her tears. As her husband watched her his heart yearned towards her and he caressed her fondly,

saying, "My own wife, do not take these things too bitterly to heart. No one can hurry me down to Hades

before my time, but if a man's hour is come, be he brave or be he coward, there is no escape for him when he

has once been born. Go, then, within the house, and busy yourself with your daily duties, your loom, your

distaff, and the ordering of your servants; for war is man's matter, and mine above all others of them that have

He took his plumed helmet from the ground, and his wife went back again to her house, weeping bitterly and

often looking back towards him. When she reached her home she found her maidens within, and bade them

all join in her lament; so they mourned Hector in his own house though he was yet alive, for they deemed that

they should never see him return safe from battle, and from the furious hands of the Achaeans.

Paris did not remain long in his house. He donned his goodly armour overlaid with bronze, and hasted

through the city as fast as his feet could take him. As a horse, stabled and fed, breaks loose and gallops

gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont to bathe in the fairflowing river he holds his head

high, and his mane streams upon his shoulders as he exults in his strength and flies like the wind to the haunts

and feeding ground of the mares even so went forth Paris from high Pergamus, gleaming like sunlight in his

armour, and he laughed aloud as he sped swiftly on his way. Forthwith he came upon his brother Hector, who

was then turning away from the place where he had held converse with his wife, and he was himself the first

to speak. "Sir," said he, "I fear that I have kept you waiting when you are in haste, and have not come as

"My good brother," answered Hector, you fight bravely, and no man with any justice can make light of your

doings in battle. But you are careless and wilfully remiss. It grieves me to the heart to hear the ill that the

Trojans speak about you, for they have suffered much on your account. Let us be going, and we will make

things right hereafter, should Jove vouchsafe us to set the cup of our deliverance before everliving gods of

With these words Hector passed through the gates, and his brother Alexandrus with him, both eager for the

fray. As when heaven sends a breeze to sailors who have long looked for one in vain, and have laboured at

their oars till they are faint with toil, even so welcome was the sight of these two heroes to the Trojans.

Thereon Alexandrus killed Menesthius the son of Areithous; he lived in Ame, and was son of Areithous the

Maceman, and of Phylomedusa. Hector threw a spear at Eioneus and struck him dead with a wound in the

neck under the bronze rim of his helmet. Glaucus, moreover, son of Hippolochus, captain of the Lycians, in

hard handtohand fight smote Iphinous son of Dexius on the shoulder, as he was springing on to his chariot

behind his fleet mares; so he fell to earth from the car, and there was no life left in him.

When, therefore, Minerva saw these men making havoc of the Argives, she darted down to Ilius from the

summits of Olympus, and Apollo, who was looking on from Pergamus, went out to meet her; for he wanted

the Trojans to be victorious. The pair met by the oak tree, and King Apollo son of Jove was first to speak.

"What would you have said he, "daughter of great Jove, that your proud spirit has sent you hither from

Olympus? Have you no pity upon the Trojans, and would you incline the scales of victory in favour of the

Danaans? Let me persuade youfor it will be better thus stay the combat for today, but let them renew the

fight hereafter till they compass the doom of Ilius, since you goddesses have made up your minds to destroy

And Minerva answered, "So be it, FarDarter; it was in this mind that I came down from Olympus to the

Trojans and Achaeans. Tell me, then, how do you propose to end this present fighting?"

Apollo, son of Jove, replied, "Let us incite great Hector to challenge some one of the Danaans in single

combat; on this the Achaeans will be shamed into finding a man who will fight him."

Minerva assented, and Helenus son of Priam divined the counsel of the gods; he therefore went up to Hector

and said, "Hector son of Priam, peer of gods in counsel, I am your brother, let me then persuade you. Bid the

other Trojans and Achaeans all of them take their seats, and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to

meet you in single combat. I have heard the voice of the everliving gods, and the hour of your doom is not

Hector was glad when he heard this saying, and went in among the Trojans, grasping his spear by the middle

to hold them back, and they all sat down. Agamemnon also bade the Achaeans be seated. But Minerva and

Apollo, in the likeness of vultures, perched on father Jove's high oak tree, proud of their men; and the ranks

sat close ranged together, bristling with shield and helmet and spear. As when the rising west wind furs the

face of the sea and the waters grow dark beneath it, so sat the companies of Trojans and Achaeans upon the

"Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak even as I am minded; Jove on his high throne has brought

our oaths and covenants to nothing, and foreshadows ill for both of us, till you either take the towers of Troy,

or are yourselves vanquished at your ships. The princes of the Achaeans are here present in the midst of you;

let him, then, that will fight me stand forward as your champion against Hector. Thus I say, and may Jove be

witness between us. If your champion slay me, let him strip me of my armour and take it to your ships, but let

him send my body home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead. In

like manner, if Apollo vouchsafe me glory and I slay your champion, I will strip him of his armour and take it

to the city of Ilius, where I will hang it in the temple of Apollo, but I will give up his body, that the Achaeans

may bury him at their ships, and the build him a mound by the wide waters of the Hellespont. Then will one

say hereafter as he sails his ship over the sea, 'This is the monument of one who died long since a champion

who was slain by mighty Hector.' Thus will one say, and my fame shall not be lost."

Thus did he speak, but they all held their peace, ashamed to decline the challenge, yet fearing to accept it, till

at last Menelaus rose and rebuked them, for he was angry. "Alas," he cried, "vain braggarts, women forsooth

not men, doubledyed indeed will be the stain upon us if no man of the Danaans will now face Hector. May

you be turned every man of you into earth and water as you sit spiritless and inglorious in your places. I will

myself go out against this man, but the upshot of the fight will be from on high in the hands of the immortal

With these words he put on his armour; and then, O Menelaus, your life would have come to an end at the

hands of hands of Hector, for he was far better the man, had not the princes of the Achaeans sprung upon you

and checked you. King Agamemnon caught him by the right hand and said, "Menelaus, you are mad; a truce

to this folly. Be patient in spite of passion, do not think of fighting a man so much stronger than yourself as

Hector son of Priam, who is feared by many another as well as you. Even Achilles, who is far more doughty

than you are, shrank from meeting him in battle. Sit down your own people, and the Achaeans will send some

other champion to fight Hector; fearless and fond of battle though he be, I ween his knees will bend gladly

With these words of reasonable counsel he persuaded his brother, whereon his squires gladly stripped the

armour from off his shoulders. Then Nestor rose and spoke, "Of a truth," said he, "the Achaean land is fallen

upon evil times. The old knight Peleus, counsellor and orator among the Myrmidons, loved when I was in his

house to question me concerning the race and lineage of all the Argives. How would it not grieve him could

he hear of them as now quailing before Hector? Many a time would he lift his hands in prayer that his soul

might leave his body and go down within the house of Hades. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo,

that I were still young and strong as when the Pylians and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the rapid river

Celadon under the walls of Pheia, and round about the waters of the river Iardanus. The godlike hero

Ereuthalion stood forward as their champion, with the armour of King Areithous upon his shoulders

Areithous whom men and women had surnamed 'the Maceman,' because he fought neither with bow nor

spear, but broke the battalions of the foe with his iron mace. Lycurgus killed him, not in fair fight, but by

entrapping him in a narrow way where his mace served him in no stead; for Lycurgus was too quick for him

and speared him through the middle, so he fell to earth on his back. Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armour

which Mars had given him, and bore it in battle thenceforward; but when he grew old and stayed at home, he

gave it to his faithful squire Ereuthalion, who in this same armour challenged the foremost men among us.

The others quaked and quailed, but my high spirit bade me fight him though none other would venture; I was

the youngest man of them all; but when I fought him Minerva vouchsafed me victory. He was the biggest and

strongest man that ever I killed, and covered much ground as he lay sprawling upon the earth. Would that I

were still young and strong as I then was, for the son of Priam would then soon find one who would face him.

But you, foremost among the whole host though you be, have none of you any stomach for fighting Hector."

Thus did the old man rebuke them, and forthwith nine men started to their feet. Foremost of all uprose King

Agamemnon, and after him brave Diomed the son of Tydeus. Next were the two Ajaxes, men clothed in

valour as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and Meriones his brother in arms. After these Eurypylus son

of Euaemon, Thoas the son of Andraemon, and Ulysses also rose. Then Nestor knight of Gerene again spoke,

saying: "Cast lots among you to see who shall be chosen. If he come alive out of this fight he will have done

Thus he spoke, and when each of them had marked his lot, and had thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon

son of Atreus, the people lifted their hands in prayer, and thus would one of them say as he looked into the

vault of heaven, "Father Jove, grant that the lot fall on Ajax, or on the son of Tydeus, or upon the king of rich

As they were speaking, Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet, and from it there fell the very lot which

they wanted the lot of Ajax. The herald bore it about and showed it to all the chieftains of the Achaeans,

going from left to right; but they none of of them owned it. When, however, in due course he reached the man

who had written upon it and had put it into the helmet, brave Ajax held out his hand, and the herald gave him

the lot. When Ajax saw him mark he knew it and was glad; he threw it to the ground and said, "My friends,

the lot is mine, and I rejoice, for I shall vanquish Hector. I will put on my armour; meanwhile, pray to King

Jove in silence among yourselves that the Trojans may not hear you or aloud if you will, for we fear no

man. None shall overcome me, neither by force nor cunning, for I was born and bred in Salamis, and can hold

With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn, and thus would one of them say as he looked into

the vault of heaven, "Father Jove that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power, vouchsafe victory to Ajax, and

let him win great glory: but if you wish well to Hector also and would protect him, grant to each of them

Thus they prayed, and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming bronze. When he was in full array he

sprang forward as monstrous Mars when he takes part among men whom Jove has set fighting with one

anothereven so did huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, spring forward with a grim smile on his face as he

brandished his long spear and strode onward. The Argives were elated as they beheld him, but the Trojans

trembled in every limb, and the heart even of Hector beat quickly, but he could not now retreat and withdraw

into the ranks behind him, for he had been the challenger. Ajax came up bearing his shield in front of him like

a wall a shield of bronze with seven folds of oxhidethe work of Tychius, who lived in Hyle and was by far

the best worker in leather. He had made it with the hides of seven fullfed bulls, and over these he had set an

eighth layer of bronze. Holding this shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hector, and

menaced him saying, "Hector, you shall now learn, man to man, what kind of champions the Danaans have

among them even besides lionhearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men. He now abides at the ships in

anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people, but there are many of us who are well able to face you;

And Hector answered, "Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, captain of the host, treat me not as though I were some

puny boy or woman that cannot fight. I have been long used to the blood and butcheries of battle. I am quick

to turn my leathern shield either to right or left, for this I deem the main thing in battle. I can charge among

the chariots and horsemen, and in hand to hand fighting can delight the heart of Mars; howbeit I would not

He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it from him. It struck the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer

the eighth, which was of bronze and went through six of the layers but in the seventh hide it stayed. Then

Ajax threw in his turn, and struck the round shield of the son of Priam. The terrible spear went through his

gleaming shield, and pressed onward through his cuirass of cunning workmanship; it pierced the shirt against

his side, but he swerved and thus saved his life. They then each of them drew out the spear from his shield,

and fell on one another like savage lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance: the son of Priam

struck the middle of Ajax's shield, but the bronze did not break, and the point of his dart was turned. Ajax

then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector; the spear went through it and staggered him as he was

springing forward to attack; it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring from the wound, but even so

Hector did not cease fighting; he gave ground, and with his brawny hand seized a stone, rugged and huge,

that was lying upon the plain; with this he struck the shield of Ajax on the boss that was in its middle, so that

the bronze rang again. But Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone, swung it aloft, and hurled it with

prodigious force. This millstone of a rock broke Hector's shield inwards and threw him down on his back

with the shield crushing him under it, but Apollo raised him at once. Thereon they would have hacked at one

another in close combat with their swords, had not heralds, messengers of gods and men, come forward, one

from the Trojans and the other from the Achaeans Talthybius and Idaeus both of them honourable men;

these parted them with their staves, and the good herald Idaeus said, "My sons, fight no longer, you are both

of you valiant, and both are dear to Jove; we know this; but night is now falling, and the behests of night may

Ajax son of Telamon answered, "Idaeus, bid Hector say so, for it was he that challenged our princes. Let him

Then Hector said, "Ajax, heaven has vouchsafed you stature and strength, and judgement; and in wielding the

spear you excel all others of the Achaeans. Let us for this day cease fighting; hereafter we will fight anew till

heaven decide between us, and give victory to one or to the other; night is now falling, and the behests of

night may not be well gainsaid. Gladden, then, the hearts of the Achaeans at your ships, and more especially

those of your own followers and clansmen, while I, in the great city of King Priam, bring comfort to the

Trojans and their women, who vie with one another in their prayers on my behalf. Let us, moreover,

exchange presents that it may be said among the Achaeans and Trojans, 'They fought with might and main,

On this he gave Ajax a silverstudded sword with its sheath and leathern baldric, and in return Ajax gave him

a girdle dyed with purple. Thus they parted, the one going to the host of the Achaeans, and the other to that of

the Trojans, who rejoiced when they saw their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the strong hands

of mighty Ajax. They led him, therefore, to the city as one that had been saved beyond their hopes. On the

When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon sacrificed for them a fiveyearold bull in

honour of Jove the son of Saturn. They flayed the carcass, made it ready, and divided it into joints; these they

cut carefully up into smaller pieces, putting them on the spits, roasting them sufficiently, and then drawing

them off. When they had done all this and had prepared the feast, they ate it, and every man had his full and

equal share, so that all were satisfied, and King Agamemnon gave Ajax some slices cut lengthways down the

loin, as a mark of special honour. As soon as they had had enough to cat and drink, old Nestor whose counsel

was ever truest began to speak; with all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:

"Son of Atreus, and other chieftains, inasmuch as many of the Achaeans are now dead, whose blood Mars has

shed by the banks of the Scamander, and their souls have gone down to the house of Hades, it will be well

when morning comes that we should cease fighting; we will then wheel our dead together with oxen and

mules and burn them not far from the ships, that when we sail hence we may take the bones of our comrades

home to their children. Hard by the funeral pyre we will build a barrow that shall be raised from the plain for

all in common; near this let us set about building a high wall, to shelter ourselves and our ships, and let it

have wellmade gates that there may be a way through them for our chariots. Close outside we will dig a

deep trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot, that the Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us."

Thus he spoke, and the princess shouted in applause. Meanwhile the Trojans held a council, angry and full of

discord, on the acropolis by the gates of King Priam's palace; and wise Antenor spoke. "Hear me he said,

"Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded. Let us give up Argive Helen and her

wealth to the sons of Atreus, for we are now fighting in violation of our solemn covenants, and shall not

He then sat down and Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen rose to speak. "Antenor," said he, "your words are

not to my liking; you can find a better saying than this if you will; if, however, you have spoken in good

earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of your reason. I will speak plainly, and hereby notify to the

Trojans that I will not give up the woman; but the wealth that I brought home with her from Argos I will

On this, when Paris had spoken and taken his seat, Priam of the race of Dardanus, peer of gods in council,

rose and with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that

I may speak even as I am minded. Get your suppers now as hitherto throughout the city, but keep your

watches and be wakeful. At daybreak let Idaeus go to the ships, and tell Agamemnon and Menelaus sons of

Atreus the saying of Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about; and let him also be instant with

them that they now cease fighting till we burn our dead; hereafter we will fight anew, till heaven decide

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They took supper in their companies and at daybreak

Idaeus went his wa to the ships. He found the Danaans, servants of Mars, in council at the stern of

Agamemnon's ship, and took his place in the midst of them. "Son of Atreus," he said, "and princes of the

Achaean host, Priam and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the saying of Alexandrus through

whom this quarrel has come about, if so be that you may find it acceptable. All the treasure he took with him

in his ships to Troywould that he had sooner perished he will restore, and will add yet further of his own,

but he will not give up the wedded wife of Menelaus, though the Trojans would have him do so. Priam bade

me inquire further if you will cease fighting till we burn our dead; hereafter we will fight anew, till heaven

They all held their peace, but presently Diomed of the loud warcry spoke, saying, "Let there be no taking,

neither treasure, nor yet Helen, for even a child may see that the doom of the Trojans is at hand."

The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words that Diomed had spoken, and thereon King

Agamemnon said to Idaeus, "Idaeus, you have heard the answer the Achaeans make youand I with them.

But as concerning the dead, I give you leave to burn them, for when men are once dead there should be no

grudging them the rites of fire. Let Jove the mighty husband of Juno be witness to this covenant."

As he spoke he upheld his sceptre in the sight of all the gods, and Idaeus went back to the strong city of Ilius.

The Trojans and Dardanians were gathered in council waiting his return; when he came, he stood in their

midst and delivered his message. As soon as they heard it they set about their twofold labour, some to gather

the corpses, and others to bring in wood. The Argives on their part also hastened from their ships, some to

The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh risen into the vault of heaven from the slow still currents

of deep Oceanus, when the two armies met. They could hardly recognise their dead, but they washed the

clotted gore from off them, shed tears over them, and lifted them upon their waggons. Priam had forbidden

the Trojans to wail aloud, so they heaped their dead sadly and silently upon the pyre, and having burned them

went back to the city of Ilius. The Achaeans in like manner heaped their dead sadly and silently on the pyre,

Now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn, chosen bands of the Achaeans were gathered round the pyre

and built one barrow that was raised in common for all, and hard by this they built a high wall to shelter

themselves and their ships; they gave it strong gates that there might be a way through them for their chariots,

and close outside it they dug a trench deep and wide, and they planted it within with stakes.

Thus did the Achaeans toil, and the gods, seated by the side of Jove the lord of lightning, marvelled at their

great work; but Neptune, lord of the earthquake, spoke, saying, "Father Jove, what mortal in the whole world

will again take the gods into his counsel? See you not how the Achaeans have built a wall about their ships

and driven a trench all round it, without offering hecatombs to the gods? The The fame of this wall will reach

as far as dawn itself, and men will no longer think anything of the one which Phoebus Apollo and myself

Jove was displeased and answered, "What, O shaker of the earth, are you talking about? A god less powerful

than yourself might be alarmed at what they are doing, but your fame reaches as far as dawn itself. Surely

when the Achaeans have gone home with their ships, you can shatter their wall and Ring it into the sea; you

can cover the beach with sand again, and the great wall of the Achaeans will then be utterly effaced."

Thus did they converse, and by sunset the work of the Achaeans was completed; they then slaughtered oxen

at their tents and got their supper. Many ships had come with wine from Lemnos, sent by Euneus the son of

Jason, born to him by Hypsipyle. The son of Jason freighted them with ten thousand measures of wine, which

he sent specially to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus. From this supply the Achaeans bought

their wine, some with bronze, some with iron, some with hides, some with whole heifers, and some again

with captives. They spread a goodly banquet and feasted the whole night through, as also did the Trojans and

their allies in the city. But all the time Jove boded them ill and roared with his portentous thunder. Pale fear

got hold upon them, and they spilled the wine from their cups on to the ground, nor did any dare drink till he

had made offerings to the most mighty son of Saturn. Then they laid themselves down to rest and enjoyed the

Now when Morning, clad in her robe of saffron, had begun to suffuse light over the earth, Jove called the

gods in council on the topmost crest of serrated Olympus. Then he spoke and all the other gods gave ear.

"Hear me," said he, "gods and goddesses, that I may speak even as I am minded. Let none of you neither

goddess nor god try to cross me, but obey me every one of you that I may bring this matter to an end. If I see

anyone acting apart and helping either Trojans or Danaans, he shall be beaten inordinately ere he come back

again to Olympus; or I will hurl him down into dark Tartarus far into the deepest pit under the earth, where

the gates are iron and the floor bronze, as far beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth, that you may

learn how much the mightiest I am among you. Try me and find out for yourselves. Hangs me a golden chain

from heaven, and lay hold of it all of you, gods and goddesses together tug as you will, you will not drag

Jove the supreme counsellor from heaven to earth; but were I to pull at it myself I should draw you up with

earth and sea into the bargain, then would I bind the chain about some pinnacle of Olympus and leave you all

dangling in the mid firmament. So far am I above all others either of gods or men."

They were frightened and all of them of held their peace, for he had spoken masterfully; but at last Minerva

answered, "Father, son of Saturn, king of kings, we all know that your might is not to be gainsaid, but we are

also sorry for the Danaan warriors, who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We will, however, since you

so bid us, refrain from actual fighting, but we will make serviceable suggestions to the Argives that they may

Jove smiled at her and answered, "Take heart, my child, Tritoborn; I am not really in earnest, and I wish to

With this he yoked his fleet horses, with hoofs of bronze and manes of glittering gold. He girded himself also

with gold about the body, seized his gold whip and took his seat in his chariot. Thereon he lashed his horses

and they flew forward nothing loth midway twixt earth and starry heaven. After a while he reached

manyfountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, and Gargarus, where are his grove and fragrant altar. There the

father of gods and men stayed his horses, took them from the chariot, and hid them in a thick cloud; then he

took his seat all glorious upon the topmost crests, looking down upon the city of Troy and the ships of the

The Achaeans took their morning meal hastily at the ships, and afterwards put on their armour. The Trojans

on the other hand likewise armed themselves throughout the city, fewer in numbers but nevertheless eager

perforce to do battle for their wives and children. All the gates were flung wide open, and horse and foot

When they were got together in one place, shield clashed with shield, and spear with spear, in the conflict of

mailclad men. Mighty was the din as the bossed shields pressed hard on one another deathcry and shout of

Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning their weapons beat against one another, and the people

fell, but when the sun had reached midheaven, the sire of all balanced his golden scales, and put two fates of

death within them, one for the Trojans and the other for the Achaeans. He took the balance by the middle, and

when he lifted it up the day of the Achaeans sank; the deathfraught scale of the Achaeans settled down upon

the ground, while that of the Trojans rose heavenwards. Then he thundered aloud from Ida, and sent the glare

of his lightning upon the Achaeans; when they saw this, pale fear fell upon them and they were sore afraid.

Idomeneus dared not stay nor yet Agamemnon, nor did the two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, hold their ground.

Nestor knight of Gerene alone stood firm, bulwark of the Achaeans, not of his own will, but one of his horses

was disabled. Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen had hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head where

the mane begins to grow away from the skull, a very deadly place. The horse bounded in his anguish as the

arrow pierced his brain, and his struggles threw others into confusion. The old man instantly began cutting

the traces with his sword, but Hector's fleet horses bore down upon him through the rout with their bold

charioteer, even Hector himself, and the old man would have perished there and then had not Diomed been

"Ulysses," he cried, "noble son of Laertes where are you flying to, with your back turned like a coward? See

that you are not struck with a spear between the shoulders. Stay here and help me to defend Nestor from this

Ulysses would not give ear, but sped onward to the ships of the Achaeans, and the son of Tydeus flinging

himself alone into the thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of Neleus. "Sir," said he,

"these young warriors are pressing you hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon you, your squire is

naught, and your horses are slow to move. Mount my chariot and see what the horses of Tros can do how

cleverly they can scud hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit. I took them from the hero

Aeneas. Let our squires attend to your own steeds, but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans, that Hector

Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words. Thereon the doughty squires, Sthenelus and kindhearted

Eurymedon, saw to Nestor's horses, while the two both mounted Diomed's chariot. Nestor took the reins in

his hands and lashed the horses on; they were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a spear

at him as he was charging full speed towards them. He missed him, but struck his charioteer and squire

Eniopeus son of noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were in his hands, so that he died

there and then, and the horses swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot. Hector was greatly grieved at the

loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all his sorrow, while he went in quest of another driver; nor did his

steeds have to go long without one, for he presently found brave Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus, and made

All had then been lost and no help for it, for they would have been penned up in Ilius like sheep, had not the

sire of gods and men been quick to mark, and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt which fell just in front of

Diomed's horses with a flare of burning brimstone. The horses were frightened and tried to back beneath the

car, while the reins dropped from Nestor's hands. Then he was afraid and said to Diomed, "Son of Tydeus,

turn your horses in flight; see you not that the hand of Jove is against you? Today he vouchsafes victory to

Hector; tomorrow, if it so please him, he will again grant it to ourselves; no man, however brave, may

Diomed answered, "All that you have said is true; there is a grief however which pierces me to the very heart,

for Hector will talk among the Trojans and say, 'The son of Tydeus fled before me to the ships.' This is the

"Son of Tydeus," replied Nestor, "what mean you? Though Hector say that you are a coward the Trojans and

Dardanians will not believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low."

So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the battle, and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans

and Hector rained their darts after them. Hector shouted to him and said, "Son of Tydeus, the Danaans have

done you honour hitherto as regards your place at table, the meals they give you, and the filling of your cup

with wine. Henceforth they will despise you, for you are become no better than a woman. Be off, girl and

coward that you are, you shall not scale our walls through any Hinching upon my part; neither shall you carry

The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no to turn his horses round again and fight him. Thrice did

he doubt, and thrice did Jove thunder from the heights of. Ida in token to the Trojans that he would turn the

battle in their favour. Hector then shouted to them and said, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, lovers of

close fighting, be men, my friends, and fight with might and with main; I see that Jove is minded to

vouchsafe victory and great glory to myself, while he will deal destruction upon the Danaans. Fools, for

having thought of building this weak and worthless wall. It shall not stay my fury; my horses will spring

lightly over their trench, and when I am at their ships forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them, while I

Then he cried to his horses, "Xanthus and Podargus, and you Aethon and goodly Lampus, pay me for your

keep now and for all the honeysweet corn with which Andromache daughter of great Eetion has fed you,

and for she has mixed wine and water for you to drink whenever you would, before doing so even for me

who am her own husband. Haste in pursuit, that we may take the shield of Nestor, the fame of which ascends

to heaven, for it is of solid gold, armrods and all, and that we may strip from the shoulders of Diomed. the

cuirass which Vulcan made him. Could we take these two things, the Achaeans would set sail in their ships

Thus did he vaunt, but Queen Juno made high Olympus quake as she shook with rage upon her throne. Then

said she to the mighty god of Neptune, "What now, wide ruling lord of the earthquake? Can you find no

compassion in your heart for the dying Danaans, who bring you many a welcome offering to Helice and to

Aegae? Wish them well then. If all of us who are with the Danaans were to drive the Trojans back and keep

King Neptune was greatly troubled and answered, "Juno, rash of tongue, what are you talking about? We

other gods must not set ourselves against Jove, for he is far stronger than we are."

Thus did they converse; but the whole space enclosed by the ditch, from the ships even to the wall, was filled

with horses and warriors, who were pent up there by Hector son of Priam, now that the hand of Jove was with

him. He would even have set fire to the ships and burned them, had not Queen Juno put it into the mind of

Agamemnon, to bestir himself and to encourage the Achaeans. To this end he went round the ships and tents

carrying a great purple cloak, and took his stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses' ship, which was

middlemost of all; it was from this place that his voice would carry farthest, on the one hand towards the tents

of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles for these two heroes, well assured of

their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line. From this spot then, with a

voice that could be heard afar, he shouted to the Danaans, saying, "Argives, shame on you cowardly

creatures, brave in semblance only; where are now our vaunts that we should prove victorious the vaunts we

made so vaingloriously in Lemnos, when we ate the flesh of horned cattle and filled our mixingbowls to the

brim? You vowed that you would each of you stand against a hundred or two hundred men, and now you

prove no match even for onefor Hector, who will be ere long setting our ships in a blaze. Father Jove, did you

ever so ruin a great king and rob him so utterly of his greatness? yet, when to my sorrow I was coming hither,

I never let my ship pass your altars without offering the fat and thighbones of heifers upon every one of

them, so eager was I to sack the city of Troy. Vouchsafe me then this prayer suffer us to escape at any rate

with our lives, and let not the Achaeans be so utterly vanquished by the Trojans."

Thus did he pray, and father Jove pitying his tears vouchsafed him that his people should live, not die;

forthwith he sent them an eagle, most unfailingly portentous of all birds, with a young fawn in its talons; the

eagle dropped the fawn by the altar on which the Achaeans sacrificed to Jove the lord of omens; When,

therefore, the people saw that the bird had come from Jove, they sprang more fiercely upon the Trojans and

There was no man of all the many Danaans who could then boast that he had driven his horses over the trench

and gone forth to fight sooner than the son of Tydeus; long before any one else could do so he slew an armed

warrior of the Trojans, Agelaus the son of Phradmon. He had turned his horses in flight, but the spear struck

him in the back midway between his shoulders and went right through his chest, and his armour rang rattling

After him came Agamemnon and Menelaus, sons of Atreus, the two Ajaxes clothed in valour as with a

garment, Idomeneus and his companion in arms Meriones, peer of murderous Mars, and Eurypylus the brave

son of Euaemon. Ninth came Teucer with his bow, and took his place under cover of the shield of Ajax son of

Telamon. When Ajax lifted his shield Teucer would peer round, and when he had hit any one in the throng,

the man would fall dead; then Teucer would hie back to Ajax as a child to its mother, and again duck down

Which of the Trojans did brave Teucer first kill? Orsilochus, and then Ormenus and Ophelestes, Daetor,

Chromius, and godlike Lycophontes, Amopaon son of Polyaemon, and Melanippus. these in turn did he lay

low upon the earth, and King Agamemnon was glad when he saw him making havoc of the Trojans with his

mighty bow. He went up to him and said, "Teucer, man after my own heart, son of Telamon, captain among

the host, shoot on, and be at once the saving of the Danaans and the glory of your father Telamon, who

brought you up and took care of you in his own house when you were a child, bastard though you were.

Cover him with glory though he is far off; I will promise and I will assuredly perform; if aegisbearing Jove

and Minerva grant me to sack the city of Ilius, you shall have the next best meed of honour after my owna

tripod, or two horses with their chariot, or a woman who shall go up into your bed."

And Teucer answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, you need not urge me; from the moment we began to drive

them back to Ilius, I have never ceased so far as in me lies to look out for men whom I can shoot and kill; I

have shot eight barbed shafts, and all of them have been buried in the flesh of warlike youths, but this mad

As he spoke he aimed another arrow straight at Hector, for he was bent on hitting him; nevertheless he

missed him, and the arrow hit Priam's brave son Gorgythion in the breast. His mother, fair Castianeira, lovely

as a goddess, had been married from Aesyme, and now he bowed his head as a garden poppy in full bloom

when it is weighed down by showers in spring even thus heavy bowed his head beneath the weight of his

Again he aimed at Hector, for he was longing to hit him, and again his arrow missed, for Apollo turned it

aside; but he hit Hector's brave charioteer Archeptolemus in the breast, by the nipple, as he was driving

furiously into the fight. The horses swerved aside as he fell headlong from the chariot, and there was no life

left in him. Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but for all his sorrow he let him lie where

he fell, and bade his brother Cebriones, who was hard by, take the reins. Cebriones did as he had said. Hector

thereon with a loud cry sprang from his chariot to the ground, and seizing a great stone made straight for

Teucer with intent kill him. Teucer had just taken an arrow from his quiver and had laid it upon the

bowstring, but Hector struck him with the jagged stone as he was taking aim and drawing the string to his

shoulder; he hit him just where the collarbone divides the neck from the chest, a very deadly place, and

broke the sinew of his arm so that his wrist was less, and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell forward on

his knees. Ajax saw that his brother had fallen, and running towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with

his shield. Meanwhile his two trusty squires, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor, came up and bore him to

Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and they drove the Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all

his glory at their head. As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or buttock when he gives him chase, and

watches warily for his wheeling, even so did Hector follow close upon the Achaeans, ever killing the

hindmost as they rushed panicstricken onwards. When they had fled through the set stakes and trench and

many Achaeans had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans, they halted at their ships, calling upon one

another and praying every man instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods; but Hector wheeled his

horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like those of Gorgo or murderous Mars.

Juno when she saw them had pity upon them, and at once said to Minerva, "Alas, child of aegisbearing

Jove, shall you and I take no more thought for the dying Danaans, though it be the last time we ever do so?

See how they perish and come to a bad end before the onset of but a single man. Hector the son of Priam

Minerva answered, "Would, indeed, this fellow might die in his own land, and fall by the hands of the

Achaeans; but my father Jove is mad with spleen, ever foiling me, ever headstrong and unjust. He forgets

how often I saved his son when he was worn out by the labours Eurystheus had laid on him. He would weep

till his cry came up to heaven, and then Jove would send me down to help him; if I had had the sense to

foresee all this, when Eurystheus sent him to the house of Hades, to fetch the hellhound from Erebus, he

would never have come back alive out of the deep waters of the river Styx. And now Jove hates me, while he

lets Thetis have her way because she kissed his knees and took hold of his beard, when she was begging him

to do honour to Achilles. I shall know what to do next time he begins calling me his greyeyed darling. Get

our horses ready, while I go within the house of aegisbearing Jove and put on my armour; we shall then find

out whether Priam's son Hector will be glad to meet us in the highways of battle, or whether the Trojans will

glut hounds and vultures with the fat of their flesh as they he dead by the ships of the Achaeans."

Thus did she speak and whitearmed Juno, daughter of great Saturn, obeyed her words; she set about

harnessing her goldbedizened steeds, while Minerva daughter of aegisbearing Jove flung her richly

vesture, made with her own hands, on to the threshold of her father, and donned the shirt of Jove, arming

herself for battle. Then she stepped into her flaming chariot, and grasped the spear so stout and sturdy and

strong with which she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her. Juno lashed her horses, and the

gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord gates over which the Hours preside, in

whose hands are heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud that hides them or to close it. Through

But father Jove when he saw them from Ida was very angry, and sent winged Iris with a message to them.

"Go," said he, "fleet Iris, turn them back, and see that they do not come near me, for if we come to fighting

there will be mischief. This is what I say, and this is what I mean to do. I will lame their horses for them; I

will hurl them from their chariot, and will break it in pieces. It will take them all ten years to heal the wounds

my lightning shall inflict upon them; my greyeyed daughter will then learn what quarrelling with her father

means. I am less surprised and angry with Juno, for whatever I say she always contradicts me."

With this Iris went her way, fleet as the wind, from the heights of Ida to the lofty summits of Olympus. She

met the goddesses at the outer gates of its many valleys and gave them her message. "What," said she, "are

you about? Are you mad? The son of Saturn forbids going. This is what he says, and this is he means to do,

he will lame your horses for you, he will hurl you from your chariot, and will break it in pieces. It will take

you all ten years to heal the wounds his lightning will inflict upon you, that you may learn, greyeyed

goddess, what quarrelling with your father means. He is less hurt and angry with Juno, for whatever he says

she always contradicts him but you, bold bold hussy, will you really dare to raise your huge spear in defiance

With this she left them, and Juno said to Minerva, "Of a truth, child of aegisbearing Jove, I am not for

fighting men's battles further in defiance of Jove. Let them live or die as luck will have it, and let Jove mete

She turned her steeds; the Hours presently unyoked them, made them fast to their ambrosial mangers, and

leaned the chariot against the end wall of the courtyard. The two goddesses then sat down upon their golden

Presently father Jove drove his chariot to Olympus, and entered the assembly of gods. The mighty lord of the

earthquake unyoked his horses for him, set the car upon its stand, and threw a cloth over it. Jove then sat

down upon his golden throne and Olympus reeled beneath him. Minerva and Juno sat alone, apart from Jove,

and neither spoke nor asked him questions, but Jove knew what they meant, and said, "Minerva and Juno,

why are you so angry? Are you fatigued with killing so many of your dear friends the Trojans? Be this as it

may, such is the might of my hands that all the gods in Olympus cannot turn me; you were both of you

trembling all over ere ever you saw the fight and its terrible doings. I tell you thereforeand it would have

surely beenI should have struck you with lighting, and your chariots would never have brought you back

Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit as they sat side by side and brooded mischief for the Trojans. Minerva sat

silent without a word, for she was in a furious passion and bitterly incensed against her father; but Juno could

not contain herself and said, "What, dread son of Saturn, are you talking about? We know how great your

power is, nevertheless we have compassion upon the Danaan warriors who are perishing and coming to a bad

end. We will, however, since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting, but we will make serviceable

suggestions to the Argives, that they may not all of them perish in your displeasure."

And Jove answered, "Tomorrow morning, Juno, if you choose to do so, you will see the son of Saturn

destroying large numbers of the Argives, for fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he has roused the son

of Peleus when they are fighting in dire straits at their ships' sterns about the body of Patroclus. Like it or no,

this is how it is decreed; for aught I care, you may go to the lowest depths beneath earth and sea, where

Iapetus and Saturn dwell in lone Tartarus with neither ray of light nor breath of wind to cheer them. You may

go on and on till you get there, and I shall not care one whit for your displeasure; you are the greatest vixen

Juno made him no answer. The sun's glorious orb now sank into Oceanus and drew down night over the land.

Sorry indeed were the Trojans when light failed them, but welcome and thrice prayed for did darkness fall

Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships, and held a council on the open space near the river, where

there was a spot ear corpses. They left their chariots and sat down on the ground to hear the speech he made

them. He grasped a spear eleven cubits long, the bronze point of which gleamed in front of it, while the ring

round the spearhead was of gold Spear in hand he spoke. "Hear me," said he, "Trojans, Dardanians, and

allies. I deemed but now that I should destroy the ships and all the Achaeans with them ere I went back to

Ilius, but darkness came on too soon. It was this alone that saved them and their ships upon the seashore.

Now, therefore, let us obey the behests of night, and prepare our suppers. Take your horses out of their

chariots and give them their feeds of corn; then make speed to bring sheep and cattle from the city; bring

wine also and corn for your horses and gather much wood, that from dark till dawn we may burn watchfires

whose flare may reach to heaven. For the Achaeans may try to fly beyond the sea by night, and they must not

embark scatheless and unmolested; many a man among them must take a dart with him to nurse at home, hit

with spear or arrow as he is leaping on board his ship, that others may fear to bring war and weeping upon the

Trojans. Moreover let the heralds tell it about the city that the growing youths and greybearded men are to

camp upon its heavenbuilt walls. Let the women each of them light a great fire in her house, and let watch

be safely kept lest the town be entered by surprise while the host is outside. See to it, brave Trojans, as I have

said, and let this suffice for the moment; at daybreak I will instruct you further. I pray in hope to Jove and to

the gods that we may then drive those fatesped hounds from our land, for 'tis the fates that have borne them

and their ships hither. This night, therefore, let us keep watch, but with early morning let us put on our

armour and rouse fierce war at the ships of the Achaeans; I shall then know whether brave Diomed the son of

Tydeus will drive me back from the ships to the wall, or whether I shall myself slay him and carry off his

bloodstained spoils. Tomorrow let him show his mettle, abide my spear if he dare. I ween that at break of

day, he shall be among the first to fall and many another of his comrades round him. Would that I were as

sure of being immortal and never growing old, and of being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo, as I am

Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause. They took their sweating steeds from under the yoke,

and made them fast each by his own chariot. They made haste to bring sheep and cattle from the city, they

brought wine also and corn from their houses and gathered much wood. They then offered unblemished

hecatombs to the immortals, and the wind carried the sweet savour of sacrifice to heaven but the blessed

gods partook not thereof, for they bitterly hated Ilius with Priam and Priam's people. Thus high in hope they

sat through the livelong night by the highways of war, and many a watchfire did they kindle. As when the

stars shine clear, and the moon is bright there is not a breath of air, not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland

but it stands out in the ineffable radiance that breaks from the serene of heaven; the stars can all of them be

told and the heart of the shepherd is glad even thus shone the watchfires of the Trojans before Ilius midway

between the ships and the river Xanthus. A thousand campfires gleamed upon the plain, and in the glow of

each there sat fifty men, while the horses, champing oats and corn beside their chariots, waited till dawn

Thus did the Trojans watch. But Panic, comrade of bloodstained Rout, had taken fast hold of the Achaeans

and their princes were all of them in despair. As when the two winds that blow from Thrace the north and

the northwest spring up of a sudden and rouse the fury of the main in a moment the dark waves uprear

their heads and scatter their seawrack in all directions even thus troubled were the hearts of the Achaeans.

The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call the people to a council man by man, but not to cry the

matter aloud; he made haste also himself to call them, and they sat sorry at heart in their assembly.

Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff; and thus, with

many a heavy sigh he spoke to the Achaeans. "My friends," said he, "princes and councillors of the Argives,

the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise that I should sack

the city of Troy before returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to

Argos with the loss of much people. Such is the will of Jove, who has laid many a proud city in the dust as he

will yet lay others, for his power is above all. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say and sail back to our own

Thus he spoke, and the sons of the Achaeans for a long while sat sorrowful there, but they all held their

peace, till at last Diomed of the loud battlecry made answer saying, "Son of Atreus, I will chide your folly,

as is my right in council. Be not then aggrieved that I should do so. In the first place you attacked me before

all the Danaans and said that I was a coward and no soldier. The Argives young and old know that you did so.

But the son of scheming Saturn endowed you by halves only. He gave you honour as the chief ruler over us,

but valour, which is the highest both right and might he did not give you. Sir, think you that the sons of the

Achaeans are indeed as unwarlike and cowardly as you say they are? If your own mind is set upon going

homego the way is open to you; the many ships that followed you from Mycene stand ranged upon the

seashore; but the rest of us stay here till we have sacked Troy. Nay though these too should turn homeward

with their ships, Sthenelus and myself will still fight on till we reach the goal of Ilius, for for heaven was with

The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words of Diomed, and presently Nestor rose to speak. "Son

of Tydeus," said he, "in war your prowess is beyond question, and in council you excel all who are of your

own years; no one of the Achaeans can make light of what you say nor gainsay it, but you have not yet come

to the end of the whole matter. You are still young you might be the youngest of my own children still you

have spoken wisely and have counselled the chief of the Achaeans not without discretion; nevertheless I am

older than you and I will tell you every" thing; therefore let no man, not even King Agamemnon, disregard

"Now, however, let us obey the behests of night and get our suppers, but let the sentinels every man of them

camp by the trench that is without the wall. I am giving these instructions to the young men; when they have

been attended to, do you, son of Atreus, give your orders, for you are the most royal among us all. Prepare a

feast for your councillors; it is right and reasonable that you should do so; there is abundance of wine in your

tents, which the ships of the Achaeans bring from Thrace daily. You have everything at your disposal

wherewith to entertain guests, and you have many subjects. When many are got together, you can be guided

by him whose counsel is wisest and sorely do we need shrewd and prudent counsel, for the foe has lit his

watchfires hard by our ships. Who can be other than dismayed? This night will either be the ruin of our host,

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. The sentinels went out in their armour under command

of Nestor's son Thrasymedes, a captain of the host, and of the bold warriors Ascalaphus and Ialmenus: there

were also Meriones, Aphareus and Deipyrus, and the son of Creion, noble Lycomedes. There were seven

captains of the sentinels, and with each there went a hundred youths armed with long spears: they took their

places midway between the trench and the wall, and when they had done so they lit their fires and got every

The son of Atreus then bade many councillors of the Achaeans to his quarters prepared a great feast in their

honour. They laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had enough to eat

and drink, old Nestor, whose counsel was ever truest, was the first to lay his mind before them. He, therefore,

"With yourself, most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, will I both begin my speech and end it,

for you are king over much people. Jove, moreover, has vouchsafed you to wield the sceptre and to uphold

righteousness, that you may take thought for your people under you; therefore it behooves you above all

others both to speak and to give ear, and to out the counsel of another who shall have been minded to speak

wisely. All turns on you and on your commands, therefore I will say what I think will be best. No man will be

of a truer mind than that which has been mine from the hour when you, sir, angered Achilles by taking the

girl Briseis from his tent against my judgment. I urged you not to do so, but you yielded to your own pride,

and dishonoured a hero whom heaven itself had honoured for you still hold the prize that had been awarded

to him. Now, however, let us think how we may appease him, both with presents and fair speeches that may

And King Agamemnon answered, "Sir, you have reproved my folly justly. I was wrong. I own it. One whom

heaven befriends is in himself a host, and Jove has shown that he befriends this man by destroying much

people of the Achaeans. I was blinded with passion and yielded to my worser mind; therefore I will make

amends, and will give him great gifts by way of atonement. I will tell them in the presence of you all. I will

give him seven tripods that have never yet been on the fire, and ten talents of gold. I will give him twenty

iron cauldrons and twelve strong horses that have won races and carried off prizes. Rich, indeed, both in land

and gold is he that has as many prizes as my horses have won me. I will give him seven excellent

workwomen, Lesbians, whom I chose for myself when he took Lesbos all of surpassing beauty. I will give

him these, and with them her whom I erewhile took from him, the daughter of Briseus; and I swear a great

oath that I never went up into her couch, nor have been with her after the manner of men and women.

"All these things will I give him now down, and if hereafter the gods vouchsafe me to sack the city of Priam,

let him come when we Achaeans are dividing the spoil, and load his ship with gold and bronze to his liking;

furthermore let him take twenty Trojan women, the loveliest after Helen herself. Then, when we reach

Achaean Argos, wealthiest of all lands, he shall be my soninlaw and I will show him like honour with my

own dear son Orestes, who is being nurtured in all abundance. I have three daughters, Chrysothemis, Laodice,

and lphianassa, let him take the one of his choice, freely and without gifts of wooing, to the house of Peleus; I

will add such dower to boot as no man ever yet gave his daughter, and will give him seven well established

cities, Cardamyle, Enope, and Hire, where there is grass; holy Pherae and the rich meadows of Anthea; Aepea

also, and the vineclad slopes of Pedasus, all near the sea, and on the borders of sandy Pylos. The men that

dwell there are rich in cattle and sheep; they will honour him with gifts as though he were a god, and be

obedient to his comfortable ordinances. All this will I do if he will now forgo his anger. Let him then yieldit

is only Hades who is utterly ruthless and unyieldingand hence he is of all gods the one most hateful to

mankind. Moreover I am older and more royal than himself. Therefore, let him now obey me."

Then Nestor answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon. The gifts you offer are no

small ones, let us then send chosen messengers, who may go to the tent of Achilles son of Peleus without

delay. Let those go whom I shall name. Let Phoenix, dear to Jove, lead the way; let Ajax and Ulysses follow,

and let the heralds Odius and Eurybates go with them. Now bring water for our hands, and bid all keep

silence while we pray to Jove the son of Saturn, if so be that he may have mercy upon us."

Thus did he speak, and his saying pleased them well. Menservants poured water over the hands of the

guests, while pages filled the mixingbowls with wine and water, and handed it round after giving every man

his drinkoffering; then, when they had made their offerings, and had drunk each as much as he was minded,

the envoys set out from the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus; and Nestor, looking first to one and then to

another, but most especially at Ulysses, was instant with them that they should prevail with the noble son of

They went their way by the shore of the sounding sea, and prayed earnestly to earthencircling Neptune that

the high spirit of the son of Aeacus might incline favourably towards them. When they reached the ships and

tents of the Myrmidons, they found Achilles playing on a lyre, fair, of cunning workmanship, and its

crossbar was of silver. It was part of the spoils which he had taken when he sacked the city of Eetion, and he

was now diverting himself with it and singing the feats of heroes. He was alone with Patroclus, who sat

opposite to him and said nothing, waiting till he should cease singing. Ulysses and Ajax now came in

Ulysses leading the way and stood before him. Achilles sprang from his seat with the lyre still in his hand,

and Patroclus, when he saw the strangers, rose also. Achilles then greeted them saying, "All hail and

welcome you must come upon some great matter, you, who for all my anger are still dearest to me of the

With this he led them forward, and bade them sit on seats covered with purple rugs; then he said to Patroclus

who was close by him, "Son of Menoetius, set a larger bowl upon the table, mix less water with the wine, and

give every man his cup, for these are very dear friends, who are now under my roof."

Patroclus did as his comrade bade him; he set the choppingblock in front of the fire, and on it he laid the

loin of a sheep, the loin also of a goat, and the chine of a fat hog. Automedon held the meat while Achilles

chopped it; he then sliced the pieces and put them on spits while the son of Menoetius made the fire burn

high. When the flame had died down, he spread the embers, laid the spits on top of them, lifting them up and

setting them upon the spitracks; and he sprinkled them with salt. When the meat was roasted, he set it on

platters, and handed bread round the table in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt them their portions. Then

Achilles took his seat facing Ulysses against the opposite wall, and bade his comrade Patroclus offer sacrifice

to the gods; so he cast the offerings into the fire, and they laid their hands upon the good things that were

before them. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Ajax made a sign to Phoenix, and when he

"Hail," said he, "Achilles, we have had no scant of good cheer, neither in the tent of Agamemnon, nor yet

here; there has been plenty to eat and drink, but our thought turns upon no such matter. Sir, we are in the face

of great disaster, and without your help know not whether we shall save our fleet or lose it. The Trojans and

their allies have camped hard by our ships and by the wall; they have lit watchfires throughout their host and

deem that nothing can now prevent them from falling on our fleet. Jove, moreover, has sent his lightnings on

their right; Hector, in all his glory, rages like a maniac; confident that Jove is with him he fears neither god

nor man, but is gone raving mad, and prays for the approach of day. He vows that he will hew the high sterns

of our ships in pieces, set fire to their hulls, and make havoc of the Achaeans while they are dazed and

smothered in smoke; I much fear that heaven will make good his boasting, and it will prove our lot to perish

at Troy far from our home in Argos. Up, then, and late though it be, save the sons of the Achaeans who faint

before the fury of the Trojans. You will repent bitterly hereafter if you do not, for when the harm is done

there will be no curing it; consider ere it be too late, and save the Danaans from destruction.

"My good friend, when your father Peleus sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon, did he not charge you

saying, 'Son, Minerva and Juno will make you strong if they choose, but check your high temper, for the

better part is in goodwill. Eschew vain quarrelling, and the Achaeans old and young will respect you more for

doing so.' These were his words, but you have forgotten them. Even now, however, be appeased, and put

away your anger from you. Agamemnon will make you great amends if you will forgive him; listen, and I

will tell you what he has said in his tent that he will give you. He will give you seven tripods that have never

yet been on the fire, and ten talents of gold; twenty iron cauldrons, and twelve strong horses that have won

races and carried off prizes. Rich indeed both in land and gold is he who has as many prizes as these horses

have won for Agamemnon. Moreover he will give you seven excellent workwomen, Lesbians, whom he

chose for himself, when you took Lesbos all of surpassing beauty. He will give you these, and with them her

whom he erewhile took from you, the daughter of Briseus, and he will swear a great oath, he has never gone

up into her couch nor been with her after the manner of men and women. All these things will he give you

now down, and if hereafter the gods vouchsafe him to sack the city of Priam, you can come when we

Achaeans are dividing the spoil, and load your ship with gold and bronze to your liking. You can take twenty

Trojan women, the loveliest after Helen herself. Then, when we reach Achaean Argos, wealthiest of all lands,

you shall be his soninlaw, and he will show you like honour with his own dear son Orestes, who is being

nurtured in all abundance. Agamemnon has three daughters, Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa; you may

take the one of your choice, freely and without gifts of wooing, to the house of Peleus; he will add such

dower to boot as no man ever yet gave his daughter, and will give you seven wellestablished cities,

Cardamyle, Enope, and Hire where there is grass; holy Pheras and the rich meadows of Anthea; Aepea also,

and the vineclad slopes of Pedasus, all near the sea, and on the borders of sandy Pylos. The men that dwell

there are rich in cattle and sheep; they will honour you with gifts as though were a god, and be obedient to

your comfortable ordinances. All this will he do if you will now forgo your anger. Moreover, though you hate

both him and his gifts with all your heart, yet pity the rest of the Achaeans who are being harassed in all their

host; they will honour you as a god, and you will earn great glory at their hands. You might even kill Hector;

he will come within your reach, for he is infatuated, and declares that not a Danaan whom the ships have

Achilles answered, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, I should give you formal notice plainly and in all fixity of

purpose that there be no more of this cajoling, from whatsoever quarter it may come. Him do I hate even as

the gates of hell who says one thing while he hides another in his heart; therefore I will say what I mean. I

will be appeased neither by Agamemnon son of Atreus nor by any other of the Danaans, for I see that I have

no thanks for all my fighting. He that fights fares no better than he that does not; coward and hero are held in

equal honour, and death deals like measure to him who works and him who is idle. I have taken nothing by

all my hardships with my life ever in my hand; as a bird when she has found a morsel takes it to her

nestlings, and herself fares hardly, even so man a long night have I been wakeful, and many a bloody battle

have I waged by day against those who were fighting for their women. With my ships I have taken twelve

cities, and eleven round about Troy have I stormed with my men by land; I took great store of wealth from

every one of them, but I gave all up to Agamemnon son of Atreus. He stayed where he was by his ships, yet

"Nevertheless he did distribute some meeds of honour among the chieftains and kings, and these have them

still; from me alone of the Achaeans did he take the woman in whom I delighted let him keep her and sleep

with her. Why, pray, must the Argives needs fight the Trojans? What made the son of Atreus gather the host

and bring them? Was it not for the sake of Helen? Are the sons of Atreus the only men in the world who love

their wives? Any man of common right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own, as I this woman,

with my whole heart, though she was but a fruitling of my spear. Agamemnon has taken her from me; he has

played me false; I know him; let him tempt me no further, for he shall not move me. Let him look to you,

Ulysses, and to the other princes to save his ships from burning. He has done much without me already. He

has built a wall; he has dug a trench deep and wide all round it, and he has planted it within with stakes; but

even so he stays not the murderous might of Hector. So long as I fought the Achaeans Hector suffered not the

battle range far from the city walls; he would come to the Scaean gates and to the oak tree, but no further.

Once he stayed to meet me and hardly did he escape my onset: now, however, since I am in no mood to fight

him, I will tomorrow offer sacrifice to Jove and to all the gods; I will draw my ships into the water and then

victual them duly; tomorrow morning, if you care to look, you will see my ships on the Hellespont, and my

men rowing out to sea with might and main. If great Neptune vouchsafes me a fair passage, in three days I

shall be in Phthia. I have much there that I left behind me when I came here to my sorrow, and I shall bring

back still further store of gold, of red copper, of fair women, and of iron, my share of the spoils that we have

taken; but one prize, he who gave has insolently taken away. Tell him all as I now bid you, and tell him in

public that the Achaeans may hate him and beware of him should he think that he can yet dupe others for his

"As for me, hound that he is, he dares not look me in the face. I will take no counsel with him, and will

undertake nothing in common with him. He has wronged me and deceived me enough, he shall not cozen me

further; let him go his own way, for Jove has robbed him of his reason. I loathe his presents, and for himself

care not one straw. He may offer me ten or even twenty times what he has now done, naynot though it be all

that he has in the world, both now or ever shall have; he may promise me the wealth of Orchomenus or of

Egyptian Thebes, which is the richest city in the whole world, for it has a hundred gates through each of

which two hundred men may drive at once with their chariots and horses; he may offer me gifts as the sands

of the sea or the dust of the plain in multitude, but even so he shall not move me till I have been revenged in

full for the bitter wrong he has done me. I will not marry his daughter; she may be fair as Venus, and skilful

as Minerva, but I will have none of her: let another take her, who may be a good match for her and who rules

a larger kingdom. If the gods spare me to return home, Peleus will find me a wife; there are Achaean women

in Hellas and Phthia, daughters of kings that have cities under them; of these I can take whom I will and

marry her. Many a time was I minded when at home in Phthia to woo and wed a woman who would make me

a suitable wife, and to enjoy the riches of my old father Peleus. My life is more to me than all the wealth of

Ilius while it was yet at peace before the Achaeans went there, or than all the treasure that lies on the stone

floor of Apollo's temple beneath the cliffs of Pytho. Cattle and sheep are to be had for harrying, and a man

buy both tripods and horses if he wants them, but when his life has once left him it can neither be bought nor

"My mother Thetis tells me that there are two ways in which I may meet my end. If I stay here and fight, I

shall not return alive but my name will live for ever: whereas if I go home my name will die, but it will be

long ere death shall take me. To the rest of you, then, I say, 'Go home, for you will not take Ilius.' Jove has

held his hand over her to protect her, and her people have taken heart. Go, therefore, as in duty bound, and

tell the princes of the Achaeans the message that I have sent them; tell them to find some other plan for the

saving of their ships and people, for so long as my displeasure lasts the one that they have now hit upon may

not be. As for Phoenix, let him sleep here that he may sail with me in the morning if he so will. But I will not

They all held their peace, dismayed at the sternness with which he had denied them, till presently the old

knight Phoenix in his great fear for the ships of the Achaeans, burst into tears and said, "Noble Achilles, if

you are now minded to return, and in the fierceness of your anger will do nothing to save the ships from

burning, how, my son, can I remain here without you? Your father Peleus bade me go with you when he sent

you as a mere lad from Phthia to Agamemnon. You knew nothing neither of war nor of the arts whereby men

make their mark in council, and he sent me with you to train you in all excellence of speech and action.

Therefore, my son, I will not stay here without you no, not though heaven itself vouchsafe to strip my years

from off me, and make me young as I was when I first left Hellas the land of fair women. I was then flying

the anger of father Amyntor, son of Ormenus, who was furious with me in the matter of his concubine, of

whom he was enamoured to the wronging of his wife my mother. My mother, therefore, prayed me without

ceasing to lie with the woman myself, that so she hate my father, and in the course of time I yielded. But my

father soon came to know, and cursed me bitterly, calling the dread Erinyes to witness. He prayed that no son

of mine might ever sit upon knees and the gods, Jove of the world below and awful Proserpine, fulfilled his

curse. I took counsel to kill him, but some god stayed my rashness and bade me think on men's evil tongues

and how I should be branded as the murderer of my father: nevertheless I could not bear to stay in my father's

house with him so bitter a against me. My cousins and clansmen came about me, and pressed me sorely to

remain; many a sheep and many an ox did they slaughter, and many a fat hog did they set down to roast

before the fire; many a jar, too, did they broach of my father's wine. Nine whole nights did they set a guard

over me taking it in turns to watch, and they kept a fire always burning, both in the cloister of the outer court

and in the inner court at the doors of the room wherein I lay; but when the darkness of the tenth night came, I

broke through the closed doors of my room, and climbed the wall of the outer court after passing quickly and

unperceived through the men on guard and the women servants. I then fled through Hellas till I came to

fertile Phthia, mother of sheep, and to King Peleus, who made me welcome and treated me as a father treats

an only son who will be heir to all his wealth. He made me rich and set me over much people, establishing

"It was I, Achilles, who had the making of you; I loved you with all my heart: for you would eat neither at

home nor when you had gone out elsewhere, till I had first set you upon my knees, cut up the dainty morsel

that you were to eat, and held the winecup to your lips. Many a time have you slobbered your wine in baby

helplessness over my shirt; I had infinite trouble with you, but I knew that heaven had vouchsafed me no

offspring of my own, and I made a son of you, Achilles, that in my hour of need you might protect me. Now,

therefore, I say battle with your pride and beat it; cherish not your anger for ever; the might and majesty of

heaven are more than ours, but even heaven may be appeased; and if a man has sinned he prays the gods, and

reconciles them to himself by his piteous cries and by frankincense, with drinkofferings and the savour of

burnt sacrifice. For prayers are as daughters to great Jove; halt, wrinkled, with eyes askance, they follow in

the footsteps of sin, who, being fierce and fleet of foot, leaves them far behind him, and ever baneful to

mankind outstrips them even to the ends of the world; but nevertheless the prayers come hobbling and

healing after. If a man has pity upon these daughters of Jove when they draw near him, they will bless him

and hear him too when he is praying; but if he deny them and will not listen to them, they go to Jove the son

of Saturn and pray that he may presently fall into sin to his ruing bitterly hereafter. Therefore, Achilles, give

these daughters of Jove due reverence, and bow before them as all good men will bow. Were not the son of

Atreus offering you gifts and promising others later if he were still furious and implacableI am not he that

would bid you throw off your anger and help the Achaeans, no matter how great their need; but he is giving

much now, and more hereafter; he has sent his captains to urge his suit, and has chosen those who of all the

Argives are most acceptable to you; make not then their words and their coming to be of none effect. Your

anger has been righteous so far. We have heard in song how heroes of old time quarrelled when they were

roused to fury, but still they could be won by gifts, and fair words could soothe them.

"I have an old story in my mind a very old one but you are all friends and I will tell it. The Curetes and the

Aetolians were fighting and killing one another round Calydon the Aetolians defending the city and the

Curetes trying to destroy it. For Diana of the golden throne was angry and did them hurt because Oeneus had

not offered her his harvest firstfruits. The other gods had all been feasted with hecatombs, but to the

daughter of great Jove alone he had made no sacrifice. He had forgotten her, or somehow or other it had

escaped him, and this was a grievous sin. Thereon the archer goddess in her displeasure sent a prodigious

creature against him a savage wild boar with great white tusks that did much harm to his orchard lands,

uprooting appletrees in full bloom and throwing them to the ground. But Meleager son of Oeneus got

huntsmen and hounds from many cities and killed it for it was so monstrous that not a few were needed, and

many a man did it stretch upon his funeral pyre. On this the goddess set the Curetes and the Aetolians

"So long as Meleager was in the field things went badly with the Curetes, and for all their numbers they could

not hold their ground under the city walls; but in the course of time Meleager was angered as even a wise

man will sometimes be. He was incensed with his mother Althaea, and therefore stayed at home with his

wedded wife fair Cleopatra, who was daughter of Marpessa daughter of Euenus, and of Ides the man then

living. He it was who took his bow and faced King Apollo himself for fair Marpessa's sake; her father and

mother then named her Alcyone, because her mother had mourned with the plaintive strains of the

halcyonbird when Phoebus Apollo had carried her off. Meleager, then, stayed at home with Cleopatra,

nursing the anger which he felt by reason of his mother's curses. His mother, grieving for the death of her

brother, prayed the gods, and beat the earth with her hands, calling upon Hades and on awful Proserpine; she

went down upon her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that they would kill her son and

"Then was heard the din of battle about the gates of Calydon, and the dull thump of the battering against their

walls. Thereon the elders of the Aetolians besought Meleager; they sent the chiefest of their priests, and

begged him to come out and help them, promising him a great reward. They bade him choose fifty

ploughgates, the most fertile in the plain of Calydon, the onehalf vineyard and the other open ploughland.

The old warrior Oeneus implored him, standing at the threshold of his room and beating the doors in

supplication. His sisters and his mother herself besought him sore, but he the more refused them; those of his

comrades who were nearest and dearest to him also prayed him, but they could not move him till the foe was

battering at the very doors of his chamber, and the Curetes had scaled the walls and were setting fire to the

city. Then at last his sorrowing wife detailed the horrors that befall those whose city is taken; she reminded

him how the men are slain, and the city is given over to the flames, while the women and children are carried

into captivity; when he heard all this, his heart was touched, and he donned his armour to go forth. Thus of

his own inward motion he saved the city of the Aetolians; but they now gave him nothing of those rich

rewards that they had offered earlier, and though he saved the city he took nothing by it. Be not then, my son,

thus minded; let not heaven lure you into any such course. When the ships are burning it will be a harder

matter to save them. Take the gifts, and go, for the Achaeans will then honour you as a god; whereas if you

fight without taking them, you may beat the battle back, but you will not be held in like honour."

And Achilles answered, "Phoenix, old friend and father, I have no need of such honour. I have honour from

Jove himself, which will abide with me at my ships while I have breath in my body, and my limbs are strong.

I say further and lay my saying to your heart vex me no more with this weeping and lamentation, all in the

cause of the son of Atreus. Love him so well, and you may lose the love I bear you. You ought to help me

rather in troubling those that trouble me; be king as much as I am, and share like honour with myself; the

others shall take my answer; stay here yourself and sleep comfortably in your bed; at daybreak we will

On this she nodded quietly to Patroclus as a sign that he was to prepare a bed for Phoenix, and that the others

should take their leave. Ajax son of Telamon then said, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, let us be gone, for I

see that our journey is vain. We must now take our answer, unwelcome though it be, to the Danaans who are

waiting to receive it. Achilles is savage and remorseless; he is cruel, and cares nothing for the love his

comrades lavished upon him more than on all the others. He is implacable and yet if a man's brother or son

has been slain he will accept a fine by way of amends from him that killed him, and the wrongdoer having

paid in full remains in peace among his own people; but as for you, Achilles, the gods have put a wicked

unforgiving spirit in your heart, and this, all about one single girl, whereas we now offer you the seven best

we have, and much else into the bargain. Be then of a more gracious mind, respect the hospitality of your

own roof. We are with you as messengers from the host of the Danaans, and would fain he held nearest and

"Ajax," replied Achilles, "noble son of Telamon, you have spoken much to my liking, but my blood boils

when I think it all over, and remember how the son of Atreus treated me with contumely as though I were

some vile tramp, and that too in the presence of the Argives. Go, then, and deliver your message; say that I

will have no concern with fighting till Hector, son of noble Priam, reaches the tents of the Myrmidons in his

murderous course, and flings fire upon their ships. For all his lust of battle, I take it he will be held in check

On this they took every man his double cup, made their drinkofferings, and went back to the ships, Ulysses

leading the way. But Patroclus told his men and the maidservants to make ready a comfortable bed for

Phoenix; they therefore did so with sheepskins, a rug, and a sheet of fine linen. The old man then laid himself

down and waited till morning came. But Achilles slept in an inner room, and beside him the daughter of

Phorbas lovely Diomede, whom he had carried off from Lesbos. Patroclus lay on the other side of the room,

and with him fair Iphis whom Achilles had given him when he took Scyros the city of Enyeus.

When the envoys reached the tents of the son of Atreus, the Achaeans rose, pledged them in cups of gold, and

began to question them. King Agamemnon was the first to do so. Tell me, Ulysses," said he, "will he save the

Ulysses answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Achilles will not be calmed, but is

more fiercely angry than ever, and spurns both you and your gifts. He bids you take counsel with the

Achaeans to save the ships and host as you best may; as for himself, he said that at daybreak he should draw

his ships into the water. He said further that he should advise every one to sail home likewise, for that you

will not reach the goal of Ilius. 'Jove,' he said, 'has laid his hand over the city to protect it, and the people have

taken heart.' This is what he said, and the others who were with me can tell you the same story Ajax and the

two heralds, men, both of them, who may be trusted. The old man Phoenix stayed where he was to sleep, for

so Achilles would have it, that he might go home with him in the morning if he so would; but he will not take

They all held their peace, sitting for a long time silent and dejected, by reason of the sternness with which

Achilles had refused them, till presently Diomed said, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon,

you ought not to have sued the son of Peleus nor offered him gifts. He is proud enough as it is, and you have

encouraged him in his pride am further. Let him stay or go as he will. He will fight later when he is in the

humour, and heaven puts it in his mind to do so. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; we have eaten and

drunk our fill, let us then take our rest, for in rest there is both strength and stay. But when fair rosyfingered

morn appears, forthwith bring out your host and your horsemen in front of the ships, urging them on, and

Thus he spoke, and the other chieftains approved his words. They then made their drinkofferings and went

every man to his own tent, where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.

Now the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole night through, but Agamemnon son of Atreus

was troubled, so that he could get no rest. As when fair Juno's lord flashes his lightning in token of great rain

or hail or snow when the snowflakes whiten the ground, or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of

hungry war, even so did Agamemnon heave many a heavy sigh, for his soul trembled within him. When he

looked upon the plain of Troy he marvelled at the many watchfires burning in front of Ilius, and at the sound

of pipes and flutes and of the hum of men, but when presently he turned towards the ships and hosts of the

Achaeans, he tore his hair by handfuls before Jove on high, and groaned aloud for the very disquietness of his

soul. In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor son of Neleus, and see if between them they could

find any way of the Achaeans from destruction. He therefore rose, put on his shirt, bound his sandals about

his comely feet, flung the skin of a huge tawny lion over his shoulders a skin that reached his feet and took

Neither could Menelaus sleep, for he, too, boded ill for the Argives who for his sake had sailed from far over

the seas to fight the Trojans. He covered his broad back with the skin of a spotted panther, put a casque of

bronze upon his head, and took his spear in his brawny hand. Then he went to rouse his brother, who was by

far the most powerful of the Achaeans, and was honoured by the people as though he were a god. He found

him by the stern of his ship already putting his goodly array about his shoulders, and right glad was he that

Menelaus spoke first. "Why," said he, "my dear brother, are you thus arming? Are you going to send any of

our comrades to exploit the Trojans? I greatly fear that no one will do you this service, and spy upon the

And King Agamemnon answered, "Menelaus, we both of us need shrewd counsel to save the Argives and our

ships, for Jove has changed his mind, and inclines towards Hector's sacrifices rather than ours. I never saw

nor heard tell of any man as having wrought such ruin in one day as Hector has now wrought against the sons

of the Achaeansand that too of his own unaided self, for he is son neither to god nor goddess. The Argives

will rue it long and deeply. Run, therefore, with all speed by the line of the ships, and call Ajax and

Idomeneus. Meanwhile I will go to Nestor, and bid him rise and go about among the companies of our

sentinels to give them their instructions; they will listen to him sooner than to any man, for his own son, and

Meriones brother in arms to Idomeneus, are captains over them. It was to them more particularly that we gave

Menelaus replied, "How do I take your meaning? Am I to stay with them and wait your coming, or shall I

return here as soon as I have given your orders?" "Wait," answered King Agamemnon, "for there are so many

paths about the camp that we might miss one another. Call every man on your way, and bid him be stirring;

name him by his lineage and by his father's name, give each all titular observance, and stand not too much

upon your own dignity; we must take our full share of toil, for at our birth Jove laid this heavy burden upon

With these instructions he sent his brother on his way, and went on to Nestor shepherd of his people. He

found him sleeping in his tent hard by his own ship; his goodly armour lay beside him his shield, his two

spears and his helmet; beside him also lay the gleaming girdle with which the old man girded himself when

he armed to lead his people into battle for his age stayed him not. He raised himself on his elbow and looked

up at Agamemnon. "Who is it," said he, "that goes thus about the host and the ships alone and in the dead of

night, when men are sleeping? Are you looking for one of your mules or for some comrade? Do not stand

And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, it is I, Agamemnon son of

Atreus, on whom Jove has laid labour and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and my limbs carry

me. I am thus abroad because sleep sits not upon my eyelids, but my heart is big with war and with the

jeopardy of the Achaeans. I am in great fear for the Danaans. I am at sea, and without sure counsel; my heart

beats as though it would leap out of my body, and my limbs fail me. If then you can do anything for you too

cannot sleep let us go the round of the watch, and see whether they are drowsy with toil and sleeping to the

neglect of their duty. The enemy is encamped hard and we know not but he may attack us by night."

Nestor replied, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Jove will not do all for Hector that

Hector thinks he will; he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger. I will go with

you, and we will rouse others, either the son of Tydeus, or Ulysses, or fleet Ajax and the valiant son of

Phyleus. Some one had also better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus, for their ships are not near at hand

but the farthest of all. I cannot however refrain from blaming Menelaus, much as I love him and respect him

and I will say so plainly, even at the risk of offending you for sleeping and leaving all this trouble to

yourself. He ought to be going about imploring aid from all the princes of the Achaeans, for we are in

And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, you may sometimes blame him justly, for he is often remiss and unwilling

to exert himself not indeed from sloth, nor yet heedlessness, but because he looks to me and expects me to

take the lead. On this occasion, however, he was awake before I was, and came to me of his own accord. I

have already sent him to call the very men whom you have named. And now let us be going. We shall find

them with the watch outside the gates, for it was there I said that we would meet them."

"In that case," answered Nestor, "the Argives will not blame him nor disobey his orders when he urges them

With this he put on his shirt, and bound his sandals about his comely feet. He buckled on his purple coat, of

two thicknesses, large, and of a rough shaggy texture, grasped his redoubtable bronzeshod spear, and

wended his way along the line of the Achaean ships. First he called loudly to Ulysses peer of gods in counsel

and woke him, for he was soon roused by the sound of the battlecry. He came outside his tent and said,

"Why do you go thus alone about the host, and along the line of the ships in the stillness of the night? What is

it that you find so urgent?" And Nestor knight of Gerene answered, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, take it not

amiss, for the Achaeans are in great straits. Come with me and let us wake some other, who may advise well

On this Ulysses went at once into his tent, put his shield about his shoulders and came out with them. First

they went to Diomed son of Tydeus, and found him outside his tent clad in his armour with his comrades

sleeping round him and using their shields as pillows; as for their spears, they stood upright on the spikes of

their butts that were driven into the ground, and the burnished bronze flashed afar like the lightning of father

Jove. The hero was sleeping upon the skin of an ox, with a piece of fine carpet under his head; Nestor went

up to him and stirred him with his heel to rouse him, upbraiding him and urging him to bestir himself. "Wake

up," he exclaimed, "son of Tydeus. How can you sleep on in this way? Can you not see that the Trojans are

encamped on the brow of the plain hard by our ships, with but a little space between us and them?"

On these words Diomed leaped up instantly and said, "Old man, your heart is of iron; you rest not one

moment from your labours. Are there no younger men among the Achaeans who could go about to rouse the

And Nestor knight of Gerene made answer, "My son, all that you have said is true. I have good sons, and also

much people who might call the chieftains, but the Achaeans are in the gravest danger; life and death are

balanced as it were on the edge of a razor. Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your courtesy rouse

Diomed threw the skin of a great tawny lion about his shoulders a skin that reached his feet and grasped

his spear. When he had roused the heroes, he brought them back with him; they then went the round of those

who were on guard, and found the captains not sleeping at their posts but wakeful and sitting with their arms

about them. As sheep dogs that watch their flocks when they are yarded, and hear a wild beast coming

through the mountain forest towards them forthwith there is a hue and cry of dogs and men, and slumber is

broken even so was sleep chased from the eyes of the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked

night, for they turned constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any stir among the Trojans. The old

man was glad bade them be of good cheer. "Watch on, my children," said he, "and let not sleep get hold upon

With this he passed the trench, and with him the other chiefs of the Achaeans who had been called to the

council. Meriones and the brave son of Nestor went also, for the princes bade them. When they were beyond

the trench that was dug round the wall they held their meeting on the open ground where there was a space

clear of corpses, for it was here that when night fell Hector had turned back from his onslaught on the

Nestor spoke first. "My friends," said he, "is there any man bold enough to venture the Trojans, and cut off

some straggler, or us news of what the enemy mean to do whether they will stay here by the ships away from

the city, or whether, now that they have worsted the Achaeans, they will retire within their walls. If he could

learn all this and come back safely here, his fame would be high as heaven in the mouths of all men, and he

would be rewarded richly; for the chiefs from all our ships would each of them give him a black ewe with her

lamb which is a present of surpassing value and he would be asked as a guest to all feasts and

They all held their peace, but Diomed of the loud warcry spoke saying, "Nestor, gladly will I visit the host

of the Trojans over against us, but if another will go with me I shall do so in greater confidence and comfort.

When two men are together, one of them may see some opportunity which the other has not caught sight of;

On this several offered to go with Diomed. The two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, Meriones, and the son of

Nestor all wanted to go, so did Menelaus son of Atreus; Ulysses also wished to go among the host of the

Trojans, for he was ever full of daring, and thereon Agamemnon king of men spoke thus: "Diomed," said he,

"son of Tydeus, man after my own heart, choose your comrade for yourself take the best man of those that

have offered, for many would now go with you. Do not through delicacy reject the better man, and take the

He said this because he feared for Menelaus. Diomed answered, "If you bid me take the man of my own

choice, how in that case can I fail to think of Ulysses, than whom there is no man more eager to face all kinds

of danger and Pallas Minerva loves him well? If he were to go with me we should pass safely through fire

"Son of Tydeus," replied Ulysses, "say neither good nor ill about me, for you are among Argives who know

me well. Let us be going, for the night wanes and dawn is at hand. The stars have gone forward, twothirds

They then put on their armour. Brave Thrasymedes provided the son of Tydeus with a sword and a shield (for

he had left his own at his ship) and on his head he set a helmet of bull's hide without either peak or crest; it is

called a skullcap and is a common headgear. Meriones found a bow and quiver for Ulysses, and on his head

he set a leathern helmet that was lined with a strong plaiting of leathern thongs, while on the outside it was

thickly studded with boar's teeth, well and skilfully set into it; next the head there was an inner lining of felt.

This helmet had been stolen by Autolycus out of Eleon when he broke into the house of Amyntor son of

Ormenus. He gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to take to Scandea, and Amphidamas gave it as a guestgift

to Molus, who gave it to his son Meriones; and now it was set upon the head of Ulysses.

When the pair had armed, they set out, and left the other chieftains behind them. Pallas Minerva sent them a

heron by the wayside upon their right hands; they could not see it for the darkness, but they heard its cry.

Ulysses was glad when he heard it and prayed to Minerva: "Hear me," he cried, "daughter of aegisbearing

Jove, you who spy out all my ways and who are with me in all my hardships; befriend me in this mine hour,

and grant that we may return to the ships covered with glory after having achieved some mighty exploit that

Then Diomed of the loud warcry also prayed: "Hear me too," said he, "daughter of Jove, unweariable; be

with me even as you were with my noble father Tydeus when he went to Thebes as envoy sent by the

Achaeans. He left the Achaeans by the banks of the river Aesopus, and went to the city bearing a message of

peace to the Cadmeians; on his return thence, with your help, goddess, he did great deeds of daring, for you

were his ready helper. Even so guide me and guard me now, and in return I will offer you in sacrifice a

broadbrowed heifer of a year old, unbroken, and never yet brought by man under the yoke. I will gild her

Thus they prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard their prayer. When they had done praying to the daughter of

great Jove, they went their way like two lions prowling by night amid the armour and bloodstained bodies

Neither again did Hector let the Trojans sleep; for he too called the princes and councillors of the Trojans that

he might set his counsel before them. "Is there one," said he, "who for a great reward will do me the service

of which I will tell you? He shall be well paid if he will. I will give him a chariot and a couple of horses, the

fleetest that can be found at the ships of the Achaeans, if he will dare this thing; and he will win infinite

honour to boot; he must go to the ships and find out whether they are still guarded as heretofore, or whether

now that we have beaten them the Achaeans design to fly, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to

They all held their peace; but there was among the Trojans a certain man named Dolon, son of Eumedes, the

famous herald a man rich in gold and bronze. He was illfavoured, but a good runner, and was an only son

among five sisters. He it was that now addressed the Trojans. "I, Hector," said he, "Will to the ships and will

exploit them. But first hold up your sceptre and swear that you will give me the chariot, bedight with bronze,

and the horses that now carry the noble son of Peleus. I will make you a good scout, and will not fail you. I

will go through the host from one end to the other till I come to the ship of Agamemnon, where I take it the

When he had done speaking Hector held up his sceptre, and swore him his oath saying, "May Jove the

thundering husband of Juno bear witness that no other Trojan but yourself shall mount those steeds, and that

The oath he swore was bootless, but it made Dolon more keen on going. He hung his bow over his shoulder,

and as an overall he wore the skin of a grey wolf, while on his head he set a cap of ferret skin. Then he took a

pointed javelin, and left the camp for the ships, but he was not to return with any news for Hector. When he

had left the horses and the troops behind him, he made all speed on his way, but Ulysses perceived his

coming and said to Diomed, "Diomed, here is some one from the camp; I am not sure whether he is a spy, or

whether it is some thief who would plunder the bodies of the dead; let him get a little past us, we can then

spring upon him and take him. If, however, he is too quick for us, go after him with your spear and hem him

in towards the ships away from the Trojan camp, to prevent his getting back to the town."

With this they turned out of their way and lay down among the corpses. Dolon suspected nothing and soon

passed them, but when he had got about as far as the distance by which a muleplowed furrow exceeds one

that has been ploughed by oxen (for mules can plow fallow land quicker than oxen) they ran after him, and

when he heard their footsteps he stood still, for he made sure they were friends from the Trojan camp come

by Hector's orders to bid him return; when, however, they were only a spear's cast, or less away form him, he

saw that they were enemies as fast as his legs could take him. The others gave chase at once, and as a couple

of welltrained hounds press forward after a doe or hare that runs screaming in front of them, even so did the

son of Tydeus and Ulysses pursue Dolon and cut him off from his own people. But when he had fled so far

towards the ships that he would soon have fallen in with the outposts, Minerva infused fresh strength into the

son of Tydeus for fear some other of the Achaeans might have the glory of being first to hit him, and he

might himself be only second; he therefore sprang forward with his spear and said, "Stand, or I shall throw

He threw as he spoke, but missed his aim on purpose. The dart flew over the man's right shoulder, and then

stuck in the ground. He stood stock still, trembling and in great fear; his teeth chattered, and he turned pale

with fear. The two came breathless up to him and seized his hands, whereon he began to weep and said,

"Take me alive; I will ransom myself; we have great store of gold, bronze, and wrought iron, and from this

my father will satisfy you with a very large ransom, should he hear of my being alive at the ships of the

"Fear not," replied Ulysses, "let no thought of death be in your mind; but tell me, and tell me true, why are

you thus going about alone in the dead of night away from your camp and towards the ships, while other men

are sleeping? Is it to plunder the bodies of the slain, or did Hector send you to spy out what was going on at

Dolon answered, his limbs trembling beneath him: "Hector, with his vain flattering promises, lured me from

my better judgement. He said he would give me the horses of the noble son of Peleus and his

bronzebedizened chariot; he bade me go through the darkness of the flying night, get close to the enemy,

and find out whether the ships are still guarded as heretofore, or whether, now that we have beaten them, the

Achaeans design to fly, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches."

Ulysses smiled at him and answered, "You had indeed set your heart upon a great reward, but the horses of

the descendant of Aeacus are hardly to be kept in hand or driven by any other mortal man than Achilles

himself, whose mother was an immortal. But tell me, and tell me true, where did you leave Hector when you

started? Where lies his armour and his horses? How, too, are the watches and sleepingground of the Trojans

ordered? What are their plans? Will they stay here by the ships and away from the city, or now that they have

And Dolon answered, "I will tell you truly all. Hector and the other councillors are now holding conference

by the monument of great Ilus, away from the general tumult; as for the guards about which you ask me,

there is no chosen watch to keep guard over the host. The Trojans have their watchfires, for they are bound to

have them; they, therefore, are awake and keep each other to their duty as sentinels; but the allies who have

come from other places are asleep and leave it to the Trojans to keep guard, for their wives and children are

Ulysses then said, "Now tell me; are they sleeping among the Trojan troops, or do they lie apart? Explain this

"I will tell you truly all," replied Dolon. "To the seaward lie the Carians, the Paeonian bowmen, the Leleges,

the Cauconians, and the noble Pelasgi. The Lysians and proud Mysians, with the Phrygians and Meonians,

have their place on the side towards Thymbra; but why ask about an this? If you want to find your way into

the host of the Trojans, there are the Thracians, who have lately come here and lie apart from the others at the

far end of the camp; and they have Rhesus son of Eioneus for their king. His horses are the finest and

strongest that I have ever seen, they are whiter than snow and fleeter than any wind that blows. His chariot is

bedight with silver and gold, and he has brought his marvellous golden armour, of the rarest workmanship

too splendid for any mortal man to carry, and meet only for the gods. Now, therefore, take me to the ships or

bind me securely here, until you come back and have proved my words whether they be false or true."

Diomed looked sternly at him and answered, "Think not, Dolon, for all the good information you have given

us, that you shall escape now you are in our hands, for if we ransom you or let you go, you will come some

second time to the ships of the Achaeans either as a spy or as an open enemy, but if I kill you and an end of

On this Dolon would have caught him by the beard to beseech him further, but Diomed struck him in the

middle of his neck with his sword and cut through both sinews so that his head fell rolling in the dust while

he was yet speaking. They took the ferretskin cap from his head, and also the wolfskin, the bow, and his

long spear. Ulysses hung them up aloft in honour of Minerva the goddess of plunder, and prayed saying,

"Accept these, goddess, for we give them to you in preference to all the gods in Olympus: therefore speed us

With these words he took the spoils and set them upon a tamarisk tree, and they marked the place by pulling

up reeds and gathering boughs of tamarisk that they might not miss it as they came back through the' flying

hours of darkness. The two then went onwards amid the fallen armour and the blood, and came presently to

the company of Thracian soldiers, who were sleeping, tired out with their day's toil; their goodly armour was

lying on the ground beside them all orderly in three rows, and each man had his yoke of horses beside him.

Rhesus was sleeping in the middle, and hard by him his horses were made fast to the topmost rim of his

chariot. Ulysses from some way off saw him and said, "This, Diomed, is the man, and these are the horses

about which Dolon whom we killed told us. Do your very utmost; dally not about your armour, but loose the

Thereon Minerva put courage into the heart of Diomed, and he smote them right and left. They made a

hideous groaning as they were being hacked about, and the earth was red with their blood. As a lion springs

furiously upon a flock of sheep or goats when he finds without their shepherd, so did the son of Tydeus set

upon the Thracian soldiers till he had killed twelve. As he killed them Ulysses came and drew them aside by

their feet one by one, that the horses might go forward freely without being frightened as they passed over the

dead bodies, for they were not yet used to them. When the son of Tydeus came to the king, he killed him too

(which made thirteen), as he was breathing hard, for by the counsel of Minerva an evil dream, the seed of

Oeneus, hovered that night over his head. Meanwhile Ulysses untied the horses, made them fast one to

another and drove them off, striking them with his bow, for he had forgotten to take the whip from the

But Diomed stayed where he was, thinking what other daring deed he might accomplish. He was doubting

whether to take the chariot in which the king's armour was lying, and draw it out by the pole, or to lift the

armour out and carry it off; or whether again, he should not kill some more Thracians. While he was thus

hesitating Minerva came up to him and said, "Get back, Diomed, to the ships or you may be driven thither,

Diomed knew that it was the goddess, and at once sprang upon the horses. Ulysses beat them with his bow

But Apollo kept no blind lookout when he saw Minerva with the son of Tydeus. He was angry with her, and

coming to the host of the Trojans he roused Hippocoon, a counsellor of the Thracians and a noble kinsman of

Rhesus. He started up out of his sleep and saw that the horses were no longer in their place, and that the men

were gasping in their deathagony; on this he groaned aloud, and called upon his friend by name. Then the

whole Trojan camp was in an uproar as the people kept hurrying together, and they marvelled at the deeds of

When they reached the place where they had killed Hector's scout, Ulysses stayed his horses, and the son of

Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the bloodstained spoils in the hands of Ulysses and remounted: then

he lashed the horses onwards, and they flew forward nothing loth towards the ships as though of their own

free will. Nestor was first to hear the tramp of their feet. "My friends," said he, "princes and counsellors of

the Argives, shall I guess right or wrong? but I must say what I think: there is a sound in my ears as of the

tramp of horses. I hope it may Diomed and Ulysses driving in horses from the Trojans, but I much fear that

He had hardly done speaking when the two men came in and dismounted, whereon the others shook hands

right gladly with them and congratulated them. Nestor knight of Gerene was first to question them. "Tell me,"

said he, "renowned Ulysses, how did you two come by these horses? Did you steal in among the Trojan

forces, or did some god meet you and give them to you? They are like sunbeams. I am well conversant with

the Trojans, for old warrior though I am I never hold back by the ships, but I never yet saw or heard of such

horses as these are. Surely some god must have met you and given them to you, for you are both of dear to

And Ulysses answered, "Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, heaven, if it so will, can give us

even better horses than these, for the gods are far mightier than we are. These horses, however, about which

you ask me, are freshly come from Thrace. Diomed killed their king with the twelve bravest of his

companions. Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man a scout whom Hector and the other Trojans had

He laughed as he spoke and drove the horses over the ditch, while the other Achaeans followed him gladly.

When they reached the strongly built quarters of the son of Tydeus, they tied the horses with thongs of leather

to the manger, where the steeds of Diomed stood eating their sweet corn, but Ulysses hung the bloodstained

spoils of Dolon at the stern of his ship, that they might prepare a sacred offering to Minerva. As for

themselves, they went into the sea and washed the sweat from their bodies, and from their necks and thighs.

When the seawater had taken all the sweat from off them, and had refreshed them, they went into the baths

and washed themselves. After they had so done and had anointed themselves with oil, they sat down to table,

And now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus, harbinger of light alike to mortals and immortals,

Jove sent fierce Discord with the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans. She took her stand

by the huge black hull of Ulysses' ship which was middlemost of all, so that her voice might carry farthest on

either side, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of

Achilles for these two heroes, wellassured of their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the

two ends of the line. There she took her stand, and raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the Achaeans

with courage, giving them heart to fight resolutely and with all their might, so that they had rather stay there

The son of Atreus shouted aloud and bade the Argives gird themselves for battle while he put on his armour.

First he girded his goodly greaves about his legs, making them fast with ankle clasps of silver; and about his

chest he set the breastplate which Cinyras had once given him as a guestgift. It had been noised abroad as

far as Cyprus that the Achaeans were about to sail for Troy, and therefore he gave it to the king. It had ten

courses of dark cyanus, twelve of gold, and ten of tin. There were serpents of cyanus that reared themselves

up towards the neck, three upon either side, like the rainbows which the son of Saturn has set in heaven as a

sign to mortal men. About his shoulders he threw his sword, studded with bosses of gold; and the scabbard

was of silver with a chain of gold wherewith to hang it. He took moreover the richlydight shield that

covered his body when he was in battle fair to see, with ten circles of bronze running all round see, wit it.

On the body of the shield there were twenty bosses of white tin, with another of dark cyanus in the middle:

this last was made to show a Gorgon's head, fierce and grim, with Rout and Panic on either side. The band for

the arm to go through was of silver, on which there was a writhing snake of cyanus with three heads that

sprang from a single neck, and went in and out among one another. On his head Agamemnon set a helmet,

with a peak before and behind, and four plumes of horsehair that nodded menacingly above it; then he

grasped two redoubtable bronzeshod spears, and the gleam of his armour shot from him as a flame into the

firmament, while Juno and Minerva thundered in honour of the king of rich Mycene.

Every man now left his horses in charge of his charioteer to hold them in readiness by the trench, while he

went into battle on foot clad in full armour, and a mighty uproar rose on high into the dawning. The chiefs

were armed and at the trench before the horses got there, but these came up presently. The son of Saturn sent

a portent of evil sound about their host, and the dew fell red with blood, for he was about to send many a

The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble

Polydamas, Aeneas who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three sons of Antenor,

Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a god. Hector's round shield showed in the front rank, and

as some baneful star that shines for a moment through a rent in the clouds and is again hidden beneath them;

even so was Hector now seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost, and his bronze armour

And now as a band of reapers mow swathes of wheat or barley upon a rich man's land, and the sheaves fall

thick before them, even so did the Trojans and Achaeans fall upon one another; they were in no mood for

yielding but fought like wolves, and neither side got the better of the other. Discord was glad as she beheld

them, for she was the only god that went among them; the others were not there, but stayed quietly each in his

own home among the dells and valleys of Olympus. All of them blamed the son of Saturn for wanting to Live

victory to the Trojans, but father Jove heeded them not: he held aloof from all, and sat apart in his

allglorious majesty, looking down upon the city of the Trojans, the ships of the Achaeans, the gleam of

Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning, their darts rained thick on one another and the people

perished, but as the hour drew nigh when a woodman working in some mountain forest will get his midday

meal for he has felled till his hands are weary; he is tired out, and must now have food then the Danaans

with a cry that rang through all their ranks, broke the battalions of the enemy. Agamemnon led them on, and

slew first Bienor, a leader of his people, and afterwards his comrade and charioteer Oileus, who sprang from

his chariot and was coming full towards him; but Agamemnon struck him on the forehead with his spear; his

bronze visor was of no avail against the weapon, which pierced both bronze and bone, so that his brains were

Agamemnon stripped their shirts from off them and left them with their breasts all bare to lie where they had

fallen. He then went on to kill Isus and Antiphus two sons of Priam, the one a bastard, the other born in

wedlock; they were in the same chariot the bastard driving, while noble Antiphus fought beside him.

Achilles had once taken both of them prisoners in the glades of Ida, and had bound them with fresh withes as

they were shepherding, but he had taken a ransom for them; now, however, Agamemnon son of Atreus smote

Isus in the chest above the nipple with his spear, while he struck Antiphus hard by the ear and threw him

from his chariot. Forthwith he stripped their goodly armour from off them and recognized them, for he had

already seen them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida. As a lion fastens on the fawns of a hind

and crushes them in his great jaws, robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back to his lair the

hind can do nothing for them even though she be close by, for she is in an agony of fear, and flies through the

thick forest, sweating, and at her utmost speed before the mighty monster so, no man of the Trojans could

help Isus and Antiphus, for they were themselves flying panic before the Argives.

Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus, Pisander and brave Hippolochus. It was

Antimachus who had been foremost in preventing Helen's being restored to Menelaus, for he was largely

bribed by Alexandrus; and now Agamemnon took his two sons, both in the same chariot, trying to bring their

horses to a stand for they had lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with fear. The son of Atreus

sprang upon them like a lion, and the pair besought him from their chariot. "Take us alive," they cried, "son

of Atreus, and you shall receive a great ransom for us. Our father Antimachus has great store of gold, bronze,

and wrought iron, and from this he will satisfy you with a very large ransom should he hear of our being alive

With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king, but they heard no pitiful answer in return. "If,"

said Agamemnon, "you are sons of Antimachus, who once at a council of Trojans proposed that Menelaus

and Ulysses, who had come to you as envoys, should be killed and not suffered to return, you shall now pay

As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earth, smiting him on the chest with his spear, so that

he lay face uppermost upon the ground. Hippolochus fled, but him too did Agamemnon smite; he cut off his

hands and his head which he sent rolling in among the crowd as though it were a ball. There he let them

both lie, and wherever the ranks were thickest thither he flew, while the other Achaeans followed. Foot

soldiers drove the foot soldiers of the foe in rout before them, and slew them; horsemen did the like by

horsemen, and the thundering tramp of the horses raised a cloud of dust frim off the plain. King Agamemnon

followed after, ever slaying them and cheering on the Achaeans. As when some mighty forest is all ablaze

the eddying gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and are consumed before the blast of the

flame even so fell the heads of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus, and many a noble pair

of steeds drew an empty chariot along the highways of war, for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain,

Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust, with the carnage and din of battle; but the son of Atreus sped

onwards, calling out lustily to the Danaans. They flew on by the tomb of old Ilus, son of Dardanus, in the

middle of the plain, and past the place of the wild figtree making always for the city the son of Atreus still

shouting, and with hands all bedrabbled in gore; but when they had reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree,

there they halted and waited for the others to come up. Meanwhile the Trojans kept on flying over the middle

of the plain like a herd cows maddened with fright when a lion has attacked them in the dead of night he

springs on one of them, seizes her neck in the grip of his strong teeth and then laps up her blood and gorges

himself upon her entrails even so did King Agamemnon son of Atreus pursue the foe, ever slaughtering the

hindmost as they fled pellmell before him. Many a man was flung headlong from his chariot by the hand of

But when he was just about to reach the high wall and the city, the father of gods and men came down from

heaven and took his seat, thunderbolt in hand, upon the crest of manyfountained Ida. He then told Iris of the

golden wings to carry a message for him. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, and speak thus to Hector say that so long

as he sees Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the Trojan ranks, he is to keep aloof and bid

the others bear the brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow, and takes

to his chariot, then will I vouchsafe him strength to slay till he reach the ships and night falls at the going

Iris hearkened and obeyed. Down she went to strong Ilius from the crests of Ida, and found Hector son of

Priam standing by his chariot and horses. Then she said, "Hector son of Priam, peer of gods in counsel, father

Jove has sent me to bear you this message so long as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making

havoc of the Trojan ranks, you are to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of the battle, but when

Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then will Jove vouchsafe you

strength to slay till you reach the ships, and till night falls at the going down of the sun."

When she had thus spoken Iris left him, and Hector sprang full armed from his chariot to the ground,

brandishing his spear as he went about everywhere among the host, cheering his men on to fight, and stirring

the dread strife of battle. The Trojans then wheeled round, and again met the Achaeans, while the Argives on

their part strengthened their battalions. The battle was now in array and they stood face to face with one

another, Agamemnon ever pressing forward in his eagerness to be ahead of all others.

Tell me now ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus, who, whether of the Trojans or of their allies,

was first to face Agamemnon? It was Iphidamas son of Antenor, a man both brave and of great stature, who

was brought up in fertile Thrace the mother of sheep. Cisses, his mother's father, brought him up in his own

house when he was a child Cisses, father to fair Theano. When he reached manhood, Cisses would have

kept him there, and was for giving him his daughter in marriage, but as soon as he had married he set out to

fight the Achaeans with twelve ships that followed him: these he had left at Percote and had come on by land

to Ilius. He it was that naw met Agamemnon son of Atreus. When they were close up with one another, the

son of Atreus missed his aim, and Iphidamas hit him on the girdle below the cuirass and then flung himself

upon him, trusting to his strength of arm; the girdle, however, was not pierced, nor nearly so, for the point of

the spear struck against the silver and was turned aside as though it had been lead: King Agamemnon caught

it from his hand, and drew it towards him with the fury of a lion; he then drew his sword, and killed

Iphidamas by striking him on the neck. So there the poor fellow lay, sleeping a sleep as it were of bronze,

killed in the defence of his fellowcitizens, far from his wedded wife, of whom he had had no joy though he

had given much for her: he had given a hundredhead of cattle down, and had promised later on to give a

thousand sheep and goats mixed, from the countless flocks of which he was possessed. Agamemnon son of

Atreus then despoiled him, and carried off his armour into the host of the Achaeans.

When noble Coon, Antenor's eldest son, saw this, sore indeed were his eyes at the sight of his fallen brother.

Unseen by Agamemnon he got beside him, spear in hand, and wounded him in the middle of his arm below

the elbow, the point of the spear going right through the arm. Agamemnon was convulsed with pain, but still

not even for this did he leave off struggling and fighting, but grasped his spear that flew as fleet as the wind,

and sprang upon Coon who was trying to drag off the body of his brother his father's son by the foot, and

was crying for help to all the bravest of his comrades; but Agamemnon struck him with a bronzeshod spear

and killed him as he was dragging the dead body through the press of men under cover of his shield: he then

cut off his head, standing over the body of Iphidamas. Thus did the sons of Antenor meet their fate at the

As long as the blood still welled warm from his wound Agamemnon went about attacking the ranks of the

enemy with spear and sword and with great handfuls of stone, but when the blood had ceased to flow and the

wound grew dry, the pain became great. As the sharp pangs which the Eilithuiae, goddesses of childbirth,

daughters of Juno and dispensers of cruel pain, send upon a woman when she is in labour even so sharp

were the pangs of the son of Atreus. He sprang on to his chariot, and bade his charioteer drive to the ships, for

he was in great agony. With a loud clear voice he shouted to the Danaans, "My friends, princes and

counsellors of the Argives, defend the ships yourselves, for Jove has not suffered me to fight the whole day

With this the charioteer turned his horses towards the ships, and they flew forward nothing loth. Their chests

were white with foam and their bellies with dust, as they drew the wounded king out of the battle.

When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field, he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying, "Trojans,

Lycians, and Dardanian warriors, be men, my friends, and acquit yourselves in battle bravely; their best man

has left them, and Jove has vouchsafed me a great triumph; charge the foe with your chariots that. you may

With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and as a huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or

wild boar, even so did Hector, peer of Mars, hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans. Full of hope

he plunged in among the foremost, and fell on the fight like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the

What, then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam killed in the hour of triumph which Jove then

vouchsafed him? First Asaeus, Autonous, and Opites; Dolops son of Clytius, Opheltius and Agelaus;

Aesymnus, Orus and Hipponous steadfast in battle; these chieftains of the Achaeans did Hector slay, and then

he fell upon the rank and file. As when the west wind hustles the clouds of the white south and beats them

down with the fierceness of its fury the waves of the sea roll high, and the spray is flung aloft in the rage of

the wandering wind even so thick were the heads of them that fell by the hand of Hector.

All had then been lost and no help for it, and the Achaeans would have fled pellmell to their ships, had not

Ulysses cried out to Diomed, "Son of Tydeus, what has happened to us that we thus forget our prowess?

Come, my good fellow, stand by my side and help me, we shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the ships."

And Diomed answered, "Come what may, I will stand firm; but we shall have scant joy of it, for Jove is

With these words he struck Thymbraeus from his chariot to the ground, smiting him in the left breast with his

spear, while Ulysses killed Molion who was his squire. These they let lie, now that they had stopped their

fighting; the two heroes then went on playing havoc with the foe, like two wild boars that turn in fury and

rend the hounds that hunt them. Thus did they turn upon the Trojans and slay them, and the Achaeans were

They then took two princes with their chariot, the two sons of Merops of Percote, who excelled all others in

the arts of divination. He had forbidden his sons to go to the war, but they would not obey him, for fate lured

them to their fall. Diomed son of Tydeus slew them both and stripped them of their armour, while Ulysses

And now the son of Saturn as he looked down from Ida ordained that neither side should have the advantage,

and they kept on killing one another. The son of Tydeus speared Agastrophus son of Paeon in the hipjoint

with his spear. His chariot was not at hand for him to fly with, so blindly confident had he been. His squire

was in charge of it at some distance and he was fighting on foot among the foremost until he lost his life.

Hector soon marked the havoc Diomed and Ulysses were making, and bore down upon them with a loud cry,

followed by the Trojan ranks; brave Diomed was dismayed when he saw them, and said to Ulysses who was

beside him, "Great Hector is bearing down upon us and we shall be undone; let us stand firm and wait his

He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it, nor did he miss his mark. He had aimed at Hector's head near

the top of his helmet, but bronze was turned by bronze, and Hector was untouched, for the spear was stayed

by the visored helm made with three plates of metal, which Phoebus Apollo had given him. Hector sprang

back with a great bound under cover of the ranks; he fell on his knees and propped himself with his brawny

hand leaning on the ground, for darkness had fallen on his eyes. The son of Tydeus having thrown his spear

dashed in among the foremost fighters, to the place where he had seen it strike the ground; meanwhile Hector

recovered himself and springing back into his chariot mingled with the crowd, by which means he saved his

life. But Diomed made at him with his spear and said, "Dog, you have again got away though death was close

on your heels. Phoebus Apollo, to whom I ween you pray ere you go into battle, has again saved you,

nevertheless I will meet you and make and end of you hereafter, if there is any god who will stand by me too

As he spoke he began stripping the spoils from the son of Paeon, but Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen

aimed an arrow at him, leaning against a pillar of the monument which men had raised to Ilus son of

Dardanus, a ruler in days of old. Diomed had taken the cuirass from off the breast of Agastrophus, his heavy

helmet also, and the shield from off his shoulders, when Paris drew his bow and let fly an arrow that sped not

from his hand in vain, but pierced the flat of Diomed's right foot, going right through it and fixing itself in the

ground. Thereon Paris with a hearty laugh sprang forward from his hidingplace, and taunted him saying,

"You are wounded my arrow has not been shot in vain; would that it had hit you in the belly and killed you,

for thus the Trojans, who fear you as goats fear a lion, would have had a truce from evil."

Diomed all undaunted answered, "Archer, you who without your bow are nothing, slanderer and seducer, if

you were to be tried in single combat fighting in full armour, your bow and your arrows would serve you in

little stead. Vain is your boast in that you have scratched the sole of my foot. I care no more than if a girl or

some silly boy had hit me. A worthless coward can inflict but a light wound; when I wound a man though I

but graze his skin it is another matter, for my weapon will lay him low. His wife will tear her cheeks for grief

and his children will be fatherless: there will he rot, reddening the earth with his blood, and vultures, not

Thus he spoke, but Ulysses came up and stood over him. Under this cover he sat down to draw the arrow

from his foot, and sharp was the pain he suffered as he did so. Then he sprang on to his chariot and bade the

Ulysses was now alone; not one of the Argives stood by him, for they were all panicstricken. "Alas," said he

to himself in his dismay, "what will become of me? It is ill if I turn and fly before these odds, but it will be

worse if I am left alone and taken prisoner, for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the Danaans with

panic. But why talk to myself in this way? Well do I know that though cowards quit the field, a hero, whether

While he was thus in two minds, the ranks of the Trojans advanced and hemmed him in, and bitterly did they

come to me it. As hounds and lusty youths set upon a wild boar that sallies from his lair whetting his white

tusks they attack him from every side and can hear the gnashing of his jaws, but for all his fierceness they

still hold their ground even so furiously did the Trojans attack Ulysses. First he sprang spear in hand upon

Deiopites and wounded him on the shoulder with a downward blow; then he killed Thoon and Ennomus.

After these he struck Chersidamas in the loins under his shield as he had just sprung down from his chariot;

so he fell in the dust and clutched the earth in the hollow of his hand. These he let lie, and went on to wound

Charops son of Hippasus own brother to noble Socus. Socus, hero that he was, made all speed to help him,

and when he was close to Ulysses he said, "Farfamed Ulysses, insatiable of craft and toil, this day you shall

either boast of having killed both the sons of Hippasus and stripped them of their armour, or you shall fall

With these words he struck the shield of Ulysses. The spear went through the shield and passed on through

his richly wrought cuirass, tearing the flesh from his side, but Pallas Minerva did not suffer it to pierce the

entrails of the hero. Ulysses knew that his hour was not yet come, but he gave ground and said to Socus,

"Wretch, you shall now surely die. You have stayed me from fighting further with the Trojans, but you shall

now fall by my spear, yielding glory to myself, and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds."

Socus had turned in flight, but as he did so, the spear struck him in the back midway between the shoulders,

and went right through his chest. He fell heavily to the ground and Ulysses vaunted over him saying, "O

Socus, son of Hippasus tamer of horses, death has been too quick for you and you have not escaped him: poor

wretch, not even in death shall your father and mother close your eyes, but the ravening vultures shall

enshroud you with the flapping of their dark wings and devour you. Whereas even though I fall the Achaeans

So saying he drew Socus's heavy spear out of his flesh and from his shield, and the blood welled forth when

the spear was withdrawn so that he was much dismayed. When the Trojans saw that Ulysses was bleeding

they raised a great shout and came on in a body towards him; he therefore gave ground, and called his

comrades to come and help him. Thrice did he cry as loudly as man can cry, and thrice did brave Menelaus

hear him; he turned, therefore, to Ajax who was close beside him and said, "Ajax, noble son of Telamon,

captain of your people, the cry of Ulysses rings in my ears, as though the Trojans had cut him off and were

worsting him while he is singlehanded. Let us make our way through the throng; it will be well that we

defend him; I fear he may come to harm for all his valour if he be left without support, and the Danaans

He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him. The Trojans had gathered round Ulysses like ravenous

mountain jackals round the carcase of some homed stag that has been hit with an arrow the stag has fled at

full speed so long as his blood was warm and his strength has lasted, but when the arrow has overcome him,

the savage jackals devour him in the shady glades of the forest. Then heaven sends a fierce lion thither,

whereon the jackals fly in terror and the lion robs them of their prey even so did Trojans many and brave

gather round crafty Ulysses, but the hero stood at bay and kept them off with his spear. Ajax then came up

with his shield before him like a wall, and stood hard by, whereon the Trojans fled in all directions. Menelaus

took Ulysses by the hand, and led him out of the press while his squire brought up his chariot, but Ajax

rushed furiously on the Trojans and killed Doryclus, a bastard son of Priam; then he wounded Pandocus,

Lysandrus, Pyrasus, and Pylartes; as some swollen torrent comes rushing in full flood from the mountains on

to the plain, big with the rain of heaven many a dry oak and many a pine does it engulf, and much mud does

it bring down and cast into the sea even so did brave Ajax chase the foe furiously over the plain, slaying

Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting on the extreme left of the battle by the

banks of the river Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the warcry loudest round Nestor and

brave Idomeneus. Among these Hector was making great slaughter with his spear and furious driving, and

was destroying the ranks that were opposed to him; still the Achaeans would have given no ground, had not

Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen stayed the prowess of Machaon shepherd of his people, by wounding

him in the right shoulder with a triplebarbed arrow. The Achaeans were in great fear that as the fight had

turned against them the Trojans might take him prisoner, and Idomeneus said to Nestor, "Nestor son of

Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, mount your chariot at once; take Machaon with you and drive your

horses to the ships as fast as you can. A physician is worth more than several other men put together, for he

Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had counselled; he at once mounted his chariot, and Machaon son

of the famed physician Aesculapius went with him. He lashed his horses and they flew onward nothing loth

Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector from his place beside him, "Hector, here are

we two fighting on the extreme wing of the battle, while the other Trojans are in pellmell rout, they and

their horses. Ajax son of Telamon is driving them before him; I know him by the breadth of his shield: let us

turn our chariot and horses thither, where horse and foot are fighting most desperately, and where the cry of

With this he lashed his goodly steeds, and when they felt the whip they drew the chariot full speed among the

Achaeans and Trojans, over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen: the axle was bespattered with

blood, and the rail round the car was covered with splashes both from the horses' hoofs and from the tyres of

the wheels. Hector tore his way through and flung himself into the thick of the fight, and his presence threw

the Danaans into confusion, for his spear was not long idle; nevertheless though he went among the ranks

with sword and spear, and throwing great stones, he avoided Ajax son of Telamon, for Jove would have been

Then father Jove from his high throne struck fear into the heart of Ajax, so that he stood there dazed and

threw his shield behind himlooking fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he were some wild beast, and

turning hither and thither but crouching slowly backwards. As peasants with their hounds chase a lion from

their stockyard, and watch by night to prevent his carrying off the pick of their herdhe makes his greedy

spring, but in vain, for the darts from many a strong hand fall thick around him, with burning brands that

scare him for all his fury, and when morning comes he slinks foiled and angry away even so did Ajax,

sorely against his will, retreat angrily before the Trojans, fearing for the ships of the Achaeans. Or as some

lazy ass that has had many a cudgel broken about his back, when he into a field begins eating the corn boys

beat him but he is too many for them, and though they lay about with their sticks they cannot hurt him; still

when he has had his fill they at last drive him from the field even so did the Trojans and their allies pursue

great Ajax, ever smiting the middle of his shield with their darts. Now and again he would turn and show

fight, keeping back the battalions of the Trojans, and then he would again retreat; but he prevented any of

them from making his way to the ships. Singlehanded he stood midway between the Trojans and Achaeans:

the spears that sped from their hands stuck some of them in his mighty shield, while many, though thirsting

for his blood, fell to the ground ere they could reach him to the wounding of his fair flesh.

Now when Eurypylus the brave son of Euaemon saw that Ajax was being overpowered by the rain of arrows,

he went up to him and hurled his spear. He struck Apisaon son of Phausius in the liver below the midriff, and

laid him low. Eurypylus sprang upon him, and stripped the armour from his shoulders; but when Alexandrus

saw him, he aimed an arrow at him which struck him in the right thigh; the arrow broke, but the point that

was left in the wound dragged on the thigh; he drew back, therefore, under cover of his comrades to save his

life, shouting as he did so to the Danaans, "My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, rally to the

defence of Ajax who is being overpowered, and I doubt whether he will come out of the fight alive. Hither,

Even so did he cry when he was wounded; thereon the others came near, and gathered round him, holding

their shields upwards from their shoulders so as to give him cover. Ajax then made towards them, and turned

Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the mares of Neleus, all in a lather with sweat,

were bearing Nestor out of the fight, and with him Machaon shepherd of his people. Achilles saw and took

note, for he was standing on the stern of his ship watching the hard stress and struggle of the fight. He called

from the ship to his comrade Patroclus, who heard him in the tent and came out looking like Mars himself

here indeed was the beginning of the ill that presently befell him. "Why," said he, "Achilles do you call me?

what do you what do you want with me?" And Achilles answered, "Noble son of Menoetius, man after my

own heart, I take it that I shall now have the Achaeans praying at my knees, for they are in great straits; go,

Patroclus, and ask Nestor who is that he is bearing away wounded from the field; from his back I should say

it was Machaon son of Aesculapius, but I could not see his face for the horses went by me at full speed."

Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him, and set off running by the ships and tents of the Achaeans.

When Nestor and Machaon had reached the tents of the son of Neleus, they dismounted, and an esquire,

Eurymedon, took the horses from the chariot. The pair then stood in the breeze by the seaside to dry the sweat

from their shirts, and when they had so done they came inside and took their seats. Fair Hecamede, whom

Nestor had had awarded to him from Tenedos when Achilles took it, mixed them a mess; she was daughter of

wise Arsinous, and the Achaeans had given her to Nestor because he excelled all of them in counsel. First she

set for them a fair and wellmade table that had feet of cyanus; on it there was a vessel of bronze and an

onion to give relish to the drink, with honey and cakes of barleymeal. There was also a cup of rare

workmanship which the old man had brought with him from home, studded with bosses of gold; it had four

handles, on each of which there were two golden doves feeding, and it had two feet to stand on. Any one else

would hardly have been able to lift it from the table when it was full, but Nestor could do so quite easily. In

this the woman, as fair as a goddess, mixed them a mess with Pramnian wine; she grated goat's milk cheese

into it with a bronze grater, threw in a handful of white barleymeal, and having thus prepared the mess she

bade them drink it. When they had done so and had thus quenched their thirst, they fell talking with one

When the old man saw him he sprang from his seat, seized his hand, led him into the tent, and bade him take

his place among them; but Patroclus stood where he was and said, "Noble sir, I may not stay, you cannot

persuade me to come in; he that sent me is not one to be trifled with, and he bade me ask who the wounded

man was whom you were bearing away from the field. I can now see for myself that he is Machaon shepherd

of his people. I must go back and tell Achilles. You, sir, know what a terrible man he is, and how ready to

And Nestor answered, "Why should Achilles care to know how many of the Achaeans may be wounded? He

recks not of the dismay that reigns in our host; our most valiant chieftains lie disabled, brave Diomed son of

Tydeus is wounded; so are Ulysses and Agamemnon; Eurypylus has been hit with an arrow in the thigh, and I

have just been bringing this man from the field he too wounded with an arrow; nevertheless Achilles, so

valiant though he be, cares not and knows no ruth. Will he wait till the ships, do what we may, are in a blaze,

and we perish one upon the other? As for me, I have no strength nor stay in me any longer; would that I Were

still young and strong as in the days when there was a fight between us and the men of Elis about some

cattleraiding. I then killed Itymoneus the valiant son of Hypeirochus a dweller in Elis, as I was driving in

the spoil; he was hit by a dart thrown my hand while fighting in the front rank in defence of his cows, so he

fell and the country people around him were in great fear. We drove off a vast quantity of booty from the

plain, fifty herds of cattle and as many flocks of sheep; fifty droves also of pigs, and as many widespreading

flocks of goats. Of horses moreover we seized a hundred and fifty, all of them mares, and many had foals

running with them. All these did we drive by night to Pylus the city of Neleus, taking them within the city;

and the heart of Neleus was glad in that I had taken so much, though it was the first time I had ever been in

the field. At daybreak the heralds went round crying that all in Elis to whom there was a debt owing should

come; and the leading Pylians assembled to divide the spoils. There were many to whom the Epeans owed

chattels, for we men of Pylus were few and had been oppressed with wrong; in former years Hercules had

come, and had laid his hand heavy upon us, so that all our best men had perished. Neleus had had twelve

sons, but I alone was left; the others had all been killed. The Epeans presuming upon all this had looked down

upon us and had done us much evil. My father chose a herd of cattle and a great flock of sheep three

hundred in all and he took their shepherds with him, for there was a great debt due to him in Elis, to wit four

horses, winners of prizes. They and their chariots with them had gone to the games and were to run for a

tripod, but King Augeas took them, and sent back their driver grieving for the loss of his horses. Neleus was

angered by what he had both said and done, and took great value in return, but he divided the rest, that no

"Thus did we order all things, and offer sacrifices to the gods throughout the city; but three days afterwards

the Epeans came in a body, many in number, they and their chariots, in full array, and with them the two

Moliones in their armour, though they were still lads and unused to fighting. Now there is a certain town,

Thryoessa, perched upon a rock on the river Alpheus, the border city Pylus; this they would destroy, and

pitched their camp about it, but when they had crossed their whole plain, Minerva darted down by night from

Olympus and bade us set ourselves in array; and she found willing soldiers in Pylos, for the men meant

fighting. Neleus would not let me arm, and hid my horses, for he said that as yet I could know nothing about

war; nevertheless Minerva so ordered the fight that, all on foot as I was, I fought among our mounted forces

and vied with the foremost of them. There is a river Minyeius that falls into the sea near Arene, and there they

that were mounted (and I with them) waited till morning, when the companies of foot soldiers came up with

us in force. Thence in full panoply and equipment we came towards noon to the sacred waters of the Alpheus,

and there we offered victims to almighty Jove, with a bull to Alpheus, another to Neptune, and a herdheifer

to Minerva. After this we took supper in our companies, and laid us down to rest each in his armour by the

"The Epeans were beleaguering the city and were determined to take it, but ere this might be there was a

desperate fight in store for them. When the sun's rays began to fall upon the earth we joined battle, praying to

Jove and to Minerva, and when the fight had begun, I was the first to kill my man and take his horses to wit

the warrior Mulius. He was soninlaw to Augeas, having married his eldest daughter, goldenhaired

Agamede, who knew the virtues of every herb which grows upon the face of the earth. I speared him as he

was coming towards me, and when he fell headlong in the dust, I sprang upon his chariot and took my place

in the front ranks. The Epeans fled in all directions when they saw the captain of their horsemen (the best

man they had) laid low, and I swept down on them like a whirlwind, taking fifty chariotsand in each of them

two men bit the dust, slain by my spear. I should have even killed the two Moliones sons of Actor, unless

their real father, Neptune lord of the earthquake, had hidden them in a thick mist and borne them out of the

fight. Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory, for we chased them far over the plain, killing the

men and bringing in their armour, till we had brought our horses to Buprasium rich in wheat and to the

Olenian rock, with the hill that is called Alision, at which point Minerva turned the people back. There I slew

the last man and left him; then the Achaeans drove their horses back from Buprasium to Pylos and gave

"Such was I among my peers, as surely as ever was, but Achilles is for keeping all his valour for himself;

bitterly will he rue it hereafter when the host is being cut to pieces. My good friend, did not Menoetius charge

you thus, on the day when he sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon? Ulysses and I were in the house, inside,

and heard all that he said to you; for we came to the fair house of Peleus while beating up recruits throughout

all Achaea, and when we got there we found Menoetius and yourself, and Achilles with you. The old knight

Peleus was in the outer court, roasting the fat thighbones of a heifer to Jove the lord of thunder; and he held

a gold chalice in his hand from which he poured drinkofferings of wine over the burning sacrifice. You two

were busy cutting up the heifer, and at that moment we stood at the gates, whereon Achilles sprang to his

feet, led us by the hand into the house, placed us at table, and set before us such hospitable entertainment as

guests expect. When we had satisfied ourselves with meat and drink, I said my say and urged both of you to

join us. You were ready enough to do so, and the two old men charged you much and straitly. Old Peleus

bade his son Achilles fight ever among the foremost and outvie his peers, while Menoetius the son of Actor

spoke thus to you: 'My son,' said he, 'Achilles is of nobler birth than you are, but you are older than he,

though he is far the better man of the two. Counsel him wisely, guide him in the right way, and he will follow

you to his own profit.' Thus did your father charge you, but you have forgotten; nevertheless, even now, say

all this to Achilles if he will listen to you. Who knows but with heaven's help you may talk him over, for it is

good to take a friend's advice. If, however, he is fearful about some oracle, or if his mother has told him

something from Jove, then let him send you, and let the rest of the Myrmidons follow with you, if perchance

you may bring light and saving to the Danaans. And let him send you into battle clad in his own armour, that

the Trojans may mistake you for him and leave off fighting; the sons of the Achaeans may thus have time to

get their breath, for they are hard pressed and there is little breathing time in battle. You, who are fresh, might

easily drive a tired enemy back to his walls and away from the tents and ships."

With these words he moved the heart of Patroclus, who set off running by the line of the ships to Achilles,

descendant of Aeacus. When he had got as far as the ships of Ulysses, where was their place of assembly and

court of justice, with their altars dedicated to the gods, Eurypylus son of Euaemon met him, wounded in the

thigh with an arrow, and limping out of the fight. Sweat rained from his head and shoulders, and black blood

welled from his cruel wound, but his mind did not wander. The son of Menoetius when he saw him had

compassion upon him and spoke piteously saying, "O unhappy princes and counsellors of the Danaans, are

you then doomed to feed the hounds of Troy with your fat, far from your friends and your native land? say,

noble Eurypylus, will the Achaeans be able to hold great Hector in check, or will they fall now before his

Wounded Eurypylus made answer, "Noble Patroclus, there is no hope left for the Achaeans but they will

perish at their ships. All they that were princes among us are lying struck down and wounded at the hands of

the Trojans, who are waxing stronger and stronger. But save me and take me to your ship; cut out the arrow

from my thigh; wash the black blood from off it with warm water, and lay upon it those gracious herbs

which, so they say, have been shown you by Achilles, who was himself shown them by Chiron, most

righteous of all the centaurs. For of the physicians Podalirius and Machaon, I hear that the one is lying

wounded in his tent and is himself in need of healing, while the other is fighting the Trojans upon the plain."

"Hero Eurypylus," replied the brave son of Menoetius, "how may these things be? What can I do? I am on my

way to bear a message to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene, bulwark of the Achaeans, but even so I will

With this he clasped him round the middle and led him into the tent, and a servant, when he saw him, spread

bullockskins on the ground for him to lie on. He laid him at full length and cut out the sharp arrow from his

thigh; he washed the black blood from the wound with warm water; he then crushed a bitter herb, rubbing it

between his hands, and spread it upon the wound; this was a virtuous herb which killed all pain; so the wound

So the son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans

still fought desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it, to keep the Trojans in check longer.

They had built it to protect their ships, and had dug the trench all round it that it might safeguard both the

ships and the rich spoils which they had taken, but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had been

built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it did not last. So long as Hector lived and Achilles

nursed his anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood

firm; but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet

left alive when, moreover, the city was sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their

ships to their own country then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to

it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus,

Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of

the race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned the mouths of all these rivers together and

made them flow for nine days against the wall, while Jove rained the whole time that he might wash it sooner

into the sea. Neptune himself, trident in hand, surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the foundations of

beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with so much toil; he made all level by the mighty stream of

the Hellespont, and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a great beach of sand over the place

This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time; but as yet battle and turmoil were still raging

round the wall till its timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives, cowed by the scourge

of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in fear of Hector the mighty minister of Rout, who as heretofore

fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind. As a lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that

attack him, while these form solid wall and shower their javelins as they face him his courage is all

undaunted, but his high spirit will be the death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to scatter

them, and they fall back as often as he does so even so did Hector go about among the host exhorting his

But the horses dared not do so, and stood neighing upon its brink, for the width frightened them. They could

neither jump it nor cross it, for it had overhanging banks all round upon either side, above which there were

the sharp stakes that the sons of the Achaeans had planted so close and strong as a defence against all who

would assail it; a horse, therefore, could not get into it and draw his chariot after him, but those who were on

foot kept trying their very utmost. Then Polydamas went up to Hector and said, "Hector, and you other

captains of the Trojans and allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across the trench; it will be

very hard to cross, for it is full of sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall. Our horses therefore

cannot get down into it, and would be of no use if they did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should

come to harm. If, indeed, great Jove is minded to help the Trojans, and in his anger will utterly destroy the

Achaeans, I would myself gladly see them perish now and here far from Argos; but if they should rally and

we are driven back from the ships pellmell into the trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the

city to tell the tale. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our squires hold our horses by the trench, but let

us follow Hector in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans

Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang in full armour to the ground, and all the

other Trojans, when they saw him do so, also left their chariots. Each man then gave his horses over to his

charioteer in charge to hold them ready for him at the trench. Then they formed themselves into companies,

made themselves ready, and in five bodies followed their leaders. Those that went with Hector and

Polydamas were the bravest and most in number, and the most determined to break through the wall and fight

at the ships. Cebriones was also joined with them as third in command, for Hector had left his chariot in

charge of a less valiant soldier. The next company was led by Paris, Alcathous, and Agenor; the third by

Helenus and Deiphobus, two sons of Priam, and with them was the hero AsiusAsius the son of Hyrtacus,

whose great black horses of the breed that comes from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe. Aeneas

the valiant son of Anchises led the fourth; he and the two sons of Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, men

well versed in all the arts of war. Sarpedon was captain over the allies, and took with him Glaucus and

Asteropaeus whom he deemed most valiant after himself for he was far the best man of them all. These

helped to array one another in their oxhide shields, and then charged straight at the Danaans, for they felt

sure that they would not hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the ships.

The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel of Polydamas but Asius son of Hyrtacus

would not leave his horses and his esquire behind him; in his foolhardiness he took them on with him towards

the ships, nor did he fail to come by his end in consequence. Nevermore was he to return to windbeaten

Ilius, exulting in his chariot and his horses; ere he could do so, death of illomened name had overshadowed

him and he had fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion. He had driven towards the left

wing of the ships, by which way the Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the plain.

Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors opened wide, and the great bar down for the gatemen

kept them open so as to let those of their comrades enter who might be flying towards the ships. Hither of set

purpose did he direct his horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they felt sure that the

Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they should now fall upon the ships. Little did they know that

at the gates they should find two of the bravest chieftains, proud sons of the fighting Lapithae the one,

Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, and the other Leonteus, peer of murderous Mars. These stood before the

gates like two high oak trees upon the mountains, that tower from their widespreading roots, and year after

year battle with wind and rain even so did these two men await the onset of great Asius confidently and

without flinching. The Trojans led by him and by Iamenus, Orestes, Adamas the son of Asius, Thoon and

Oenomaus, raised a loud cry of battle and made straight for the wall, holding their shields of dry oxhide

above their heads; for a while the two defenders remained inside and cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm

in the defence of their ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking the wall, while the

Danaans were crying out for help and being routed, they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like

two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men and dogs, and charging on either side break

down the wood all round them tearing it up by the roots, and one can hear the clattering of their tusks, till

some one hits them and makes an end of them even so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their breasts, as

the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with great fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who

were on the wall above them. These threw great stones at their assailants in defence of themselves their tents

and their ships. The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow which some fierce blast drives from the dark

clouds and showers down in sheets upon the earth even so fell the weapons from the hands alike of Trojans

and Achaeans. Helmet and shield rang out as the great stones rained upon them, and Asius the son of

Hyrtacus in his dismay cried aloud and smote his two thighs. "Father Jove," he cried, "of a truth you too are

altogether given to lying. I made sure the Argive heroes could not withstand us, whereas like slimwaisted

wasps, or bees that have their nests in the rocks by the waysidethey leave not the holes wherein they have

built undefended, but fight for their little ones against all who would take them even so these men, though

they be but two, will not be driven from the gates, but stand firm either to slay or be slain."

He spoke, but moved not the mind of Jove, whose counsel it then was to give glory to Hector. Meanwhile the

rest of the Trojans were fighting about the other gates; I, however, am no god to be able to tell about all these

things, for the battle raged everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace. The Argives,

discomfited though they were, were forced to defend their ships, and all the gods who were defending the

Achaeans were vexed in spirit; but the Lapithae kept on fighting with might and main.

Thereon Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, hit Damasus with a spear upon his cheekpierced helmet. The

helmet did not protect him, for the point of the spear went through it, and broke the bone, so that the brain

inside was scattered about, and he died fighting. He then slew Pylon and Ormenus. Leonteus, of the race of

Mars, killed Hippomachus the son of Antimachus by striking him with his spear upon the girdle. He then

drew his sword and sprang first upon Antiphates whom he killed in combat, and who fell face upwards on the

earth. After him he killed Menon, Iamenus, and Orestes, and laid them low one after the other.

While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes, the youths who were led on by Polydamas and

Hector (and these were the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break through the

wall and fire the ships) were still standing by the trench, uncertain what they should do; for they had seen a

sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it a soaring eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their

host, with a monstrous bloodred snake in its talons still alive and struggling to escape. The snake was still

bent on revenge, wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it struck the bird that held it, on the neck and

breast; whereon the bird being in pain, let it fall, dropping it into the middle of the host, and then flew down

the wind with a sharp cry. The Trojans were struck with terror when they saw the snake, portent of

aegisbearing Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to Hector and said, "Hector, at our

councils of war you are ever given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well,

forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will either in the field or at the council board; you would

have them support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be best; let us not now go on to fight

the Danaans at their ships, for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted the left wing of our

with a monstrous bloodred snake in its talons (the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the

Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle let go her hold; she did not succeed in taking it home

to her little ones, and so will it be with ourselves; even though by a mighty effort we break through the gates

and wall of the Achaeans, and they give way before us, still we shall not return in good order by the way we

came, but shall leave many a man behind us whom the Achaeans will do to death in defence of their ships.

Thus would any seer who was expert in these matters, and was trusted by the people, read the portent."

Hector looked fiercely at him and said, "Polydamas, I like not of your reading. You can find a better saying

than this if you will. If, however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of

your reason. You would have me pay no heed to the counsels of Jove, nor to the promises he made me and

he bowed his head in confirmation; you bid me be ruled rather by the flight of wildfowl. What care I

whether they fly towards dawn or dark, and whether they be on my right hand or on my left? Let us put our

trust rather in the counsel of great Jove, king of mortals and immortals. There is one omen, and one only

that a man should fight for his country. Why are you so fearful? Though we be all of us slain at the ships of

the Argives you are not likely to be killed yourself, for you are not steadfast nor courageous. If you will. not

fight, or would talk others over from doing so, you shall fall forthwith before my spear."

With these words he led the way, and the others followed after with a cry that rent the air. Then Jove the lord

of thunder sent the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards the

ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting

to their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the

Achaeans. They tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the battlements; they upheaved the

buttresses, which the Achaeans had set in front of the wall in order to support it; when they had pulled these

down they made sure of breaking through the wall, but the Danaans still showed no sign of giving ground;

they still fenced the battlements with their shields of oxhide, and hurled their missiles down upon the foe as

The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the Achaeans, giving fair words to some

while they spoke sharply to any one whom they saw to be remiss. "My friends," they cried, "Argives one and

all good bad and indifferent, for there was never fight yet, in which all were of equal prowess there is now

work enough, as you very well know, for all of you. See that you none of you turn in flight towards the ships,

daunted by the shouting of the foe, but press forward and keep one another in heart, if it may so be that

Olympian Jove the lord of lightning will vouchsafe us to repel our foes, and drive them back towards the

Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on. As the flakes that fall thick upon a

winter's day, when Jove is minded to snow and to display these his arrows to mankind he lulls the wind to

rest, and snows hour after hour till he has buried the tops of the high mountains, the headlands that jut into

the sea, the grassy plains, and the tilled fields of men; the snow lies deep upon the forelands, and havens of

the grey sea, but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it can come no further, though all else is

wrapped as with a mantle so heavy are the heavens with snow even thus thickly did the stones fall on one

side and on the other, some thrown at the Trojans, and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans; and the whole

Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down the gates and the great bar, had not Jove

turned his son Sarpedon against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle. Before him he held his

shield of hammered bronze, that the smith had beaten so fair and round, and had lined with ox hides which he

had made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield; this he held in front of him, and brandishing his two

spears came on like some lion of the wilderness, who has been long famished for want of meat and will dare

break even into a wellfenced homestead to try and get at the sheep. He may find the shepherds keeping

watch over their flocks with dogs and spears, but he is in no mind to be driven from the fold till he has had a

try for it; he will either spring on a sheep and carry it off, or be hit by a spear from strong hand even so was

Sarpedon fain to attack the wall and break down its battlements. Then he said to Glaucus son of Hippolochus,

"Glaucus, why in Lycia do we receive especial honour as regards our place at table? Why are the choicest

portions served us and our cups kept brimming, and why do men look up to us as though we were gods?

Moreover we hold a large estate by the banks of the river Xanthus, fair with orchard lawns and

wheatgrowing land; it becomes us, therefore, to take our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the

brunt of the fight, that one may say to another, Our princes in Lycia eat the fat of the land and drink best of

wine, but they are fine fellows; they fight well and are ever at the front in battle.' My good friend, if, when we

were once out of this fight, we could escape old age and death thenceforward and for ever, I should neither

press forward myself nor bid you do so, but death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no

man can elude him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for ourselves, or yield it to another."

Glaucus heeded his saying, and the pair forthwith led on the host of Lycians. Menestheus son of Peteos was

dismayed when he saw them, for it was against his part of the wall that they came bringing destruction with

them; he looked along the wall for some chieftain to support his comrades and saw the two Ajaxes, men ever

eager for the fray, and Teucer, who had just come from his tent, standing near them; but he could not make

his voice heard by shouting to them, so great an uproar was there from crashing shields and helmets and the

battering of gates with a din which reached the skies. For all the gates had been closed, and the Trojans were

hammering at them to try and break their way through them. Menestheus, therefore, sent Thootes with a

message to Ajax. "Run, good Thootes," said and call Ajax, or better still bid both come, for it will be all over

with us here directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have ever fought desperately

heretofore. But if the have too much on their hands to let them come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do

The messenger did as he was told, and set off running along the wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the

Ajaxes he said to them, "Sirs, princes of the Argives, the son of noble Peteos bids you come to him for a

while and help him. You had better both come if you can, or it will be all over with him directly; the leaders

of the Lycians are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore; if you have too much on your

hands to let both come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the famous bowman come

Great Ajax, son of Telamon, heeded the message, and at once spoke to the son of Oileus. "Ajax," said he, "do

you two, yourself and brave Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight their hardest. I will

go over yonder, and bear my part in the fray, but I will come back here at once as soon as I have given them

With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer his brother by the same father went also, with Pandion to

carry Teucer's bow. They went along inside the wall, and when they came to the tower where Menestheus

was (and hard pressed indeed did they find him) the brave captains and leaders of the Lycians were storming

the battlements as it were a thick dark cloud, fighting in close quarters, and raising the battlecry aloud.

First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon, hitting him with a jagged stone that

lay by the battlements at the very top of the wall. As men now are, even one who is in the bloom of youth

could hardly lift it with his two hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down, smashing Epicles'

fourcrested helmet so that the bones of his head were crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall as

though he were diving, with no more life left in him. Then Teucer wounded Glaucus the brave son of

Hippolochus as he was coming on to attack the wall. He saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it,

which made Glaucus leave off fighting. Thereon he sprang covertly down for fear some of the Achaeans

might see that he was wounded and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief when he saw Glaucus leave

him, still he did not leave off fighting, but aimed his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and hit him. He

drew his spear back again Alcmaon came down headlong after it with his bronzed armour rattling round him.

Then Sarpedon seized the battlement in his strong hands, and tugged at it till it an gave way together, and a

Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him. Teucer hit him with an arrow on the band that bore the

shield which covered his body, but Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not fall by the ships'

sterns. Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear did not go clean through, though

it hustled him back that he could come on no further. He therefore retired a little space from the battlement,

yet without losing all his ground, for he still thought to cover himself with glory. Then he turned round and

shouted to the brave Lycians saying, "Lycians, why do you thus fail me? For all my prowess I cannot break

through the wall and open a way to the ships singlehanded. Come close on behind me, for the more there are

The Lycians, shamed by his rebuke, pressed closer round him who was their counsellor their king. The

Argives on their part got their men in fighting order within the wall, and there was a deadly struggle between

them. The Lycians could not break through the wall and force their way to the ships, nor could the Danaans

drive the Lycians from the wall now that they had once reached it. As two men, measuringrods in hand,

quarrel about their boundaries in a field that they own in common, and stickle for their rights though they be

but in a mere strip, even so did the battlements now serve as a bone of contention, and they beat one another's

round shields for their possession. Many a man's body was wounded with the pitiless bronze, as he turned

round and bared his back to the foe, and many were struck clean through their shields; the wall and

battlements were everywhere deluged with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so the

Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as some honest hardworking woman weighs

wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true, for she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little

ones, even so was the fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater

glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the wall of the Achaeans. As he did so, he cried

aloud to the Trojans, "Up, Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling fire upon their ships."

Thus did he hound them on, and in one body they rushed straight at the wall as he had bidden them, and

scaled the battlements with sharp spears in their hands. Hector laid hold of a stone that lay just outside the

gates and was thick at one end but pointed at the other; two of the best men in a town, as men now are, could

hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a waggon, but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself, for the

son of scheming Saturn made it light for him. As a shepherd picks up a ram's fleece with one hand and finds

it no burden, so easily did Hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors that closed the gates so

strong and so firmly set. These doors were double and high, and were kept closed by two crossbars to which

there was but one key. When he had got close up to them, Hector strode towards them that his blow might

gain in force and struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against them. He broke both hinges,

and the stone fell inside by reason of its great weight. The portals reechoed with the sound, the bars held no

longer, and the doors flew open, one one way, and the other the other, through the force of the blow. Then

brave Hector leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night. The gleaming bronze flashed fiercely

about his body and he had tow spears in his hand. None but a god could have withstood him as he flung

himself into the gateway, and his eyes glared like fire. Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called

on them to scale the wall, and they did as he bade them some of them at once climbing over the wall, while

others passed through the gates. The Danaans then fled panicstricken towards their ships, and all was uproar

Now when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the ships, he left them to their neverending toil,

and turned his keen eyes away, looking elsewhither towards the horsebreeders of Thrace, the Mysians,

fighters at close quarters, the noble Hippemolgi, who live on milk, and the Abians, justest of mankind. He no

longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy, for he did not think that any of the immortals would go and

But King Neptune had kept no blind lookout; he had been looking admiringly on the battle from his seat on

the topmost crests of wooded Samothrace, whence he could see all Ida, with the city of Priam and the ships of

the Achaeans. He had come from under the sea and taken his place here, for he pitied the Achaeans who were

Presently he came down from his post on the mountain top, and as he strode swiftly onwards the high hills

and the forest quaked beneath the tread of his immortal feet. Three strides he took, and with the fourth he

reached his goal Aegae, where is his glittering golden palace, imperishable, in the depths of the sea. When

he got there, he yoked his fleet brazenfooted steeds with their manes of gold all flying in the wind; he

clothed himself in raiment of gold, grasped his gold whip, and took his stand upon his chariot. As he went his

way over the waves the seamonsters left their lairs, for they knew their lord, and came gambolling round

him from every quarter of the deep, while the sea in her gladness opened a path before his chariot. So lightly

did the horses fly that the bronze axle of the car was not even wet beneath it; and thus his bounding steeds

Now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea midway between Tenedos and rocky Imbrus; here

Neptune lord of the earthquake stayed his horses, unyoked them, and set before them their ambrosial forage.

He hobbled their feet with hobbles of gold which none could either unloose or break, so that they might stay

there in that place until their lord should return. This done he went his way to the host of the Achaeans.

Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam in close array like a stormcloud or flame of fire, fighting

with might and main and raising the cry battle; for they deemed that they should take the ships of the

Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and there. Meanwhile earthencircling Neptune lord of the

earthquake cheered on the Argives, for he had come up out of the sea and had assumed the form and voice of

First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, who were doing their best already, and said, "Ajaxes, you two can be the

saving of the Achaeans if you will put out all your strength and not let yourselves be daunted. I am not afraid

that the Trojans, who have got over the wall in force, will be victorious in any other part, for the Achaeans

can hold all of them in check, but I much fear that some evil will befall us here where furious Hector, who

boasts himself the son of great Jove himself, is leading them on like a pillar of flame. May some god, then,

put it into your hearts to make a firm stand here, and to incite others to do the like. In this case you will drive

As he spoke the earthencircling lord of the earthquake struck both of them with his sceptre and filled their

hearts with daring. He made their legs light and active, as also their hands and their feet. Then, as the soaring

falcon poises on the wing high above some sheer rock, and presently swoops down to chase some bird over

the plain, even so did Neptune lord of the earthquake wing his flight into the air and leave them. Of the two,

swift Ajax son of Oileus was the first to know who it was that had been speaking with them, and said to Ajax

son of Telamon, "Ajax, this is one of the gods that dwell on Olympus, who in the likeness of the prophet is

bidding us fight hard by our ships. It was not Calchas the seer and diviner of omens; I knew him at once by

his feet and knees as he turned away, for the gods are soon recognised. Moreover I feel the lust of battle burn

more fiercely within me, while my hands and my feet under me are more eager for the fray."

And Ajax son of Telamon answered, "I too feel my hands grasp my spear more firmly; my strength is greater,

and my feet more nimble; I long, moreover, to meet furious Hector son of Priam, even in single combat."

Thus did they converse, exulting in the hunger after battle with which the god had filled them. Meanwhile the

earthencircler roused the Achaeans, who were resting in the rear by the ships overcome at once by hard

fighting and by grief at seeing that the Trojans had got over the wall in force. Tears began falling from their

eyes as they beheld them, for they made sure that they should not escape destruction; but the lord of the

earthquake passed lightly about among them and urged their battalions to the front.

First he went up to Teucer and Leitus, the hero Peneleos, and Thoas and Deipyrus; Meriones also and

Antilochus, valiant warriors; all did he exhort. "Shame on you young Argives," he cried, "it was on your

prowess I relied for the saving of our ships; if you fight not with might and main, this very day will see us

overcome by the Trojans. Of a truth my eyes behold a great and terrible portent which I had never thought to

see the Trojans at our ships they, who were heretofore like panicstricken hinds, the prey of jackals and

wolves in a forest, with no strength but in flight for they cannot defend themselves. Hitherto the Trojans

dared not for one moment face the attack of the Achaeans, but now they have sallied far from their city and

are fighting at our very ships through the cowardice of our leader and the disaffection of the people

themselves, who in their discontent care not to fight in defence of the ships but are being slaughtered near

them. True, King Agamemnon son of Atreus is the cause of our disaster by having insulted the son of Peleus,

still this is no reason why we should leave off fighting. Let us be quick to heal, for the hearts of the brave heal

quickly. You do ill to be thus remiss, you, who are the finest soldiers in our whole army. I blame no man for

keeping out of battle if he is a weakling, but I am indignant with such men as you are. My good friends,

matters will soon become even worse through this slackness; think, each one of you, of his own honour and

credit, for the hazard of the fight is extreme. Great Hector is now fighting at our ships; he has broken through

Thus did the earthencircler address the Achaeans and urge them on. Thereon round the two Ajaxes there

gathered strong bands of men, of whom not even Mars nor Minerva, marshaller of hosts could make light if

they went among them, for they were the picked men of all those who were now awaiting the onset of Hector

and the Trojans. They made a living fence, spear to spear, shield to shield, buckler to buckler, helmet to

helmet, and man to man. The horsehair crests on their gleaming helmets touched one another as they

nodded forward, so closely seffied were they; the spears they brandished in their strong hands were

The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with Hector at their head pressing right on as a rock that comes

thundering down the side of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn it; the

foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by floods of rain, and as it bounds headlong on its way it

sets the whole forest in an uproar; it swerves neither to right nor left till it reaches level ground, but then for

all its fury it can go no further even so easily did Hector for a while seem as though he would career through

the tents and ships of the Achaeans till he had reached the sea in his murderous course; but the closely serried

battalions stayed him when he reached them, for the sons of the Achaeans thrust at him with swords and

spears pointed at both ends, and drove him from them so that he staggered and gave ground; thereon he

shouted to the Trojans, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, stand firm: the Achaeans

have set themselves as a wall against me, but they will not check me for long; they will give ground before

me if the mightiest of the gods, the thundering spouse of Juno, has indeed inspired my onset."

With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Deiphobus son of Priam went about among them intent

on deeds of daring with his round shield before him, under cover of which he strode quickly forward.

Meriones took aim at him with a spear, nor did he fail to hit the broad orb of oxhide; but he was far from

piercing it for the spear broke in two pieces long ere he could do so; moreover Deiphobus had seen it coming

and had held his shield well away from him. Meriones drew back under cover of his comrades, angry alike at

having failed to vanquish Deiphobus, and having broken his spear. He turned therefore towards the ships and

The others continued fighting, and the cry of battle rose up into the heavens. Teucer son of Telamon was the

first to kill his man, to wit, the warrior Imbrius son of Mentor rich in horses. Until the Achaeans came he had

lived in Pedaeum, and had married Medesicaste a bastard daughter of Priam; but on the arrival of the Danaan

fleet he had gone back to Ilius, and was a great man among the Trojans, dwelling near Priam himself, who

gave him like honour with his own sons. The son of Telamon now struck him under the ear with a spear

which he then drew back again, and Imbrius fell headlong as an ashtree when it is felled on the crest of

some high mountain beacon, and its delicate green foliage comes toppling down to the ground. Thus did he

fall with his bronzedight armour ringing harshly round him, and Teucer sprang forward with intent to strip

him of his armour; but as he was doing so, Hector took aim at him with a spear. Teucer saw the spear coming

and swerved aside, whereon it hit Amphimachus, son of Cteatus son of Actor, in the chest as he was coming

into battle, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Hector sprang forward to

take Amphimachus's helmet from off his temples, and in a moment Ajax threw a spear at him, but did not

wound him, for he was encased all over in his terrible armour; nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his

shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses, which the Achaeans then drew off. Stichius

and Menestheus, captains of the Athenians, bore away Amphimachus to the host of the Achaeans, while the

two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did the like by Imbrius. As two lions snatch a goat from the hounds that

have it in their fangs, and bear it through thick brushwood high above the ground in their jaws, thus did the

Ajaxes bear aloft the body of Imbrius, and strip it of its armour. Then the son of Oileus severed the head from

the neck in revenge for the death of Amphimachus, and sent it whirling over the crowd as though it had been

Neptune was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimachus should have fallen; he therefore went to the

tents and ships of the Achaeans to urge the Danaans still further, and to devise evil for the Trojans.

Idomeneus met him, as he was taking leave of a comrade, who had just come to him from the fight, wounded

in the knee. His fellowsoldiers bore him off the field, and Idomeneus having given orders to the physicians

went on to his tent, for he was still thirsting for battle. Neptune spoke in the likeness and with the voice of

Thoas son of Andraemon who ruled the Aetolians of all Pleuron and high Calydon, and was honoured among

his people as though he were a god. "Idomeneus," said he, "lawgiver to the Cretans, what has now become of

And Idomeneus chief among the Cretans answered, "Thoas, no one, so far as I know, is in fault, for we can

all fight. None are held back neither by fear nor slackness, but it seems to be the of almighty Jove that the

Achaeans should perish ingloriously here far from Argos: you, Thoas, have been always staunch, and you

keep others in heart if you see any fail in duty; be not then remiss now, but exhort all to do their utmost."

To this Neptune lord of the earthquake made answer, "Idomeneus, may he never return from Troy, but remain

here for dogs to batten upon, who is this day wilfully slack in fighting. Get your armour and go, we must

make all haste together if we may be of any use, though we are only two. Even cowards gain courage from

Therewith the god went back into the thick of the fight, and Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned

his armour, grasped his two spears, and sallied forth. As the lightning which the son of Saturn brandishes

from bright Olympus when he would show a sign to mortals, and its gleam flashes far and wide even so did

his armour gleam about him as he ran. Meriones his sturdy squire met him while he was still near his tent (for

"Meriones, fleet son of Molus, best of comrades, why have you left the field? Are you wounded, and is the

point of the weapon hurting you? or have you been sent to fetch me? I want no fetching; I had far rather fight

"Idomeneus," answered Meriones, "I come for a spear, if I can find one in my tent; I have broken the one I

And Idomeneus captain of the Cretans answered, "You will find one spear, or twenty if you so please,

standing up against the end wall of my tent. I have taken them from Trojans whom I have killed, for I am not

one to keep my enemy at arm's length; therefore I have spears, bossed shields, helmets, and burnished

Then Meriones said, "I too in my tent and at my ship have spoils taken from the Trojans, but they are not at

hand. I have been at all times valorous, and wherever there has been hard fighting have held my own among

the foremost. There may be those among the Achaeans who do not know how I fight, but you know it well

Idomeneus answered, "I know you for a brave man: you need not tell me. If the best men at the ships were

being chosen to go on an ambushand there is nothing like this for showing what a man is made of; it comes

out then who is cowardly and who brave; the coward will change colour at every touch and turn; he is full of

fears, and keeps shifting his weight first on one knee and then on the other; his heart beats fast as he thinks of

death, and one can hear the chattering of his teeth; whereas the brave man will not change colour nor be on

finding himself in ambush, but is all the time longing to go into actionif the best men were being chosen for

such a service, no one could make light of your courage nor feats of arms. If you were struck by a dart or

smitten in close combat, it would not be from behind, in your neck nor back, but the weapon would hit you in

the chest or belly as you were pressing forward to a place in the front ranks. But let us no longer stay here

talking like children, lest we be ill spoken of; go, fetch your spear from the tent at once."

On this Meriones, peer of Mars, went to the tent and got himself a spear of bronze. He then followed after

Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valour. As when baneful Mars sallies forth to battle, and his son Panic so

strong and dauntless goes with him, to strike terror even into the heart of a hero the pair have gone from

Thrace to arm themselves among the Ephyri or the brave Phlegyans, but they will not listen to both the

contending hosts, and will give victory to one side or to the other even so did Meriones and Idomeneus,

captains of men, go out to battle clad in their bronze armour. Meriones was first to speak. "Son of

Deucalion," said he, "where would you have us begin fighting? On the right wing of the host, in the centre, or

Idomeneus answered, "There are others to defend the centre the two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the finest

archer of all the Achaeans, and is good also in a handtohand fight. These will give Hector son of Priam

enough to do; fight as he may, he will find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury, and fire the ships,

unless the son of Saturn fling a firebrand upon them with his own hand. Great Ajax son of Telamon will yield

to no man who is in mortal mould and eats the grain of Ceres, if bronze and great stones can overthrow him.

He would not yield even to Achilles in handtohand fight, and in fleetness of foot there is none to beat him;

let us turn therefore towards the left wing, that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some

Meriones, peer of fleet Mars, then led the way till they came to the part of the host which Idomeneus had

Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming on like a flame of fire, him and his squire clad in their richly

wrought armour, they shouted and made towards him all in a body, and a furious handtohand fight raged

under the ships' sterns. Fierce as the shrill winds that whistle upon a day when dust lies deep on the roads,

and the gusts raise it into a thick cloud even such was the fury of the combat, and might and main did they

hack at each other with spear and sword throughout the host. The field bristled with the long and deadly

spears which they bore. Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets, their freshburnished breastplates,

and glittering shields as they joined battle with one another. Iron indeed must be his courage who could take

Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn devise evil for mortal heroes. Jove was minded to give victory to the

Trojans and to Hector, so as to do honour to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did not mean to utterly overthrow

the Achaean host before Ilius, and only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son. Neptune on the other

hand went about among the Argives to incite them, having come up from the grey sea in secret, for he was

grieved at seeing them vanquished by the Trojans, and was furiously angry with Jove. Both were of the same

race and country, but Jove was elder born and knew more, therefore Neptune feared to defend the Argives

openly, but in the likeness of man, he kept on encouraging them throughout their host. Thus, then, did these

two devise a knot of war and battle, that none could unloose or break, and set both sides tugging at it, to the

And now Idomeneus, though his hair was already flecked with grey, called loud on the Danaans and spread

panic among the Trojans as he leaped in among them. He slew Othryoneus from Cabesus, a sojourner, who

had but lately come to take part in the war. He sought Cassandra the fairest of Priam's daughters in marriage,

but offered no gifts of wooing, for he promised a great thing, to wit, that he would drive the sons of the

Achaeans willy nilly from Troy; old King Priam had given his consent and promised her to him, whereon he

fought on the strength of the promises thus made to him. Idomeneus aimed a spear, and hit him as he came

striding on. His cuirass of bronze did not protect him, and the spear stuck in his belly, so that he fell heavily

to the ground. Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying, "Othryoneus, there is no one in the world whom I

shall admire more than I do you, if you indeed perform what you have promised Priam son of Dardanus in

return for his daughter. We too will make you an offer; we will give you the loveliest daughter of the son of

Atreus, and will bring her from Argos for you to marry, if you will sack the goodly city of Ilius in company

with ourselves; so come along with me, that we may make a covenant at the ships about the marriage, and we

With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the thick of the fight, but Asius came up to

protect the body, on foot, in front of his horses which his esquire drove so close behind him that he could feel

their 'breath upon his shoulder. He was longing to strike down Idomeneus, but ere he could do so Idomeneus

smote him with his spear in the throat under the chin, and the bronze point went clean through it. He fell as an

oak, or poplar, or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship's timber upon the mountains with whetted

axeseven thus did he lie full length in front of his chariot and horses, grinding his teeth and clutching at the

bloodstained just. His charioteer was struck with panic and did not dare turn his horses round and escape:

thereupon Antilochus hit him in the middle of his body with a spear; his cuirass of bronze did not protect

him, and the spear stuck in his belly. He fell gasping from his chariot and Antilochus great Nestor's son,

Deiphobus then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asius, and took aim at him with a spear, but

Idomeneus was on the lookout and avoided it, for he was covered by the round shield he always bore a

shield of oxhide and bronze with two armrods on the inside. He crouched under cover of this, and the spear

flew over him, but the shield rang out as the spear grazed it, and the weapon sped not in vain from the strong

hand of Deiphobus, for it struck Hypsenor son of Hippasus, shepherd of his people, in the liver under the

midriff, and his limbs failed beneath him. Deiphobus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying,

"Of a truth Asius has not fallen unavenied; he will be glad even while passing into the house of Hades, strong

Thus did he vaunt, and the Argives were stung by his saying. Noble Antilochus was more angry than any one,

but grief did not make him forget his friend and comrade. He ran up to him, bestrode him, and covered him

with his shield; then two of his staunch comrades, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor stooped down, and

bore him away groaning heavily to the ships. But Idomeneus ceased not his fury. He kept on striving

continually either to enshroud some Trojan in the darkness of death, or himself to fall while warding off the

evil day from the Achaeans. Then fell Alcathous son of noble Aesyetes: he was soninlaw to Anchises,

having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia who was the darling of her father and mother, and excelled

all her generation in beauty, accomplishments, and understanding, wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had

taken her to wife him did Neptune lay low by the hand of Idomeneus, blinding his bright eyes and binding

his strong limbs in fetters so that he could neither go back nor to one side, but stood stock still like pillar or

lofty tree when Idomeneus struck him with a spear in the middle of his chest. The coat of mail that had

hitherto protected his body was now broken, and rang harshly as the spear tore through it. He fell heavily to

the ground, and the spear stuck in his heart, which still beat, and made the buttend of the spear quiver till

dread Mars put an end to his life. Idomeneus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying,

"Deiphobus, since you are in a mood to vaunt, shall we cry quits now that we have killed three men to your

one? Nay, sir, stand in fight with me yourself, that you may learn what manner of Jovebegotten man am I

that have come hither. Jove first begot Minos chief ruler in Crete, and Minos in his turn begot a son, noble

Deucalion; Deucalion begot me to be a ruler over many men in Crete, and my ships have now brought me

Thus did he speak, and Deiphobus was in two minds, whether to go back and fetch some other Trojan to help

him, or to take up the challenge singlehanded. In the end, he deemed it best to go and fetch Aeneas, whom

he found standing in the rear, for he had long been aggrieved with Priam because in spite his brave deeds he

did not give him his due share of honour. Deiphobus went up to him and said, "Aeneas, prince among the

Trojans, if you know any ties of kinship, help me now to defend the body of your sister's husband; come with

me to the rescue of Alcathous, who being husband to your sister brought you up when you were a child in his

With these words he moved the heart of Aeneas, and he went in pursuit of Idomeneus, big with great deeds of

valour; but Idomeneus was not to be thus daunted as though he were a mere child; he held his ground as a

wild boar at bay upon the mountains, who abides the coming of a great crowd of men in some lonely place

the bristles stand upright on his back, his eyes flash fire, and he whets his tusks in his eagerness to defend

himself against hounds and men even so did famed Idomeneus hold his ground and budge not at the coming

of Aeneas. He cried aloud to his comrades looking towards Ascalaphus, Aphareus, Deipyrus, Meriones, and

Antilochus, all of them brave soldiers "Hither my friends," he cried, "and leave me not singlehanded I go

in great fear by fleet Aeneas, who is coming against me, and is a redoubtable dispenser of death battle.

Moreover he is in the flower of youth when a man's strength is greatest; if I was of the same age as he is and

On this, all of them as one man stood near him, shield on shoulder. Aeneas on the other side called to his

comrades, looking towards Deiphobus, Paris, and Agenor, who were leaders of the Trojans along with

himself, and the people followed them as sheep follow the ram when they go down to drink after they have

been feeding, and the heart of the shepherd is glad even so was the heart of Aeneas gladdened when he saw

Then they fought furiously in close combat about the body of Alcathous, wielding their long spears; and the

bronze armour about their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at one another in the press of the fight, while

the two heroes Aeneas and Idomeneus, peers of Mars, outxied every one in their desire to hack at each other

with sword and spear. Aeneas took aim first, but Idomeneus was on the lookout and avoided the spear, so that

it sped from Aeneas' strong hand in vain, and fell quivering in the ground. Idomeneus meanwhile smote

Oenomaus in the middle of his belly, and broke the plate of his corslet, whereon his bowels came gushing out

and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust. Idomeneus drew his spear

out of the body, but could not strip him of the rest of his armour for the rain of darts that were showered upon

him: moreover his strength was now beginning to fail him so that he could no longer charge, and could

neither spring forward to recover his own weapon nor swerve aside to avoid one that was aimed at him;

therefore, though he still defended himself in handtohand fight, his heavy feet could not bear him swiftly

out of the battle. Deiphobus aimed a spear at him as he was retreating slowly from the field, for his bitterness

against him was as fierce as ever, but again he missed him, and hit Ascalaphus, the son of Mars; the spear

went through his shoulder, and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust.

Grim Mars of awful voice did not yet know that his son had fallen, for he was sitting on the summits of

Olympus under the golden clouds, by command of Jove, where the other gods were also sitting, forbidden to

take part in the battle. Meanwhile men fought furiously about the body. Deiphobus tore the helmet from off

his head, but Meriones sprang upon him, and struck him on the arm with a spear so that the visored helmet

fell from his hand and came ringing down upon the ground. Thereon Meriones sprang upon him like a

vulture, drew the spear from his shoulder, and fell back under cover of his men. Then Polites, own brother of

Deiphobus passed his arms around his waist, and bore him away from the battle till he got to his horses that

were standing in the rear of the fight with the chariot and their driver. These took him towards the city

The others still fought on, and the battlecry rose to heaven without ceasing. Aeneas sprang on Aphareus son

of Caletor, and struck him with a spear in his throat which was turned towards him; his head fell on one side,

his helmet and shield came down along with him, and death, life's foe, was shed around him. Antilochus

spied his chance, flew forward towards Thoon, and wounded him as he was turning round. He laid open the

vein that runs all the way up the back to the neck; he cut this vein clean away throughout its whole course,

and Thoon fell in the dust face upwards, stretching out his hands imploringly towards his comrades.

Antilochus sprang upon him and stripped the armour from his shoulders, glaring round him fearfully as he

did so. The Trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and gleaming shield, but could not

wound his body, for Neptune stood guard over the son of Nestor, though the darts fell thickly round him. He

was never clear of the foe, but was always in the thick of the fight; his spear was never idle; he poised and

aimed it in every direction, so eager was he to hit some one from a distance or to fight him hand to hand.

As he was thus aiming among the crowd, he was seen by Adamas son of Asius, who rushed towards him and

struck him with a spear in the middle of his shield, but Neptune made its point without effect, for he grudged

him the life of Antilochus. One half, therefore, of the spear stuck fast like a charred stake in Antilochus's

shield, while the other lay on the ground. Adamas then sought shelter under cover of his men, but Meriones

followed after and hit him with a spear midway between the private parts and the navel, where a wound is

particualrly painful to wretched mortals. There did Meriones transfix him, and he writhed convulsively about

the spear as some bull whom mountain herdsmen have bound with ropes of withes and are taking away

perforce. Even so did he move convulsively for a while, but not for very long, till Meriones came up and

Helenus then struck Deipyrus with a great Thracian sword, hitting him on the temple in close combat and

tearing the helmet from his head; the helmet fell to the ground, and one of those who were fighting on the

Achaean side took charge of it as it rolled at his feet, but the eyes of Deipyrus were closed in the darkness of

On this Menelaus was grieved, and made menacingly towards Helenus, brandishing his spear; but Helenus

drew his bow, and the two attacked one another at one and the same moment, the one with his spear, and the

other with his bow and arrow. The son of Priam hit the breastplate of Menelaus's corslet, but the arrow

glanced from off it. As black beans or pulse come pattering down on to a threshingfloor from the broad

winnowingshovel, blown by shrill winds and shaken by the shoveleven so did the arrow glance off and

recoil from the shield of Menelaus, who in his turn wounded the hand with which Helenus carried his bow;

the spear went right through his hand and stuck in the bow itself, so that to his life he retreated under cover of

his men, with his hand dragging by his side for the spear weighed it down till Agenor drew it out and bound

Pisander then made straight at Menelaus his evil destiny luring him on to his doom, for he was to fall in

fight with you, O Menelaus. When the two were hard by one another the spear of the son of Atreus turned

aside and he missed his aim; Pisander then struck the shield of brave Menelaus but could not pierce it, for the

shield stayed the spear and broke the shaft; nevertheless he was glad and made sure of victory; forthwith,

however, the son of Atreus drew his sword and sprang upon him. Pisander then seized the bronze battleaxe,

with its long and polished handle of olive wood that hung by his side under his shield, and the two made at

one another. Pisander struck the peak of Menelaus's crested helmet just under the crest itself, and Menelaus

hit Pisander as he was coming towards him, on the forehead, just at the rise of his nose; the bones cracked

and his two gorebedrabbled eyes fell by his feet in the dust. He fell backwards to the ground, and Menelaus

set his heel upon him, stripped him of his armour, and vaunted over him saying, "Even thus shall you Trojans

leave the ships of the Achaeans, proud and insatiate of battle though you be: nor shall you lack any of the

disgrace and shame which you have heaped upon myself. Cowardly shewolves that you are, you feared not

the anger of dread Jove, avenger of violated hospitality, who will one day destroy your city; you stole my

wedded wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were her guest, and now you would fling fire

upon our ships, and kill our heroes. A day will come when, rage as you may, you shall be stayed. O father

Jove, you, who they say art above all both gods and men in wisdom, and from whom all things that befall us

do proceed, how can you thus favour the Trojans men so proud and overweening, that they are never tired

of fighting? All things pall after a while sleep, love, sweet song, and stately dancestill these are things of

which a man would surely have his fill rather than of battle, whereas it is of battle that the Trojans are

So saying Menelaus stripped the bloodstained armour from the body of Pisander, and handed it over to his

men; then he again ranged himself among those who were in the front of the fight.

Harpalion son of King Pylaemenes then sprang upon him; he had come to fight at Troy along with his father,

but he did not go home again. He struck the middle of Menelaus's shield with his spear but could not pierce

it, and to save his life drew back under cover of his men, looking round him on every side lest he should be

wounded. But Meriones aimed a bronzetipped arrow at him as he was leaving the field, and hit him on the

right buttock; the arrow pierced the bone through and through, and penetrated the bladder, so he sat down

where he was and breathed his last in the arms of his comrades, stretched like a worm upon the ground and

watering the earth with the blood that flowed from his wound. The brave Paphlagonians tended him with all

due care; they raised him into his chariot, and bore him sadly off to the city of Troy; his father went also with

him weeping bitterly, but there was no ransom that could bring his dead son to life again.

Paris was deeply grieved by the death of Harpalion, who was his host when he went among the

Paphlagonians; he aimed an arrow, therefore, in order to avenge him. Now there was a certain man named

Euchenor, son of Polyidus the prophet, a brave man and wealthy, whose home was in Corinth. This Euchenor

had set sail for Troy well knowing that it would be the death of him, for his good old father Polyidus had

often told him that he must either stay at home and die of a terrible disease, or go with the Achaeans and

perish at the hands of the Trojans; he chose, therefore, to avoid incurring the heavy fine the Achaeans would

have laid upon him, and at the same time to escape the pain and suffering of disease. Paris now smote him on

the jaw under his ear, whereon the life went out of him and he was enshrouded in the darkness of death.

Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. But Hector had not yet heard, and did not know that the

Argives were making havoc of his men on the left wing of the battle, where the Achaeans ere long would

have triumphed over them, so vigorously did Neptune cheer them on and help them. He therefore held on at

the point where he had first forced his way through the gates and the wall, after breaking through the serried

ranks of Danaan warriors. It was here that the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus were drawn up by the seashore;

here the wall was at its lowest, and the fight both of man and horse raged most fiercely. The Boeotians and

the Ionians with their long tunics, the Locrians, the men of Phthia, and the famous force of the Epeans could

hardly stay Hector as he rushed on towards the ships, nor could they drive him from them, for he was as a

wall of fire. The chosen men of the Athenians were in the van, led by Menestheus son of Peteos, with whom

were also Pheidas, Stichius, and stalwart Bias: Meges son of Phyleus, Amphion, and Dracius commanded the

Epeans, while Medon and staunch Podarces led the men of Phthia. Of these, Medon was bastard son to Oileus

and brother of Ajax, but he lived in Phylace away from his own country, for he had killed the brother of his

stepmother Eriopis, the wife of Oileus; the other, Podarces, was the son of Iphiclus son of Phylacus. These

two stood in the van of the Phthians, and defended the ships along with the Boeotians.

Ajax son of Oileus never for a moment left the side of Ajax son of Telamon, but as two swart oxen both

strain their utmost at the plough which they are drawing in a fallow field, and the sweat steams upwards from

about the roots of their horns nothing but the yoke divides them as they break up the ground till they reach

the end of the fieldeven so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder to shoulder by one another. Many and brave

comrades followed the son of Telamon, to relieve him of his shield when he was overcome with sweat and

toil, but the Locrians did not follow so close after the son of Oileus, for they could not hold their own in a

handtohand fight. They had no bronze helmets with plumes of horsehair, neither had they shields nor

ashen spears, but they had come to Troy armed with bows, and with slings of twisted wool from which they

showered their missiles to break the ranks of the Trojans. The others, therefore, with their heavy armour bore

the brunt of the fight with the Trojans and with Hector, while the Locrians shot from behind, under their

cover; and thus the Trojans began to lose heart, for the arrows threw them into confusion.

The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the ships and tents back to windy Ilius, had not

Polydamas presently said to Hector, "Hector, there is no persuading you to take advice. Because heaven has

so richly endowed you with the arts of war, you think that you must therefore excel others in counsel; but you

cannot thus claim preeminence in all things. Heaven has made one man an excellent soldier; of another it has

made a dancer or a singer and player on the lyre; while yet in another Jove has implanted a wise

understanding of which men reap fruit to the saving of many, and he himself knows more about it than any

one; therefore I will say what I think will be best. The fight has hemmed you in as with a circle of fire, and

even now that the Trojans are within the wall some of them stand aloof in full armour, while others are

fighting scattered and outnumbered near the ships. Draw back, therefore, and call your chieftains round you,

that we may advise together whether to fall now upon the ships in the hope that heaven may vouchsafe us

victory, or to beat a retreat while we can yet safely do so. I greatly fear that the Achaeans will pay us their

debt of yesterday in full, for there is one abiding at their ships who is never weary of battle, and who will not

Thus spoke Polydamas, and his words pleased Hector well. He sprang in full armour from his chariot and

said, "Polydamas, gather the chieftains here; I will go yonder into the fight, but will return at once when I

He then sped onward, towering like a snowy mountain, and with a loud cry flew through the ranks of the

Trojans and their allies. When they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round Polydamas the excellent

son of Panthous, but Hector kept on among the foremost, looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and prince

Helenus, Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus; living, indeed, and scatheless he could no longer

find them, for the two last were lying by the sterns of the Achaean ships, slain by the Argives, while the

others had been also stricken and wounded by them; but upon the left wing of the dread battle he found

Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, cheering his men and urging them on to fight. He went up to him and

upbraided him. "Paris," said he, "evilhearted Paris, fair to see but womanmad and false of tongue, where

are Deiphobus and King Helenus? Where are Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus? Where too is

Alexandrus answered, "Hector, why find fault when there is no one to find fault with? I should hold aloof

from battle on any day rather than this, for my mother bore me with nothing of the coward about me. From

the moment when you set our men fighting about the ships we have been staying here and doing battle with

the Danaans. Our comrades about whom you ask me are dead; Deiphobus and King Helenus alone have left

the field, wounded both of them in the hand, but the son of Saturn saved them alive. Now, therefore, lead on

where you would have us go, and we will follow with right goodwill; you shall not find us fail you in so far

as our strength holds out, but no man can do more than in him lies, no matter how willing he may be."

With these words he satisfied his brother, and the two went towards the part of the battle where the fight was

thickest, about Cebriones, brave Polydamas, Phalces, Orthaeus, godlike Polyphetes, Palmys, Ascanius, and

Morys son of Hippotion, who had come from fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other troops.

Then Jove urged them on to fight. They flew forth like the blasts of some fierce wind that strike earth in the

van of a thunderstorm they buffet the salt sea into an uproar; many and mighty are the great waves that

come crashing in one after the other upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with foam even so

did rank behind rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming armour follow their leaders onward. The way was led by

Hector son of Priam, peer of murderous Mars, with his round shield before him his shield of oxhides

covered with plates of bronzeand his gleaming helmet upon his temples. He kept stepping forward under

cover of his shield in every direction, making trial of the ranks to see if they would give way be him, but he

could not daunt the courage of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first to stride out and challenge him. "Sir," he

cried, "draw near; why do you think thus vainly to dismay the Argives? We Achaeans are excellent soldiers,

but the scourge of Jove has fallen heavily upon us. Your heart, forsooth, is set on destroying our ships, but we

too have bands that can keep you at bay, and your own fair town shall be sooner taken and sacked by

ourselves. The time is near when you shall pray Jove and all the gods in your flight, that your steeds may be

swifter than hawks as they raise the dust on the plain and bear you back to your city."

As he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand, and the host of the Achaeans shouted, for they

took heart at the omen. But Hector answered, "Ajax, braggart and false of tongue, would that I were as sure

of being son for evermore to aegisbearing Jove, with Queen Juno for my mother, and of being held in like

honour with Minerva and Apollo, as I am that this day is big with the destruction of the Achaeans; and you

shall fall among them if you dare abide my spear; it shall rend your fair body and bid you glut our hounds and

birds of prey with your fat and your flesh, as you fall by the ships of the Achaeans."

With these words he led the way and the others followed after with a cry that rent the air, while the host

shouted behind them. The Argives on their part raised a shout likewise, nor did they forget their prowess, but

stood firm against the onslaught of the Trojan chieftains, and the cry from both the hosts rose up to heaven

Nestor was sitting over his wine, but the cry of battle did not escape him, and he said to the son of

Aesculapius, "What, noble Machaon, is the meaning of all this? The shouts of men fighting by our ships grow

stronger and stronger; stay here, therefore, and sit over your wine, while fair Hecamede heats you a bath and

washes the clotted blood from off you. I will go at once to the lookout station and see what it is all about."

As he spoke he took up the shield of his son Thrasymedes that was lying in his tent, all gleaming with bronze,

for Thrasymedes had taken his father's shield; he grasped his redoubtable bronzeshod spear, and as soon as

he was outside saw the disastrous rout of the Achaeans who, now that their wall was overthrown, were flying

pellmell before the Trojans. As when there is a heavy swell upon the sea, but the waves are dumb they

keep their eyes on the watch for the quarter whence the fierce winds may spring upon them, but they stay

where they are and set neither this way nor that, till some particular wind sweeps down from heaven to

determine them even so did the old man ponder whether to make for the crowd of Danaans, or go in search

of Agamemnon. In the end he deemed it best to go to the son of Atreus; but meanwhile the hosts were

fighting and killing one another, and the hard bronze rattled on their bodies, as they thrust at one another with

The wounded kings, the son of Tydeus, Ulysses, and Agamemnon son of Atreus, fell in Nestor as they were

coming up from their ships for theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting was going on, being

on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been beached first, while the wall had been built behind the

hindermost. The stretch of the shore, wide though it was, did not afford room for all the ships, and the host

was cramped for space, therefore they had placed the ships in rows one behind the other, and had filled the

whole opening of the bay between the two points that formed it. The kings, leaning on their spears, were

coming out to survey the fight, being in great anxiety, and when old Nestor met them they were filled with

dismay. Then King Agamemnon said to him, "Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, why have

you left the battle to come hither? I fear that what dread Hector said will come true, when he vaunted among

the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had fired our ships and killed us; this is what he

said, and now it is all coming true. Alas! others of the Achaeans, like Achilles, are in anger with me that they

Then Nestor knight of Gerene answered, "It is indeed as you say; it is all coming true at this moment, and

even Jove who thunders from on high cannot prevent it. Fallen is the wall on which we relied as an

impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet. The Trojans are fighting stubbornly and without ceasing at the

ships; look where you may you cannot see from what quarter the rout of the Achaeans is coming; they are

being killed in a confused mass and the battlecry ascends to heaven; let us think, if counsel can be of any

use, what we had better do; but I do not advise our going into battle ourselves, for a man cannot fight when

And King Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, if the Trojans are indeed fighting at the rear of our ships, and

neither the wall nor the trench has served us over which the Danaans toiled so hard, and which they deemed

would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet I see it must be the will of Jove that the

Achaeans should perish ingloriously here, far from Argos. I knew when Jove was willing to defend us, and I

know now that he is raising the Trojans to like honour with the gods, while us, on the other hand, he bas

bound hand and foot. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us bring down the ships that are on the beach

and draw them into the water; let us make them fast to their mooringstones a little way out, against the fall

of nightif even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting; we may then draw down the rest of the fleet.

There is nothing wrong in flying ruin even by night. It is better for a man that he should fly and be saved than

Ulysses looked fiercely at him and said, "Son of Atreus, what are you talking about? Wretch, you should

have commanded some other and baser army, and not been ruler over us to whom Jove has allotted a life of

hard fighting from youth to old age, till we every one of us perish. Is it thus that you would quit the city of

Troy, to win which we have suffered so much hardship? Hold your peace, lest some other of the Achaeans

hear you say what no man who knows how to give good counsel, no king over so great a host as that of the

Argives should ever have let fall from his lips. I despise your judgement utterly for what you have been

saying. Would you, then, have us draw down our ships into the water while the battle is raging, and thus play

further into the hands of the conquering Trojans? It would be ruin; the Achaeans will not go on fighting when

they see the ships being drawn into the water, but will cease attacking and keep turning their eyes towards

Agamemnon answered, "Ulysses, your rebuke has stung me to the heart. I am not, however, ordering the

Achaeans to draw their ships into the sea whether they will or no. Some one, it may be, old or young, can

Then said Diomed, "Such an one is at hand; he is not far to seek, if you will listen to me and not resent my

speaking though I am younger than any of you. I am by lineage son to a noble sire, Tydeus, who lies buried at

Thebes. For Portheus had three noble sons, two of whom, Agrius and Melas, abode in Pleuron and rocky

Calydon. The third was the knight Oeneus, my father's father, and he was the most valiant of them all.

Oeeneus remained in his own country, but my father (as Jove and the other gods ordained it) migrated to

Argos. He married into the family of Adrastus, and his house was one of great abundance, for he had large

estates of rich corngrowing land, with much orchard ground as well, and he had many sheep; moreover he

excelled all the Argives in the use of the spear. You must yourselves have heard whether these things are true

or no; therefore when I say well despise not my words as though I were a coward or of ignoble birth. I say,

then, let us go to the fight as we needs must, wounded though we be. When there, we may keep out of the

battle and beyond the range of the spears lest we get fresh wounds in addition to what we have already, but

we can spur on others, who have been indulging their spleen and holding aloof from battle hitherto."

Thus did he speak; whereon they did even as he had said and set out, King Agamemnon leading the way.

Meanwhile Neptune had kept no blind lookout, and came up to them in the semblance of an old man. He

took Agamemnon's right hand in his own and said, "Son of Atreus, I take it Achilles is glad now that he sees

the Achaeans routed and slain, for he is utterly without remorsemay he come to a bad end and heaven

confound him. As for yourself, the blessed gods are not yet so bitterly angry with you but that the princes and

counsellors of the Trojans shall again raise the dust upon the plain, and you shall see them flying from the

With this he raised a mighty cry of battle, and sped forward to the plain. The voice that came from his deep

chest was as that of nine or ten thousand men when they are shouting in the thick of a fight, and it put fresh

courage into the hearts of the Achaeans to wage war and do battle without ceasing.

Juno of the golden throne looked down as she stood upon a peak of Olympus and her heart was gladdened at

the sight of him who was at once her brother and her brotherinlaw, hurrying hither and thither amid the

fighting. Then she turned her eyes to Jove as he sat on the topmost crests of manyfountained Ida, and

loathed him. She set herself to think how she might hoodwink him, and in the end she deemed that it would

be best for her to go to Ida and array herself in rich attire, in the hope that Jove might become enamoured of

her, and wish to embrace her. While he was thus engaged a sweet and careless sleep might be made to steal

She went, therefore, to the room which her son Vulcan had made her, and the doors of which he had

cunningly fastened by means of a secret key so that no other god could open them. Here she entered and

closed the doors behind her. She cleansed all the dirt from her fair body with ambrosia, then she anointed

herself with olive oil, ambrosial, very soft, and scented specially for herself if it were so much as shaken in

the bronzefloored house of Jove, the scent pervaded the universe of heaven and earth. With this she

anointed her delicate skin, and then she plaited the fair ambrosial locks that flowed in a stream of golden

tresses from her immortal head. She put on the wondrous robe which Minerva had worked for her with

consummate art, and had embroidered with manifold devices; she fastened it about her bosom with golden

clasps, and she girded herself with a girdle that had a hundred tassels: then she fastened her earrings, three

brilliant pendants that glistened most beautifully, through the pierced lobes of her ears, and threw a lovely

new veil over her head. She bound her sandals on to her feet, and when she had arrayed herself perfectly to

her satisfaction, she left her room and called Venus to come aside and speak to her. "My dear child," said she,

"will you do what I am going to ask of you, or will refuse me because you are angry at my being on the

Jove's daughter Venus answered, "Juno, august queen of goddesses, daughter of mighty Saturn, say what you

Then Juno told her a lying tale and said, "I want you to endow me with some of those fascinating charms, the

spells of which bring all things mortal and immortal to your feet. I am going to the world's end to visit

Oceanus (from whom all we gods proceed) and mother Tethys: they received me in their house, took care of

me, and brought me up, having taken me over from Rhaea when Jove imprisoned great Saturn in the depths

that are under earth and sea. I must go and see them that I may make peace between them; they have been

quarrelling, and are so angry that they have not slept with one another this long while; if I can bring them

round and restore them to one another's embraces, they will be grateful to me and love me for ever

Thereon laughterloving Venus said, "I cannot and must not refuse you, for you sleep in the arms of Jove

As she spoke she loosed from her bosom the curiously embroidered girdle into which all her charms had been

wrought love, desire, and that sweet flattery which steals the judgement even of the most prudent. She gave

the girdle to Juno and said, "Take this girdle wherein all my charms reside and lay it in your bosom. If you

will wear it I promise you that your errand, be it what it may, will not be bootless."

When she heard this Juno smiled, and still smiling she laid the girdle in her bosom.

Venus now went back into the house of Jove, while Juno darted down from the summits of Olympus. She

passed over Pieria and fair Emathia, and went on and on till she came to the snowy ranges of the Thracian

horsemen, over whose topmost crests she sped without ever setting foot to ground. When she came to Athos

she went on over the, waves of the sea till she reached Lemnos, the city of noble Thoas. There she met Sleep,

own brother to Death, and caught him by the hand, saying, "Sleep, you who lord it alike over mortals and

immortals, if you ever did me a service in times past, do one for me now, and I shall be grateful to you ever

after. Close Jove's keen eyes for me in slumber while I hold him clasped in my embrace, and I will give you a

beautiful golden seat, that can never fall to pieces; my clubfooted son Vulcan shall make it for you, and he

shall give it a footstool for you to rest your fair feet upon when you are at table."

Then Sleep answered, "Juno, great queen of goddesses, daughter of mighty Saturn, I would lull any other of

the gods to sleep without compunction, not even excepting the waters of Oceanus from whom all of them

proceed, but I dare not go near Jove, nor send him to sleep unless he bids me. I have had one lesson already

through doing what you asked me, on the day when Jove's mighty son Hercules set sail from Ilius after

having sacked the city of the Trojans. At your bidding I suffused my sweet self over the mind of

aegisbearing Jove, and laid him to rest; meanwhile you hatched a plot against Hercules, and set the blasts of

the angry winds beating upon the sea, till you took him to the goodly city of Cos away from all his friends.

Jove was furious when he awoke, and began hurling the gods about all over the house; he was looking more

particularly for myself, and would have flung me down through space into the sea where I should never have

been heard of any more, had not Night who cows both men and gods protected me. I fled to her and Jove left

off looking for me in spite of his being so angry, for he did not dare do anything to displease Night. And now

And Juno said, "Sleep, why do you take such notions as those into your head? Do you think Jove will be as

anxious to help the Trojans, as he was about his own son? Come, I will marry you to one of the youngest of

the Graces, and she shall be your own Pasithea, whom you have always wanted to marry."

Sleep was pleased when he heard this, and answered, "Then swear it to me by the dread waters of the river

Styx; lay one hand on the bounteous earth, and the other on the sheen of the sea, so that all the gods who

dwell down below with Saturn may be our witnesses, and see that you really do give me one of the youngest

Juno did as he had said. She swore, and invoked all the gods of the nether world, who are called Titans, to

witness. When she had completed her oath, the two enshrouded themselves in a thick mist and sped lightly

forward, leaving Lemnos and Imbrus behind them. Presently they reached manyfountained Ida, mother of

wild beasts, and Lectum where they left the sea to go on by land, and the tops of the trees of the forest

soughed under the going of their feet. Here Sleep halted, and ere Jove caught sight of him he climbed a lofty

pinetree the tallest that reared its head towards heaven on all Ida. He hid himself behind the branches and

sat there in the semblance of the sweetsinging bird that haunts the mountains and is called Chalcis by the

gods, but men call it Cymindis. Juno then went to Gargarus, the topmost peak of Ida, and Jove, driver of the

clouds, set eyes upon her. As soon as he did so he became inflamed with the same passionate desire for her

that he had felt when they had first enjoyed each other's embraces, and slept with one another without their

dear parents knowing anything about it. He went up to her and said, "What do you want that you have come

hither from Olympus and that too with neither chariot nor horses to convey you?"

Then Juno told him a lying tale and said, "I am going to the world's end, to visit Oceanus, from whom all we

gods proceed, and mother Tethys; they received me into their house, took care of me, and brought me up. I

must go and see them that I may make peace between them: they have been quarrelling, and are so angry that

they have not slept with one another this long time. The horses that will take me over land and sea are

stationed on the lowermost spurs of manyfountained Ida, and I have come here from Olympus on purpose to

consult you. I was afraid you might be angry with me later on, if I went to the house of Oceanus without

And Jove said, "Juno, you can choose some other time for paying your visit to Oceanus for the present let us

devote ourselves to love and to the enjoyment of one another. Never yet have I been so overpowered by

passion neither for goddess nor mortal woman as I am at this moment for yourself not even when I was in

love with the wife of Ixion who bore me Pirithous, peer of gods in counsel, nor yet with Danae the

daintilyancled daughter of Acrisius, who bore me the famed hero Perseus. Then there was the daughter of

Phoenix, who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus: there was Semele, and Alcmena in Thebes by whom I

begot my lionhearted son Hercules, while Semele became mother to Bacchus the comforter of mankind.

There was queen Ceres again, and lovely Leto, and yourselfbut with none of these was I ever so much

Juno again answered him with a lying tale. "Most dread son of Saturn," she exclaimed, "what are you talking

about? Would you have us enjoy one another here on the top of Mount Ida, where everything can be seen?

What if one of the everliving gods should see us sleeping together, and tell the others? It would be such a

scandal that when I had risen from your embraces I could never show myself inside your house again; but if

you are so minded, there is a room which your son Vulcan has made me, and he has given it good strong

And Jove answered, "Juno, you need not be afraid that either god or man will see you, for I will enshroud

both of us in such a dense golden cloud, that the very sun for all his bright piercing beams shall not see

With this the son of Saturn caught his wife in his embrace; whereon the earth sprouted them a cushion of

young grass, with dewbespangled lotus, crocus, and hyacinth, so soft and thick that it raised them well

above the ground. Here they laid themselves down and overhead they were covered by a fair cloud of gold,

Thus, then, did the sire of all things repose peacefully on the crest of Ida, overcome at once by sleep and love,

and he held his spouse in his arms. Meanwhile Sleep made off to the ships of the Achaeans, to tell

earthencircling Neptune, lord of the earthquake. When he had found him he said, "Now, Neptune, you can

help the Danaans with a will, and give them victory though it be only for a short time while Jove is still

sleeping. I have sent him into a sweet slumber, and Juno has beguiled him into going to bed with her."

Sleep now departed and went his ways to and fro among mankind, leaving Neptune more eager than ever to

help the Danaans. He darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying, "Argives, shall we let Hector

son of Priam have the triumph of taking our ships and covering himself with glory? This is what he says that

he shall now do, seeing that Achilles is still in dudgeon at his ship; We shall get on very well without him if

we keep each other in heart and stand by one another. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say. Let us each take

the best and largest shield we can lay hold of, put on our helmets, and sally forth with our longest spears in

our hands; will lead you on, and Hector son of Priam, rage as he may, will not dare to hold out against us. If

any good staunch soldier has only a small shield, let him hand it over to a worse man, and take a larger one

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. The son of Tydeus, Ulysses, and Agamemnon, wounded

though they were, set the others in array, and went about everywhere effecting the exchanges of armour; the

most valiant took the best armour, and gave the worse to the worse man. When they had donned their bronze

armour they marched on with Neptune at their head. In his strong hand he grasped his terrible sword, keen of

edge and flashing like lightning; woe to him who comes across it in the day of battle; all men quake for fear

Hector on the other side set the Trojans in array. Thereon Neptune and Hector waged fierce war on one

another Hector on the Trojan and Neptune on the Argive side. Mighty was the uproar as the two forces met;

the sea came rolling in towards the ships and tents of the Achaeans, but waves do not thunder on the shore

more loudly when driven before the blast of Boreas, nor do the flames of a forest fire roar more fiercely when

it is well alight upon the mountains, nor does the wind bellow with ruder music as it tears on through the tops

of when it is blowing its hardest, than the terrible shout which the Trojans and Achaeans raised as they sprang

Hector first aimed his spear at Ajax, who was turned full towards him, nor did he miss his aim. The spear

struck him where two bands passed over his chest the band of his shield and that of his silverstudded

sword and these protected his body. Hector was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain, and

withdrew under cover of his men. As he was thus retreating, Ajax son of Telamon struck him with a stone, of

which there were many lying about under the men's feet as they fought brought there to give support to the

ships' sides as they lay on the shore. Ajax caught up one of them and struck Hector above the rim of his

shield close to his neck; the blow made him spin round like a top and reel in all directions. As an oak falls

headlong when uprooted by the lightning flash of father Jove, and there is a terrible smell of brimstone no

man can help being dismayed if he is standing near it, for a thunderbolt is a very awful thing even so did

Hector fall to earth and bite the dust. His spear fell from his hand, but his shield and helmet were made fast

The sons of the Achaeans came running with a loud cry towards him, hoping to drag him away, and they

showered their darts on the Trojans, but none of them could wound him before he was surrounded and

covered by the princes Polydamas, Aeneas, Agenor, Sarpedon captain of the Lycians, and noble Glaucus: of

the others, too, there was not one who was unmindful of him, and they held their round shields over him to

cover him. His comrades then lifted him off the ground and bore him away from the battle to the place where

his horses stood waiting for him at the rear of the fight with their driver and the chariot; these then took him

towards the city groaning and in great pain. When they reached the ford of the air stream of Xanthus,

begotten of Immortal Jove, they took him from off his chariot and laid him down on the ground; they poured

water over him, and as they did so he breathed again and opened his eyes. Then kneeling on his knees he

vomited blood, but soon fell back on to the ground, and his eyes were again closed in darkness for he was still

When the Argives saw Hector leaving the field, they took heart and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously.

Ajax fleet son of Oileus began by springing on Satnius son of Enops and wounding him with his spear: a fair

naiad nymph had borne him to Enops as he was herding cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis. The son of

Oileus came up to him and struck him in the flank so that he fell, and a fierce fight between Trojans and

Danaans raged round his body. Polydamas son of Panthous drew near to avenge him, and wounded

Prothoenor son of Areilycus on the right shoulder; the terrible spear went right through his shoulder, and he

clutched the earth as he fell in the dust. Polydamas vaunted loudly over him saying, "Again I take it that the

spear has not sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthous; an Argive has caught it in his body,

The Argives were maddened by this boasting. Ajax son of Telamon was more angry than any, for the man

had fallen close be, him; so he aimed at Polydamas as he was retreating, but Polydamas saved himself by

swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus son of Antenor, for heaven counselled his destruction; it

struck him where the head springs from the neck at the top joint of the spine, and severed both the tendons at

the back of the head. His head, mouth, and nostrils reached the ground long before his legs and knees could

do so, and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying, "Think, Polydamas, and tell me truly whether this man is not

as well worth killing as Prothoenor was: he seems rich, and of rich family, a brother, it may be, or son of the

But he knew well who it was, and the Trojans were greatly angered. Acamas then bestrode his brother's body

and wounded Promachus the Boeotian with his spear, for he was trying to drag his brother's body away.

Acamas vaunted loudly over him saying, "Argive archers, braggarts that you are, toil and suffering shall not

be for us only, but some of you too shall fall here as well as ourselves. See how Promachus now sleeps,

vanquished by my spear; payment for my brother's blood has not long delayed; a man, therefore, may well be

His taunts infuriated the Argives, and Peneleos was more enraged than any of them. He sprang towards

Acamas, but Acamas did not stand his ground, and he killed Ilioneus son of the rich flockmaster Phorbas,

whom Mercury had favoured and endowed with greater wealth than any other of the Trojans. Ilioneus was his

only son, and Peneleos now wounded him in the eye under his eyebrows, tearing the eyeball from its socket:

the spear went right through the eye into the nape of the neck, and he fell, stretching out both hands before

him. Peneleos then drew his sword and smote him on the neck, so that both head and helmet came tumbling

down to the ground with the spear still sticking in the eye; he then held up the head, as though it had been a

poppyhead, and showed it to the Trojans, vaunting over them as he did so. "Trojans," he cried, "bid the

father and mother of noble Ilioneus make moan for him in their house, for the wife also of Promachus son of

Alegenor will never be gladdened by the coming of her dear husband when we Argives return with our

As he spoke fear fell upon them, and every man looked round about to see whither he might fly for safety.

Tell me now, O Muses that dwell on Olympus, who was the first of the Argives to bear away bloodstained

spoils after Neptune lord of the earthquake had turned the fortune of war. Ajax son of Telamon was first to

wound Hyrtius son of Gyrtius, captain of the staunch Mysians. Antilochus killed Phalces and Mermerus,

while Meriones slew Morys and Hippotion, Teucer also killed Prothoon and Periphetes. The son of Atreus

then wounded Hyperenor shepherd of his people, in the flank, and the bronze point made his entrails gush out

as it tore in among them; on this his life came hurrying out of him at the place where he had been wounded,

and his eyes were closed in darkness. Ajax son of Oileus killed more than any other, for there was no man so

But when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set stakes, and many had fallen by the hands of

the Danaans, the Trojans made a halt on reaching their chariots, routed and pale with fear. Jove now woke on

the crests of Ida, where he was lying with goldenthroned Juno by his side, and starting to his feet he saw the

Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and the others driving them pellmell before them

with King Neptune in their midst. He saw Hector lying on the ground with his comrades gathered round him,

gasping for breath, wandering in mind and vomiting blood, for it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who

The sire of gods and men had pity on him, and looked fiercely on Juno. "I see, Juno," said he, "you mischief

making trickster, that your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has caused the rout of his host. I am

in half a mind to thrash you, in which case you will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy knavery. Do

you not remember how once upon a time I had you hanged? I fastened two anvils on to your feet, and bound

your hands in a chain of gold which none might break, and you hung in midair among the clouds. All the

gods in Olympus were in a fury, but they could not reach you to set you free; when I caught any one of them I

gripped him and hurled him from the heavenly threshold till he came fainting down to earth; yet even this did

not relieve my mind from the incessant anxiety which I felt about noble Hercules whom you and Boreas had

spitefully conveyed beyond the seas to Cos, after suborning the tempests; but I rescued him, and

notwithstanding all his mighty labours I brought him back again to Argos. I would remind you of this that

you may learn to leave off being so deceitful, and discover how much you are likely to gain by the embraces

Juno trembled as he spoke, and said, "May heaven above and earth below be my witnesses, with the waters of

the river Styx and this is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take nay, I swear also by your own

almighty head and by our bridal bed things over which I could never possibly perjure myself that Neptune

is not punishing Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through any doing of mine; it is all of his

own mere motion because he was sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at their ships: if I were advising

The sire of gods and men smiled and answered, "If you, Juno, were always to support me when we sit in

council of the gods, Neptune, like it or no, would soon come round to your and my way of thinking. If, then,

you are speaking the truth and mean what you say, go among the rank and file of the gods, and tell Iris and

Apollo lord of the bow, that I want them Iris, that she may go to the Achaean host and tell Neptune to leave

off fighting and go home, and Apollo, that he may send Hector again into battle and give him fresh strength;

he will thus forget his present sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till they fall among the

ships of Achilles son of Peleus. Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and Hector will kill

him in front of Ilius after he has slain many warriors, and among them my own noble son Sarpedon. Achilles

will kill Hector to avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it about that the Achaeans shall

persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius. But I will not stay

my anger, nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I have accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus,

according to the promise I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched my knees and besought

Juno heeded his words and went from the heights of Ida to great Olympus. Swift as the thought of one whose

fancy carries him over vast continents, and he says to himself, "Now I will be here, or there," and he would

have all manner of things even so swiftly did Juno wing her way till she came to high Olympus and went in

among the gods who were gathered in the house of Jove. When they saw her they all of them came up to her,

and held out their cups to her by way of greeting. She let the others be, but took the cup offered her by lovely

Themis, who was first to come running up to her. "Juno," said she, "why are you here? And you seem

And Juno answered, "Themis, do not ask me about it. You know what a proud and cruel disposition my

husband has. Lead the gods to table, where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked designs which he

has avowed. Many a one, mortal and immortal, will be angered by them, however peaceably he may be

On this Juno sat down, and the gods were troubled throughout the house of Jove. Laughter sat on her lips but

her brow was furrowed with care, and she spoke up in a rage. "Fools that we are," she cried, "to be thus

madly angry with Jove; we keep on wanting to go up to him and stay him by force or by persuasion, but he

sits aloof and cares for nobody, for he knows that he is much stronger than any other of the immortals. Make

the best, therefore, of whatever ills he may choose to send each one of you; Mars, I take it, has had a taste of

them already, for his son Ascalaphus has fallen in battle the man whom of all others he loved most dearly

When he heard this Mars smote his two sturdy thighs with the flat of his hands, and said in anger, "Do not

blame me, you gods that dwell in heaven, if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge the death of my son,

even though it end in my being struck by Jove's lightning and lying in blood and dust among the corpses."

As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses Panic and Rout, while he put on his armour. On this, Jove

would have been roused to still more fierce and implacable enmity against the other immortals, had not

Minerva, ararmed for the safety of the gods, sprung from her seat and hurried outside. She tore the helmet

from his head and the shield from his shoulders, and she took the bronze spear from his strong hand and set it

on one side; then she said to Mars, "Madman, you are undone; you have ears that hear not, or you have lost

all judgement and understanding; have you not heard what Juno has said on coming straight from the

presence of Olympian Jove? Do you wish to go through all kinds of suffering before you are brought back

sick and sorry to Olympus, after having caused infinite mischief to all us others? Jove would instantly leave

the Trojans and Achaeans to themselves; he would come to Olympus to punish us, and would grip us up one

after another, guilty or not guilty. Therefore lay aside your anger for the death of your son; better men than he

have either been killed already or will fall hereafter, and one cannot protect every one's whole family."

With these words she took Mars back to his seat. Meanwhile Juno called Apollo outside, with Iris the

messenger of the gods. "Jove," she said to them, "desires you to go to him at once on Mt. Ida; when you have

Thereon Juno left them and resumed her seat inside, while Iris and Apollo made all haste on their way. When

they reached manyfountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, they found Jove seated on topmost Gargarus with

a fragrant cloud encircling his head as with a diadem. They stood before his presence, and he was pleased

with them for having been so quick in obeying the orders his wife had given them.

He spoke to Iris first. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, tell King Neptune what I now bid you and tell him true. Bid

him leave off fighting, and either join the company of the gods, or go down into the sea. If he takes no heed

and disobeys me, let him consider well whether he is strong enough to hold his own against me if I attack

him. I am older and much stronger than he is; yet he is not afraid to set himself up as on a level with myself,

Iris, fleet as the wind, obeyed him, and as the cold hail or snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before the

blast of Boreas, even so did she wing her way till she came close up to the great shaker of the earth. Then she

said, "I have come, O darkhaired king that holds the world in his embrace, to bring you a message from

Jove. He bids you leave off fighting, and either join the company of the gods or go down into the sea; if,

however, you take no heed and disobey him, he says he will come down here and fight you. He would have

you keep out of his reach, for he is older and much stronger than you are, and yet you are not afraid to set

yourself up as on a level with himself, of whom all the other gods stand in awe."

Neptune was very angry and said, "Great heavens! strong as Jove may be, he has said more than he can do if

he has threatened violence against me, who am of like honour with himself. We were three brothers whom

Rhea bore to Saturn Jove, myself, and Hades who rules the world below. Heaven and earth were divided

into three parts, and each of us was to have an equal share. When we cast lots, it fell to me to have my

dwelling in the sea for evermore; Hades took the darkness of the realms under the earth, while air and sky and

clouds were the portion that fell to Jove; but earth and great Olympus are the common property of all.

Therefore I will not walk as Jove would have me. For all his strength, let him keep to his own third share and

be contented without threatening to lay hands upon me as though I were nobody. Let him keep his bragging

Iris fleet as the wind then answered, "Am I really, Neptune, to take this daring and unyielding message to

Jove, or will you reconsider your answer? Sensible people are open to argument, and you know that the

Neptune answered, "Goddess Iris, your words have been spoken in season. It is well when a messenger shows

so much discretion. Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that any one should rebuke so angrily another

who is his own peer, and of like empire with himself. Now, however, I will give way in spite of my

displeasure; furthermore let me tell you, and I mean what I say if contrary to the desire of myself, Minerva

driver of the spoil, Juno, Mercury, and King Vulcan, Jove spares steep Ilius, and will not let the Achaeans

have the great triumph of sacking it, let him understand that he will incur our implacable resentment."

Neptune now left the field to go down under the sea, and sorely did the Achaeans miss him. Then Jove said to

Apollo, "Go, dear Phoebus, to Hector, for Neptune who holds the earth in his embrace has now gone down

under the sea to avoid the severity of my displeasure. Had he not done so those gods who are below with

Saturn would have come to hear of the fight between us. It is better for both of us that he should have curbed

his anger and kept out of my reach, for I should have had much trouble with him. Take, then, your tasselled

aegis, and shake it furiously, so as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic; take, moreover, brave Hector, O

FarDarter, into your own care, and rouse him to deeds of daring, till the Achaeans are sent flying back to

their ships and to the Hellespont. From that point I will think it well over, how the Achaeans may have a

Apollo obeyed his father's saying, and left the crests of Ida, flying like a falcon, bane of doves and swiftest of

all birds. He found Hector no longer lying upon the ground, but sitting up, for he had just come to himself

again. He knew those who were about him, and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the moment

when the will of aegisbearing Jove had revived him. Apollo stood beside him and said, "Hector, son of

Priam, why are you so faint, and why are you here away from the others? Has any mishap befallen you?"

Hector in a weak voice answered, "And which, kind sir, of the gods are you, who now ask me thus? Do you

not know that Ajax struck me on the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades at the ships of the

Achaeans, and compelled me to leave off fighting? I made sure that this very day I should breathe my last and

Then King Apollo said to him, "Take heart; the son of Saturn has sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand

by you and defend you, even me, Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who have been guardian hitherto not

only of yourself but of your city. Now, therefore, order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the ships in

great multitudes. I will go before your horses to smooth the way for them, and will turn the Achaeans in

As he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his people. And as a horse, stabled and fullfed,

breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont to take his bath in the river

he tosses his head, and his mane streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he flies full

speed to the pastures where the mares are feeding even so Hector, when he heard what the god said, urged

his horsemen on, and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take him. As country peasants set their hounds

on to a homed stag or wild goat he has taken shelter under rock or thicket, and they cannot find him, but, lo,

a bearded lion whom their shouts have roused stands in their path, and they are in no further humour for the

chase even so the Achaeans were still charging on in a body, using their swords and spears pointed at both

ends, but when they saw Hector going about among his men they were afraid, and their hearts fell down into

Then spoke Thoas son of Andraemon, leader of the Aetolians, a man who could throw a good throw, and who

was staunch also in close fight, while few could surpass him in debate when opinions were divided. He then

with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "What, in heaven's name, do I now see? Is it not Hector

come to life again? Every one made sure he had been killed by Ajax son of Telamon, but it seems that one of

the gods has again rescued him. He has killed many of us Danaans already, and I take it will yet do so, for the

hand of Jove must be with him or he would never dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of the

battle. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us order the main body of our forces to fall back upon the

ships, but let those of us who profess to be the flower of the army stand firm, and see whether we cannot hold

Hector back at the point of our spears as soon as he comes near us; I conceive that he will then think better of

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. Those who were about Ajax and King Idomeneus, the

followers moreover of Teucer, Meriones, and Meges peer of Mars called all their best men about them and

sustained the fight against Hector and the Trojans, but the main body fell back upon the ships of the

The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body, with Hector striding on at their head. Before him went Phoebus

Apollo shrouded in cloud about his shoulders. He bore aloft the terrible aegis with its shaggy fringe, which

Vulcan the smith had given Jove to strike terror into the hearts of men. With this in his hand he led on the

The Argives held together and stood their ground. The cry of battle rose high from either side, and the arrows

flew from the bowstrings. Many a spear sped from strong hands and fastened in the bodies of many a valiant

warrior, while others fell to earth midway, before they could taste of man's fair flesh and glut themselves with

blood. So long as Phoebus Apollo held his aegis quietly and without shaking it, the weapons on either side

took effect and the people fell, but when he shook it straight in the face of the Danaans and raised his mighty

battlecry their hearts fainted within them and they forgot their former prowess. As when two wild beasts

spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle or a large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not there even

so were the Danaans struck helpless, for Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to Hector and the

The fight then became more scattered and they killed one another where they best could. Hector killed

Stichius and Arcesilaus, the one, leader of the Boeotians, and the other, friend and comrade of Menestheus.

Aeneas killed Medon and Iasus. The first was bastard son to Oileus, and brother to Ajax, but he lived in

Phylace away from his own country, for he had killed a man, a kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis whom

Oileus had married. Iasus had become a leader of the Athenians, and was son of Sphelus the son of Boucolos.

Polydamas killed Mecisteus, and Polites Echius, in the front of the battle, while Agenor slew Clonius. Paris

struck Deiochus from behind in the lower part of the shoulder, as he was flying among the foremost, and the

While they were spoiling these heroes of their armour, the Achaeans were flying pellmell to the trench and

the set stakes, and were forced back within their wall. Hector then cried out to the Trojans, "Forward to the

ships, and let the spoils be. If I see any man keeping back on the other side the wall away from the ships I

will have him killed: his kinsmen and kinswomen shall not give him his dues of fire, but dogs shall tear him

As he spoke he laid his whip about his horses' shoulders and called to the Trojans throughout their ranks; the

Trojans shouted with a cry that rent the air, and kept their horses neck and neck with his own. Phoebus

Apollo went before, and kicked down the banks of the deep trench into its middle so as to make a great broad

bridge, as broad as the throw of a spear when a man is trying his strength. The Trojan battalions poured over

the bridge, and Apollo with his redoubtable aegis led the way. He kicked down the wall of the Achaeans as

easily as a child who playing on the seashore has built a house of sand and then kicks it down again and

destroys it even so did you, O Apollo, shed toil and trouble upon the Argives, filling them with panic and

Thus then were the Achaeans hemmed in at their ships, calling out to one another and raising their hands with

loud cries every man to heaven. Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, lifted up his hands to

the starry firmament of heaven, and prayed more fervently than any of them. "Father Jove," said he, "if ever

any one in wheatgrowing Argos burned you fat thighbones of sheep or heifer and prayed that he might

return safely home, whereon you bowed your head to him in assent, bear it in mind now, and suffer not the

All counselling Jove thundered loudly in answer to die prayer of the aged son of Neleus. When the heard

Jove thunder they flung themselves yet more fiercely on the Achaeans. As a wave breaking over the bulwarks

of a ship when the sea runs high before a gale for it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so great

even so did the Trojans spring over the wall with a shout, and drive their chariots onwards. The two sides

fought with their doublepointed spears in handtohand encounterthe Trojans from their chariots, and the

Achaeans climbing up into their ships and wielding the long pikes that were lying on the decks ready for use

Now Patroclus, so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting about the wall, but were not yet within it

and at the ships, remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypylus, entertaining him with his conversation and

spreading herbs over his wound to ease his pain. When, however, he saw the Trojans swarming through the

breach in the wall, while the Achaeans were clamouring and struck with panic, he cried aloud, and smote his

two thighs with the flat of his hands. "Eurypylus," said he in his dismay, "I know you want me badly, but I

cannot stay with you any longer, for there is hard fighting going on; a servant shall take care of you now, for I

must make all speed to Achilles, and induce him to fight if I can; who knows but with heaven's help I may

When he had thus spoken he went his way. The Achaeans stood firm and resisted the attack of the Trojans,

yet though these were fewer in number, they could not drive them back from the ships, neither could the

Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their way in among the tents and ships. As a carpenter's line gives

a true edge to a piece of ship's timber, in the hand of some skilled workman whom Minerva has instructed in

all kinds of useful arts even so level was the issue of the fight between the two sides, as they fought some

Hector made straight for Ajax, and the two fought fiercely about the same ship. Hector could not force Ajax

back and fire the ship, nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to which heaven had brought him.

Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the chest with a spear as he was bringing fire towards the ship. He

fell heavily to the ground and the torch dropped from his hand. When Hector saw his cousin fallen in front of

the ship he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight,

bate not a jot, but rescue the son of Clytius lest the Achaeans strip him of his armour now that he has fallen."

He then aimed a spear at Ajax, and missed him, but he hit Lycophron a follower of Ajax, who came from

Cythera, but was living with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the Cythereans. Hector's spear

struck him on the head below the ear, and he fell headlong from the ship's prow on to the ground with no life

left in him. Ajax shook with rage and said to his brother, "Teucer, my good fellow, our trusty comrade the

son of Mastor has fallen, he came to live with us from Cythera and whom we honoured as much as our own

parents. Hector has just killed him; fetch your deadly arrows at once and the bow which Phoebus Apollo gave

Teucer heard him and hastened towards him with his bow and quiver in his hands. Forthwith he showered his

arrows on the Trojans, and hit Cleitus the son of Pisenor, comrade of Polydamas the noble son of Panthous,

with the reins in his hands as he was attending to his horses; he was in the middle of the very thickest part of

the fight, doing good service to Hector and the Trojans, but evil had now come upon him, and not one of

those who were fain to do so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on the back of the neck. He fell from his

chariot and his horses shook the empty car as they swerved aside. King Polydamas saw what had happened,

and was the first to come up to the horses; he gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon, and ordered

him to look on, and to keep the horses near at hand. He then went back and took his place in the front ranks.

Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector, and there would have been no more fighting at the ships if he had

hit him and killed him then and there: Jove, however, who kept watch over Hector, had his eyes on Teucer,

and deprived him of his triumph, by breaking his bowstring for him just as he was drawing it and about to

take his aim; on this the arrow went astray and the bow fell from his hands. Teucer shook with anger and said

to his brother, "Alas, see how heaven thwarts us in all we do; it has broken my bowstring and snatched the

bow from my hand, though I strung it this selfsame morning that it might serve me for many an arrow."

Ajax son of Telamon answered, "My good fellow, let your bow and your arrows be, for Jove has made them

useless in order to spite the Danaans. Take your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder, and both fight the

Trojans yourself and urge others to do so. They may be successful for the moment but if we fight as we ought

Teucer then took his bow and put it by in his tent. He hung a shield four hides thick about his shoulders, and

on his comely head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horsehair that nodded menacingly above

it; he grasped his redoubtable bronzeshod spear, and forthwith he was by the side of Ajax.

When Hector saw that Teucer's bow was of no more use to him, he shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians,

"Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight, be men, my friends, and show your mettle here at the

ships, for I see the weapon of one of their chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove. It is easy to see when

Jove is helping people and means to help them still further, or again when he is bringing them down and will

do nothing for them; he is now on our side, and is going against the Argives. Therefore swarm round the

ships and fight. If any of you is struck by spear or sword and loses his life, let him die; he dies with honour

who dies fighting for his country; and he will leave his wife and children safe behind him, with his house and

allotment unplundered if only the Achaeans can be driven back to their own land, they and their ships."

With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Ajax on the other side exhorted his comrades saying,

"Shame on you Argives, we are now utterly undone, unless we can save ourselves by driving the enemy from

our ships. Do you think, if Hector takes them, that you will be able to get home by land? Can you not hear

him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet, and bidding them remember that they are not at a dance but

in battle? Our only course is to fight them with might and main; we had better chance it, life or death, once

for all, than fight long and without issue hemmed in at our ships by worse men than ourselves."

With these words he put life and soul into them all. Hector then killed Schedius son of Perimedes, leader of

the Phoceans, and Ajax killed Laodamas captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor. Polydamas killed Otus

of Cyllene a comrade of the son of Phyleus and chief of the proud Epeans. When Meges saw this he sprang

upon him, but Polydamas crouched down, and he missed him, for Apollo would not suffer the son of

Panthous to fall in battle; but the spear hit Croesmus in the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the

ground, and Meges stripped him of his armour. At that moment the valiant soldier Dolops son of Lampus

sprang upon Lampus was son of Laomedon and for his valour, while his son Dolops was versed in all the

ways of war. He then struck the middle of the son of Phyleus' shield with his spear, setting on him at close

quarters, but his good corslet made with plates of metal saved him; Phyleus had brought it from Ephyra and

the river Selleis, where his host, King Euphetes, had given it him to wear in battle and protect him. It now

served to save the life of his son. Then Meges struck the topmost crest of Dolops's bronze helmet with his

spear and tore away its plume of horsehair, so that all newly dyed with scarlet as it was it tumbled down into

the dust. While he was still fighting and confident of victory, Menelaus came up to help Meges, and got by

the side of Dolops unperceived; he then speared him in the shoulder, from behind, and the point, driven so

furiously, went through into his chest, whereon he fell headlong. The two then made towards him to strip him

of his armour, but Hector called on all his brothers for help, and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus

son of Hiketaon, who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in Percote before the war broke out; but

when the ships of the Danaans came, he went back to Ilius, where he was eminent among the Trojans, and

lived near Priam who treated him as one of his own sons. Hector now rebuked him and said, "Why,

Melanippus, are we thus remiss? do you take no note of the death of your kinsman, and do you not see how

they are trying to take Dolops's armour? Follow me; there must be no fighting the Argives from a distance

now, but we must do so in close combat till either we kill them or they take the high wall of Ilius and slay her

He led on as he spoke, and the hero Melanippus followed after. Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was

cheering on the Argives. "My friends," he cried, "be men, and fear dishonour; quit yourselves in battle so as

to win respect from one another. Men who respect each other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than

Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back the Trojans. They laid his words to heart

and hedged the ships as with a wall of bronze, while Jove urged on the Trojans. Menelaus of the loud

battlecry urged Antilochus on. "Antilochus," said he, "you are young and there is none of the Achaeans

more fleet of foot or more valiant than you are. See if you cannot spring upon some Trojan and kill him."

He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus, who at once darted out from the front ranks and

aimed a spear, after looking carefully round him. The Trojans fell back as he threw, and the dart did not speed

from his hand without effect, for it struck Melanippus the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple as

he was coming forward, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Antilochus

sprang upon him as a dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking away from its covert,

and killed it. Even so, O Melanippus, did stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your armour;

but noble Hector marked him, and came running up to him through the thick of the battle. Antilochus, brave

soldier though he was, would not stay to face him, but fled like some savage creature which knows it has

done wrong, and flies, when it has killed a dog or a man who is herding his cattle, before a body of men can

be gathered to attack it. Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the

air showered their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and stay his flight till he had reached his

The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards the ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who

kept spurring them on to new deeds of daring, while he deadened the courage of the Argives and defeated

them by encouraging the Trojans. For he meant giving glory to Hector son of Priam, and letting him throw

fire upon the ships, till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis had made him; Jove, therefore,

bided his time till he should see the glare of a blazing ship. From that hour he was about so to order that the

Trojans should be driven back from the ships and to vouchsafe glory to the Achaeans. With this purpose he

inspired Hector son of Priam, who was cager enough already, to assail the ships. His fury was as that of Mars,

or as when a fire is raging in the glades of some dense forest upon the mountains; he foamed at the mouth, his

eyes glared under his terrible eyebrows, and his helmet quivered on his temples by reason of the fury with

which he fought. Jove from heaven was with him, and though he was but one against many, vouchsafed him

victory and glory; for he was doomed to an early death, and already Pallas Minerva was hurrying on the hour

of his destruction at the hands of the son of Peleus. Now, however, he kept trying to break the ranks of the

enemy wherever he could see them thickest, and in the goodliest armour; but do what he might he could not

break through them, for they stood as a tower foursquare, or as some high cliff rising from the grey sea that

braves the anger of the gale, and of the waves that thunder up against it. He fell upon them like flames of fire

from every quarter. As when a wave, raised mountain high by wind and storm, breaks over a ship and covers

it deep in foam, the fierce winds roar against the mast, the hearts of the sailors fail them for fear, and they are

saved but by a very little from destruction even so were the hearts of the Achaeans fainting within them. Or

as a savage lion attacking a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the lowlying meadows by

some widewatered shore the herdsman is at his wit's end how to protect his herd and keeps going about

now in the van and now in the rear of his cattle, while the lion springs into the thick of them and fastens on a

cow so that they all tremble for fear even so were the Achaeans utterly panicstricken by Hector and father

Jove. Nevertheless Hector only killed Periphetes of Mycenae; he was son of Copreus who was wont to take

the orders of King Eurystheus to mighty Hercules, but the son was a far better man than the father in every

way; he was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in understanding ranked among the foremost men of

Mycenae. He it was who then afforded Hector a triumph, for as he was turning back he stumbled against the

rim of his shield which reached his feet, and served to keep the javelins off him. He tripped against this and

fell face upward, his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did so. Hector saw him fall and ran up to

him; he then thrust a spear into his chest, and killed him close to his own comrades. These, for all their

They had now reached the ships and the prows of those that had been drawn up first were on every side of

them, but the Trojans came pouring after them. The Argives were driven back from the first row of ships, but

they made a stand by their tents without being broken up and scattered; shame and fear restrained them. They

kept shouting incessantly to one another, and Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, was

loudest in imploring every man by his parents, and beseeching him to stand firm.

"Be men, my friends," he cried, "and respect one another's good opinion. Think, all of you, on your children,

your wives, your property, and your parents whether these be alive or dead. On their behalf though they are

With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Minerva lifted the thick veil of darkness from their eyes,

and much light fell upon them, alike on the side of the ships and on that where the fight was raging. They

could see Hector and all his men, both those in the rear who were taking no part in the battle, and those who

Ajax could not bring himself to retreat along with the rest, but strode from deck to deck with a great seapike

in his hands twelve cubits long and jointed with rings. As a man skilled in feats of horsemanship couples four

horses together and comes tearing full speed along the public way from the country into some large town

many both men and women marvel as they see him for he keeps all the time changing his horse, springing

from one to another without ever missing his feet while the horses are at a gallop even so did Ajax go

striding from one ship's deck to another, and his voice went up into the heavens. He kept on shouting his

orders to the Danaans and exhorting them to defend their ships and tents; neither did Hector remain within

the main body of the Trojan warriors, but as a dun eagle swoops down upon a flock of wildfowl feeding

near a rivergeese, it may be, or cranes, or longnecked swans even so did Hector make straight for a

darkprowed ship, rushing right towards it; for Jove with his mighty hand impelled him forward, and roused

And now the battle again raged furiously at the ships. You would have thought the men were coming on fresh

and unwearied, so fiercely did they fight; and this was the mind in which they were the Achaeans did not

believe they should escape destruction but thought themselves doomed, while there was not a Trojan but his

heart beat high with the hope of firing the ships and putting the Achaean heroes to the sword.

Thus were the two sides minded. Then Hector seized the stern of the good ship that had brought Protesilaus

to Troy, but never bore him back to his native land. Round this ship there raged a close handtohand fight

between Danaans and Trojans. They did not fight at a distance with bows and javelins, but with one mind

hacked at one another in close combat with their mighty swords and spears pointed at both ends; they fought

moreover with keen battleaxes and with hatchets. Many a good stout blade hilted and scabbarded with iron,

fell from hand or shoulder as they fought, and the earth ran red with blood. Hector, when he had seized the

ship, would not loose his hold but held on to its curved stern and shouted to the Trojans, "Bring fire, and raise

the battlecry all of you with a single voice. Now has Jove vouchsafed us a day that will pay us for all the

rest; this day we shall take the ships which came hither against heaven's will, and which have caused us such

infinite suffering through the cowardice of our councillors, who when I would have done battle at the ships

held me back and forbade the host to follow me; if Jove did then indeed warp our judgements, himself now

As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground,

for he was overcome by the darts that were flung at him, and made sure that he was doomed. Therefore he

left the raised deck at the stern, and stepped back on to the sevenfoot bench of the oarsmen. Here he stood

on the lookout, and with his spear held back Trojan whom he saw bringing fire to the ships. All the time he

kept on shouting at the top of his voice and exhorting the Danaans. "My friends," he cried, "Danaan heroes,

servants of Mars, be men my friends, and fight with might and with main. Can we hope to find helpers

hereafter, or a wall to shield us more surely than the one we have? There is no strong city within reach,

whence we may draw fresh forces to turn the scales in our favour. We are on the plain of the armed Trojans

with the sea behind us, and far from our own country. Our salvation, therefore, is in the might of our hands

As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury, and when any Trojan made towards the ships with

fire at Hector's bidding, he would be on the lookout for him, and drive at him with his long spear. Twelve

Thus did they fight about the ship of Protesilaus. Then Patroclus drew near to Achilles with tears welling

from his eyes, as from some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice. When

Achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for him and said, "Why, Patroclus, do you stand there weeping

like some silly child that comes running to her mother, and begs to be taken up and carriedshe catches hold of

her mother's dress to stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until her mother carries her

even such tears, Patroclus, are you now shedding. Have you anything to say to the Myrmidons or to myself?

or have you had news from Phthia which you alone know? They tell me Menoetius son of Actor is still alive,

as also Peleus son of Aeacus, among the Myrmidons men whose loss we two should bitterly deplore; or are

you grieving about the Argives and the way in which they are being killed at the ships, throu their own

highhanded doings? Do not hide anything from me but tell me that both of us may know about it."

Then, O knight Patroclus, with a deep sigh you answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the

Achaeans, do not be angry, but I weep for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives. All those who have

been their champions so far are lying at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave Diomed son of Tydeus

has been hit with a spear, while famed Ulysses and Agamemnon have received swordwounds; Eurypylus

again has been struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are attending to these heroes, and

healing them of their wounds; are you still, O Achilles, so inexorable? May it never be my lot to nurse such a

passion as you have done, to the baning of your own good name. Who in future story will speak well of you

unless you now save the Argives from ruin? You know no pity; knight Peleus was not your father nor Thetis

your mother, but the grey sea bore you and the sheer cliffs begot you, so cruel and remorseless are you. If

however you are kept back through knowledge of some oracle, or if your mother Thetis has told you

something from the mouth of Jove, at least send me and the Myrmidons with me, if I may bring deliverance

to the Danaans. Let me moreover wear your armour; the Trojans may thus mistake me for you and quit the

field, so that the hardpressed sons of the Achaeans may have breathing time which while they are fighting

may hardly be. We who are fresh might soon drive tired men back from our ships and tents to their own city."

He knew not what he was asking, nor that he was suing for his own destruction. Achilles was deeply moved

and answered, "What, noble Patroclus, are you saying? I know no prophesyings which I am heeding, nor has

my mother told me anything from the mouth of Jove, but I am cut to the very heart that one of my own rank

should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than I am. This, after all that I have gone through, is more

than I can endure. The girl whom the sons of the Achaeans chose for me, whom I won as the fruit of my spear

on having sacked a city her has King Agamemnon taken from me as though I were some common vagrant.

Still, let bygones be bygones: no man may keep his anger for ever; I said I would not relent till battle and the

cry of war had reached my own ships; nevertheless, now gird my armour about your shoulders, and lead the

Myrmidons to battle, for the dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet; the Argives are driven

back on to the beach, cooped within a narrow space, and the whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out

against them, because they see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near them. Had they seen this, there

would not have been a creek nor grip that had not been filled with their dead as they fled back again. And so

it would have been, if only King Agamemnon had dealt fairly by me. As it is the Trojans have beset our host.

Diomed son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to defend the Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the

son of Atreus coming from his hated head, whereas that of murderous Hector rings in my cars as he gives

orders to the Trojans, who triumph over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with their cry of battle. But

even so, Patroclus, fall upon them and save the fleet, lest the Trojans fire it and prevent us from being able to

return. Do, however, as I now bid you, that you may win me great honour from all the Danaans, and that they

may restore the girl to me again and give me rich gifts into the bargain. When you have driven the Trojans

from the ships, come back again. Though Juno's thundering husband should put triumph within your reach,

do not fight the Trojans further in my absence, or you will rob me of glory that should be mine. And do not

for lust of battle go on killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilius, lest one of the everliving gods

from Olympus attack you for Phoebus Apollo loves them well: return when you have freed the ships from

peril, and let others wage war upon the plain. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that not a single

man of all the Trojans might be left alive, nor yet of the Argives, but that we two might be alone left to tear

Thus did they converse. But Ajax could no longer hold his ground for the shower of darts that rained upon

him; the will of Jove and the javelins of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet that gleamed about

his temples rang with the continuous clatter of the missiles that kept pouring on to it and on to the

cheekpieces that protected his face. Moreover his left shoulder was tired with having held his shield so long,

yet for all this, let fly at him as they would, they could not make him give ground. He could hardly draw his

breath, the sweat rained from every pore of his body, he had not a moment's respite, and on all sides he was

And now, tell me, O Muses that hold your mansions on Olympus, how fire was thrown upon the ships of the

Achaeans. Hector came close up and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax. He cut it clean

in two just behind where the point was fastened on to the shaft of the spear. Ajax, therefore, had now nothing

but a headless spear, while the bronze point flew some way off and came ringing down on to the ground.

Ajax knew the hand of heaven in this, and was dismayed at seeing that Jove had now left him utterly

defenceless and was willing victory for the Trojans. Therefore he drew back, and the Trojans flung fire upon

The fire was now flaring about the ship's stern, whereon Achilles smote his two thighs and said to Patroclus,

"Up, noble knight, for I see the glare of hostile fire at our fleet; up, lest they destroy our ships, and there be no

way by which we may retreat. Gird on your armour at once while I call our people together."

As he spoke Patroclus put on his armour. First he greaved his legs with greaves of good make, and fitted with

ancleclasps of silver; after this he donned the cuirass of the son of Aeacus, richly inlaid and studded. He

hung his silverstudded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty shield. On his comely head

he set his helmet, well wrought, with a crest of horsehair that nodded menacingly above it. He grasped two

redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles, so stout and strong,

for none other of the Achaeans could wield it, though Achilles could do so easily. This was the ashen spear

from Mount Pelion, which Chiron had cut upon a mountain top and had given to Peleus, wherewith to deal

out death among heroes. He bade Automedon yoke his horses with all speed, for he was the man whom he

held in honour next after Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly. Automedon

therefore yoked the fleet horses Xanthus and Balius, steeds that could fly like the wind: these were they

whom the harpy Podarge bore to the west wind, as she was grazing in a meadow by the waters of the river

Oceanus. In the side traces he set the noble horse Pedasus, whom Achilles had brought away with him when

he sacked the city of Eetion, and who, mortal steed though he was, could take his place along with those that

Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents, and bade his Myrmidons put on their armour.

Even as fierce ravening wolves that are feasting upon a homed stag which they have killed upon the

mountains, and their jaws are red with blood they go in a pack to lap water from the clear spring with their

long thin tongues; and they reek of blood and slaughter; they know not what fear is, for it is hunger drives

them even so did the leaders and counsellors of the Myrmidons gather round the good squire of the fleet

descendant of Aeacus, and among them stood Achilles himself cheering on both men and horses.

Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy, and in each there was a crew of fifty oarsmen. Over these he

set five captains whom he could trust, while he was himself commander over them all. Menesthius of the

gleaming corslet, son to the river Spercheius that streams from heaven, was captain of the first company. Fair

Polydora daughter of Peleus bore him to everflowing Spercheius a woman mated with a god but he was

called son of Borus son of Perieres, with whom his mother was living as his wedded wife, and who gave

great wealth to gain her. The second company was led by noble Eudorus, son to an unwedded woman.

Polymele, daughter of Phylas the graceful dancer, bore him; the mighty slayer of Argos was enamoured of

her as he saw her among the singing women at a dance held in honour of Diana the rushing huntress of the

golden arrows; he therefore Mercury, giver of all good went with her into an upper chamber, and lay with

her in secret, whereon she bore him a noble son Eudorus, singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant. When

Ilithuia goddess of the pains of childbirth brought him to the light of day, and he saw the face of the sun,

mighty Echecles son of Actor took the mother to wife, and gave great wealth to gain her, but her father

Phylas brought the child up, and took care of him, doting as fondly upon him as though he were his own son.

The third company was led by Pisander son of Maemalus, the finest spearman among all the Myrmidons next

to Achilles' own comrade Patroclus. The old knight Phoenix was captain of the fourth company, and

When Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with their captains, he charged them straitly

saying, "Myrmidons, remember your threats against the Trojans while you were at the ships in the time of my

anger, and you were all complaining of me. 'Cruel son of Peleus,' you would say, 'your mother must have

suckled you on gall, so ruthless are you. You keep us here at the ships against our will; if you are so relentless

it were better we went home over the sea.' Often have you gathered and thus chided with me. The hour is now

come for those high feats of arms that you have so long been pining for, therefore keep high hearts each one

With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they serried their companies yet more closely when

they heard the of their king. As the stones which a builder sets in the wall of some high house which is to

give shelter from the winds even so closely were the helmets and bossed shields set against one another.

Shield pressed on shield, helm on helm, and man on man; so close were they that the horsehair plumes on

the gleaming ridges of their helmets touched each other as they bent their heads.

In front of them all two men put on their armour Patroclus and Automedontwo men, with but one mind to

lead the Myrmidons. Then Achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest which

silverfooted Thetis had given him to take on board ship, and which she had filled with shirts, cloaks to keep

out the cold, and good thick rugs. In this chest he had a cup of rare workmanship, from which no man but

himself might drink, nor would he make offering from it to any other god save only to father Jove. He took

the cup from the chest and cleansed it with sulphur; this done he rinsed it clean water, and after he had

washed his hands he drew wine. Then he stood in the middle of the court and prayed, looking towards

heaven, and making his drinkoffering of wine; nor was he unseen of Jove whose joy is in thunder. "King

Jove," he cried, "lord of Dodona, god of the Pelasgi, who dwellest afar, you who hold wintry Dodona in your

sway, where your prophets the Selli dwell around you with their feet unwashed and their couches made upon

the ground if you heard me when I prayed to you aforetime, and did me honour while you sent disaster on

the Achaeans, vouchsafe me now the fulfilment of yet this further prayer. I shall stay here where my ships are

lying, but I shall send my comrade into battle at the head of many Myrmidons. Grant, O allseeing Jove, that

victory may go with him; put your courage into his heart that Hector may learn whether my squire is man

enough to fight alone, or whether his might is only then so indomitable when I myself enter the turmoil of

war. Afterwards when he has chased the fight and the cry of battle from the ships, grant that he may return

Thus did he pray, and allcounselling Jove heard his prayer. Part of it he did indeed vouchsafe him but not

the whole. He granted that Patroclus should thrust back war and battle from the ships, but refused to let him

When he had made his drinkoffering and had thus prayed, Achilles went inside his tent and put back the cup

Then he again came out, for he still loved to look upon the fierce fight that raged between the Trojans and

Meanwhile the armed band that was about Patroclus marched on till they sprang high in hope upon the

Trojans. They came swarming out like wasps whose nests are by the roadside, and whom silly children love

to tease, whereon any one who happens to be passing may get stungor again, if a wayfarer going along the

road vexes them by accident, every wasp will come flying out in a fury to defend his little oneseven with such

rage and courage did the Myrmidons swarm from their ships, and their cry of battle rose heavenwards.

Patroclus called out to his men at the top of his voice, "Myrmidons, followers of Achilles son of Peleus, be

men my friends, fight with might and with main, that we may win glory for the son of Peleus, who is far the

foremost man at the ships of the Argives he, and his close fighting followers. The son of Atreus King

Agamemnon will thus learn his folly in showing no respect to the bravest of the Achaeans."

With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they fell in a body upon the Trojans. The ships rang

again with the cry which the Achaeans raised, and when the Trojans saw the brave son of Menoetius and his

squire all gleaming in their armour, they were daunted and their battalions were thrown into confusion, for

they thought the fleet son of Peleus must now have put aside his anger, and have been reconciled to

Agamemnon; every one, therefore, looked round about to see whither he might fly for safety.

Patroclus first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where men were packed most closely, by the stern of

the ship of Protesilaus. He hit Pyraechmes who had led his Paeonian horsemen from the Amydon and the

broad waters of the river Axius; the spear struck him on the right shoulder, and with a groan he fell

backwards in the dust; on this his men were thrown into confusion, for by killing their leader, who was the

finest soldier among them, Patroclus struck panic into them all. He thus drove them from the ship and

quenched the fire that was then blazing leaving the halfburnt ship to lie where it was. The Trojans were

now driven back with a shout that rent the skies, while the Danaans poured after them from their ships,

shouting also without ceasing. As when Jove, gatherer of the thundercloud, spreads a dense canopy on the

top of some lofty mountain, and all the peaks, the jutting headlands, and forest glades show out in the great

light that flashes from the bursting heavens, even so when the Danaans had now driven back the fire from

their ships, they took breath for a little while; but the fury of the fight was not yet over, for the Trojans were

not driven back in utter rout, but still gave battle, and were ousted from their ground only by sheer fighting.

The fight then became more scattered, and the chieftains killed one another when and how they could. The

valiant son of Menoetius first drove his spear into the thigh of Areilycus just as he was turning round; the

point went clean through, and broke the bone so that he fell forward. Meanwhile Menelaus struck Thoas in

the chest, where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell dead. The son of Phyleus saw

Amphiclus about to attack him, and ere he could do so took aim at the upper part of his thigh, where the

muscles are thicker than in any other part; the spear tore through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes were

closed in darkness. Of the sons of Nestor one, Antilochus, speared Atymnius, driving the point of the spear

through his throat, and down he fell. Maris then sprang on Antilochus in handtohand fight to avenge his

brother, and bestrode the body spear in hand; but valiant Thrasymedes was too quick for him, and in a

moment had struck him in the shoulder ere he could deal his blow; his aim was true, and the spear severed all

the muscles at the root of his arm, and tore them right down to the bone, so he fell heavily to the ground and

his eyes were closed in darkness. Thus did these two noble comrades of Sarpedon go down to Erebus slain by

the two sons of Nestor; they were the warrior sons of Amisodorus, who had reared the invincible Chimaera,

to the bane of many. Ajax son of Oileus sprang on Cleobulus and took him alive as he was entangled in the

crush; but he killed him then and there by a swordblow on the neck. The sword reeked with his blood, while

Peneleos and Lycon now met in close fight, for they had missed each other with their spears. They had both

thrown without effect, so now they drew their swords. Lycon struck the plumed crest of Peneleos' helmet but

his sword broke at the hilt, while Peneleos smote Lycon on the neck under the ear. The blade sank so deep

that the head was held on by nothing but the skin, and there was no more life left in him. Meriones gave

chase to Acamas on foot and caught him up just as he was about to mount his chariot; he drove a spear

through his right shoulder so that he fell headlong from the car, and his eyes were closed in darkness.

Idomeneus speared Erymas in the mouth; the bronze point of the spear went clean through it beneath the

brain, crashing in among the white bones and smashing them up. His teeth were all of them knocked out and

the blood came gushing in a stream from both his eyes; it also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils,

Thus did these chieftains of the Danaans each of them kill his man. As ravening wolves seize on kids or

lambs, fastening on them when they are alone on the hillsides and have strayed from the main flock through

the carelessness of the shepherd and when the wolves see this they pounce upon them at once because they

cannot defend themselveseven so did the Danaans now fall on the Trojans, who fled with illomened cries in

Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hector, but Hector was so skilful that he held his

broad shoulders well under cover of his oxhide shield, ever on the lookout for the whizzing of the arrows

and the heavy thud of the spears. He well knew that the fortunes of the day had changed, but still stood his

As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus, rising out of a clear sky when Jove is brewing a gale

even with such panic stricken rout did the Trojans now fly, and there was no order in their going. Hector's

fleet horses bore him and his armour out of the fight, and he left the Trojan host penned in by the deep trench

against their will. Many a yoke of horses snapped the pole of their chariots in the trench and left their master's

car behind them. Patroclus gave chase, calling impetuously on the Danaans and full of fury against the

Trojans, who, being now no longer in a body, filled all the ways with their cries of panic and rout; the air was

darkened with the clouds of dust they raised, and the horses strained every nerve in their flight from the tents

Patroclus kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men flying in confusion, cheering on his men the

while. Chariots were being smashed in all directions, and many a man came tumbling down from his own car

to fall beneath the wheels of that of Patroclus, whose immortal steeds, given by the gods to Peleus, sprang

over the trench at a bound as they sped onward. He was intent on trying to get near Hector, for he had set his

heart on spearing him, but Hector's horses were now hurrying him away. As the whole dark earth bows

before some tempest on an autumn day when Jove rains his hardest to punish men for giving crooked

judgement in their courts, and arriving justice therefrom without heed to the decrees of heaven all the rivers

run full and the torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong from the mountains to the dark sea,

and it fares ill with the works of meneven such was the stress and strain of the Trojan horses in their flight.

Patroclus now cut off the battalions that were nearest to him and drove them back to the ships. They were

doing their best to reach the city, but he would not Yet them, and bore down on them between the river and

the ships and wall. Many a fallen comrade did he then avenge. First he hit Pronous with a spear on the chest

where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell heavily to the ground. Next he sprang on Thestor

son of Enops, who was sitting all huddled up in his chariot, for he had lost his head and the reins had been

torn out of his hands. Patroclus went up to him and drove a spear into his right jaw; he thus hooked him by

the teeth and the spear pulled him over the rim of his car, as one who sits at the end of some jutting rock and

draws a strong fish out of the sea with a hook and a line even so with his spear did he pull Thestor all gaping

from his chariot; he then threw him down on his face and he died while falling. On this, as Erylaus was on to

attack him, he struck him full on the head with a stone, and his brains were all battered inside his helmet,

whereon he fell headlong to the ground and the pangs of death took hold upon him. Then he laid low, one

after the other, Erymas, Amphoterus, Epaltes, Tlepolemus, Echius son of Damastor, Pyris, lpheus, Euippus

Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades, men who wore ungirdled tunics, being overcome by Patroclus son of

Menoetius, he rebuked the Lycians saying. "Shame on you, where are you flying to? Show your mettle; I will

myself meet this man in fight and learn who it is that is so masterful; he has done us much hurt, and has

He sprang from his chariot as he spoke, and Patroclus, when he saw this, leaped on to the ground also. The

two then rushed at one another with loud cries like eaglebeaked crooktaloned vultures that scream and tear

The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said to Juno who was his wife and sister,

"Alas, that it should be the lot of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of Patroclus. I am in

two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of

And Juno answered, "Most dread son of Saturn, what is this that you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal

man, whose doom has long been fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we shall not all of us be

of your mind. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own

home, some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle, for there are many sons of

gods fighting round the city of Troy, and you will make every one jealous. If, however, you are fond of him

and pity him, let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroclus, but as soon as the life is gone out of him, send

Death and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad lands of Lycia, where his brothers

and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar, in due honour to the dead."

The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood upon the earth in honour of his son whom

When they were now come close to one another Patroclus struck Thrasydemus, the brave squire of Sarpedon,

in the lower part of the belly, and killed him. Sarpedon then aimed a spear at Patroclus and missed him, but

he struck the horse Pedasus in the right shoulder, and it screamed aloud as it lay, groaning in the dust until the

life went out of it. The other two horses began to plunge; the pole of the chariot cracked and they got

entangled in the reins through the fall of the horse that was yoked along with them; but Automedon knew

what to do; without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the

third horse adrift; whereon the other two righted themselves, and pulling hard at the reins again went together

Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroclus, and again missed him, the point of the spear passed over his

left shoulder without hitting him. Patroclus then aimed in his turn, and the spear sped not from his hand in

vain, for he hit Sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the everbeating heart. He fell like some oak or

silver poplar or tall pine to which woodmen have laid their axes upon the mountains to make timber for

shipbuilding even so did he lie stretched at full length in front of his chariot and horses, moaning and

clutching at the bloodstained dust. As when a lion springs with a bound upon a herd of cattle and fastens on

a great black bull which dies bellowing in its clutches even so did the leader of the Lycian warriors struggle

in death as he fell by the hand of Patroclus. He called on his trusty comrade and said, "Glaucus, my brother,

hero among heroes, put forth all your strength, fight with might and main, now if ever quit yourself like a

valiant soldier. First go about among the Lycian captains and bid them fight for Sarpedon; then yourself also

do battle to save my armour from being taken. My name will haunt you henceforth and for ever if the

Achaeans rob me of my armour now that I have fallen at their ships. Do your very utmost and call all my

Death closed his eyes as he spoke. Patroclus planted his heel on his breast and drew the spear from his body,

whereon his senses came out along with it, and he drew out both spearpoint and Sarpedon's soul at the same

time. Hard by the Myrmidons held his snorting steeds, who were wild with panic at finding themselves

Glaucus was overcome with grief when he heard what Sarpedon said, for he could not help him. He had to

support his arm with his other hand, being in great pain through the wound which Teucer's arrow had given

him when Teucer was defending the wall as he, Glaucus, was assailing it. Therefore he prayed to fardarting

Apollo saying, "Hear me O king from your seat, may be in the rich land of Lycia, or may be in Troy, for in all

places you can hear the prayer of one who is in distress, as I now am. I have a grievous wound; my hand is

aching with pain, there is no staunching the blood, and my whole arm drags by reason of my hurt, so that I

cannot grasp my sword nor go among my foes and fight them, thou our prince, Jove's son Sarpedon, is slain.

Jove defended not his son, do you, therefore, O king, heal me of my wound, ease my pain and grant me

strength both to cheer on the Lycians and to fight along with them round the body of him who has fallen."

Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He eased his pain, staunched the black blood from the wound,

and gave him new strength. Glaucus perceived this, and was thankful that the mighty god had answered his

prayer; forthwith, therefore, he went among the Lycian captains, and bade them come to fight about the body

of Sarpedon. From these he strode on among the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthous and Agenor; he then

went in search of Aeneas and Hector, and when he had found them he said, "Hector, you have utterly

forgotten your allies, who languish here for your sake far from friends and home while you do nothing to

support them. Sarpedon leader of the Lycian warriors has fallen he who was at once the right and might of

Lycia; Mars has laid him low by the spear of Patroclus. Stand by him, my friends, and suffer not the

Myrmidons to strip him of his armour, nor to treat his body with contumely in revenge for all the Danaans

As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable grief; for Sarpedon, alien though he was,

had been one of the main stays of their city, both as having much people with him, and himself the foremost

among them all. Led by Hector, who was infuriated by the fall of Sarpedon, they made instantly for the

Danaans with all their might, while the undaunted spirit of Patroclus son of Menoetius cheered on the

Achaeans. First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, men who needed no bidding. "Ajaxes," said he, "may it now

please you to show youselves the men you have always been, or even better Sarpedon is fallenhe who was

first to overleap the wall of the Achaeans; let us take the body and outrage it; let us strip the armour from his

He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager; both sides, therefore, the Trojans and Lycians on the one

hand, and the Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other, strengthened their battalions, and fought desperately

about the body of Sarpedon, shouting fiercely the while. Mighty was the din of their armour as they came

together, and Jove shed a thick darkness over the fight, to increase the of the battle over the body of his son.

At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for one of the best men among the Myrmidons

was killed, Epeigeus, son of noble Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Budeum; but

presently, having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he took refuge with Peleus and Thetis, who sent him to

Ilius the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles. Hector now struck him on the head with a

stone just as he had caught hold of the body, and his brains inside his helmet were all battered in, so that he

fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon, and there died. Patroclus was enraged by the death of his

comrade, and sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or

starlings. Even so swiftly, O noble knight Patroclus, did you make straight for the Lycians and Trojans to

avenge your comrade. Forthwith he struck Sthenelaus the son of Ithaemenes on the neck with a stone, and

broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine. On this Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground.

As far as a man can throw a javelin when competing for some prize, or even in battle so far did the Trojans

now retreat before the Achaeans. Glaucus, captain of the Lycians, was the first to rally them, by killing

Bathycles son of Chalcon who lived in Hellas and was the richest man among the Myrmidons. Glaucus

turned round suddenly, just as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him, and drove his

spear right into the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and the fall of so good a man

filled the Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans were exultant, and came up in a body round the corpse.

Nevertheless the Achaeans, mindful of their prowess, bore straight down upon them.

Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonus son of Onetor, who was priest of Jove of Mt.

Ida, and was honoured by the people as though he were a god. Meriones struck him under the jaw and ear, so

that life went out of him and the darkness of death laid hold upon him. Aeneas then aimed a spear at

Meriones, hoping to hit him under the shield as he was advancing, but Meriones saw it coming and stooped

forward to avoid it, whereon the spear flew past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the buttend

went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its force. The spear, therefore, sped from Aeneas's hand in vain and

fell quivering to the ground. Aeneas was angry and said, "Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if I had hit

And Meriones answered, "Aeneas, for all your bravery, you will not be able to make an end of every one who

comes against you. You are only a mortal like myself, and if I were to hit you in the middle of your shield

with my spear, however strong and selfconfident you may be, I should soon vanquish you, and you would

On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said, "Meriones, hero though you be, you should not speak

thus; taunting speeches, my good friend, will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body; some of

them must go under ground first; blows for battle, and words for council; fight, therefore, and say nothing."

He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him. As the sound of woodcutters in some forest

glade upon the mountainsand the thud of their axes is heard afar even such a din now rose from earthclash

of bronze armour and of good oxhide shields, as men smote each other with their swords and spears pointed

at both ends. A man had need of good eyesight now to know Sarpedon, so covered was he from head to foot

with spears and blood and dust. Men swarmed about the body, as flies that buzz round the full milkpails in

spring when they are brimming with milk even so did they gather round Sarpedon; nor did Jove turn his

keen eyes away for one moment from the fight, but kept looking at it all the time, for he was settling how best

to kill Patroclus, and considering whether Hector should be allowed to end him now in the fight round the

body of Sarpedon, and strip him of his armour, or whether he should let him give yet further trouble to the

Trojans. In the end, he deemed it best that the brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and

the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many. First, therefore, he made Hector turn

fainthearted, whereon he mounted his chariot and fled, bidding the other Trojans fly also, for he saw that the

scales of Jove had turned against him. Neither would the brave Lycians stand firm; they were dismayed when

they saw their king lying struck to the heart amid a heap of corpses for when the son of Saturn made the

fight wax hot many had fallen above him. The Achaeans, therefore stripped the gleaming armour from his

shoulders and the brave son of Menoetius gave it to his men to take to the ships. Then Jove lord of the

stormcloud said to Apollo, "Dear Phoebus, go, I pray you, and take Sarpedon out of range of the weapons;

cleanse the black blood from off him, and then bear him a long way off where you may wash him in the river,

anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him in immortal raiment; this done, commit him to the arms of the two

fleet messengers, Death, and Sleep, who will carry him straightway to the rich land of Lycia, where his

brothers and kinsmen will inter him, and will raise both mound and pillar to his memory, in due honour to the

Thus he spoke. Apollo obeyed his father's saying, and came down from the heights of Ida into the thick of the

fight; forthwith he took Sarpedon out of range of the weapons, and then bore him a long way off, where he

washed him in the river, anointed him with ambrosia and clothed him in immortal raiment; this done, he

committed him to the arms of the two fleet messengers, Death, and Sleep, who presently set him down in the

Meanwhile Patroclus, with many a shout to his horses and to Automedon, pursued the Trojans and Lycians in

the pride and foolishness of his heart. Had he but obeyed the bidding of the son of Peleus, he would have,

escaped death and have been scatheless; but the counsels of Jove pass man's understanding; he will put even a

brave man to flight and snatch victory from his grasp, or again he will set him on to fight, as he now did

Who then first, and who last, was slain by you, O Patroclus, when the gods had now called you to meet your

doom? First Adrestus, Autonous, Echeclus, Perimus the son of Megas, Epistor and Melanippus; after these he

killed Elasus, Mulius, and Pylartes. These he slew, but the rest saved themselves by flight.

The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands of Patroclus, for his spear flew in all

directions, had not Phoebus Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his purpose and to aid the Trojans.

Thrice did Patroclus charge at an angle of the high wall, and thrice did Apollo beat him back, striking his

shield with his own immortal hands. When Patroclus was coming on like a god for yet a fourth time, Apollo

shouted to him with an awful voice and said, "Draw back, noble Patroclus, it is not your lot to sack the city of

the Trojan chieftains, nor yet will it be that of Achilles who is a far better man than you are." On hearing this,

Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean gates, in doubt whether to drive out again

and go on fighting, or to call the army inside the gates. As he was thus doubting Phoebus Apollo drew near

him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior Asius, who was Hector's uncle, being own brother to

Hecuba, and son of Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of the river Sangarius; in his likeness Jove's

son Apollo now spoke to Hector saying, "Hector, why have you left off fighting? It is ill done of you. If I

were as much better a man than you, as I am worse, you should soon rue your slackness. Drive straight

towards Patroclus, if so be that Apollo may grant you a triumph over him, and you may rull him."

With this the god went back into the hurlyburly, and Hector bade Cebriones drive again into the fight.

Apollo passed in among them, and struck panic into the Argives, while he gave triumph to Hector and the

Trojans. Hector let the other Danaans alone and killed no man, but drove straight at Patroclus. Patroclus then

sprang from his chariot to the ground, with a spear in his left hand, and in his right a jagged stone as large as

his hand could hold. He stood still and threw it, nor did it go far without hitting some one; the cast was not in

vain, for the stone struck Cebriones, Hector's charioteer, a bastard son of Priam, as he held the reins in his

hands. The stone hit him on the forehead and drove his brows into his head for the bone was smashed, and his

eyes fell to the ground at his feet. He dropped dead from his chariot as though he were diving, and there was

no more life left in him. Over him did you then vaunt, O knight Patroclus, saying, "Bless my heart, how

active he is, and how well he dives. If we had been at sea this fellow would have dived from the ship's side

and brought up as many oysters as the whole crew could stomach, even in rough water, for he has dived

beautifully off his chariot on to the ground. It seems, then, that there are divers also among the Trojans."

As he spoke he flung himself on Cebriones with the spring, as it were, of a lion that while attacking a

stockyard is himself struck in the chest, and his courage is his own bane even so furiously, O Patroclus, did

you then spring upon Cebriones. Hector sprang also from his chariot to the ground. The pair then fought over

the body of Cebriones. As two lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over the body of a stag that they

have killed, even so did these two mighty warriors, Patroclus son of Menoetius and brave Hector, hack and

hew at one another over the corpse of Cebriones. Hector would not let him go when he had once got him by

the head, while Patroclus kept fast hold of his feet, and a fierce fight raged between the other Danaans and

Trojans. As the east and south wind buffet one another when they beat upon some dense forest on the

mountains there is beech and ash and spreading cornel; the to of the trees roar as they beat on one another,

and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking even so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one

another and lay about each other, and neither side would give way. Many a pointed spear fell to ground and

many a winged arrow sped from its bowstring about the body of Cebriones; many a great stone, moreover,

beat on many a shield as they fought around his body, but there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust, all huge

So long as the sun was still high in midheaven the weapons of either side were alike deadly, and the people

fell; but when he went down towards the time when men loose their oxen, the Achaeans proved to be beyond

all forecast stronger, so that they drew Cebriones out of range of the darts and tumult of the Trojans, and

stripped the armour from his shoulders. Then Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce intent and a terrific shout

upon the Trojans, and thrice did he kill nine men; but as he was coming on like a god for a time, then, O

Patroclus, was the hour of your end approaching, for Phoebus fought you in fell earnest. Patroclus did not see

him as he moved about in the crush, for he was enshrouded in thick darkness, and the god struck him from

behind on his back and his broad shoulders with the flat of his hand, so that his eyes turned dizzy. Phoebus

Apollo beat the helmet from off his head, and it rolled rattling off under the horses' feet, where its horsehair

plumes were all begrimed with dust and blood. Never indeed had that helmet fared so before, for it had

served to protect the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero Achilles. Now, however, Zeus delivered it

over to be worn by Hector. Nevertheless the end of Hector also was near. The bronzeshod spear, so great

and so strong, was broken in the hand of Patroclus, while his shield that covered him from head to foot fell to

the ground as did also the band that held it, and Apollo undid the fastenings of his corslet.

On this his mind became clouded; his limbs failed him, and he stood as one dazed; whereon Euphorbus son

of Panthous a Dardanian, the best spearman of his time, as also the finest horseman and fleetest runner, came

behind him and struck him in the back with a spear, midway between the shoulders. This man as soon as ever

he had come up with his chariot had dismounted twenty men, so proficient was he in all the arts of war he it

was, O knight Patroclus, that first drove a weapon into you, but he did not quite overpower you. Euphorbus

then ran back into the crowd, after drawing his ashen spear out of the wound; he would not stand firm and

wait for Patroclus, unarmed though he now was, to attack him; but Patroclus unnerved, alike by the blow the

god had given him and by the spearwound, drew back under cover of his men in fear for his life. Hector on

this, seeing him to be wounded and giving ground, forced his way through the ranks, and when close up with

him struck him in the lower part of the belly with a spear, driving the bronze point right through it, so that he

fell heavily to the ground to the great of the Achaeans. As when a lion has fought some fierce wildboar and

worsted him the two fight furiously upon the mountains over some little fountain at which they would both

drink, and the lion has beaten the boar till he can hardly breathe even so did Hector son of Priam take the

life of the brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many, striking him from close at hand, and vaunting

over him the while. "Patroclus," said he, "you deemed that you should sack our city, rob our Trojan women

of their freedom, and carry them off in your ships to your own country. Fool; Hector and his fleet horses were

ever straining their utmost to defend them. I am foremost of all the Trojan warriors to stave the day of

bondage from off them; as for you, vultures shall devour you here. Poor wretch, Achilles with all his bravery

availed you nothing; and yet I ween when you left him he charged you straitly saying, 'Come not back to the

ships, knight Patroclus, till you have rent the bloodstained shirt of murderous Hector about his body. Thus I

Then, as the life ebbed out of you, you answered, O knight Patroclus: "Hector, vaunt as you will, for Jove the

son of Saturn and Apollo have vouchsafed you victory; it is they who have vanquished me so easily, and they

who have stripped the armour from my shoulders; had twenty such men as you attacked me, all of them

would have fallen before my spear. Fate and the son of Leto have overpowered me, and among mortal men

Euphorbus; you are yourself third only in the killing of me. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, you

too shall live but for a little season; death and the day of your doom are close upon you, and they will lay you

When he had thus spoken his eyes were closed in death, his soul left his body and flitted down to the house of

Hades, mourning its sad fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of its manhood. Dead though he

was, Hector still spoke to him saying, "Patroclus, why should you thus foretell my doom? Who knows but

As he spoke he drew the bronze spear from the wound, planting his foot upon the body, which he thrust off

and let lie on its back. He then went spear in hand after Automedon, squire of the fleet descendant of Aeacus,

for he longed to lay him low, but the immortal steeds which the gods had given as a rich gift to Peleus bore

Brave Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus had fallen, and made his way through the

front ranks clad in full armour to bestride him. As a cow stands lowing over her first calf, even so did

yellowhaired Menelaus bestride Patroclus. He held his round shield and his spear in front of him, resolute to

kill any who should dare face him. But the son of Panthous had also noted the body, and came up to

Menelaus saying, "Menelaus, son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let the bloodstained spoils be. I

was first of the Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus, let me, therefore, have my full

To this Menelaus answered in great anger "By father Jove, boasting is an ill thing. The pard is not more bold,

nor the lion nor savage wildboar, which is fiercest and most dauntless of all creatures, than are the proud

sons of Panthous. Yet Hyperenor did not see out the days of his youth when he made light of me and

withstood me, deeming me the meanest soldier among the Danaans. His own feet never bore him back to

gladden his wife and parents. Even so shall I make an end of you too, if you withstand me; get you back into

the crowd and do not face me, or it shall be worse for you. Even a fool may be wise after the event."

Euphorbus would not listen, and said, "Now indeed, Menelaus, shall you pay for the death of my brother over

whom you vaunted, and whose wife you widowed in her bridal chamber, while you brought grief

unspeakable on his parents. I shall comfort these poor people if I bring your head and armour and place them

in the hands of Panthous and noble Phrontis. The time is come when this matter shall be fought out and

As he spoke he struck Menelaus full on the shield, but the spear did not go through, for the shield turned its

point. Menelaus then took aim, praying to father Jove as he did so; Euphorbus was drawing back, and

Menelaus struck him about the roots of his throat, leaning his whole weight on the spear, so as to drive it

home. The point went clean through his neck, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the

ground. His hair which was like that of the Graces, and his locks so deftly bound in bands of silver and gold,

were all bedrabbled with blood. As one who has grown a fine young olive tree in a clear space where there is

abundance of water the plant is full of promise, and though the winds beat upon it from every quarter it puts

forth its white blossoms till the blasts of some fierce hurricane sweep down upon it and level it with the

ground even so did Menelaus strip the fair youth Euphorbus of his armour after he had slain him. Or as

some fierce lion upon the mountains in the pride of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it is

feedingfirst he breaks her neck with his strong jaws, and then gorges on her blood and entrails; dogs and

shepherds raise a hue and cry against him, but they stand aloof and will not come close to him, for they are

pale with fear even so no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaus. The son of Atreus would have then

carried off the armour of the son of Panthous with ease, had not Phoebus Apollo been angry, and in the guise

of Mentes chief of the Cicons incited Hector to attack him. "Hector," said he, "you are now going after the

horses of the noble son of Aeacus, but you will not take them; they cannot be kept in hand and driven by

mortal man, save only by Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother. Meanwhile Menelaus son of Atreus

has bestridden the body of Patroclus and killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphorbus son of Panthous, so that

The god then went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul of Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief;

he looked along the ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground with the blood still flowing from his

wound, and Menelaus stripping him of his armour. On this he made his way to the front like a flame of fire,

clad in his gleaming armour, and crying with a loud voice. When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to

himself in his dismay, "Alas! what shall I do? I may not let the Trojans take the armour of Patroclus who has

fallen fighting on my behalf, lest some Danaan who sees me should cry shame upon me. Still if for my

honour's sake I fight Hector and the Trojans singlehanded, they will prove too many for me, for Hector is

bringing them up in force. Why, however, should I thus hesitate? When a man fights in despite of heaven

with one whom a god befriends, he will soon rue it. Let no Danaan think ill of me if I give place to Hector,

for the hand of heaven is with him. Yet, if I could find Ajax, the two of us would fight Hector and heaven too,

if we might only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus. This, of many evils would be the

While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with Hector at their head; he therefore drew

back and left the body, turning about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs and men from a

stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon he is daunted and slinks sulkily off even so did Menelaus

son of Atreus turn and leave the body of Patroclus. When among the body of his men, he looked around for

mighty Ajax son of Telamon, and presently saw him on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his men and

exhorting them to keep on fighting, for Phoebus Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran up to

him and said, "Ajax, my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroclus, if so be that we may take the

These words stirred the heart of Ajax, and he made his way among the front ranks, Menelaus going with him.

Hector had stripped Patroclus of his armour, and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the body

to fling before the dogs of Troy. But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him, on which Hector

withdrew under shelter of his men, and sprang on to his chariot, giving the armour over to the Trojans to take

to the city, as a great trophy for himself; Ajax, therefore, covered the body of Patroclus with his broad shield

and bestrode him; as a lion stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he is with

his little ones in the pride and fierceness of his strength he draws his knit brows down till they cover his

eyes even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroclus, and by his side stood Menelaus son of Atreus, nursing

Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus looked fiercely at Hector and rebuked him sternly. "Hector," said he, "you

make a brave show, but in fight you are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself has no claim to so great a

reputation. Think how you may now save your town and citadel by the hands of your own people born in

Ilius; for you will get no Lycians to fight for you, seeing what thanks they have had for their incessant

hardships. Are you likely, sir, to do anything to help a man of less note, after leaving Sarpedon, who was at

once your guest and comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey of the Danaans? So long as he lived he did

good service both to your city and yourself; yet you had no stomach to save his body from the dogs. If the

Lycians will listen to me, they will go home and leave Troy to its fate. If the Trojans had any of that daring

fearless spirit which lays hold of men who are fighting for their country and harassing those who would

attack it, we should soon bear off Patroclus into Ilius. Could we get this dead man away and bring him into

the city of Priam, the Argives would readily give up the armour of Sarpedon, and we should get his body to

boot. For he whose squire has been now killed is the foremost man at the ships of the Achaeans he and his

closefighting followers. Nevertheless you dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him, eye to eye,

Hector scowled at him and answered, "Glaucus, you should know better. I have held you so far as a man of

more understanding than any in all Lycia, but now I despise you for saying that I am afraid of Ajax. I fear

neither battle nor the din of chariots, but Jove's will is stronger than ours; Jove at one time makes even a

strong man draw back and snatches victory from his grasp, while at another he will set him on to fight. Come

hither then, my friend, stand by me and see indeed whether I shall play the coward the whole day through as

you say, or whether I shall not stay some even of the boldest Danaans from fighting round the body of

As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close

combat, be men, my friends, and fight might and main, while I put on the goodly armour of Achilles, which I

With this Hector left the fight, and ran full speed after his men who were taking the armour of Achilles to

Troy, but had not yet got far. Standing for a while apart from the woeful fight, he changed his armour. His

own he sent to the strong city of Ilius and to the Trojans, while he put on the immortal armour of the son of

Peleus, which the gods had given to Peleus, who in his age gave it to his son; but the son did not grow old in

When Jove, lord of the stormcloud, saw Hector standing aloof and arming himself in the armour of the son

of Peleus, he wagged his head and muttered to himself saying, "A! poor wretch, you arm in the armour of a

hero, before whom many another trembles, and you reck nothing of the doom that is already close upon you.

You have killed his comrade so brave and strong, but it was not well that you should strip the armour from

his head and shoulders. I do indeed endow you with great might now, but as against this you shall not return

The son of Saturn bowed his portentous brows, and Hector fitted the armour to his body, while terrible Mars

entered into him, and filled his whole body with might and valour. With a shout he strode in among the allies,

and his armour flashed about him so that he seemed to all of them like the great son of Peleus himself. He

went about among them and cheered them on Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Asteropaeus,

Deisenor and Hippothous, Phorcys, Chromius and Ennomus the augur. All these did he exhort saying, "Hear

me, allies from other cities who are here in your thousands, it was not in order to have a crowd about me that

I called you hither each from his several city, but that with heart and soul you might defend the wives and

little ones of the Trojans from the fierce Achaeans. For this do I oppress my people with your food and the

presents that make you rich. Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the game of war;

whoever shall bring Patroclus, dead though he be, into the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give

way before him, I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep the other. He will thus share like honour

When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the Danaans with their spears held out before them,

and the hopes of each ran high that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up the bodyfools that they

were, for he was about to take the lives of many. Then Ajax said to Menelaus, "My good friend Menelaus,

you and I shall hardly come out of this fight alive. I am less concerned for the body of Patroclus, who will

shortly become meat for the dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety of my own head and yours. Hector

has wrapped us round in a storm of battle from every quarter, and our destruction seems now certain. Call

Menelaus did as he said, and shouted to the Danaans for help at the top of his voice. "My friends," he cried,

"princes and counsellors of the Argives, all you who with Agamemnon and Menelaus drink at the public cost,

and give orders each to his own people as Jove vouchsafes him power and glory, the fight is so thick about

me that I cannot distinguish you severally; come on, therefore, every man unbidden, and think it shame that

Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way through the fight and run to help him. Next

came Idomeneus and Meriones his esquire, peer of murderous Mars. As for the others that came into the fight

The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body. As a great wave that comes thundering in at the

mouth of some heavenborn river, and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with the roar of the breakers that

beat and buffet them even with such a roar did the Trojans come on; but the Achaeans in singleness of heart

stood firm about the son of Menoetius, and fenced him with their bronze shields. Jove, moreover, hid the

brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the son of Menoetius while he

was still alive and squire to the descendant of Aeacus; therefore he was loth to let him fall a prey to the dogs

At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they withdrew from the dead man daunted. The Trojans did

not succeed in killing any one, nevertheless they drew the body away. But the Achaeans did not lose it long,

for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus alike in stature and prowess, quickly rallied them

and made towards the front like a wild boar upon the mountains when he stands at bay in the forest glades

and routs the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked him even so did Ajax son of Telamon passing

easily in among the phalanxes of the Trojans, disperse those who had bestridden Patroclus and were most

bent on winning glory by dragging him off to their city. At this moment Hippothous brave son of the

Pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by the foot through the

press of the fight, having bound a strap round the sinews near the ancle; but a mischief soon befell him from

which none of those could save him who would have gladly done so, for the son of Telamon sprang forward

and smote him on his bronzecheeked helmet. The plumed headpiece broke about the point of the weapon,

struck at once by the spear and by the strong hand of Ajax, so that the bloody brain came oozing out through

the crestsocket. His strength then failed him and he let Patroclus' foot drop from his hand, as he fell full

length dead upon the body; thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa, and never repaid his parents the

cost of bringing him up, for his life was cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hector then took aim at

Ajax with a spear, but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it; the spear passed on and struck Schedius

son of noble Iphitus, captain of the Phoceans, who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people; it

struck him under the middle of the collarbone the bronze point went right through him, coming out at the

bottom of his shoulderblade, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Ajax in

his turn struck noble Phorcys son of Phaenops in the middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous, and

broke the plate of his cuirass; whereon the spear tore out his entrails and he clutched the ground in his palm

as he fell to earth. Hector and those who were in the front rank then gave ground, while the Argives raised a

loud cry of triumph, and drew off the bodies of Phorcys and Hippothous which they stripped presently of

The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through their own

cowardice, while the Argives, so great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even

against the will of Jove, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas, in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytus, an

attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged father, and was at all times devoted to him. In his

likeness, then, Apollo said, "Aeneas, can you not manage, even though heaven be against us, to save high

Ilius? I have known men, whose numbers, courage, and selfreliance have saved their people in spite of Jove,

whereas in this case he would much rather give victory to us than to the Danaans, if you would only fight

Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted to Hector saying, "Hector and all other

Trojans and allies, shame on us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through our own

cowardice. A god has just come up to me and told me that Jove the supreme disposer will be with us.

Therefore let us make for the Danaans, that it may go hard with them ere they bear away dead Patroclus to

As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others, who then rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Aeneas

speared Leiocritus son of Arisbas, a valiant follower of Lycomedes, and Lycomedes was moved with pity as

he saw him fall; he therefore went close up, and speared Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in

the liver under the midriff, so that he died; he had come from fertile Paeonia and was the best man of them all

after Asteropaeus. Asteropaeus flew forward to avenge him and attack the Danaans, but this might no longer

be, inasmuch as those about Patroclus were well covered by their shields, and held their spears in front of

them, for Ajax had given them strict orders that no man was either to give ground, or to stand out before the

others, but all were to hold well together about the body and fight hand to hand. Thus did huge Ajax bid

them, and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one another alike on the side of the Trojans

and allies, and on that of the Danaans; for these last, too, fought no bloodless fight though many fewer of

Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire; it seemed as though it had gone hard even with the sun and

moon, for they were hidden over all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting about the dead son of

Menoetius, whereas the other Danaans and Achaeans fought at their ease in full daylight with brilliant

sunshine all round them, and there was not a cloud to be seen neither on plain nor mountain. These last

moreover would rest for a while and leave off fighting, for they were some distance apart and beyond the

range of one another's weapons, whereas those who were in the thick of the fray suffered both from battle and

darkness. All the best of them were being worn out by the great weight of their armour, but the two valiant

heroes, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard of the death of Patroclus, and believed him to be still

alive and leading the van against the Trojans; they were keeping themselves in reserve against the death or

rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered when he sent them from the ships into battle.

Thus through the livelong day did they wage fierce war, and the sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs

under them, and on their hands and eyes, as they fought over the squire of the fleet son of Peleus. It was as

when a man gives a great oxhide all drenched in fat to his men, and bids them stretch it; whereon they stand

round it in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves it, and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it, and it is

well stretched even so did the two sides tug the dead body hither and thither within the compass of but a

little space the Trojans steadfastly set on drag ing it into Ilius, while the Achaeans were no less so on taking

it to their ships; and fierce was the fight between them. Not Mars himself the lord of hosts, nor yet Minerva,

Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did Jove on that day ordain round the body of Patroclus. Meanwhile

Achilles did not know that he had fallen, for the fight was under the wall of Troy a long way off the ships. He

had no idea, therefore, that Patroclus was dead, and deemed that he would return alive as soon as he had gone

close up to the gates. He knew that he was not to sack the city neither with nor without himself, for his

mother had often told him this when he had sat alone with her, and she had informed him of the counsels of

great Jove. Now, however, she had not told him how great a disaster had befallen him in the death of the one

The others still kept on charging one another round the body with their pointed spears and killing each other.

Then would one say, "My friends, we can never again show our faces at the ships better, and greatly better,

that earth should open and swallow us here in this place, than that we should let the Trojans have the triumph

The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another saying, "Friends, though we fall to a man beside this

body, let none shrink from fighting." With such words did they exhort each other. They fought and fought,

and an iron clank rose through the void air to the brazen vault of heaven. The horses of the descendant of

Aeacus stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of

murderous Hector. Automedon, valiant son of Diores, lashed them again and again; many a time did he speak

kindly to them, and many a time did he upbraid them, but they would neither go back to the ships by the

waters of the broad Hellespont, nor yet into battle among the Achaeans; they stood with their chariot stock

still, as a pillar set over the tomb of some dead man or woman, and bowed their heads to the ground. Hot

tears fell from their eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer, and their noble manes drooped all wet

The son of Saturn saw them and took pity upon their sorrow. He wagged his head, and muttered to himself,

saying, "Poor things, why did we give you to King Peleus who is a mortal, while you are yourselves ageless

and immortal? Was it that you might share the sorrows that befall mankind? for of all creatures that live and

move upon the earth there is none so pitiable as he is still, Hector son of Priam shall drive neither you nor

your chariot. I will not have it. It is enough that he should have the armour over which he vaunts so vainly.

Furthermore I will give you strength of heart and limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships from battle, for I

shall let the Trojans triumph still further, and go on killing till they reach the ships; whereon night shall fall

As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so that they shook the dust from out of their

manes, and bore their chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans. Behind them

fought Automedon full of sorrow for his comrade, as a vulture amid a flock of geese. In and out, and here and

there, full speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man,

for he could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone in the chariot; at last, however, a

comrade, Alcimedon, son of Laerces son of Haemon caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot.

"Automedon," said he, "what god has put this folly into your heart and robbed you of your right mind, that

you fight the Trojans in the front rank singlehanded? He who was your comrade is slain, and Hector plumes

Automedon son of Diores answered, "Alcimedon, there is no one else who can control and guide the

immortal steeds so well as you can, save only Patroclus while he was alive peer of gods in counsel. Take

Alcimedon sprang on to the chariot, and caught up the whip and reins, while Automedon leaped from off the

car. When Hector saw him he said to Aeneas who was near him, "Aeneas, counsellor of the mailclad

Trojans, I see the steeds of the fleet son of Aeacus come into battle with weak hands to drive them. I am sure,

if you think well, that we might take them; they will not dare face us if we both attack them."

The valiant son of Anchises was of the same mind, and the pair went right on, with their shoulders covered

under shields of tough dry oxhide, overlaid with much bronze. Chromius and Aretus went also with them,

and their hearts beat high with hope that they might kill the men and capture the horses fools that they were,

for they were not to return scatheless from their meeting with Automedon, who prayed to father Jove and was

forthwith filled with courage and strength abounding. He turned to his trusty comrade Alcimedon and said,

"Alcimedon, keep your horses so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back; I doubt that we shall not

stay Hector son of Priam till he has killed us and mounted behind the horses; he will then either spread panic

On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus, "Ajaxes captains of the Argives, and Menelaus, give the

dead body over to them that are best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of us living; for Hector and

Aeneas who are the two best men among the Trojans, are pressing us hard in the full tide of war.

Nevertheless the issue lies on the lap of heaven, I will therefore hurl my spear and leave the rest to Jove."

He poised and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the round shield of Aretus, and went right

through it for the shield stayed it not, so that it was driven through his belt into the lower part of his belly. As

when some sturdy youth, axe in hand, deals his blow behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons at the

back of its neck so that it springs forward and then drops, even so did Aretus give one bound and then fall on

his back the spear quivering in his body till it made an end of him. Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon

but he saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, so that it flew past him and the point stuck in the

ground, while the buttend went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its force. They would then have fought

hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced their way through the crowd when they heard their

comrade calling, and parted them for all their fury for Hector, Aeneas, and Chromius were afraid and drew

back, leaving Aretus to lie there struck to the heart. Automedon, peer of fleet Mars, then stripped him of his

armour and vaunted over him saying, "I have done little to assuage my sorrow for the son of Menoetius, for

As he spoke he took the bloodstained spoils and laid them upon his chariot; then he mounted the car with

his hands and feet all steeped in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull.

And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroclus, for Minerva came down from heaven and

roused its fury by the command of farseeing Jove, who had changed his mind and sent her to encourage the

Danaans. As when Jove bends his bright bow in heaven in token to mankind either of war or of the chill

storms that stay men from their labour and plague the flocks even so, wrapped in such radiant raiment, did

Minerva go in among the host and speak man by man to each. First she took the form and voice of Phoenix

and spoke to Menelaus son of Atreus, who was standing near her. "Menelaus," said she, "it will be shame and

dishonour to you, if dogs tear the noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy. Therefore be staunch,

Menelaus answered, "Phoenix, my good old friend, may Minerva vouchsafe me strength and keep the darts

from off me, for so shall I stand by Patroclus and defend him; his death has gone to my heart, but Hector is as

a raging fire and deals his blows without ceasing, for Jove is now granting him a time of triumph."

Minerva was pleased at his having named herself before any of the other gods. Therefore she put strength into

his knees and shoulders, and made him as bold as a fly, which, though driven off will yet come again and bite

if it can, so dearly does it love man's blood even so bold as this did she make him as he stood over Patroclus

and threw his spear. Now there was among the Trojans a man named Podes, son of Eetion, who was both rich

and valiant. Hector held him in the highest honour for he was his comrade and boon companion; the spear of

Menelaus struck this man in the girdle just as he had turned in flight, and went right through him. Whereon

he fell heavily forward, and Menelaus son of Atreus drew off his body from the Trojans into the ranks of his

Apollo then went up to Hector and spurred him on to fight, in the likeness of Phaenops son of Asius who

lived in Abydos and was the most favoured of all Hector's guests. In his likeness Apollo said, "Hector, who

of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now that you have quailed before Menelaus who has ever been

rated poorly as a soldier? Yet he has now got a corpse away from the Trojans singlehanded, and has slain

A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hector as he heard, and he made his way to the front clad in full armour.

Thereon the son of Saturn seized his bright tasselled aegis, and veiled Ida in cloud: he sent forth his

lightnings and his thunders, and as he shook his aegis he gave victory to the Trojans and routed the Achaeans.

The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian, for while keeping his face turned ever towards the foe he had

been hit with a spear on the upper part of the shoulder; a spear thrown by Polydamas had grazed the top of

the bone, for Polydamas had come up to him and struck him from close at hand. Then Hector in close combat

struck Leitus son of noble Alectryon in the hand by the wrist, and disabled him from fighting further. He

looked about him in dismay, knowing that never again should he wield spear in battle with the Trojans. While

Hector was in pursuit of Leitus, Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the nipple; but

the spear broke in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud. Hector then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deucalion

as he was standing on his chariot, and very narrowly missed him, but the spear hit Coiranus, a follower and

charioteer of Meriones who had come with him from Lyctus. Idomeneus had left the ships on foot and would

have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Coiranus had not driven quickly up to him, he therefore

brought life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand of murderous Hector. For Hector hit him

on the jaw under the ear; the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in two pieces, so that he

fell from his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground. Meriones gathered them up from the ground and took

them into his own hands, then he said to Idomeneus, "Lay on, till you get back to the ships, for you must see

On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for fear had taken hold upon him.

Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak.

"Alas," said he, "even a fool may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans. All their weapons strike home;

no matter whether it be a brave man or a coward that hurls them, Jove speeds all alike, whereas ours fall each

one of them without effect. What, then, will be best both as regards rescuing the body, and our return to the

joy of our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards; for they will make sure that nothing can

now check the terrible hands of Hector, and that he will fling himself upon our ships. I wish that some one

would go and tell the son of Peleus at once, for I do not think he can have yet heard the sad news that the

dearest of his friends has fallen. But I can see not a man among the Achaeans to send, for they and their

chariots are alike hidden in darkness. O father Jove, lift this cloud from over the sons of the Achaeans; make

heaven serene, and let us see; if you will that we perish, let us fall at any rate by daylight."

Father Jove heard him and had compassion upon his tears. Forthwith he chased away the cloud of darkness,

so that the sun shone out and all the fighting was revealed. Ajax then said to Menelaus, "Look, Menelaus, and

if Antilochus son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all

Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a stockyardthe lion is tired of attacking the men

and hounds, who keep watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on the fat of their herd. In his

lust of meat he makes straight at them but in vain, for darts from strong hands assail him, and burning brands

which daunt him for all his hunger, so in the morning he slinks sulkily awayeven so did Menelaus sorely

against his will leave Patroclus, in great fear lest the Achaeans should be driven back in rout and let him fall

into the hands of the foe. He charged Meriones and the two Ajaxes straitly saying, "Ajaxes and Meriones,

leaders of the Argives, now indeed remember how good Patroclus was; he was ever courteous while alive,

With this Menelaus left them, looking round him as keenly as an eagle, whose sight they say is keener than

that of any other bird however high he may be in the heavens, not a hare that runs can escape him by

crouching under bush or thicket, for he will swoop down upon it and make an end of it even so, O

Menelaus, did your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your followers to see if you could find the son

of Nestor still alive. Presently Menelaus saw him on the extreme left of the battle cheering on his men and

exhorting them to fight boldly. Menelaus went up to him and said, "Antilochus, come here and listen to sad

news, which I would indeed were untrue. You must see with your own eyes that heaven is heaping calamity

upon the Danaans, and giving victory to the Trojans. Patroclus has fallen, who was the bravest of the

Achaeans, and sorely will the Danaans miss him. Run instantly to the ships and tell Achilles, that he may

come to rescue the body and bear it to the ships. As for the armour, Hector already has it."

Antilochus was struck with horror. For a long time he was speechless; his eyes filled with tears and he could

find no utterance, but he did as Menelaus had said, and set off running as soon as he had given his armour to

Thus, then, did he run weeping from the field, to carry the bad news to Achilles son of Peleus. Nor were you,

O Menelaus, minded to succour his harassed comrades, when Antilochus had left the Pylians and greatly did

they miss him but he sent them noble Thrasymedes, and himself went back to Patroclus. He came running

up to the two Ajaxes and said, "I have sent Antilochus to the ships to tell Achilles, but rage against Hector as

he may, he cannot come, for he cannot fight without armour. What then will be our best plan both as regards

rescuing the dead, and our own escape from death amid the battlecries of the Trojans?"

Ajax answered, "Menelaus, you have said well: do you, then, and Meriones stoop down, raise the body, and

bear it out of the fray, while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans, one in heart as in name, and

On this Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and lifted him high aloft with a great effort.

The Trojan host raised a hue and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the body away, and

flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded boar at the loo of a band of young huntsmen. For a while the

hounds fly at him as though they would tear him in pieces, but now and again he turns on them in a fury,

scaring and scattering them in all directionseven so did the Trojans for a while charge in a body, striking with

sword and with spears pointed ai both the ends, but when the two Ajaxes faced them and stood at bay, they

In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the body to the ships out of the fight. The battle

raged round them like fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire over a city, and the houses

fall in the glare of its burning even such was the roar and tramp of men and horses that pursued them as they

bore Patroclus from the field. Or as mules that put forth all their strength to draw some beam or great piece of

ship's timber down a rough mountaintrack, and they pant and sweat as they, go even so did Menelaus and

pant and sweat as they bore the body of Patroclus. Behind them the two Ajaxes held stoutly out. As some

wooded mountainspur that stretches across a plain will turn water and check the flow even of a great river,

nor is there any stream strong enough to break through iteven so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and

stern the tide of their fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost among them all was

Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hector. As a flock of daws or starlings fall to screaming and chattering

when they see a falcon, foe to i'll small birds, come soaring near them, even so did the Achaean youth raise a

babel of cries as they fled before Aeneas and Hector, unmindful of their former prowess. In the rout of the

Danaans much goodly armour fell round about the trench, and of fighting there was no end.

Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent

as messenger, reached Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that which was indeed too

surely true. "Alas," said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, "why are the Achaeans again scouring the

plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the gods be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of

which my mother Thetis spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the Myrmidons should fall

before the Trojans, and see the light of the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen through

his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as soon as he had driven back those that were bringing

As he was thus pondering, the son of Nestor came up to him and told his sad tale, weeping bitterly the while.

"Alas," he cried, "son of noble Peleus, I bring you bad tidings, would indeed that they were untrue. Patroclus

has fallen, and a fight is raging about his naked body for Hector holds his armour."

A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened. He filled both hands with dust from off the ground,

and poured it over his head, disfiguring his comely face, and letting the refuse settle over his shirt so fair and

new. He flung himself down all huge and hugely at full length, and tore his hair with his hands. The

bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken captive screamed aloud for grief, beating their breasts,

and with their limbs failing them for sorrow. Antilochus bent over him the while, weeping and holding both

his hands as he lay groaning for he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat. Then Achilles

gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father,

whereon she screamed, and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus that dwelt at the bottom of the sea, came

gathering round her. There were Glauce, Thalia and Cymodoce, Nesaia, Speo, thoe and darkeyed Halie,

Cymothoe, Actaea and Limnorea, Melite, Iaera, Amphithoe and Agave, Doto and Proto, Pherusa and

Dynamene, Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira, Doris, Panope, and the famous seanymph Galatea,

Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa. There were also Clymene, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia and

Amatheia of the lovely locks, with other Nereids who dwell in the depths of the sea. The crystal cave was

filled with their multitude and they all beat their breasts while Thetis led them in their lament.

"Listen," she cried, "sisters, daughters of Nereus, that you may hear the burden of my sorrows. Alas, woe is

me, woe in that I have borne the most glorious of offspring. I bore him fair and strong, hero among heroes,

and he shot up as a sapling; I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to Ilius to

fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon

the light of the sun he is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot help him. Nevertheless I will go, that I

may see my dear son and learn what sorrow has befallen him though he is still holding aloof from battle."

She left the cave as she spoke, while the others followed weeping after, and the waves opened a path before

them. When they reached the rich plain of Troy, they came up out of the sea in a long line on to the sands, at

the place where the ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up in close order round the tents of Achilles. His

mother went up to him as he lay groaning; she laid her hand upon his head and spoke piteously, saying, "My

son, why are you thus weeping? What sorrow has now befallen you? Tell me; hide it not from me. Surely

Jove has granted you the prayer you made him, when you lifted up your hands and besought him that the

Achaeans might all of them be pent up at their ships, and rue it bitterly in that you were no longer with them."

Achilles groaned and answered, "Mother, Olympian Jove has indeed vouchsafed me the fulfilment of my

prayer, but what boots it to me, seeing that my dear comrade Patroclus has fallen he whom I valued more

than all others, and loved as dearly as my own life? I have lost him; aye, and Hector when he had killed him

stripped the wondrous armour, so glorious to behold, which the gods gave to Peleus when they laid you in the

couch of a mortal man. Would that you were still dwelling among the immortal seanymphs, and that Peleus

had taken to himself some mortal bride. For now you shall have grief infinite by reason of the death of that

son whom you can never welcome home nay, I will not live nor go about among mankind unless Hector fall

Thetis wept and answered, "Then, my son, is your end near at handfor your own death awaits you full soon

Then said Achilles in his great grief, "I would die here and now, in that I could not save my comrade. He has

fallen far from home, and in his hour of need my hand was not there to help him. What is there for me?

Return to my own land I shall not, and I have brought no saving neither to Patroclus nor to my other

comrades of whom so many have been slain by mighty Hector; I stay here by my ships a bootless burden

upon the earth, I, who in fight have no peer among the Achaeans, though in council there are better than I.

Therefore, perish strife both from among gods and men, and anger, wherein even a righteous man will harden

his heart which rises up in the soul of a man like smoke, and the taste thereof is sweeter than drops of

honey. Even so has Agamemnon angered me. And yet so be it, for it is over; I will force my soul into

subjection as I needs must; I will go; I will pursue Hector who has slain him whom I loved so dearly, and will

then abide my doom when it may please Jove and the other gods to send it. Even Hercules, the best beloved

of Jove even he could not escape the hand of death, but fate and Juno's fierce anger laid him low, as I too

shall lie when I am dead if a like doom awaits me. Till then I will win fame, and will bid Trojan and

Dardanian women wring tears from their tender cheeks with both their hands in the grievousness of their

great sorrow; thus shall they know that he who has held aloof so long will hold aloof no longer. Hold me not

Then silverfooted Thetis answered, "My son, what you have said is true. It is well to save your comrades

from destruction, but your armour is in the hands of the Trojans; Hector bears it in triumph upon his own

shoulders. Full well I know that his vaunt shall not be lasting, for his end is close at hand; go not, however,

into the press of battle till you see me return hither; tomorrow at break of day I shall be here, and will bring

On this she left her brave son, and as she turned away she said to the seanymphs her sisters, "Dive into the

bosom of the sea and go to the house of the old seagod my father. Tell him everything; as for me, I will go

to the cunning workman Vulcan on high Olympus, and ask him to provide my son with a suit of splendid

When she had so said, they dived forthwith beneath the waves, while silverfooted Thetis went her way that

Thus, then, did her feet bear the goddess to Olympus, and meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud

cries before murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the Hellespont, and they could not draw the

body of Mars's servant Patroclus out of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him, for Hector son of

Priam with his host and horsemen had again caught up to him like the flame of a fiery furnace; thrice did

brave Hector seize him by the feet, striving with might and main to draw him away and calling loudly on the

Trojans, and thrice did the two Ajaxes, clothed in valour as with a garment, beat him from off the body; but

all undaunted he would now charge into the thick of the fight, and now again he would stand still and cry

aloud, but he would give no ground. As upland shepherds that cannot chase some famished lion from a

carcase, even so could not the two Ajaxes scare Hector son of Priam from the body of Patroclus.

And now he would even have dragged it off and have won imperishable glory, had not Iris fleet as the wind,

winged her way as messenger from Olympus to the son of Peleus and bidden him arm. She came secretly

without the knowledge of Jove and of the other gods, for Juno sent her, and when she had got close to him

she said, "Up, son of Peleus, mightiest of all mankind; rescue Patroclus about whom this fearful fight is now

raging by the ships. Men are killing one another, the Danaans in defence of the dead body, while the Trojans

are trying to hale it away, and take it to wind Ilius: Hector is the most furious of them all; he is for cutting the

head from the body and fixing it on the stakes of the wall. Up, then, and bide here no longer; shrink from the

thought that Patroclus may become meat for the dogs of Troy. Shame on you, should his body suffer any kind

Iris answered, "It was Juno the royal spouse of Jove, but the son of Saturn does not know of my coming, nor

Then fleet Achilles answered her saying, "How can I go up into the battle? They have my armour. My mother

forbade me to arm till I should see her come, for she promised to bring me goodly armour from Vulcan; I

know no man whose arms I can put on, save only the shield of Ajax son of Telamon, and he surely must be

fighting in the front rank and wielding his spear about the body of dead Patroclus."

Iris said, 'We know that your armour has been taken, but go as you are; go to the deep trench and show

yourelf before the Trojans, that they may fear you and cease fighting. Thus will the fainting sons of the

Iris left him when she had so spoken. But Achilles dear to Jove arose, and Minerva flung her tasselled aegis

round his strong shoulders; she crowned his head with a halo of golden cloud from which she kindled a glow

of gleaming fire. As the smoke that goes up into heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an island

far out at sea all day long do men sally from the city and fight their hardest, and at the going down of the

sun the line of beaconfires blazes forth, flaring high for those that dwell near them to behold, if so be that

they may come with their ships and succour them even so did the light flare from the head of Achilles, as he

stood by the trench, going beyond the wall but he aid not join the Achaeans for he heeded the charge which

There did he stand and shout aloud. Minerva also raised her voice from afar, and spread terror unspeakable

among the Trojans. Ringing as the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm then the foe is at the gates of a city,

even so brazen was the voice of the son of Aeacus, and when the Trojans heard its clarion tones they were

dismayed; the horses turned back with their chariots for they boded mischief, and their drivers were

awestruck by the steady flame which the greyeyed goddess had kindled above the head of the great son of

Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench, and thrice were the Trojans and their brave

allies thrown into confusion; whereon twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath the wheels of their

chariots and perished by their own spears. The Achaeans to their great joy then drew Patroclus out of reach of

the weapons, and laid him on a litter: his comrades stood mourning round him, and among them fleet

Achilles who wept bitterly as he saw his true comrade lying dead upon his bier. He had sent him out with

Then Juno sent the busy sun, loth though he was, into the waters of Oceanus; so he set, and the Achaeans had

Now the Trojans when they had come out of the fight, unyoked their horses and gathered in assembly before

preparing their supper. They kept their feet, nor would any dare to sit down, for fear had fallen upon them all

because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof so long from battle. Polydamas son of Panthous

was first to speak, a man of judgement, who alone among them could look both before and after. He was

comrade to Hector, and they had been born upon the same night; with all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he

"Look to it well, my friends; I would urge you to go back now to your city and not wait here by the ships till

morning, for we are far from our walls. So long as this man was at enmity with Agamemnon the Achaeans

were easier to deal with, and I would have gladly camped by the ships in the hope of taking them; but now I

go in great fear of the fleet son of Peleus; he is so daring that he will never bide here on the plain whereon the

Trojans and Achaeans fight with equal valour, but he will try to storm our city and carry off our women. Do

then as I say, and let us retreat. For this is what will happen. The darkness of night will for a time stay the son

of Peleus, but if he find us here in the morning when he sallies forth in full armour, we shall have knowledge

of him in good earnest. Glad indeed will he be who can escape and get back to Ilius, and many a Trojan will

become meat for dogs and vultures may I never live to hear it. If we do as I say, little though we may like it,

we shall have strength in counsel during the night, and the great gates with the doors that close them will

protect the city. At dawn we can arm and take our stand on the walls; he will then rue it if he sallies from the

ships to fight us. He will go back when he has given his horses their fill of being driven all whithers under

our walls, and will be in no mind to try and force his way into the city. Neither will he ever sack it, dogs shall

Hector looked fiercely at him and answered, "Polydamas, your words are not to my liking in that you bid us

go back and be pent within the city. Have you not had enough of being cooped up behind walls? In the

olddays the city of Priam was famous the whole world over for its wealth of gold and bronze, but our

treasures are wasted out of our houses, and much goods have been sold away to Phrygia and fair Meonia, for

the hand of Jove has been laid heavily upon us. Now, therefore, that the son of scheming Saturn has

vouchsafed me to win glory here and to hem the Achaeans in at their ships, prate no more in this fool's wise

among the people. You will have no man with you; it shall not be; do all of you as I now say; take your

suppers in your companies throughout the host, and keep your watches and be wakeful every man of you. If

any Trojan is uneasy about his possessions, let him gather them and give them out among the people. Better

let these, rather than the Achaeans, have them. At daybreak we will arm and fight about the ships; granted

that Achilles has again come forward to defend them, let it be as he will, but it shall go hard with him. I shall

not shun him, but will fight him, to fall or conquer. The god of war deals out like measure to all, and the

Thus spoke Hector; and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted in applause, for Pallas Minerva had robbed

them of their understanding. They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel, but the wise words of Polydamas

no man would heed. They took their supper throughout the host, and meanwhile through the whole night the

Achaeans mourned Patroclus, and the son of Peleus led them in their lament. He laid his murderous hands

upon the breast of his comrade, groaning again and again as a bearded lion when a man who was chasing deer

has robbed him of his young in some dense forest; when the lion comes back he is furious, and searches

dingle and dell to track the hunter if he can find him, for he is mad with rage even so with many a sigh did

Achilles speak among the Myrmidons saying, "Alas! vain were the words with which I cheered the hero

Menoetius in his own house; I said that I would bring his brave son back again to Opoeis after he had sacked

Ilius and taken his share of the spoils but Jove does not give all men their heart's desire. The same soil shall

be reddened here at Troy by the blood of us both, for I too shall never be welcomed home by the old knight

Peleus, nor by my mother Thetis, but even in this place shall the earth cover me. Nevertheless, O Patroclus,

now that I am left behind you, I will not bury you, till I have brought hither the head and armour of mighty

Hector who has slain you. Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I behead before your bier to avenge you; till I

have done so you shall lie as you are by the ships, and fair women of Troy and Dardanus, whom we have

taken with spear and strength of arm when we sacked men's goodly cities, shall weep over you both night and

Then Achilles told his men to set a large tripod upon the fire that they might wash the clotted gore from off

Patroclus. Thereon they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire: they threw sticks on to it to make it

blaze, and the water became hot as the flame played about the belly of the tripod. When the water in the

cauldron was boiling they washed the body, anointed it with oil, and closed its wounds with ointment that had

been kept nine years. Then they laid it on a bier and covered it with a linen cloth from head to foot, and over

this they laid a fair white robe. Thus all night long did the Myrmidons gather round Achilles to mourn

Then Jove said to Juno his sisterwife, "So, Queen Juno, you have gained your end, and have roused fleet

And Juno answered, "Dread son of Saturn, why should you say this thing? May not a man though he be only

mortal and knows less than we do, do what he can for another person? And shall not I foremost of all

goddesses both by descent and as wife to you who reign in heavendevise evil for the Trojans if I am angry

Thus did they converse. Meanwhile Thetis came to the house of Vulcan, imperishable, starbespangled,

fairest of the abodes in heaven, a house of bronze wrought by the lame god's own hands. She found him busy

with his bellows, sweating and hard at work, for he was making twenty tripods that were to stand by the wall

of his house, and he set wheels of gold under them all that they might go of their own selves to the assemblies

of the gods, and come back again marvels indeed to see. They were finished all but the ears of cunning

workmanship which yet remained to be fixed to them: these he was now fixing, and he was hammering at the

rivets. While he was thus at work silverfooted Thetis came to the house. Charis, of graceful headdress,

wife to the farfamed lame god, came towards her as soon as she saw her, and took her hand in her own,

saying, "Why have you come to our house, Thetis, honoured and ever welcome for you do not visit us

The goddess led the way as she spoke, and bade Thetis sit on a richly decorated seat inlaid with silver; there

was a footstool also under her feet. Then she called Vulcan and said, "Vulcan, come here, Thetis wants you";

and the farfamed lame god answered, "Then it is indeed an august and honoured goddess who has come

here; she it was that took care of me when I was suffering from the heavy fall which I had through my cruel

mother's anger for she would have got rid of me because I was lame. It would have gone hardly with me had

not Eurynome, daughter of the everencircling waters of Oceanus, and Thetis, taken me to their bosom. Nine

years did I stay with them, and many beautiful works in bronze, brooches, spiral armlets, cups, and chains,

did I make for them in their cave, with the roaring waters of Oceanus foaming as they rushed ever past it; and

no one knew, neither of gods nor men, save only Thetis and Eurynome who took care of me. If, then, Thetis

has come to my house I must make her due requital for having saved me; entertain her, therefore, with all

On this the mighty monster hobbled off from his anvil, his thin legs plying lustily under him. He set the

bellows away from the fire, and gathered his tools into a silver chest. Then he took a sponge and washed his

face and hands, his shaggy chest and brawny neck; he donned his shirt, grasped his strong staff, and limped

towards the door. There were golden handmaids also who worked for him, and were like real young women,

with sense and reason, voice also and strength, and all the learning of the immortals; these busied themselves

as the king bade them, while he drew near to Thetis, seated her upon a goodly seat, and took her hand in his

own, saying, "Why have you come to our house, Thetis honoured and ever welcome for you do not visit us

often? Say what you want, and I will do it for you at once if I can, and if it can be done at all."

Thetis wept and answered, "Vulcan, is there another goddess in Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been

pleased to try with so much affliction as he has me? Me alone of the marine goddesses did he make subject to

a mortal husband, Peleus son of Aeacus, and sorely against my will did I submit to the embraces of one who

was but mortal, and who now stays at home worn out with age. Neither is this all. Heaven vouchsafed me a

son, hero among heroes, and he shot up as a sapling. I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden and sent him

with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Peleus. So long

as he lives to look upon the light of the sun, he is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot help him;

King Agamemnon has made him give up the maiden whom the sons of the Achaeans had awarded him, and

he wastes with sorrow for her sake. Then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships' sterns and

would not let them come forth; the elders, therefore, of the Argives besought Achilles and offered him great

treasure, whereon he refused to bring deliverance to them himself, but put his own armour on Patroclus and

sent him into the fight with much people after him. All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would

have taken the city there and then, had not Apollo vouchsafed glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of

Menoetius after he had done the Trojans much evil. Therefore I am suppliant at your knees if haply you may

be pleased to provide my son, whose end is near at hand, with helmet and shield, with goodly greaves fitted

with ancleclasps, and with a breastplate, for he lost his own when his true comrade fell at the hands of the

And Vulcan answered, "Take heart, and be no more disquieted about this matter; would that I could hide him

from death's sight when his hour is come, so surely as I can find him armour that shall amaze the eyes of all

When he had so said he left her and went to his bellows, turning them towards the fire and bidding them do

their office. Twenty bellows blew upon the meltingpots, and they blew blasts of every kind, some fierce to

help him when he had need of them, and others less strong as Vulcan willed it in the course of his work. He

threw tough copper into the fire, and tin, with silver and gold; he set his great anvil on its block, and with one

First he shaped the shield so great and strong, adorning it all over and binding it round with a gleaming

circuit in three layers; and the baldric was made of silver. He made the shield in five thicknesses, and with

He wrought the earth, the heavens, and the sea; the moon also at her full and the untiring sun, with all the

signs that glorify the face of heaven the Pleiads, the Hyads, huge Orion, and the Bear, which men also call

the Wain and which turns round ever in one place, facing. Orion, and alone never dips into the stream of

He wrought also two cities, fair to see and busy with the hum of men. In the one were weddings and

weddingfeasts, and they were going about the city with brides whom they were escorting by torchlight from

their chambers. Loud rose the cry of Hymen, and the youths danced to the music of flute and lyre, while the

Meanwhile the people were gathered in assembly, for there was a quarrel, and two men were wrangling about

the bloodmoney for a man who had been killed, the one saying before the people that he had paid damages

in full, and the other that he had not been paid. Each was trying to make his own case good, and the people

took sides, each man backing the side that he had taken; but the heralds kept them back, and the elders sate on

their seats of stone in a solemn circle, holding the staves which the heralds had put into their hands. Then

they rose and each in his turn gave judgement, and there were two talents laid down, to be given to him

About the other city there lay encamped two hosts in gleaming armour, and they were divided whether to

sack it, or to spare it and accept the half of what it contained. But the men of the city would not yet consent,

and armed themselves for a surprise; their wives and little children kept guard upon the walls, and with them

were the men who were past fighting through age; but the others sallied forth with Mars and Pallas Minerva

at their head both of them wrought in gold and clad in golden raiment, great and fair with their armour as

befitting gods, while they that followed were smaller. When they reached the place where they would lay

their ambush, it was on a riverbed to which live stock of all kinds would come from far and near to water;

here, then, they lay concealed, clad in full armour. Some way off them there were two scouts who were on

the lookout for the coming of sheep or cattle, which presently came, followed by two shepherds who were

playing on their pipes, and had not so much as a thought of danger. When those who were in ambush saw

this, they cut off the flocks and herds and killed the shepherds. Meanwhile the besiegers, when they heard

much noise among the cattle as they sat in council, sprang to their horses, and made with all speed towards

them; when they reached them they set battle in array by the banks of the river, and the hosts aimed their

bronzeshod spears at one another. With them were Strife and Riot, and fell Fate who was dragging three

men after her, one with a fresh wound, and the other unwounded, while the third was dead, and she was

dragging him along by his heel: and her robe was bedrabbled in men's blood. They went in and out with one

another and fought as though they were living people haling away one another's dead.

He wrought also a fair fallow field, large and thrice ploughed already. Many men were working at the plough

within it, turning their oxen to and fro, furrow after furrow. Each time that they turned on reaching the

headland a man would come up to them and give them a cup of wine, and they would go back to their

furrows looking forward to the time when they should again reach the headland. The part that they had

ploughed was dark behind them, so that the field, though it was of gold, still looked as if it were being

He wrought also a field of harvest corn, and the reapers were reaping with sharp sickles in their hands.

Swathe after swathe fell to the ground in a straight line behind them, and the binders bound them in bands of

twisted straw. There were three binders, and behind them there were boys who gathered the cut corn in

armfuls and kept on bringing them to be bound: among them all the owner of the land stood by in silence and

was glad. The servants were getting a meal ready under an oak, for they had sacrificed a great ox, and were

busy cutting him up, while the women were making a porridge of much white barley for the labourers' dinner.

He wrought also a vineyard, golden and fair to see, and the vines were loaded with grapes. The bunches

overhead were black, but the vines were trained on poles of silver. He ran a ditch of dark metal all round it,

and fenced it with a fence of tin; there was only one path to it, and by this the vintagers went when they

would gather the vintage. Youths and maidens all blithe and full of glee, carried the luscious fruit in plaited

baskets; and with them there went a boy who made sweet music with his lyre, and sang the Linussong with

He wrought also a herd of homed cattle. He made the cows of gold and tin, and they lowed as they came full

speed out of the yards to go and feed among the waving reeds that grow by the banks of the river. Along with

the cattle there went four shepherds, all of them in gold, and their nine fleet dogs went with them. Two

terrible lions had fastened on a bellowing bull that was with the foremost cows, and bellow as he might they

haled him, while the dogs and men gave chase: the lions tore through the bull's thick hide and were gorging

on his blood and bowels, but the herdsmen were afraid to do anything, and only hounded on their dogs; the

dogs dared not fasten on the lions but stood by barking and keeping out of harm's way.

The god wrought also a pasture in a fair mountain dell, and large flock of sheep, with a homestead and huts,

Furthermore he wrought a green, like that which Daedalus once made in Cnossus for lovely Ariadne. Hereon

there danced youths and maidens whom all would woo, with their hands on one another's wrists. The maidens

wore robes of light linen, and the youths well woven shirts that were slightly oiled. The girls were crowned

with garlands, while the young men had daggers of gold that hung by silver baldrics; sometimes they would

dance deftly in a ring with merry twinkling feet, as it were a potter sitting at his work and making trial of his

wheel to see whether it will run, and sometimes they would go all in line with one another, and much people

was gathered joyously about the green. There was a bard also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two

tumblers went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up with his tune.

All round the outermost rim of the shield he set the mighty stream of the river Oceanus.

Then when he had fashioned the shield so great and strong, he made a breastplate also that shone brighter

than fire. He made helmet, close fitting to the brow, and richly worked, with a golden plume overhanging it;

Lastly, when the famed lame god had made all the armour, he took it and set it before the mother of Achilles;

whereon she darted like a falcon from the snowy summits of Olympus and bore away the gleaming armour

Now when Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the streams of Oceanus, to bring light to mortals and

immortals, Thetis reached the ships with the armour that the god had given her. She found her son fallen

about the body of Patroclus and weeping bitterly. Many also of his followers were weeping round him, but

when the goddess came among them she clasped his hand in her own, saying, "My son, grieve as we may we

must let this man lie, for it is by heaven's will that he has fallen; now, therefore, accept from Vulcan this rich

As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles, and it rang out bravely as she did so. The Myrmidons were

struck with awe, and none dared look full at it, for they were afraid; but Achilles was roused to still greater

fury, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce light, for he was glad when he handled the splendid present which

the god had made him. Then, as soon as he had satisfied himself with looking at it, he said to his mother,

"Mother, the god has given me armour, meet handiwork for an immortal and such as no living could have

fashioned; I will now arm, but I much fear that flies will settle upon the son of Menoetius and breed worms

about his wounds, so that his body, now he is dead, will be disfigured and the flesh will rot."

Silverfooted Thetis answered, "My son, be not disquieted about this matter. I will find means to protect him

from the swarms of noisome flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed in battle. He may lie

for a whole year, and his flesh shall still be as sound as ever, or even sounder. Call, therefore, the Achaean

heroes in assembly; unsay your anger against Agamemnon; arm at once, and fight with might and main."

As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart, and she then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into

Then Achilles went out upon the seashore, and with a loud cry called on the Achaean heroes. On this even

those who as yet had stayed always at the ships, the pilots and helmsmen, and even the stewards who were

about the ships and served out rations, all came to the place of assembly because Achilles had shown himself

after having held aloof so long from fighting. Two sons of Mars, Ulysses and the son of Tydeus, came

limping, for their wounds still pained them; nevertheless they came, and took their seats in the front row of

the assembly. Last of all came Agamemnon, king of men, he too wounded, for Coon son of Antenor had

When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said, "Son of Atreus, surely it would have been

better alike for both you and me, when we two were in such high anger about Briseis, surely it would have

been better, had Diana's arrow slain her at the ships on the day when I took her after having sacked

Lyrnessus. For so, many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before the foe in the days of my anger. It

has been well for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our quarrel. Now,

however, let it be, for it is over. If we have been angry, necessity has schooled our anger. I put it from me: I

dare not nurse it for ever; therefore, bid the Achaeans arm forthwith that I may go out against the Trojans,

and learn whether they will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no. Glad, I ween, will he be to rest his knees

Then Agamemnon spoke, rising in his place, and not going into the middle of the assembly. "Danaan heroes,"

said he, "servants of Mars, it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak, and it is not seemly to interrupt

him, or it will go hard even with a practised speaker. Who can either hear or speak in an uproar? Even the

finest orator will be disconcerted by it. I will expound to the son of Peleus, and do you other Achaeans heed

me and mark me well. Often have the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and upbraided me, but it was not

I that did it: Jove, and Fate, and Erinys that walks in darkness struck me mad when we were assembled on the

day that I took from Achilles the meed that had been awarded to him. What could I do? All things are in the

hand of heaven, and Folly, eldest of Jove's daughters, shuts men's eyes to their destruction. She walks

delicately, not on the solid earth, but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or to ensnare them.

"Time was when she fooled Jove himself, who they say is greatest whether of gods or men; for Juno, woman

though she was, beguiled him on the day when Alcmena was to bring forth mighty Hercules in the fair city of

Thebes. He told it out among the gods saying, 'Hear me all gods and goddesses, that I may speak even as I am

minded; this day shall an Ilithuia, helper of women who are in labour, bring a man child into the world who

shall be lord over all that dwell about him who are of my blood and lineage.' Then said Juno all crafty and

full of guile, 'You will play false, and will not hold to your word. Swear me, O Olympian, swear me a great

oath, that he who shall this day fall between the feet of a woman, shall be lord over all that dwell about him

"Thus she spoke, and Jove suspected her not, but swore the great oath, to his much ruing thereafter. For Juno

darted down from the high summit of Olympus, and went in haste to Achaean Argos where she knew that the

noble wife of Sthenelus son of Perseus then was. She being with child and in her seventh month, Juno

brought the child to birth though there was a month still wanting, but she stayed the offspring of Alcmena,

and kept back the Ilithuiae. Then she went to tell Jove the son of Saturn, and said, 'Father Jove, lord of the

lightning I have a word for your ear. There is a fine child born this day, Eurystheus, son to Sthenelus the son

of Perseus; he is of your lineage; it is well, therefore, that he should reign over the Argives.'

"On this Jove was stung to the very quick, and in his rage he caught Folly by the hair, and swore a great oath

that never should she again invade starry heaven and Olympus, for she was the bane of all. Then he whirled

her round with a twist of his hand, and flung her down from heaven so that she fell on to the fields of mortal

men; and he was ever angry with her when he saw his son groaning under the cruel labours that Eurystheus

laid upon him. Even so did I grieve when mighty Hector was killing the Argives at their ships, and all the

time I kept thinking of Folly who had so baned me. I was blind, and Jove robbed me of my reason; I will now

make atonement, and will add much treasure by way of amends. Go, therefore, into battle, you and your

people with you. I will give you all that Ulysses offered you yesterday in your tents: or if it so please you,

wait, though you would fain fight at once, and my squires shall bring the gifts from my ship, that you may see

And Achilles answered, "Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, you can give such gifts as you think

proper, or you can withhold them: it is in your own hands. Let us now set battle in array; it is not well to tarry

talking about trifles, for there is a deed which is as yet to do. Achilles shall again be seen fighting among the

foremost, and laying low the ranks of the Trojans: bear this in mind each one of you when he is fighting."

Then Ulysses said, "Achilles, godlike and brave, send not the Achaeans thus against Ilius to fight the Trojans

fasting, for the battle will be no brief one, when it is once begun, and heaven has filled both sides with fury;

bid them first take food both bread and wine by the ships, for in this there is strength and stay. No man can do

battle the livelong day to the going down of the sun if he is without food; however much he may want to fight

his strength will fail him before he knows it; hunger and thirst will find him out, and his limbs will grow

weary under him. But a man can fight all day if he is full fed with meat and wine; his heart beats high, and his

strength will stay till he has routed all his foes; therefore, send the people away and bid them prepare their

meal; King Agamemnon will bring out the gifts in presence of the assembly, that all may see them and you

may be satisfied. Moreover let him swear an oath before the Argives that he has never gone up into the couch

of Briseis, nor been with her after the manner of men and women; and do you, too, show yourself of a

gracious mind; let Agamemnon entertain you in his tents with a feast of reconciliation, that so you may have

had your dues in full. As for you, son of Atreus, treat people more righteously in future; it is no disgrace even

And King Agamemnon answered, "Son of Laertes, your words please me well, for throughout you have

spoken wisely. I will swear as you would have me do; I do so of my own free will, neither shall I take the

name of heaven in vain. Let, then, Achilles wait, though he would fain fight at once, and do you others wait

also, till the gifts come from my tent and we ratify the oath with sacrifice. Thus, then, do I charge you: take

some noble young Achaeans with you, and bring from my tents the gifts that I promised yesterday to

Achilles, and bring the women also; furthermore let Talthybius find me a boar from those that are with the

Then said Achilles, "Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, see to these matters at some other season,

when there is breathing time and when I am calmer. Would you have men eat while the bodies of those whom

Hector son of Priam slew are still lying mangled upon the plain? Let the sons of the Achaeans, say I, fight

fasting and without food, till we have avenged them; afterwards at the going down of the sun let them eat

their fill. As for me, Patroclus is lying dead in my tent, all hacked and hewn, with his feet to the door, and his

comrades are mourning round him. Therefore I can take thought of nothing save only slaughter and blood and

Ulysses answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, mightiest of all the Achaeans, in battle you are better than I, and

that more than a little, but in counsel I am much before you, for I am older and of greater knowledge.

Therefore be patient under my words. Fighting is a thing of which men soon surfeit, and when Jove, who is

wars steward, weighs the upshot, it may well prove that the straw which our sickles have reaped is far heavier

than the grain. It may not be that the Achaeans should mourn the dead with their bellies; day by day men fall

thick and threefold continually; when should we have respite from our sorrow? Let us mourn our dead for a

day and bury them out of sight and mind, but let those of us who are left eat and drink that we may arm and

fight our foes more fiercely. In that hour let no man hold back, waiting for a second summons; such summons

shall bode ill for him who is found lagging behind at our ships; let us rather sally as one man and loose the

When he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor, with Meges son of Phyleus, Thoas, Meriones,

Lycomedes son of Creontes, and Melanippus, and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus. The word

was not sooner said than the deed was done: they brought out the seven tripods which Agamemnon had

promised, with the twenty metal cauldrons and the twelve horses; they also brought the women skilled in

useful arts, seven in number, with Briseis, which made eight. Ulysses weighed out the ten talents of gold and

then led the way back, while the young Achaeans brought the rest of the gifts, and laid them in the middle of

Agamemnon then rose, and Talthybius whose voice was like that of a god came to him with the boar. The son

of Atreus drew the knife which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword, and began by cutting off some

bristles from the boar, lifting up his hands in prayer as he did so. The other Achaeans sat where they were all

silent and orderly to hear the king, and Agamemnon looked into the vault of heaven and prayed saying, "I call

Jove the first and mightiest of all gods to witness, I call also Earth and Sun and the Erinyes who dwell below

and take vengeance on him who shall swear falsely, that I have laid no hand upon the girl Briseis, neither to

take her to my bed nor otherwise, but that she has remained in my tents inviolate. If I swear falsely may

heaven visit me with all the penalties which it metes out to those who perjure themselves."

He cut the boar's throat as he spoke, whereon Talthybius whirled it round his head, and flung it into the wide

sea to feed the fishes. Then Achilles also rose and said to the Argives, "Father Jove, of a truth you blind

men's eyes and bane them. The son of Atreus had not else stirred me to so fierce an anger, nor so stubbornly

taken Briseis from me against my will. Surely Jove must have counselled the destruction of many an Argive.

On this he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his own ship. The Myrmidons attended to the

presents and took them away to the ship of Achilles. They placed them in his tents, while the stablemen

Briseis, fair as Venus, when she saw the mangled body of Patroclus, flung herself upon it and cried aloud,

tearing her breast, her neck, and her lovely face with both her hands. Beautiful as a goddess she wept and

said, "Patroclus, dearest friend, when I went hence I left you living; I return, O prince, to find you dead; thus

do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one after the other. I saw him to whom my father and mother married me,

cut down before our city, and my three own dear brothers perished with him on the selfsame day; but you,

Patroclus, even when Achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes, told me that I was not to

weep, for you said you would make Achilles marry me, and take me back with him to Phthia, we should have

a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. You were always kind to me and I shall never cease to grieve for

She wept as she spoke, and the women joined in her lamentmaking as though their tears were for Patroclus,

but in truth each was weeping for her own sorrows. The elders of the Achaeans gathered round Achilles and

prayed him to take food, but he groaned and would not do so. "I pray you," said he, "if any comrade will hear

me, bid me neither eat nor drink, for I am in great heaviness, and will stay fasting even to the going down of

On this he sent the other princes away, save only the two sons of Atreus and Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and

the knight Phoenix, who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of his sorrow: but he would

not be comforted till he should have flung himself into the jaws of battle, and he fetched sigh on sigh,

"Hapless and dearest comrade, you it was who would get a good dinner ready for me at once and without

delay when the Achaeans were hasting to fight the Trojans; now, therefore, though I have meat and drink in

my tents, yet will I fast for sorrow. Grief greater than this I could not know, not even though I were to hear of

the death of my father, who is now in Phthia weeping for the loss of me his son, who am here fighting the

Trojans in a strange land for the accursed sake of Helen, nor yet though I should hear that my son is no

more he who is being brought up in Scyros if indeed Neoptolemus is still living. Till now I made sure that

I alone was to fall here at Troy away from Argos, while you were to return to Phthia, bring back my son with

you in your own ship, and show him all my property, my bondsmen, and the greatness of my house for

Peleus must surely be either dead, or what little life remains to him is oppressed alike with the infirmities of

He wept as he spoke, and the elders sighed in concert as each thought on what he had left at home behind

him. The son of Saturn looked down with pity upon them, and said presently to Minerva, "My child, you

have quite deserted your hero; is he then gone so clean out of your recollection? There he sits by the ships all

desolate for the loss of his dear comrade, and though the others are gone to their dinner he will neither eat nor

drink. Go then and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast, that he may know no hunger."

With these words he urged Minerva, who was already of the same mind. She darted down from heaven into

the air like some falcon sailing on his broad wings and screaming. Meanwhile the Achaeans were arming

throughout the host, and when Minerva had dropped nectar and ambrosia into Achilles so that no cruel

hunger should cause his limbs to fail him, she went back to the house of her mighty father. Thick as the chill

snowflakes shed from the hand of Jove and borne on the keen blasts of the north wind, even so thick did the

gleaming helmets, the bossed shields, the strongly plated breastplates, and the ashen spears stream from the

ships. The sheen pierced the sky, the whole land was radiant with their flashing armour, and the sound of the

tramp of their treading rose from under their feet. In the midst of them all Achilles put on his armour; he

gnashed his teeth, his eyes gleamed like fire, for his grief was greater than he could bear. Thus, then, full of

fury against the Trojans, did he don the gift of the god, the armour that Vulcan had made him.

First he put on the goodly greaves fitted with ancleclasps, and next he did on the breastplate about his chest.

He slung the silverstudded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then took up the shield so great and

strong that shone afar with a splendour as of the moon. As the light seen by sailors from out at sea, when men

have lit a fire in their homestead high up among the mountains, but the sailors are carried out to sea by wind

and storm far from the haven where they would be even so did the gleam of Achilles' wondrous shield strike

up into the heavens. He lifted the redoubtable helmet, and set it upon his head, from whence it shone like a

star, and the golden plumes which Vulcan had set thick about the ridge of the helmet, waved all around it.

Then Achilles made trial of himself in his armour to see whether it fitted him, so that his limbs could play

He also drew his father's spear out of the spearstand, a spear so great and heavy and strong that none of the

Achaeans save only Achilles had strength to wield it; this was the spear of Pelian ash from the topmost ridges

of Mt. Pelion, which Chiron had once given to Peleus, fraught with the death of heroes. Automedon and

Alcimus busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses; they made the bands fast about them, and put

the bit in their mouths, drawing the reins back towards the chariot. Automedon, whip in hand, sprang up

behind the horses, and after him Achilles mounted in full armour, resplendent as the sungod Hyperion. Then

with a loud voice he chided with his father's horses saying, "Xanthus and Balius, famed offspring of

Podarge this time when we have done fighting be sure and bring your driver safely back to the host of the

Then fleet Xanthus answered under the yoke for whitearmed Juno had endowed him with human speech

and he bowed his head till his mane touched the ground as it hung down from under the yokeband. "Dread

Achilles," said he, "we will indeed save you now, but the day of your death is near, and the blame will not be

ours, for it will be heaven and stern fate that will destroy you. Neither was it through any sloth or slackness

on our part that the Trojans stripped Patroclus of his armour; it was the mighty god whom lovely Leto bore

that slew him as he fought among the foremost, and vouchsafed a triumph to Hector. We two can fly as

swiftly as Zephyrus who they say is fleetest of all winds; nevertheless it is your doom to fall by the hand of a

When he had thus said the Erinyes stayed his speech, and Achilles answered him in great sadness, saying,

"Why, O Xanthus, do you thus foretell my death? You need not do so, for I well know that I am to fall here,

far from my dear father and mother; none the more, however, shall I stay my hand till I have given the

Thus, then, did the Achaeans arm by their ships round you, O son of Peleus, who were hungering for battle;

Meanwhile Jove from the top of manydelled Olympus, bade Themis gather the gods in council, whereon she

went about and called them to the house of Jove. There was not a river absent except Oceanus, nor a single

one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves, or springs of rivers and meadows of green grass. When they

reached the house of cloudcompelling Jove, they took their seats in the arcades of polished marble which

In such wise, therefore, did they gather in the house of Jove. Neptune also, lord of the earthquake, obeyed the

call of the goddess, and came up out of the sea to join them. There, sitting in the midst of them, he asked

what Jove's purpose might be. "Why," said he, "wielder of the lightning, have you called the gods in council?

Are you considering some matter that concerns the Trojans and Achaeans for the blaze of battle is on the

And Jove answered, "You know my purpose, shaker of earth, and wherefore I have called you hither. I take

thought for them even in their destruction. For my own part I shall stay here seated on Mt. Olympus and look

on in peace, but do you others go about among Trojans and Achaeans, and help either side as you may be

severally disposed. If Achilles fights the Trojans without hindrance they will make no stand against him; they

have ever trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is roused to such fury about his comrade, he will

Thus spoke Jove and gave the word for war, whereon the gods took their several sides and went into battle.

Juno, Pallas Minerva, earthencircling Neptune, Mercury bringer of good luck and excellent in all cunningall

these joined the host that came from the ships; with them also came Vulcan in all his glory, limping, but yet

with his thin legs plying lustily under him. Mars of gleaming helmet joined the Trojans, and with him Apollo

of locks unshorn, and the archer goddess Diana, Leto, Xanthus, and laughterloving Venus.

So long as the gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors the Achaeans were triumphant, for Achilles

who had long refused to fight was now with them. There was not a Trojan but his limbs failed him for fear as

he beheld the fleet son of Peleus all glorious in his armour, and looking like Mars himself. When, however,

the Olympians came to take their part among men, forthwith uprose strong Strife, rouser of hosts, and

Minerva raised her loud voice, now standing by the deep trench that ran outside the wall, and now shouting

with all her might upon the shore of the sounding sea. Mars also bellowed out upon the other side, dark as

some black thundercloud, and called on the Trojans at the top of his voice, now from the acropolis, and now

Thus did the gods spur on both hosts to fight, and rouse fierce contention also among themselves. The sire of

gods and men thundered from heaven above, while from beneath Neptune shook the vast earth, and bade the

high hills tremble. The spurs and crests of manyfountained Ida quaked, as also the city of the Trojans and

the ships of the Achaeans. Hades, king of the realms below, was struck with fear; he sprang panicstricken

from his throne and cried aloud in terror lest Neptune, lord of the earthquake, should crack the ground over

his head, and lay bare his mouldy mansions to the sight of mortals and immortals mansions so ghastly grim

that even the gods shudder to think of them. Such was the uproar as the gods came together in battle. Apollo

with his arrows took his stand to face King Neptune, while Minerva took hers against the god of war; the

archergoddess Diana with her golden arrows, sister of fardarting Apollo, stood to face Juno; Mercury the

lusty bringer of good luck faced Leto, while the mighty eddying river whom men can Scamander, but gods

The gods, then, were thus ranged against one another. But the heart of Achilles was set on meeting Hector

son of Priam, for it was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut the stubborn lord of battle.

Meanwhile Apollo set Aeneas on to attack the son of Peleus, and put courage into his heart, speaking with the

voice of Lycaon son of Priam. In his likeness therefore, he said to Aeneas, "Aeneas, counsellor of the

Trojans, where are now the brave words with which you vaunted over your wine before the Trojan princes,

And Aeneas answered, "Why do you thus bid me fight the proud son of Peleus, when I am in no mind to do

so? Were I to face him now, it would not be for the first time. His spear has already put me to Right from Ida,

when he attacked our cattle and sacked Lyrnessus and Pedasus; Jove indeed saved me in that he vouchsafed

me strength to fly, else had the fallen by the hands of Achilles and Minerva, who went before him to protect

him and urged him to fall upon the Lelegae and Trojans. No man may fight Achilles, for one of the gods is

always with him as his guardian angel, and even were it not so, his weapon flies ever straight, and fails not to

pierce the flesh of him who is against him; if heaven would let me fight him on even terms he should not

Then said King Apollo, son to Jove, "Nay, hero, pray to the everliving gods, for men say that you were born

of Jove's daughter Venus, whereas Achilles is son to a goddess of inferior rank. Venus is child to Jove, while

Thetis is but daughter to the old man of the sea. Bring, therefore, your spear to bear upon him, and let him not

As he spoke he put courage into the heart of the shepherd of his people, and he strode in full armour among

the ranks of the foremost fighters. Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice of whitearmed Juno, as he

went forth into the throng to meet Achilles. She called the gods about her, and said, "Look to it, you two,

Neptune and Minerva, and consider how this shall be; Phoebus Apollo has been sending Aeneas clad in full

armour to fight Achilles. Shall we turn him back at once, or shall one of us stand by Achilles and endow him

with strength so that his heart fail not, and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals are on his side, while

the others who have all along been defending the Trojans are but vain helpers? Let us all come down from

Olympus and join in the fight, that this day he may take no hurt at the hands of the Trojans. Hereafter let him

suffer whatever fate may have spun out for him when he was begotten and his mother bore him. If Achilles

be not thus assured by the voice of a god, he may come to fear presently when one of us meets him in battle,

Neptune lord of the earthquake answered her saying, "Juno, restrain your fury; it is not well; I am not in

favour of forcing the other gods to fight us, for the advantage is too greatly on our own side; let us take our

places on some hill out of the beaten track, and let mortals fight it out among themselves. If Mars or Phoebus

Apollo begin fighting, or keep Achilles in check so that he cannot fight, we too, will at once raise the cry of

battle, and in that case they will soon leave the field and go back vanquished to Olympus among the other

With these words the darkhaired god led the way to the high earthbarrow of Hercules, built round solid

masonry, and made by the Trojans and Pallas Minerva for him fly to when the seamonster was chasing him

from the shore on to the plain. Here Neptune and those that were with him took their seats, wrapped in a thick

cloud of darkness; but the other gods seated themselves on the brow of Callicolone round you, O Phoebus,

Thus did the gods sit apart and form their plans, but neither side was willing to begin battle with the other,

and Jove from his seat on high was in command over them all. Meanwhile the whole plain was alive with

men and horses, and blazing with the gleam of armour. The earth rang again under the tramp of their feet as

they rushed towards each other, and two champions, by far the foremost of them all, met between the hosts to

Aeneas was first to stride forward in attack, his doughty helmet tossing defiance as he came on. He held his

strong shield before his breast, and brandished his bronze spear. The son of Peleus from the other side sprang

forth to meet him, fike some fierce lion that the whole countryside has met to hunt and kill at first he bodes

no ill, but when some daring youth has struck him with a spear, he crouches openmouthed, his jaws foam, he

roars with fury, he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs and loins, and glares as he springs straight

before him, to find out whether he is to slay, or be slain among the foremost of his foes even with such fury

When they were now close up with one another Achilles was first to speak. "Aeneas," said he, "why do you

stand thus out before the host to fight me? Is it that you hope to reign over the Trojans in the seat of Priam?

Nay, though you kill me Priam will not hand his kingdom over to you. He is a man of sound judgement, and

he has sons of his own. Or have the Trojans been allotting you a demesne of passing richness, fair with

orchard lawns and corn lands, if you should slay me? This you shall hardly do. I have discomfited you once

already. Have you forgotten how when you were alone I chased you from your herds helterskelter down the

slopes of Ida? You did not turn round to look behind you; you took refuge in Lyrnessus, but I attacked the

city, and with the help of Minerva and father Jove I sacked it and carried its women into captivity, though

Jove and the other gods rescued you. You think they will protect you now, but they will not do so; therefore I

say go back into the host, and do not face me, or you will rue it. Even a fool may be wise after the event."

Then Aeneas answered, "Son of Peleus, think not that your words can scare me as though I were a child. I

too, if I will, can brag and talk unseemly. We know one another's race and parentage as matters of common

fame, though neither have you ever seen my parents nor I yours. Men say that you are son to noble Peleus,

and that your mother is Thetis, fairhaired daughter of the sea. I have noble Anchises for my father, and

Venus for my mother; the parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son, for it will be more than

silly talk that shall part us when the fight is over. Learn, then, my lineage if you will and it is known to

"In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jove, and founded Dardania, for Ilius was not yet stablished on the

plain for men to dwell in, and her people still abode on the spurs of manyfountained Ida. Dardanus had a

son, king Erichthonius, who was wealthiest of all men living; he had three thousand mares that fed by the

watermeadows, they and their foals with them. Boreas was enamoured of them as they were feeding, and

covered them in the semblance of a darkmaned stallion. Twelve filly foals did they conceive and bear him,

and these, as they sped over the rich plain, would go bounding on over the ripe ears of corn and not break

them; or again when they would disport themselves on the broad back of Ocean they could gallop on the crest

of a breaker. Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans, and Tros had three noble sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and

Ganymede who was comeliest of mortal men; wherefore the gods carried him off to be Jove's cupbearer, for

his beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the immortals. Ilus begat Laomedon, and Laomedon begat

Tithonus, Priam, Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the stock of Mars. But Assaracus was father to Capys,

"Such do I declare my blood and lineage, but as for valour, Jove gives it or takes it as he will, for he is lord of

all. And now let there be no more of this prating in midbattle as though we were children. We could fling

taunts without end at one another; a hundredoared galley would not hold them. The tongue can run all

whithers and talk all wise; it can go here and there, and as a man says, so shall he be gainsaid. What is the use

of our bandying hard like women who when they fall foul of one another go out and wrangle in the streets,

one half true and the other lies, as rage inspires them? No words of yours shall turn me now that I am fain to

As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield of Achilles, which rang out as the point struck

it. The son of Peleus held the shield before him with his strong hand, and he was afraid, for he deemed that

Aeneas's spear would go through it quite easily, not reflecting that the god's glorious gifts were little likely to

yield before the blows of mortal men; and indeed Aeneas's spear did not pierce the shield, for the layer of

gold, gift of the god, stayed the point. It went through two layers, but the god had made the shield in five, two

of bronze, the two innermost ones of tin, and one of gold; it was in this that the spear was stayed.

Achilles in his turn threw, and struck the round shield of Aeneas at the very edge, where the bronze was

thinnest; the spear of Pelian ash went clean through, and the shield rang under the blow; Aeneas was afraid,

and crouched backwards, holding the shield away from him; the spear, however, flew over his back, and

stuck quivering in the ground, after having gone through both circles of the sheltering shield. Aeneas though

he had avoided the spear, stood still, blinded with fear and grief because the weapon had gone so near him;

then Achilles sprang furiously upon him, with a cry as of death and with his keen blade drawn, and Aeneas

seized a great stone, so huge that two men, as men now are, would be unable to lift it, but Aeneas wielded it

Aeneas would then have struck Achilles as he was springing towards him, either on the helmet, or on the

shield that covered him, and Achilles would have closed with him and despatched him with his sword, had

not Neptune lord of the earthquake been quick to mark, and said forthwith to the immortals, "Alas, I am sorry

for great Aeneas, who will now go down to the house of Hades, vanquished by the son of Peleus. Fool that he

was to give ear to the counsel of Apollo. Apollo will never save him from destruction. Why should this man

suffer when he is guiltless, to no purpose, and in another's quarrel? Has he not at all times offered acceptable

sacrifice to the gods that dwell in heaven? Let us then snatch him from death's jaws, lest the son of Saturn be

angry should Achilles slay him. It is fated, moreover, that he should escape, and that the race of Dardanus,

whom Jove loved above all the sons born to him of mortal women, shall not perish utterly without seed or

sign. For now indeed has Jove hated the blood of Priam, while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans, he and his

Then answered Juno, "Earthshaker, look to this matter yourself, and consider concerning Aeneas, whether

you will save him, or suffer him, brave though he be, to fall by the hand of Achilles son of Peleus. For of a

truth we two, I and Pallas Minerva, have sworn full many a time before all the immortals, that never would

we shield Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in the flames that the Achaeans shall

When earthencircling Neptune heard this he went into the battle amid the clash of spears, and came to the

place where Achilles and Aeneas were. Forthwith he shed a darkness before the eyes of the son of Peleus,

drew the bronzeheaded ashen spear from the shield of Aeneas, and laid it at the feet of Achilles. Then he

lifted Aeneas on high from off the earth and hurried him away. Over the heads of many a band of warriors

both horse and foot did he soar as the god's hand sped him, till he came to the very fringe of the battle where

the Cauconians were arming themselves for fight. Neptune, shaker of the earth, then came near to him and

said, Aeneas, what god has egged you on to this folly in fighting the son of Peleus, who is both a mightier

man of valour and more beloved of heaven than you are? Give way before him whensoever you meet him,

lest you go down to the house of Hades even though fate would have it otherwise. When Achilles is dead you

may then fight among the foremost undaunted, for none other of the Achaeans shall slay you."

The god left him when he had given him these instructions, and at once removed the darkness from before the

eyes of Achilles, who opened them wide indeed and said in great anger, "Alas! what marvel am I now

beholding? Here is my spear upon the ground, but I see not him whom I meant to kill when I hurled it. Of a

truth Aeneas also must be under heaven's protection, although I had thought his boasting was idle. Let him go

hang; he will be in no mood to fight me further, seeing how narrowly he has missed being killed. I will now

He sprang forward along the line and cheered his men on as he did so. "Let not the Trojans," he cried, "keep

you at arm's length, Achaeans, but go for them and fight them man for man. However valiant I may be, I

cannot give chase to so many and fight all of them. Even Mars, who is an immortal, or Minerva, would shrink

from flinging himself into the jaws of such a fight and laying about him; nevertheless, so far as in me lies I

will show no slackness of hand or foot nor want of endurance, not even for a moment; I will utterly break

Thus did he exhort them. Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans and declared that he would fight

Achilles. "Be not afraid, proud Trojans," said he, "to face the son of Peleus; I could fight gods myself if the

battle were one of words only, but they would be more than a match for me, if we had to use our spears. Even

so the deed of Achilles will fall somewhat short of his word; he will do in part, and the other part he will clip

short. I will go up against him though his hands be as fire though his hands be fire and his strength iron."

Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the Achaeans, and raised the cry of battle as they flung

themselves into the midst of their ranks. But Phoebus Apollo came up to Hector and said, "Hector, on no

account must you challenge Achilles to single combat; keep a lookout for him while you are under cover of

the others and away from the thick of the fight, otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down

Thus he spoke, and Hector drew back within the crowd, for he was afraid when he heard what the god had

said to him. Achilles then sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry, clothed in valour as with a garment.

First he killed Iphition son of Otrynteus, a leader of much people whom a naiad nymph had borne to

Otrynteus waster of cities, in the land of Hyde under the snowy heights of Mt. Tmolus. Achilles struck him

full on the head as he was coming on towards him, and split it clean in two; whereon he fell heavily to the

ground and Achilles vaunted over him saying, "You he low, son of Otrynteus, mighty hero; your death is

here, but your lineage is on the Gygaean lake where your father's estate lies, by Hyllus, rich in fish, and the

Thus did he vaunt, but darkness closed the eyes of the other. The chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their

wheels passed over him in the front of the battle, and after him Achilles killed Demoleon, a valiant man of

war and son to Antenor. He struck him on the temple through his bronzecheeked helmet. The helmet did not

stay the spear, but it went right on, crushing the bone so that the brain inside was shed in all directions, and

his lust of fighting was ended. Then he struck Hippodamas in the midriff as he was springing down from his

chariot in front of him, and trying to escape. He breathed his last, bellowing like a bull bellows when young

men are dragging him to offer him in sacrifice to the King of Helice, and the heart of the earthshaker is glad;

even so did he bellow as he lay dying. Achilles then went in pursuit of Polydorus son of Priam, whom his

father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest of his sons, the one he loved best, and the

fastest runner. He, in his folly and showing off the fleetness of his feet, was rushing about among front ranks

until he lost his life, for Achilles struck him in the middle of the back as he was darting past him: he struck

him just at the golden fastenings of his belt and where the two pieces of the double breastplate overlapped.

The point of the spear pierced him through and came out by the navel, whereon he fell groaning on to his

knees and a cloud of darkness overshadowed him as he sank holding his entrails in his hands.

When Hector saw his brother Polydorus with his entrails in his hands and sinking down upon the ground, a

mist came over his eyes, and he could not bear to keep longer at a distance; he therefore poised his spear and

darted towards Achilles like a flame of fire. When Achilles saw him he bounded forward and vaunted saying,

"This is he that has wounded my heart most deeply and has slain my beloved comrade. Not for long shall we

He looked fiercely on Hector and said, "Draw near, that you may meet your doom the sooner." Hector feared

him not and answered, "Son of Peleus, think not that your words can scare me as though I were a child; I too

if I will can brag and talk unseemly; I know that you are a mighty warrior, mightier by far than I, nevertheless

the issue lies in the the lap of heaven whether I, worse man though I be, may not slay you with my spear, for

He hurled his spear as he spoke, but Minerva breathed upon it, and though she breathed but very lightly she

turned it back from going towards Achilles, so that it returned to Hector and lay at his feet in front of him.

Achilles then sprang furiously on him with a loud cry, bent on killing him, but Apollo caught him up easily as

a god can, and hid him in a thick darkness. Thrice did Achilles spring towards him spear in hand, and thrice

did he waste his blow upon the air. When he rushed forward for the fourth time as though he were a god, he

shouted aloud saying, "Hound, this time too you have escaped deathbut of a truth it came exceedingly near

you. Phoebus Apollo, to whom it seems you pray before you go into battle, has again saved you; but if I too

have any friend among the gods I will surely make an end of you when I come across you at some other time.

On this he struck Dryops with his spear, about the middle of his neck, and he fell headlong at his feet. There

he let him lie and stayed Demouchus son of Philetor, a man both brave and of great stature, by hitting him on

the knee with a spear; then he smote him with his sword and killed him. After this he sprang on Laogonus

and Dardanus, sons of Bias, and threw them from their chariot, the one with a blow from a thrown spear,

while the other he cut down in handtohand fight. There was also Tros the son of Alastor he came up to

Achilles and clasped his knees in the hope that he would spare him and not kill him but let him go, because

they were both of the same age. Fool, he might have known that he should not prevail with him, for the man

was in no mood for pity or forbearance but was in grim earnest. Therefore when Tros laid hold of his knees

and sought a hearing for his prayers, Achilles drove his sword into his liver, and the liver came rolling out,

while his bosom was all covered with the black blood that welled from the wound. Thus did death close his

Achilles then went up to Mulius and struck him on the ear with a spear, and the bronze spearhead came

right out at the other ear. He also struck Echeclus son of Agenor on the head with his sword, which became

warm with the blood, while death and stern fate closed the eyes of Echeclus. Next in order the bronze point of

his spear wounded Deucalion in the forearm where the sinews of the elbow are united, whereon he waited

Achilles' onset with his arm hanging down and death staring him in the face. Achilles cut his head off with a

blow from his sword and flung it helmet and all away from him, and the marrow came oozing out of his

backbone as he lay. He then went in pursuit of Rhigmus, noble son of Peires, who had come from fertile

Thrace, and struck him through the middle with a spear which fixed itself in his belly, so that he fell headlong

from his chariot. He also speared Areithous squire to Rhigmus in the back as he was turning his horses in

flight, and thrust him from his chariot, while the horses were struck with panic.

As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought and the dense forest is in a blaze, while the wind

carries great tongues of fire in every direction even so furiously did Achilles rage, wielding his spear as

though he were a god, and giving chase to those whom he would slay, till the dark earth ran with blood. Or as

one who yokes broadbrowed oxen that they may tread barley in a threshingfloorand it is soon bruised

small under the feet of the lowing cattleeven so did the horses of Achilles trample on the shields and bodies

of the slain. The axle underneath and the railing that ran round the car were bespattered with clots of blood

thrown up by the horses' hoofs, and from the tyres of the wheels; but the son of Peleus pressed on to win still

Now when they came to the ford of the fullflowing river Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut

their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had

taken when flying panicstricken on the preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly

pellmell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The other half were hemmed in by

the deep silvereddying stream, and fell into it with a great uproar. The waters resounded, and the banks rang

again, as they swam hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies. As locusts flying to a river

before the blast of a grass firethe flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the

water even so was the eddying stream of Xanthus filled with the uproar of men and horses, all struggling in

Forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank, leaning it against a tamarisk bush, and plunged into the river

like a god, armed with his sword only. Fell was his purpose as he hewed the Trojans down on every side.

Their dying groans rose hideous as the sword smote them, and the river ran red with blood. As when fish fly

scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and corner of some fair havenfor he is sure to eat all he can

catch even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles' arms grew

weary with killing them, he drew twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice in revenge for Patroclus

son of Menoetius. He drew them out like dazed fawns, bound their hands behind them with the girdles of

their own shirts, and gave them over to his men to take back to the ships. Then he sprang into the river,

There he found Lycaon, son of Priam seed of Dardanus, as he was escaping out of the water; he it was whom

he had once taken prisoner when he was in his father's vineyard, having set upon him by night, as he was

cutting young shoots from a wild figtree to make the wicker sides of a chariot. Achilles then caught him to

his sorrow unawares, and sent him by sea to Lemnos, where the son of Jason bought him. But a guestfriend,

Eetion of Imbros, freed him with a great sum, and sent him to Arisbe, whence he had escaped and returned to

his father's house. He had spent eleven days happily with his friends after he had come from Lemnos, but on

the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of Achilles, who was to send him to the house of Hades

sorely against his will. He was unarmed when Achilles caught sight of him, and had neither helmet nor

shield; nor yet had he any spear, for he had thrown all his armour from him on to the bank, and was sweating

with his struggles to get out of the river, so that his strength was now failing him.

Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise, "What marvel do I see here? If this man can come back alive

after having been sold over into Lemnos, I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain rising from the

world below. Could not even the waters of the grey sea imprison him, as they do many another whether he

will or no? This time let him taste my spear, that I may know for certain whether mother earth who can keep

even a strong man down, will be able to hold him, or whether thence too he will return."

Thus did he pause and ponder. But Lycaon came up to him dazed and trying hard to embrace his knees, for he

would fain live, not die. Achilles thrust at him with his spear, meaning to kill him, but Lycaon ran crouching

up to him and caught his knees, whereby the spear passed over his back, and stuck in the ground, hungering

though it was for blood. With one hand he caught Achilles' knees as he besought him, and with the other he

clutched the spear and would not let it go. Then he said, "Achilles, have mercy upon me and spare me, for I

am your suppliant. It was in your tents that I first broke bread on the day when you took me prisoner in the

vineyard; after which you sold away to Lemnos far from my father and my friends, and I brought you the

price of a hundred oxen. I have paid three times as much to gain my freedom; it is but twelve days that I have

come to Ilius after much suffering, and now cruel fate has again thrown me into your hands. Surely father

Jove must hate me, that he has given me over to you a second time. Short of life indeed did my mother

Laothoe bear me, daughter of aged Altes of Altes who reigns over the warlike Lelegae and holds steep

Pedasus on the river Satnioeis. Priam married his daughter along with many other women and two sons were

born of her, both of whom you will have slain. Your spear slew noble Polydorus as he was fighting in the

front ranks, and now evil will here befall me, for I fear that I shall not escape you since heaven has delivered

me over to you. Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart, spare me, for I am not of the same womb

With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles; but Achilles answered him sternly. "Idiot,"

said he, "talk not to me of ransom. Until Patroclus fell I preferred to give the Trojans quarter, and sold

beyond the sea many of those whom I had taken alive; but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven

delivers into my hands before the city of Ilius and of all Trojans it shall fare hardest with the sons of Priam.

Therefore, my friend, you too shall die. Why should you whine in this way? Patroclus fell, and he was a

better man than you are. I too see you not how I am great and goodly? I am son to a noble father, and have a

goddess for my mother, but the hands of doom and death overshadow me all as surely. The day will come,

either at dawn or dark, or at the noontide, when one shall take my life also in battle, either with his spear, or

Thus did he speak, and Lycaon's heart sank within him. He loosed his hold of the spear, and held out both

hands before him; but Achilles drew his keen blade, and struck him by the collarbone on his neck; he

plunged his twoedged sword into him to the very hilt, whereon he lay at full length on the ground, with the

dark blood welling from him till the earth was soaked. Then Achilles caught him by the foot and flung him

into the river to go down stream, vaunting over him the while, and saying, "Lie there among the fishes, who

will lick the blood from your wound and gloat over it; your mother shall not lay you on any bier to mourn

you, but the eddies of Scamander shall bear you into the broad bosom of the sea. There shall the fishes feed

on the fat of Lycaon as they dart under the dark ripple of the watersso perish all of you till we reach the

citadel of strong Ilius you in flight, and I following after to destroy you. The river with its broad silver

stream shall serve you in no stead, for all the bulls you offered him and all the horses that you flung living

into his waters. None the less miserably shall you perish till there is not a man of you but has paid in full for

the death of Patroclus and the havoc you wrought among the Achaeans whom you have slain while I held

So spoke Achilles, but the river grew more and more angry, and pondered within himself how he should stay

the hand of Achilles and save the Trojans from disaster. Meanwhile the son of Peleus, spear in hand, sprang

upon Asteropaeus son of Pelegon to kill him. He was son to the broad river Axius and Periboea eldest

daughter of Acessamenus; for the river had lain with her. Asteropaeus stood up out of the water to face him

with a spear in either hand, and Xanthus filled him with courage, being angry for the death of the youths

whom Achilles was slaying ruthlessly within his waters. When they were close up with one another Achilles

was first to speak. "Who and whence are you," said he, "who dare to face me? Woe to the parents whose son

stands up against me." And the son of Pelegon answered, "Great son of Peleus, why should you ask my

lineage. I am from the fertile land of far Paeonia, captain of the Paeonians, and it is now eleven days that I am

at Ilius. I am of the blood of the river Axius of Axius that is the fairest of all rivers that run. He begot the

Thus did he defy him, and Achilles raised his spear of Pelian ash. Asteropaeus failed with both his spears, for

he could use both hands alike; with the one spear he struck Achilles' shield, but did not pierce it, for the layer

of gold, gift of the god, stayed the point; with the other spear he grazed the elbow of Achilles! right arm

drawing dark blood, but the spear itself went by him and fixed itself in the ground, foiled of its bloody

banquet. Then Achilles, fain to kill him, hurled his spear at Asteropaeus, but failed to hit him and struck the

steep bank of the river, driving the spear half its length into the earth. The son of Peleus then drew his sword

and sprang furiously upon him. Asteropaeus vainly tried to draw Achilles' spear out of the bank by main

force; thrice did he tug at it, trying with all his might to draw it out, and thrice he had to leave off trying; the

fourth time he tried to bend and break it, but ere he could do so Achilles smote him with his sword and killed

him. He struck him in the belly near the navel, so that all his bowels came gushing out on to the ground, and

the darkness of death came over him as he lay gasping. Then Achilles set his foot on his chest and spoiled

him of his armour, vaunting over him and saying, "Lie there begotten of a river though you be, it is hard for

you to strive with the offspring of Saturn's son. You declare yourself sprung from the blood of a broad river,

but I am of the seed of mighty Jove. My father is Peleus, son of Aeacus ruler over the many Myrmidons, and

Aeacus was the son of Jove. Therefore as Jove is mightier than any river that flows into the sea, so are his

children stronger than those of any river whatsoever. Moreover you have a great river hard by if he can be of

any use to you, but there is no fighting against Jove the son of Saturn, with whom not even King Achelous

can compare, nor the mighty stream of deepflowing Oceanus, from whom all rivers and seas with all springs

and deep wells proceed; even Oceanus fears the lightnings of great Jove, and his thunder that comes crashing

With this he drew his bronze spear out of the bank, and now that he had killed Asteropaeus, he let him lie

where he was on the sand, with the dark water flowing over him and the eels and fishes busy nibbling and

gnawing the fat that was about his kidneys. Then he went in chase of the Paeonians, who were flying along

the bank of the river in panic when they saw their leader slain by the hands of the son of Peleus. Therein he

slew Thersilochus, Mydon, Astypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, Oeneus, and Ophelestes, and he would have slain

yet others, had not the river in anger taken human form, and spoken to him from out the deep waters saying,

"Achilles, if you excel all in strength, so do you also in wickedness, for the gods are ever with you to protect

you: if, then, the son of Saturn has vouchsafed it to you to destroy all the Trojans, at any rate drive them out

of my stream, and do your grim work on land. My fair waters are now filled with corpses, nor can I find any

channel by which I may pour myself into the sea for I am choked with dead, and yet you go on mercilessly

slaying. I am in despair, therefore, O captain of your host, trouble me no further."

Achilles answered, "So be it, Scamander, Jovedescended; but I will never cease dealing out death among the

Trojans, till I have pent them up in their city, and made trial of Hector face to face, that I may learn whether

As he spoke he set upon the Trojans with a fury like that of the gods. But the river said to Apollo, "Surely,

son of Jove, lord of the silver bow, you are not obeying the commands of Jove who charged you straitly that

you should stand by the Trojans and defend them, till twilight fades, and darkness is over an the earth."

Meanwhile Achilles sprang from the bank into midstream, whereon the river raised a high wave and

attacked him. He swelled his stream into a torrent, and swept away the many dead whom Achilles had slain

and left within his waters. These he cast out on to the land, bellowing like a bull the while, but the living he

saved alive, hiding them in his mighty eddies. The great and terrible wave gathered about Achilles, falling

upon him and beating on his shield, so that he could not keep his feet; he caught hold of a great elmtree, but

it came up by the roots, and tore away the bank, damming the stream with its thick branches and bridging it

all across; whereby Achilles struggled out of the stream, and fled full speed over the plain, for he was afraid.

But the mighty god ceased not in his pursuit, and sprang upon him with a darkcrested wave, to stay his

hands and save the Trojans from destruction. The son of Peleus darted away a spear's throw from him; swift

as the swoop of a black huntereagle which is the strongest and fleetest of all birds, even so did he spring

forward, and the armour rang loudly about his breast. He fled on in front, but the river with a loud roar came

tearing after. As one who would water his garden leads a stream from some fountain over his plants, and all

his groundspade in hand he clears away the dams to free the channels, and the little stones run rolling round

and round with the water as it goes merrily down the bank faster than the man can follow even so did the

river keep catching up with Achilles albeit he was a fleet runner, for the gods are stronger than men. As often

as he would strive to stand his ground, and see whether or no all the gods in heaven were in league against

him, so often would the mighty wave come beating down upon his shoulders, and be would have to keep

flying on and on in great dismay; for the angry flood was tiring him out as it flowed past him and ate the

Then the son of Peleus lifted up his voice to heaven saying, "Father Jove, is there none of the gods who will

take pity upon me, and save me from the river? I do not care what may happen to me afterwards. I blame

none of the other dwellers on Olympus so severely as I do my dear mother, who has beguiled and tricked me.

She told me I was to fall under the walls of Troy by the flying arrows of Apollo; would that Hector, the best

man among the Trojans, might there slay me; then should I fall a hero by the hand of a hero; whereas now it

seems that I shall come to a most pitiable end, trapped in this river as though I were some swineherd's boy,

As soon as he had spoken thus, Neptune and Minerva came up to him in the likeness of two men, and took

him by the hand to reassure him. Neptune spoke first. "Son of Peleus," said he, "be not so exceeding fearful;

we are two gods, come with Jove's sanction to assist you, I, and Pallas Minerva. It is not your fate to perish in

this river; he will abate presently as you will see; moreover we strongly advise you, if you will be guided by

us, not to stay your hand from fighting till you have pent the Trojan host within the famed walls of Iliusas

many of them as may escape. Then kill Hector and go back to the ships, for we will vouchsafe you a triumph

When they had so said they went back to the other immortals, but Achilles strove onward over the plain,

encouraged by the charge the gods had laid upon him. All was now covered with the flood of waters, and

much goodly armour of the youths that had been slain was rifting about, as also many corpses, but he forced

his way against the stream, speeding right onwards, nor could the broad waters stay him, for Minerva had

endowed him with great strength. Nevertheless Scamander did not slacken in his pursuit, but was still more

furious with the son of Peleus. He lifted his waters into a high crest and cried aloud to Simois saying, "Dear

brother, let the two of us unite to save this man, or he will sack the mighty city of King Priam, and the

Trojans will not hold out against him. Help me at once; fill your streams with water from their sources, rouse

all your torrents to a fury; raise your wave on high, and let snags and stones come thundering down you that

we may make an end of this savage creature who is now lording it as though he were a god. Nothing shall

serve him longer, not strength nor comeliness, nor his fine armour, which forsooth shall soon be lying low in

the deep waters covered over with mud. I will wrap him in sand, and pour tons of shingle round him, so that

the Achaeans shall not know how to gather his bones for the silt in which I shall have hidden him, and when

On this he upraised his tumultuous flood high against Achilles, seething as it was with foam and blood and

the bo&ies of the dead. The dark waters of the river stood upright and would have overwhelmed the son of

Peleus, but Juno, trembling lest Achilles should be swept away in the mighty torrent, lifted her voice on high

and called out to Vulcan her son. "Crookfoot," she cried, "my child, be up and doing, for I deem it is with

you that Xanthus is fain to fight; help us at once, kindle a fierce fire; I will then bring up the west and the

white south wind in a mighty hurricane from the sea, that shall bear the flames against the heads and armour

of the Trojans and consume them, while you go along the banks of Xanthus burning his trees and wrapping

him round with fire. Let him not turn you back neither by fair words nor foul, and slacken not till I shout and

On this Vulcan kindled a fierce fire, which broke out first upon the plain and burned the many dead whom

Achilles had killed and whose bodies were lying about in great numbers; by this means the plain was dried

and the flood stayed. As the north wind, blowing on an orchard that has been sodden with autumn rain, soon

dries it, and the heart of the owner is glad even so the whole plan was dried and the dead bodies were

consumed. Then he turned tongues of fire on to the river. He burned the elms the willows and the tamarisks,

the lotus also, with the rushes and marshy herbage that grew abundantly by the banks of the river. The eels

and fishes that go darting about everywhere in the water, these, too, were sorely harassed by the flames that

cunning Vulcan had kindled, and the river himself was scalded, so that he spoke saying, "Vulcan, there is no

god can hold his own against you. I cannot fight you when you flare out your flames in this way; strive with

me no longer. Let Achilles drive the Trojans out of city immediately. What have I to do with quarrelling and

He was boiling as he spoke, and all his waters were seething. As a cauldron upon 'a large fire boils when it is

melting the lard of some fatted hog, and the lard keeps bubbling up all over when the dry faggots blaze under

it even so were the goodly waters of Xanthus heated with the fire till they were boiling. He could flow no

longer but stayed his stream, so afflicted was he by the blasts of fire which cunning Vulcan had raised. Then

he prayed to Juno and besought her saying, "Juno, why should your son vex my stream with such especial

fury? I am not so much to blame as all the others are who have been helping the Trojans. I will leave off,

since you so desire it, and let son leave off also. Furthermore I swear never again will I do anything to save

the Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in the flames which the Achaeans will

As soon as Juno heard this she said to her son Vulcan, "Son Vulcan, hold now your flames; we ought not to

When she had thus spoken Vulcan quenched his flames, and the river went back once more into his own fair

Xanthus was now beaten, so these two left off fighting, for Juno stayed them though she was still angry; but a

furious quarrel broke out among the other gods, for they were of divided counsels. They fell on one another

with a mighty uproar earth groaned, and the spacious firmament rang out as with a blare of trumpets. Jove

heard as he was sitting on Olympus, and laughed for joy when he saw the gods coming to blows among

themselves. They were not long about beginning, and Mars piercer of shields opened the battle. Sword in

hand he sprang at once upon Minerva and reviled her. "Why, vixen," said he, "have you again set the gods by

the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your heart? Have you forgotten how you set Diomed son of Tydeus

on to wound me, and yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the hurt of my fair body? You shall

As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasselled aegis so terrible that not even can Jove's lightning pierce

it. Here did murderous Mars strike her with his great spear. She drew back and with her strong hand seized a

stone that was lying on the plain great and rugged and black which men of old had set for the boundary of

a field. With this she struck Mars on the neck, and brought him down. Nine roods did he cover in his fall, and

his hair was all soiled in the dust, while his armour rang rattling round him. But Minerva laughed and

vaunted over him saying, "Idiot, have you not learned how far stronger I am than you, but you must still

match yourself against me? Thus do your mother's curses now roost upon you, for she is angry and would do

you mischief because you have deserted the Achaeans and are helping the Trojans."

She then turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere, whereon Jove's daughter Venus took Mars by the hand and

led him away groaning all the time, for it was only with great difficulty that he had come to himself again.

When Queen Juno saw her, she said to Minerva, "Look, daughter of aegisbearing Jove, unweariable, that

vixen Venus is again taking Mars through the crowd out of the battle; go after her at once."

Thus she spoke. Minerva sped after Venus with a will, and made at her, striking her on the bosom with her

strong hand so that she fell fainting to the ground, and there they both lay stretched at full length. Then

Minerva vaunted over her saying, "May all who help the Trojans against the Argives prove just as

redoubtable and stalwart as Venus did when she came across me while she was helping Mars. Had this been

so, we should long since have ended the war by sacking the strong city of Ilius."

Juno smiled as she listened. Meanwhile King Neptune turned to Apollo saying, "Phoebus, why should we

keep each other at arm's length? it is not well, now that the others have begun fighting; it will be disgraceful

to us if we return to Jove's bronzefloored mansion on Olympus without having fought each other; therefore

come on, you are the younger of the two, and I ought not to attack you, for I am older and have had more

experience. Idiot, you have no sense, and forget how we two alone of all the gods fared hardly round about

Ilius when we came from Jove's house and worked for Laomedon a whole year at a stated wage and he gave

us his orders. I built the Trojans the wall about their city, so wide and fair that it might be impregnable, while

you, Phoebus, herded cattle for him in the dales of many valleyed Ida. When, however, the glad hours

brought round the time of payment, mighty Laomedon robbed us of all our hire and sent us off with nothing

but abuse. He threatened to bind us hand and foot and sell us over into some distant island. He tried,

moreover, to cut off the ears of both of us, so we went away in a rage, furious about the payment he had

promised us, and yet withheld; in spite of all this, you are now showing favour to his people, and will not join

us in compassing the utter ruin of the proud Trojans with their wives and children."

And King Apollo answered, "Lord of the earthquake, you would have no respect for me if I were to fight you

about a pack of miserable mortals, who come out like leaves in summer and eat the fruit of the field, and

presently fall lifeless to the ground. Let us stay this fighting at once and let them settle it among themselves."

He turned away as he spoke, for he would lay no hand on the brother of his own father. But his sister the

huntress Diana, patroness of wild beasts, was very angry with him and said, "So you would fly, FarDarter,

and hand victory over to Neptune with a cheap vaunt to boot. Baby, why keep your bow thus idle? Never let

me again hear you bragging in my father's house, as you have often done in the presence of the immortals,

Apollo made her no answer, but Jove's august queen was angry and upbraided her bitterly. "Bold vixen," she

cried, "how dare you cross me thus? For all your bow you will find it hard to hold your own against me. Jove

made you as a lion among women, and lets you kill them whenever you choose. You will And it better to

chase wild beasts and deer upon the mountains than to fight those who are stronger than you are. If you

would try war, do so, and find out by pitting yourself against me, how far stronger I am than you are."

She caught both Diana's wrists with her left hand as she spoke, and with her right she took the bow from her

shoulders, and laughed as she beat her with it about the ears while Diana wriggled and writhed under her

blows. Her swift arrows were shed upon the ground, and she fled weeping from under Juno's hand as a dove

that flies before a falcon to the cleft of some hollow rock, when it is her good fortune to escape. Even so did

Then the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, said to Leto, "Leto, I shall not fight you; it is ill to come to

blows with any of Jove's wives. Therefore boast as you will among the immortals that you worsted me in fair

Leto then gathered up Diana's bow and arrows that had fallen about amid the whirling dust, and when she had

got them she made all haste after her daughter. Diana had now reached Jove's bronzefloored mansion on

Olympus, and sat herself down with many tears on the knees of her father, while her ambrosial raiment was

quivering all about her. The son of Saturn drew her towards him, and laughing pleasantly the while began to

question her saying, "Which of the heavenly beings, my dear child, has been treating you in this cruel

manner, as though you had been misconducting yourself in the face of everybody?" and the faircrowned

goddess of the chase answered, "It was your wife Juno, father, who has been beating me; it is always her

Thus did they converse, and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the strong city of Ilius, for he was uneasy

lest the wall should not hold out and the Danaans should take the city then and there, before its hour had

come; but the rest of the everliving gods went back, some angry and some triumphant to Olympus, where

they took their seats beside Jove lord of the storm cloud, while Achilles still kept on dealing out death alike

on the Trojans and on their As when the smoke from some burning city ascends to heaven when the anger of

the gods has kindled it there is then toil for all, and sorrow for not a feweven so did Achilles bring toil and

Old King Priam stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on huge Achilles as the Trojans fled

panicstricken before him, and there was none to help them. Presently he came down from off the tower and

with many a groan went along the wall to give orders to the brave warders of the gate. "Keep the gates," said

he, "wide open till the people come flying into the city, for Achilles is hard by and is driving them in rout

before him. I see we are in great peril. As soon as our people are inside and in safety, close the strong gates

for I fear lest that terrible man should come bounding inside along with the others."

As he spoke they drew back the bolts and opened the gates, and when these were opened there was a haven of

refuge for the Trojans. Apollo then came full speed out of the city to meet them and protect them. Right for

the city and the high wall, parched with thirst and grimy with dust, still they fied on, with Achilles wielding

his spear furiously behind them. For he was as one possessed, and was thirsting after glory.

Then had the sons of the Achaeans taken the lofty gates of Troy if Apollo had not spurred on Agenor, valiant

and noble son to Antenor. He put courage into his heart, and stood by his side to guard him, leaning against a

beech tree and shrouded in thick darkness. When Agenor saw Achilles he stood still and his heart was

clouded with care. "Alas," said he to himself in his dismay, "if I fly before mighty Achilles, and go where all

the others are being driven in rout, he will none the less catch me and kill me for a coward. How would it be

were I to let Achilles drive the others before him, and then fly from the wall to the plain that is behind Ilius

till I reach the spurs of Ida and can hide in the underwood that is thereon? I could then wash the sweat from

off me in the river and in the evening return to Ilius. But why commune with myself in this way? Like

enough he would see me as I am hurrying from the city over the plain, and would speed after me till he had

caught me I should stand no chance against him, for he is mightiest of all mankind. What, then, if I go out

and meet him in front of the city? His flesh too, I take it, can be pierced by pointed bronze. Life is the same in

one and all, and men say that he is but mortal despite the triumph that Jove son of Saturn vouchsafes him."

So saying he stood on his guard and awaited Achilles, for he was now fain to fight him. As a leopardess that

bounds from out a thick covert to attack a hunter she knows no fear and is not dismayed by the baying of the

hounds; even though the man be too quick for her and wound her either with thrust or spear, still, though the

spear has pierced her she will not give in till she has either caught him in her grip or been killed outright

even so did noble Agenor son of Antenor refuse to fly till he had made trial of Achilles, and took aim at him

with his spear, holding his round shield before him and crying with a loud voice. "Of a truth," said he, "noble

Achilles, you deem that you shall this day sack the city of the proud Trojans. Fool, there will be trouble

enough yet before it, for there is many a brave man of us still inside who will stand in front of our dear

parents with our wives and children, to defend Ilius. Here therefore, huge and mighty warrior though you be,

As he spoke his strong hand hurled his javelin from him, and the spear struck Achilles on the leg beneath the

knee; the greave of newly wrought tin rang loudly, but the spear recoiled from the body of him whom it had

struck, and did not pierce it, for the gods gift stayed it. Achilles in his turn attacked noble Agenor, but Apollo

would not vouchsafe him glory, for he snatched Agenor away and hid him in a thick mist, sending him out of

the battle unmolested Then he craftily drew the son of Peleus away from going after the host, for he put on

the semblance of Agenor and stood in front of Achilles, who ran towards him to give him chase and pursued

him over the corn lands of the plain, turning him towards the deep waters of the river Scamander. Apollo ran

but a little way before him and beguiled Achilles by making him think all the time that he was on the point of

overtaking him. Meanwhile the rabble of routed Trojans was thankful to crowd within the city till their

numbers thronged it; no longer did they dare wait for one another outside the city walls, to learn who had

escaped and who were fallen in fight, but all whose feet and knees could still carry them poured pellmell

Thus the Trojans in the city, scared like fawns, wiped the sweat from off them and drank to quench their

thirst, leaning against the goodly battlements, while the Achaeans with their shields laid upon their shoulders

drew close up to the walls. But stern fate bade Hector stay where he was before Ilius and the Scaean gates.

Then Phoebus Apollo spoke to the son of Peleus saying, "Why, son of Peleus, do you, who are but man, give

chase to me who am immortal? Have you not yet found out that it is a god whom you pursue so furiously?

You did not harass the Trojans whom you had routed, and now they are within their walls, while you have

been decoyed hither away from them. Me you cannot kill, for death can take no hold upon me."

Achilles was greatly angered and said, "You have baulked me, FarDarter, most malicious of all gods, and

have drawn me away from the wall, where many another man would have bitten the dust ere he got within

Ilius; you have robbed me of great glory and have saved the Trojans at no risk to yourself, for you have

nothing to fear, but I would indeed have my revenge if it were in my power to do so."

On this, with fell intent he made towards the city, and as the winning horse in a chariot race strains every

nerve when he is flying over the plain, even so fast and furiously did the limbs of Achilles bear him onwards.

King Priam was first to note him as he scoured the plain, all radiant as the star which men call Orion's Hound,

and whose beams blaze forth in time of harvest more brilliantly than those of any other that shines by night;

brightest of them all though he be, he yet bodes ill for mortals, for he brings fire and fever in his traineven so

did Achilles' armour gleam on his breast as he sped onwards. Priam raised a cry and beat his head with his

hands as he lifted them up and shouted out to his dear son, imploring him to return; but Hector still stayed

before the gates, for his heart was set upon doing battle with Achilles. The old man reached out his arms

towards him and bade him for pity's sake come within the walls. "Hector," he cried, "my son, stay not to face

this man alone and unsupported, or you will meet death at the hands of the son of Peleus, for he is mightier

than you. Monster that he is; would indeed that the gods loved him no better than I do, for so, dogs and

vultures would soon devour him as he lay stretched on earth, and a load of grief would be lifted from my

heart, for many a brave son has he reft from me, either by killing them or selling them away in the islands

that are beyond the sea: even now I miss two sons from among the Trojans who have thronged within the

city, Lycaon and Polydorus, whom Laothoe peeress among women bore me. Should they be still alive and in

the hands of the Achaeans, we will ransom them with gold and bronze, of which we have store, for the old

man Altes endowed his daughter richly; but if they are already dead and in the house of Hades, sorrow will it

be to us two who were their parents; albeit the grief of others will be more shortlived unless you too perish

at the hands of Achilles. Come, then, my son, within the city, to be the guardian of Trojan men and Trojan

women, or you will both lose your own life and afford a mighty triumph to the son of Peleus. Have pity also

on your unhappy father while life yet remains to him on me, whom the son of Saturn will destroy by a

terrible doom on the threshold of old age, after I have seen my sons slain and my daughters haled away as

captives, my bridal chambers pillaged, little children dashed to earth amid the rage of battle, and my sons'

wives dragged away by the cruel hands of the Achaeans; in the end fierce hounds will tear me in pieces at my

own gates after some one has beaten the life out of my body with sword or spearhounds that I myself reared

and fed at my own table to guard my gates, but who will yet lap my blood and then lie all distraught at my

doors. When a young man falls by the sword in battle, he may lie where he is and there is nothing unseemly;

let what will be seen, all is honourable in death, but when an old man is slain there is nothing in this world

more pitiable than that dogs should defile his grey hair and beard and all that men hide for shame."

The old man tore his grey hair as he spoke, but he moved not the heart of Hector. His mother hard by wept

and moaned aloud as she bared her bosom and pointed to the breast which had suckled him. "Hector," she

cried, weeping bitterly the while, "Hector, my son, spurn not this breast, but have pity upon me too: if I have

ever given you comfort from my own bosom, think on it now, dear son, and come within the wall to protect

us from this man; stand not without to meet him. Should the wretch kill you, neither I nor your richly

dowered wife shall ever weep, dear offshoot of myself, over the bed on which you lie, for dogs will devour

Thus did the two with many tears implore their son, but they moved not the heart of Hector, and he stood his

ground awaiting huge Achilles as he drew nearer towards him. As serpent in its den upon the mountains, full

fed with deadly poisons, waits for the approach of man he is filled with fury and his eyes glare terribly as he

goes writhing round his den even so Hector leaned his shield against a tower that jutted out from the wall

"Alas," said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, "if I go within the gates, Polydamas will be the first to

heap reproach upon me, for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to the city on that awful night

when Achilles again came forth against us. I would not listen, but it would have been indeed better if I had

done so. Now that my folly has destroyed the host, I dare not look Trojan men and Trojan women in the face,

lest a worse man should say, 'Hector has ruined us by his selfconfidence.' Surely it would be better for me to

return after having fought Achilles and slain him, or to die gloriously here before the city. What, again, if

were to lay down my shield and helmet, lean my spear against the wall and go straight up to noble Achilles?

What if I were to promise to give up Helen, who was the fountainhead of all this war, and all the treasure that

Alexandrus brought with him in his ships to Troy, aye, and to let the Achaeans divide the half of everything

that the city contains among themselves? I might make the Trojans, by the mouths of their princes, take a

solemn oath that they would hide nothing, but would divide into two shares all that is within the city but

why argue with myself in this way? Were I to go up to him he would show me no kind of mercy; he would

kill me then and there as easily as though I were a woman, when I had off my armour. There is no parleying

with him from some rock or oak tree as young men and maidens prattle with one another. Better fight him at

Thus did he stand and ponder, but Achilles came up to him as it were Mars himself, plumed lord of battle.

From his right shoulder he brandished his terrible spear of Pelian ash, and the bronze gleamed around him

like flashing fire or the rays of the rising sun. Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he dared not stay

longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the gates, while Achilles darted after him at his utmost

speed. As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some cowering dove the dove flies

before him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her even so did Achilles

make straight for Hector with all his might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could

On they flew along the waggonroad that ran hard by under the wall, past the lookout station, and past the

weatherbeaten wild figtree, till they came to two fair springs which feed the river Scamander. One of these

two springs is warm, and steam rises from it as smoke from a burning fire, but the other even in summer is as

cold as hail or snow, or the ice that forms on water. Here, hard by the springs, are the goodly

washingtroughs of stone, where in the time of peace before the coming of the Achaeans the wives and fair

daughters of the Trojans used to wash their clothes. Past these did they fly, the one in front and the other

giving ha. behind him: good was the man that fled, but better far was he that followed after, and swiftly

indeed did they run, for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock's hide, as it might be for a

common footrace, but they ran for the life of Hector. As horses in a chariot race speed round the

turningposts when they are running for some great prize a tripod or woman at the games in honour of

some dead hero, so did these two run full speed three times round the city of Priam. All the gods watched

"Alas," said he, "my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being pursued round the walls of Troy; my heart is

full of pity for Hector, who has burned the thighbones of many a heifer in my honour, at one while on the of

manyvalleyed Ida, and again on the citadel of Troy; and now I see noble Achilles in full pursuit of him

round the city of Priam. What say you? Consider among yourselves and decide whether we shall now save

Then Minerva said, "Father, wielder of the lightning, lord of cloud and storm, what mean you? Would you

pluck this mortal whose doom has long been decreed out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we others

And Jove answered, "My child, Tritoborn, take heart. I did not speak in full earnest, and I will let you have

Thus did he urge Minerva who was already eager, and down she darted from the topmost summits of

Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector, as a hound chasing a fawn which he has started from its covert on

the mountains, and hunts through glade and thicket. The fawn may try to elude him by crouching under cover

of a bush, but he will scent her out and follow her up until he gets her even so there was no escape for

Hector from the fleet son of Peleus. Whenever he made a set to get near the Dardanian gates and under the

walls, that his people might help him by showering down weapons from above, Achilles would gain on him

and head him back towards the plain, keeping himself always on the city side. As a man in a dream who fails

to lay hands upon another whom he is pursuingthe one cannot escape nor the other overtake even so neither

could Achilles come up with Hector, nor Hector break away from Achilles; nevertheless he might even yet

have escaped death had not the time come when Apollo, who thus far had sustained his strength and nerved

his running, was now no longer to stay by him. Achilles made signs to the Achaean host, and shook his head

to show that no man was to aim a dart at Hector, lest another might win the glory of having hit him and he

might himself come in second. Then, at last, as they were nearing the fountains for the fourth time, the father

of all balanced his golden scales and placed a doom in each of them, one for Achilles and the other for

Hector. As he held the scales by the middle, the doom of Hector fell down deep into the house of Hades and

then Phoebus Apollo left him. Thereon Minerva went close up to the son of Peleus and said, "Noble Achilles,

favoured of heaven, we two shall surely take back to the ships a triumph for the Achaeans by slaying Hector,

for all his lust of battle. Do what Apollo may as he lies grovelling before his father, aegisbearing Jove,

Hector cannot escape us longer. Stay here and take breath, while I go up to him and persuade him to make a

Thus spoke Minerva. Achilles obeyed her gladly, and stood still, leaning on his bronzepointed ashen spear,

while Minerva left him and went after Hector in the form and with the voice of Deiphobus. She came close

up to him and said, "Dear brother, I see you are hard pressed by Achilles who is chasing you at full speed

And Hector answered, "Deiphobus, you have always been dearest to me of all my brothers, children of

Hecuba and Priam, but henceforth I shall rate you yet more highly, inasmuch as you have ventured outside

Then Minerva said, "Dear brother, my father and mother went down on their knees and implored me, as did

all my comrades, to remain inside, so great a fear has fallen upon them all; but I was in an agony of grief

when I beheld you; now, therefore, let us two make a stand and fight, and let there be no keeping our spears

in reserve, that we may learn whether Achilles shall kill us and bear off our spoils to the ships, or whether he

Thus did Minerva inveigle him by her cunning, and when the two were now close to one another great Hector

was first to speak. "I willno longer fly you, son of Peleus," said he, "as I have been doing hitherto. Three

times have I fled round the mighty city of Priam, without daring to withstand you, but now, let me either slay

or be slain, for I am in the mind to face you. Let us, then, give pledges to one another by our gods, who are

the fittest witnesses and guardians of all covenants; let it be agreed between us that if Jove vouchsafes me the

longer stay and I take your life, I am not to treat your dead body in any unseemly fashion, but when I have

stripped you of your armour, I am to give up your body to the Achaeans. And do you likewise."

Achilles glared at him and answered, "Fool, prate not to me about covenants. There can be no covenants

between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one mind, but hate each other out and out an

through. Therefore there can be no understanding between you and me, nor may there be any covenants

between us, till one or other shall fall and glut grim Mars with his life's blood. Put forth all your strength; you

have need now to prove yourself indeed a bold soldier and man of war. You have no more chance, and Pallas

Minerva will forthwith vanquish you by my spear: you shall now pay me in full for the grief you have caused

He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it. Hector saw it coming and avoided it; he watched it and

crouched down so that it flew over his head and stuck in the ground beyond; Minerva then snatched it up and

gave it back to Achilles without Hector's seeing her; Hector thereon said to the son of Peleus, "You have

missed your aim, Achilles, peer of the gods, and Jove has not yet revealed to you the hour of my doom,

though you made sure that he had done so. You were a falsetongued liar when you deemed that I should

forget my valour and quail before you. You shall not drive spear into the back of a runaway drive it, should

heaven so grant you power, drive it into me as I make straight towards you; and now for your own part avoid

my spear if you canwould that you might receive the whole of it into your body; if you were once dead the

Trojans would find the war an easier matter, for it is you who have harmed them most."

He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it. His aim was true for he hit the middle of Achilles' shield, but

the spear rebounded from it, and did not pierce it. Hector was angry when he saw that the weapon had sped

from his hand in vain, and stood there in dismay for he had no second spear. With a loud cry he called

Diphobus and asked him for one, but there was no man; then he saw the truth and said to himself, "Alas! the

gods have lured me on to my destruction. I deemed that the hero Deiphobus was by my side, but he is within

the wall, and Minerva has inveigled me; death is now indeed exceedingly near at hand and there is no way

out of it for so Jove and his son Apollo the fardarter have willed it, though heretofore they have been ever

ready to protect me. My doom has come upon me; let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but

As he spoke he drew the keen blade that hung so great and strong by his side, and gathering himself together

be sprang on Achilles like a soaring eagle which swoops down from the clouds on to some lamb or timid

hare even so did Hector brandish his sword and spring upon Achilles. Achilles mad with rage darted

towards him, with his wondrous shield before his breast, and his gleaming helmet, made with four layers of

metal, nodding fiercely forward. The thick tresses of gold wi which Vulcan had crested the helmet floated

round it, and as the evening star that shines brighter than all others through the stillness of night, even such

was the gleam of the spear which Achilles poised in his right hand, fraught with the death of noble Hector.

He eyed his fair flesh over and over to see where he could best wound it, but all was protected by the goodly

armour of which Hector had spoiled Patroclus after he had slain him, save only the throat where the

collarbones divide the neck from the shoulders, and this is a most deadly place: here then did Achilles strike

him as he was coming on towards him, and the point of his spear went right through the fleshy part of the

neck, but it did not sever his windpipe so that he could still speak. Hector fell headlong, and Achilles vaunted

over him saying, "Hector, you deemed that you should come off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus,

and recked not of myself who was not with him. Fool that you were: for I, his comrade, mightier far than he,

was still left behind him at the ships, and now I have laid you low. The Achaeans shall give him all due

Then Hector said, as the life ebbed out of him, "I pray you by your life and knees, and by your parents, let not

dogs devour me at the ships of the Achaeans, but accept the rich treasure of gold and bronze which my father

and mother will offer you, and send my body home, that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of

Achilles glared at him and answered, "Dog, talk not to me neither of knees nor parents; would that I could be

as sure of being able to cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw, for the ill have done me, as I am that nothing

shall save you from the dogs it shall not be, though they bring ten or twentyfold ransom and weigh it out

for me on the spot, with promise of yet more hereafter. Though Priam son of Dardanus should bid them offer

me your weight in gold, even so your mother shall never lay you out and make lament over the son she bore,

Hector with his dying breath then said, "I know you what you are, and was sure that I should not move you,

for your heart is hard as iron; look to it that I bring not heaven's anger upon you on the day when Paris and

When he had thus said the shrouds of death enfolded him, whereon his soul went out of him and flew down

to the house of Hades, lamenting its sad fate that it should en' youth and strength no longer. But Achilles said,

speaking to the dead body, "Die; for my part I will accept my fate whensoever Jove and the other gods see fit

As he spoke he drew his spear from the body and set it on one side; then he stripped the bloodstained

armour from Hector's shoulders while the other Achaeans came running up to view his wondrous strength

and beauty; and no one came near him without giving him a fresh wound. Then would one turn to his

neighbour and say, "It is easier to handle Hector now than when he was flinging fire on to our ships" and as

When Achilles had done spoiling Hector of his armour, he stood among the Argives and said, "My friends,

princes and counsellors of the Argives, now that heaven has vouchsafed us to overcome this man, who has

done us more hurt than all the others together, consider whether we should not attack the city in force, and

discover in what mind the Trojans may be. We should thus learn whether they will desert their city now that

Hector has fallen, or will still hold out even though he is no longer living. But why argue with myself in this

way, while Patroclus is still lying at the ships unburied, and unmournedhe Whom I can never forget so long

as I am alive and my strength fails not? Though men forget their dead when once they are within the house of

Hades, yet not even there will I forget the comrade whom I have lost. Now, therefore, Achaean youths, let us

raise the song of victory and go back to the ships taking this man along with us; for we have achieved a

mighty triumph and have slain noble Hector to whom the Trojans prayed throughout their city as though he

On this he treated the body of Hector with contumely: he pierced the sinews at the back of both his feet from

heel to ancle and passed thongs of oxhide through the slits he had made: thus he made the body fast to his

chariot, letting the head trail upon the ground. Then when he had put the goodly armour on the chariot and

had himself mounted, he lashed his horses on and they flew forward nothing loth. The dust rose from Hector

as he was being dragged along, his dark hair flew all abroad, and his head once so comely was laid low on

earth, for Jove had now delivered him into the hands of his foes to do him outrage in his own land.

Thus was the head of Hector being dishonoured in the dust. His mother tore her hair, and flung her veil from

her with a loud cry as she looked upon her son. His father made piteous moan, and throughout the city the

people fell to weeping and wailing. It was as though the whole of frowning Ilius was being smirched with

fire. Hardly could the people hold Priam back in his hot haste to rush without the gates of the city. He

grovelled in the mire and besought them, calling each one of them by his name. "Let be, my friends," he

cried, "and for all your sorrow, suffer me to go singlehanded to the ships of the Achaeans. Let me beseech

this cruel and terrible man, if maybe he will respect the feeling of his fellowmen, and have compassion on

my old age. His own father is even such another as myself Peleus, who bred him and reared him to be the

bane of us Trojans, and of myself more than of all others. Many a son of mine has he slain in the flower of his

youth, and yet, grieve for these as I may, I do so for one Hector more than for them all, and the bitterness

of my sorrow will bring me down to the house of Hades. Would that he had died in my arms, for so both his

illstarred mother who bore him, and myself, should have had the comfort of weeping and mourning over

Thus did he speak with many tears, and all the people of the city joined in his lament. Hecuba then raised the

cry of wailing among the Trojans. "Alas, my son," she cried, "what have I left to live for now that you are no

more? Night and day did I glory in. you throughout the city, for you were a tower of strength to all in Troy,

and both men and women alike hailed you as a god. So long as you lived you were their pride, but now death

Hector's wife had as yet heard nothing, for no one had come to tell her that her husband had remained without

the gates. She was at her loom in an inner part of the house, weaving a double purple web, and embroidering

it with many flowers. She told her maids to set a large tripod on the fire, so as to have a warm bath ready for

Hector when he came out of battle; poor woman, she knew not that he was now beyond the reach of baths,

and that Minerva had laid him low by the hands of Achilles. She heard the cry coming as from the wall, and

trembled in every limb; the shuttle fell from her hands, and again she spoke to her waitingwomen. "Two of

you," she said, "come with me that I may learn what it is that has befallen; I heard the voice of my husband's

honoured mother; my own heart beats as though it would come into my mouth and my limbs refuse to carry

me; some great misfortune for Priam's children must be at hand. May I never live to hear it, but I greatly fear

that Achilles has cut off the retreat of brave Hector and has chased him on to the plain where he was

singlehanded; I fear he may have put an end to the reckless daring which possessed my husband, who would

never remain with the body of his men, but would dash on far in front, foremost of them all in valour."

Her heart beat fast, and as she spoke she flew from the house like a maniac, with her waitingwomen

following after. When she reached the battlements and the crowd of people, she stood looking out upon the

wall, and saw Hector being borne away in front of the city the horses dragging him without heed or care

over the ground towards the ships of the Achaeans. Her eyes were then shrouded as with the darkness of

night and she fell fainting backwards. She tore the tiring from her head and flung it from her, the frontlet and

net with its plaited band, and the veil which golden Venus had given her on the day when Hector took her

with him from the house of Eetion, after having given countless gifts of wooing for her sake. Her husband's

sisters and the wives of his brothers crowded round her and supported her, for she was fain to die in her

distraction; when she again presently breathed and came to herself, she sobbed and made lament among the

Trojans saying, 'Woe is me, O Hector; woe, indeed, that to share a common lot we were born, you at Troy in

the house of Priam, and I at Thebes under the wooded mountain of Placus in the house of Eetion who brought

me up when I was a child illstarred sire of an illstarred daughterwould that he had never begotten me.

You are now going into the house of Hades under the secret places of the earth, and you leave me a

sorrowing widow in your house. The child, of whom you and I are the unhappy parents, is as yet a mere

infant. Now that you are gone, O Hector, you can do nothing for him nor he for you. Even though he escape

the horrors of this woful war with the Achaeans, yet shall his life henceforth be one of labour and sorrow, for

others will seize his lands. The day that robs a child of his parents severs him from his own kind; his head is

bowed, his cheeks are wet with tears, and he will go about destitute among the friends of his father, plucking

one by the cloak and another by the shirt. Some one or other of these may so far pity him as to hold the cup

for a moment towards him and let him moisten his lips, but he must not drink enough to wet the roof of his

mouth; then one whose parents are alive will drive him from the table with blows and angry words. 'Out with

you,' he will say, 'you have no father here,' and the child will go crying back to his widowed mother he,

Astyanax, who erewhile would sit upon his father's knees, and have none but the daintiest and choicest

morsels set before him. When he had played till he was tired and went to sleep, he would lie in a bed, in the

arms of his nurse, on a soft couch, knowing neither want nor care, whereas now that he has lost his father his

lot will be full of hardship he, whom the Trojans name Astyanax, because you, O Hector, were the only

defence of their gates and battlements. The wriggling writhing worms will now eat you at the ships, far from

your parents, when the dogs have glutted themselves upon you. You will lie naked, although in your house

you have fine and goodly raiment made by hands of women. This will I now burn; it is of no use to you, for

you can never again wear it, and thus you will have respect shown you by the Trojans both men and women."

In such wise did she cry aloud amid her tears, and the women joined in her lament.

Thus did they make their moan throughout the city, while the Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont

went back every man to his own ship. But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and spoke to his brave

comrades saying, "Myrmidons, famed horsemen and my own trusted friends, not yet, forsooth, let us unyoke,

but with horse and chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus, in due honour to the dead. When we

have had full comfort of lamentation we will unyoke our horses and take supper all of us here."

On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in their lament. Thrice did they drive their

chariots all sorrowing round the body, and Thetis stirred within them a still deeper yearning. The sands of the

seashore and the men's armour were wet with their weeping, so great a minister of fear was he whom they

had lost. Chief in all their mourning was the son of Peleus: he laid his bloodstained hand on the breast of his

friend. "Fare well," he cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of Hades. I will now do all that I erewhile

promised you; I will drag Hector hither and let dogs devour him raw; twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also

As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely, laying it at full length in the dust beside the

bier of Patroclus. The others then put off every man his armour, took the horses from their chariots, and

seated themselves in great multitude by the ship of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, who thereon feasted them

with an abundant funeral banquet. Many a goodly ox, with many a sheep and bleating goat did they butcher

and cut up; many a tusked boar moreover, fat and wellfed, did they singe and set to roast in the flames of

Vulcan; and rivulets of blood flowed all round the place where the body was lying.

Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Peleus to Agamemnon, but hardly could they persuade him

to come with them, so wroth was he for the death of his comrade. As soon as they reached Agamemnon's tent

they told the servingmen to set a large tripod over the fire in case they might persuade the son of Peleus 'to

wash the clotted gore from this body, but he denied them sternly, and swore it with a solemn oath, saying,

"Nay, by King Jove, first and mightiest of all gods, it is not meet that water should touch my body, till I have

laid Patroclus on the flames, have built him a barrow, and shaved my head for so long as I live no such

second sorrow shall ever draw nigh me. Now, therefore, let us do all that this sad festival demands, but at

break of day, King Agamemnon, bid your men bring wood, and provide all else that the dead may duly take

into the realm of darkness; the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight the sooner, and the people shall turn

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They made haste to prepare the meal, they ate, and every

man had his full share so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had had enough to eat and drink, the

others went to their rest each in his own tent, but the son of Peleus lay grieving among his Myrmidons by the

shore of the sounding sea, in an open place where the waves came surging in one after another. Here a very

deep slumber took hold upon him and eased the burden of his sorrows, for his limbs were weary with chasing

Hector round windy Ilius. Presently the sad spirit of Patroclus drew near him, like what he had been in

stature, voice, and the light of his beaming eyes, clad, too, as he had been clad in life. The spirit hovered over

"You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; you loved me living, but now that I am dead you think for me

no further. Bury me with all speed that I may pass the gates of Hades; the ghosts, vain shadows of men that

can labour no more, drive me away from them; they will not yet suffer me to join those that are beyond the

river, and I wander all desolate by the wide gates of the house of Hades. Give me now your hand I pray you,

for when you have once given me my dues of fire, never shall I again come forth out of the house of Hades.

Nevermore shall we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the living; the cruel fate which was my

birthright has yawned its wide jaws around menay, you too Achilles, peer of gods, are doomed to die

"One prayer more will I make you, if you will grant it; let not my bones be laid apart from yours, Achilles,

but with them; even as we were brought up together in your own home, what time Menoetius brought me to

you as a child from Opoeis because by a sad spite I had killed the son of Amphidamas not of set purpose,

but in childish quarrel over the dice. The knight Peleus took me into his house, entreated me kindly, and

named me to be your squire; therefore let our bones lie in but a single urn, the twohandled golden vase

And Achilles answered, "Why, true heart, are you come hither to lay these charges upon me? will of my own

self do all as you have bidden me. Draw closer to me, let us once more throw our arms around one another,

He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have clasped him in them, but there was nothing, and

the spirit vanished as a vapour, gibbering and whining into the earth. Achilles sprang to his feet, smote his

two hands, and made lamentation saying, "Of a truth even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and

phantoms that have no life in them; all night long the sad spirit of Patroclus has hovered over head making

piteous moan, telling me what I am to do for him, and looking wondrously like himself."

Thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping and mourning about the poor dumb dead, till

rosyfingered morn appeared. Then King Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp, to

bring wood, and Meriones, squire to Idomeneus, was in charge over them. They went out with woodmen's

axes and strong ropes in their hands, and before them went the mules. Up hill and down dale did they go, by

straight ways and crooked, and when they reached the heights of manyfountained Ida, they laid their axes to

the roots of many a tall branching oak that came thundering down as they felled it. They split the trees and

bound them behind the mules, which then wended their way as they best could through the thick brushwood

on to the plain. All who had been cutting wood bore logs, for so Meriones squire to Idomeneus had bidden

them, and they threw them down in a line upon the seashore at the place where Achilles would make a

When they had thrown down their great logs of wood over the whole ground, they stayed all of them where

they were, but Achilles ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armour, and to yoke each man his

horses; they therefore rose, girded on their armour and mounted each his chariot they and their charioteers

with them. The chariots went before, and they that were on foot followed as a cloud in their tens of thousands

after. In the midst of them his comrades bore Patroclus and covered him with the locks of their hair which

they cut off and threw upon his body. Last came Achilles with his head bowed for sorrow, so noble a

When they came to the place of which Achilles had told them they laid the body down and built up the wood.

Achilles then bethought him of another matter. He went a space away from the pyre, and cut off the yellow

lock which he had let grow for the river Spercheius. He looked all sorrowfully out upon the dark sea, and

said, "Spercheius, in vain did my father Peleus vow to you that when I returned home to my loved native land

I should cut off this lock and offer you a holy hecatomb; fifty shegoats was I to sacrifice to you there at your

springs, where is your grove and your altar fragrant with burntofferings. Thus did my father vow, but you

have not fulfilled his prayer; now, therefore, that I shall see my home no more, I give this lock as a keepsake

As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dear comrade, and all who stood by were filled with

yearning and lamentation. The sun would have gone down upon their mourning had not Achilles presently

said to Agamemnon, "Son of Atreus, for it is to you that the people will give ear, there is a time to mourn and

a time to cease from mourning; bid the people now leave the pyre and set about getting their dinners: we, to

whom the dead is dearest, will see to what is wanted here, and let the other princes also stay by me."

When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed the people to their ships, but those who were about the dead

heaped up wood and built a pyre a hundred feet this way and that; then they laid the dead all sorrowfully

upon the top of it. They flayed and dressed many fat sheep and oxen before the pyre, and Achilles took fat

from all of them and wrapped the body therein from head to foot, heaping the flayed carcases all round it.

Against the bier he leaned twohandled jars of honey and unguents; four proud horses did he then cast upon

the pyre, groaning the while he did so. The dead hero had had housedogs; two of them did Achilles slay and

threw upon the pyre; he also put twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest,

for he was full of bitterness and fury. Then he committed all to the resistless and devouring might of the fire;

he groaned aloud and callid on his dead comrade by name. "Fare well," he cried, "Patroclus, even in the

house of Hades; I am now doing all that I have promised you. Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the

flames consume along with yourself, but dogs, not fire, shall devour the flesh of Hector son of Priam."

Thus did he vaunt, but the dogs came not about the body of Hector, for Jove's daughter Venus kept them off

him night and day, and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be torn when

Achilles was dragging him about. Phoebus Apollo moreover sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth, which

gave shade to the whole place where Hector lay, that the heat of the sun might not parch his body.

Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not kindle. Achilles therefore bethought him of another matter; he

went apart and prayed to the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly offerings. He made them

many drinkofferings from the golden cup and besought them to come and help him that the wood might

make haste to kindle and the dead bodies be consumed. Fleet Iris heard him praying and started off to fetch

the winds. They were holding high feast in the house of boisterous Zephyrus when Iris came running up to

the stone threshold of the house and stood there, but as soon as they set eyes on her they all came towards her

and each of them called her to him, but Iris would not sit down. "I cannot stay," she said, "I must go back to

the streams of Oceanus and the land of the Ethiopians who are offering hecatombs to the immortals, and I

would have my share; but Achilles prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to him, and he vows them

goodly offerings; he would have you blow upon the pyre of Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are

With this she left them, and the two winds rose with a cry that rent the air and swept the clouds before them.

They blew on and on until they came to the sea, and the waves rose high beneath them, but when they

reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the mighty flames roared under the blast that they blew. All night

long did they blow hard and beat upon the fire, and all night long did Achilles grasp his double cup, drawing

wine from a mixingbowl of gold, and calling upon the spirit of dead Patroclus as he poured it upon the

ground until the earth was drenched. As a father mourns when he is burning the bones of his bridegroom son

whose death has wrung the hearts of his parents, even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of his

At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light which saffronmantled Dawn was soon to

suffuse over the sea, the flames fell and the fire began to die. The winds then went home beyond the Thracian

sea, which roared and boiled as they swept over it. The son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay

down, overcome with toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber. Presently they who were about the son of Atreus

drew near in a body, and roused him with the noise and tramp of their coming. He sat upright and said, "Son

of Atreus, and all other princes of the Achaeans, first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it;

let us then gather the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius, singling them out with care; they are easily found,

for they lie in the middle of the pyre, while all else, both men and horses, has been thrown in a heap and

burned at the outer edge. We will lay the bones in a golden urn, in two layers of fat, against the time when I

shall myself go down into the house of Hades. As for the barrow, labour not to raise a great one now, but

such as is reasonable. Afterwards, let those Achaeans who may be left at the ships when I am gone, build it

Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus. First they poured red wine upon the thick layer

of ashes and quenched the fire. With many tears they singled out the whitened bones of their loved comrade

and laid them within a golden urn in two layers of fat: they then covered the urn with a linen cloth and took it

inside the tent. They marked off the circle where the barrow should be, made a foundation for it about the

pyre, and forthwith heaped up the earth. When they had thus raised a mound they were going away, but

Achilles stayed the people and made them sit in assembly. He brought prizes from the shipscauldrons,

The first prize he offered was for the chariot races a woman skilled in all useful arts, and a threelegged

cauldron that had ears for handles, and would hold twentytwo measures. This was for the man who came in

first. For the second there was a sixyear old mare, unbroken, and in foal to a heass; the third was to have a

goodly cauldron that had never yet been on the fire; it was still bright as when it left the maker, and would

hold four measures. The fourth prize was two talents of gold, and the fifth a twohandled urn as yet unsoiled

"Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, these are the prizes that lie waiting the winners of the chariot races.

At any other time I should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent; you know how far my steeds

excel all others for they are immortal; Neptune gave them to my father Peleus, who in his turn gave them to

myself; but I shall hold aloof, I and my steeds that have lost their brave and kind driver, who many a time has

washed them in clear water and anointed their manes with oil. See how they stand weeping here, with their

manes trailing on the ground in the extremity of their sorrow. But do you others set yourselves in order

throughout the host, whosoever has confidence in his horses and in the strength of his chariot."

Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots bestirred themselves. First among them all uprose

Eumelus, king of men, son of Admetus, a man excellent in horsemanship. Next to him rose mighty Diomed

son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan horses which he had taken from Aeneas, when Apollo bore him out of the

fight. Next to him, yellowhaired Menelaus son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet horses, Agamemnon's

mare Aethe, and his own horse Podargus. The mare had been given to Agamemnon by echepolus son of

Anchises, that he might not have to follow him to Ilius, but might stay at home and take his ease; for Jove had

endowed him with great wealth and he lived in spacious Sicyon. This mare, all eager for the race, did

Fourth in order Antilochus, son to noble Nestor son of Neleus, made ready his horses. These were bred in

Pylos, and his father came up to him to give him good advice of which, however, he stood in but little need.

"Antilochus," said Nestor, "you are young, but Jove and Neptune have loved you well, and have made you an

excellent horseman. I need not therefore say much by way of instruction. You are skilful at wheeling your

horses round the post, but the horses themselves are very slow, and it is this that will, I fear, mar your

chances. The other drivers know less than you do, but their horses are fleeter; therefore, my dear son, see if

you cannot hit upon some artifice whereby you may insure that the prize shall not slip through your fingers.

The woodman does more by skill than by brute force; by skill the pilot guides his stormtossed barque over

the sea, and so by skill one driver can beat another. If a man go wide in rounding this way and that, whereas a

man who knows what he is doing may have worse horses, but he will keep them well in hand when he sees

the doublingpost; he knows the precise moment at which to pull the rein, and keeps his eye well on the man

in front of him. I will give you this certain token which cannot escape your notice. There is a stump of a dead

treeoak or pine as it may be some six feet above the ground, and not yet rotted away by rain; it stands at

the fork of the road; it has two white stones set one on each side, and there is a clear course all round it. It

may have been a monument to some one long since dead, or it may have been used as a doublingpost in

days gone by; now, however, it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark round which the chariots shall turn;

hug it as close as you can, but as you stand in your chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on your

righthand horse with voice and lash, and give him a loose rein, but let the lefthand horse keep so close in,

that the nave of your wheel shall almost graze the post; but mind the stone, or you will wound your horses

and break your chariot in pieces, which would be sport for others but confusion for yourself. Therefore, my

dear son, mind well what you are about, for if you can be first to round the post there is no chance of any one

giving you the goby later, not even though you had Adrestus's horse Arion behind you horse which is of

When Nestor had made an end of counselling his son he sat down in his place, and fifth in order Meriones got

ready his horses. They then all mounted their chariots and cast lots. Achilles shook the helmet, and the lot of

Antilochus son of Nestor fell out first; next came that of King Eumelus, and after his, those of Menelaus son

of Atreus and of Meriones. The last place fell to the lot of Diomed son of Tydeus, who was the best man of

them all. They took their places in line; Achilles showed them the doublingpost round which they were to

turn, some way off upon the plain; here he stationed his father's follower Phoenix as umpire, to note the

At the same instant they all of them lashed their horses, struck them with the reins, and shouted at them with

all their might. They flew full speed over the plain away from the ships, the dust rose from under them as it

were a cloud or whirlwind, and their manes were all flying in the wind. At one moment the chariots seemed

to touch the ground, and then again they bounded into the air; the drivers stood erect, and their hearts beat

fast and furious in their lust of victory. Each kept calling on his horses, and the horses scoured the plain amid

It was when they were doing the last part of the course on their way back towards the sea that their pace was

strained to the utmost and it was seen what each could do. The horses of the descendant of Pheres now took

the lead, and close behind them came the Trojan stallions of Diomed. They seemed as if about to mount

Eumelus's chariot, and he could feel their warm breath on his back and on his broad shoulders, for their heads

were close to him as they flew over the course. Diomed would have now passed him, or there would have

been a dead heat, but Phoebus Apollo to spite him made him drop his whip. Tears of anger fell from his eyes

as he saw the mares going on faster than ever, while his own horses lost ground through his having no whip.

Minerva saw the trick which Apollo had played the son of Tydeus, so she brought him his whip and put spirit

into his horses; moreover she went after the son of Admetus in a rage and broke his yoke for him; the mares

went one to one side the course, and the other to the other, and the pole was broken against the ground.

Eumelus was thrown from his chariot close to the wheel; his elbows, mouth, and nostrils were all torn, and

his forehead was bruised above his eyebrows; his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance. But

the son of Tydeus turned his horses aside and shot far ahead, for Minerva put fresh strength into them and

Menelaus son of Atreus came next behind him, but Antilochus called to his father's horses. "On with you

both," he cried, "and do your very utmost. I do not bid you try to beat the steeds of the son of Tydeus, for

Minerva has put running into them, and has covered Diomed with glory; but you must overtake the horses of

the son of Atreus and not be left behind, or Aethe who is so fleet will taunt you. Why, my good fellows, are

you lagging? I tell you, and it shall surely be Nestor will keep neither of you, but will put both of you to the

sword, if we win any the worse a prize through your carelessness, fly after them at your utmost speed; I will

hit on a plan for passing them in a narrow part of the way, and it shall not fail me."

They feared the rebuke of their master, and for a short space went quicker. Presently Antilochus saw a narrow

place where the road had sunk. The ground was broken, for the winter's rain had gathered and had worn the

road so that the whole place was deepened. Menelaus was making towards it so as to get there first, for fear

of a foul, but Antilochus turned his horses out of the way, and followed him a little on one side. The son of

Atreus was afraid and shouted out, "Antilochus, you are driving recklessly; rein in your horses; the road is too

narrow here, it will be wider soon, and you can pass me then; if you foul my chariot you may bring both of us

But Antilochus plied his whip, and drove faster, as though he had not heard him. They went side by side for

about as far as a young man can hurl a disc from his shoulder when he is trying his strength, and then

Menelaus's mares drew behind, for he left off driving for fear the horses should foul one another and upset

the chariots; thus, while pressing on in quest of victory, they might both come headlong to the ground.

Menelaus then upbraided Antilochus and said, "There is no greater trickster living than you are; go, and bad

luck go with you; the Achaeans say not well that you have understanding, and come what may you shall not

Then he called on his horses and said to them, "Keep your pace, and slacken not; the limbs of the other horses

The horses feared the rebuke of their master, and went faster, so that they were soon nearly up with the

Meanwhile the Achaeans from their seats were watching how the horses went, as they scoured the plain amid

clouds of their own dust. Idomeneus captain of the Cretans was first to make out the running, for he was not

in the thick of the crowd, but stood on the most commanding part of the ground. The driver was a long way

off, but Idomeneus could hear him shouting, and could see the foremost horse quite plainlya chestnut with a

round white star, like the moon, on its forehead. He stood up and said among the Argives, "My friends,

princes and counsellors of the Argives, can you see the running as well as I can? There seems to be another

pair in front now, and another driver; those that led off at the start must have been disabled out on the plain. I

saw them at first making their way round the doublingpost, but now, though I search the plain of Troy, I

cannot find them. Perhaps the reins fell from the driver's hand so that he lost command of his horses at the

doublingpost, and could not turn it. I suppose he must have been thrown out there, and broken his chariot,

while his mares have left the course and gone off wildly in a panic. Come up and see for yourselves, I cannot

make out for certain, but the driver seems an Aetolian by descent, ruler over the Argives, brave Diomed the

Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said, "Idomeneus, why should you be in such a hurry to tell us

all about it, when the mares are still so far out upon the plain? You are none of the youngest, nor your eyes

none of the sharpest, but you are always laying down the law. You have no right to do so, for there are better

men here than you are. Eumelus's horses are in front now, as they always have been, and he is on the chariot

The captain of the Cretans was angry, and answered, "Ajax you are an excellent railer, but you have no

judgement, and are wanting in much else as well, for you have a vile temper. I will wager you a tripod or

cauldron, and Agamemnon son of Atreus shall decide whose horses are first. You will then know to your

Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer, and there would have been yet further brawling

between them, had not Achilles risen in his place and said, "Cease your railing Ajax and Idomeneus; it is not

you would be scandalised if you saw any one else do the like: sit down and keep your eyes on the horses;

they are speeding towards the winningpost and will be bere directly. You will then both of you know whose

As he was speaking, the son of Tydeus came driving in, plying his whip lustily from his shoulder, and his

horses stepping high as they flew over the course. The sand and grit rained thick on the driver, and the chariot

inlaid with gold and tin ran close behind his fleet horses. There was little trace of wheelmarks in the fine

dust, and the horses came flying in at their utmost speed. Diomed stayed them in the middle of the crowd,

and the sweat from their manes and chests fell in streams on to the ground. Forthwith he sprang from his

goodly chariot, and leaned his whip against his horses' yoke; brave Sthenelus now lost no time, but at once

brought on the prize, and gave the woman and the earhandled cauldron to his comrades to take away. Then

Next after him came in Antilochus of the race of Neleus, who had passed Menelaus by a trick and not by the

fleetness of his horses; but even so Menelaus came in as close behind him as the wheel is to the horse that

draws both the chariot and its master. The end hairs of a horse's tail touch the tyre of the wheel, and there is

never much space between wheel and horse when the chariot is going; Menelaus was no further than this

behind Antilochus, though at first he had been a full disc's throw behind him. He had soon caught him up

again, for Agamemnon's mare Aethe kept pulling stronger and stronger, so that if the course had been longer

he would have passed him, and there would not even have been a dead heat. Idomeneus's brave squire

Meriones was about a spear's cast behind Menelaus. His horses were slowest of all, and he was the worst

driver. Last of them all came the son of Admetus, dragging his chariot and driving his horses on in front.

When Achilles saw him he was sorry, and stood up among the Argives saying, "The best man is coming in

last. Let us give him a prize for it is reasonable. He shall have the second, but the first must go to the son of

Thus did he speak and the others all of them applauded his saying, and were for doing as he had said, but

Nestor's son Antilochus stood up and claimed his rights from the son of Peleus. "Achilles," said he, "I shall

take it much amiss if you do this thing; you would rob me of my prize, because you think Eumelus's chariot

and horses were thrown out, and himself too, good man that he is. He should have prayed duly to the

immortals; he would not have come in fast if he had done so. If you are sorry for him and so choose, you

have much gold in your tents, with bronze, sheep, cattle and horses. Take something from this store if you

would have the Achaeans speak well of you, and give him a better prize even than that which you have now

offered; but I will not give up the mare, and he that will fight me for her, let him come on."

Achilles smiled as he heard this, and was pleased with Antilochus, who was one of his dearest comrades. So

"Antilochus, if you would have me find Eumelus another prize, I will give him the bronze breastplate with a

rim of tin running all round it which I took from Asteropaeus. It will be worth much money to him."

He bade his comrade Automedon bring the breastplate from his tent, and he did so. Achilles then gave it over

But Menelaus got up in a rage, furiously angry with Antilochus. An attendant placed his staff in his hands

and bade the Argives keep silence: the hero then addressed them. "Antilochus," said he, "what is this from

you who have been so far blameless? You have made me cut a poor figure and baulked my horses by flinging

your own in front of them, though yours are much worse than mine are; therefore, O princes and counsellors

of the Argives, judge between us and show no favour, lest one of the Achaeans say, 'Menelaus has got the

mare through lying and corruption; his horses were far inferior to Antilochus's, but he has greater weight and

influence.' Nay, I will determine the matter myself, and no man will blame me, for I shall do what is just.

Come here, Antilochus, and stand, as our custom is, whip in hand before your chariot and horses; lay your

hand on your steeds, and swear by earthencircling Neptune that you did not purposely and guilefully get in

And Antilochus answered, "Forgive me; I am much younger, King Menelaus, than you are; you stand higher

than I do and are the better man of the two; you know how easily young men are betrayed into indiscretion;

their tempers are more hasty and they have less judgement; make due allowances therefore, and bear with

me; I will of my own accord give up the mare that I have won, and if you claim any further chattel from my

own possessions, I would rather yield it to you, at once, than fall from your good graces henceforth, and do

The son of Nestor then took the mare and gave her over to Menelaus, whose anger was thus appeased; as

when dew falls upon a field of ripening corn, and the lands are bristling with the harvest even so, O

Menelaus, was your heart made glad within you. He turned to Antilochus and said, "Now, Antilochus, angry

though I have been, I can give way to you of my own free will; you have never been headstrong nor

illdisposed hitherto, but this time your youth has got the better of your judgement; be careful how you

outwit your betters in future; no one else could have brought me round so easily, but your good father, your

brother, and yourself have all of you had infinite trouble on my behalf; I therefore yield to your entreaty, and

will give up the mare to you, mine though it indeed be; the people will thus see that I am neither harsh nor

With this he gave the mare over to Antilochus's comrade Noemon, and then took the cauldron. Meriones,

who had come in fourth, carried off the two talents of gold, and the fifth prize, the twohandled urn, being

unawarded, Achilles gave it to Nestor, going up to him among the assembled Argives and saying, "Take this,

my good old friend, as an heirloom and memorial of the funeral of Patroclus for you shall see him no more

among the Argives. I give you this prize though you cannot win one; you can now neither wrestle nor fight,

and cannot enter for the javelinmatch nor footraces, for the hand of age has been laid heavily upon you."

So saying he gave the urn over to Nestor, who received it gladly and answered, "My son, all that you have

said is true; there is no strength now in my legs and feet, nor can I hit out with my hands from either

shoulder. Would that I were still young and strong as when the Epeans were burying King Amarynceus in

Buprasium, and his sons offered prizes in his honour. There was then none that could vie with me neither of

the Epeans nor the Pylians themselves nor the Aetolians. In boxing I overcame Clytomedes son of Enops, and

in wrestling, Ancaeus of Pleuron who had come forward against me. Iphiclus was a good runner, but I beat

him, and threw farther with my spear than either Phyleus or Polydorus. In chariotracing alone did the two

sons of Actor surpass me by crowding their horses in front of me, for they were angry at the way victory had

gone, and at the greater part of the prizes remaining in the place in which they had been offered. They were

twins, and the one kept on holding the reins, and holding the reins, while the other plied the whip. Such was I

then, but now I must leave these matters to younger men; I must bow before the weight of years, but in those

days I was eminent among heroes. And now, sir, go on with the funeral contests in honour of your comrade:

gladly do I accept this urn, and my heart rejoices that you do not forget me but are ever mindful of my

goodwill towards you, and of the respect due to me from the Achaeans. For all which may the grace of

Thereon the son of Peleus, when he had listened to all the thanks of Nestor, went about among the concourse

of the Achaeans, and presently offered prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing. He brought out a strong

mule, and made it fast in the middle of the crowd a shemule never yet broken, but six years old when it is

hardest of all to break them: this was for the victor, and for the vanquished he offered a double cup. Then he

stood up and said among the Argives, "Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, I invite our two champion

boxers to lay about them lustily and compete for these prizes. He to whom Apollo vouchsafes the greater

endurance, and whom the Achaeans acknowledge as victor, shall take the mule back with him to his own tent,

As he spoke there stood up a champion both brave and great stature, a skilful boxer, Epeus, son of Panopeus.

He laid his hand on the mule and said, "Let the man who is to have the cup come hither, for none but myself

will take the mule. I am the best boxer of all here present, and none can beat me. Is it not enough that I should

fall short of you in actual fighting? Still, no man can be good at everything. I tell you plainly, and it shall

come true; if any man will box with me I will bruise his body and break his bones; therefore let his friends

They all held their peace, and no man rose save Euryalus son of Mecisteus, who was son of Talaus.

Mecisteus went once to Thebes after the fall of Oedipus, to attend his funeral, and he beat all the people of

Cadmus. The son of Tydeus was Euryalus's second, cheering him on and hoping heartily that he would win.

First he put a waistband round him and then he gave him some wellcut thongs of oxhide; the two men

being now girt went into the middle of the ring, and immediately fell to; heavily indeed did they punish one

another and lay about them with their brawny fists. One could hear the horrid crashing of their jaws, and they

sweated from every pore of their skin. Presently Epeus came on and gave Euryalus a blow on the jaw as he

was looking round; Euryalus could not keep his legs; they gave way under him in a moment and he sprang up

with a bound, as a fish leaps into the air near some shore that is all bestrewn with seawrack, when Boreas

furs the top of the waves, and then falls back into deep water. But noble Epeus caught hold of him and raised

him up; his comrades also came round him and led him from the ring, unsteady in his gait, his head hanging

on one side, and spitting great clots of gore. They set him down in a swoon and then went to fetch the double

The son of Peleus now brought out the prizes for the third contest and showed them to the Argives. These

were for the painful art of wrestling. For the winner there was a great tripod ready for setting upon the fire,

and the Achaeans valued it among themselves at twelve oxen. For the loser he brought out a woman skilled in

all manner of arts, and they valued her at four oxen. He rose and said among the Argives, "Stand forward,

Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, and crafty Ulysses, full of wiles rose also. The two girded

themselves and went into the middle of the ring. They gripped each other in their strong hands like the rafters

which some masterbuilder frames for the roof of a high house to keep the wind out. Their backbones

cracked as they tugged at one another with their mighty arms and sweat rained from them in torrents. Many

a bloody weal sprang up on their sides and shoulders, but they kept on striving with might and main for

victory and to win the tripod. Ulysses could not throw Ajax, nor Ajax him; Ulysses was too strong for him;

but when the Achaeans began to tire of watching them, Ajax said to ulysses, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes,

He lifted him from the ground as he spoke, but Ulysses did not forget his cunning. He hit Ajax in the hollow

at back of his knee, so that he could not keep his feet, but fell on his back with Ulysses lying upon his chest,

and all who saw it marvelled. Then Ulysses in turn lifted Ajax and stirred him a little from the ground but

could not lift him right off it, his knee sank under him, and the two fell side by side on the ground and were

all begrimed with dust. They now sprang towards one another and were for wrestling yet a third time, but

Achilles rose and stayed them. "Put not each other further," said he, "to such cruel suffering; the victory is

with both alike, take each of you an equal prize, and let the other Achaeans now compete."

Thus did he speak and they did even as he had said, and put on their shirts again after wiping the dust from

The son of Peleus then offered prizes for speed in running a mixingbowl beautifully wrought, of pure

silver. It would hold six measures, and far exceeded all others in the whole world for beauty; it was the work

of cunning artificers in Sidon, and had been brought into port by Phoenicians from beyond the sea, who had

made a present of it to Thoas. Eueneus son of jason had given it to Patroclus in ransom of Priam's son

Lycaon, and Achilles now offered it as a prize in honour of his comrade to him who should be the swiftest

runner. For the second prize he offered a large ox, well fattened, while for the last there was to be half a talent

of gold. He then rose and said among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who will essay this contest."

Forthwith uprose fleet Ajax son of Oileus, with cunning Ulysses, and Nestor's son Antilochus, the fastest

runner among all the youth of his time. They stood side by side and Achilles showed them the goal. The

course was set out for them from the startingpost, and the son of Oileus took the lead at once, with Ulysses

as close behind him as the shuttle is to a woman's bosom when she throws the woof across the warp and

holds it close up to her; even so close behind him was Ulysses treading in his footprints before the dust

could settle there, and Ajax could feel his breath on the back of his head as he ran swiftly on. The Achaeans

all shouted applause as they saw him straining his utmost, and cheered him as he shot past them; but when

they were now nearing the end of the course Ulysses prayed inwardly to Minerva. "Hear me," he cried, "and

help my feet, O goddess." Thus did he pray, and Pallas Minerva heard his prayer; she made his hands and his

feet feel light, and when the runners were at the point of pouncing upon the prize, Ajax, through Minerva's

spite slipped upon some offal that was lying there from the cattle which Achilles had slaughtered in honour of

Patroclus, and his mouth and nostrils were all filled with cow dung. Ulysses therefore carried off the

mixingbowl, for he got before Ajax and came in first. But Ajax took the ox and stood with his hand on one

of its horns, spitting the dung out of his mouth. Then he said to the Argives, "Alas, the goddess has spoiled

my running; she watches over Ulysses and stands by him as though she were his own mother." Thus did he

Antilochus carried off the last prize and smiled as he said to the bystanders, "You all see, my friends, that

now too the gods have shown their respect for seniority. Ajax is somewhat older than I am, and as for

Ulysses, he belongs to an earlier generation, but he is hale in spite of his years, and no man of the Achaeans

He said this to pay a compliment to the son of Peleus, and Achilles answered, "Antilochus, you shall not have

praised me to no purpose; I shall give you an additional half talent of gold." He then gave the half talent to

Then the son of Peleus brought out the spear, helmet and shield that had been borne by Sarpedon, and were

taken from him by Patroclus. He stood up and said among the Argives, "We bid two champions put on their

armour, take their keen blades, and make trial of one another in the presence of the multitude; whichever of

them can first wound the flesh of the other, cut through his armour, and draw blood, to him will I give this

goodly Thracian sword inlaid with silver, which I took from Asteropaeus, but the armour let both hold in

Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, as also mighty Diomed son of Tydeus. When they had put

on their armour each on his own side of the ring, they both went into the middle eager to engage, and with

fire flashing from their eyes. The Achaeans marvelled as they beheld them, and when the two were now close

up with one another, thrice did they spring forward and thrice try to strike each other in close combat. Ajax

pierced Diomed's round shield, but did not draw blood, for the cuirass beneath the shield protected him;

thereon the son of Tydeus from over his huge shield kept aiming continually at Ajax's neck with the point of

his spear, and the Achaeans alarmed for his safety bade them leave off fighting and divide the prize between

them. Achilles then gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus, with its scabbard, and the leathern belt with

Achilles next offered the massive iron quoit which mighty Eetion had erewhile been used to hurl, until

Achilles had slain him and carried it off in his ships along with other spoils. He stood up and said among the

Argives, "Stand forward, you who would essay this contest. He who wins it will have a store of iron that will

last him five years as they go rolling round, and if his fair fields lie far from a town his shepherd or

ploughman will not have to make a journey to buy iron, for he will have a stock of it on his own premises."

Then uprose the two mighty men Polypoetes and Leonteus, with Ajax son of Telamon and noble Epeus. They

stood up one after the other and Epeus took the quoit, whirled it, and flung it from him, which set all the

Achaeans laughing. After him threw Leonteus of the race of Mars. Ajax son of Telamon threw third, and sent

the quoit beyond any mark that had been made yet, but when mighty Polypoetes took the quoit he hurled it as

though it had been a stockman's stick which he sends flying about among his cattle when he is driving them,

so far did his throw outdistance those of the others. All who saw it roared applause, and his comrades

Achilles next offered a prize of iron for archery ten doubleedged axes and ten with single eddies: he set up

a ship's mast, some way off upon the sands, and with a fine string tied a pigeon to it by the foot; this was what

they were to aim at. "Whoever," he said, "can hit the pigeon shall have all the axes and take them away with

him; he who hits the string without hitting the bird will have taken a worse aim and shall have the

Then uprose King Teucer, and Meriones the stalwart squire of Idomeneus rose also, They cast lots in a

bronze helmet and the lot of Teucer fell first. He let fly with his arrow forthwith, but he did not promise

hecatombs of firstling lambs to King Apollo, and missed his bird, for Apollo foiled his aim; but he hit the

string with which the bird was tied, near its foot; the arrow cut the string clean through so that it hung down

towards the ground, while the bird flew up into the sky, and the Achaeans shouted applause. Meriones, who

had his arrow ready while Teucer was aiming, snatched the bow out of his hand, and at once promised that he

would sacrifice a hecatomb of firstling lambs to Apollo lord of the bow; then espying the pigeon high up

under the clouds, he hit her in the middle of the wing as she was circling upwards; the arrow went clean

through the wing and fixed itself in the ground at Meriones' feet, but the bird perched on the ship's mast

hanging her head and with all her feathers drooping; the life went out of her, and she fell heavily from the

mast. Meriones, therefore, took all ten doubleedged axes, while Teucer bore off the singleedged ones to his

Then the son of Peleus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had never been on the fire; it was worth an ox,

and was chased with a pattern of flowers; and those that throw the javelin stood up to wit the son of Atreus,

king of men Agamemnon, and Meriones, stalwart squire of Idomeneus. But Achilles spoke saying, "Son of

Atreus, we know how far you excel all others both in power and in throwing the javelin; take the cauldron

back with you to your ships, but if it so please you, let us give the spear to Meriones; this at least is what I

King Agamemnon assented. So he gave the bronze spear to Meriones, and handed the goodly cauldron to

The assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to his own ship. There they made ready

their supper, and then bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep; but Achilles still wept for thinking of his

dear comrade, and sleep, before whom all things bow, could take no hold upon him. This way and that did he

turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroclus; he thought of all they had done together, and

all they had gone through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary sea. As he dwelt on these

things he wept bitterly and lay now on his side, now on his back, and now face downwards, till at last he rose

and went out as one distraught to wander upon the seashore. Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach

and sea, he yoked his horses to his chariot, and bound the body of Hector behind it that he might drag it

about. Thrice did he drag it round the tomb of the son of Menoetius, and then went back into his tent, leaving

the body on the ground full length and with its face downwards. But Apollo would not suffer it to be

disfigured, for he pitied the man, dead though he now was; therefore he shielded him with his golden aegis

Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector; but the blessed gods looked down in pity from

heaven, and urged Mercury, slayer of Argus, to steal the body. All were of this mind save only Juno,

Neptune, and Jove's greyeyed daughter, who persisted in the hate which they had ever borne towards Ilius

with Priam and his people; for they forgave not the wrong done them by Alexandrus in disdaining the

goddesses who came to him when he was in his sheepyards, and preferring her who had offered him a wanton

When, therefore, the morning of the twelfth day had now come, Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortals

saying, "You gods ought to be ashamed of yourselves; you are cruel and hardhearted. Did not Hector burn

you thighbones of heifers and of unblemished goats? And now dare you not rescue even his dead body, for

his wife to look upon, with his mother and child, his father Priam, and his people, who would forthwith

commit him to the flames, and give him his due funeral rites? So, then, you would all be on the side of mad

Achilles, who knows neither right nor ruth? He is like some savage lion that in the pride of his great strength

and daring springs upon men's flocks and gorges on them. Even so has Achilles flung aside all pity, and all

that conscience which at once so greatly banes yet greatly boons him that will heed it. man may lose one far

dearer than Achilles has lost a son, it may be, or a brother born from his own mother's womb; yet when he

has mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide, for it takes much sorrow to kill a man; whereas

Achilles, now that he has slain noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot round the tomb of his comrade. It

were better of him, and for him, that he should not do so, for brave though he be we gods may take it ill that

Juno spoke up in a rage. "This were well," she cried, "O lord of the silver bow, if you would give like honour

to Hector and to Achilles; but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman's breast, whereas Achilles is the

offspring of a goddess whom I myself reared and brought up. I married her to Peleus, who is above measure

dear to the immortals; you gods came all of you to her wedding; you feasted along with them yourself and

Then said Jove, "Juno, be not so bitter. Their honour shall not be equal, but of all that dwell in Ilius, Hector

was dearest to the gods, as also to myself, for his offerings never failed me. Never was my altar stinted of its

dues, nor of the drinkofferings and savour of sacrifice which we claim of right. I shall therefore permit the

body of mighty Hector to be stolen; and yet this may hardly be without Achilles coming to know it, for his

mother keeps night and day beside him. Let some one of you, therefore, send Thetis to me, and I will impart

my counsel to her, namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom from Priam, and give up the body."

On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth to carry his message. Down she plunged into the dark sea midway

between Samos and rocky Imbrus; the waters hissed as they closed over her, and she sank into the bottom as

the lead at the end of an oxhorn, that is sped to carry death to fishes. She found Thetis sitting in a great cave

with the other seagoddesses gathered round her; there she sat in the midst of them weeping for her noble son

who was to fall far from his own land, on the rich plains of Troy. Iris went up to her and said, "Rise Thetis;

Jove, whose counsels fail not, bids you come to him." And Thetis answered, "Why does the mighty god so

bid me? I am in great grief, and shrink from going in and out among the immortals. Still, I will go, and the

The goddess took her dark veil, than which there can be no robe more sombre, and went forth with fleet Iris

leading the way before her. The waves of the sea opened them a path, and when they reached the shore they

flew up into the heavens, where they found the allseeing son of Saturn with the blessed gods that live for

ever assembled near him. Minerva gave up her seat to her, and she sat down by the side of father Jove. Juno

then placed a fair golden cup in her hand, and spoke to her in words of comfort, whereon Thetis drank and

"So, goddess," said he, "for all your sorrow, and the grief that I well know reigns ever in your heart, you have

come hither to Olympus, and I will tell you why I have sent for you. This nine days past the immortals have

been quarrelling about Achilles waster of cities and the body of Hector. The gods would have Mercury slayer

of Argus steal the body, but in furtherance of our peace and amity henceforward, I will concede such honour

to your son as I will now tell you. Go, then, to the host and lay these commands upon him; say that the gods

are angry with him, and that I am myself more angry than them all, in that he keeps Hector at the ships and

will not give him up. He may thus fear me and let the body go. At the same time I will send Iris to great

Priam to bid him go to the ships of the Achaeans, and ransom his son, taking with him such gifts for Achilles

Silverfooted Thetis did as the god had told her, and forthwith down she darted from the topmost summits of

Olympus. She went to her son's tents where she found him grieving bitterly, while his trusty comrades round

him were busy preparing their morning meal, for which they had killed a great woolly sheep. His mother sat

down beside him and caressed him with her hand saying, "My son, how long will you keep on thus grieving

and making moan? You are gnawing at your own heart, and think neither of food nor of woman's embraces;

and yet these too were well, for you have no long time to live, and death with the strong hand of fate are

already close beside you. Now, therefore, heed what I say, for I come as a messenger from Jove; he says that

the gods are angry with you, and himself more angry than them all, in that you keep Hector at the ships and

And Achilles answered, "So be it. If Olympian Jove of his own motion thus commands me, let him that

Thus did mother and son talk together at the ships in long discourse with one another. Meanwhile the son of

Saturn sent Iris to the strong city of Ilius. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, from the mansions of Olympus, and tell

King Priam in Ilius, that he is to go to the ships of the Achaeans and free the body of his dear son. He is to

take such gifts with him as shall give satisfaction to Achilles, and he is to go alone, with no other Trojan, save

only some honoured servant who may drive his mules and waggon, and bring back the body of him whom

noble Achilles has slain. Let him have no thought nor fear of death in his heart, for we will send the slayer of

Argus to escort him, and bring him within the tent of Achilles. Achilles will not kill him nor let another do so,

for he will take heed to his ways and sin not, and he will entreat a suppliant with all honourable courtesy."

On this Iris, fleet as the wind, sped forth to deliver her message. She went to Priam's house, and found

weeping and lamentation therein. His sons were seated round their father in the outer courtyard, and their

raiment was wet with tears: the old man sat in the midst of them with his mantle wrapped close about his

body, and his head and neck all covered with the filth which he had clutched as he lay grovelling in the mire.

His daughters and his sons' wives went wailing about the house, as they thought of the many and brave men

who lay dead, slain by the Argives. The messenger of Jove stood by Priam and spoke softly to him, but fear

fell upon him as she did so. "Take heart," she said, "Priam offspring of Dardanus, take heart and fear not. I

bring no evil tidings, but am minded well towards you. I come as a messenger from Jove, who though he be

not near, takes thought for you and pities you. The lord of Olympus bids you go and ransom noble Hector,

and take with you such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles. You are to go alone, with no Trojan, save

only some honoured servant who may drive your mules and waggon, and bring back to the city the body of

him whom noble Achilles has slain. You are to have no thought, nor fear of death, for Jove will send the

slayer of Argus to escort you. When he has brought you within Achilles' tent, Achilles will not kill you nor let

another do so, for he will take heed to his ways and sin not, and he will entreat a suppliant with all

Iris went her way when she had thus spoken, and Priam told his sons to get a mulewaggon ready, and to

make the body of the waggon fast upon the top of its bed. Then he went down into his fragrant storeroom,

highvaulted, and made of cedarwood, where his many treasures were kept, and he called Hecuba his wife.

"Wife," said he, "a messenger has come to me from Olympus, and has told me to go to the ships of the

Achaeans to ransom my dear son, taking with me such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles. What think

you of this matter? for my own part I am greatly moved to pass through the of the Achaeans and go to their

His wife cried aloud as she heard him, and said, "Alas, what has become of that judgement for which you

have been ever famous both among strangers and your own people? How can you venture alone to the ships

of the Achaeans, and look into the face of him who has slain so many of your brave sons? You must have

iron courage, for if the cruel savage sees you and lays hold on you, he will know neither respect nor pity. Let

us then weep Hector from afar here in our own house, for when I gave him birth the threads of overruling fate

were spun for him that dogs should eat his flesh far from his parents, in the house of that terrible man on

whose liver I would fain fasten and devour it. Thus would I avenge my son, who showed no cowardice when

Achilles slew him, and thought neither of Right nor of avoiding battle as he stood in defence of Trojan men

Then Priam said, "I would go, do not therefore stay me nor be as a bird of ill omen in my house, for you will

not move me. Had it been some mortal man who had sent me some prophet or priest who divines from

sacrifice I should have deemed him false and have given him no heed; but now I have heard the goddess and

seen her face to face, therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in vain. If it be my fate to die at the ships

of the Achaeans even so would I have it; let Achilles slay me, if I may but first have taken my son in my arms

So saying he lifted the lids of his chests, and took out twelve goodly vestments. He took also twelve cloaks of

single fold, twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles, and an equal number of shirts. He weighed out ten talents of

gold, and brought moreover two burnished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very beautiful cup which the

Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an embassy; it was very precious, but he grudged not

even this, so eager was he to ransom the body of his son. Then he chased all the Trojans from the court and

rebuked them with words of anger. "Out," he cried, "shame and disgrace to me that you are. Have you no

grief in your own homes that you are come to plague me here? Is it a small thing, think you, that the son of

Saturn has sent this sorrow upon me, to lose the bravest of my sons? Nay, you shall prove it in person, for

now he is gone the Achaeans will have easier work in killing you. As for me, let me go down within the

He drove the men away with his staff, and they went forth as the old man sped them. Then he called to his

sons, upbraiding Helenus, Paris, noble Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonus, Polites of the loud battlecry,

Deiphobus, Hippothous, and Dius. These nine did the old man call near him. "Come to me at once," he cried,

"worthless sons who do me shame; would that you had all been killed at the ships rather than Hector.

Miserable man that I am, I have had the bravest sons in all Troynoble Nestor, Troilus the dauntless charioteer,

and Hector who was a god among men, so that one would have thought he was son to an immortalyet there is

not one of them left. Mars has slain them and those of whom I am ashamed are alone left me. Liars, and light

of foot, heroes of the dance, robbers of lambs and kids from your own people, why do you not get a waggon

ready for me at once, and put all these things upon it that I may set out on my way?"

Thus did he speak, and they feared the rebuke of their father. They brought out a strong mulewaggon, newly

made, and set the body of the waggon fast on its bed. They took the muleyoke from the peg on which it

hung, a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the top of it and rings for the reins to go through. Then they brought

a yokeband eleven cubits long, to bind the yoke to the pole; they bound it on at the far end of the pole, and

put the ring over the upright pin making it fast with three turns of the band on either side the knob, and

bending the thong of the yoke beneath it. This done, they brought from the storechamber the rich ransom

that was to purchase the body of Hector, and they set it all orderly on the waggon; then they yoked the strong

harnessmules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly present to Priam; but for Priam himself

Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant see to the yolking of their cars at the palace. Then Hecuba came to

them all sorrowful, with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand, that they might make a drinkoffering

before they set out. She stood in front of the horses and said, "Take this, make a drinkoffering to father Jove,

and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me, pray that you may come safely back from the

hands of your enemies. Pray to the son of Saturn lord of the whirlwind, who sits on Ida and looks down over

all Troy, pray him to send his swift messenger on your right hand, the bird of omen which is strongest and

most dear to him of all birds, that you may see it with your own eyes and trust it as you go forth to the ships

of the Danaans. If allseeing Jove will not send you this messenger, however set upon it you may be, I would

And Priam answered, "Wife, I will do as you desire me; it is well to lift hands in prayer to Jove, if so be he

With this the old man bade the servingwoman pour pure water over his hands, and the woman came,

bearing the water in a bowl. He washed his hands and took the cup from his wife; then he made the

drinkoffering and prayed, standing in the middle of the courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven. "Father

Jove," he said, "that rulest from Ida, most glorious and most great, grant that I may be received kindly and

compassionately in the tents of Achilles; and send your swift messenger upon my right hand, the bird of

omen which is strongest and most dear to you of all birds, that I may see it with my own eyes and trust it as I

So did he pray, and Jove the lord of counsel heard his prayer. Forthwith he sent an eagle, the most unerring

portent of all birds that fly, the dusky hunter that men also call the Black Eagle. His wings were spread

abroad on either side as wide as the wellmade and wellbolted door of a rich man's chamber. He came to

them flying over the city upon their right hands, and when they saw him they were glad and their hearts took

comfort within them. The old man made haste to mount his chariot, and drove out through the inner gateway

and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court. Before him went the mules drawing the fourwheeled

waggon, and driven by wise Idaeus; behind these were the horses, which the old man lashed with his whip

and drove swiftly through the city, while his friends followed after, wailing and lamenting for him as though

he were on his road to death. As soon as they had come down from the city and had reached the plain, his

But Priam and Idaeus as they showed out upon the plain did not escape the ken of allseeing Jove, who

looked down upon the old man and pitied him; then he spoke to his son Mercury and said, "Mercury, for it is

you who are the most disposed to escort men on their way, and to hear those whom you will hear, go, and so

conduct Priam to the ships of the Achaeans that no other of the Danaans shall see him nor take note of him

Thus he spoke and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on

his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea; he took the wand with

which he seals men's eyes in sleep, or wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand till he

came to Troy and to the Hellespont. To look at, he was like a young man of noble birth in the heyday of his

Now when Priam and Idaeus had driven past the great tomb of Ilius, they stayed their mules and horses that

they might drink in the river, for the shades of night were falling, when, therefore, Idaeus saw Mercury

standing near them he said to Priam, "Take heed, descendant of Dardanus; here is matter which demands

consideration. I see a man who I think will presently fall upon us; let us fly with our horses, or at least

When he heard this the old man's heart failed him, and he was in great fear; he stayed where he was as one

dazed, and the hair stood on end over his whole body; but the bringer of good luck came up to him and took

him by the hand, saying, "Whither, father, are you thus driving your mules and horses in the dead of night

when other men are asleep? Are you not afraid of the fierce Achaeans who are hard by you, so cruel and

relentless? Should some one of them see you bearing so much treasure through the darkness of the flying

night, what would not your state then be? You are no longer young, and he who is with you is too old to

protect you from those who would attack you. For myself, I will do you no harm, and I will defend you from

And Priam answered, "It is indeed as you say, my dear son; nevertheless some god has held his hand over

me, in that he has sent such a wayfarer as yourself to meet me so Opportunely; you are so comely in mien and

figure, and your judgement is so excellent that you must come of blessed parents."

Then said the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, "Sir, all that you have said is right; but tell me and tell me

true, are you taking this rich treasure to send it to a foreign people where it may be safe, or are you all leaving

strong Ilius in dismay now that your son has fallen who was the bravest man among you and was never

And Priam said, "Wo are you, my friend, and who are your parents, that you speak so truly about the fate of

The slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, answered him, "Sir, you would prove me, that you question me

about noble Hector. Many a time have I set eyes upon him in battle when he was driving the Argives to their

ships and putting them to the sword. We stood still and marvelled, for Achilles in his anger with the son of

Atreus suffered us not to fight. I am his squire, and came with him in the same ship. I am a Myrmidon, and

my father's name is Polyctor: he is a rich man and about as old as you are; he has six sons besides myself, and

I am the seventh. We cast lots, and it fell upon me to sail hither with Achilles. I am now come from the ships

on to the plain, for with daybreak the Achaeans will set battle in array about the city. They chafe at doing

Then answered Priam, "If you are indeed the squire of Achilles son of Peleus, tell me now the Whole truth. Is

my son still at the ships, or has Achilles hewn him limb from limb, and given him to his hounds?"

"Sir," replied the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, "neither hounds nor vultures have yet devoured him;

he is still just lying at the tents by the ship of Achilles, and though it is now twelve days that he has lain there,

his flesh is not wasted nor have the worms eaten him although they feed on warriors. At daybreak Achilles

drags him cruelly round the sepulchre of his dear comrade, but it does him no hurt. You should come yourself

and see how he lies fresh as dew, with the blood all washed away, and his wounds every one of them closed

though many pierced him with their spears. Such care have the blessed gods taken of your brave son, for he

The old man was comforted as he heard him and said, "My son, see what a good thing it is to have made due

offerings to the immortals; for as sure as that he was born my son never forgot the gods that hold Olympus,

and now they requite it to him even in death. Accept therefore at my hands this goodly chalice; guard me and

Then answered the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, "Sir, you are tempting me and playing upon my

youth, but you shall not move me, for you are offering me presents without the knowledge of Achilles whom

I fear and hold it great guiltless to defraud, lest some evil presently befall me; but as your guide I would go

with you even to Argos itself, and would guard you so carefully whether by sea or land, that no one should

The bringer of good luck then sprang on to the chariot, and seizing the whip and reins he breathed fresh spirit

into the mules and horses. When they reached the trench and the wall that was before the ships, those who

were on guard had just been getting their suppers, and the slayer of Argus threw them all into a deep sleep.

Then he drew back the bolts to open the gates, and took Priam inside with the treasure he had upon his

waggon. Ere long they came to the lofty dwelling of the son of Peleus for which the Myrmidons had cut pine

and which they had built for their king; when they had built it they thatched it with coarse tussockgrass

which they had mown out on the plain, and all round it they made a large courtyard, which was fenced with

stakes set close together. The gate was barred with a single bolt of pine which it took three men to force into

its place, and three to draw back so as to open the gate, but Achilles could draw it by himself. Mercury

opened the gate for the old man, and brought in the treasure that he was taking with him for the son of Peleus.

Then he sprang from the chariot on to the ground and said, "Sir, it is I, immortal Mercury, that am come with

you, for my father sent me to escort you. I will now leave you, and will not enter into the presence of

Achilles, for it might anger him that a god should befriend mortal men thus openly. Go you within, and

embrace the knees of the son of Peleus: beseech him by his father, his lovely mother, and his son; thus you

With these words Mercury went back to high Olympus. Priam sprang from his chariot to the ground, leaving

Idaeus where he was, in charge of the mules and horses. The old man went straight into the house where

Achilles, loved of the gods, was sitting. There he found him with his men seated at a distance from him: only

two, the hero Automedon, and Alcimus of the race of Mars, were busy in attendance about his person, for he

had but just done eating and drinking, and the table was still there. King Priam entered without their seeing

him, and going right up to Achilles he clasped his knees and kissed the dread murderous hands that had slain

As when some cruel spite has befallen a man that he should have killed some one in his own country, and

must fly to a great man's protection in a land of strangers, and all marvel who see him, even so did Achilles

marvel as he beheld Priam. The others looked one to another and marvelled also, but Priam besought Achilles

saying, "Think of your father, O Achilles like unto the gods, who is such even as I am, on the sad threshold of

old age. It may be that those who dwell near him harass him, and there is none to keep war and ruin from

him. Yet when he hears of you being still alive, he is glad, and his days are full of hope that he shall see his

dear son come home to him from Troy; but I, wretched man that I am, had the bravest in all Troy for my

sons, and there is not one of them left. I had fifty sons when the Achaeans came here; nineteen of them were

from a single womb, and the others were borne to me by the women of my household. The greater part of

them has fierce Mars laid low, and Hector, him who was alone left, him who was the guardian of the city and

ourselves, him have you lately slain; therefore I am now come to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom his

body from you with a great ransom. Fear, O Achilles, the wrath of heaven; think on your own father and have

compassion upon me, who am the more pitiable, for I have steeled myself as no man yet has ever steeled

Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned as he bethought him of his father. He took the old man's

hand and moved him gently away. The two wept bitterly Priam, as he lay at Achilles' feet, weeping for

Hector, and Achilles now for his father and now for Patroclous, till the house was filled with their

lamentation. But when Achilles was now sated with grief and had unburthened the bitterness of his sorrow,

he left his seat and raised the old man by the hand, in pity for his white hair and beard; then he said,

"Unhappy man, you have indeed been greatly daring; how could you venture to come alone to the ships of the

Achaeans, and enter the presence of him who has slain so many of your brave sons? You must have iron

courage: sit now upon this seat, and for all our grief we will hide our sorrows in our hearts, for weeping will

not avail us. The immortals know no care, yet the lot they spin for man is full of sorrow; on the floor of Jove's

palace there stand two urns, the one filled with evil gifts, and the other with good ones. He for whom Jove the

lord of thunder mixes the gifts he sends, will meet now with good and now with evil fortune; but he to whom

Jove sends none but evil gifts will be pointed at by the finger of scorn, the hand of famine will pursue him to

the ends of the world, and he will go up and down the face of the earth, respected neither by gods nor men.

Even so did it befall Peleus; the gods endowed him with all good things from his birth upwards, for he

reigned over the Myrmidons excelling all men in prosperity and wealth, and mortal though he was they gave

him a goddess for his bride. But even on him too did heaven send misfortune, for there is no race of royal

children born to him in his house, save one son who is doomed to die all untimely; nor may I take care of him

now that he is growing old, for I must stay here at Troy to be the bane of you and your children. And you too,

O Priam, I have heard that you were aforetime happy. They say that in wealth and plenitude of offspring you

surpassed all that is in Lesbos, the realm of Makar to the northward, Phrygia that is more inland, and those

that dwell upon the great Hellespont; but from the day when the dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you,

war and slaughter have been about your city continually. Bear up against it, and let there be some intervals in

your sorrow. Mourn as you may for your brave son, you will take nothing by it. You cannot raise him from

And Priam answered, "O king, bid me not be seated, while Hector is still lying uncared for in your tents, but

accept the great ransom which I have brought you, and give him to me at once that I may look upon him.

May you prosper with the ransom and reach your own land in safety, seeing that you have suffered me to live

Achilles looked at him sternly and said, "Vex me, sir, no longer; I am of myself minded to give up the body

of Hector. My mother, daughter of the old man of the sea, came to me from Jove to bid me deliver it to you.

Moreover I know well, O Priam, and you cannot hide it, that some god has brought you to the ships of the

Achaeans, for else, no man however strong and in his prime would dare to come to our host; he could neither

pass our guard unseen, nor draw the bolt of my gates thus easily; therefore, provoke me no further, lest I sin

against the word of Jove, and suffer you not, suppliant though you are, within my tents."

The old man feared him and obeyed. Then the son of Peleus sprang like a lion through the door of his house,

not alone, but with him went his two squires Automedon and Alcimus who were closer to him than any

others of his comrades now that Patroclus was no more. These unyoked the horses and mules, and bade

Priam's herald and attendant be seated within the house. They lifted the ransom for Hector's body from the

waggon. but they left two mantles and a goodly shirt, that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he

gave it to be taken home. Then he called to his servants and ordered them to wash the body and anoint it, but

he first took it to a place where Priam should not see it, lest if he did so, he should break out in the bitterness

of his grief, and enrage Achilles, who might then kill him and sin against the word of Jove. When the servants

had washed the body and anointed it, and had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle, Achilles himself lifted it

on to a bier, and he and his men then laid it on the waggon. He cried aloud as he did so and called on the

name of his dear comrade, "Be not angry with me, Patroclus," he said, "if you hear even in the house of

Hades that I have given Hector to his father for a ransom. It has been no unworthy one, and I will share it

Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the richly inlaid seat from which he had risen, by

the wall that was at right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting. "Sir," he said, "your son is now

laid upon his bier and is ransomed according to desire; you shall look upon him when you him away at

daybreak; for the present let us prepare our supper. Even lovely Niobe had to think about eating, though her

twelve children six daughters and six lusty sons had been all slain in her house. Apollo killed the sons with

arrows from his silver bow, to punish Niobe, and Diana slew the daughters, because Niobe had vaunted

herself against Leto; she said Leto had borne two children only, whereas she had herself borne many

whereon the two killed the many. Nine days did they lie weltering, and there was none to bury them, for the

son of Saturn turned the people into stone; but on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves buried them,

and Niobe then took food, being worn out with weeping. They say that somewhere among the rocks on the

mountain pastures of Sipylus, where the nymphs live that haunt the river Achelous, there, they say, she lives

in stone and still nurses the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven. Therefore, noble sir, let us two now

take food; you can weep for your dear son hereafter as you are bearing him back to Ilius and many a tear

With this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of silvery whiteness, which his followers skinned

and made ready all in due order. They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces, spitted them, and drew

them off again when they were well roasted. Automedon brought bread in fair baskets and served it round the

table, while Achilles dealt out the meat, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them.

As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Priam, descendant of Dardanus, marvelled at the strength

and beauty of Achilles for he was as a god to see, and Achilles marvelled at Priam as he listened to him and

looked upon his noble presence. When they had gazed their fill Priam spoke first. "And now, O king," he

said, "take me to my couch that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of sleep. Never once have my

eyes been closed from the day your hands took the life of my son; I have grovelled without ceasing in the

mire of my stableyard, making moan and brooding over my countless sorrows. Now, moreover, I have eaten

As he spoke Achilles told his men and the womenservants to set beds in the room that was in the gatehouse,

and make them with good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the top of them with woollen cloaks for Priam

and Idaeus to wear. So the maids went out carrying a torch and got the two beds ready in all haste. Then

Achilles said laughingly to Priam, "Dear sir, you shall lie outside, lest some counsellor of those who in due

course keep coming to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of the flying night, and tell it to

Agamemnon. This might cause delay in the delivery of the body. And now tell me and tell me true, for how

many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of noble Hector? Tell me, that I may hold aloof from war and

And Priam answered, "Since, then, you suffer me to bury my noble son with all due rites, do thus, Achilles,

and I shall be grateful. You know how we are pent up within our city; it is far for us to fetch wood from the

mountain, and the people live in fear. Nine days, therefore, will we mourn Hector in my house; on the tenth

day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast in his honour; on the eleventh we will build a mound

And Achilles answered, "All, King Priam, shall be as you have said. I will stay our fighting for as long a time

As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man's right wrist, in token that he should have no fear; thus then did

Priam and his attendant sleep there in the forecourt, full of thought, while Achilles lay in an inner room of the

And now both gods and mortals were fast asleep through the livelong night, but upon Mercury alone, the

bringer of good luck, sleep could take no hold for he was thinking all the time how to get King Priam away

from the ships without his being seen by the strong force of sentinels. He hovered therefore over Priam's head

and said, "Sir, now that Achilles has spared your life, you seem to have no fear about sleeping in the thick of

your foes. You have paid a great ransom, and have received the body of your son; were you still alive and a

prisoner the sons whom you have left at home would have to give three times as much to free you; and so it

When he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant. Mercury then yoked their horses and

mules, and drove them quickly through the host so that no man perceived them. When they came to the ford

of eddying Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Mercury went back to high Olympus, and dawn in robe of

saffron began to break over all the land. Priam and Idaeus then drove on toward the city lamenting and

making moan, and the mules drew the body of Hector. No one neither man nor woman saw them, till

Cassandra, fair as golden Venus standing on Pergamus, caught sight of her dear father in his chariot, and his

servant that was the city's herald with him. Then she saw him that was lying upon the bier, drawn by the

mules, and with a loud cry she went about the city saying, "Come hither Trojans, men and women, and look

on Hector; if ever you rejoiced to see him coming from battle when he was alive, look now on him that was

At this there was not man nor woman left in the city, so great a sorrow had possessed them. Hard by the gates

they met Priam as he was bringing in the body. Hector's wife and his mother were the first to mourn him:

they flew towards the waggon and laid their hands upon his head, while the crowd stood weeping round

them. They would have stayed before the gates, weeping and lamenting the livelong day to the going down of

the sun, had not Priam spoken to them from the chariot and said, "Make way for the mules to pass you.

Afterwards when I have taken the body home you shall have your fill of weeping."

On this the people stood asunder, and made a way for the waggon. When they had borne the body within the

house they laid it upon a bed and seated minstrels round it to lead the dirge, whereon the women joined in the

sad music of their lament. Foremost among them all Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of

mighty Hector in her embrace. "Husband," she cried, "you have died young, and leave me in your house a

widow; he of whom we are the illstarred parents is still a mere child, and I fear he may not reach manhood.

Ere he can do so our city will be razed and overthrown, for you who watched over it are no more you who

were its saviour, the guardian of our wives and children. Our women will be carried away captives to the

ships, and I among them; while you, my child, who will be with me will be put to some unseemly tasks,

working for a cruel master. Or, may be, some Achaean will hurl you (O miserable death) from our walls, to

avenge some brother, son, or father whom Hector slew; many of them have indeed bitten the dust at his

hands, for your father's hand in battle was no light one. Therefore do the people mourn him. You have left, O

Hector, sorrow unutterable to your parents, and my own grief is greatest of all, for you did not stretch forth

your arms and embrace me as you lay dying, nor say to me any words that might have lived with me in my

Bitterly did she weep the while, and the women joined in her lament. Hecuba in her turn took up the strains of

woe. "Hector," she cried, "dearest to me of all my children. So long as you were alive the gods loved you

well, and even in death they have not been utterly unmindful of you; for when Achilles took any other of my

sons, he would sell him beyond the seas, to Samos Imbrus or rugged Lemnos; and when he had slain you too

with his sword, many a time did he drag you round the sepulchre of his comrade though this could not give

him lifeyet here you lie all fresh as dew, and comely as one whom Apollo has slain with his painless shafts."

Thus did she too speak through her tears with bitter moan, and then Helen for a third time took up the strain

of lamentation. "Hector," said she, "dearest of all my brothersinlawfor I am wife to Alexandrus who

brought me hither to Troy would that I had died ere he did sotwenty years are come and gone since I left my

home and came from over the sea, but I have never heard one word of insult or unkindness from you. When

another would chide with me, as it might be one of your brothers or sisters or of your brothers' wives, or my

motherinlawfor Priam was as kind to me as though he were my own father you would rebuke and check

them with words of gentleness and goodwill. Therefore my tears flow both for you and for my unhappy self,

for there is no one else in Troy who is kind to me, but all shrink and shudder as they go by me."

She wept as she spoke and the vast crowd that was gathered round her joined in her lament. Then King Priam

spoke to them saying, "Bring wood, O Trojans, to the city, and fear no cunning ambush of the Argives, for

Achilles when he dismissed me from the ships gave me his word that they should not attack us until the

Forthwith they yoked their oxen and mules and gathered together before the city. Nine days long did they

bring in great heaps wood, and on the morning of the tenth day with many tears they took trave Hector forth,

laid his dead body upon the summit of the pile, and set the fire thereto. Then when the child of morning

rosyfingered dawn appeared on the eleventh day, the people again assembled, round the pyre of mighty

Hector. When they were got together, they first quenched the fire with wine wherever it was burning, and

then his brothers and comrades with many a bitter tear gathered his white bones, wrapped them in soft robes

of purple, and laid them in a golden urn, which they placed in a grave and covered over with large stones set

close together. Then they built a barrow hurriedly over it keeping guard on every side lest the Achaeans

should attack them before they had finished. When they had heaped up the barrow they went back again into

the city, and being well assembled they held high feast in the house of Priam their king.