Delphi Complete Works of Quintus Smyrnaeus

by Quintus Smyrnaeus

  By Cytherea and the shield, but grazed 500

  The buckler lightly: yet not all in vain

  Fell earthward, but between the targe and helm

  Smote Medon: from the tower he fell, as falls

  A wild goat from a crag, the hunter’s shaft

  Deep in its heart: so nerveless-flung he fell,

  And fled away from him the precious life.

  Wroth for his friend, a stone Aeneas hurled,

  And Philoctetes’ stalwart comrade slew,

  Toxaechmes; for he shattered his head and crushed

  Helmet and skull-bones; and his noble heart 510

  Was stilled. Loud shouted princely Poeas’ son:

  “Aeneas, thou, forsooth, dost deem thyself

  A mighty champion, fighting from a tower

  Whence craven women war with foes! Now if

  Thou be a man, come forth without the wall

  In battle-harness, and so learn to know

  In spear-craft and in bow-craft Poeas’ son!”

  So cried he; but Anchises’ valiant seed,

  How fain soe’er, naught answered, for the stress

  Of desperate conflict round that wall and burg 520

  Ceaselessly raging: pause from fight was none:

  Yea, for long time no respite had there been

  For the war-weary from that endless toil.

  BOOK XII. HOW THE WOODEN HORSE WAS FASHIONED, AND BROUGHT INTO TROY BY HER PEOPLE.

  When round the walls of Troy the Danaan host

  Had borne much travail, and yet the end was not,

  By Calchas then assembled were the chiefs;

  For his heart was instructed by the hests

  Of Phoebus, by the flights of birds, the stars,

  And all the signs that speak to men the will

  Of Heaven; so he to that assembly cried:

  “No longer toil in leaguer of yon walls;

  Some other counsel let your hearts devise,

  Some stratagem to help the host and us. 10

  For here but yesterday I saw a sign:

  A falcon chased a dove, and she, hard pressed,

  Entered a cleft of the rock; and chafing he

  Tarried long time hard by that rift, but she

  Abode in covert. Nursing still his wrath,

  He hid him in a bush. Forth darted she,

  In folly deeming him afar: he swooped,

  And to the hapless dove dealt wretched death.

  Therefore by force essay we not to smite Troy,

  but let cunning stratagem avail.” 20

  He spake; but no man’s wit might find a way

  To escape their grievous travail, as they sought

  To find a remedy, till Laertes’ son

  Discerned it of his wisdom, and he spake:

  “Friend, in high honour held of the Heavenly Ones,

  If doomed it be indeed that Priam’s burg

  By guile must fall before the war-worn Greeks,

  A great Horse let us fashion, in the which

  Our mightiest shall take ambush. Let the host

  Burn all their tents, and sail from hence away 30

  To Tenedos; so the Trojans, from their towers

  Gazing, shall stream forth fearless to the plain.

  Let some brave man, unknown of any in Troy,

  With a stout heart abide without the Horse,

  Crouching beneath its shadow, who shall say:

  “`Achaea’s lords of might, exceeding fain

  Safe to win home, made this their offering

  For safe return, an image to appease

  The wrath of Pallas for her image stolen

  From Troy.’ And to this story shall he stand, 40

  How long soe’er they question him, until,

  Though never so relentless, they believe,

  And drag it, their own doom, within the town.

  Then shall war’s signal unto us be given —

  To them at sea, by sudden flash of torch,

  To the ambush, by the cry, `Come forth the Horse!’

  When unsuspecting sleep the sons of Troy.”

  He spake, and all men praised him: most of all

  Extolled him Calchas, that such marvellous guile

  He put into the Achaeans’ hearts, to be 50

  For them assurance of triumph, but for Troy

  Ruin; and to those battle-lords he cried:

  “Let your hearts seek none other stratagem,

  Friends; to war-strong Odysseus’ rede give ear.

  His wise thought shall not miss accomplishment.

  Yea, our desire even now the Gods fulfil.

  Hark! for new tokens come from the Unseen!

  Lo, there on high crash through the firmament

  Zeus’ thunder and lightning! See, where birds to right

  Dart past, and scream with long-resounding cry! 60

  Go to, no more in endless leaguer of Troy

  Linger we. Hard necessity fills the foe

  With desperate courage that makes cowards brave;

  For then are men most dangerous, when they stake

  Their lives in utter recklessness of death,

  As battle now the aweless sons of Troy

  All round their burg, mad with the lust of fight.”

  But cried Achilles’ battle-eager son:

  “Calchas, brave men meet face to face their foes!

  Who skulk behind their walls, and fight from towers, 70

  Are nidderings, hearts palsied with base fear.

  Hence with all thought of wile and stratagem!

  The great war-travail of the spear beseems

  True heroes. Best in battle are the brave.”

  But answer made to him Laertes’ seed:

  “Bold-hearted child of aweless Aeacus’ son,

  This as beseems a hero princely and brave,

  Dauntlessly trusting in thy strength, thou say’st.

  Yet thine invincible sire’s unquailing might

  Availed not to smite Priam’s wealthy burg, 80

  Nor we, for all our travail. Nay, with speed,

  As counselleth Calchas, go we to the ships,

  And fashion we the Horse by Epeius’ hands,

  Who in the woodwright’s craft is chiefest far

  Of Argives, for Athena taught his lore.”

  Then all their mightiest men gave ear to him

  Save twain, fierce-hearted Neoptolemus

  And Philoctetes mighty-souled; for these

  Still were insatiate for the bitter fray,

  Still longed for turmoil of the fight. They bade 90

  Their own folk bear against that giant wall

  What things soe’er for war’s assaults avail,

  In hope to lay that stately fortress low,

  Seeing Heaven’s decrees had brought them both to war.

  Yea, they had haply accomplished all their will,

  But from the sky Zeus showed his wrath; he shook

  The earth beneath their feet, and all the air

  Shuddered, as down before those heroes twain

  He hurled his thunderbolt: wide echoes crashed

  Through all Dardania. Unto fear straightway 100

  Turned were their bold hearts: they forgat their might,

  And Calchas’ counsels grudgingly obeyed.

  So with the Argives came they to the ships

  In reverence for the seer who spake from Zeus

  Or Phoebus, and they obeyed him utterly.

  What time round splendour-kindled heavens the stars

  From east to west far-flashing wheel, and when

  Man doth forget his toil, in that still hour

  Athena left the high mansions of the Blest,

  Clothed her in shape of a maiden tender-fleshed, 110

  And came to ships and host. Over the head

  Of brave Epeius stood she in his dream,

  And bade him build a Horse of tree: herself

  Would labour in his labour, and herself
/>   Stand by his side, to the work enkindling him.

  Hearing the Goddess’ word, with a glad laugh

  Leapt he from careless sleep: right well he knew

  The Immortal One celestial. Now his heart

  Could hold no thought beside; his mind was fixed

  Upon the wondrous work, and through his soul 120

  Marched marshalled each device of craftsmanship.

  When rose the dawn, and thrust back kindly night

  To Erebus, and through the firmament streamed

  Glad glory, then Epeius told his dream

  To eager Argives — all he saw and heard;

  And hearkening joyed they with exceeding joy.

  Straightway to tall-tressed Ida’s leafy glades

  The sons of Atreus sent swift messengers.

  These laid the axe unto the forest-pines,

  And hewed the great trees: to their smiting rang 130

  The echoing glens. On those far-stretching hills

  All bare of undergrowth the high peaks rose:

  Open their glades were, not, as in time past,

  Haunted of beasts: there dry the tree-trunks rose

  Wooing the winds. Even these the Achaeans hewed

  With axes, and in haste they bare them down

  From those shagged mountain heights to Hellespont’s shores.

  Strained with a strenuous spirit at the work

  Young men and mules; and all the people toiled

  Each at his task obeying Epeius’s hest. 140

  For with the keen steel some were hewing beams,

  Some measuring planks, and some with axes lopped

  Branches away from trunks as yet unsawn:

  Each wrought his several work. Epeius first

  Fashioned the feet of that great Horse of Wood:

  The belly next he shaped, and over this

  Moulded the back and the great loins behind,

  The throat in front, and ridged the towering neck

  With waving mane: the crested head he wrought,

  The streaming tail, the ears, the lucent eyes — 150

  All that of lifelike horses have. So grew

  Like a live thing that more than human work,

  For a God gave to a man that wondrous craft.

  And in three days, by Pallas’s decree,

  Finished was all. Rejoiced thereat the host

  Of Argos, marvelling how the wood expressed

  Mettle, and speed of foot — yea, seemed to neigh.

  Godlike Epeius then uplifted hands

  To Pallas, and for that huge Horse he prayed:

  “Hear, great-souled Goddess: bless thine Horse and me!” 160

  He spake: Athena rich in counsel heard,

  And made his work a marvel to all men

  Which saw, or heard its fame in days to be.

  But while the Danaans o’er Epeius’ work

  Joyed, and their routed foes within the walls

  Tarried, and shrank from death and pitiless doom,

  Then, when imperious Zeus far from the Gods

  Had gone to Ocean’s streams and Tethys’ caves,

  Strife rose between the Immortals: heart with heart

  Was set at variance. Riding on the blasts 170

  Of winds, from heaven to earth they swooped: the air

  Crashed round them. Lighting down by Xanthus’ stream

  Arrayed they stood against each other, these

  For the Achaeans, for the Trojans those;

  And all their souls were thrilled with lust of war:

  There gathered too the Lords of the wide Sea.

  These in their wrath were eager to destroy

  The Horse of Guile and all the ships, and those

  Fair Ilium. But all-contriving Fate

  Held them therefrom, and turned their hearts to strife 180

  Against each other. Ares to the fray

  Rose first, and on Athena rushed. Thereat

  Fell each on other: clashed around their limbs

  The golden arms celestial as they charged.

  Round them the wide sea thundered, the dark earth

  Quaked ‘neath immortal feet. Rang from them all

  Far-pealing battle-shouts; that awful cry

  Rolled up to the broad-arching heaven, and down

  Even to Hades’ fathomless abyss:

  Trembled the Titans there in depths of gloom. 190

  Ida’s long ridges sighed, sobbed clamorous streams

  Of ever-flowing rivers, groaned ravines

  Far-furrowed, Argive ships, and Priam’s towers.

  Yet men feared not, for naught they knew of all

  That strife, by Heaven’s decree. Then her high peaks

  The Gods’ hands wrenched from Ida’s crest, and hurled

  Against each other: but like crumbling sands

  Shivered they fell round those invincible limbs,

  Shattered to small dust. But the mind of Zeus,

  At the utmost verge of earth, was ware of all: 200

  Straight left he Ocean’s stream, and to wide heaven

  Ascended, charioted upon the winds,

  The East, the North, the West-wind, and the South:

  For Iris rainbow-plumed led ‘neath the yoke

  Of his eternal ear that stormy team,

  The ear which Time the immortal framed for him

  Of adamant with never-wearying hands.

  So came he to Olympus’ giant ridge.

  His wrath shook all the firmament, as crashed

  From east to west his thunders; lightnings gleamed, 210

  As thick and fast his thunderbolts poured to earth,

  And flamed the limitless welkin. Terror fell

  Upon the hearts of those Immortals: quaked

  The limbs of all — ay, deathless though they were!

  Then Themis, trembling for them, swift as thought

  Leapt down through clouds, and came with speed to them —

  For in the strife she only had no part

  And stood between the fighters, and she cried:

  “Forbear the conflict! O, when Zeus is wroth,

  It ill beseems that everlasting Gods 220

  Should fight for men’s sake, creatures of a day:

  Else shall ye be all suddenly destroyed;

  For Zeus will tear up all the hills, and hurl

  Upon you: sons nor daughters will he spare,

  But bury ‘neath one ruin of shattered earth

  All. No escape shall ye find thence to light,

  In horror of darkness prisoned evermore.”

  Dreading Zeus’ menace gave they heed to her,

  From strife refrained, and cast away their wrath,

  And were made one in peace and amity. 230

  Some heavenward soared, some plunged into the sea,

  On earth stayed some. Amid the Achaean host

  Spake in his subtlety Laertes’ son:

  “O valorous-hearted lords of the Argive host,

  Now prove in time of need what men ye be,

  How passing-strong, how flawless-brave! The hour

  Is this for desperate emprise: now, with hearts

  Heroic, enter ye yon carven horse,

  So to attain the goal of this stern war.

  For better it is by stratagem and craft 240

  Now to destroy this city, for whose sake

  Hither we came, and still are suffering

  Many afflictions far from our own land.

  Come then, and let your hearts be stout and strong

  For he who in stress of fight hath turned to bay

  And snatched a desperate courage from despair,

  Oft, though the weaker, slays a mightier foe.

  For courage, which is all men’s glory, makes

  The heart great. Come then, set the ambush, ye

  Which be our mightiest, and the rest shall go 250

  To Tenedos’ hallowed burg, and there abide

  Until our foes have haled within their w
alls

  Us with the Horse, as deeming that they bring

  A gift unto Tritonis. Some brave man,

  One whom the Trojans know not, yet we lack,

  To harden his heart as steel, and to abide

  Near by the Horse. Let that man bear in mind

  Heedfully whatsoe’er I said erewhile.

  And let none other thought be in his heart,

  Lest to the foe our counsel be revealed.” 260

  Then, when all others feared, a man far-famed

  Made answer, Sinon, marked of destiny

  To bring the great work to accomplishment.

  Therefore with worship all men looked on him,

  The loyal of heart, as in the midst he spake:

  “Odysseus, and all ye Achaean chiefs,

  This work for which ye crave will I perform —

  Yea, though they torture me, though into fire

  Living they thrust me; for mine heart is fixed

  Not to escape, but die by hands of foes, 270

  Except I crown with glory your desire.”

  Stoutly he spake: right glad the Argives were;

  And one said: “How the Gods have given to-day

  High courage to this man! He hath not been

  Heretofore valiant. Heaven is kindling him

  To be the Trojans’ ruin, but to us

  Salvation. Now full soon, I trow, we reach

  The goal of grievous war, so long unseen.”

  So a voice murmured mid the Achaean host.

  Then, to stir up the heroes, Nestor cried: 280

  “Now is the time, dear sons, for courage and strength:

  Now do the Gods bring nigh the end of toil:

  Now give they victory to our longing hands.

  Come, bravely enter ye this cavernous Horse.

  For high renown attendeth courage high.

  Oh that my limbs were mighty as of old,

  When Aeson’s son for heroes called, to man

  Swift Argo, when of the heroes foremost I

  Would gladly have entered her, but Pelias

  The king withheld me in my own despite. 290

  Ah me, but now the burden of years — O nay,

  As I were young, into the Horse will I

  Fearlessly! Glory and strength shall courage give.”

  Answered him golden-haired Achilles’ son:

  “Nestor, in wisdom art thou chief of men;

  But cruel age hath caught thee in his grip:

  No more thy strength may match thy gallant will;

  Therefore thou needs must unto Tenedos’ strand.

  We will take ambush, we the youths, of strife