Complete Works of Homer

by Homer

  Ye may at leisure spoil your slaughter'd foes."

  With words like these he fir'd the blood of all.

  Now had the Trojans by the warlike Greeks

  In coward flight within their walls been driv'n;

  But to AEneas and to Hector thus

  The son of Priam, Helenus, the best

  Of all the Trojan seers, address'd his speech:

  "AEneas, and thou Hector, since on you,

  Of all the Trojans and the Lycian hosts,

  Is laid the heaviest burthen, for that ye

  Excel alike in council and in fight,

  Stand here awhile, and moving to and fro

  On ev'ry side, around the gates exhort

  The troops to rally, lest they fall disgrac'd,

  Flying for safety to their women's arms,

  And foes, exulting, triumph in their shame.

  Their courage thus restor'd, worn as we are,

  We with the Greeks will still maintain the fight,

  For so, perforce, we must; but, Hector, thou

  Haste to the city; there our mother find,

  Both thine and mine; on Ilium's topmost height

  By all the aged dames accompanied,

  Bid her the shrine of blue-ey'd Pallas seek;

  Unlock the sacred gates; and on the knees

  Of fair-hair'd Pallas place the fairest robe

  In all the house, the amplest, best esteem'd;

  And at her altar vow to sacrifice

  Twelve yearling kine that never felt the goad,

  So she have pity on the Trojan state,

  Our wives, and helpless babes, and turn away

  The fiery son of Tydeus, spearman fierce,

  The Minister of Terror; bravest he,

  In my esteem, of all the Grecian chiefs:

  For not Achilles' self, the prince of men,

  Though Goddess-born, such dread inspir'd; so fierce

  His rage; and with his prowess none may vie."

  He said, nor uncomplying, Hector heard

  His brother's counsel; from his car he leap'd

  In arms upon the plain; and brandish'd high

  His jav'lins keen, and moving to and fro

  The troops encourag'd, and restor'd the fight.

  Rallying they turn'd, and fac'd again the Greeks:

  These ceas'd from slaughter, and in turn gave way,

  Deeming that from the starry Heav'n some God

  Had to the rescue come; so fierce they turn'd.

  Then to the Trojans Hector call'd aloud:

  "Ye valiant Trojans, and renown'd Allies,

  Quit you like men; remember now, brave friends,

  Your wonted valour; I to Ilium go

  To bid our wives and rev'rend Elders raise

  To Heav'n their pray'rs, with vows of hecatombs."

  Thus saying, Hector of the glancing helm

  Turn'd to depart; and as he mov'd along,

  The black bull's-hide his neck and ancles smote,

  The outer circle of his bossy shield.

  Then Tydeus' son, and Glaucus, in the midst,

  Son of Hippolochus, stood forth to fight;

  But when they near were met, to Glaucus first

  The valiant Diomed his speech address'd:

  "Who art thou, boldest man of mortal birth?

  For in the glorious conflict heretofore

  I ne'er have seen thee; but in daring now

  Thou far surpassest all, who hast not fear'd

  To face my spear; of most unhappy sires

  The children they, who my encounter meet.

  But if from Heav'n thou com'st, and art indeed

  A God, I fight not with the heav'nly powers.

  Not long did Dryas' son, Lycurgus brave,

  Survive, who dar'd th' Immortals to defy:

  He, 'mid their frantic orgies, in the groves

  Of lovely Nyssa, put to shameful rout

  The youthful Bacchus' nurses; they, in fear,

  Dropp'd each her thyrsus, scatter'd by the hand

  Of fierce Lycurgus, with an ox-goad arm'd.

  Bacchus himself beneath the ocean wave

  In terror plung'd, and, trembling, refuge found

  In Thetis' bosom from a mortal's threats:

  The Gods indignant saw, and Saturn's son

  Smote him with blindness; nor surviv'd he long,

  Hated alike by all th' immortal Gods.

  I dare not then the blessed Gods oppose;

  But be thou mortal, and the fruits of earth

  Thy food, approach, and quickly meet thy doom."

  To whom the noble Glaucus thus replied:

  "Great son of Tydeus, why my race enquire?

  The race of man is as the race of leaves:

  Of leaves, one generation by the wind

  Is scattered on the earth; another soon

  In spring's luxuriant verdure bursts to light.

  So with our race; these flourish, those decay.

  But if thou wouldst in truth enquire and learn

  The race I spring from, not unknown of men;

  There is a city, in the deep recess

  Of pastoral Argos, Ephyre by name:

  There Sisyphus of old his dwelling had,

  Of mortal men the craftiest; Sisyphus,

  The son of AEolus; to him was born

  Glaucus; and Glaucus in his turn begot

  Bellerophon, on whom the Gods bestow'd

  The gifts of beauty and of manly grace.

  But Proetus sought his death; and, mightier far,

  From all the coasts of Argos drove him forth,

  To Proetus subjected by Jove's decree.

  For him the monarch's wife, Antaea, nurs'd

  A madd'ning passion, and to guilty love

  Would fain have tempted him; but fail'd to move

  The upright soul of chaste Bellerophon.

  With lying words she then address'd the King:

  'Die, Proetus, thou, or slay Bellerophon,

  Who basely sought my honour to assail.'

  The King with anger listen'd to her words;

  Slay him he would not; that his soul abhorr'd;

  But to the father of his wife, the King

  Of Lycia, sent him forth, with tokens charg'd

  Of dire import, on folded tablets trac'd,

  Pois'ning the monarch's mind, to work his death.

  To Lycia, guarded by the Gods, he went;

  But when he came to Lycia, and the streams

  Of Xanthus, there with hospitable rites

  The King of wide-spread Lycia welcom'd him.

  Nine days he feasted him, nine oxen slew;

  But with the tenth return of rosy morn

  He question'd him, and for the tokens ask'd

  He from his son-in-law, from Proetus, bore.

  The tokens' fatal import understood,

  He bade him first the dread Chimaera slay;

  A monster, sent from Heav'n, not human born,

  With head of lion, and a serpent's tail,

  And body of a goat; and from her mouth

  There issued flames of fiercely-burning fire:

  Yet her, confiding in the Gods, he slew.

  Next, with the valiant Solymi he fought,

  The fiercest fight that e'er he undertook.

  Thirdly, the women-warriors he o'erthrew,

  The Amazons; from whom returning home,

  The King another stratagem devis'd;

  For, choosing out the best of Lycia's sons,

  He set an ambush; they return'd not home,

  For all by brave Bellerophon were slain.

  But, by his valour when the King perceiv'd

  His heav'nly birth, he entertain'd him well;

  Gave him his daughter; and with her the half

  Of all his royal honours he bestow'd:

  A portion too the Lycians meted out,

  Fertile in corn and wine, of all the state

  The choicest land, to be his heritage.


  Three children there to brave Bellerophon

  Were born; Isander, and Hippolochus,

  Laodamia last, belov'd of Jove,

  The Lord of counsel; and to him she bore

  Godlike Sarpedon of the brazen helm.

  Bellerophon at length the wrath incurr'd

  Of all the Gods; and to th' Aleian plain

  Alone he wander'd; there he wore away

  His soul, and shunn'd the busy haunts of men.

  Insatiate Mars his son Isander slew

  In battle with the valiant Solymi:

  His daughter perish'd by Diana's wrath.

  I from Hippolochus my birth derive:

  To Troy he sent me, and enjoin'd me oft

  To aim at highest honours, and surpass

  My comrades all; nor on my father's name

  Discredit bring, who held the foremost place

  In Ephyre, and Lycia's wide domain.

  Such is my race, and such the blood I boast."

  He said; and Diomed rejoicing heard:

  His spear he planted in the fruitful ground,

  And thus with friendly words the chief address'd:

  "By ancient ties of friendship are we bound;

  For godlike OEneus in his house receiv'd

  For twenty days the brave Bellerophon;

  They many a gift of friendship interchang'd;

  A belt, with crimson glowing, OEneus gave;

  Bellerophon a double cup of gold,

  Which in my house I left when here I came.

  Of Tydeus no remembrance I retain;

  For yet a child he left me, when he fell

  With his Achaians at the gate of Thebes.

  So I in Argos am thy friendly host;

  Thou mine in Lycia, when I thither come:

  Then shun we, e'en amid the thickest fight,

  Each other's lance; enough there are for me

  Of Trojans and their brave allies to kill,

  As Heav'n may aid me, and my speed of foot;

  And Greeks enough there are for thee to slay,

  If so indeed thou canst; but let us now

  Our armour interchange, that these may know

  What friendly bonds of old our houses join."

  Thus as they spoke, they quitted each his car;

  Clasp'd hand in hand, and plighted mutual faith.

  Then Glaucus of his judgment Jove depriv'd,

  His armour interchanging, gold for brass,

  A hundred oxen's worth for that of nine.

  Meanwhile, when Hector reach'd the oak beside

  The Scaean gate, around him throng'd the wives

  Of Troy, and daughters, anxious to enquire

  The fate of children, brothers, husbands, friends;

  He to the Gods exhorted all to pray,

  For deep the sorrows that o'er many hung.

  But when to Priam's splendid house he came,

  With polish'd corridors adorn'd — within

  Were fifty chambers, all of polish'd stone,

  Plac'd each by other; there the fifty sons

  Of Priam with their wedded wives repos'd;

  On th' other side, within the court were built

  Twelve chambers, near the roof, of polish'd stone,

  Plac'd each by other; there the sons-in-law

  Of Priam with their spouses chaste repos'd;

  To meet him there his tender mother came,

  And with her led the young Laodice,

  Fairest of all her daughters; clasping then

  His hands, she thus address'd him: "Why, my son,

  Why com'st thou here, and leav'st the battle-field?

  Are Trojans by those hateful sons of Greece,

  Fighting around the city, sorely press'd?

  And com'st thou, by thy spirit mov'd, to raise,

  On Ilium's heights, thy hands in pray'r to Jove?

  But tarry till I bring the luscious wine,

  That first to Jove, and to th' Immortals all,

  Thou mayst thine off'ring pour; then with the draught

  Thyself thou mayst refresh; for great the strength

  Which gen'rous wine imparts to men who toil,

  As thou hast toil'd, thy comrades to protect."

  To whom great Hector of the glancing helm:

  "No, not for me, mine honour'd mother, pour

  The luscious wine, lest thou unnerve my limbs,

  And make me all my wonted prowess lose.

  The ruddy wine I dare not pour to Jove

  With hands unwash'd; nor to the cloud-girt son

  Of Saturn may the voice of pray'r ascend

  From one with blood bespatter'd and defil'd.

  Thou, with the elder women, seek the shrine

  Of Pallas; bring your gifts; and on the knees

  Of fair-hair'd Pallas place the fairest robe

  In all the house, the amplest, best esteem'd;

  And at her altar vow to sacrifice

  Twelve yearling kine, that never felt the goad;

  So she have pity on the Trojan state,

  Our wives, and helpless babes; and turn away

  The fiery son of Tydeus, spearman fierce,

  The Minister of Terror; to the shrine

  Of Pallas thou; to Paris I, to call

  If haply he will hear; would that the earth

  Would gape and swallow him! for great the curse

  That Jove thro' him hath brought on men of Troy,

  On noble Priam, and on Priam's sons.

  Could I but know that he were in his grave,

  Methinks my sorrows I could half forget."

  He said: she, to the house returning, sent

  Th' attendants through the city, to collect

  The train of aged suppliants; she meanwhile

  Her fragrant chamber sought, wherein were stor'd

  Rich garments by Sidonian women work'd,

  Whom godlike Paris had from Sidon brought,

  Sailing the broad sea o'er, the selfsame path

  By which the high-born Helen he convey'd.

  Of these, the richest in embroidery,

  The amplest, and the brightest, as a star

  Refulgent, plac'd with care beneath the rest,

  The Queen her off'ring bore to Pallas' shrine:

  She went, and with her many an ancient dame.

  But when the shrine they reach'd on Ilium's height,

  Theano, fair of face, the gates unlock'd,

  Daughter of Cisseus, sage Antenor's wife,

  By Trojans nam'd at Pallas' shrine to serve.

  They with deep moans to Pallas rais'd their hands;

  But fair Theano took the robe, and plac'd

  On Pallas' knees, and to the heav'nly Maid,

  Daughter of Jove, she thus address'd her pray'r:

  "Guardian of cities, Pallas, awful Queen,

  Goddess of Goddesses, break thou the spear

  Of Tydeus' son; and grant that he himself

  Prostrate before the Scaean gates may fall;

  So at thine altar will we sacrifice

  Twelve yearling kine, that never felt the goad,

  If thou have pity on the state of Troy,

  The wives of Trojans, and their helpless babes."

  Thus she; but Pallas answer'd not her pray'r.

  While thus they call'd upon the heav'nly Maid,

  Hector to Paris' mansion bent his way;

  A noble structure, which himself had built

  Aided by all the best artificers

  Who in the fertile realm of Troy were known;

  With chambers, hall, and court, on Ilium's height,

  Near to where Priam's self and Hector dwelt.

  There enter'd Hector, well belov'd of Jove;

  And in his hand his pond'rous spear he bore,

  Twelve cubits long; bright flash'd the weapon's point

  Of polish'd brass, with circling hoop of gold.

  There in his chamber found he whom he sought,

  About his
armour busied, polishing

  His shield, his breastplate, and his bended bow.

  While Argive Helen, 'mid her maidens plac'd,

  The skilful labours of their hands o'erlook'd.

  To him thus Hector with reproachful words;

  "Thou dost not well thine anger to indulge;

  In battle round the city's lofty wall

  The people fast are falling; thou the cause

  That fiercely thus around the city burns

  The flame of war and battle; and thyself

  Wouldst others blame, who from the fight should shrink.

  Up, ere the town be wrapp'd in hostile fires."

  To whom in answer godlike Paris thus:

  "Hector, I own not causeless thy rebuke;

  Yet will I speak; hear thou and understand;

  'Twas less from anger with the Trojan host,

  And fierce resentment, that I here remain'd,

  Than that I sought my sorrow to indulge;

  Yet hath my wife, e'en now, with soothing words

  Urg'd me to join the battle; so, I own,

  'Twere best; and Vict'ry changes oft her side.

  Then stay, while I my armour don; or thou

  Go first: I, following, will o'ertake thee soon."

  He said: but Hector of the glancing helm

  Made answer none; then thus with gentle tones

  Helen accosted him: "Dear brother mine,

  (Of me, degraded, sorrow-bringing, vile!)

  Oh that the day my mother gave me birth

  Some storm had on the mountains cast me forth!

  Or that the many-dashing ocean's waves

  Had swept me off, ere all this woe were wrought!

  Yet if these evils were of Heav'n ordain'd,

  Would that a better man had call'd me wife;

  A sounder judge of honour and disgrace:

  For he, thou know'st, no firmness hath of mind,

  Nor ever will; a want he well may rue.

  But come thou in, and rest thee here awhile,

  Dear brother, on this couch; for travail sore

  Encompasseth thy soul, by me impos'd,

  Degraded as I am, and Paris' guilt;

  On whom this burthen Heav'n hath laid, that shame

  On both our names through years to come shall rest."

  To whom great Hector of the glancing helm:

  "Though kind thy wish, yet, Helen, ask me not

  To sit or rest; I cannot yield to thee:

  For to the succour of our friends I haste,

  Who feel my loss, and sorely need my aid.

  But thou thy husband rouse, and let him speed,

  That he may find me still within the walls.

  For I too homeward go; to see once more

  My household, and my wife, and infant child:

  For whether I may e'er again return,

  I know not, or if Heav'n have so decreed,

  That I this day by Grecian hands should fall."