Complete Works of Homer

by Homer

  The fight of warriors, fearful of the shame,

  And deep disgrace that on my name attend?"

  Thus she; but they beneath the teeming earth

  In Lacedaemon lay, their native land.

  Meanwhile the heralds through the city bore

  The treaty off'rings to the Gods; the lambs,

  And genial wine, the produce of the soil,

  In goat-skin flasks: therewith a flagon bright,

  And cups of gold, Idaeus brought, and stood

  Beside the aged King, as thus he spoke:

  "Son of Laomedon, arise! the chiefs

  Of Trojan warriors and of brass-clad Greeks

  Call for thy presence on the battle-plain

  To swear a truce; where Paris in the midst

  And warlike Menelaus stand prepar'd

  With the long spear for Helen and the spoils

  Of war to combat, that whoe'er may prove

  The better man in fight, may bear away

  The woman and the spoils in triumph home;

  While we, the rest, in peace and friendship sworn,

  Shall still possess the fertile plains of Troy;

  And to their native Argos they return.

  For noble steeds and lovely women fam'd."

  He said; the old man shuddered at his words:

  But to his comrades gave command forthwith.

  To yoke his car; and they his word obey'd.

  Priam, ascending, gather'd up the reins,

  And with Antenor by his side, the twain

  Drove through the Scaean gate their flying steeds.

  But when between th' opposing ranks they came,

  Alighting from the car, they mov'd on foot

  Between the Trojan and the Grecian hosts.

  Uprose then Agamemnon, King of men,

  Uprose the sage Ulysses; to the front

  The heralds brought the off'rings to the Gods,

  And in the flagon mix'd the wine, and pour'd

  The hallowing water on the monarchs' hands.

  His dagger then the son of Atreus drew,

  Suspended, as was wont, beside the hilt

  Of his great sword; and from the victim's head

  He cut the sacred lock, which to the chiefs

  Of Troy and Greece the heralds portion'd out.

  Then with uplifted hands he pray'd aloud:

  "O Father Jove! who rul'st from Ida's height,

  Most great! most glorious! and thou Sun, who see'st

  And hearest all things! Rivers! and thou Earth!

  And ye, who after death beneath the earth

  Your vengeance wreak on souls of men forsworn,

  Be witness ye, and this our cov'nant guard.

  If Menelaus fall by Paris' hand,

  Let him retain both Helen and the spoil,

  While in our ships we take our homeward way;

  If Paris be by Menelaus slain,

  Troy shall surrender Helen and the spoil,

  With compensation due to Greece, that so

  A record may to future days remain.

  But, Paris slain, if Priam and his sons

  The promis'd compensation shall withhold,

  Then here, my rights in battle to assert,

  Will I remain, till I the end achieve."

  Thus as he spoke, across the victims' throats

  He drew the pitiless blade, and on the ground

  He laid them gasping, as the stream of life

  Pour'd forth, their vigour by the blade subdued.

  Then, from the flagon drawn, from out the cups

  The wine they pour'd; and to th' eternal Gods

  They pray'd; and thus from Trojans and from Greeks

  Arose the joint petition; "Grant, O Jove!

  Most great! most glorious! grant, ye heav'nly pow'rs,

  That whosoe'er this solemn truce shall break,

  Ev'n as this wine we pour, their hearts' best blood,

  Theirs and their children's, on the earth be pour'd,

  And strangers in subjection take their wives!"

  Thus they; but Jove, unyielding, heard their pray'r.

  The rites perform'd, then aged Priam spoke:

  "Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greav'd Greeks!

  To Ilium's breezy heights I now withdraw,

  For that mine eyes will not endure the sight

  Of warlike Menelaus and my son

  Engag'd in deadly combat; of the two

  Which may be doom'd to death, is only known

  To Jove, and to th' immortal pow'rs of Heav'n."

  Thus spoke the godlike King; and on the car

  He plac'd the consecrated lambs; himself

  Ascending then, he gather'd up the reins,

  And with Antenor by his side, the twain

  To Ilium's walls retrac'd their homeward way.

  Then Hector, son of Priam, measur'd out,

  With sage Ulysses join'd, th' allotted space;

  Next, in the brass-bound helmet cast the lots,

  Which of the two the first should throw the spear.

  The crowd, with hands uplifted, to the Gods,

  Trojans and Greeks alike, address'd their pray'r:

  "O Father Jove! who rul'st from Ida's height,

  Most great! most glorious! grant that whosoe'er

  On both our armies hath this turmoil brought

  May undergo the doom of death, and we,

  The rest, firm peace and lasting friendship swear."

  Thus they; great Hector of the glancing helm,

  With eyes averted, shook the casque; and forth

  Was cast the lot of Paris; on the ground

  The rest lay down by ranks, where near to each

  Were rang'd his active steeds, and glitt'ring arms.

  Then o'er his shoulders fair-hair'd Helen's Lord,

  The godlike Paris, donn'd his armour bright:

  First on his legs the well-wrought greaves he fix'd,

  Fasten'd with silver clasps; his ample chest

  A breastplate guarded, by Lycaon lent,

  His brother, but which fitted well his form.

  Around his shoulders slung, his sword he bore,

  Brass-bladed, silver-studded; then his shield

  Weighty and strong; and on his firm-set head

  A helm he wore, well wrought, with horsehair plume

  That nodded, fearful, o'er his brow; his hand

  Grasp'd the firm spear, familiar to his hold.

  Prepar'd alike the adverse warrior stood.

  They, from the crowd apart their armour donn'd,

  Came forth: and each, with eyes of mutual hate,

  Regarded each: admiring wonder seiz'd

  The Trojan warriors and the well-greav'd Greeks,

  As in the centre of the measur'd ground

  They stood oppos'd, and pois'd their quiv'ring spears.

  First Paris threw his weighty spear, and struck

  Fair in the midst Atrides' buckler round,

  But broke not through; upon the stubborn targe

  Was bent the lance's point; then thus to Jove,

  His weapon hurling, Menelaus pray'd:

  "Great King, on him who wrought me causeless wrong,

  On Paris, grant that retribution due

  My arm may bring; that men in days to come

  May fear their host to injure, and repay

  With treach'rous wile his hospitable cares."

  He said, and poising, hurl'd his weighty spear:

  Full in the midst it struck the buckler round;

  Right through the buckler pass'd the sturdy spear,

  And through the gorgeous breastplate, and within

  Cut through the linen vest; but Paris, back

  Inclining, stoop'd, and shunn'd the doom of death.

  Atrides then his silver-studded sword

  Rearing on high, a mighty blow let fall

  On Paris' helm; but shiv'ring in his hand

  In countless fragments new the faithless
blade.

  Then thus to Jove, with eyes uplift to Heav'n,

  Atrides made his moan: "O Father Jove!

  Of all the Gods, the most unfriendly thou!

  On Paris' head I hop'd for all his crimes

  To wreak my vengeance due; but in my grasp

  My faithless sword is shatter'd, and my spear

  Hath bootless left my hand, nor reached my foe."

  Then onward rushing, by the horsehair plume

  He seiz'd his foeman's helm, and wrenching round

  Dragg'd by main force amid the well-greav'd Greeks.

  The broider'd strap, that, pass'd beneath his beard,

  The helmet held, the warrior's throat compress'd:

  Then had Atrides dragg'd him from the field,

  And endless fame acquir'd; but Venus, child

  Of Jove, her fav'rite's peril quickly saw.

  And broke the throttling strap of tough bull's hide.

  In the broad hand the empty helm remained.

  The trophy, by their champion whirl'd amid

  The well-greav'd Greeks, his eager comrades seiz'd;

  While he, infuriate, rush'd with murd'rous aim

  On Priam's son; but him, the Queen of Love

  (As Gods can only) from the field convey'd,

  Wrapt in a misty cloud; and on a couch,

  Sweet perfumes breathing, gently laid him down;

  Then went in search of Helen; her she found,

  Circled with Trojan dames, on Ilium's tow'r:

  Her by her airy robe the Goddess held,

  And in the likeness of an aged dame

  Who oft for her, in Sparta when she dwelt,

  Many a fair fleece had wrought, and lov'd her well,

  Address'd her thus: "Come, Helen, to thy house;

  Come, Paris calls thee; in his chamber he

  Expects thee, resting on luxurious couch,

  In costly garb, with manly beauty grac'd:

  Not from the fight of warriors wouldst thou deem

  He late had come, but for the dance prepar'd,

  Or resting from the dance's pleasing toil."

  She said, and Helen's spirit within her mov'd;

  And when she saw the Goddess' beauteous neck,

  Her lovely bosom, and her glowing eyes,

  She gaz'd in wonder, and address'd her thus:

  "Oh why, great Goddess, make me thus thy sport?

  Seek'st thou to bear me far away from hence

  To some fair Phrygian or Maeonian town,

  If there some mortal have thy favour gain'd?

  Or, for that Menelaus in the field

  Hath vanquish'd Paris, and is willing yet

  That I, his bane, should to his home return;

  Here art thou found, to weave again thy wiles!

  Go then thyself! thy godship abdicate!

  Renounce Olympus! lavish here on him

  Thy pity and thy care! he may perchance

  Make thee his wife — at least his paramour!

  But thither go not I! foul shame it were

  Again to share his bed; the dames of Troy

  Will for a byword hold me; and e'en now

  My soul with endless sorrow is possess'd."

  To whom in anger heav'nly Venus spoke:

  "Incense me not, poor fool! lest I in wrath

  Desert thee quite, and as I heretofore

  Have lov'd, so make thee object of my hate;

  And kindle, 'twixt the Trojans and the Greeks,

  Such bitter feuds, as both shall wreak on thee."

  She said; and trembled Helen, child of Jove;

  She rose in silence; in a snow-white veil

  All glitt'ring, shrouded; by the Goddess led

  She pass'd, unnotic'd by the Trojan dames.

  But when to Paris' splendid house they came,

  Thronging around her, her attendants gave

  Their duteous service; through the lofty hall

  With queenly grace the godlike woman pass'd.

  A seat the laughter-loving Goddess plac'd

  By Paris' side; there Helen sat, the child

  Of aegis-bearing Jove, with downcast eyes,

  Yet with sharp words she thus address'd her Lord:

  "Back from the battle? would thou there hadst died

  Beneath a warrior's arm, whom once I call'd

  My husband! vainly didst thou boast erewhile

  Thine arm, thy dauntless courage, and thy spear

  The warlike Menelaus should subdue!

  Go now again, and challenge to the fight

  The warlike Menelaus. Be thou ware!

  I warn thee, pause, ere madly thou presume

  With fair-hair'd Menelaus to contend!

  Soon shouldst thou fall beneath his conqu'ring spear."

  To whom thus Paris: "Wring not thus my soul

  With keen reproaches: now, with Pallas' aid,

  Hath Menelaus conquer'd; but my day

  Will come: I too can boast my guardian Gods.

  But turn we now to love, and love's delights;

  For never did thy beauty so inflame

  My sense; not when from Lacedaemon first

  I bore thee in my ocean-going ships,

  And revell'd in thy love on Cranae's isle,

  As now it fills my soul with fond desire."

  He said, and led her to the nuptial couch;

  Her Lord she follow'd; and while there reclin'd

  Upon the richly-inlaid couch they lay,

  Atrides, like a lion baffled, rush'd

  Amid the crowd, if haply he might find

  The godlike Paris; but not one of all

  The Trojans and their brave allies could aid

  The warlike Menelaus in his search;

  Not that, for love, would any one that knew

  Have screen'd him from his anger, for they all

  Abhorr'd him as the shade of death: then thus

  Outspoke great Agamemnon, King of men:

  "Hear me, ye Trojans, Dardans, and Allies!

  With warlike Menelaus rests, 'tis plain,

  The prize of vict'ry: then surrender ye

  The Argive Helen and the spoils of war,

  With compensation due to Greece, that so

  A record may to future days remain."

  Thus he; the Greeks, assenting, cheer'd his words.

  ARGUMENT.

  THE BREACH OF THE TRUCE, AND THE FIRST BATTLE.

  The Gods deliberate in council concerning the Trojan war: they agree upon the continuation of it, and Jupiter sends down Minerva to break the truce. She persuades Pandarus to aim an arrow at Menelaus, who is wounded, but cured by Machaon. In the mean time some of the Trojan troops attack the Greeks. Agamemnon is distinguished in all the parts of a good general; he reviews the troops, and exhorts the leaders, some by praises, and others by reproofs. Nestor is particularly celebrated for his military discipline. The battle joins, and great numbers are slain on both sides.

  The same day continues through this, as through the last book; as it does also through the two following, and almost to the end of the seventh book. The scene is wholly in the field before Troy.

  BOOK IV.

  On golden pavement, round the board of Jove,

  The Gods were gather'd; Hebe in the midst

  Pour'd the sweet nectar; they, in golden cups,

  Each other pledg'd, as down they look'd on Troy.

  Then Jove, with cutting words and taunting tone,

  Began the wrath of Juno to provoke:

  "Two Goddesses for Menelaus fight,

  Thou, Juno, Queen of Argos, and with thee

  Minerva, shield of warriors; but ye two

  Sitting aloof, well-pleased it seems, look on;

  While laughter-loving Venus, at the side

  Of Paris standing, still averts his fate,

  And rescues, when, as now, expecting death.

  To warlike Menelaus we decree,

  Of right, the vict'ry; but consult we now

>   What may the issue be; if we shall light

  Again the name of war and discord fierce,

  Or the two sides in peace and friendship join.

  For me, if thus your gen'ral voice incline,

  Let Priam's city stand, and Helen back

  To warlike Menelaus be restor'd."

  So spoke the God; but seated side by side,

  Juno and Pallas glances interchang'd

  Of ill portent for Troy; Pallas indeed

  Sat silent; and, though inly wroth with Jove,

  Yet answer'd not a word; but Juno's breast

  Could not contain her rage, and thus she spoke:

  "What words, dread son of Saturn, dost thou speak?

  How wouldst thou render vain, and void of fruit,

  My weary labour and my horses' toil,

  To stir the people, and on Priam's self,

  And Priam's offspring, bring disastrous fate?

  Do as thou wilt! yet not with our consent."

  To whom, in wrath, the Cloud-compeller thus:

  "Revengeful! how have Priam and his sons

  So deeply injur'd thee, that thus thou seek'st

  With unabated anger to pursue,

  Till thou o'erthrow, the strong-built walls of Troy?

  Couldst thou but force the gates, and entering in

  On Priam's mangled flesh, and Priam's sons,

  And Trojans all, a bloody banquet make.

  Perchance thy fury might at length be stayed.

  But have thy will, lest this in future times

  'Twixt me and thee be cause of strife renew'd.

  Yet hear my words, and ponder what I say:

  If e'er, in times to come, my will should be

  Some city to destroy, inhabited

  By men beloved of thee, seek not to turn

  My wrath aside, but yield, as I do now,

  Consenting, but with heart that ill consents;

  For of all cities fair, beneath the sun

  And starry Heaven, the abode of mortal men,

  None to my soul was dear as sacred Troy,

  And Priam's self, and Priam's warrior race.

  For with drink-off'rings due, and fat of lambs,

  My altar still hath at their hands been fed;

  Such honour hath to us been ever paid."

  To whom the stag-ey'd Juno thus replied:

  "Three cities are there, dearest to my heart;

  Argos, and Sparta, and the ample streets

  Of rich Mycenae; work on them thy will;

  Destroy them, if thine anger they incur;

  I will not interpose, nor hinder thee;

  Mourn them I shall; reluctant see their fall,

  But not resist; for sovereign is thy will.

  Yet should my labours not be fruitless all;

  For I too am a God; my blood is thine;

  Worthy of honour, as the eldest born