Complete Works of Homer

by Homer

  Amongst the Trojans; he was lodged with Priam, who held dear

  His natural sons no more than him; yet him, beneath the ear,

  The son of Telamon attained, and drew his lance. He fell,

  As when an ash, on some hill's top, itself topped wondrous well,

  The steel hews down, and he presents his young leaves to the soil;

  So fell he, and his fair arms groaned, which Teucer longed to spoil,

  And in he ran; and Hector in, who sent a shining lance

  At Teucer, who, beholding it, slipped by, and gave it chance

  On Actor's son, Amphimachus, whose breast it struck; and in

  Flew Hector, at his sounding fall, with full intent to win

  The tempting helmet from his head; but Ajax with a dart

  Reached Hector at his rushing in, yet touched not any part

  About his body; it was hid quite through with horrid brass;

  The boss yet of his targe it took, whose firm stuff stayed the pass,

  And he turned safe from both the trunks; both which the Grecians bore

  From off the field. Amphimachus Menestheus did restore

  And Stichius to th' Achaian strength. Th' Ajaces, that were pleased

  Still most with most hot services, on Trojan Imbrius seized.

  And as from sharply-bitten hounds a brace of lions force

  A new-slain goat, and through the woods bear in their jaws the corse

  Aloft, lift up into the air; so, up into the skies,

  Bore both th' Ajaces Imbrius, and made his arms their prize.

  Yet, not content, Olliades, enraged to sec there dead

  His much-beloved Amphimachus, he hewed off Imbrius' head,

  Which, swinging round, bowl-like he tossed amongst the Trojan prease,

  And full at Hector's feet it fell. Amphimachus' decease,

  Being nephew to the God of waves, much vexed the Deity's mind,

  And to the ships and tents he marched yet more to make inclined

  The Grecians to the Trojan bane. In hasting to which end,

  Idomeneus met with him, returning from a friend,

  Whose ham late hurt, his men brought off; and having given command

  To his physicians for his cure, much fired to put bis hand

  To Troy's repulse, he left his tent. Him (like Andremon's son,

  Prince Thoas, that in Pleuron ruled, and lofty Calydon,

  Th' Aetolian pow'rs, and like a God was of his subjects loved)

  Neptune encount'red, and but thus his forward spirit moved :

  "Idomeneus, prince of Crete! O whither now are fled

  Those threats in thee, with which the rest the Trojans menaced? "

  “O Thoas," he replied, " no one of all our host stands now

  In any question of reproof, as I am let to know.

  And why is my intelligence false? We all know how to fight,

  And, fear disanimating none, all do our knowledge right.

  Nor can our arms accuse our sloth, not one from work we miss.

  The great God only works our ill, whose pleasure now it is

  That, far from home, in hostile fields, and with inglorious fate,

  Some Greeks should perish. But do thou, O Thoas, that of late

  Hast proved a soldier, and wast wont, where thou hast sloth beheld,

  To chide it, and exhort to pains, now hate to be repelled,

  And set on all men." He replied, " I would to heaven, that he,

  Whoever this day doth abstain from battle willingly,

  May never turn his face from Troy, but here become the prey

  And scorn of dogs! Come then, take arms, and let our kind assay

  Join both our forces. Though but two, yet, being both, combined,

  The work of many single hands we may perform. We find

  That virtue co-augmented thrives in men of little mind,

  But we have singly matched the great." This said, the God again,

  With all his conflicts, visited the vent'rous fight of men.

  The king turned to his tent; rich arms put on his breast, and took

  Two darts in hand, and forth he flew. His haste on made hitn look

  Much like a fiery meteor, with which Jove's sulph'ry hand

  Opes heaven, and hurls about the air bright flashes, showing aland

  Abodes that ever run before tempest and plagues to men;

  So, in his swift pace, showed his arms. He was encount'red then

  By his good friend Meriones yet near his tent; to whom

  Thus spake the power of Idomen : " What reason makes thee come,

  Thou son of Molus, my most loved, thus leaving fight alone?

  Is't for some wound? The. javelin's head, still sticking in the bone,

  Desir'st thou ease of? Bring'st thou news? Or what is it that brings

  Thy presence hither? Be assured, my spirit needs no stings

  To this hot conflict. Of myself thou seest I come, and loth, "

  For any tent's love, to deserve the hateful taint of sloth."

  He answered : Only for a dart he that retreat did make,

  Were any left him at his tent, for, that he had, he brake

  On proud Deiphobus's shield. " Is one dart all? " said he,

  “Take one and twenty, if thou like, for in my tent they he;

  They stand there shining by the walls. I took them as my prize

  From those false Trojans I have slain. And this is not the guise

  Of one that loves his tent, or fights afar off with his foe,

  But since I love fight, therefore doth my martial star bestow,

  Besides those darts, helms, targets bossed, and corslets bright as day."

  “So I," said Merion, " at my tent, and sable bark, may say,

  I many Trojan spoils retain, but now not near they be

  To serve me for my present use, and therefore ask I thee.

  Not that I lack a fortitude to store me with my own,

  For ever in the foremost fights, that render men renown,

  I fight, when any fight doth stir. And this perhaps may well

  Be hid to others, but thou know'st, and I to thee appeal."

  “I know," replied the king, " how much thou weigh'st in every worth,

  What need'st thou therefore utter this? If we should now choose forth

  The worthiest men for ambushes in all our fleet and host

  (For ambushes are services that try men's virtues most,

  Since there the fearful and the firm will, as-they are, appear,

  The fearful altering still his hue, and rests not anywhere,

  Nor is his spirit capable of th' ambush constancy,

  But riseth, changeth still his place, and croucheth curiously

  On his bent haunches; half his height scarce seen above the ground,

  For fear to be seen, yet must see; his heart, with many a bound,

  Off'ring to leap out of his breast, and, ever fearing death,

  The coldness of it makes him gnash, and half shakes out his teeth;

  Where men of valour neither fear, nor ever change their looks,

  From lodging th' ambush till it rise, but, since there must be strokes

  Wish to be quickly in their midst) thy strength and hand in these

  Who should reprove? For if, far off, or fighting in the prease,

  Thou shouldst be wounded, I am sure the dart that gave the wound

  Should not be drawn out of thy back, or make thy neck the ground,

  But meet thy belly,, or thy breast, in thrusting further yet

  When thou art furthest, till the first, and before him, thou get.

  But on; like children let not us stand bragging thus, but do;

  Lest some hear, and past measure chide, that we stand still and woo.

  Go, choose a better dart, and make Mars yield a better chance."

  This said, Mars-swift Meriones, with haste, a brazen lance

  Took from his tent, and overtook, most caref
ul of the wars,

  Idomeneus. And such two, in field, as harmful Mars,

  And Terror, his beloved son, that without terror fights,

  And is of such strength that in war the frighter he affrights,

  When, out of Thrace, they both take arms against th' Ephyran bands,

  Or 'gainst the great-souled Phlegians, nor favour their own hands,

  But give the grace to others still; in such sort to the fight,

  Marched these two managers of men, in armours full of light.

  And first spake Merion: " On which part, son of Deucalion,

  Serves tby mind to invade the fight? Is't best to set upon

  The Trojans, in our battle's aid, the right or left-hand wing,

  For all parts I suppose employed? " To this the Cretan king

  Thus answered : " In our navy's midst are others that assist;

  The two Ajaces; Teucer too, with shafts the expertest

  Of all the Grecians, and, though small, is great in fights of stand;

  And these, though huge he be of strength, will serve to fill the hand

  Of Hector's self, that Priamist, that studier for blows.

  It shall be called a deed of height for him (even suff'ring throes

  For knocks still) to outlabour them, and, bett'ring their tough hands,

  Enflame our fleet. If Jove himself cast not his firebrands

  Amongst our navy, that affair no man can bring to field.

  Great Ajax Telamonius to none alive will yield

  That yields to death, and whose life takes Ceres' nutritions,

  That can be cut with any iron, or pashed with mighty stones;

  Not to Aeacides himself he yields for combats set,

  Though clear he must give place for pace and free swing of his feet.

  Since then, the battle (being our place of most care) is made good

  By his high valour, let our aid see all pow'rs be withstood

  That charge the left wing, and to that let us direct our course,

  Where quickly feel we this hot foe, or make him feel our force."

  This ordered, swift Meriones went, and forewent his king,

  Till both arrived where one enjoined. When, in the Greeks' left wing,

  The Trojans saw the Cretan king like fire in fortitude,

  And his attendant, in bright arms so gloriously indued,

  Both cheering the sinister troops, all at the king addressed,

  And so the skirmish at their sterns on both parts were increased,

  That, as from hollow bustling winds engend'red storms arise,

  When dust doth chiefly clog the ways which up into the skies

  The wanton tempest ravisheth, begetting night of day;

  So came together both the foes, both lusted to assay,

  And work with quick steel either's death. Man's fierce corruptress, Fight,

  Set up her bristles in the field with lances long and light,

  Which thick fell foul on either's face. The splendour of the steel,

  In new-scoured curets, radiant casques, and burnished shields, did seel

  Th' assailer's eyes up. He sustained a huge spirit that, was glad

  To see that labour, or in soul that stood not stricken sad.

  Thus these two disagreeing Gods, old Saturn's mighty sons,

  Afflicted these heroic men with huge oppressions.

  Jove honouring Aeacides (to let the Greeks still try

  Their want without him) would bestow, yet still, the victory

  On Hector, and the Trojan power; yet for .Aeacides,

  And honour of his mother-queen, great Goddess of the seas,

  He would not let proud Ilion see the Grecians quite destroyed,

  And therefore from the hoary deep he suffered so employed

  Great Neptune in the Grecian aid, who grieved for them, and stormed

  Extremely at his brother Jove. Yet both one Goddess formed,

  And one soil bred, but Jupiter precedence took in birth,

  And had more knowledge; for which cause the other came not forth

  Of his wet kingdom, hut with care of not being seen t' excite

  The Grecian host, and like a man appeared, and made the fight.

  So these Gods made men's valours great, but equalled them with war

  As harmful as their hearts were good, and stretched those chains as far

  On both sides as their limbs could bear, in which they were involved

  Past breach, or loosing, that their knees might therefore be dissolved.

  Then, though a half-gray man he were, Crete's sovereign did excite

  The Greeks to blows, and flew upon the Trojans, even to flight;

  For he, in sight of all the host, Othryoneus slew,

  That from Cabesus, with the fame of those wars, thither drew

  His new-come forces, and required, without respect of dow'r,

  Cassandra, fairs't of Priam's race; assuring with his pow'r,

  A mighty labour, to expel, in their despite, from Troy

  The sons of Greece. The king did vow, that done, he should enjoy

  His goodliest daughter. He, in trust of that fair purchase, fought;

  And at him threw the Cretan king a lance, that singled out

  This great assumer, whom it struck just in his navel-stead.

  His brazen curets helping nought resigned him to the dead.

  Then did the conqueror exclaim, and thus insulted then :

  “Othryoneus, I will praise, beyond all mortal men,

  Thy living virtues, if thou wilt now perfect the brave vow

  Thou mad'st to Priam for the wife he promised to bestow.

  And where he should have kept his word, there we assure thee here,

  To give thee for thy princely wife the fairest and most dear

  Of our great General's female race, which from his Argive hall

  We all will wait upon to Troy, if, with our aids, and all,

  Thou wilt but raze this well-built town. Come, therefore, follow me,

  That in our ships we may conclude this royal match with thee.

  I'll be no jot worse than my word." With that he took his feet,

  And dragged him through the fervent fight; in which did Asius meet

  The victor, to inflict revenge. He came on foot before

  His horse, that on his shoulders breathed; so closely evermore

  His coachmen led them to his lord; who held a huge desire

  To strike the king, but he struck first, and underneath his chin,

  At his throat's height, through th' other side, his eager lance drave in,

  And down he bustled like an oak, a poplar, or a pine,

  Hewn down for shipwood, and so lay. His fall did so decline

  The spirit of his charioteer, that, lest he should incense

  The victor to impair his spoil, he durst not drive from thence

  His horse and chariot: and so pleased, with that respective part,

  Antilochus, that for his fear he reached him with a dart

  About his belly's midst, and down his sad course fell beneath

  The richly builded chariot, there labouring out his breath.

  The horse Antilochus took off; when, grieved for this event,

  Deiphobus drew passing near, and at the victor sent

  A shining javelin; which he saw, and shunned, with gath'ring round

  His body in his all-round shield, at whose top, with a sound,

  It overflew; yet, seizing there, it did not idly fly

  From him that winged it, his strong hand still drave it mortally

  On prince Hypsenor; it did pierce his liver, underneath

  The veins it passeth; his shrunk knees submitted him to death.

  And then did loved Deiphobus miraculously vaunt:

  “Now Asius lies not unrevenged, nor doth his spirit want

  The joy I wish it, though it be now ent'ring the strong gate

  Of mighty Pluto, since this hand hath sent him
down a mate."

  This glory in him grieved the Greeks, and chiefly the great mind

  Of martial Antilochus, who though to grief inclined,

  He left not yet his friend, but ran and hid him with his shield;

  And to him came two lovely friends that freed him from the field,

  Mecisteus, son of Echius, and the right nobly born

  Alastar, bearing him to fleet, and did extremely mourn.

  Idomeneus sunk not yet, but held his nerves entire,

  His mind much less deficient, being fed with firm desire

  To hide more Trojans in dim night, or sink himself in guard

  Of his loved countrymen. And then Alcathous prepared

  Work for his valour, off'ring fate his own destruction.

  A great heroe, and had grace to be the loved son

  Of yEsyetes, son-in-law to prince ^Eneas' sire,

  Hippodama marrying, who most enflamed the fire

  Of her dear parents' love, and took precedence in her birth

  Of all their daughters, and as much exceeded in her worth

  (For beauty answered with her mind, and both with housewifery)

  All the fair beauty of young dames that used her company,

  And therefore, being the worthiest dame, the worthiest man did wed

  Of ample Troy. Him Neptune stooped beneath the royal force

  Of Idomen, his sparkling eyes deluding, and the course

  Of his illustrious lineaments so out of nature bound,

  That back nor forward he could stir, but, as he grew to ground,

  Stood like a pillar, or high tree, and neither moved nor feared;

  When straight the royal Cretan's.dart in his mid breast appeared,

  It brake the curets, that were proof to every other dart,

  Yet now they cleft and rung; the lance stuck shaking in his heart;

  His heart with panting made it shake; but Mars did now remit

  The greatness of it, and the king, now quitting the brag fit

  Of glory in Deiphobus, thus terribly exclaimed :

  “Deiphobus, now may we think that we are evenly famed

  That three for one have sent to Dis. But come, change blows with me,

  Thy vaunts for him thou slew'st'were"vain. Come, wretch, that thou may'stsee

  What issue Jove hath. Jove begot Minos, the strength of Crete;

  Minos begot Deucalion; Daucalion did beget

  Me Idomen, now Creta's king, that here my ships have brought

  To bring thyself, thy father, friends, all Ilion's pomp, to nought."

  Deiphobus at two ways stood, in doubt to call some one,

  With some retreat, to be his aid, or try the chance alone.