Complete Works of Homer

by Homer

  Exceed mine own; but here we see a man,

  One of a former age, and race of men;

  A hale old man we call him; but for speed

  Not one can match him, save Achilles' self."

  Thus he, with praise implied of Peleus' son;

  To whom in answer thus Achilles spoke:

  "Antilochus, not unobserv'd of me

  Nor unrewarded shall thy praise remain:

  To thy half talent add this second half."

  Thus saying, in his hand he plac'd the gold;

  Antilochus with joy the gift receiv'd.

  Next, in the ring the son of Peleus laid

  A pond'rous spear, a helmet, and a shield,

  The spoil Patroclus from Sarpedon won;

  Then rose, and loudly to the Greeks proclaim'd:

  "For these we call upon two champions brave

  To don their arms, their sharp-edg'd weapons grasp,

  And public trial of their prowess make;

  And he who first his rival's flesh shall reach,

  And, through his armour piercing, first draw blood,

  He shall this silver-studded sword receive,

  My trophy from Asteropaeus won,

  Well-wrought, of Thracian metal; but the arms

  In common property they both shall hold,

  And in my tent a noble banquet share."

  He said; uprose great Ajax Telamon,

  And Tydeus' son, the valiant Diomed.

  First, from the crowd apart, they donn'd their arms;

  Then, eager for the fight, with haughty stare

  Stood in the midst; the Greeks admiring gaz'd.

  When, each approaching other, near they came,

  Thrice rush'd they on, and thrice in combat clos'd.

  Then through the buckler round of Diomed

  Great Ajax drove his spear; nor reach'd the point

  Tydides' body, by the breastplate stay'd:

  While, aim'd above the mighty shield's defence,

  His glitt'ring weapon flash'd at Ajax' throat.

  For Ajax fearing, shouted then the Greeks

  To cease the fight, and share alike the prize;

  But from Achilles' hand the mighty sword,

  With belt and scabbard, Diomed receiv'd.

  Next in the ring the son of Peleus plac'd

  A pond'rous mass of iron, as a quoit

  Once wielded by Eetion's giant strength,

  But to the ships with other trophies borne,

  When by Achilles' hand Eetion fell.

  Then rose, and loudly to the Greeks proclaim'd:

  "Stand forth, whoe'er this contest will essay.

  This prize who wins, though widely may extend

  His fertile fields, for five revolving years

  It will his wants supply; nor to the town

  For lack of iron, with this mass in store,

  Need he his shepherd or his ploughman send."

  He said; and valiant Polypoetes rose,

  Epeius, and Leonteus' godlike strength,

  And mighty Ajax, son of Telamon.

  In turns they took their stand; Epeius first

  Uprais'd the pond'rous mass, and through the air

  Hurl'd it, amid the laughter of the Greeks.

  Next came Leonteus, scion true of Mars;

  The third was Ajax; from whose stalwart hand

  Beyond the farthest mark the missile flew.

  But when the valiant Polypoetes took

  The quoit in hand, far as a herdsman throws

  His staff, that, whirling, flies among the herd;

  So far beyond the ring's extremest bound

  He threw the pond'rous mass; loud were the shouts;

  And noble Polypoetes' comrades rose,

  And to the ships the monarch's gift convey'd.

  The archers' prizes next, of iron hoar,

  Ten sturdy axes, double-edg'd, he plac'd,

  And single hatchets ten; then far away

  Rear'd on the sand a dark-prow'd vessel's mast,

  On which, with slender string, a tim'rous dove

  Was fasten'd by the foot, the archers' mark;

  That who should strike the dove should to his tent

  The axes bear away; but who the string

  Should sever, but should fail to strike the bird,

  As less in skill, the hatchets should receive.

  Thus spoke Achilles; straight uprose the might

  Of royal Teucer, and Meriones,

  The faithful follower of Idomeneus.

  They in a brass-bound helmet shook the lots.

  The first was Teucer's; with impetuous force

  He shot; but vow'd not to the Archer-King

  Of firstling lambs a solemn hecatomb.

  The dove he struck not, for the Archer-God

  Withheld his aid; but close beside her foot

  The arrow sever'd the retaining string.

  The bird releas'd, soar'd heav'nward; while the string

  Dropp'd, from the mast suspended, tow'rds the earth,

  And loudly shouted their applause the Greeks.

  Then snatch'd Meriones in haste the bow

  From Teucer's hand; his own already held

  His arrow, pointed straight; he drew the string,

  And to the far-destroying King he vow'd

  Of firstling lambs a solemn hecatomb.

  Aloft amid the clouds he mark'd the dove,

  And struck her, as she soar'd, beneath the wing;

  Right through the arrow pass'd; and to the earth

  Returning, fell beside Meriones.

  The bird upon the dark-prow'd vessel's mast

  Lighted awhile; anon, with drooping head,

  And pinions flutt'ring vain, afar she fell,

  Lifeless; th' admiring crowd with wonder gaz'd.

  Meriones the axes bore away,

  While Teucer to the ships the hatchets bore.

  Last, in the ring the son of Peleus laid

  A pond'rous spear, and caldron, burnish'd bright,

  Pric'd at an ox's worth, untouch'd by fire,

  For those who with the jav'lin would contend.

  Uprose then Agamemnon, King of men,

  The son of Atreus, and Meriones,

  The faithful follower of Idomeneus:

  But Peleus' godlike son address'd them thus:

  "How far, Atrides, thou excell'st us all,

  And with the jav'lin what thy pow'r and skill

  Pre-eminent, we know; take thou this prize,

  And bear it to thy ships; and let us give

  To brave Meriones the brazen spear;

  If so it please thee, such were my advice."

  He said; and Agamemnon, King of men,

  Assenting, gave to brave Meriones

  The brazen spear; while in Talthybius' care,

  His herald, plac'd the King his noble prize.

  ARGUMENT.

  THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY OF HECTOR.

  The gods deliberate about the redemption of Hector's body. Jupiter sends Thetis to Achilles to dispose him for the restoring it, and Iris to Priam, to encourage him to go in person, and treat for it. The old king, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his queen, makes ready for the journey, to which he is encouraged by an omen from Jupiter. He sets forth in his chariot, with a waggon loaded with presents, under the charge of Idaeus the herald. Mercury descends in the shape of a young man, and conducts him to the pavilion of Achilles. Their conversation on the way* Priam finds Achilles at his table, casts himself at his feet, and begs for the body of his son; Achilles, moved with compassion, grants his request, detains him one night in his tent, and the next morning sends him home with the body; the Trojans run out to meet him. The lamentation of Andromache, Hecuba, and Helen, with the solemnities of the funeral.

  The time of twelve days is employed in this book, while the body of Hector lies in the tent of Achilles. And as many more are spent in the truce allowed for his interment. The scene is partly in Achilles' camp,
and partly in Troy.

  BOOK XXIV.

  The games were ended, and the multitude

  Amid the ships their sev'ral ways dispers'd:

  Some to their supper, some to gentle sleep

  Yielding, delighted; but Achilles still

  Mourn'd o'er his lov'd companion; not on him

  Lighted all-conqu'ring sleep, but to and fro

  Restless he toss'd, and on Patroclus thought,

  His vigour and his courage; all the deeds

  They two together had achiev'd; the toils,

  The perils they had undergone, amid

  The strife of warriors, and the angry waves.

  Stirr'd by such mem'ries, bitter tears he shed;

  Now turning on his side, and now again

  Upon his back; then prone upon his face;

  Then starting to his feet, along the shore

  All objectless, despairing, would he roam;

  Nor did the morn, above the sea appearing,

  Unmark'd of him arise; his flying steeds

  He then would harness, and, behind the car

  The corpse of Hector trailing in the dust,

  Thrice make the circuit of Patroclus' tomb;

  Then would he turn within his tent to rest,

  Leaving the prostrate corpse with dust defil'd;

  But from unseemly marks the valiant dead

  Apollo guarded, who with pity view'd

  The hero, though in death; and round him threw

  His golden aegis; nor, though dragg'd along,

  Allow'd his body to receive a wound.

  Thus foully did Achilles in his rage

  Misuse the mighty dead; the blessed Gods

  With pitying grief beheld the sight, and urg'd

  That Hermes should by stealth the corpse remove.

  The counsel pleas'd the rest; but Juno still,

  And Neptune, and the blue-ey'd Maid, retain'd

  The hatred, unappeas'd, with which of old

  Troy and her King and people they pursued;

  Since Paris to the rival Goddesses,

  Who to his sheepfold came, gave deep offence,

  Preferring her who brought him in return

  The fatal boon of too successful love.

  But when the twelfth revolving day was come,

  Apollo thus th' assembled Gods address'd:

  "Shame on ye, Gods, ungrateful! have ye not,

  At Hector's hand, of bulls and choicest goats

  Receiv'd your off'rings meet? and fear ye now

  E'en his dead corpse to save, and grant his wife,

  His mother, and his child, his aged sire

  And people, to behold him, and to raise

  His fun'ral pile, and with due rites entomb?

  But fell Achilles all your aid commands;

  Of mind unrighteous, and inflexible

  His stubborn heart; his thoughts are all of blood;

  E'en as a lion, whom his mighty strength

  And dauntless courage lead to leap the fold,

  And 'mid the trembling flocks to seize his prey;

  E'en so Achilles hath discarded ruth,

  And conscience, arbiter of good and ill.

  A man may lose his best-lov'd friend, a son,

  Or his own mother's son, a brother dear:

  He mourns and weeps, but time his grief allays,

  For fate to man a patient mind hath giv'n:

  But godlike Hector's body, after death,

  Achilles, unrelenting, foully drags,

  Lash'd to his car, around his comrade's tomb.

  This is not to his praise; though brave he be,

  Yet thus our anger he may justly rouse,

  Who in his rage insults the senseless clay."

  To whom, indignant, white-arm'd Juno thus:

  "Some show of reason were there in thy speech,

  God of the silver bow, could Hector boast

  Of equal dignity with Peleus' son.

  A mortal one, and nurs'd at woman's breast;

  The other, of a Goddess born, whom I

  Nurtur'd and rear'd, and to a mortal gave

  In marriage; gave to Peleus, best belov'd

  By all th' Immortals, of the race of man.

  Ye, Gods, attended all the marriage rites;

  Thou too, companion base, false friend, wast there,

  And, playing on thy lyre, didst share the feast."

  To whom the Cloud-compeller answer'd thus:

  "Juno, restrain thy wrath; they shall not both

  Attain like honour; yet was Hector once,

  Of all the mortals that in Ilium dwell,

  Dearest to all the Gods, and chief to me;

  For never did he fail his gifts to bring.

  And with, burnt-off 'rings and libations due

  My altars crown; such worship I receiv'd.

  Yet shall bold Hector's body, not without

  The knowledge of Achilles, be remov'd;

  For day and night his Goddess-mother keeps

  Her constant watch beside him. Then, some God

  Bid Thetis hither to my presence haste;

  And I with prudent words will counsel her,

  That so Achilles may at Priam's hand

  Large ransom take, and set brave Hector free."

  He said; and promptly on his errand sprang

  The storm-swift Iris; in the dark-blue sea

  She plung'd, midway 'twixt Imbros' rugged shore

  And Samos' isle; the parting waters plash'd.

  As down to ocean's lowest depths she dropp'd,

  Like to a plummet, which the fisherman

  Lets fall, encas'd in wild bull's horn, to bear

  Destruction to the sea's voracious tribes.

  There found she Thetis in a hollow cave,

  Around her rang'd the Ocean Goddesses:

  She, in the midst, was weeping o'er the fate

  Her matchless son awaiting, doom'd to die

  Far from his home, on fertile plains of Troy.

  Swift-footed Iris at her side appear'd,

  And thus address'd her: "Hasten, Thetis; Jove,

  Lord of immortal counsel, summons thee."

  To whom the silver-footed Goddess thus:

  "What would with me the mighty King of Heav'n?

  Press'd as I am with grief, I am asham'd

  To mingle with the Gods; yet will I go:

  Nor shall he speak in vain, whate'er his words."

  Thus as she spoke, her veil the Goddess took,

  All black, than which none deeper could be found;

  She rose to go; the storm-swift Iris led

  The way before her; ocean's parted waves

  Around their path receded; to the beach

  Ascending, upwards straight to Heav'n they sprang.

  Th' all-seeing son of Saturn there they found,

  And rang'd around him all th' immortal Gods.

  Pallas made way; and by the throne of Jove

  Sat Thetis, Juno proff'ring to her hand

  A goblet fair of gold, and adding words

  Of welcome; she the cup receiv'd, and drank.

  Then thus began the sire of Gods and men:

  "Thou, Thetis, sorrowing to Olympus com'st,

  Borne down by ceaseless grief; I know it well;

  Yet hear the cause for which I summon'd thee.

  About Achilles, thy victorious son,

  And valiant Hector's body, for nine days

  Hath contest been in Heav'n; and some have urg'd

  That Hermes should by stealth the corpse remove.

  This to Achilles' praise I mean to turn,

  And thus thy rev'rence and thy love retain.

  Then haste thee to the camp, and to thy son

  My message bear; tell him that all the Gods

  Are fill'd with wrath; and I above the rest

  Am angry, that beside the beaked ships,

  He, mad with rage, the corpse of Hector keeps:

  So may he fear me, and restore
the dead.

  Iris meantime to Priam I will send,

  And bid him seek the Grecian ships, and there

  Obtain his son's release: and with him bring

  Such presents as may melt Achilles' heart."

  He said; the silver-footed Queen obey'd;

  Down from Olympus' heights in haste she sped,

  And sought her son; him found she in his tent,

  Groaning with anguish, while his comrades round,

  Plying their tasks, prepar'd the morning meal.

  For them a goodly sheep, full-fleec'd, was slain.

  Close by his side his Goddess-mother stood,

  And gently touch'd him with her hand, and said,

  "How long, my son, wilt thou thy soul consume

  With grief and mourning, mindful nor of food

  Nor sleep? nor dost thou wisely, to abstain

  From woman's love; for short thy time on earth:

  Death and imperious fate are close at hand.

  Hear then my words; a messenger from Jove

  To thee I come, to tell thee that the Gods

  Are fill'd with wrath, and he above the rest

  Is angry, that beside the beaked ships

  Thou, mad with rage, the corpse of Hector keep'st.

  Then ransom take, and liberate the dead."

  To whom Achilles, swift of foot, replied:

  "So be it; ransom let him bring, and bear

  His dead away, if such the will of Jove."

  Thus, in the concourse of the ships, they two,

  Mother and son, their lengthen'd converse held.

  Then Saturn's son to Iris gave command:

  "Haste thee, swift Iris, from Olympus' height,

  To Troy, to royal Priam bear my words;

  And bid him seek the Grecian ships, and there

  Obtain his son's release; and with him take

  Such presents as may melt Achilles' heart.

  Alone, no Trojan with him, must he go;

  Yet may a herald on his steps attend,

  Some aged man, his smoothly-rolling car

  And mules to drive; and to the city back

  To bring his dead, whom great Achilles slew.

  Nor let the fear of death disturb his mind:

  Hermes shall with him, as his escort, go,

  And to Achilles' presence safely bring.

  Arriv'd within the tent, nor he himself

  Will slay him, but from others will protect.

  Not ignorant is he, nor void of sense,

  Nor disobedient to the Gods' behest

  But will with pitying eyes his suppliant view."

  He said; and on his errand sped in haste

  The storm-swift Iris; when to Priam's house

  She came, the sounds of wailing met her ear.

  Within the court, around their father, sat

  His sons, their raiment all bedew'd with tears;