Complete Works of Homer

by Homer

  He, on the death of Oedipus, at Thebes

  Contending in the games held at his tomb,

  Had overcome the whole Cadmean race.

  Him Diomede spear-famed for fight prepared,

  Giving him all encouragement, for much

  He wish'd him victory. First then he threw

  His cincture to him; next, he gave him thongs

  Cut from the hide of a wild buffalo.

  Both girt around, into the midst they moved.

  Then, lifting high their brawny arms, and fists

  Mingling with fists, to furious fight they fell;

  Dire was the crash of jaws, and the sweat stream'd

  From every limb. Epeüs fierce advanced,

  And while Euryalus with cautious eye

  Watch'd his advantage, pash'd him on the cheek

  He stood no longer, but, his shapely limbs,

  Unequal to his weight, sinking, he fell.

  As by the rising north-wind driven ashore

  A huge fish flounces on the weedy beach,

  Which soon the sable flood covers again,

  So, beaten down, he bounded. But Epeüs,

  Heroic chief, upraised him by his hand,

  And his own comrades from the circus forth

  Led him, step dragging after step, the blood

  Ejecting grumous, and at every pace

  Rolling his head languid from side to side.

  They placed him all unconscious on his seat

  In his own band, then fetch'd his prize, the cup.

  Still other prizes, then, Achilles placed

  In view of all, the sturdy wrestler's meed.

  A large hearth-tripod, valued by the Greeks

  At twice six beeves, should pay the victor's toil;

  But for the vanquish'd, in the midst he set

  A damsel in variety expert

  Of arts domestic, valued at four beeves.

  He rose erect, and to the Greeks he cried.

  Arise ye, now, who shall this prize dispute.

  So spake the son of Peleus; then arose

  Huge Telamonian Ajax, and upstood

  Ulysses also, in all wiles adept.

  Both girt around, into the midst they moved.

  With vigorous gripe each lock'd the other fast,

  Like rafters, standing, of some mansion built

  By a prime artist proof against all winds.

  Their backs, tugg'd vehemently, creak'd, the sweat

  Trickled, and on their flanks and shoulders, red

  The whelks arose; they bearing still in mind

  The tripod, ceased not struggling for the prize.

  Nor could Ulysses from his station move

  And cast down Ajax, nor could Ajax him

  Unsettle, fixt so firm Ulysses stood.

  But when, long time expectant, all the Greeks

  Grew weary, then, huge Ajax him bespake.

  Laertes' noble son, for wiles renown'd!

  Lift, or be lifted, and let Jove decide.

  He said, and heaved Ulysses. Then, his wiles

  Forgat not he, but on the ham behind

  Chopp'd him; the limbs of Ajax at the stroke

  Disabled sank; he fell supine, and bore

  Ulysses close adhering to his chest

  Down with him. Wonder riveted all eyes.

  Then brave Ulysses from the ground awhile

  Him lifted in his turn, but ere he stood,

  Inserting his own knee the knees between

  Of Ajax, threw him. To the earth they fell

  Both, and with dust defiled lay side by side.

  And now, arising to a third essay,

  They should have wrestled yet again, had not

  Achilles, interfering, them restrain'd.

  Strive not together more; cease to exhaust

  Each other's force; ye both have earn'd the prize

  Depart alike requited, and give place

  To other Grecians who shall next contend.

  He spake; they glad complied, and wiping off

  The dust, put on their tunics. Then again

  Achilles other prizes yet proposed,

  The rapid runner's meed. First, he produced

  A silver goblet of six measures; earth

  Own'd not its like for elegance of form.

  Skilful Sidonian artists had around

  Embellish'd it, and o'er the sable deep

  Phœnician merchants into Lemnos' port

  Had borne it, and the boon to Thoas given;

  But Jason's son, Euneüs, in exchange

  For Priam's son Lycaon, to the hand

  Had pass'd it of Patroclus famed in arms.

  Achilles this, in honor of his friend,

  Set forth, the swiftest runner's recompense.

  The second should a fatted ox receive

  Of largest size, and he assign'd of gold

  A just half-talent to the worst and last.

  He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.

  Now stand ye forth who shall this prize dispute.

  He said, and at his word instant arose

  Swift Ajax Oïliades; upsprang

  The shrewd Ulysses next, and after him

  Brave Nestor's son Antilochus, with whom

  None vied in speed of all the youths of Greece.

  They stood prepared. Achilles show'd the goal.

  At once all started. Oïliades

  Led swift the course, and closely at his heels

  Ulysses ran. Near as some cinctured maid

  Industrious holds the distaff to her breast,

  While to and fro with practised finger neat

  She tends the flax drawing it to a thread,

  So near Ulysses follow'd him, and press'd

  His footsteps, ere the dust fill'd them again,

  Pouring his breath into his neck behind,

  And never slackening pace. His ardent thirst

  Of victory with universal shouts

  All seconded, and, eager, bade him on.

  And now the contest shortening to a close,

  Ulysses his request silent and brief

  To azure-eyed Minerva thus preferr'd.

  Oh Goddess hear, prosper me in the race!

  Such was his prayer, with which Minerva pleased,

  Freshen'd his limbs, and made him light to run.

  And now, when in one moment they should both

  Have darted on the prize, then Ajax' foot

  Sliding, he fell; for where the dung of beeves

  Slain by Achilles for his friend, had spread

  The soil, there Pallas tripp'd him. Ordure foul

  His mouth, and ordure foul his nostrils fill'd.

  Then brave Ulysses, first arriving, seized

  The cup, and Ajax took his prize, the ox.

  He grasp'd his horn, and sputtering as he stood

  The ordure forth, the Argives thus bespake.

  Ah — Pallas tripp'd my footsteps; she attends

  Ulysses ever with a mother's care.

  Loud laugh'd the Grecians. Then, the remnant prize

  Antilochus receiving, smiled and said.

  Ye need not, fellow-warriors, to be taught

  That now, as ever, the immortal Gods

  Honor on seniority bestow.

  Ajax is elder, yet not much, than I.

  But Laertiades was born in times

  Long past, a chief coëval with our sires,

  Not young, but vigorous; and of the Greeks,

  Achilles may alone with him contend.

  So saying, the merit of superior speed

  To Peleus' son he gave, who thus replied.

  Antilochus! thy praise of me shall prove

  Nor vain nor unproductive to thyself,

  For the half-talent doubled shall be thine.

  He spake, and, doubling it, the talent placed

  Whole in his hand. He glad the gift received.

  Achilles, then Sarpedon's arms produced,

  Stripp'd f
rom him by Patroclus, his long spear,

  Helmet and shield, which in the midst he placed.

  He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.

  I call for two brave warriors arm'd to prove

  Each other's skill with weapons keen, this prize

  Disputing, next, in presence of us all.

  Who first shall through his armor reach the skin

  Of his antagonist, and shall draw his blood,

  To him this silver-studded falchion bright

  I give; the blade is Thracian, and of late

  Asteropæus wore it, whom I slew.

  These other arms shall be their common meed,

  And I will banquet both within my tent.

  He said, then Telamonian Ajax huge

  Arose, and opposite the son arose

  Of warlike Tydeus, Diomede the brave.

  Apart from all the people each put on

  His arms, then moved into the middle space,

  Lowering terrific, and on fire to fight.

  The host look'd on amazed. Approaching each

  The other, thrice they sprang to the assault,

  And thrice struck hand to hand. Ajax the shield

  Pierced of his adversary, but the flesh

  Attain'd not, baffled by his mail within.

  Then Tydeus' son, sheer o'er the ample disk

  Of Ajax, thrust a lance home to his neck,

  And the Achaians for the life appall'd

  Of Ajax, bade them, ceasing, share the prize.

  But the huge falchion with its sheath and belt —

  Achilles them on Diomede bestow'd.

  The hero, next, an iron clod produced

  Rough from the forge, and wont to task the might

  Of King Eëtion; but, when him he slew,

  Pelides, glorious chief, with other spoils

  From Thebes convey'd it in his fleet to Troy.

  He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.

  Come forth who also shall this prize dispute!

  How far soe'er remote the winner's fields,

  This lump shall serve his wants five circling years;

  His shepherd shall not, or his plower, need

  In quest of iron seek the distant town,

  But hence he shall himself their wants supply.

  Then Polypœtes brave in fight arose,

  Arose Leonteus also, godlike chief,

  With Ajax son of Telamon. Each took

  His station, and Epeüs seized the clod.

  He swung, he cast it, and the Grecians laugh'd.

  Leonteus, branch of Mars, quoited it next.

  Huge Telamonian Ajax with strong arm

  Dismiss'd it third, and overpitch'd them both.

  But when brave Polypœtes seized the mass

  Far as the vigorous herdsman flings his staff

  That twirling flies his numerous beeves between,

  So far his cast outmeasured all beside,

  And the host shouted. Then the friends arose

  Of Polypœtes valiant chief, and bore

  His ponderous acquisition to the ships.

  The archers' prize Achilles next proposed,

  Ten double and ten single axes, form'd

  Of steel convertible to arrow-points.

  He fix'd, far distant on the sands, the mast

  Of a brave bark cerulean-prow'd, to which

  With small cord fasten'd by the foot he tied

  A timorous dove, their mark at which to aim.

  Who strikes the dove, he conquers, and shall bear

  These double axes all into his tent.

  But who the cord alone, missing the bird,

  Successful less, he wins the single blades.

  The might of royal Teucer then arose,

  And, fellow-warrior of the King of Crete,

  Valiant Meriones. A brazen casque

  Received the lots; they shook them, and the lot

  Fell first to Teucer. He, at once, a shaft

  Sent smartly forth, but vow'd not to the King

  A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock.

  He therefore (for Apollo greater praise

  Denied him) miss'd the dove, but struck the cord

  That tied her, at small distance from the knot,

  And with his arrow sever'd it. Upsprang

  The bird into the air, and to the ground

  Depending fell the cord. Shouts rent the skies.

  Then, all in haste, Meriones the bow

  Caught from his hand holding a shaft the while

  Already aim'd, and to Apollo vow'd

  A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock.

  He eyed the dove aloft, under a cloud,

  And, while she wheel'd around, struck her beneath

  The pinion; through her and beyond her pass'd

  The arrow, and, returning, pierced the soil

  Fast by the foot of brave Meriones.

  She, perching on the mast again, her head

  Reclined, and hung her wide-unfolded wing,

  But, soon expiring, dropp'd and fell remote.

  Amazement seized the people. To his tent

  Meriones the ten best axes bore,

  And Teucer the inferior ten to his.

  Then, last, Achilles in the circus placed

  A ponderous spear and caldron yet unfired,

  Emboss'd with flowers around, its worth an ox.

  Upstood the spear-expert; Atrides first,

  Wide-ruling Agamemnon, King of men,

  And next, brave fellow-warrior of the King

  Of Crete, Meriones; when thus his speech

  Achilles to the royal chief address'd.

  Atrides! (for we know thy skill and force

  Matchless! that none can hurl the spear as thou)

  This prize is thine, order it to thy ship;

  And if it please thee, as I would it might,

  Let brave Meriones the spear receive.

  He said; nor Agamemnon not complied,

  But to Meriones the brazen spear

  Presenting, to Talthybius gave in charge

  The caldron, next, his own illustrious prize.

  * * *

  BOOK XXIV.

  * * *

  ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH BOOK.

  Priam, by command of Jupiter, and under conduct of Mercury, seeks Achilles in his tent, who admonished previously by Thetis, consents to accept ransom for the body of Hector. Hector is mourned, and the manner of his funeral, circumstantially described, concludes the poem.

  * * *

  BOOK XXIV.

  The games all closed, the people went dispersed

  Each to his ship; they, mindful of repast,

  And to enjoy repose; but other thoughts

  Achilles' mind employ'd: he still deplored

  With tears his loved Patroclus, nor the force

  Felt of all-conquering sleep, but turn'd and turn'd

  Restless from side to side, mourning the loss

  Of such a friend, so manly, and so brave.

  Their fellowship in toil; their hardships oft

  Sustain'd in fight laborious, or o'ercome

  With difficulty on the perilous deep —

  Remembrance busily retracing themes

  Like these, drew down his cheeks continual tears.

  Now on his side he lay, now lay supine,

  Now prone, then starting from his couch he roam'd

  Forlorn the beach, nor did the rising morn

  On seas and shores escape his watchful eye,

  But joining to his chariot his swift steeds,

  He fasten'd Hector to be dragg'd behind.

  Around the tomb of Menœtiades

  Him thrice he dragg'd; then rested in his tent,

  Leaving him at his length stretch'd in the dust.

  Meantime Apollo with compassion touch'd

  Even of the lifeless Hector, from all taint

  Saved him, and with the golden ægis broad

  Covering, preserved him,
although dragg'd, untorn.

  While he, indulging thus his wrath, disgraced

  Brave Hector, the immortals at that sight

  With pity moved, exhorted Mercury

  The watchful Argicide, to steal him thence.

  That counsel pleased the rest, but neither pleased

  Juno, nor Neptune, nor the blue-eyed maid.

  They still, as at the first, held fast their hate

  Of sacred Troy, detested Priam still,

  And still his people, mindful of the crime

  Of Paris, who when to his rural hut

  They came, those Goddesses affronting, praise

  And admiration gave to her alone

  Who with vile lusts his preference repaid.

  But when the twelfth ensuing morn arose,

  Apollo, then, the immortals thus address'd.

  Ye Gods, your dealings now injurious seem

  And cruel. Was not Hector wont to burn

  Thighs of fat goats and bullocks at your shrines?

  Whom now, though dead, ye cannot yet endure

  To rescue, that Andromache once more

  Might view him, his own mother, his own son,

  His father and the people, who would soon

  Yield him his just demand, a funeral fire.

  But, oh ye Gods! your pleasure is alone

  To please Achilles, that pernicious chief,

  Who neither right regards, nor owns a mind

  That can relent, but as the lion, urged

  By his own dauntless heart and savage force,

  Invades without remorse the rights of man,

  That he may banquet on his herds and flocks,

  So Peleus' son all pity from his breast

  Hath driven, and shame, man's blessing or his curse.

  For whosoever hath a loss sustain'd

  Still dearer, whether of his brother born

  From the same womb, or even of his son,

  When he hath once bewail'd him, weeps no more,

  For fate itself gives man a patient mind.

  Yet Peleus' son, not so contented, slays

  Illustrious Hector first, then drags his corse

  In cruel triumph at his chariot-wheels

  Around Patroclus' tomb; but neither well

  He acts, nor honorably to himself,

  Who may, perchance, brave though he be, incur

  Our anger, while to gratify revenge

  He pours dishonor thus on senseless clay.

  To whom, incensed, Juno white-arm'd replied.

  And be it so; stand fast this word of thine,

  God of the silver bow! if ye account

  Only such honor to Achilles due

  As Hector claims; but Hector was by birth

  Mere man, and suckled at a woman's breast.

  Not such Achilles; him a Goddess bore,