The Iliad (Trans. Caroline Alexander)

Home > Fantasy > The Iliad (Trans. Caroline Alexander) > Page 10
The Iliad (Trans. Caroline Alexander) Page 10

by Homer


  Then spoke to them Menelaos of the war cry:

  “Listen now to me also; for pain seizes my heart

  above all others, and I think that now Argives and Trojans

  can be parted, as they have suffered much evil

  on account of my quarrel, and on account of Alexandros who began it.100

  To whichever of us death and fate are prepared,

  let him die; but let the others be parted with all speed.

  Bring sheep—a white ram and a black female

  for the Sun and the Earth; and we Argives shall bring another besides for Zeus.

  And fetch strong Priam, so that he may cut the sacred oath

  himself, seeing that his sons are reckless and faithless,

  lest any man violate Zeus’ sacred treaty with a transgression.

  The wits of younger men are ever fluttering in the air;

  but an older man looks both before and behind for those he

  is with, so that the very best comes about for both sides.”110

  So he spoke, and both Achaeans and Trojans rejoiced,

  hoping to make an end of the sorrowful war.

  And they reined the chariots into line, and themselves descended

  and took off their armor, and placed it on the ground

  close together, and there was little earth left between.

  At once Hector sent two heralds to the city

  to bring the lambs and to summon Priam.

  And lord Agamemnon dispatched Talthybios

  to the hollow ships, and ordered a lamb

  brought forth; and he did not disobey illustrious Agamemnon.120

  Then Iris went as messenger to white-armed Helen,

  in the likeness of her husband’s sister, the wife of Antenor’s son,

  she whom Antenor’s son, lord Helikaon, held—

  Laodike, most outstanding in beauty of all of Priam’s daughters.

  She found Helen in her chamber; she was weaving a great cloth,

  a crimson cloak of double thickness, and was working in the many trials

  of the Trojan horse-breakers and bronze-clad Achaeans,

  trials which for her sake they had suffered under the hand of Ares.

  Standing close, Iris of the swift feet addressed her:

  “Come this way, dear bride, and see the marvelous deeds130

  of the Trojan horse-breakers and bronze-clad Achaeans,

  who earlier carried war and all its tears against each other

  into the plain, in their longing for deadly battle;

  these men now sit in silence, the war stopped,

  leaning on their shields, their great spears fixed upright beside them;

  and Alexandros and Menelaos beloved by Ares

  are to fight with their great spears on your account;

  and you will be called wife of that man who is victor.”

  So speaking the goddess aroused in Helen’s heart sweet longing

  for her husband of old, her city and her children.140

  At once, veiling herself with gleaming white shawls,

  she started up from her chamber, weeping soft tears,

  and not on her own; for with her followed her two handmaids.

  Aithra daughter of Pittheus and ox-eyed Klymene.

  Swiftly they arrived where stood the Scaean gates;

  and those men by Priam—Panthoös and Thymoites

  and Lampos, Klytios and Hiketaon, companion of Ares,

  as well as Oukalegon and Antenor, both sound men—

  elders of the city, sat above the Scaean gates,

  having ceded war to their old age, but were fine speakers all,150

  like chirping cicadas, which settling themselves throughout the forest

  on trees, issue forth their lily-soft voice.

  Such then were the leaders of Troy sitting upon the tower.

  And they, as they saw Helen approaching the tower,

  in undertones spoke winged words to one another:

  “No blame that the Trojans and strong-greaved Achaeans

  have suffered so long on account of such a woman;

  terribly does she seem like the immortal goddesses to look on.

  But even so—such as she is, let her go back home in the ships,

  let her not stay as a bane to us and our children after.”160

  So they spoke; but Priam called aloud to Helen:

  “Come here, dear child, and sit in front of me

  so that you may see your husband of old, your friends and his kinsmen—

  to me you are not in any way to blame, but in my eyes it is the gods who are blameworthy,

  who stirred up against me this sorrowful war of the Achaeans—

  so tell me the name of this gigantic man,

  who is this Achaean man, good and great?

  To be sure there are other men even greater in height,

  but I have never beheld with my eyes a man so handsome,

  nor so majestic; for he seems a kingly man.”170

  And Helen shining among women answered him with these words:

  “Honored are you to me, dear father-in-law, and revered,

  and would that evil death had pleased me at that time when

  I followed your son here, abandoning my marriage chamber and kinsmen,

  my late-born child, and the lovely companions of my own age.

  But that did not happen; and so I waste away weeping.

  but this I will tell you, which you asked me and questioned;

  that man is the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon,

  both a good king and a powerful spear-warrior.

  He was my brother-in-law, dog-faced as I am—if that ever happened.”180

  So she spoke; and the old man marveled at him and exclaimed:

  “O most fortunate son of Atreus, child of fortune, heaven-blessed;

  many indeed are the young men of the Achaeans subject to you.

  In time before I went to Phrygia, rich in vines,

  where I saw a multitude of Phrygian men and their flashing horses,

  the armies of Otreus and godlike Mygdon,

  who were camped along the banks of the Sangarios;

  and I too, being young, was numbered with them

  on that day when came the Amazons, a match for men—

  but they were not so numerous as the dark-eyed Achaeans.”190

  Then seeing Odysseus, the old man inquired a second time:

  “Come, tell me this too, dear child, who this man is;

  he is lesser in height than Agamemnon son of Atreus,

  but he seems broader in the shoulders and chest.

  His armor lies upon the nourishing earth,

  and he himself like a ram ranges the ranks of men.

  I would liken him to a deep-fleeced ram,

  who moves through a great flock of gleaming white sheep.”

  Then answered him Helen, born of Zeus:

  “Now this is the son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,200

  who was raised in the country of Ithaca, rough though it is,

  knowing every kind of stratagem and shrewd plan.”

  Then wise Antenor in turn addressed her:

  “O lady, unerring indeed is this word you spoke!

  For shining Odysseus once before came here too

  as an embassy with Menelaos, beloved by Ares, concerning you;

  I received them as guests and treated them kindly in my hall,

  and I got to know the character and shrewd plans of both.

  And when they took their places among the assembled Trojans,

  Menelaos standing towered with his broad shoulders,210

  but when both were seated, Odysseus was the more majestic;

  and when they began to weave for everyone their web of words and counsels,

  Menelaos, to be sure, was a fluent speaker,

  but brief, although very clear, as he was not a man of many words

  nor a rambler—and yet indeed he w
as younger;

  but when resourceful Odysseus rose to speak,

  he would stand and fixing his eyes on the ground would raise his gaze from time to time,

  and he did not gesture with his staff back and forth,

  but held it without moving, like an ignorant man;

  you would think him to be surly and some mere simpleton.220

  But when he let go the great voice from his chest

  and words like snowflakes in winter—

  then no other mortal man could rival Odysseus.

  Then we marveled no longer at Odysseus’ appearance.”

  Again, seeing Ajax, the old man then inquired a third time:

  “Who is this other Achaean man, good and great,

  outstanding among the Argives in height and broad shoulders?”

  And Helen, shining among women with her trailing gown, answered:

  “That man is huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans.

  And on the other side Idomeneus stands like a god among the Cretans,230

  and the leaders of Crete are gathered around him.

  Many times Menelaos beloved by Ares received him as a guest

  in our home, whenever he came from Crete.

  I see them all now, the rest of the dark-eyed Achaeans,

  those I know well and could name—

  but I cannot see the two marshals of the people,

  Castor, breaker of horses, and the skilful boxer Polydeukes,

  my two brothers, born with me of the same mother.

  Perhaps they did not follow the others from lovely Lacedaemon;

  or they did follow here in the seagoing ships,240

  but now are not willing to enter the combat of men,

  fearing the many insults and reproaches against me.”

  She spoke, but already the life-giving earth covered them

  back there, in Lacedaemon, in their beloved fatherland.

  Then through the city the heralds bore the trusted oath offerings for the gods,

  two sheep and cheering wine, fruit of the field,

  in a goatskin wine sack; and the herald Idaios

  carried a shining wine bowl and cups of gold.

  And standing beside him he roused the old man with his words:

  “Rise up, son of Laomedon, you are summoned by the best250

  of the horse-breaking Trojans and bronze-clad Achaeans alike,

  to come down to the plain, to cut faithful oaths of treaty.

  For Alexandros and Menelaos beloved by Ares

  are to fight with their great spears for the woman;

  and to that man who is victor will go the woman and her possessions,

  but the rest of us will cut faithful oaths of friendship,

  and we will live in Troy where the soil is rich, and they will return

  to the horse-grazed pastures of Argos and Achaea with its beautiful women.”

  So he spoke, and the old man shuddered, but bade his companions

  yoke the chariot horses; and quickly they obeyed.260

  Then Priam mounted and drew the reins back tight

  and beside him Antenor mounted the beautifully wrought chariot;

  and so through the Scaean gates they drove the swift horses to the plain.

  And when they arrived among the Trojans and Achaeans,

  descending from the chariot to the nourishing earth

  they strode into the midst of the Trojans and Achaeans.

  Then at once lord of men Agamemnon stood to his feet,

  and resourceful Odysseus; the noble heralds

  led forth the sacrificial offerings of oath for the gods, and mixed wine

  in the bowl, and poured water over the hands of the kings.270

  Then with his hands the son of Atreus drew his knife,

  which always hung beside the great scabbard of his sword,

  and cut fleece from the heads of the sheep; then

  the heralds distributed this to the Trojans and Achaean leaders.

  And raising his hands, the son of Atreus prayed aloud for all:

  “Father Zeus, ruling from Mount Ida, most glorious and greatest,

  and thou the Sun, who oversees and overhears all things,

  and Rivers and Earth, and those of you beneath the earth

  who take vengeance on men who have died, on whomever has sworn false oath—

  you be witnesses, you guard these trusted oaths.280

  If Alexandros kills Menelaos,

  let him then have Helen and all her possessions,

  and we return home in our seagoing ships;

  but if fair-haired Menelaos kills Alexandros,

  then the Trojans must give back Helen and all her possessions,

  and pay recompense to the Argives, whatever is proper,

  and which will stand even for men who come hereafter.

  And if Priam and the sons of Priam are unwilling

  to pay me recompense, should Alexandros fall,

  then I will surely fight for compensation,290

  remaining here, until I reach the conclusion of this war.”

  He spoke, and cut the throats of the sheep with the pitiless bronze.

  And he deposited them gasping on the earth,

  their life force failing, as the bronze took their strength,

  and drawing wine from the bowl in cups

  they poured libations and prayed to the immortal gods.

  And thus would a man speak, both Trojan and Achaean:

  “Zeus most glorious and greatest, and all you immortal gods,

  those who first do harm in violation of the sacred treaty—on whichever side they be—

  may their brains flow—thus—upon the ground, like this wine,300

  and the brains of their children, and may their wives be forced by other men.”

  So they spoke; but the son of Cronus did not accomplish this for them.

  Then Dardanian Priam spoke a word among them:

  “Listen to me, Trojans and strong-greaved Achaeans.

  Now I go back again to windswept Troy,

  since I cannot bear to see with my own eyes

  my dear son locked in combat with Menelaos, beloved by Ares.

  Zeus no doubt knows, and the other deathless gods,

  to which is decreed the finality of death.”

  He spoke, a man like a god, and placed the lambs in the chariot,310

  and then himself mounted, and drew the reins back taut,

  and Antenor mounted the splendid chariot beside him.

  Then the two turning back returned to Ilion;

  and Priam’s son Hector and godlike Odysseus

  first measured out a space, and then

  choosing lots, they shook them in a brazen helmet,

  to see which of the two men should first hurl his bronze spear.

  And the armies prayed, raising their hands to the gods,

  and thus would a man speak, both Trojan and Achaean:

  “Father Zeus, ruling from Mount Ida, most glorious and greatest,320

  whichever man inflicted these troubles between us both,

  grant that he die and make his way into the house of Hades,

  but to us grant friendship and that the sacred treaty stand.”

  So they spoke. And great Hector of the shimmering helm shook the lots,

  his eyes averted; and Paris’ lot was swiftly shaken out.

  And thereupon the men seated themselves in their ranks, at the place where

  each man’s embellished armor lay by his high-stepping horses.

  But shining Alexandros put his fine armor upon his broad shoulders,

  he, the husband of Helen of the lovely hair.

  First he strapped the splendid greaves around his shins,330

  fitted with silver bindings around his ankles;

  next he girt about his chest a breastplate,

  his brother Lykaon’s, but it fitted him;

  across his shoulders he slung his bronze sword

  studd
ed with silver; and then his great strong shield.

  Over his powerful head he placed his well-forged helmet

  with flowing horsehair; and terribly the crest nodded over it.

  He took his strong spear, fitted to his hand.

  And in this way too did warlike Menelaos also arm.

  When they had armed themselves on their opposite sides of the throng,340

  they strode into the middle of the Trojans and Achaeans,

  looking terror at each other; and awe held those watching,

  both horse-breaking Trojans and strong-greaved Achaeans;

  and taking their stands close to each other in the marked-out space,

  they shook their spears, and raged at each other.

  Alexandros was first to hurl his long-shadowed spear,

  and he struck the circle of the son of Atreus’ shield;

  but the spear-point was bent back

  in the mighty shield. And Menelaos son of Atreus attacked next

  with his bronze spear, having made prayer to Zeus the father:350

  “Lord Zeus, grant me vengeance on the man who first wronged me with his evil deeds,

  Alexandros the godlike, and break him beneath my hands,

  so that even generations to come will shudder

  to wreak evil on a host, a man who has given friendship.”

  He spoke, and balancing the long-shadowed spear he hurled it,

  and struck the circle of the son of Priam’s shield.

  The heavy spear ran through the gleaming shield,

  and was forced through his elaborate breastplate;

  straight through his tunic beside his ribs

  the spear cut; but Paris turned aside and evaded dark death.360

  And the son of Atreus drew his silver-studded sword

  and raising his arm, struck the helmet ridge; and on both sides of the ridge

  his sword—shattered into three, into four pieces—fell from his hand.

  Then the son of Atreus cried out, looking up to broad heaven:

  “Father Zeus, no other one of the gods is more malicious than you!

  I thought I surely had my revenge on Alexandros for his wickedness;

  but now my sword has shattered in my hand, my spear

  flown from my hand in vain, and I have not beaten him.”

  He spoke, and springing forward seized Alexandros’ horsehair-crested helmet,

  and wheeling about, dragged him toward the strong-greaved Achaeans;370

  and the elaborately embellished strap choked Alexandros beneath his soft throat,

  stretched tight under his chin to secure his helmet.

  And indeed Menelaos would have dragged him away and won for himself glory everlasting,

 

‹ Prev