by Homer
Odysseus kills five Trojans
While these thoughts raced through Odysseus’ mind, shield-bearing Trojan ranks bore down and surrounded him. They brought themselves nothing but trouble. As strong young huntsmen and their hounds harry a wild boar which emerges from the depths of its lair, sharpening up its white tusks in its crooked jaws; they rush at it from every side; there is a noise of gnashing teeth; but formidable as the boar is, they hold their ground against it – so the encircling Trojans harried Odysseus dear to Zeus.
(420) First Odysseus leapt at matchless Deïopites with his sharp spear and stabbed down on his shoulder from above. Next he killed Thoön and Ennomus. Chersidamas then jumped down from his chariot but Odysseus stabbed him with his spear in the crutch under his bossed shield. He fell in the dust and clutched at the earth. Leaving them where they fell, Odysseus with his spear stabbed Charops, son of Hippasus. He was a brother of wealthy Socus, a godlike mortal who, advancing to defend him, took his stand in front of Odysseus and said:
(430) ’Celebrated Odysseus, with your relish for con-tricks and combat, today you will either triumph over both sons of Hippasus and boast about the splendid pair you have killed and stripped, or be brought down by my spear and die yourself.’ (Socus wounds and is killed by Odysseus) With these words he stabbed at Odysseus’ round shield. The heavy weapon pierced the glittering shield, forced its way through the ornate body-armour and ripped the flesh clean off Odysseus’ side, though Pallas Athene did not allow it to penetrate his innards. (440) Odysseus knew it had not touched a vital spot, drew back and said to Socus:
‘Miserable wretch, your doom is sealed. You have stopped me fighting the Trojans, but I tell you dark death and destruction await you this day: conquered by my spear, you will surrender the glory to me and your life to the god Hades, famed for his horses.’
He spoke, and Socus turned and started to run. As he turned, Odysseus stabbed him with his spear in the middle of the back between his shoulders and drove it through his chest. He thudded to the ground, and godlike Odysseus triumphed over him:
(450) ’Ah, Socus, son of Hippasus the brave charioteer! So death after all was too quick for you, and you did not escape. Your eyes, poor wretch, will not be closed in death by your father and your lady mother, but the carrion birds will gather round you with their flapping wings and tear your body to pieces. But when I die, I shall have funeral honours from the godlike Greeks.’
Menelaus calls for help
With these words he pulled Socus’ heavy spear out of his own wound and bossed shield. Blood gushed up as the point came out, and Odysseus was in serious (460) distress. When the Trojans saw the blood, they called to each other across the ranks and attacked him in a body. Odysseus gave ground, shouting to his friends for help. He called three times at the top of his voice, and warlike Menelaus, hearing his cries, turned quickly to Ajax, who happened to be near, and said:
‘Olympian-born Ajax son of Telamon, leader of men, I can hear great Odysseus crying out. It sounds as though the Trojans have cut him off in the thick of the action and overpowered (470) him. You and I had better charge in to the rescue. I am afraid it will be all up with him if we leave him stranded like that, great warrior though he is. What a loss to the Greeks that would be!’
With these words he led the way, and godlike Ajax went with him.
They soon found Odysseus, Trojans crowding round him like tawny jackals in the mountains round an antlered stag wounded by an arrow from a huntsman’s bow; it has the speed to leave the man behind, as long as the blood flows warm and its legs carry it; but when the arrow has sapped its strength, the flesh- (480) eating j ackals devour it in the shadowy woods of the mountains; a god then brings a predatory lion on the scene; the jackals scatter: it is the lion’s turn to feed – just so, many brave Trojans crowded round warlike, quick-thinking Odysseus who, by lunging out with his spear, managed to keep death at bay.
But now Ajax with his towerlike shield came up and covered him. The Trojans scattered in all directions, and warlike Menelaus took Odysseus by the arm and led him through the crowd while an attendant brought up Menelaus’ chariot.
(490) (Ajax kills five Trojans) Ajax then flung himself on the Trojans and killed Doryclus, a bastard son of Priam’s; next he stabbed Pandocus and Lysander and Pyrasus and Pylartes. As a river in spate, swollen by the winter rains, rushes down from the mountains to the plain, sweeping up dead oaks and pines and carrying piles of driftwood to the sea – so glorious Ajax stormed across the plain and fell on the enemy, destroying horse and man.
Hector knew nothing of all this. He was engaged on the far (500) left by the banks of River Scamander, where the slaughter was heaviest and the tumult of battle filled the air round great Nestor and warlike Idomeneus. Hector was in the thick of it here, creating havoc with chariot and spear and mowing down the Greek youth.
Paris hits achaon; Nestor rescues him
Yet even so the godlike Greeks would not have given ground to him, if Paris, husband of lovely-haired Helen, had not halted Machaon, shepherd of the people and the best warrior there, by hitting him with a three-barbed arrow in the right shoulder. The Greeks, breathing courage, were terrified he might be captured (510) as the battle swayed, and Idomeneus at once spoke to godlike Nestor:
‘Quick, Nestor son of Neleus, great glory of the Greeks, into your chariot, pick up Machaon and drive with all speed to the ships. A healer like him, who can cut out arrows and apply soothing herbs, is worth a thousand others.’
So he spoke, and Nestor the Gerenian charioteer complied. He mounted his chariot and Machaon, son of Asclepius the matchless healer, got in beside him. Nestor lashed the horses (520) with the whip, and the willing pair flew off towards the hollow ships, eager to reach their journey’s end.
Cebriones, Hector’s charioteer, saw that the Trojans elsewhere had been put to flight and spoke his mind to Hector:
‘Hector, here are we, engaged with the Greeks on the very fringe of the battle while the rest of the Trojans are running off in chaos, chariots and all. Ajax son of Telamon is sweeping them before him: I recognize him easily – he has that broad shield on his shoulders. Let’s drive over there and join in where the charioteers and infantry are launching their strongest (530) assault, where men are killing each other and the tumult of battle fills the air.’
With these words Cebriones whipped his lovely-maned horses with his whistling lash. Hearing the stroke, they swept the chariot off at a gallop towards the Trojans and Greeks, trampling dead men and shields alike. The whole axle of the chariot and the rails that ran round it were sprayed with the blood thrown up by the horses’ hooves and the wheel-rims. Hector was eager to get in among the throng of fighting men, to charge and break through. But though his arrival brought terrible confusion to the Greeks, and he did not shrink from using his (540) spear, he avoided battle with Ajax son of Telamon, and made his presence felt among the rest of the enemy with spear and sword and boulder.
Ajax slowly withdraws
Father Zeus on his high throne then made Ajax retreat. He lost his nerve and came to a halt. Then, looking anxiously about him, he swung his sevenfold shield across his back, turned in retreat and step by step gave ground, like a wild beast, with many a backward look. As dogs (550) and farm hands drive a tawny lion from a cattle-yard: they have stayed awake all night to protect the choicest of their cattle from its jaws but, hungry for meat, the lion keeps on charging; but it does no good by it; showers of spears and blazing torches hurled at it by strong hands scare it off for all its appetite, and at dawn it slinks off, disappointed – so, equally disappointed, Ajax retreated from the Trojans, much against his will and acutely conscious of the danger to the Greek ships.
As a stubborn donkey passing a cornfield defies the boys in charge of him – though stick after stick has often been broken (560) round his ribs – and goes in and helps himself to the rich standing crop: the children continue to beat him, but their efforts are feeble, and they just about manage to
drive him out, but not before he has eaten all he wants – so the proud Trojans and their famous allies dogged the steps of great Ajax son of Telamon, stabbing at the centre of his shield with their spears. At times Ajax would call up that fighting spirit of his, wheel and hold the ranks of the horse-taming Trojans at bay; and then once more he would turn and resume his retreat. In this way he managed to fend off the whole force that was threatening the ships, (570) standing and laying about him halfway between the Trojans and Greeks. Many spears launched from strong arms were halted in their forward flight by his great shield, while many others fell short before they could enjoy white flesh and stuck in the earth, thirsting to take their fill.
Eurypylus kills Apisaon; Paris’ reply
When splendid Eurypylus noticed Ajax labouring under this hail of missiles, he ran up to support him, let fly his glittering spear and struck Apisaon, shepherd of the people, in the liver under the midriff, (580) bringing him down at once. Then, charging up, he began to take the armour from his shoulders. But as Eurypylus stripped his man, godlike Paris saw him, quickly bent his bow at him and hit him with an arrow in the right thigh. The shaft broke off in his thigh and slowed him down, but he retreated into his own contingent of warriors to avoid death. He then sent his voice ringing out to the whole Greek army:
‘My friends, rulers and leaders of the Greeks, turn, make a stand and save Ajax from destruction. He’s under a hail of (590) missiles, and I cannot see how he can disengage himself. Rally round great Ajax son of Telamon!’
So spoke the wounded Eurypylus, and they closed and rallied round Ajax, crouching behind sloped shields, with their spears up at the ready. Ajax came to meet them and, when he reached his own contingent, turned about and stood his ground.
Achilles dispatches Patroclus
So they fought on like blazing fire. Meanwhile the mares of Neleus’ breed, sweating as they ran, were carrying Nestor from the battlefield and with him Machaon shepherd of the people. Swift-footed god- (600) like Achilles, who had been watching the uphill work of battle and the Greeks’ unhappy retreat from the stern of his wide-bellied ship, saw him and took note. He called at once to his companion Patroclus, shouting for him from the ship. Hearing the call in his hut, Patroclus equal of Ares came out; and that was the beginning of his end. The strong son of Menoetius spoke first:
‘Why did you call, Achilles? What do you want me for?’
Swift-footed Achilles replied and said:
‘Godlike son of Menoetius, my pride and joy, now I think the (610) Greeks will be gathering at my knees in supplication! They are in desperate straits. But go now, Patroclus, and ask Nestor who is the wounded man he is taking from the battlefield. Seen from behind, he looks exactly like Machaon son of Asclepius, but the horses raced past in such a hurry that I could not see his face.’
So he spoke, and Patroclus complied with his companion and set off at a run along the Greeks’ huts and their ships.
Nestor and Machaon reach safety
When Nestor and Machaon reached Nestor’s hut, they (620) stepped down from the chariot to the bountiful earth while Eurymedon, the old man’s attendant, unyoked the horses. The men then stood in the breeze by the sea-shore to dry the sweat from their tunics, and after that went inside and took a seat. Lovely-haired Hecamede prepared them a drink. Nestor had won her when Achilles sacked Tenedos; she was the daughter of great-hearted Arsinous, and the Greeks had picked her out for Nestor because he was their wisest adviser.
First she pushed up a handsome polished table with blue (630) inlaid feet. On this she placed a bronze dish with an onion as seasoning for the drink, some yellow honey and barley bread; and beside these a magnificent cup adorned with gold rivets, which the old man had brought from home. It had four handles, and on top of each, facing one another, two gold doves were dipping in their beaks. There were two supports underneath. Anyone else would have found it difficult to shift the cup from the table when it was full, but Nestor, old as he was, could lift it with ease. This woman like the goddesses poured Pramnian (640) wine into the cup, grated into it some goat’s milk cheese with a bronze grater, sprinkled white barley on top and, when she had finished, told them to drink.
Patroclus reaches Nestor’s hut
They had quenched their parching thirst and were agreeably engaged in conversation, when Patroclus suddenly appeared in the doorway, a mortal like a god. The old man saw him, got up from his polished chair, took him by the hand, brought him in and told him to sit down. But Patroclus from the other side refused and explained:
‘No time for sitting down, my venerable lord; you will not persuade me. That man who sent me to find out the wounded (650) man you just brought in – he commands respect. He is easy to annoy. But, as I can see for myself that it is Machaon, shepherd of the people, I will go back at once and report to Achilles. You know well enough, Olympian-bred sir, what a difficult man he is, quite capable of finding fault without reason.’
Nestor the Gerenian charioteer replied:
‘Why is Achilles so concerned about a few Greek casualties,
when he knows nothing about the disaster affecting the whole army? Our very best men are lying by the ships, hit by missiles (660) or stabbed. Mighty Diomedes has been hit; Odysseus the great spearman has been stabbed; so has Agamemnon; Eurypylus has had an arrow in his thigh; and here is another I have just brought from the battlefield, hit by an arrow. Yet Achilles, great warrior that he is, feels no concern or pity for the Greeks. Is he waiting till, in spite of all we can do, our ships go up in flames beside the sea and we in turn are destroyed? Certainly my strength is not what it was or my limbs as supple.
(670) (Nestor recalls routing the Eleans) ‘Ah, if only I were still as young and with all my powers intact, as I was when we and the Eleans came to blows over some cattle-raids, and I killed strong Itymoneus who lived in Elis. I was raiding his herds by way of reprisal for what their ruler Augeas lord of the Eleans had done to us, and while Itymoneus was defending them I hit him with a spear and killed him, and his rustic followers scattered in panic. We drove off a vast quantity of booty from the plain – fifty herds of cattle, and as many flocks (680) of sheep, droves of pigs and scattered herds of goats, as well as a hundred and fifty chestnut horses, all of them mares and many with foals beside them. In the night we drove them in to my father Neleus’ town of Pylos, and Neleus was delighted that so much had fallen to me in my first military encounter.
‘At dawn our town-criers summoned everyone who had debts owed to them by Eleans to attend. Our leading men in Pylos held a meeting and divided up the spoils: many of our people were owed compensation by the Eleans. Indeed, we in Pylos were seriously weakened at that time – the few of us that were (690) left. The reason was that, in previous years, mighty Heracles had come and done his worst to us, and all our best men had been killed. I alone had survived out of the twelve sons that matchless Neleus had had – all the rest had perished. As a result the arrogant Elean warriors had been in the habit of humiliating us, and done us great wrong with their plundering.
‘But after my raid, the old lord Neleus had now got a herd of cattle and a great flock of sheep out of our spoils: he chose three hundred for himself, together with their shepherds. The point was that the Eleans owed him a good deal of compensation. This was because Neleus had sent a four-horse chariot to Elis to (700) run in their games and compete for a tripod. But their ruler Augeas had kept them and sent back their charioteer deprived of his horses and with an insulting message. Neleus had resented the wording of this as much as Augeas’ actions. So now he helped himself liberally to the booty, leaving the remainder to the people to divide in such a way that no one should go short of their proper share.
‘So we were dealing with this business in Pylos and sacrificing to the gods at various points in the town. But on the third day, the whole of Elis, chariots and foot-soldiers, bore down on us (710) at great speed, and with them marched the two Moliones who were still lads at the time with no experience of war. T
here is an outlying stronghold called Thryoessa perched on a steep hill overlooking the River Alpheus on the borders of sandy Pylos. Their aim was to destroy this place; so they laid siege to it and overran the surrounding plain. But in the night Athene came speeding down from Olympus and warned us to arm for battle. She did not find us unwilling; in fact the whole force she raised in Pylos was spoiling for a fight. But Neleus did not wish me to arm. He felt I knew too little about serious fighting and hid my (720) horses from me. All the same, Athene so arranged the battle that, even though I went on foot, I outshone even our own charioteers.
‘There is a river called Minyeius which falls into the sea near Arene. Here our charioteers halted till bright dawn, while the foot-soldiers came streaming up. From that point a rapid march under arms brought us by noon to the sacred River Alpheus. There we made fine boundary sacrifices to almighty Zeus and also offered a bull to the River-god, a bull to Poseidon and an (730) unworked heifer to grey-eyed Athene. We ate the sacrificial meal in our several contingents and settled down for the night on the banks of the stream, every man fully armed.
‘The confident Eleans meanwhile were besieging the citadel of Thryoessa, determined on its downfall; but they witnessed a tremendous feat of arms instead. No sooner had the sun shown his face above the horizon than we gave battle, with a prayer to Zeus and Athene; and when the two armies engaged, the first man fell to me and I took over his horses.
‘He was a spearman called Mulius, a son-in-law of Augeas, (740) married to his eldest daughter auburn-haired Agamede, who knew every magic herb that grows in the wide world. As he came at me, I struck him with my bronze-headed spear and he crashed in the dust. I leapt into his chariot and took my place in the front rank. The confident Eleans broke and ran in all directions when they saw their chariot-leader, their best fighter, brought to earth. But I was after them like a black storm. I captured fifty chariots, and the two occupants of each were all brought down by my spear and bit the dust. In fact I would have (750) killed the twin Moliones too, had not their father, Poseidon the wide-ruling earthshaker, hidden them in a thick mist and rescued them from the battlefield.