The Poetry Corner

The Iliad Of Homer: Translated Into English Blank Verse: Book XV.

By William Cowper

Argument Of The Fifteenth Book. Jove, awaking and seeing the Trojans routed, threatens Juno. He sends Iris to admonish Neptune to relinquish the battle, and Apollo to restore health to Hector. Apollo armed with the gis, puts to flight the Grecians; they are pursued home to their fleet, and Telamonian Ajax slays twelve Trojans bringing fire to burn it. But when the flying Trojans had o'erpass'd Both stakes and trench, and numerous slaughtered lay By Grecian hands, the remnant halted all Beside their chariots, pale, discomfited. Then was it that on Ida's summit Jove At Juno's side awoke; starting, he stood At once erect; Trojans and Greeks he saw, These broken, those pursuing and led on By Neptune; he beheld also remote Encircled by his friends, and on the plain Extended, Hector; there he panting lay, Senseless, ejecting blood, bruised by a blow From not the feeblest of the sons of Greece. Touch'd with compassion at that sight, the Sire Of Gods and men, frowning terrific, fix'd His eyes on Juno, and her thus bespake. No place for doubt remains. Oh, versed in wiles, Juno! thy mischief-teeming mind perverse Hath plotted this; thou hast contrived the hurt Of Hector, and hast driven his host to flight. I know not but thyself mayst chance to reap The first-fruits of thy cunning, scourged[1] by me. Hast thou forgotten how I once aloft Suspended thee, with anvils at thy feet, And both thy wrists bound with a golden cord Indissoluble? In the clouds of heaven I hung thee, while from the Olympian heights The Gods look'd mournful on, but of them all None could deliver thee, for whom I seized, Hurl'd through the gates of heaven on earth he fell, Half-breathless. Neither so did I resign My hot resentment of the hero's wrongs Immortal Hercules, whom thou by storms Call'd from the North, with mischievous intent Hadst driven far distant o'er the barren Deep To populous Cos. Thence I deliver'd him, And after numerous woes severe, he reach'd The shores of fruitful Argos, saved by me. I thus remind thee now, that thou mayst cease Henceforth from artifice, and mayst be taught How little all the dalliance and the love Which, stealing down from heaven, thou hast by fraud Obtain'd from me, shall profit thee at last. He ended, whom imperial Juno heard Shuddering, and in wing'd accents thus replied. Be witness Earth, the boundless Heaven above, And Styx beneath, whose stream the blessed Gods Even tremble to adjure;[2] be witness too Thy sacred life, and our connubial bed, Which by a false oath I will never wrong, That by no art induced or plot of mine Neptune, the Shaker of the shores, inflicts These harms on Hector and the Trojan host Aiding the Grecians, but impell'd alone By his own heart with pity moved at sight Of the Achaians at the ships subdued. But even him, oh Sovereign of the storms! I am prepared to admonish that he quit The battle, and retire where thou command'st. So she; then smiled the Sire of Gods and men, And in wing'd accents answer thus return'd.[3] Juno! wouldst thou on thy celestial throne Assist my counsels, howso'er in heart He differ now, Neptune should soon his will Submissive bend to thy desires and mine. But if sincerity be in thy words And truth, repairing to the blest abodes Send Iris hither, with the archer God Apollo; that she, visiting the host Of Greece, may bid the Sovereign of the Deep Renounce the fight, and seek his proper home. Apollo's part shall be to rouse again Hector to battle, to inspire his soul Afresh with courage, and all memory thence To banish of the pangs which now he feels. Apollo also shall again repulse Achaia's host, which with base panic fill'd, Shall even to Achilles' ships be driven. Achilles shall his valiant friend exhort Patroclus forth; him under Ilium's walls Shall glorious Hector slay; but many a youth Shall perish by Patroclus first, with whom, My noble son Sarpedon. Peleus' son, Resentful of Patroclus' death, shall slay Hector, and I will urge ceaseless, myself, Thenceforth the routed Trojans back again, Till by Minerva's aid the Greeks shall take Ilium's proud city; till that day arrive My wrath shall burn, nor will I one permit Of all the Immortals to assist the Greeks, But will perform Achilles' whole desire. Such was my promise to him at the first, Ratified by a nod that self-same day When Thetis clasp'd my knees, begging revenge And glory for her city-spoiler son. He ended; nor his spouse white-arm'd refused Obedience, but from the Idan heights Departing, to the Olympian summit soar'd. Swift as the traveller's thought,[4] who, many a land Traversed, deliberates on his future course Uncertain, and his mind sends every way, So swift updarted Juno to the skies. Arrived on the Olympian heights, she found The Gods assembled; they, at once, their seats At her approach forsaking, with full cups Her coming hail'd; heedless of all beside, She took the cup from blooming Themis' hand, For she first flew to welcome her, and thus In accents wing'd of her return inquired. Say, Juno, why this sudden re-ascent? Thou seem'st dismay'd; hath Saturn's son, thy spouse, Driven thee affrighted to the skies again? To whom the white-arm'd Goddess thus replied. Themis divine, ask not. Full well thou know'st How harshly temper'd is the mind of Jove, And how untractable. Resume thy seat; The banquet calls thee; at our board preside, Thou shalt be told, and all in heaven shall hear What ills he threatens; such as shall not leave All minds at ease, I judge, here or on earth, However tranquil some and joyous now. So spake the awful spouse of Jove, and sat. Then, all alike, the Gods displeasure felt Throughout the courts of Jove, but she, her lips Gracing with smiles from which her sable brows Dissented,[5] thus indignant them address'd. Alas! how vain against the Thunderer's will Our anger, and the hope to supersede His purpose, by persuasion or by force! He solitary sits, all unconcern'd At our resentment, and himself proclaims Mightiest and most to be revered in heaven. Be patient, therefore, and let each endure Such ills as Jove may send him. Mars, I ween, Already hath his share; the warrior God Hath lost Ascalaphus, of all mankind His most beloved, and whom he calls his own. She spake, and with expanded palms his thighs Smiling, thus, sorrowful, the God exclaim'd. Inhabitants of the Olympian heights! Oh bear with me, if to avenge my son I seek Achaia's fleet, although my doom Be thunder-bolts from Jove, and with the dead Outstretch'd to lie in carnage and in dust. He spake, and bidding Horror and Dismay Lead to the yoke his rapid steeds, put on His all-refulgent armor. Then had wrath More dreadful, some strange vengeance on the Gods From Jove befallen, had not Minerva, touch'd With timely fears for all, upstarting sprung From where she sat, right through the vestibule. She snatch'd the helmet from his brows, the shield From his broad shoulder, and the brazen spear Forced from his grasp into its place restored. Then reprimanding Mars, she thus began. Frantic, delirious! thou art lost for ever! Is it in vain that thou hast ears to hear, And hast thou neither shame nor reason left? How? hear'st thou not the Goddess? the report Of white-arm'd Juno from Olympian Jove Return'd this moment? or perfer'st thou rather, Plagued with a thousand woes, and under force Of sad necessity to seek again Olympus, and at thy return to prove Author of countless miseries to us all? For He at once Grecians and Trojans both Abandoning, will hither haste prepared To tempest[6] us in heaven, whom he will seize, The guilty and the guiltless, all alike. I bid thee, therefore, patient bear the death Of thy Ascalaphus; braver than he And abler have, ere now, in battle fallen, And shall hereafter; arduous were the task To rescue from the stroke of fate the race Of mortal men, with all their progeny. So saying, Minerva on his throne replaced The fiery Mars. Then, summoning abroad Apollo from within the hall of Jove, With Iris, swift ambassadress of heaven, Them in wing'd accents Juno thus bespake. Jove bids you hence with undelaying speed To Ida; in his presence once arrived, See that ye execute his whole command. So saying, the awful Goddess to her throne Return'd and sat. They, cleaving swift the air, Alighted soon on Ida fountain-fed, Parent of savage kinds. High on the point Seated of Gargarus, and wrapt around With fragrant clouds, they found Saturnian Jove The Thunderer, and in his presence stood. He, nought displeased that they his high command Had with such readiness obey'd, his speech To Iris, first, in accents wing'd address'd Swift Iris, haste--to royal Neptune bear My charge entire; falsify not the word. Bid him, relinquishing the fight, withdraw Either to heaven, or to the boundless Deep. But should he disobedient prove, and scorn My message, let him, next, consider well How he will bear, powerful as he is, My coming. Me I boast superior far In force, and elder-born; yet deems he slight The danger of comparison with me, Who am the terror of all heaven beside. He spake, nor storm-wing'd Iris disobey'd, But down from the Idan summit stoop'd To sacred Ilium. As when snow or hail Flies drifted by the cloud-dispelling North, So swiftly, wing'd with readiness of will, She shot the gulf between, and standing soon At glorious Neptune's side, him thus address'd. To thee, O Neptune azure-hair'd! I come With tidings charged from gis-bearing Jove. He bids thee cease from battle, and retire Either to heaven, or to the boundless Deep. But shouldst thou, disobedient, set at nought His words, he threatens that himself will haste To fight against thee; but he bids thee shun That strife with one superior far to thee, And elder-born; yet deem'st thou slight, he saith, The danger of comparison with Him, Although the terror of all heaven beside. Her then the mighty Shaker of the shores Answer'd indignant. Great as is his power, Yet he hath spoken proudly, threatening me With force, high-born and glorious as himself. We are three brothers; Saturn is our sire, And Rhea brought us forth; first, Jove she bore; Me next; then, Pluto, Sovereign of the shades. By distribution tripart we received Each his peculiar honors; me the lots Made Ruler of the hoary floods, and there I dwell for ever. Pluto, for his part, The regions took of darkness; and the heavens, The clouds, and boundless ther, fell to Jove. The Earth and the Olympian heights alike Are common to the three. My life and being I hold not, therefore, at his will, whose best And safest course, with all his boasted power, Were to possess in peace his proper third. Let him not seek to terrify with force Me like a dastard; let him rather chide His own-begotten; with big-sounding words His sons and daughters govern, who perforce Obey his voice, and shrink at his commands. To whom thus Iris tempest-wing'd replied, Coerulean-tress'd Sovereign of the Deep! Shall I report to Jove, harsh as it is, Thy speech, or wilt thou soften it? The wise Are flexible, and on the elder-born Erynnis, with her vengeful sisters, waits.[7] Her answer'd then the Shaker of the shores. Prudent is thy advice, Iris divine! Discretion in a messenger is good At all times. But the cause that fires me thus, And with resentment my whole heart and mind Possesses, is the license that he claims To vex with provocation rude of speech Me his compeer, and by decree of Fate Illustrious as himself; yet, though incensed, And with just cause, I will not now persist. But hear--for it is treasured in my heart The threat that my lips utter. If he still Resolve to spare proud Ilium in despite Of me, of Pallas, Goddess of the spoils, Of Juno, Mercury, and the King of fire, And will not overturn her lofty towers, Nor grant immortal glory to the Greeks, Then tell him thus--hostility shall burn, And wrath between us never to be quench'd. So saying, the Shaker of the shores forsook The Grecian host, and plunged into the deep, Miss'd by Achaia's heroes. Then, the cloud-Assembler God thus to Apollo spake. Hence, my Apollo! to the Trojan Chief Hector; for earth-encircler Neptune, awed By fear of my displeasure imminent, Hath sought the sacred Deep. Else, all the Gods Who compass Saturn in the nether realms, Had even there our contest heard, I ween, And heard it loudly. But that he retreats Although at first incensed, shunning my wrath, Is salutary both for him and me, Whose difference else had not been healed with ease. Take thou my shaggy gis, and with force Smiting it, terrify the Chiefs of Greece. As for illustrious Hector, him I give To thy peculiar care; fail not to rouse His fiercest courage, till he push the Greeks To Hellespont, and to their ships again; Thenceforth to yield to their afflicted host Some pause from toil, shall be my own concern. He ended, nor Apollo disobey'd His father's voice; from the Idan heights, Swift as the swiftest of the fowls of air, The dove-destroyer falcon, down he flew. The noble Hector, valiant Priam's son He found, not now extended on the plain, But seated; newly, as from death, awaked, And conscious of his friends; freely he breathed Nor sweated more, by Jove himself revived. Apollo stood beside him, and began. Say, Hector, Priam's son! why sittest here Feeble and spiritless, and from thy host Apart? what new disaster hath befall'n? To whom with difficulty thus replied The warlike Chief.--But tell me who art Thou, Divine inquirer! best of powers above! Know'st not that dauntless Ajax me his friends Slaughtering at yonder ships, hath with a stone Surceased from fight, smiting me on the breast? I thought to have beheld, this day, the dead In Ades, every breath so seem'd my last. Then answer thus the Archer-God return'd. Courage this moment! such a helper Jove From Ida sends thee at thy side to war Continual, Phoebus of the golden sword, Whose guardian aid both thee and lofty Troy Hath succor'd many a time. Therefore arise! Instant bid drive thy numerous charioteers Their rapid steeds full on the Grecian fleet; I, marching at their head, will smooth, myself, The way before them, and will turn again To flight the heroes of the host of Greece. He said and with new strength the Chief inspired. As some stall'd horse high pamper'd, snapping short His cord, beats under foot the sounding soil, Accustom'd in smooth-sliding streams to lave Exulting; high he bears his head, his mane Wantons around his shoulders; pleased, he eyes His glossy sides, and borne on pliant knees Soon finds the haunts where all his fellows graze; So bounded Hector, and his agile joints Plied lightly, quicken'd by the voice divine, And gather'd fast his charioteers to battle. But as when hounds and hunters through the woods Rush in pursuit of stag or of wild goat, He, in some cave with tangled boughs o'erhung, Lies safe conceal'd, no destined prey of theirs, Till by their clamors roused, a lion grim Starts forth to meet them; then, the boldest fly; Such hot pursuit the Dana, with swords And spears of double edge long time maintain'd. But seeing Hector in his ranks again Occupied, felt at once their courage fall'n. Then, Thoas them, Andrmon's son, address'd, Foremost of the tolians, at the spear Skilful, in stationary combat bold, And when the sons of Greece held in dispute The prize of eloquence, excell'd by few. Prudent advising them, he thus began. Ye Gods! what prodigy do I behold? Hath Hector, 'scaping death, risen again? For him, with confident persuasion all Believed by Telamonian Ajax slain. But some Divinity hath interposed To rescue and save Hector, who the joints Hath stiffen'd of full many a valiant Greek, As surely now he shall; for, not without The Thunderer's aid, he flames in front again. But take ye all my counsel. Send we back The multitude into the fleet, and first Let us, who boast ourselves bravest in fight, Stand, that encountering him with lifted spears, We may attempt to give his rage a check. To thrust himself into a band like ours Will, doubtless, even in Hector move a fear. He ceased, with whose advice all, glad, complied. Then Ajax with Idomeneus of Crete, Teucer, Meriones, and Meges fierce As Mars in battle, summoning aloud The noblest Greeks, in opposition firm To Hector and his host their bands prepared, While others all into the fleet retired. Troy's crowded host[8] struck first. With awful strides Came Hector foremost; him Apollo led, His shoulders wrapt in clouds, and, on his arm, The gis shagg'd terrific all around, Tempestuous, dazzling-bright; it was a gift To Jove from Vulcan, and design'd to appall, And drive to flight the armies of the earth. Arm'd with that shield Apollo led them on. Firm stood the embodied Greeks; from either host Shrill cries arose; the arrows from the nerve Leap'd, and, by vigorous arms dismiss'd, the spears Flew frequent; in the flesh some stood infixt Of warlike youths, but many, ere they reach'd The mark they coveted, unsated fell Between the hosts, and rested in the soil. Long as the God unagitated held The dreadful disk, so long the vollied darts Made mutual slaughter, and the people fell; But when he look'd the Grecian charioteers Full in the face and shook it, raising high Himself the shout of battle, then he quell'd Their spirits, then he struck from every mind At once all memory of their might in arms. As when two lions in the still, dark night A herd of beeves scatter or numerous flock Suddenly, in the absence of the guard, So fled the heartless Greeks, for Phoebus sent Terrors among them, but renown conferr'd And triumph proud on Hector and his host. Then, in that foul disorder of the field, Man singled man. Arcesilas died By Hector's arm, and Stichius; one, a Chief[9] Of the Boeotians brazen-mail'd, and one, Menestheus' faithful follower to the fight. neas Medon and Isus slew. Medon was spurious offspring of divine Oleus Ajax' father, and abode In Phylace; for he had slain a Chief Brother of Eriopis the espoused Of brave Oleus; but Isus led A phalanx of Athenians, and the son Of Sphelus, son of Bucolus was deem'd. Pierced by Polydamas Mecisteus fell, Polites, in the van of battle, slew Echion, and Agenor Clonius; But Paris, while Deochus to flight Turn'd with the routed van, pierced him beneath His shoulder-blade, and urged the weapon through. While them the Trojans spoil'd, meantime the Greeks, Entangled in the piles of the deep foss, Fled every way, and through necessity Repass'd the wall. Then Hector with a voice Of loud command bade every Trojan cease From spoil, and rush impetuous on the fleet. [10]And whom I find far lingering from the ships Wherever, there he dies; no funeral fires Brother on him, or sister, shall bestow, But dogs shall rend him in the sight of Troy. So saying, he lash'd the shoulders of his steeds, And through the ranks vociferating, call'd His Trojans on; they, clamorous as he, All lash'd their steeds, and menacing, advanced. Before them with his feet Apollo push'd The banks into the foss, bridging the gulf With pass commodious, both in length and breadth A lance's flight, for proof of vigor hurl'd. There, phalanx after phalanx, they their host Pour'd dense along, while Phoebus in the van Display'd the awful gis, and the wall Levell'd with ease divine. As, on the shore Some wanton boy with sand builds plaything walls, Then, sportive spreads them with his feet abroad, So thou, shaft-arm'd Apollo! that huge work Laborious of the Greeks didst turn with ease To ruin, and themselves drovest all to flight. They, thus enforced into the fleet, again Stood fast, with mutual exhortation each His friend encouraging, and all the Gods With lifted hands soliciting aloud. But, more than all, Gerenian Nestor pray'd Fervent, Achaia's guardian, and with arms Outstretch'd toward the starry skies, exclaim'd. Jove, Father! if in corn-clad Argos, one, One Greek hath ever, burning at thy shrine Fat thighs of sheep or oxen, ask'd from thee A safe return, whom thou hast gracious heard, Olympian King! and promised what he sought, Now, in remembrance of it, give us help In this disastrous day, nor thus permit Their Trojan foes to tread the Grecians down! So Nestor pray'd, and Jove thunder'd aloud Responsive to the old Nelean's prayer. But when that voice of gis-bearing Jove The Trojans heard, more furious on the Greeks They sprang, all mindful of the fight. As when A turgid billow of some spacious sea, While the wind blow that heaves its highest, borne Sheer o'er the vessel's side, rolls into her, With such loud roar the Trojans pass'd the wall; In rush'd the steeds, and at the ships they waged Fierce battle hand to hand, from chariots, these, With spears of double edge, those, from the decks Of many a sable bark, with naval poles Long, ponderous, shod with steel; for every ship Had such, for conflict maritime prepared. While yet the battle raged only without The wall, and from the ships apart, so long Patroclus quiet in the tent and calm Sat of Eurypylus, his generous friend Consoling with sweet converse, and his wound Sprinkling with drugs assuasive of his pains. But soon as through the broken rampart borne He saw the Trojans, and the clamor heard And tumult of the flying Greeks, a voice Of loud lament uttering, with open palms His thighs he smote, and, sorrowful, exclaim'd. Eurypylus! although thy need be great, No longer may I now sit at thy side, Such contest hath arisen; thy servant's voice Must soothe thee now, for I will to the tent Haste of Achilles, and exhort him forth; Who knows? if such the pleasure of the Gods, I may prevail; friends rarely plead in vain. So saying, he went. Meantime the Greeks endured The Trojan onset, firm, yet from the ships Repulsed them not, though fewer than themselves, Nor could the host of Troy, breaking the ranks Of Greece, mix either with the camp or fleet; But as the line divides the plank aright, Stretch'd by some naval architect, whose hand Minerva hath accomplish'd in his art, So stretch'd on them the cord of battle lay. Others at other ships the conflict waged, But Hector to the ship advanced direct Of glorious Ajax; for one ship they strove; Nor Hector, him dislodging thence, could fire The fleet, nor Ajax from the fleet repulse Hector, conducted thither by the Gods. Then, noble Ajax with a spear the breast Pierced of Caletor, son of Clytius, arm'd With fire to burn his bark; sounding he fell, And from his loosen'd grasp down dropp'd the brand. But Hector seeing his own kinsman fallen Beneath the sable bark, with mighty voice Call'd on the hosts of Lycia and of Troy. Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting sons Of Dardanus, within this narrow pass Stand firm, retreat not, but redeem the son Of Clytius, lest the Grecians of his arms Despoil him slain in battle at the ships. So saying, at Ajax his bright spear he cast Him pierced he not, but Lycophron the son Of Mastor, a Cytherian, who had left Cytheras, fugitive for blood, and dwelt With Ajax. Him standing at Ajax' side, He pierced above his ear; down from the stern Supine he fell, and in the dust expired. Then, shuddering, Ajax to his brother spake. Alas, my Teucer! we have lost our friend; Mastorides is slain, whom we received An inmate from Cyther, and with love And reverence even filial, entertain'd; By Hector pierced, he dies. Where are thy shafts Death-wing'd, and bow, by gift from Phoebus thine? He said, whom Teucer hearing, instant ran With bow and well-stored quiver to his side, Whence soon his arrows sought the Trojan host. He struck Pisenor's son Clytus, the friend And charioteer of brave Polydamas, Offspring of Panthus, toiling with both hands To rule his fiery steeds; for more to please The Trojans and their Chief, where stormy most He saw the battle, thither he had driven. But sudden mischief, valiant as he was, Found him, and such as none could waft aside, For right into his neck the arrow plunged, And down he fell; his startled coursers shook Their trappings, and the empty chariot rang. That sound alarm'd Polydamas; he turn'd, And flying to their heads, consign'd them o'er To Protian's son, Astynos, Whom he enjoin'd to keep them in his view; Then, turning, mingled with the van again. But Teucer still another shaft produced Design'd for valiant Hector, whose exploits (Had that shaft reach'd him) at the ships of Greece Had ceased for ever. But the eye of Jove, Guardian of Hector's life, slept not; he took From Telamonian Teucer that renown, And while he stood straining the twisted nerve Against the Trojan, snapp'd it. Devious flew The steel-charged[11] arrow, and he dropp'd his bow. Then shuddering, to his brother thus he spake. Ah! it is evident. Some Power divine Makes fruitless all our efforts, who hath struck My bow out of my hand, and snapt the cord With which I strung it new at dawn of day, That it might bear the bound of many a shaft. To whom the towering son of Telamon. Leave then thy bow, and let thine arrows rest, Which, envious of the Greeks, some God confounds, That thou may'st fight with spear and buckler arm'd, And animate the rest. Such be our deeds That, should they conquer us, our foes may find Our ships, at least a prize not lightly won. So Ajax spake; then Teucer, in his tent The bow replacing, slung his fourfold shield, Settled on his illustrious brows his casque With hair high-crested, waving, as he moved, Terrible from above, took forth a spear Tough-grain'd, acuminated sharp with brass, And stood, incontinent, at Ajax' side. Hector perceived the change, and of the cause Conscious, with echoing voice call'd to his host. Trojans and Lycians and close-fighting sons Of Dardanus, oh now, my friends, be men; Now, wheresoever through the fleet dispersed, Call into mind the fury of your might! For I have seen, myself, Jove rendering vain The arrows of their mightiest. Man may know With ease the hand of interposing Jove, Both whom to glory he ordains, and whom He weakens and aids not; so now he leaves The Grecians, but propitious smiles on us. Therefore stand fast, and whosoever gall'd By arrow or by spear, dies--let him die; It shall not shame him that he died to serve His country,[12] but his children, wife and home, With all his heritage, shall be secure, Drive but the Grecians from the shores of Troy. So saying, he animated each. Meantime, Ajax his fellow-warriors thus address'd. Shame on you all! Now, Grecians, either die, Or save at once your galley and yourselves. Hope ye, that should your ships become the prize Of warlike Hector, ye shall yet return On foot? Or hear ye not the Chief aloud Summoning all his host, and publishing His own heart's wish to burn your fleet with fire? Not to a dance, believe me, but to fight He calls them; therefore wiser course for us Is none, than that we mingle hands with hands In contest obstinate, and force with force. Better at once to perish, or at once To rescue life, than to consume the time Hour after hour in lingering conflict vain Here at the ships, with an inferior foe. He said, and by his words into all hearts Fresh confidence infused. Then Hector smote Schedius, a Chief of the Phocensian powers And son of Perimedes; Ajax slew, Meantime, a Chief of Trojan infantry, Laodamas, Antenor's noble son While by Polydamas, a leader bold Of the Epeans, and Phylides'[13] friend, Cyllenian Otus died. Meges that sight Viewing indignant on the conqueror sprang, But, starting wide, Polydamas escaped, Saved by Apollo, and his spear transpierced The breast of Crsmus; on his sounding shield Prostrate he fell, and Meges stripp'd his arms. Him so employ'd Dolops assail'd, brave son Of Lampus, best of men and bold in fight, Offspring of King Laomedon; he stood Full near, and through his middle buckler struck The son of Phyleus, but his corselet thick With plates of scaly brass his life secured. That corselet Phyleus on a time brought home From Ephyre, where the Selles winds, And it was given him for his life's defence In furious battle by the King of men, Euphetes. Many a time had it preserved Unharm'd the sire, and now it saved the son. Then Meges, rising, with his pointed lance The bushy crest of Dolops' helmet drove Sheer from its base; new-tinged with purple bright Entire it fell and mingled with the dust. While thus they strove, each hoping victory, Came martial Menelaus to the aid Of Meges; spear in hand apart he stood By Dolops unperceived, through his back drove And through his breast the spear, and far beyond. And down fell Dolops, forehead to the ground. At once both flew to strip his radiant arms, Then, Hector summoning his kindred, call'd Each to his aid, and Melanippus first, Illustrious Hicetaon's son, reproved. Ere yet the enemies of Troy arrived He in Percote fed his wandering beeves; But when the Dana with all their fleet Came thither, then returning, he outshone The noblest Trojans, and at Priam's side Dwelling, was honor'd by him as a son. Him Hector reprimanding, stern began. Are we thus slack? Can Melanippus view Unmoved a kinsman slain? Seest not the Greeks How busy there with Dolops and his arms? Come on. It is no time for distant war, But either our Achaian foes must bleed, Or Ilium taken, from her topmost height Must stoop, and all her citizens be slain. So saying he went, whose steps the godlike Chief Attended; and the Telamonian, next, Huge Ajax, animated thus the Greeks. Oh friends, be men! Deep treasure in your hearts An honest shame, and, fighting bravely, fear Each to incur the censure of the rest. Of men so minded more survive than die, While dastards forfeit life and glory both. So moved he them, themselves already bent To chase the Trojans; yet his word they bore Faithful in mind, and with a wall of brass Fenced firm the fleet, while Jove impell'd the foe. Then Menelaus, brave in fight, approach'd Antilochus, and thus his courage roused. Antilochus! in all the host is none Younger, or swifter, or of stronger limb Than thou. Make trial, therefore, of thy might, Spring forth and prove it on some Chief of Troy. He ended and retired, but him his praise Effectual animated; from the van Starting, he cast a wistful eye around And hurl'd his glittering spear; back fell the ranks Of Troy appall'd; nor vain his weapon flew, But Melanippus pierced heroic son Of Hicetaon, coming forth to fight, Full in the bosom, and with dreadful sound Of all his batter'd armor down he fell. Swift flew Antilochus as flies the hound Some fawn to seize, which issuing from her lair The hunter with his lance hath stricken dead, So thee, O Melanippus! to despoil Of thy bright arms valiant Antilochus Sprang forth, but not unnoticed by the eye Of noble Hector, who through all the war Ran to encounter him; his dread approach Antilochus, although expert in arms, Stood not, but as some prowler of the wilds, Conscious of injury that he hath done, Slaying the watchful herdsman or his dog, Escapes, ere yet the peasantry arise, So fled the son of Nestor, after whom The Trojans clamoring and Hector pour'd Darts numberless; but at the front arrived Of his own phalanx, there he turn'd and stood. Then, eager as voracious lions, rush'd The Trojans on the fleet of Greece, the mind Of Jove accomplishing who them impell'd Continual, calling all their courage forth, While, every Grecian heart he tamed, and took Their glory from them, strengthening Ilium's host. For Jove's unalter'd purpose was to give Success to Priameian Hector's arms,[14] That he might cast into the fleet of Greece Devouring flames, and that no part might fail Of Thetis' ruthless prayer; that sight alone He watch'd to see, one galley in a blaze, Ordaining foul repulse, thenceforth, and flight To Ilium's host, but glory to the Greeks. Such was the cause for which, at first, he moved To that assault Hector, himself prepared And ardent for the task; nor less he raged Than Mars while fighting, or than flames that seize Some forest on the mountain-tops; the foam Hung at his lips, beneath his awful front His keen eyes glisten'd, and his helmet mark'd The agitation wild with which he fought. For Jove omnipotent, himself, from heaven Assisted Hector, and, although alone With multitudes he strove, gave him to reach The heights of glory, for that now his life Waned fast, and, urged by Pallas on,[15] his hour To die by Peleus' mighty son approach'd. He then, wherever richest arms he saw And thickest throng, the warrior-ranks essay'd To break, but broke them not, though fierce resolved, In even square compact so firm they stood. As some vast rock beside the hoary Deep The stress endures of many a hollow wind, And the huge billows tumbling at his base, So stood the Dana, nor fled nor fear'd. But he, all-fiery bright in arms, the host Assail'd on every side, and on the van Fell, as a wave by wintry blasts upheaved Falls ponderous on the ship; white clings the foam Around her, in her sail shrill howls the storm, And every seaman trembles at the view Of thousand deaths from which he scarce escapes, Such anguish rent the bosom of the Greeks. But he, as leaps a famish'd lion fell On beeves that graze some marshy meadow's breadth, A countless herd, tended by one unskill'd To cope with savage beasts in their defence, Beside the foremost kine or with the last He paces heedless, but the lion, borne Impetuous on the midmost, one devours And scatters all the rest,[16] so fled the Greeks, Terrified from above, before the arm Of Hector, and before the frown of Jove. All fled, but of them all alone he slew The Mycenan Periphetes, son Of Copreus custom'd messenger of King Eurystheus to the might of Hercules. From such a sire inglorious had arisen A son far worthier, with all virtue graced, Swift-footed, valiant, and by none excell'd In wisdom of the Mycenan name; Yet all but served to ennoble Hector more. For Periphetes, with a backward step Retiring, on his buckler's border trod, Which swept his heels; so check'd, he fell supine, And dreadful rang the helmet on his brows. Him Hector quick noticing, to his side Hasted, and, planting in his breast a spear, Slew him before the phalanx of his friends. But they, although their fellow-warrior's fate They mourn'd, no succor interposed, or could, Themselves by noble Hector sore appall'd. And now behind the ships (all that updrawn Above the shore, stood foremost of the fleet) The Greeks retired; in rush'd a flood of foes; Then, through necessity, the ships in front Abandoning, amid the tents they stood Compact, not disarray'd, for shame and fear Fast held them, and vociferating each Aloud, call'd ceaseless on the rest to stand. But earnest more than all, guardian of all, Gerenian Nestor in their parents' name Implored them, falling at the knees of each. Oh friends! be men. Now dearly prize your place Each in the estimation of the rest. Now call to memory your children, wives, Possessions, parents; ye whose parents live, And ye whose parents are not, all alike! By them as if here present, I entreat That ye stand fast--oh be not turn'd to flight! So saying he roused the courage of the Greeks; Then, Pallas chased the cloud fall'n from above On every eye; great light the plain illumed On all sides, both toward the fleet, and where The undiscriminating battle raged. Then might be seen Hector and Hector's host Distinct, as well the rearmost who the fight Shared not, as those who waged it at the ships. To stand aloof where other Grecians stood No longer now would satisfy the mind Of Ajax, but from deck to deck with strides Enormous marching, to and fro he swung With iron studs emboss'd a battle-pole Unwieldy, twenty and two cubits long. As one expert to spring from horse to horse, From many steeds selecting four, toward Some noble city drives them from the plain Along the populous road; him many a youth And many a maiden eyes, while still secure From steed to steed he vaults; they rapid fly; So Ajax o'er the decks of numerous ships Stalk'd striding large, and sent his voice to heaven. Thus, ever clamoring, he bade the Greeks Stand both for camp and fleet. Nor could himself Hector, contented, now, the battle wage Lost in the multitude of Trojans more, But as the tawny eagle on full wing Assails the feather'd nations, geese or cranes Or swans lithe-neck'd grazing the river's verge, So Hector at a galley sable-prow'd Darted; for, from behind, Jove urged him on With mighty hand, and his host after him. And now again the battle at the ships Grew furious; thou hadst deem'd them of a kind By toil untameable, so fierce they strove, And, striving, thus they fought. The Grecians judged Hope vain, and the whole host's destruction sure; But nought expected every Trojan less Than to consume the fleet with fire, and leave Achaia's heroes lifeless on the field. With such persuasions occupied, they fought. Then Hector seized the stern of a brave bark Well-built, sharp-keel'd, and of the swiftest sail, Which had to Troy Protesilus brought, But bore him never thence. For that same ship Contending, Greeks and Trojans hand to hand Dealt slaughter mutual. Javelins now no more Might serve them, or the arrow-starting bow, But close conflicting and of one mind all With bill and battle-axe, with ponderous swords, And with long lances double-edged they fought. Many a black-hilted falchion huge of haft Fell to the ground, some from the grasp, and some From shoulders of embattled warriors hewn, And pools of blood soak'd all the sable glebe. Hector that ship once grappled by the stern Left not, but griping fast her upper edge With both hands, to his Trojans call'd aloud. Fire! Bring me fire! Stand fast and shout to heaven! Jove gives us now a day worth all the past; The ships are ours which, in the Gods' despite Steer'd hither, such calamities to us Have caused, for which our seniors most I blame Who me withheld from battle at the fleet And check'd the people; but if then the hand Of Thunderer Jove our better judgment marr'd, Himself now urges and commands us on. He ceased; they still more violent assail'd The Grecians. Even Ajax could endure, Whelm'd under weapons numberless, that storm No longer, but expecting death retired Down from the decks to an inferior stand, Where still he watch'd, and if a Trojan bore Fire thither, he repulsed him with his spear, Roaring continual to the host of Greece. Friends! Grecian heroes! ministers of Mars! Be men, my friends! now summon all your might! Think we that we have thousands at our backs To succor us, or yet some stronger wall To guard our warriors from the battle's force? Not so. No tower'd city is at hand, None that presents us with a safe retreat While others occupy our station here, But from the shores of Argos far remote Our camp is, where the Trojans arm'd complete Swarm on the plain, and Ocean shuts us in. Our hands must therefore save us, not our heels He said, and furious with his spear again Press'd them, and whatsoever Trojan came, Obsequious to the will of Hector, arm'd With fire to burn the fleet, on his spear's point Ajax receiving pierced him, till at length Twelve in close fight fell by his single arm.