Dispatchful they applied; down fell the trees
With crash sonorous. Splitting, next, the trunks,
They bound them on the mules; they, with firm hoofs 150
The hill-side stamping, through the thickets rush’d
Desirous of the plain. Each man his log
(For so the armor-bearer of the King
Of Crete, Meriones, had them enjoin’d)
Bore after them, and each his burthen cast 155
Down on the beach regular, where a tomb
Of ample size Achilles for his friend
Patroclus had, and for himself, design’d.
Much fuel thrown together, side by side
There down they sat, and his command at once 160
Achilles issued to his warriors bold,
That all should gird their armor, and the steeds
Join to their chariots; undelaying each
Complied, and in bright arms stood soon array’d.
Then mounted combatants and charioteers. 165
First, moved the chariots, next, the infantry
Proceeded numerous, amid whom his friends,
Bearing the body of Patroclus, went.
They poll’d their heads, and cover’d him with hair
Shower’d over all his body, while behind 170
Noble Achilles march’d, the hero’s head
560 Sustaining sorrowful, for to the realms
Of Ades a distinguish’d friend he sent.
And now, arriving on the ground erewhile
Mark’d by Achilles, setting down the dead, 175
They heap’d the fuel quick, a lofty pile.
But Peleus’ son, on other thoughts intent,
Retiring from the funeral pile, shore off
His amber ringlets, whose exuberant growth
Sacred to Sperchius he had kept unshorn, 180
And looking o’er the gloomy deep, he said.
Sperchius! in vain Peleus my father vow’d
That, hence returning to my native land,
These ringlets shorn I should present to thee
With a whole hecatomb, and should, beside, 185
Rams offer fifty at thy fountain head
In thy own field, at thy own fragrant shrine.
So vow’d the hoary Chief, whose wishes thou
Leavest unperform’d. Since, therefore, never more
I see my native home, the hero these 190
Patroclus takes down with him to the shades.
He said, and filling with his hair the hand
Of his dead friend, the sorrows of his train
Waken’d afresh. And now the lamp of day
Westering apace, had left them still in tears, 195
Had not Achilles suddenly address’d
King Agamemnon, standing at his side.
Atrides! (for Achaia’s sons thy word
Will readiest execute) we may with grief
Satiate ourselves hereafter; but, the host 200
561 Dispersing from the pile, now give command
That they prepare repast; ourselves, to whom
These labors in peculiar appertain
Will finish them; but bid the Chiefs abide.
Which when imperial Agamemnon heard, 205
He scatter’d instant to their several ships
The people; but the burial-dressers thence
Went not; they, still abiding, heap’d the pile.
A hundred feet of breadth from side to side
They gave to it, and on the summit placed 210
With sorrowing hearts the body of the dead.
Many a fat sheep, with many an ox full-horn’d
They flay’d before the pile, busy their task
Administering, and Peleus’ son the fat
Taking from every victim, overspread 215
Complete the body with it of his friend
Patroclus, and the flay’d beasts heap’d around.
Then, placing flagons on the pile, replete
With oil and honey, he inclined their mouths
Toward the bier, and slew and added next, 220
Deep-groaning and in haste, four martial steeds.
Nine dogs the hero at his table fed,
Of which beheading two, their carcases
He added also. Last, twelve gallant sons
Of noble Trojans slaying (for his heart 225
Teem’d with great vengeance) he applied the force
Of hungry flames that should devour the whole,
Then, mourning loud, by name his friend invoked.
Rejoice, Patroclus! even in the shades,
Behold my promise to thee all fulfill’d! 230
Twelve gallant sons of Trojans famed in arms,
Together with thyself, are all become
Food for these fires: but fire shall never feed
On Hector; him I destine to the dogs.
So threaten’d he; but him no dogs devour’d; 235
562 Them, day and night, Jove’s daughter Venus chased
Afar, and smooth’d the hero o’er with oils
Of rosy scent ambrosial, lest his corse,
Behind Achilles’ chariot dragg’d along
So rudely, should be torn; and Phœbus hung 240
A veil of sable clouds from heaven to earth,
O’ershadowing broad the space where Hector lay,
Lest parching suns intense should stiffen him.
But the pile kindled not. Then, Peleus’ son
Seeking a place apart, two Winds in prayer 245
Boreas invoked and Zephyrus, to each
Vowing large sacrifice. With earnest suit
(Libation pouring from a golden cup)
Their coming he implored, that so the flames
Kindling, incontinent might burn the dead. 250
Iris, his supplications hearing, swift
Convey’d them to the Winds; they, in the hall
Banqueting of the heavy-blowing West
Sat frequent. Iris, sudden at the gate
Appear’d; they, at the sight upstarting all, 255
Invited each the Goddess to himself.
But she refused a seat and thus she spake.
I sit not here. Borne over Ocean’s stream
Again, to Æthiopia’s land I go
Where hecatombs are offer’d to the Gods, 260
Which, with the rest, I also wish to share.
But Peleus’ son, earnest, the aid implores
Of Boreas and of Zephyrus the loud,
Vowing large sacrifice if ye will fan
Briskly the pile on which Patroclus lies 265
By all Achaia’s warriors deep deplored.
She said, and went. Then suddenly arose
The Winds, and, roaring, swept the clouds along.
First, on the sea they blew; big rose the waves
Beneath the blast. At fruitful Troy arrived 270
Vehement on the pile they fell, and dread
563 On all sides soon a crackling blaze ensued.
All night, together blowing shrill, they drove
The sheeted flames wide from the funeral pile,
And all night long, a goblet in his hand 275
From golden beakers fill’d, Achilles stood
With large libations soaking deep the soil,
And calling on the spirit of his friend.
As some fond father mourns, burning the bones
Of his own son, who, dying on the eve 280
Of his glad nuptials, hath his parents left
O’erwhelm’d with inconsolable distress,
So mourn’d Achilles, his companion’s bones
Burning, and pacing to and fro the field
Beside the pile with many a sigh profound. 285
But when the star, day’s harbinger, arose,
Soon after whom, in saffron vest attired
The morn her beams diffuses o’er the sea,
The pile, then wasted, ceased to flame, and then
; Back flew the Winds over the Thracian deep 290
Rolling the flood before them as they pass’d.
And now Pelides lying down apart
From the funereal pile, slept, but not long,
Though weary; waken’d by the stir and din
Of Agamemnon’s train. He sat erect, 295
And thus the leaders of the host address’d.
Atrides, and ye potentates who rule
The whole Achaian host! first quench the pile
Throughout with generous wine, where’er the fire
Hath seized it. We will then the bones collect 300
Of Menœtiades, which shall with ease
Be known, though many bones lie scatter’d near,
Since in the middle pile Patroclus lay,
But wide apart and on its verge we burn’d
The steeds and Trojans, a promiscuous heap. 305
Them so collected in a golden vase
We will dispose, lined with a double cawl,
Till I shall, also, to my home below.
I wish not now a tomb of amplest bounds,
564 But such as may suffice, which yet in height 310
The Grecians and in breadth shall much augment
Hereafter, who, survivors of my fate,
Shall still remain in the Achaian fleet.
So spake Pelides, and the Chiefs complied.
Where’er the pile had blazed, with generous wine 315
They quench’d it, and the hills of ashes sank.
Then, weeping, to a golden vase, with lard
Twice lined, they gave their gentle comrade’s bones
Fire-bleach’d, and lodging safely in his tent
The relics, overspread them with a veil. 320
Designing, next, the compass of the tomb,
They mark’d its boundary with stones, then fill’d
The wide enclosure hastily with earth,
And, having heap’d it to its height, return’d.
But all the people, by Achilles still 325
Detain’d, there sitting, form’d a spacious ring,
And he the destined prizes from his fleet
Produced, capacious caldrons, tripods bright,
Steeds, mules, tall oxen, women at the breast
Close-cinctured, elegant, and unwrought iron. 330
First, to the chariot-drivers he proposed
A noble prize; a beauteous maiden versed
In arts domestic, with a tripod ear’d,
Of twenty and two measures. These he made
The conqueror’s meed. The second should a mare 335
Obtain, unbroken yet, six years her age,
Pregnant, and bearing in her womb a mule.
A caldron of four measures, never smirch’d
By smoke or flame, but fresh as from the forge
The third awaited; to the fourth he gave 340
Two golden talents, and, unsullied yet
By use, a twin-ear’d phial to the fifth.
He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.
565 Atrides, and ye chiefs of all the host!
These prizes, in the circus placed, attend 345
The charioteers. Held we the present games
In honor of some other Grecian dead,
I would myself bear hence the foremost prize;
For ye are all witnesses well-inform’d
Of the superior virtue of my steeds. 350
They are immortal; Neptune on my sire
Peleus conferr’d them, and my sire on me.
But neither I this contest share myself,
Nor shall my steeds; for they would miss the force
And guidance of a charioteer so kind 355
As they have lost, who many a time hath cleansed
Their manes with water of the crystal brook,
And made them sleek, himself, with limpid oil.
Him, therefore, mourning, motionless they stand
With hair dishevell’d, streaming to the ground. 360
But ye, whoever of the host profess
Superior skill, and glory in your steeds
And well-built chariots, for the strife prepare!
So spake Pelides, and the charioteers,
For speed renown’d arose. Long ere the rest 365
Eumelus, King of men, Admetus’ son
Arose, accomplish’d in equestrian arts.
Next, Tydeus’ son, brave Diomede, arose;
He yoked the Trojan coursers by himself
In battle from Æneas won, what time 370
Apollo saved their master. Third, upstood
The son of Atreus with the golden locks,
Who to his chariot Agamemnon’s mare
Swift Æthe and his own Podargus join’d.
Her Echepolus from Anchises sprung 375
To Agamemnon gave; she was the price
At which he purchased leave to dwell at home
Excused attendance on the King at Troy;
For, by the gift of Jove, he had acquired
Great riches, and in wide-spread Sicyon dwelt. 380
Her wing’d with ardor, Menelaus yoked.
566 Antilochus, arising fourth, his steeds
Bright-maned prepared, son of the valiant King
Of Pylus, Nestor Neleïades.
Of Pylian breed were they, and thus his sire, 385
With kind intent approaching to his side,
Advised him, of himself not uninform’d.
Antilochus! Thou art, I know, beloved
By Jove and Neptune both, from whom, though young
Thou hast received knowledge of every art 390
Equestrian, and hast little need to learn.
Thou know’st already how to trim the goal
With nicest skill, yet wondrous slow of foot
Thy coursers are, whence evil may ensue.
But though their steeds be swifter, I account 395
Thee wise, at least, as they. Now is the time
For counsel, furnish now thy mind with all
Precaution, that the prize escape thee not.
The feller of huge trees by skill prevails
More than by strength; by skill the pilot guides 400
His flying bark rock’d by tempestuous winds,
And more by skill than speed the race is won.
But he who in his chariot and his steeds
Trusts only, wanders here and wanders there
Unsteady, while his coursers loosely rein’d 405
Roam wide the field; not so the charioteer
Of sound intelligence; he though he drive
Inferior steeds, looks ever to the goal
Which close he clips, not ignorant to check
His coursers at the first but with tight rein 410
Ruling his own, and watching those before.
Now mark; I will describe so plain the goal
That thou shalt know it surely. A dry stump
Extant above the ground an ell in height
Stands yonder; either oak it is, or pine 415
More likely, which the weather least impairs.
567 Two stones, both white, flank it on either hand.
The way is narrow there, but smooth the course
On both sides. It is either, as I think,
A monument of one long since deceased, 420
Or was, perchance, in ancient days design’d,
As now by Peleus’ mighty son, a goal.
That mark in view, thy steeds and chariot push
Near to it as thou may’st; then, in thy seat
Inclining gently to the left, prick smart 425
Thy right-hand horse challenging him aloud,
And give him rein; but let thy left-hand horse
Bear on the goal so closely, that the nave
And felly of thy wheel may seem to meet.
Yet fear to strike the stone, lest foul disgrace 430
Of broken chariot and of crippled steeds
Ensue, and thou become th
e public jest.
My boy beloved! use caution; for if once
Thou turn the goal at speed, no man thenceforth
Shall reach, or if he reach, shall pass thee by, 435
Although Arion in thy rear he drove
Adrastus’ rapid horse of race divine,
Or those, Troy’s boast, bred by Laomedon.
So Nestor spake, inculcating with care
On his son’s mind these lessons in the art, 440
And to his place retiring, sat again.
Meriones his coursers glossy-maned
Made ready last. Then to his chariot-seat
Each mounted, and the lots were thrown; himself
Achilles shook them. First, forth leap’d the lot 445
Of Nestor’s son Antilochus, after whom
The King Eumelus took his destined place.
The third was Menelaus spear-renown’d;
Meriones the fourth; and last of all,
Bravest of all, heroic Diomede 450
568 The son of Tydeus took his lot to drive.
So ranged they stood; Achilles show’d the goal
Far on the champain, nigh to which he placed
The godlike Phœnix servant of his sire,
To mark the race and make a true report. 455
All raised the lash at once, and with the reins
At once all smote their steeds, urging them on
Vociferous; they, sudden, left the fleet
Far, far behind them, scouring swift the plain.
Dark, like a stormy cloud, uprose the dust 460
Their chests beneath, and scatter’d in the wind
Their manes all floated; now the chariots swept
The low declivity unseen, and now
Emerging started into view; erect
The drivers stood; emulous, every heart 465
Beat double; each encouraged loud his steeds;
They, flying, fill’d with dust the darken’d air.
But when returning to the hoary deep
They ran their last career, then each display’d
Brightest his charioteership, and the race 470
Lay stretch’d, at once, into its utmost speed.
Then, soon the mares of Pheretiades
Pass’d all, but Diomede behind him came,
Borne by his unemasculated steeds
Of Trojan pedigree; they not remote, 475
But close pursued him; and at every pace
Seem’d entering both; the chariot at their head,
For blowing warm into Eumelus’ neck
Behind, and on his shoulders broad, they went,
And their chins rested on him as they flew. 480
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