Speaker 1: Book fifteen. But when their flight had taken them past
Speaker 1: the trench and the set stakes, and many had fallen
Speaker 1: by the hands of the Danaans, the Trojans made a halt.
Speaker 1: On reaching their chariots, routed and pale with fear. Jove
Speaker 1: now woke on the crests of Ida, where he was
Speaker 1: lying with golden throned Juno by his side, and starting
Speaker 1: to his feet, he saw the Trojans and Achaeans, the
Speaker 1: one thrown into confusion, and the others driving them pell
Speaker 1: mell before them, with King Neptune in their midst. He
Speaker 1: saw Hector lying on the ground, with his comrades gathered
Speaker 1: round him, gasping for breath, wandering in mind, and vomiting blood.
Speaker 1: For it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who
Speaker 1: struck him. The sire of gods and men had pity
Speaker 1: on him, and looked fiercely on Juno. I see, Juno, said, he, you,
Speaker 1: mischief making trickster, that your cunning has stayed Hector from
Speaker 1: fighting and has caused the rout of his host. I
Speaker 1: am in half a mind to thrash you, in which
Speaker 1: case you will be the first to reap the fruits
Speaker 1: of your scurvy, knavery, Do you not remember how, once
Speaker 1: upon a time I had you hanged. I fastened two
Speaker 1: anvils on to your feet and bound your hands in
Speaker 1: a chain of gold which none might break, and you
Speaker 1: hung in mid air among the clouds. All the gods
Speaker 1: in Olympus were in a fury, but they could not
Speaker 1: reach you to set you free. When I caught any
Speaker 1: one of them, I gripped him and hurled him from
Speaker 1: the heavenly threshold, till he came fainting down to earth.
Speaker 1: Yet even this did not relieve my mind from the
Speaker 1: incessant anxiety which I felt about Noble Hercules, whom you
Speaker 1: and Boreas had spitefully conveyed beyond the seas to Cos
Speaker 1: after suborning the tempests. But I rescued him, and notwithstanding
Speaker 1: all his mighty labors, I brought him back again to Argos.
Speaker 1: I would remind you of this that you may learn
Speaker 1: to leave off being so deceitful, and discover how much
Speaker 1: you are likely to gain by the embraces out of
Speaker 1: which you have come here to trick me. Juno trembled
Speaker 1: as he spoke, and said, may Heaven above and Earth
Speaker 1: below be my witnesses with the waters of the River Styx.
Speaker 1: And this is the most solemn oath that a blessed
Speaker 1: god can take. Nay, I swear also by your own
Speaker 1: almighty head and by our bridal bed, things over which
Speaker 1: I could never possibly perjure myself that Neptune is not
Speaker 1: punishing Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through
Speaker 1: any doing of mine. It is all of his own
Speaker 1: mere motion, because he was sorry to see the Achaeans
Speaker 1: hard pressed at their ships. If I were advising him,
Speaker 1: I should tell him to do as you bid him.
Speaker 1: The Sire of gods and men smiled and answered, if you, Juno,
Speaker 1: were always to support me when we sit in Council
Speaker 1: of the Gods, Neptune, like it or no, would soon
Speaker 1: come round to your and my way of thinking. If
Speaker 1: then you are speaking the truth and mean what you say,
Speaker 1: go among the rank and file of the gods, and
Speaker 1: tell Iris and Apollo, lord of the Bow, that I
Speaker 1: want them. Iris that she may go to the Achaean
Speaker 1: host and tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go home,
Speaker 1: and Apollo that he may send Hector again into battle
Speaker 1: and give him fresh strength. He will thus forget his
Speaker 1: present sufferings and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till
Speaker 1: they fall among the ships of Achilles, son of Pelias.
Speaker 1: Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and
Speaker 1: Hector will kill him in front of Ilius. After he
Speaker 1: has slain many warriors, and among them my own noble son, Sarpadan.
Speaker 1: Achilles will kill Hector to avenge Patroclus. And from that
Speaker 1: time I will bring it about that the Achaeans shall
Speaker 1: persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfill the councils
Speaker 1: of Minerva and take Ilius. But I will not stay
Speaker 1: my anger, nor permit any God to help the Danans
Speaker 1: till I have accomplished the desire of the son of Pelias,
Speaker 1: according to the promise I made by bowing my head
Speaker 1: on the day when Thetis touched my knees and besought
Speaker 1: me to give him honor. Juno heeded his words and
Speaker 1: went from the heights of Ida to Great Olympus, swift
Speaker 1: as the thought of one whose fancy carries him over
Speaker 1: vast countinents. And he says to himself, now I will
Speaker 1: be here or there, And he would have all manner
Speaker 1: of things Even so swiftly did Juno wing her way
Speaker 1: till she came to high Olympus and went in among
Speaker 1: the gods who were gathered in the House of Jove.
Speaker 1: When they saw her, they all of them came up
Speaker 1: to her and held out their cups to her by
Speaker 1: way of greeting. She let the others be, but took
Speaker 1: the cup offered her by lovely themis who was first
Speaker 1: to come running up to her. Juno said she, Why
Speaker 1: are you here and you seem troubled? Has your husband,
Speaker 1: the son of Saturn, been frightening you? And Juno answered themis,
Speaker 1: do not ask me about it. You know what a
Speaker 1: proud and cruel disposition my husband has lead the gods
Speaker 1: to table where you and all the immortals can hear
Speaker 1: the wicked designs which he has avowed. Many a one,
Speaker 1: mortal and immortal will be angered by them, however peaceably
Speaker 1: he may be feasting now on this. Juno sat down,
Speaker 1: and the gods were troubled throughout the House of Jove.
Speaker 1: Laughter sat on her lips, but her brow was furrowed
Speaker 1: with care, and she spoke up in a rage. Fools
Speaker 1: that we are, she cried to be thus madly angry
Speaker 1: with Jove. We keep on wanting to go up to
Speaker 1: him and stay him by force or by persuasion. But
Speaker 1: he sits aloof and cares for nobody, for he knows
Speaker 1: that he is much stronger than any other of the immortals,
Speaker 1: make the best. Therefore, of whatever ills he may choose
Speaker 1: to send each one of you, Mars, I take it
Speaker 1: has had a taste of them already, for his son
Speaker 1: Ascalaphus has fallen in battle, the man whom of all
Speaker 1: others he loved most dearly, and whose father he owns
Speaker 1: himself to be. When he heard this, Mars smote his
Speaker 1: two sturdy thighs with the flat of his hands, and said,
Speaker 1: in anger, do not blame me, you gods that dwell
Speaker 1: in heaven, if I go to the ships of the
Speaker 1: Achaeans and avenge the death of my son, even though
Speaker 1: it end in my being struck by Jove's lightning and
Speaker 1: lying in blood and dust among the corpses. As he spoke,
Speaker 1: he gave orders to yoke his horse's panic and rout
Speaker 1: while he put on his armor. On this, Jove would
Speaker 1: have been roused to still more fierce and implacable enmity
Speaker 1: against the other immortals had not. Minerva, armed for the
Speaker 1: safety of the gods, sprung from her seat and hurried outside.
Speaker 1: She tore the helmet from his head and the shield
Speaker 1: from his shoulders, and she took the bronze spear from
Speaker 1: his strong hand and set it on one side. Then
Speaker 1: she said to Mars, madman, you are undone. You have
Speaker 1: ears that hear not, or you have lost all judgment
Speaker 1: and understanding. Have you not heard what Juno has said
Speaker 1: on coming straight from the presence of Olympian Jove, do
Speaker 1: you wish to go through all kinds of suffering before
Speaker 1: you are brought back sick and sorry to Olympus after
Speaker 1: having caused infinite mischief to all us others, Jove would
Speaker 1: instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans to themselves. He would
Speaker 1: come to Olympus to punish us, and would grip us
Speaker 1: up one after another, guilty or not guilty. Therefore, lay
Speaker 1: aside your anger for the death of your son. Better
Speaker 1: men than he have either been killed already or will
Speaker 1: fall hereafter, And one cannot protect everyone's whole family. With
Speaker 1: these words, she took Mars back to his seat. Meanwhile,
Speaker 1: Juno called Apollo outside with Iris the messenger of the gods, Jove.
Speaker 1: She said to them, desires you to go to him
Speaker 1: at once on Mount Ida. When you have seen him,
Speaker 1: you are to do as he may then bid you. Thereon,
Speaker 1: Juno left them and resumed her seat inside, while Iris
Speaker 1: and Apollo made all haste on their way. When they
Speaker 1: reached many fountained Ida, Mother of wild Beasts, they found
Speaker 1: Jove seated on topmost gargarus, with a fragrant cloud encircling
Speaker 1: his head as with a diadem. They stood before his presence,
Speaker 1: and he was pleased with them for having been so
Speaker 1: quick in obeying the orders his wife had given them.
Speaker 1: He spoke to Iris first, go, said he Fleet, Iris,
Speaker 1: tell King Neptune what I now bid you, and tell
Speaker 1: him true. Bid him leave off fighting, and either join
Speaker 1: the company of the gods or go down into the sea.
Speaker 1: If he takes no heed and disobeys me, let him
Speaker 1: consider well whether he is strong enough to hold his
Speaker 1: own against me if I attack him. I am older
Speaker 1: and much stronger than he is. Yet he is not
Speaker 1: afraid to set himself up as on a level with myself,
Speaker 1: of whom all the other gods stand in awe. Iris
Speaker 1: fleet as the wind obeyed him, and as the cold
Speaker 1: hail or snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before
Speaker 1: the blast of Bereas, even so did she wing her
Speaker 1: way till she came close up to the great shaker
Speaker 1: of the earth. Then she said, I have come, o,
Speaker 1: dark haired king that holds the world in his embrace,
Speaker 1: to bring you a message from Jove. He bids you
Speaker 1: leave off fighting and either join the company of the
Speaker 1: gods or go down into the sea. If, however, you
Speaker 1: take no heed and disobey him, he says he will
Speaker 1: come down here and fight you. He would have you
Speaker 1: keep out of his reach, for he is old and
Speaker 1: much stronger than you are. And yet you are not
Speaker 1: afraid to set yourself up as on a level with himself,
Speaker 1: of whom all the other gods stand in awe. Neptune
Speaker 1: was very angry and said, Great Heavens, strong as Jove
Speaker 1: may be, he has said more than he can do
Speaker 1: if he has threatened violence against me, who am of
Speaker 1: like honor with himself. We were three brothers whom rear
Speaker 1: boort to Saturn, Jove myself and Hades, who rules the
Speaker 1: world below. Heaven and Earth were divided into three parts,
Speaker 1: and each of us was to have an equal share.
Speaker 1: When we cast lots. It fell to me to have
Speaker 1: my dwelling in the sea for evermore. Hades took the
Speaker 1: darkness of the realms under the earth, while air and
Speaker 1: sky and clouds were a portion that fell to Jove.
Speaker 1: But Earth and greater Olympus are the common property of all.
Speaker 1: Therefore I will not walk as Jove would have me
Speaker 1: for all his strength. Let him keep to his own
Speaker 1: third share and be contented, without threatening to lay hands
Speaker 1: upon me as though I were nobody. Let him keep
Speaker 1: his bragging talk for his own sons and daughters, who
Speaker 1: must perforce obey him. Iris fleet as the Wind, then answered,
Speaker 1: am I really Neptune to take this daring and unyielding
Speaker 1: message to Jove? Or will you reconsider your answer? Sensible
Speaker 1: people are open to argument, and you know that the
Speaker 1: erinnyas always range themselves on the side of the older person.
Speaker 1: Neptune answered, Goddess Iris, your words have been spoken in season.
Speaker 1: It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion. Nevertheless,
Speaker 1: it cuts me to the very heart that anyone should
Speaker 1: rebuke so angrily another who is his own peer and
Speaker 1: of like empire, with himself. Now, however, I will give
Speaker 1: way in spite of my displeasure. Furthermore, let me tell you,
Speaker 1: and I mean what I say, if contrary to the
Speaker 1: desire myself Minerva, driver of the spoil, Juno Mercury, and
Speaker 1: King Vulcan, Jove spares steep Ilius and will not let
Speaker 1: the Achaeans have the great triumph of sacking it. Let
Speaker 1: him understand that he will incur our implacable resentment. Neptune
Speaker 1: now left the field to go down under the sea,
Speaker 1: and sorely did the Achaeans miss him. Then Jove said
Speaker 1: to Apollo, go dear Phoebus to hector, for Neptune, who
Speaker 1: holds the earth in his embrace, has now gone down
Speaker 1: under the sea to avoid the severity of my displeasure.
Speaker 1: Had he not done so, those gods who are below
Speaker 1: with Saturn would have come to hear of the fight
Speaker 1: between us. It is better for both of us that
Speaker 1: he should have curbed his anger and kept out of
Speaker 1: my reach, for I should have had much trouble with him.
Speaker 1: Take then your tasseled eegis and shake it furiously, so
Speaker 1: as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic. Take moreover, brave, Hector,
Speaker 1: O far data into your own care, and rouse him
Speaker 1: to deeds of daring, till the Achaeans are sent flying
Speaker 1: back to their ships and to the Hellespont. From that
Speaker 1: point I will think it well over how the Achaeans
Speaker 1: may have a respite from their troubles. Apollo obeyed his
Speaker 1: father's saying and left the crests of Ida, flying like
Speaker 1: a falcon, bane of doves and swiftest of all birds.
Speaker 1: He found Hector no longer lying upon the ground, but
Speaker 1: sitting up, for he had just come to himself again.
Speaker 1: He knew those who were about him, and the sweat
Speaker 1: and hard breathing had left him from the moment when
Speaker 1: the will of Aegis bearing Jove had revived him. Apollo
Speaker 1: stood beside him and said, Hector, son of Priam, why
Speaker 1: are you so faint? And why are you here away
Speaker 1: from the others? Has any mishap befallen you? Hector, in
Speaker 1: a weak voice, answered, and which kind sir of the
Speaker 1: gods are you who now ask me? Thus? Do you
Speaker 1: not know that Ajax struck me on the chest with
Speaker 1: a stone as I was killing his comrades at the
Speaker 1: ships of the Achaeans, and compelled me to leave off fighting.
Speaker 1: I made sure that this very day I should breathe
Speaker 1: my last and go down into the house of Hades.
Speaker 1: Then King Apollo said to him, take heart, the son
Speaker 1: of Saturn has sent you a mighty helper from Ida
Speaker 1: to stand by you and defend you. Even me Phoebus,
Speaker 1: Apollo of the Golden Sword, who have been guardian hitherto
Speaker 1: not only of yourself, but of your city. Now, therefore,
Speaker 1: order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the ships
Speaker 1: in great multitudes. I will go before your horses to
Speaker 1: smooth the way for them, and will turn the Achaeans
Speaker 1: in flight. As he spoke, he infused great strength into
Speaker 1: the shepherd of his people, And as a horse, stabled
Speaker 1: and full fed, breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the
Speaker 1: plain to the place where he is wont to take
Speaker 1: his bath in the river. He tosses his head, and
Speaker 1: his mane streams over his shoulders, as in all the
Speaker 1: pride of his strength. He flies full speed to the
Speaker 1: pastures where the mares are feeding. Even so, Hector, when
Speaker 1: he heard what the God said, urged his horsemen on
Speaker 1: and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take him.
Speaker 1: As country peasants set their hounds on to a horned
Speaker 1: stag or wild goat. He has taken shelter under rock
Speaker 1: or thicket, and they cannot find him. But lo, a
Speaker 1: bearded lion, whom their shouts have roused, stands in their path,
Speaker 1: and they are in no further humour for the chase.
Speaker 1: Even so, the Achaeans were still charging on in a body,
Speaker 1: using their swords and spears pointed at both ends. But
Speaker 1: when they saw Hector going about among his men, they
Speaker 1: were afraid, and their hearts fell down into their feet.
Speaker 1: Then spoke Thoas, son of Andreaemon, leader of the Aetolians,
Speaker 1: a man who could throw a good throw, and who
Speaker 1: was staunched also in close fight, while few could surpass
Speaker 1: him in debate. When opinions were divided, he then, with
Speaker 1: all sincerity and good will, addressed them. Thus, what in
Speaker 1: Heaven's name do I now see? Is it not Hector
Speaker 1: come to life again? Everyone made sure he had been
Speaker 1: killed by Ajax, son of Telemann. But it seems that
Speaker 1: one of the gods has again rescued him. He has
Speaker 1: killed many of us Dinans already, and I take it
Speaker 1: will yet do so for the hand of Jove must
Speaker 1: be with him, or he would never dare show himself
Speaker 1: so masterful in the forefront of the battle. Now, therefore,
Speaker 1: let us all do as I say. Let us order
Speaker 1: the main body of our forces to fall back upon
Speaker 1: the ships. But let those of us who profess to
Speaker 1: be the flower of the army stand firm and see
Speaker 1: whether we cannot hold Hector back at the point of
Speaker 1: our spears. As soon as he comes near us, I
Speaker 1: conceive that he will then think better of it, before
Speaker 1: he tries to charge into the press of the Danaans.
Speaker 1: Thus did he speak, and they did even as he
Speaker 1: had said. Those who were about Ajax and King Idomineus,
Speaker 1: the followers moreover of Tusa, Meriones, and Megji's peer of Mars,
Speaker 1: called all their best men about them, and sustained the
Speaker 1: fight against Hector and the Trojans. But the main body
Speaker 1: fell back upon the ships of the Achaeans. The Trojans
Speaker 1: pressed forward in a dense body, with Hector striding on
Speaker 1: at their head. Before him went Phoebus Apollo, shrouded in
Speaker 1: cloud about his shoulders. He bore aloft the terrible Eegis
Speaker 1: with its shaggy fringe, which Vulcan the Smith had given
Speaker 1: Jove to strike terror into the hearts of men. With
Speaker 1: this in his hand, he led on the Trojans. The
Speaker 1: Argives held together and stood their ground. The cry of
Speaker 1: battle rose high from either side, and the arrows flew
Speaker 1: from the bowstrings. Many a spear sped from strong hands
Speaker 1: and fastened in the bodies of many a valiant warrior,
Speaker 1: while others fell to earth way before they could taste
Speaker 1: of man's fair flesh and glut themselves with blood. So
Speaker 1: long as Phoebus Apollo held his aeges quietly and without
Speaker 1: shaking it, the weapons on either side took effect, and
Speaker 1: the people fell. But when he shook it straight in
Speaker 1: the face of the Danons and raised his mighty battle cry,
Speaker 1: their hearts fainted within them, and they forgot their former prowess.
Speaker 1: As when two wild beasts spring in the dead of
Speaker 1: night on a herd of cattle, or a large flock
Speaker 1: of sheep, when the herdsman is not there. Even so
Speaker 1: were the Danons struck helpless, for Apollo filled them with
Speaker 1: panic and gave victory to Hector and the Trojans. The
Speaker 1: fight then became more scattered, and they killed one another,
Speaker 1: where they best could. Hector killed Stychius and Arcesilaus, the
Speaker 1: one leader of the Baotians, and the other friend and
Speaker 1: comrade of Menestheus. Eneus killed Maidan and Iiasis. The first
Speaker 1: was bastard, son to Eulius and brother to Ajax, but
Speaker 1: he lived in Phylacy, away from his own country, for
Speaker 1: he had killed a man, a kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis,
Speaker 1: whom Eulius had married. Iasis had become a leader of
Speaker 1: the Athenians, and was son of Sphelus, the son of Bucolos.
Speaker 1: Polydamus killed Mesistius and polytes Echius in the front of
Speaker 1: the battle, while Agenor slew Clonius. Paris struck Diocus from
Speaker 1: behind in the lower part of the shoulder as he
Speaker 1: was flying among the foremost, and the point of the
Speaker 1: spear went clean through him. While they were spoiling these
Speaker 1: heroes of their armor, the Achaeans were flying pellmell to
Speaker 1: the trench and the set stakes, and were forced back
Speaker 1: within their wall. Hector then cried out to the Trojans,
Speaker 1: forward to the ships, and let the spoils be If
Speaker 1: I see any man keeping back on the other side
Speaker 1: the wall, away from the ships, I will have him killed.
Speaker 1: His kinsmen and kinswomen shall not give him his dues
Speaker 1: of fire, but dogs shall tear him in pieces in
Speaker 1: front of our city. As he spoke, he laid his
Speaker 1: whip about his horses shoulders, and called to the Trojans
Speaker 1: throughout their ranks. The Trojans shouted with a cry that
Speaker 1: rent the air, and kept their horses neck and neck
Speaker 1: with his own phoebus. Apollo went before and kicked down
Speaker 1: the banks of the deep trench into its middle, so
Speaker 1: as to make a great broad bridge, as broad as
Speaker 1: the throw of a spear when a man is trying
Speaker 1: his strength. The Trojan battalions poured over the bridge, and Apollo,
Speaker 1: with his redoubtable aegis led the way. He kicked down
Speaker 1: the wall of the Achaeans as easily as a child
Speaker 1: who playing on the sea shore, has built a house
Speaker 1: of sand, and then kicks it down again and destroys it.
Speaker 1: Even so did you, o Apollo shed toil and trouble
Speaker 1: upon the Argives, filling them with panic and confusion. Thus
Speaker 1: then were the Achaeans hemmed in at their ships, calling
Speaker 1: out to one another and raising their hands with loud cries,
Speaker 1: every man to heaven, Nestor of Geren, tower of strength
Speaker 1: to the Achaeans, lifted up his hands to the starry
Speaker 1: firmament of heaven, and prayed more fervently than any of them.
Speaker 1: Father Jove said he, if ever anyone in wheat growing
Speaker 1: argus burned you fat thigh bones of sheep or heifer,
Speaker 1: and prayed that he might return safely home whereon you
Speaker 1: bowed your head to him in assent, bear it in
Speaker 1: mind now, and suffer not the Trojans to triumph. Thus
Speaker 1: over the Achaeans, all counseling, Jove thundered loudly in answer
Speaker 1: to the prayer of the aged son of Nelius. When
Speaker 1: they heard Jove thunder, they flung themselves yet more fiercely
Speaker 1: on the Achaeans, as a wave breaking over the bulwarks
Speaker 1: of a ship when the sea runs high before a gale.
Speaker 1: For it is the force of the wind that makes
Speaker 1: the waves so great. Even so did the Trojans spring
Speaker 1: over the wall with a shout and drive their chariots onwards.
Speaker 1: The two sides fought, with their double pointed spears in
Speaker 1: hand to hand, encounter the Trojans from their chariots, and
Speaker 1: the Achaeans climbing up into their ships and wielding the
Speaker 1: long pikes that were lying on the decks, ready for
Speaker 1: use in a sea fight, jointed and shod with bronze. Now, Patroclus,
Speaker 1: so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting about
Speaker 1: the wall but were not yet within it and at
Speaker 1: the ships, remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypolus,
Speaker 1: entertaining him with his conversation and spreading herbs over his
Speaker 1: wound to ease his pain. When, however, he saw the
Speaker 1: Trojans swarming through the breach in the wall, while the
Speaker 1: Achaeans were clamoring and struck with panic, he cried aloud
Speaker 1: and smote his two thighs with the flat of his hands.
Speaker 1: Eurypolus said he in his dismay, I know you want
Speaker 1: me badly, but I cannot stay with you any longer,
Speaker 1: for there is hard fighting going on. A servant shall
Speaker 1: take care of you now, for I must make all
Speaker 1: speed to Achilles and induce him to fight. If I can.
Speaker 1: Who knows, But with Heaven's help I may persuade him.
Speaker 1: A man does well to listen to the advice of
Speaker 1: a friend. When he had thus spoken, he went his way.
Speaker 1: The Achaeans stood firm and resisted the attack of the Trojans. Yet,
Speaker 1: though these were fewer in number, they could not drive
Speaker 1: them back from the ships. Neither could the Trojans break
Speaker 1: the Achaean ranks and make their way in among the
Speaker 1: tents and ships. As a carpenter's line gives a true
Speaker 1: edge to a piece of ship's timber in the hand
Speaker 1: of some skilled workmen, whom Minerva has instructed in all
Speaker 1: kinds of useful arts. Even so, level was the issue
Speaker 1: of the fight between the two sides. As they fought
Speaker 1: some round one and some round another. Hector made straight
Speaker 1: for Ajax, and the two fought fiercely about the same ship.
Speaker 1: Hector could not force Ajax back and fire the ship,
Speaker 1: nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to
Speaker 1: which Heaven had brought him. Then Ajax struck Calatour, son
Speaker 1: of Clyti, in the chest with a spear as he
Speaker 1: was bringing fire towards the ship. He fell heavily to
Speaker 1: the ground, and the torch dropped from his hand. When
Speaker 1: Hector saw his cousin fallen in front of the ship,
Speaker 1: he shouted to the Trojans and Lysians, saying Trojans, Lysians
Speaker 1: and Dardanians. Good in close fight. Bait not a jot,
Speaker 1: but rescue the son of Clytius, lest the Achaeans strip
Speaker 1: him of his armor, now that he has fallen. He
Speaker 1: then named a spear at Ajax and missed him, but
Speaker 1: he hit Likechofron, a follower of Ajax, who came from
Speaker 1: Cythera but was living with Ajax inasmuch as he had
Speaker 1: killed a man among the Scythyians. Hector's spear struck him
Speaker 1: on the head below the ear, and he fell headlong
Speaker 1: from the ship's prow on to the ground, with no
Speaker 1: life left in him. Ajax shook with rage and said
Speaker 1: to his brother, Tu, sir, my good fellow, our trusty comrade,
Speaker 1: the son of Master has fallen. He came to live
Speaker 1: with us from Cythera, and whom we honor, and as
Speaker 1: much as our own parents. Hector has just killed him.
Speaker 1: Fetch your deadly arrows at once, and the bow which
Speaker 1: Phoebus Apollo gave you. Tusa heard him and hastened towards
Speaker 1: him with his bow and quiver in his hands. Forthwith,
Speaker 1: he showered his arrows on the Trojans and hit Cleitus
Speaker 1: the son of Pisignor, comrade of Polydamus, the noble son
Speaker 1: of Panthous, with the reins in his hands as he
Speaker 1: was attending to his horses. He was in the middle
Speaker 1: of the very thickest part of the fight, doing good
Speaker 1: service to Hector and the Trojans. But evil had now
Speaker 1: come upon him, and not one of those who were
Speaker 1: fain to do so could avert it. For the arrow
Speaker 1: struck him on the back of the neck. He fell
Speaker 1: from his chariot, and his horses shook the empty car
Speaker 1: as they swerved aside. King Polydamus saw what had happened
Speaker 1: and was the first to come up to the horses.
Speaker 1: He gave them in charge to Astynus, son of Proteon,
Speaker 1: and ordered him to look on and to keep the
Speaker 1: horses near at hand. He then went back and took
Speaker 1: his place in the front ranks. Tu Sa then aimed
Speaker 1: another arrow at Hector, and there would have been no
Speaker 1: more fighting at the ships if he had hit him
Speaker 1: and killed him then and there. Jove, however, who kept
Speaker 1: watch over Hector, had his eyes on Tusa and deprived
Speaker 1: him of his triumph by breaking his bow string for him,
Speaker 1: just as he was drawing it, and about to take
Speaker 1: his aim on this, the arrow went astray, and the
Speaker 1: bow fell from his hands. Twosa shook with anger and
Speaker 1: said to his brother, alas see how Heaven thwarts us
Speaker 1: in all we do. It has broken my bowstring and
Speaker 1: snatched the bow from my hand, though I strung it
Speaker 1: this self same morning, that it might serve me for
Speaker 1: many an arrow. Ajax, son of Tellmann, answered, my good fellow,
Speaker 1: let your bow and your arrows be, for Jove has
Speaker 1: made them useless. In order to spite the d and arns,
Speaker 1: take your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder, and
Speaker 1: both fight the trojans yourself, and urge others to do so.
Speaker 1: They may be successful for the moment, but if we
Speaker 1: fight as we ought, they will find it a hard
Speaker 1: matter to take the ships. Tusa then took his bow
Speaker 1: and put it by in his tent. He hung a
Speaker 1: shield four hides thick about his shoulders, and on his
Speaker 1: comely head. He set his helmet, well wrought with a
Speaker 1: crest of horsehair that nodded menacingly above it. He grasped
Speaker 1: his redoubtable bronze shod spear, and forthwith he was by
Speaker 1: the side of Ajax when hector saw that Tusa's bow
Speaker 1: was of no more use to him. He shouted out
Speaker 1: to the Trojans and Lycians. Trojans, Lysians and Dardanians, good
Speaker 1: in close fight, Be men, my friends, and show your
Speaker 1: metal here at the ships, for I see the weapon
Speaker 1: of one of their chieftains made useless by the hand
Speaker 1: of Jove. It is easy to see when Jove is
Speaker 1: helping people and means to help them still further, or
Speaker 1: again when he is bringing them down and will do
Speaker 1: nothing for them. He is now on our side and
Speaker 1: is going against the archives. Therefore, swarm round the ships
Speaker 1: and fight. If any of you is struck by spear
Speaker 1: or sword and loses his life, let him die. He
Speaker 1: dies with honor, who dies fighting for his country, and
Speaker 1: he will leave his wife and children safe behind him,
Speaker 1: with his house and allotment unplundered. If only the Achaeans
Speaker 1: can be driven back to their own land, they and
Speaker 1: their ships. With these words, he put heart and soul
Speaker 1: into them all. Ajax on the other side, exhorted his comrade, saying,
Speaker 1: shame on you, Argives. We are now utterly undone, unless
Speaker 1: we can save ourselves by driving the enemy from our ships.
Speaker 1: Do you think if Hector takes them, that you will
Speaker 1: be able to get home by land? Can you not
Speaker 1: hear him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet,
Speaker 1: and bidding them remember that they are not at a dance,
Speaker 1: but in battle. Our only course is to fight them
Speaker 1: with might and main. We had better chance it life
Speaker 1: or death once for all, than fight long and without
Speaker 1: issue hemmed in at our ships by worse men than ourselves.
Speaker 1: With these words he put life and soul into them all.
Speaker 1: Hector then killed Shedius, son of Perimedes, leader of the Phocians,
Speaker 1: and Ajax killed Laodamas, captain of foot soldiers, and son
Speaker 1: to Antenor. Polydamus killed Otus of Celine, a comrade of
Speaker 1: the son of Phileas and chief of the proud Apaeans.
Speaker 1: When Meges saw this, he sprang upon him, but Polydamus
Speaker 1: crouched down, and he missed him, for Apollo would not
Speaker 1: suffer the son of Panthous to fall in battle. But
Speaker 1: the spear hit Crosmus in the middle of his chest,
Speaker 1: whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and Megiz stripped
Speaker 1: him of his armor. At that moment, the valiant soldier
Speaker 1: Dolops son of Lampus, sprang upon. Lampus was son of Laomedon,
Speaker 1: and for his valor, while his son Dolops was versed
Speaker 1: in all the ways of war. He then struck the
Speaker 1: middle of the son of Phileas's shield with his spear,
Speaker 1: setting on him at close quarters. But his good corselet
Speaker 1: made with plates of metal saved him. Phileas had brought
Speaker 1: it from Ephor and the river Celis, where his host,
Speaker 1: King Euphytes, had given it him to wear in battle
Speaker 1: and protect him. It now served to save the life
Speaker 1: of his son. Then Megis struck the topmost crest of
Speaker 1: Dolops's bronze helmet with his spear and tore away its
Speaker 1: plume of horsehair, so that all newly dyed with scarlet
Speaker 1: as it was, it tumbled down into the dust. While
Speaker 1: he was still fighting and confident of victory. Menelaeus came
Speaker 1: up to help Megus and got by the side of
Speaker 1: Domes unperceived. He then speared him in the shoulder from behind,
Speaker 1: and the point driven so furiously went through into his chest,
Speaker 1: whereon he fell headlong. The two then made towards him
Speaker 1: to strip him of his armor, but Hector called on
Speaker 1: all his brothers for help, and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus,
Speaker 1: son of Hiccotaeon, who erewhile used to pasture his herds
Speaker 1: of cattle in per coat before the war broke out.
Speaker 1: But when the ships of the Danons came, he went
Speaker 1: back to Ilius, where he was eminent among the Trojans
Speaker 1: and lived near Priam, who treated him as one of
Speaker 1: his own sons. Hector now rebuked him and said, why Melanippus,
Speaker 1: are we thus remiss? Do you take no note of
Speaker 1: the death of your kinsman? And do you not see
Speaker 1: how they are trying to take Dolops's armor? Follow me.
Speaker 1: There must be no fighting the archives from a distance now,
Speaker 1: but we must do so in close combat till either
Speaker 1: we kill them or they take the high wall of
Speaker 1: Ilius and slay her people. He led on as he spoke,
Speaker 1: and the hero Melanippus followed after. Meanwhile, Ajax, son of Telemon,
Speaker 1: was cheering on the argives. My friends, he cried, be
Speaker 1: men and fear dishonor quit yourselves in battle so as
Speaker 1: to win respect from one another. Men who respect each
Speaker 1: other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than
Speaker 1: those who do not. But in flight there is neither
Speaker 1: gain nor glory. Thus did he exhort men who were
Speaker 1: already bent upon driving back the Trojans. They laid his
Speaker 1: words to heart and hedged the ships as with a
Speaker 1: wall of bronze. While Jove urged on the Trojans, Menelaeus,
Speaker 1: of the loud battle cry urged Antilochus. On Antilochus said, he,
Speaker 1: you are young, and there is none of the Achaeans
Speaker 1: more fleet of foot or more valiant than you are. See,
Speaker 1: if you cannot spring upon some Trojan and kill him,
Speaker 1: he hurried away. When he had thus spurred Antilochus, who
Speaker 1: at once darted out from the front ranks and aimed
Speaker 1: a spear, after looking carefully round him. The Trojans fell
Speaker 1: back as he threw, and the dark did not speed
Speaker 1: from his hand without effect, for it struck Melanippus, the
Speaker 1: proud son of Hiccotaeon, in the breast by the nipple
Speaker 1: as he was coming forward, and his armor rang rattling
Speaker 1: round him. As he fell heavily to the ground. Antilochus
Speaker 1: sprang upon him as a dog springs on a fawn
Speaker 1: which a hunter has hit as it was breaking away
Speaker 1: from its covert and killed it. Even so, o Melanippus
Speaker 1: did stoll, what Antilochus spring upon you to strip you
Speaker 1: of your armor? But noble Hector marked him and came
Speaker 1: running up to him through the thick of the battle. Antilochus,
Speaker 1: brave soldier though he was, would not stay to face him,
Speaker 1: but flared, like some savage creature which knows it has
Speaker 1: done wrong, and flies when it has killed a dog
Speaker 1: or a man who is herding his cattle, before a
Speaker 1: body of men can be gathered to attack it. Even
Speaker 1: so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans,
Speaker 1: and Hector, with a cry that rent the air, showered
Speaker 1: their weapons after him. Nor did he turn round and
Speaker 1: stay his flight till he had reached his comrades. The Trojans,
Speaker 1: fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards the ships,
Speaker 1: in fulfillment of the behests of Jove, who kept spurring
Speaker 1: them on to new deeds of daring, while he deadened
Speaker 1: the courage of the Argives and defeated them by encouraging
Speaker 1: the Trojans. For he meant giving glory to Hector, son
Speaker 1: of Priam, and letting him throw fire upon the ships
Speaker 1: till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis had
Speaker 1: made him. Jove therefore bided his time till he should
Speaker 1: see the glare of a blazing ship. From that hour
Speaker 1: he was about so to order that the Trojans should
Speaker 1: be driven back from the ships, and to vouchsafe glory
Speaker 1: to the Achaeans. With this purpose he inspired Hector, son
Speaker 1: of Priam, who was eager enough already to assail the ships.
Speaker 1: His fury was as that of Mars, or as when
Speaker 1: a fire is raging in the glades of some dense forest.
Speaker 1: Upon the mountains, he foamed at the mouth, his eyes
Speaker 1: glared under his terrible eyebrows, and his helmet quivered on
Speaker 1: his temples. By reason of the fury with which he fought,
Speaker 1: Jove from heaven was with him, and though he was
Speaker 1: but one against many, vouchsafed him victory and glory. For
Speaker 1: he was doomed to an early death, and already Pallas
Speaker 1: Minerva was hurrying on the hour of his destruction at
Speaker 1: the hands of the son of Pelias. Now, however, he
Speaker 1: kept trying to break the ranks of the enemy wherever
Speaker 1: he could see them thickest and in the goodliest armor.
Speaker 1: But do what he might, he could not break through them,
Speaker 1: for they stood as a tower four square, or as
Speaker 1: some high cliff rising from the gray sea that braves
Speaker 1: the anger of the gale and of the waves that
Speaker 1: thunder up against it. He fell upon them like flames
Speaker 1: of fire from every quarter, As when a wave raised
Speaker 1: mountain high by wind and storm, breaks over a ship
Speaker 1: and covers it deep in foam. The fierce winds roar
Speaker 1: against the mast, the hearts of the sailors fail them
Speaker 1: for fear, and they are saved, but by a very
Speaker 1: little from destruction. Even so were the hearts of the
Speaker 1: Achaeans fainting within them, Or as a savage lion attacking
Speaker 1: a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands
Speaker 1: in the low lying meadows by some wide watered shore.
Speaker 1: The herdsman is at his wits end how to protect
Speaker 1: his herd, and keeps going about, now in the van
Speaker 1: and now in the rear of his cattle, while the
Speaker 1: lion springs into the thick of them and fastens on
Speaker 1: a cow, so that they all tremble for fear. Even
Speaker 1: so were the Akisans utterly panic stricken by Hector and
Speaker 1: Father Jove. Nevertheless, Hector only killed periphetes of Myceni. He
Speaker 1: was son of Coprius, who was wont to take the
Speaker 1: orders of King Eurystheus to Mighty Hercules. But the son
Speaker 1: was a far better man than the father in every way.
Speaker 1: He was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in
Speaker 1: understanding ranked among the foremost men of Myceni. He it
Speaker 1: was who then afforded Hector a triumph, for as he
Speaker 1: was turning back, he stumbled against the rim of his shield,
Speaker 1: which reached his feet and served to keep the javelins
Speaker 1: off him. He tripped against this and fell face upward,
Speaker 1: his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did so.
Speaker 1: Hector saw him fall and ran up to him. He
Speaker 1: then thrust a spear into his chest and killed him
Speaker 1: close to his own comrades. These, for all their sorrow,
Speaker 1: could not help him, for they were themselves terribly afraid
Speaker 1: of Hector. They had now reached the ship, and the
Speaker 1: prows of those that had been drawn up first were
Speaker 1: on every side of them. But the Trojans came pouring
Speaker 1: after them. The archives were driven back from the first
Speaker 1: row of ships, but they made a stand by their
Speaker 1: tents without being broken up and scattered. Shame and fear
Speaker 1: restrained them. They kept shouting incessantly to one another, and
Speaker 1: Nestor of Geren, tower of strength to the Achaeans, was
Speaker 1: loudest in imploring every man by his parents and beseeching
Speaker 1: him to stand firm. Be men, my friends, he cried,
Speaker 1: and respect one another's good opinion. Think all of you
Speaker 1: on your children, your wives, your property, and your parents,
Speaker 1: whether these be alive or dead, on their behalf, though
Speaker 1: they are not here, I implore you to stand firm
Speaker 1: and not to turn in flight. With these words he
Speaker 1: put heart and soul into them all. Minerva lifted the
Speaker 1: thick veil of darkness from their eyes, and much light
Speaker 1: fell upon them alike. On the side of the ships
Speaker 1: and on that where the fight was raging, they could
Speaker 1: see Hector and all his men, both those in the
Speaker 1: rear who were taking no part in the battle and
Speaker 1: those who were fighting by the ships. Ajax could not
Speaker 1: bring himself to retreat along with the rest, but strode
Speaker 1: from deck to deck with a great sea pike in
Speaker 1: his hands, twelve cubits long and jointed with rings, as
Speaker 1: a man skilled in feats of horsemanship. Couples four horses
Speaker 1: together and comes tearing full speed along the public way
Speaker 1: from the country into some large town. Many both men
Speaker 1: and women, marvel as they see him, for he keeps
Speaker 1: all the time changing his horse, springing from one to another,
Speaker 1: without ever missing his feet while the horses are at
Speaker 1: a gallop. Even so did Ajax go striding from one
Speaker 1: ship's deck to another, and his voice went up into
Speaker 1: the heavens. He kept on shouting his orders to the
Speaker 1: Dnans and exhorting them to defend their ships. And ten
Speaker 1: neither did Hector remain within the main body of the
Speaker 1: Trojan warriors. But as a dun eagle swoops down upon
Speaker 1: a flock of wild fowl feeding near a river. Geese
Speaker 1: it may be, or cranes, or long necked swans. Even
Speaker 1: so did Hector make straight for a dark, proud ship,
Speaker 1: rushing right towards it. For Jove, with his mighty hand,
Speaker 1: impelled him forward and roused his people to follow him.
Speaker 1: And now the battle again raged furiously at the ships.
Speaker 1: You would have thought the men were coming on fresh
Speaker 1: and unwearied, so fiercely did they fight. And this was
Speaker 1: the mind in which they were. The Achaeans did not
Speaker 1: believe they should escape destruction, but thought themselves doomed. While
Speaker 1: there was not a Trojan, but his heart beat high
Speaker 1: with the hope of firing the ships and putting the
Speaker 1: Achaean heroes to the sword. Thus were the two sides minded.
Speaker 1: Then Hector seized the stern of the good ship that
Speaker 1: had brought Protosilaus to Troy, but never bore him back
Speaker 1: to his native land. Round this ship there raged a
Speaker 1: close hand to hand fight between Danaans and Trojans. They
Speaker 1: did not fight at a distance with bows and javelins,
Speaker 1: but with one mind, hacked at one another in close combat.
Speaker 1: With their mighty swords and spears pointed at both ends.
Speaker 1: They fought moreover with keen battle axes and with hatchets.
Speaker 1: Many a good stout blade, hilted and scabbarded with iron
Speaker 1: fell from hand or shoulder as they fought, and the
Speaker 1: earth ran red with blood. Hector, when he had seized
Speaker 1: the ship, would not loose his hold, but held on
Speaker 1: to its curved stern and shouted to the Trojans bring fire,
Speaker 1: and raised the battle cry, all of you with a
Speaker 1: single voice. Now, as Jove vouchsafed us, a day that
Speaker 1: will pay us for all the rest. This day, we
Speaker 1: shall take the ships which came hither against Heaven's will,
Speaker 1: and which have caused us such infinite suffering through the
Speaker 1: cowardice of our counselors, who, when I would have done
Speaker 1: battle at the ships, held me back and forbade the
Speaker 1: host to follow me. If Jove did, then indeed warp
Speaker 1: our judgments himself now commands me and cheers me on
Speaker 1: as he spoke. Thus the Trojan sprang yet more fiercely
Speaker 1: on the Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground,
Speaker 1: for he was overcome by the darts that were flung
Speaker 1: at him, and made sure that he was doomed. Therefore
Speaker 1: he left the raised deck at the stern and stepped
Speaker 1: back on to the seven foot bench of the oarsman.
Speaker 1: Here he stood on the lookout, and with his spear,
Speaker 1: held back Trojan, whom he saw bringing fire to the ships.
Speaker 1: All the time he kept on shouting at the top
Speaker 1: of his voice and exhorting the Danaans, my friends, he cried,
Speaker 1: Danaan heroes, servants of Mars, be men, my friends, and
Speaker 1: fight with might and with maine. Can we hope to
Speaker 1: find help us hereafter? Or a wall to shield us
Speaker 1: more surely than the one we have. There is no
Speaker 1: strong city within reach, whence we may draw fresh forces
Speaker 1: to turn the scales in our favor. We are on
Speaker 1: the plane of the armed Trojans, with the sea behind
Speaker 1: us and far from our own country. Our salvation, therefore
Speaker 1: is in the might of our hands and in hard fighting.
Speaker 1: As he spoke, he wielded his spear with still greater fury,
Speaker 1: And when any Trojan made towards the ships with fire
Speaker 1: at Hector's bidding, he would be on the lookout for him,
Speaker 1: and drive at him with his long spear. Twelve men
Speaker 1: did he thus kill in hand to hand fight before
Speaker 1: the ships