Complete Works of Homer

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Complete Works of Homer Page 157

by Homer


  And through the ranks vociferating, call'd

  His Trojans on; they, clamorous as he,

  All lash'd their steeds, and menacing, advanced.

  Before them with his feet Apollo push'd

  The banks into the foss, bridging the gulf

  With pass commodious, both in length and breadth

  A lance's flight, for proof of vigor hurl'd.

  There, phalanx after phalanx, they their host

  Pour'd dense along, while Phœbus in the van

  Display'd the awful ægis, and the wall

  Levell'd with ease divine. As, on the shore

  Some wanton boy with sand builds plaything walls,

  Then, sportive spreads them with his feet abroad,

  So thou, shaft-arm'd Apollo! that huge work

  Laborious of the Greeks didst turn with ease

  To ruin, and themselves drovest all to flight.

  They, thus enforced into the fleet, again

  Stood fast, with mutual exhortation each

  His friend encouraging, and all the Gods

  With lifted hands soliciting aloud.

  But, more than all, Gerenian Nestor pray'd

  Fervent, Achaia's guardian, and with arms

  Outstretch'd toward the starry skies, exclaim'd.

  Jove, Father! if in corn-clad Argos, one,

  One Greek hath ever, burning at thy shrine

  Fat thighs of sheep or oxen, ask'd from thee

  A safe return, whom thou hast gracious heard,

  Olympian King! and promised what he sought,

  Now, in remembrance of it, give us help

  In this disastrous day, nor thus permit

  Their Trojan foes to tread the Grecians down!

  So Nestor pray'd, and Jove thunder'd aloud

  Responsive to the old Neleïan's prayer.

  But when that voice of Ægis-bearing Jove

  The Trojans heard, more furious on the Greeks

  They sprang, all mindful of the fight. As when

  A turgid billow of some spacious sea,

  While the wind blow that heaves its highest, borne

  Sheer o'er the vessel's side, rolls into her,

  With such loud roar the Trojans pass'd the wall;

  In rush'd the steeds, and at the ships they waged

  Fierce battle hand to hand, from chariots, these,

  With spears of double edge, those, from the decks

  Of many a sable bark, with naval poles

  Long, ponderous, shod with steel; for every ship

  Had such, for conflict maritime prepared.

  While yet the battle raged only without

  The wall, and from the ships apart, so long

  Patroclus quiet in the tent and calm

  Sat of Eurypylus, his generous friend

  Consoling with sweet converse, and his wound

  Sprinkling with drugs assuasive of his pains.

  But soon as through the broken rampart borne

  He saw the Trojans, and the clamor heard

  And tumult of the flying Greeks, a voice

  Of loud lament uttering, with open palms

  His thighs he smote, and, sorrowful, exclaim'd.

  Eurypylus! although thy need be great,

  No longer may I now sit at thy side,

  Such contest hath arisen; thy servant's voice

  Must soothe thee now, for I will to the tent

  Haste of Achilles, and exhort him forth;

  Who knows? if such the pleasure of the Gods,

  I may prevail; friends rarely plead in vain.

  So saying, he went. Meantime the Greeks endured

  The Trojan onset, firm, yet from the ships

  Repulsed them not, though fewer than themselves,

  Nor could the host of Troy, breaking the ranks

  Of Greece, mix either with the camp or fleet;

  But as the line divides the plank aright,

  Stretch'd by some naval architect, whose hand

  Minerva hath accomplish'd in his art,

  So stretch'd on them the cord of battle lay.

  Others at other ships the conflict waged,

  But Hector to the ship advanced direct

  Of glorious Ajax; for one ship they strove;

  Nor Hector, him dislodging thence, could fire

  The fleet, nor Ajax from the fleet repulse

  Hector, conducted thither by the Gods.

  Then, noble Ajax with a spear the breast

  Pierced of Caletor, son of Clytius, arm'd

  With fire to burn his bark; sounding he fell,

  And from his loosen'd grasp down dropp'd the brand.

  But Hector seeing his own kinsman fallen

  Beneath the sable bark, with mighty voice

  Call'd on the hosts of Lycia and of Troy.

  Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting sons

  Of Dardanus, within this narrow pass

  Stand firm, retreat not, but redeem the son

  Of Clytius, lest the Grecians of his arms

  Despoil him slain in battle at the ships.

  So saying, at Ajax his bright spear he cast

  Him pierced he not, but Lycophron the son

  Of Mastor, a Cytherian, who had left

  Cytheras, fugitive for blood, and dwelt

  With Ajax. Him standing at Ajax' side,

  He pierced above his ear; down from the stern

  Supine he fell, and in the dust expired.

  Then, shuddering, Ajax to his brother spake.

  Alas, my Teucer! we have lost our friend;

  Mastorides is slain, whom we received

  An inmate from Cytheræ, and with love

  And reverence even filia,, entertain'd;

  B Hector pierced, he dies. Where are thy shafts

  Death-wing'd, and bow, by gift from Phœbus thine?

  He said, whom Teucer hearing, instant ran

  With bow and well-stored quiver to his side,

  Whence soon his arrows sought the Trojan host.

  He struck Pisenor's son Clytus, the friend

  And charioteer of brave Polydamas,

  Offspring of Panthus, toiling with both hands

  To rule his fiery steeds; for more to please

  The Trojans and their Chief, where stormy most

  He saw the battle, thither he had driven.

  But sudden mischief, valiant as he was,

  Found him, and such as none could waft aside,

  For right into his neck the arrow plunged,

  And down he fell; his startled coursers shook

  Their trappings, and the empty chariot rang.

  That sound alarm'd Polydamas; he turn'd,

  And flying to their heads, consign'd them o'er

  To Protiaön's son, Astynoüs,

  Whom he enjoin'd to keep them in his view;

  Then, turning, mingled with the van again.

  But Teucer still another shaft produced

  Design'd for valiant Hector, whose exploits

  (Had that shaft reach'd him) at the ships of Greece

  Had ceased for ever. But the eye of Jove,

  Guardian of Hector's life, slept not; he took

  From Telamonian Tecer that renown,

  And while he stood straining the twisted nerve

  Against the Trojan, snapp'd it. Devious flew

  The steel-charged arrow, and he dropp'd his bow.

  Then shuddering, to his brother thus he spake.

  Ah! it is evident. Some Power divine

  Makes fruitless all our efforts, who hath struck

  My bow out of my hand, and snapt the cord

  With which I strung it new at dawn of day,

  That it might bear the bound of many a shaft.

  To whom the towering son of Telamon.

  Leave then thy bow, and let thine arrows rest,

  Which, envious of the Greeks, some God confounds,

  That thou may'st fight with spear and buckler arm'd,

  And animate the rest. Su
ch be our deeds

  That, should they conquer us, our foes may find

  Our ships, at least a prize not lightly won.

  So Ajax spake; then Teucer, in his tent

  The bow replacing, slung his fourfold shield,

  Settled on his illustrious brows his casque

  With hair high-crested, waving, as he moved,

  Terrible from above, took forth a spear

  Tough-grain'd, acuminated sharp with brass,

  And stood, incontinent, at Ajax' side.

  Hector perceived the change, and of the cause

  Conscious, with echoing voice call'd to his host.

  Trojans and Lycians and close-fighting sons

  Of Dardanus, oh now, my friends, be men;

  Now, wheresoever through the fleet dispersed,

  Call into mind the fury of your might!

  For I have seen, myself, Jove rendering vain

  The arrows of their mightiest. Man may know

  With ease the hand of interposing Jove,

  Both whom to glory he ordains, and whom

  He weakens and aids not; so now he leaves

  The Grecians, but propitious smiles on us.

  Therefore stand fast, and whosoever gall'd

  By arrow or by spear, dies — let him die;

  It shall not shame him that he died to serve

  His country, but his children, wife and home,

  With all his heritage, shall be secure,

  Drive but the Grecians from the shores of Troy.

  So saying, he animated each. Meantime,

  Ajax his fellow-warriors thus address'd.

  Shame on you all! Now, Grecians, either die,

  Or save at once your galley and yourselves.

  Hope ye, that should your ships become the prize

  Of warlike Hector, ye shall yet return

  On foot? Or hear ye not the Chief aloud

  Summoning all his host, and publishing

  His own heart's wish to burn your fleet with fire?

  Not to a dance, believe me, but to fight

  He calls them; therefore wiser course for us

  Is none, than that we mingle hands with hands

  In contest obstinate, and force with force.

  Better at once to perish, or at once

  To rescue life, than to consume the time

  Hour after hour in lingering conflict vain

  Here at the ships, with an inferior foe.

  He said, and by his words into all hearts

  Fresh confidence infused. Then Hector smote

  Schedius, a Chief of the Phocensian powers

  And son of Perimedes; Ajax slew,

  Meantime, a Chief of Trojan infantry,

  Laodamas, Antenor's noble son

  While by Polydamas, a leader bold

  Of the Epeans, and Phylides' friend,

  Cyllenian Otus died. Meges that sight

  Viewing indignant on the conqueror sprang,

  But, starting wide, Polydamas escaped,

  Saved by Apollo, and his spear transpierced

  The breast of Cræsmus; on his sounding shield

  Prostrate he fell, and Meges stripp'd his arms.

  Him so employ'd Dolops assail'd, brave son

  Of Lampus, best of men and bold in fight,

  Offspring of King Laomedon; he stood

  Full near, and through his middle buckler struck

  The son of Phyleus, but his corselet thick

  With plates of scaly brass his life secured.

  That corselet Phyleus on a time brought home

  From Ephyre, where the Selleïs winds,

  And it was given him for his life's defence

  In furious battle by the King of men,

  Euphetes. Many a time had it preserved

  Unharm'd the sire, and now it saved the son.

  Then Meges, rising, with his pointed lance

  The bushy crest of Dolops' helmet drove

  Sheer from its base; new-tinged with purple bright

  Entire it fell and mingled with the dust.

  While thus they strove, each hoping victory,

  Came martial Menelaus to the aid

  Of Meges; spear in hand apart he stood

  By Dolops unperceived, through his back drove

  And through his breast the spear, and far beyond.

  And down fell Dolops, forehead to the ground.

  At once both flew to strip his radiant arms,

  Then, Hector summoning his kindred, call'd

  Each to his aid, and Melanippus first,

  Illustrious Hicetaon's son, reproved.

  Ere yet the enemies of Troy arrived

  He in Percote fed his wandering beeves;

  But when the Danaï with all their fleet

  Came thither, then returning, he outshone

  The noblest Trojans, and at Priam's side

  Dwelling, was honor'd by him as a son.

  Him Hector reprimanding, stern began.

  Are we thus slack? Can Melanippus view

  Unmoved a kinsman slain? Seest not the Greeks

  How busy there with Dolops and his arms?

  Come on. It is no time for distant war,

  But either our Achaian foes must bleed,

  Or Ilium taken, from her topmost height

  Must stoop, and all her citizens be slain.

  So saying he went, whose steps the godlike Chief

  Attended; and the Telamonian, next,

  Huge Ajax, animated thus the Greeks.

  Oh friends, be men! Deep treasure in your hearts

  An honest shame, and, fighting bravely, fear

  Each to incur the censure of the rest.

  Of men so minded more survive than die,

  While dastards forfeit life and glory both.

  So moved he them, themselves already bent

  To chase the Trojans; yet his word they bore

  Faithful in mind, and with a wall of brass

  Fenced firm the fleet, while Jove impell'd the foe.

  Then Menelaus, brave in fight, approach'd

  Antilochus, and thus his courage roused.

  Antilochus! in all the host is none

  Younger, or swifter, or of stronger limb

  Than thou. Make trial, therefore, of thy might,

  Spring forth and prove it on some Chief of Troy.

  He ended and retired, but him his praise

  Effectual animated; from the van

  Starting, he cast a wistful eye around

  And hurl'd his glittering spear; back fell the ranks

  Of Troy appall'd; nor vain his weapon flew,

  But Melanippus pierced heroic son

  Of Hicetaon, coming forth to fight,

  Full in the bosom, and with dreadful sound

  Of all his batter'd armor down he fell.

  Swift flew Antilochus as flies the hound

  Some fawn to seize, which issuing from her lair

  The hunter with his lance hath stricken dead,

  So thee, O Melanippus! to despoil

  Of thy bright arms valiant Antilochus

  Sprang forth, but not unnoticed by the eye

  Of noble Hector, who through all the war

  Ran to encounter him; his dread approach

  Antilochus, although expert in arms,

  Stood not, but as some prowler of the wilds,

  Conscious of injury that he hath done,

  Slaying the watchful herdsman or his dog,

  Escapes, ere yet the peasantry arise,

  So fled the son of Nestor, after whom

  The Trojans clamoring and Hector pour'd

  Darts numberless; but at the front arrived

  Of his own phalanx, there he turn'd and stood.

  Then, eager as voracious lions, rush'd

  The Trojans on the fleet of Greece, the mind

  Of Jove accomplishing who them impell'd

  Continual, calling all their courage forth,

  While, every Grecian heart he tamed, and too
k

  Their glory from them, strengthening Ilium's host.

  For Jove's unalter'd purpose was to give

  Success to Priameian Hector's arms,

  That he might cast into the fleet of Greece

  Devouring flames, and that no part might fail

  Of Thetis' ruthless prayer; that sight alone

  He watch'd to see, one galley in a blaze,

  Ordaining foul repulse, thenceforth, and flight

  To Ilium's host, but glory to the Greeks.

  Such was the cause for which, at first, he moved

  To that assault Hector, himself prepared

  And ardent for the task; nor less he raged

  Than Mars while fighting, or than flames that seize

  Some forest on the mountain-tops; the foam

  Hung at his lips, beneath his awful front

  His keen eyes glisten'd, and his helmet mark'd

  The agitation wild with which he fought.

  For Jove omnipotent, himself, from heaven

  Assisted Hector, and, although alone

  With multitudes he strove, gave him to reach

  The heights of glory, for that now his life

  Waned fast, and, urged by Pallas on, his hour

  To die by Peleus' mighty son approach'd.

  He then, wherever richest arms he saw

  And thickest throng, the warrior-ranks essay'd

  To break, but broke them not, though fierce resolved,

  In even square compact so firm they stood.

  As some vast rock beside the hoary Deep

  The stress endures of many a hollow wind,

  And the huge billows tumbling at his base,

  So stood the Danaï, nor fled nor fear'd.

  But he, all-fiery bright in arms, the host

  Assail'd on every side, and on the van

  Fell, as a wave by wintry blasts upheaved

  Falls ponderous on the ship; white clings the foam

  Around her, in her sail shrill howls the storm,

  And every seaman trembles at the view

  Of thousand deaths from which he scarce escapes,

  Such anguish rent the bosom of the Greeks.

  But he, as leaps a famish'd lion fell

  On beeves that graze some marshy meadow's breadth,

  A countless herd, tended by one unskill'd

  To cope with savage beasts in their defence,

  Beside the foremost kine or with the last

  He paces heedless, but the lion, borne

  Impetuous on the midmost, one devours

  And scatters all the rest, so fled the Greeks,

  Terrified from above, before the arm

  Of Hector, and before the frown of Jove.

  All fled, but of them all alone he slew

  The Mycenæan Periphetes, son

  Of Copreus custom'd messenger of King

  Eurystheus to the might of Hercules.

  From such a sire inglorious had arisen

 

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