The Iliad (Penguin Classics)

by Homer

  Now Hector hurled a glittering spear at Ajax. But Ajax was on the lookout and just avoided the bronze spear, which hit a man called Schedius, best of the Phocians, who ruled over many and whose home was in the impressive town of Panopeus. Hector struck him under the middle of the collar bone. The (310) bronze spear-point went right through and emerged below his shoulder. He thudded to the ground, and his armour clattered about him.

  In his turn, Ajax stabbed warlike Phorcys full in the belly as he stood over Hippothous and smashed a plate of his body-armour. The spear-point let out his innards and, falling in the dust, he clutched at the ground. The Trojan front and glorious Hector himself fell back, while the Greeks with a triumphant cry dragged away the bodies of Phorcys and Hippothous and removed the armour from their shoulders.

  Weakened and demoralized, the Trojans would have been (320) driven back into Ilium by the war-loving Greeks, who would thus, by their sheer brute force, have won a victory in defiance of the will of Zeus, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas. The god took the form of a herald, Periphas, who was kindly disposed to Aeneas, having grown old as a herald in the service of Aeneas’ old father Anchises. In this disguise, Apollo son of Zeus spoke to him:

  APOLLO rallies Aeneas

  ’Aeneas, if the gods were indeed against you, how could you hope to save lofty Ilium? I have known men who saved their country, even though their own people were inferior, by relying on their own brute force, their (330) bravery and their numbers. But Zeus is on our side! He wants us to beat the Greeks. And yet you are scared out of your senses and refuse to fight.’

  So he spoke, and Aeneas looked him in the face and knew him for the Archer-god Apollo. He gave Hector a great shout:

  ‘Hector and all you Trojan and allied commanders, it’s a shameful thing to let the war-loving Greeks drive us, weakened and demoralized, back into Ilium! Besides, one of the gods came up to me just now and told me that Zeus the high (340) counsellor is still our ally in this war. So let’s make straight at the Greeks and make sure they don’t find it too easy to take the dead Patroclus back to their ships.’

  Leiocritus and Apisaon killed

  So Aeneas spoke and leapt forward to make a stand well in front of the foremost fighters. As a result the Trojans turned about and faced the Greeks. Then Aeneas stabbed Leiocritus. This man was a brave follower of Lycomedes, and his death filled war-loving Lycomedes with pity. He ran up, stood beside him and let fly with his glittering spear which hit Apisaon, shepherd of the people, in the liver under the midriff, bringing him down at once. Apisaon was one (350) of those that had come from fertile Paeonia. In fact, he was their best warrior next to Asteropaeus.

  His death filled warlike Asteropaeus with pity, and he now charged with a will at the Greeks himself. But it was too late to accomplish any good. They had surrounded Patroclus with a fence of shields and levelled spears. Awe-inspiring Ajax in particular was going round issuing strict orders to them all: no one was to back off from the body, and no one to break away and fight out in front. They were all to stick close to Patroclus and fight hand to hand.

  (360) Such were awe-inspiring Ajax’s orders, and the earth was soaked with crimson blood, and men fell in heaps, the Trojans and their proud allies mingling their corpses with the Greek dead. For the Greeks did not fight a bloodless battle either. And yet they lost far fewer men: all the time they remembered to protect each other from death inn the mayhem.

  Battle in the mist

  So they fought on like fire, and you would not have thought the sun and moon were still functioning, since a mist had spread over that part of the battlefield where the pick of the men were disputing the body (370) of Patroclus. Elsewhere, however, the Trojans and the Greek men-at-arms were battling without that problem under a clear sky. There was brilliant sunshine everywhere and not a cloud in sight above the plain or on the hills. The fighting was desultory; they kept their distance and avoided trouble from each other’s spears. It was only in the centre that the best of the Greeks were suffering badly from the mist and the battle in which they were being ground down by the brutal spears. Two men, illustrious Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard that matchless (380) Patroclus had been killed. They thought he was still alive and fighting Trojans in the front line of battle. They were fighting some way away, looking out for casualties and signs of panic in their own contingent, as Nestor had told them to do when he urged them from the black ships into battle.

  But the great, grim struggle continued unabated all day long. All the while knees, shins, feet, hands and eyes streamed with the sweat of the exertions of those who were battling it out over (390) the brave attendant of swift-footed Achilles. As a man gives his people a great bull’s hide soaked in fat for stretching; they take the hide, stand round in a ring and stretch it, and the moisture soon comes out while the fat sinks in and, with many hands tugging at it, it is stretched tight in every part – so both sides tugged the body to and fro between them in that restricted space. Each party had high hopes, the Trojans of dragging Patroclus into Ilium and the Greeks of bringing him back to the hollow ships. They ground savagely away at each other over the body; not even Ares who drives on armies, or Athene at her angriest, would have been displeased by the sight. Such was the (400) agonizing struggle Zeus extended that day over man and horse alike in the battle for Patroclus.

  Achilles’ ignorance

  Godlike Achilles had as yet no inkling of Patroclus’ death. They were fighting a long way from the swift ships under the walls of Ilium, and it never entered his head that Patroclus had been killed. He thought of him as pressing on to the very gates of the town, but then returning safe and sound. He certainly never expected him to sack the town without him – or with him, either. He had often been told this was not to be by his own mother, who used to give him (410) private information about almighty Zeus’ plans. Not that she told him now of the disaster that had occurred, the death of his dearest companion.

  Over the dead man, meanwhile, the others with their pointed spears were locked in an unending struggle and killing one another. The bronze-armoured Greeks said to a man:

  ‘Comrades, there is no honour in falling back to our hollow ships. If we let the horse-taming Trojans drag this body into their town and win the glory, the best thing to happen would be for the black earth to swallow us here where we stand!’

  (420) And on their side, the great-hearted Trojans said:

  ‘Comrades, even if all of us are destined to be killed beside this body, no one must retreat.’

  So they spoke and gave each other fresh heart. So the fight continued, and an iron din rose up through the murmuring air and struck the bronze sky.

  ZEUS pities Patroclus’ horses

  Far from the conflict, the horses of Achilles had been weeping ever since they learnt that their charioteer had been brought down in the dust by man-slaying Hector. Automedon, Diores’ strong son, did (430) all he could with them: he tried lashing them with his whistling whip; he tried coaxing them; he tried threats. But the pair refused either to go back to the ships and the broad Hellespont, or into battle with the Greeks. Firm as a gravestone planted on the barrow of a dead man or woman, they stood motionless in front of their beautiful chariot, their heads bowed to the earth. Hot tears ran from their eyes to the ground as they mourned for their lost charioteer, and their luxuriant manes, falling to the (440) ground from the collar on both sides of the yoke, were soiled in the dust.

  Zeus son of Cronus took pity on the pair when he saw their grief. He shook his head and said to himself:

  ‘Poor beasts! Why did we give you, who are ageless and immortal, to lord Peleus, who is doomed to die? Did we mean you to share the sorrows of unhappy men? For of all creatures that breathe and creep about on the earth, there is none so miserable as man. But Hector shall not drive you and your (450) ornate chariot. That I will not have. Is it not enough that he has the armour and exults as he does?

  ‘No, I will fill your legs with energy and your hearts with co
urage, so that you can at least save Automedon and bring him back from the battle to the hollow ships. For I still intend to give the glory to the Trojans, to go on killing Greeks till they reach the well-benched ships, the sun sets and blessed darkness intervenes.’

  With these words Zeus breathed energy into the horses. They shook the dust from their manes and galloped off with their fast chariot to join the Trojans and Greeks. Behind them, Automedon took on the fighter’s role, though he grieved bitterly for his companion, and charged into battle with his chariot like (460) a vulture after geese. His horses’ speed made it easy for him to avoid becoming entangled in the mêlée of Trojans, and as easy to dash into it and pursue an enemy through the crowd.

  Alcimedon rejoins the fight

  But he could not kill the men he chased. Alone as he was in the speeding chariot, he found it impossible to control his swift horses and at the same time bring his spear into play. At last, however, his companion Alcimedon saw him. He came up behind the chariot and said to Automedon:

  ‘Automedon, what god has robbed you of your intelligence (470) and put this pointless idea in your head? Look at the way you’re taking on the front-line Trojans single-handed, when your companion has been killed and Hector himself is swaggering about in the armour of Achilles.’

  Automedon son of Diores said:

  ‘Alcimedon, was there anyone like you for mastering and controlling the strength of these immortal horses – except Patroclus, wise as the gods, while he lived? But now death and destiny have claimed him. So take the whip and shining reins (480) yourself, while I get down and fight.’

  So Automedon spoke and dismounted, while Alcimedon leapt into the fast war-chariot and quickly seized the whip and reins. Glorious Hector saw them and said to Aeneas, who happened to be near:

  ‘Aeneas, adviser of the bronze-armoured Trojans, I see the horses of swift-footed Achilles coming into battle with an incompetent pair of charioteers. I think we could capture them, (490) if, that is, you’d care to help me. Those two would never stand and fight if you and I attacked them.’

  So he spoke, and Aeneas strong son of Anchises complied; so the two men went forward, protecting their shoulders with their shields of dried and toughened oxhide on to which much bronze had been hammered. Chromis and godlike Aretus both went with them and they had great hopes of killing the men and driving off their high-necked horses. The innocents: they were not about to disengage from Automedon without bloodshed.

  Meanwhile Automedon prayed to Father Zeus and was filled (500) with power and fresh vigour. At once he spoke to Alcimedon his trusted friend:

  Automedon calls for help

  ’Alcimedon, keep near me with the horses; let me feel their breath on my back. If Hector isn’t killed in the front line himself, I don’t think there’ll be any holding him in his determination till he has killed both of us, jumped up behind Achilles’ beautiful horses and put the Greek ranks to flight.’

  With these words he called to the Ajaxes and Menelaus:

  ‘You two Ajaxes, commanders of the Greeks, and you, Mene (510) laus, entrust your best men to stand over the body there and hold the enemy off, while you come to help us keep death at bay. We’re still alive here in the battle with all its tears, but Hector and Aeneas, best of the Trojans, are bearing down on us at speed. But since everything that happens is in the lap of the gods, I’ll try a throw myself and leave the rest to Zeus.’

  Automedon kills Aretus

  He spoke, balanced his long-shadowed spear and hurled it. It hit Aretus’ round shield. This failed to stop it, and the spear pierced it and drove on through (520) his belt into his abdomen. As a strong man with a sharp axe strikes a farmyard ox behind the horns and then cuts its throat, and the ox springs forward and then collapses, so Aretus sprang forward and then fell on his back. The sharp spear quivered in his guts and drew the life from him. Hector then threw a glittering spear at Automedon. But he was on the lookout and avoided the bronze weapon. He ducked under it, and the long shaft stuck in the ground behind him, its butt-end quivering till the imperious War-god Ares took away its force.

  (530) And now they would have been at one another’s throats with their swords, if the two Ajaxes, who had come up through the press in answer to their comrade’s call, had not caused their determined opponents to disengage. Frightened of such a pair, Hector, Aeneas and godlike Chromius drew back, leaving the stricken Aretus to lie where he fell. Automedon equal of swift Ares stripped him of his arms and spoke in triumph over him:

  ‘That consoles me somewhat for Patroclus’ death, though he was a better man than the one I’ve killed.’

  (540) With these words he lifted the bloodstained armour into his chariot and mounted it himself, his feet and hands covered in blood like a lion that has eaten a bull.

  Once more, conflict with all its tears and pain raged fiercely around Patroclus, since Athene brought it on. She came down from Olympus to give a lead to the Greeks on the instructions of far-thundering Zeus, who had changed his mind. Like a shimmering rainbow that Zeus stretches across the skies to warn mankind of war, or the coming of a chilly storm that (550) stops work in the fields and discomforts the flocks – so Athene, wrapping herself in a shimmering mist, plunged in among the Greek troops and stirred up one and all. First she urged on mighty Menelaus, who happened to be nearest. Borrowing the shape and tireless voice of Phoenix, she said:

  ATHENE inspires Menelaus

  ’It’s you, Menelaus, who will hang your head in shame at the reproach, if the swift dogs are allowed to maul the loyal friend of noble Achilles under the walls of Ilium. Hold firm, then, with all your strength and throw every man we have into the fight.’

  (560) Menelaus, master of the battle-cry, replied:

  ‘Phoenix, my venerable lord and ancient friend, I only wish Athene would give me strength and keep the missiles off. Then I should gladly make a stand and fight for Patroclus, whose death has struck me a cruel blow. But Hector has the terrifying energy of fire. He’s on an unstoppable rampage with his spear. Zeus is handing him the glory.’

  So he spoke, and grey-eyed Athene was delighted that Menelaus had prayed to her before all other gods. She strengthened (570) his shoulders and knees and implanted in his chest the daring of a fly which is so fond of human blood that it returns to its attack however often a man brushes it away. With such daring did the goddess fill his heart, and he took his stand beside Patroclus’ body and threw his glittering spear.

  There was a Trojan called Podes. He was a man of wealth and breeding, and Hector held him dearer than any other Trojan, since they were the best of companions at feasts. This man was struck on the belt by auburn-haired Menelaus’ spear as he started to run away. The spear went right through him; (580) he thudded to the ground, and Menelaus son of Atreus dragged Patroclus’ body away from the Trojans and gave it to his men.

  But now Apollo stood by Hector and urged him on. The god went up to him disguised as Phaenops, who came from Abydus and was Hector’s favourite among his foreign guests. In this disguise the Archer-god Apollo said:

  ‘Hector, what Greek will ever fear you again if you let yourself be scared by Menelaus, who has been a soft touch so far? But now he has come and lifted out the dead man on his own and (590) killed your loyal friend Podes, a brave man in the front line.’

  So he spoke, and a black cloud of grief descended on Hector. He advanced through the front ranks, bronze armour glittering. And at this moment Zeus, who had hidden Mount Ida under clouds, discharged a lightning flash with a great clap of thunder and, taking up his gleaming fringed aegis, shook it out, gave victory to the Trojans and filled the Greeks with panic.

  Peneleos and Leitus wounded

  Peneleos from Boeotia was the first of them to turn and run. He had been steadily facing the enemy when a spear from (600) Polydamas, who had come up and thrown from short range, hit him on the top of the shoulder. It was a glancing blow but the spear-point grazed the bone. Then Hector at close quarters stabbed Leitus
in the wrist and ended his interest in the fight. Leitus, knowing he could no longer expect to handle a spear and take on the enemy, gave one look round and fled.

  As Hector went in pursuit of Leitus, Idomeneus son of Deucalion threw at Hector and hit his body-armour by the nipple on his chest. But the long spear broke at the socket, and the Trojans gave a yell. Hector retaliated with a spear at Idomeneus, who by now had mounted a chariot. He just missed him but hit (610) Coeranus, who had come to the war from well-built Lyctus in Crete as attendant and charioteer of Meriones. Coeranus had galloped to the rescue of Idomeneus, who had set out from the ships that day on foot and would otherwise have presented the enemy with a great triumph. So Coeranus was the salvation of Idomeneus and preserved his life; but he lost his own to man-slaying Hector, whose spear and its socket, hitting him under the jaw and ear, knocked all his teeth out and cut his tongue in half. Coeranus crashed (620) out of the chariot, dropping the reins on the ground. Meriones stooped down, picked them up from the ground with his own hands and said to Idomeneus:

  Coeranus killed

  ‘Now whip the horses on till you reach the ships. You don’t need me to tell you we have lost the day.’

  So he spoke, and Idomeneus lashed the lovely-maned horses back to the hollow ships. He was a frightened man.

  Menelaus and great-hearted Ajax were also well aware that Zeus was working to give the Trojans victory. Great Ajax son of Telamon began and spoke his mind: