Complete Works of Homer

by Homer

  As far as Ilion, lest the Gods that favour Troy come forth

  To thy. encounter, for the Sun much loves it; and my worth,

  In what thou suffer'st, will be wronged, that I would let my friend

  Assume an action of such weight without me; and transcend

  His friend's prescription. Do not then affect a further fight

  Than I may strengthen. Let the rest, when thou hast done this right,

  Perform the rest. O would to Jove, thou Pallas, and thou Sun,

  That riot a man housed underneath those tow'rs of Ilion,

  Nor any one of all the Greeks, how infinite a sum

  Soever all together make, might live unovercome,

  But only we two, 'scaping death, might have the thund'ring down

  Of every stone stuck in the walls of this so sacred town!"

  Thus spake they only 'twixt themselves. And now the foe no more

  Could Ajax stand, being so oppressed with all the iron store

  The Trojans poured on; with whose darts, and with Jove's will beside,

  His pow'rs were cloyed, and his bright helm did deaf'ning blows abide,

  His plume and all head-ornaments could never hang in rest.

  His arm yet laboured up his shield, and having done their best,

  They could not stir him from his stand, although he wrought it out

  With short respirings, and with sweat that ceaseless flowed about

  His reeking limbs; no least time given to take in any breath;

  111 strengthened ill; when one was up, another was beneath.

  Now, Muses, you that dwell in heaven, the dreadful mean inspire,

  That first enforced the Grecian fleet to take in Trojan fire.

  First Hector with his huge broad sword cut off, at setting on,

  The head of Ajax' ashen lance; which Ajax seeing gone,

  And that he shook a headless spear, a little while unware,

  His wary spirits told him straight the hand of Heaven was there,

  And trembling under his conceit, which was that 'twas Jove's deed,

  Who, as he polled off his dart's head, so sure he had decreed

  That all the counsels of their war he would poll off like it,

  And give the Trojans victory; so trusted he his wit,

  And left his darts. And then the ship was heaped with horrid brands

  Of kindling fire, which instantly was seen through all the strands

  In unextinguishable flames that all the ship embraced.

  And then Achilles beat his thighs, cried out, " Patroclus, haste,

  Make way with horse. I see at fleet a fire of fearful rage.

  Arm, arm, lest all our fleet it fire, and all our pow'r engage.

  Arm quickly, I'll bring up the troops." To these so dreadful wars

  Patroclus, in Achilles' arms, enlightened all with stars,

  And richly amell'd, all haste made. He wore his sword, his shield,

  His huge plumed helm, and two such spears as he could nimbly wield.

  But the most famed Achilles' spear, big, solid, full of weight,

  He only left of all his arms; for that far passed the might

  Of any Greek to shake but his, Achilles' only ire

  Shook that huge weapon, that was given by Chiron to his sire,

  Cut from the top of Pelion, to be heroes' deaths.

  His steeds Automedon straight joined; like whom no man that breathes,

  Next Peleus' son, Patroclus loved, for, like him, none so great

  He found in faith at every fight, nor to out-look a threat.

  Automedon did therefore guide for him Achilles' steeds,

  Xanthius and Balius swift as wind, begotten by the seeds

  Of Zephyr, and the Harpy born, Podarge, in a mead

  Close to the wavy ocean, where that fierce Harpy fed.

  Automedon joined these before, and with the hindmost gears

  He fastened famous Pedasus, whom, from the massacres

  Made by Achilles, when he took Eetion's wealthy town,

  He brought, and, though of mortal race, yet gave him the renown

  To follow his immortal horse. And now, before his tents,

  Himself had seen his Myrmidons in all habiliments

  Of dreadful war. And when ye see, upon a mountain bred,

  A den of wolves, about whose hearts unmeasured strengths are fed,

  New come from currie of a stag, their jaws all blood-besmeared,

  And when from some black-water fount they all together herd,

  There having plentifully lapped with thin and thrust-out tongues

  The top and clearest of the spring, go belching from their lungs

  The clottered gore, look dreadfully, and entertain no dread,

  Their bellies gaunt all taken up with being so rawly fed;

  Then say, that such, in strength and look, were great Achilles' men

  Now ordered for the dreadful fight, and so with all them then

  Their princes and their chiefs did show about their General's friend;

  His friend, and all, about himself who chiefly did intend

  Th' embattelling of horse and foot. To that siege, held so long,

  Twice five and twenty sail he brought, twice five and twenty strong

  Of able men was every sail. Five colonels he made

  Of all those forces, trusty men, and all of pow'r to lead,

  But he of pow'r beyond them all. Menesthius was one,

  That ever wore discoloured arms; he was a river's son

  That fell from heaven, and good to drink was his delightful stream,

  His name unwearied Sperchius, he loved the lovely dame

  Fair Polydora, Peleus' seed, and dear in Borus' sight,

  And she to that celestial Flood gave this Menesthius light,

  A woman mixing with a God. Yet Borus bore the name

  ¦Of father to Menesthius, he marrying the dame,

  And giving her a mighty dower; he was the kind descent

  Of Perieres. The next man, renowned with regiment,

  Was strong Eudorus, brought to life by one supposed a maid,

  Bright Polymela, Phylas' seed, but had the wanton played

  With Argus-killing Mercury, who (fired with her fair eyes

  As she was singing in the quire of Her that makes the cries

  In clamorous hunting, and doth hear the crooked bow of gold)

  Stole to her bed in that chaste room that Phoebe chaste did hold,

  And gave her that swift warlike son, Eudorus, brought to light

  As she was dancing; but as soon as She that rules the plight

  Of labouring women eased her throes, and showed her son the sun,

  Strong Echecasus, Actor's heir, wooed earnestly, and won

  Her second favour, feeing her with gifts of infinite prize,

  And after brought her to his house, where, in his grandsire's eyes,

  Old Phylas, Polymela's son obtained exceeding grace,

  And found as careful bringing up as of his natural race

  He had descended. The third chief was fair Masmalides

  Pisandrus, who in skill of darts obtained supremest praise

  Of all the Myrmidons, except their lord's companion.

  The fourth charge aged Phoenix had. The fifth Alcimedon,

  Son of Laerces, and 'much famed. All these digested thus

  In fit place by the mighty son of royal Peleus,

  This stern remembrance he gave all: " You, Myrmidons," said he,

  “Lest any of you should forget his threat'nings used to me

  In this place, and, through all the time that my just anger reigned,

  Attempting me with bitter words for being so restrained,

  For my hot humour, from the fight, remember them as these :

  ' Thou cruel son of Peleus, whom She that rules the seas

  Did only nourish with her gall, thou dost ungently hold

  Our hands against our wills from fight. We
will not be controlled,

  But take our ships and sail for home, before we loiter here

  And feed thy fury.' These high words exceeding often were

  The threats that, in your mutinous troops, ye used to me for wrath

  To be detained so from the field. Now then, your spleens may bathe

  In sweat of those great works ye wished; now, he that can employ

  A generous heart, go fight, and fright these bragging sons of Troy."

  This set their minds and strengths on fire, the speech enforcing well,

  Being used in time, but, being their king's, it much more did impel,

  And closer rushed in all the troops. And as, for buildings high,

  The mason lays his stones more thick, against th' extremity

  Of wind and weather, and even then, if any storm arise,

  He thickens them the more for that, the present act so plies

  His honest mind to make sure work; so, for the high estate

  This work was brought to, these men's minds, according to the rate,

  Were raised, and all their bodies joined; but their well-spoken king,

  With ttiis so timely-thought-on speech, more sharp made valour's sting,

  And thick'ned so their targets bossed, so all their helmets then,

  That shields propped shields, helms helmets knocked, and men encouraged men.

  Patroclus and Automedon did arm before them all,

  Two bodies with one mind informed; and then the General

  Betook him to his private tent, where from a coffer wrought

  Most rich and curiously, and given by Thetis to be brought

  In his own ship, top-filled with vests, warm robes to check cold wind,

  And tapestries all golden fringed and curled with thrumbs behind,

  He took a most unvalued bowl, in which none drank but he,

  Nor he but to the Deities, nor any Deity

  But Jove himself was served with that; and that he first did cleanse

  With sulphur, then with fluences of sweetest water rense,

  Then washed his hands, and drew himself a mighty bowl of wine,

  Which (standing midst the place enclosed for services divine,

  And looking up to heaven and Jove, who saw him well) he poured

  Upon the place of sacrifice, and humbly thus implored :

  “Great Dodonseus, president of cold Dodone's tow'rs,

  Divine Pelasgicus that dwell'st far hence; about whose bow'rs

  Th' austere prophetic Selli dwell, that still sleep on the ground,

  Go bare, and never cleanse their feet; as I before have found

  Grace to my vows, and hurt to Greece, so now my prayers intend.

  I still stay in the gathered fleet, but haVe dismissed my friend

  Amongst my many Myrmidons to danger of the dart:

  O grant his valour my renown, arm with my mind his heart,

  That Hector's self may know my friend can work in single war,

  And not then only show his hands, so hot and singular,

  When my kind presence seconds him. But fight he ne'er so well,

  No further let him trust his fight, but, when he shall repel

  Clamour and danger from our fleet, vouchsafe a safe retreat

  To him and all his companies with fames and arms complete."

  He prayed, and heaven's great Counsellor gave satisfying ear

  To one part of his orisons, but left the other there;

  He let him free the fleet of foes, but safe retreat denied.

  Achilles left that utter part where he his zeal applied,

  And turned into his inner tent, made fast his cup, and then

  Stood forth, and with his mind beheld the foes fight, and his men

  That.followed his great-minded friend, embattled till they brake

  With gallant spirit upon the foe. And as fell wasps, that make

  Their dwellings in the broad highway, which foolish children use

  (Their cottages being near their nests) to anger and abuse

  With ever vexing them, and breed (to soothe their childish war)

  A common ill to many men, since if a traveller

  (That would his journey's end apply, and pass them unassayed)

  Come near and vex them, upon him the children's faults are laid,

  For on they fly as he were such, and still defend their own;

  So fared it with the fervent mind of every Myrmidon,

  Who poured themselves out of their fleet upon their wanton foes,

  That needs would stir them, thrust so near, and cause the overthrows

  Of many others that had else been never touched by them,

  Nor would have touched. Patroclus then put his wind to the stream,

  And thus exhorted : " Now, my friends, remember you express

  Your late-urged virtue, and renown our great Aeacides,

  That he being strongest of all the Greeks, his eminence may dim

  All others likewise in our strengths that far off imitate him;

  And Agamemnon now may see his fault as general

  As his place high, dishonouring him that so much honours all."

  Thus made he sparkle their fresh fire, and on they rushed; the fleet

  Filled full her hollow sides with sounds that terribly did greet

  Th' amazed Trojans, and their eyes did second their amaze

  When great Mensetius' son they saw, and his friend's armour blaze.

  All troops stood troubled with conceit that Peleus' son was there,

  His anger cast off at the ships, and each looked every where

  For some authority to lead the then prepared flight.

  Patroclus greeted with a lance the region where the fight

  Made strongest tumult, near the ship Protesilaus brought,

  And struck Pyrsechmen, who before the fair-helmed Paeons fought,

  Led from Amydon, near whose walls the broad-streamed Axius flows.

  Through his right shoulder flew the dart, whose blow struck all the blows

  In his pow'r from his pow'rless arm, and down he groaning fell;

  His men all flying, their leader fled. This one dart did repel

  The whole guard placed about the ship, whose fire extinct, half burned

  The Paeons left her, and full cry to clamorous flight returned.

  Then spread the Greeks about their ships, triumphant tumult flowed,

  And, as from top of some steep hill the Lightner strips a cloud,

  And lets a great sky out from heaven, in whose delightsome light,

  All prominent foreheads, forests, tow'rs, and temples cheer the sight;

  So cleared these Greeks this Trojan cloud, and at their ships and tents

  Obtained a little time to breathe, but found no present vents

  To their inclusions; nor did Troy, though these Pseonians fled,

  Lose any ground, but from this ship they needfully turned head.

  Then every man a m^n subdued. Patroclus in the thigh

  Struck Areilycus; his dart the bone did break and fly

  Quite through, and sunk him to the earth. Good Menelaus slew

  Accomplished Thoas, in whose breast, being naked, his lance he threw

  Above his shield, and freed his soul. Phylides taking note

  That bold Amphiclus bent at him, prevented him, and smote

  His thigh's extreme part, where of man his fattest muscle lies,

  The nerves torn with his lance's pile, and darkness closed his eyes.

  Antilochus Atymnius seized, his steel lance did impress

  His first three guts, and loosed his life. At young Nestorides

  Maris, Atymnius' brother flew, and at him Thrasymed,

  The brother to Antilochus; his eager javelin's head

  The muscles of his arm cut out, and shivered all the bone;

  Night closed his eyes, his lifeless corse his brother fell upon.

  And so by two kind brothers' hands did two kind br
others bleed,

  Both being divine Sarpedon's friends, and were the darting seed

  Of Amisodarus, that kept the bane of many men

  Abhorred Chimsera, and such bane now caught his childeren.

  Ajax Oiliades did take Cleobulus alive,

  Invading him stayed by the press, and at him then let drive

  With his short sword that cut his neck, whose blood warmed all the steel,

  And cold Death with a violent fate his sable eyes did seel.

  Peneleus and Lycon cast together off their darts,

  But missed; and both together then went with their swords; in parts

  The blade and hilt went, laying on upon the helmet's height.

  Peneleus' sword caught Lycon's neck, and cut it thorough quite.

  His head hung by the very skin. The swift Meriones,

  Pursuing flying Acamas, just as he got access

  To horse and chariot overtook, and took him such a blow

  On his right shoulder that he left his chariot, and did strow

  The dusty earth; life left his limbs, and night his eyes possessed.

  Idomenseus his stern dart at Erymas addressed,

  As, like to Acamas, he fled; it cut the sundry bones

  Beneath his brain, betwixt his neck and foreparts, and so runs,

  Shaking his teeth out, through his mouth, his eyes all drowned in blood,

  So through his nostrils and his mouth, that now dart-open stood/

  He breathed his spirit. Thus had death from every Grecian chief

  A chief of Troy. For, as to kids or lambs their cruell'st thief,

  The wolf, steals in, and, when he sees that by the shepherd's sloth

  The dams are spersed about the hills, then serves his ravenous tooth

  With ease, because his prey is weak; so served the Greeks their foes,

  Discerning well how shrieking flight did all their spirits dispose,

  Their biding virtues quite forgot. And now the natural spleen

  That Ajax bore to Hector still by all means would have been

  Within his bosom with a dart, but he that knew the war,

  Well covered in a well-lined shield, did well perceive how far

  The arrows and the javelins reached by being within their sounds

  And ominous singings, and observed the there-inclining bounds

  Of conquest in her aid of him, and so obeyed her change,

  Took safest course for him and his, and stood to her as strange.

  And as, when Jove intends a storm, he lets out of the stars,

  From steep Olympus, a black cloud that all heaven's splendour bars

  From men on earth; so from the hearts of all the Trojan host