to enwrap some one of the Trojans in the darkness of night, or himself to fall in warding off ruin from the Achaeans. Then the dear son of Aesyetes, fostered of Zeus, the warrior Alcathous—son by marriage was he to Anchises, and had married the eldest of his daughters, Hippodameia, whom her father and queenly mother heartily loved in their hall, for that she excelled all maidens of her years in comeliness, and in handiwork, and in wisdom; wherefore the best man in wide Troy had taken her to wife—this Alcathous did Poseidon subdue beneath Idomeneus, for he cast a spell upon his bright eyes and ensnared his glorious limbs that he might nowise flee backwards nor avoid the spear; but as he stood fixed, even as a pillar or a tree, high and leafy, the warrior Idomeneus smote him with a thrust of his spear full upon the breast, and clave his coat of bronze round about him, that aforetime ever warded death from his body, but now it rang harshly as it was cloven about the spear. And he fell with a thud, and the spear was fixed in his heart, that still beating made the butt thereof to quiver; howbeit, there at length did mighty Ares stay its fury.
ἠέ τινα Τρώων ἐρεβεννῇ νυκτὶ καλύψαιἢ αὐτὸς δουπῆσαι ἀμύνων λοιγὸν Ἀχαιοῖς.ἔνθʼ Αἰσυήταο διοτρεφέος φίλον υἱὸνἥρωʼ Ἀλκάθοον, γαμβρὸς δʼ ἦν Ἀγχίσαο,πρεσβυτάτην δʼ ὤπυιε θυγατρῶν Ἱπποδάμειαντὴν περὶ κῆρι φίλησε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρἐν μεγάρῳ· πᾶσαν γὰρ ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστοκάλλεϊ καὶ ἔργοισιν ἰδὲ φρεσί· τοὔνεκα καί μινγῆμεν ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ·τὸν τόθʼ ὑπʼ Ἰδομενῆϊ Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεθέλξας ὄσσε φαεινά, πέδησε δὲ φαίδιμα γυῖα·οὔτε γὰρ ἐξοπίσω φυγέειν δύνατʼ οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι,ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλην ἢ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλονἀτρέμας ἑσταότα στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶἥρως Ἰδομενεύς, ῥῆξεν δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ χιτῶναχάλκεον, ὅς οἱ πρόσθεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκει ὄλεθρον·δὴ τότε γʼ αὖον ἄϋσεν ἐρεικόμενος περὶ δουρί.δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δόρυ δʼ ἐν κραδίῃ ἐπεπήγει,ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀσπαίρουσα καὶ οὐρίαχον πελέμιζενἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης·
But Idomeneus exulted over him in terrible wise, and cried aloud:Deïphobus, shall we now deem perchance that due requital hath been made—three men slain for one—seeing thou boasteth thus? Nay, good sir, but stand forth thyself and face me, that thou mayest know what manner of son of Zeus am I that am come hither. For Zeus at the first begat Minos to be a watcher over Crete, and Minos again got him a son, even the peerless Deucalion, and Deucalion begat me, a lord over many men in wide Crete; and now have the ships brought me hither a bane to thee and thy father and the other Trojans.
Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀΰσαςΔηΐφοβʼ ἦ ἄρα δή τι ἐΐσκομεν ἄξιον εἶναιτρεῖς ἑνὸς ἀντὶ πεφάσθαι; ἐπεὶ σύ περ εὔχεαι οὕτω.δαιμόνιʼ ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐναντίον ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο,ὄφρα ἴδῃ οἷος Ζηνὸς γόνος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω,ὃς πρῶτον Μίνωα τέκε Κρήτῃ ἐπίουρον·Μίνως δʼ αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Δευκαλίωνα,Δευκαλίων δʼ ἐμὲ τίκτε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἄνακταΚρήτῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ· νῦν δʼ ἐνθάδε νῆες ἔνεικανσοί τε κακὸν καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοισι Τρώεσσιν.
So spake he, and Deïphobus was divided in counsel, whether he should give ground and take to him as comrade some one of the great-souled Trojans, or should make trial by himself alone. And as he pondered this thing seemed to him the better—to go after Aeneas; and he found him standing last amid the throng, for ever was Aeneas wroth against goodly Priam, for that brave though he was amid warriors Priam honoured him not a whit. Then Deïphobus drew near and spake to him winged words:Aeneas, counsellor of the Trojans, now in sooth it behoveth thee to bear aid to thy sister's husband, if in any wise grief for thy kin cometh upon thee.
ὣς φάτο, Δηΐφοβος δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξενἤ τινά που Τρώων ἑταρίσσαιτο μεγαθύμωνἂψ ἀναχωρήσας, ἦ πειρήσαιτο καὶ οἶος.ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναιβῆναι ἐπʼ Αἰνείαν· τὸν δʼ ὕστατον εὗρεν ὁμίλουἑσταότʼ· αἰεὶ γὰρ Πριάμῳ ἐπεμήνιε δίῳοὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα μετʼ ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι τίεσκεν.ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε νῦν σε μάλα χρὴγαμβρῷ ἀμυνέμεναι, εἴ πέρ τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει.
Nay, come thou with me, that we may bear aid to Alcathous, who, for all he was but thy sister's husband, reared thee in the halls when thou wast yet a little child; he, I tell thee, hath been slain of Idomeneus, famed for his spear.So spake he, and roused the heart in the breast of Aeneas, and he went to seek Idomeneus, with high thoughts of war.
ἀλλʼ ἕπευ Ἀλκαθόῳ ἐπαμύνομεν, ὅς σε πάρος γεγαμβρὸς ἐὼν ἔθρεψε δόμοις ἔνι τυτθὸν ἐόντα·τὸν δέ τοι Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐξενάριξεν.ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε,βῆ δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.
Howbeit terror gat not hold of Idomeneus, as he had been some petted boy, but he abode like a boar in the mountains, that trusteth in his strength, and abideth the great, tumultuous throng of men that cometh against him, in a lonely place; he bristleth up his back and his two eyes blaze with fire, and he whetteth his tusks, eager to ward off dogs and men; even so Idomeneus, famed for his spear, abode the oncoming of Aeneas to bear aid, and gave not ground, but called to his comrades, looking unto Ascalaphus, Aphareus, and Deïpyrus, and Meriones, and Antilochus, masters of the war-cry;
ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἰδομενῆα φόβος λάβε τηλύγετον ὥς,ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ὡς ὅτε τις σῦς οὔρεσιν ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,ὅς τε μένει κολοσυρτὸν ἐπερχόμενον πολὺν ἀνδρῶνχώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, φρίσσει δέ τε νῶτον ὕπερθεν·ὀφθαλμὼ δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυρὶ λάμπετον· αὐτὰρ ὀδόνταςθήγει, ἀλέξασθαι μεμαὼς κύνας ἠδὲ καὶ ἄνδρας·ὣς μένεν Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτός, οὐδʼ ὑπεχώρει,Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα βοηθόον· αὖε δʼ ἑταίρουςἈσκάλαφόν τʼ ἐσορῶν Ἀφαρῆά τε Δηΐπυρόν τεΜηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·
to these he spake winged words, and spurred them on:Hither, friends, and bear aid to me that am alone, and sorely do I dread the oncoming of Aeneas, swift of foot, that cometh against me; right strong is he to slay men in battle, and he hath the flower of youth, wherein is the fulness of strength.
τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·δεῦτε φίλοι, καί μʼ οἴῳ ἀμύνετε· δείδια δʼ αἰνῶςΑἰνείαν ἐπιόντα πόδας ταχύν, ὅς μοι ἔπεισιν,ὃς μάλα καρτερός ἐστι μάχῃ ἔνι φῶτας ἐναίρειν·καὶ δʼ ἔχει ἥβης ἄνθος, ὅ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.
Were we but of like age and our mood such as now it is, then forthwith should he win great victory, or haply I.So spake he, and they all, having one spirit in their breasts, took their stand, each hard by the other, leaning their shields against their shoulders. And Aeneas over against them called to his comrades, looking unto Deïphobus, and Paris, and goodly Agenor, that with himself were leaders of the Trojans; and after them followed the host, as sheep follow after the ram to water from the place of feeding, and the shepherd joyeth in his heart; even so the heart of Aeneas was glad in his breast, when he saw the throng of the host that followed after him. Then over Alcathous they clashed in close fight with their long spears, and about their breasts the bronze rang terribly as they aimed each at the other in the throng; and above all the rest two men of valour, Aeneas and Idomeneus, peers of Ares, were eager each to cleave the other's flesh with the pitiless bronze. And Aeneas first cast at Idomeneus, but he, looking steadily at him, avoided the spear of bronze, and the lance of Aeneas sank quivering down in to the earth, for that it sped in vain from his mighty hand. But Idomeneus cast and smote Oenomaus, full upon the belly, and brake the plate of his corselet, and the bronze let forth the bowels therethrough; and he fell in the dust and clutched the earth in his palm. And Idomeneus drew forth from out the corpse the far-shadowing spear, yet could he not prevail likewise to strip the rest of the fair armour from his shoulders, since he was sore pressed with missiles. For the joints of his feet were not firm as of old in a charge, that he might rush forth after his own cast, or avoid another's. Wherefore in close fight he warded off the pitiless day of doom, but in flight his feet no longer bare him swiftly from the war. And as he drew back step by step Deïphobus cast at him with his shining spear, for verily he ever cherished a ceaseless hate against him. Howbeit this time again he missed him, and smote with his spear Ascalaphus, son of Enyalius, and through the shoulder the mighty spear held its way; and he fell in the dust and clutched the ground with his palm. But as yet loud-voiced dread Ares wist not at all that his son had fallen in the mighty conflict; but he sat on the topmost peak of Olympus beneath the golden clouds, constrained by the will of Zeus, where also were the other immortal gods, being held aloof from the war. Then over Ascalaphus they clashed in close fight, and Deïphobus tore from Ascalaphus his shining helm, but Meriones, the peer of swift Ares, leapt upon Deïphobus and smote his arm with his spear, and from his hand the crested helm fell to the ground with a clang. And Meriones sprang forth again like a vulture, and drew forth the mighty spear from the upper arm of Deïphobus, and shrank back in the throng of his comrades. But Polites, the own brother of Deïphobus, stretched his arms around his waist, and led him forth from out the dolorous war, until he came to the swift horses that stood waiting for him at the rear of the battle and the conflict with their charioteer and chariot richly dight. These bare him to the city groaning heavily and sore distressed and down ran the blood from his newly wounded arm.
εἰ γὰρ ὁμηλικίη γε γενοίμεθα τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷαἶψά κεν ἠὲ φέροιτο μέγα κράτος, ἠὲ φεροίμην.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἕνα φρεσὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντεςπλησίοι ἔστησαν, σάκεʼ ὤμοισι κλίναντες.Αἰνείας δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισιΔηΐφοβόν τε Πάριν τʼ ἐσορῶν καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,οἵ οἱ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνες Τρώων ἔσαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταλαοὶ ἕπονθʼ, ὡς εἴ τε μετὰ κτίλον ἕσπετο μῆλαπιόμενʼ ἐκ βοτάνης· γάνυται δʼ ἄρα τε φρένα ποιμήν·ὣς Αἰνείᾳ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γεγήθειὡς ἴδε λαῶν ἔθνος ἐπισπόμενον ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀλκαθόῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησανμακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι· περὶ στήθεσσι δὲ χαλκὸςσμερδαλέον κονάβιζε τιτυσκομένων καθʼ ὅμιλονἀλλήλων· δύο δʼ ἄνδρες ἀρήϊοι ἔξοχον ἄλλωνΑἰνείας τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀτάλαντοι Ἄρηϊἵεντʼ ἀλλήλων ταμέειν χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισεν Ἰδομενῆος·ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,αἰχμὴ δʼ Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίηςᾤχετʼ, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα Οἰνόμαον βάλε γαστέρα μέσσην,ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸςἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἐκ μὲν νέκυος δολιχόσκιον ἔγχοςἐσπάσατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλα δυνήσατο τεύχεα καλὰὤμοιιν ἀφελέσθαι· ἐπείγετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν.οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα ποδῶν ἦν ὁρμηθέντι,οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξαι μεθʼ ἑὸν· βέλος οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι.τώ ῥα καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ μὲν ἀμύνετο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,τρέσσαι δʼ οὐκ ἔτι ῥίμφα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο.τοῦ δὲ βάδην ἀπιόντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷΔηΐφοβος· δὴ γάρ οἱ ἔχεν κότον ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ Ἀσκάλαφον βάλε δουρὶυἱὸν Ἐνυαλίοιο· διʼ ὤμου δʼ ὄβριμον ἔγχοςἔσχεν· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ τι πέπυστο βριήπυος ὄβριμος Ἄρηςυἷος ἑοῖο πεσόντος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἄκρῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑπὸ χρυσέοισι νέφεσσινἧστο Διὸς βουλῇσιν ἐελμένος, ἔνθά περ ἄλλοιἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἦσαν ἐεργόμενοι πολέμοιο.οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀσκαλάφῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν·Δηΐφοβος μὲν ἀπʼ Ἀσκαλάφου πήληκα φαεινὴνἥρπασε, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊδουρὶ βραχίονα τύψεν ἐπάλμενος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸςαὐλῶπις τρυφάλεια χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.Μηριόνης δʼ ἐξ αὖτις ἐπάλμενος αἰγυπιὸς ὣςἐξέρυσε πρυμνοῖο βραχίονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος,ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο. τὸν δὲ Πολίτηςαὐτοκασίγνητος περὶ μέσσῳ χεῖρε τιτήναςἐξῆγεν πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, ὄφρʼ ἵκεθʼ ἵππουςὠκέας, οἵ οἱ ὄπισθε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιοἕστασαν ἡνίοχόν τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔχοντες·οἳ τόν γε προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον βαρέα στενάχοντατειρόμενον· κατὰ δʼ αἷμα νεουτάτου ἔρρεε χειρός.
But the rest fought on, and a cry unquenchable arose. Then Aeneas leapt upon Aphareus, son of Caletor, that was turned toward him, and struck him on the throat with his sharp spear, and his head sank to one side, and his shield was hurled upon him and his helm withal, and death that slayeth the spirit encompassed him.
οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.ἔνθʼ Αἰνέας Ἀφαρῆα Καλητορίδην ἐπορούσαςλαιμὸν τύψʼ ἐπὶ οἷ τετραμμένον ὀξέϊ δουρί·ἐκλίνθη δʼ ἑτέρωσε κάρη, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀσπὶς ἑάφθηκαὶ κόρυς, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.
Then Antilochus, biding his time, leapt upon Thoön, as he turned his back, and smote him with a thrust, and wholly severed the vein that runneth along the back continually until it reacheth the neck; this he severed wholly, and Thoön fell on his back in the dust, stretching out both his hands to his dear comrades.
Ἀντίλοχος δὲ Θόωνα μεταστρεφθέντα δοκεύσαςοὔτασʼ ἐπαΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ φλέβα πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν,ἥ τʼ ἀνὰ νῶτα θέουσα διαμπερὲς αὐχένʼ ἱκάνει·τὴν ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσικάππεσεν, ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας.
But Antilochus leapt upon him and set him to strip the armour from off his shoulders, looking warily around the while; for the Trojans encircled him and thrust from this side and from that upon his broad, shining shield; howbeit they prevailed not to pierce through and graze the tender flesh of Antilochus with the pitiless bronze; for mightily did Poseidon, the Shaker of Earth, guard Nestor's son, even in the midst of many darts. For never aloof from the foe was Antilochus, but he ranged among them, nor ever was his spear at rest, but was ceaselessly brandished and shaken; and he ever aimed in heart to cast at some foeman, or rush upon him in close fight.
Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἐπόρουσε, καὶ αἴνυτο τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμωνπαπταίνων· Τρῶες δὲ περισταδὸν ἄλλοθεν ἄλλοςοὔταζον σάκος εὐρὺ παναίολον, οὐδὲ δύναντοεἴσω ἐπιγράψαι τέρενα χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷἈντιλόχου· πέρι γάρ ῥα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθωνΝέστορος υἱὸν ἔρυτο καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσι βέλεσσιν.οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτʼ ἄνευ δηΐων ἦν, ἀλλὰ κατʼ αὐτοὺςστρωφᾶτʼ· οὐδέ οἱ ἔγχος ἔχʼ ἀτρέμας, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶσειόμενον ἐλέλικτο· τιτύσκετο δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσινἤ τευ ἀκοντίσσαι, ἠὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμηθῆναι.
But as he was aiming amid the throng he was not unmarked of Adamas, son of Asius, who smote him full upon the shield with a thrust of the sharp bronze, setting upon him from nigh at hand. But the spear-point was made of none avail by Poseidon, the dark-haired god, who begrudged it the life of Antilochus. And the one part of the spear abode here, like a charred stake, in the shield of Antilochus, and half lay on the ground; and Adamas shrank back into the throng of his comrades, avoiding fate. But Meriones followed after him as he went and cast with his spear, and smote him midway between the privy parts and the navel, where most of all Ares is cruel to wretched mortals.
ἀλλʼ οὐ λῆθʼ Ἀδάμαντα τιτυσκόμενος καθʼ ὅμιλονἈσιάδην, ὅ οἱ οὖτα μέσον σάκος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷἐγγύθεν ὁρμηθείς· ἀμενήνωσεν δέ οἱ αἰχμὴνκυανοχαῖτα Ποσειδάων βιότοιο μεγήρας.καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτοῦ μεῖνʼ ὥς τε σκῶλος πυρίκαυστοςἐν σάκει Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸ δʼ ἥμισυ κεῖτʼ ἐπὶ γαίης·ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων·Μηριόνης δʼ ἀπιόντα μετασπόμενος βάλε δουρὶαἰδοίων τε μεσηγὺ καὶ ὀμφαλοῦ, ἔνθα μάλισταγίγνετʼ Ἄρης ἀλεγεινὸς ὀϊζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν.
Even there he fixed his spear, and the other, leaning over the shaft which pierced him, writhed as a bull that herdsmen amid the mountains have bound with twisted withes and drag with them perforce; even so he, when he was smitten, writhed a little while, but not long, till the warrior Meriones came near and drew the spear forth from out his flesh; and darkness enfolded his eyes. Then in close fight Helenus smote Deïpyrus on the temple with a great Thracian sword, and tore away his helm, and the helm, dashed from his head, fell to the ground, and one of the Achaeans gathered it up as it rolled amid the feet of the fighters;
ἔνθά οἱ ἔγχος ἔπηξεν· ὃ δʼ ἑσπόμενος περὶ δουρὶἤσπαιρʼ ὡς ὅτε βοῦς τόν τʼ οὔρεσι βουκόλοι ἄνδρεςἰλλάσιν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα βίῃ δήσαντες ἄγουσιν·ὣς ὃ τυπεὶς ἤσπαιρε μίνυνθά περ, οὔ τι μάλα δήν,ὄφρά οἱ ἐκ χροὸς ἔγχος ἀνεσπάσατʼ ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼνἥρως Μηριόνης· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.Δηΐπυρον δʼ Ἕλενος ξίφεϊ σχεδὸν ἤλασε κόρσηνΘρηϊκίῳ μεγάλῳ, ἀπὸ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἄραξεν.ἣ μὲν ἀποπλαγχθεῖσα χαμαὶ πέσε, καί τις Ἀχαιῶνμαρναμένων μετὰ ποσσὶ κυλινδομένην ἐκόμισσε·
and down upon the eyes of Deïpyrus came the darkness of night, and enfolded him. But the son of Atreus was seized with grief thereat, even Menelaus, good at the war-cry, and he strode forth with a threat against the prince, the warrior Helenus, brandishing his sharp spear, while the other drew the centre-piece of his bow. So the twain at the one moment let fly, the one with his sharp spear, and the other with an arrow from the string. Then the son of Priam smote Menelaus on the breast with his arrow, on the plate of his corselet, and off therefrom glanced the bitter arrow. And as from a broad shovel in a great threshing-floor the dark-skinned beans or pulse leap before the shrill wind and the might of the winnower; even so from the corselet of glorious Menelaus glanced aside the bitter arrow and sped afar. But the son of Atreus, Menelaus, good at the war-cry, cast, and smote Helenus on the hand wherewith he was holding the polished bow, and into the bow clean through the hand was driven the spear of bronze. Then back he shrank into the throng of his comrades, avoiding fate, letting his hand hang down by his side; and the ashen spear trailed after him. This then great-souled Agenor drew forth from his hand, and bound the hand with a strip of twisted sheep's wool, even a sling that his squire carried for him, the shepherd of the host. But Peisander made straight at glorious Menelaus; howbeit an evil fate was leading him to the end of death, to be slain by thee, Menelaus, in the dread conflict. And when they were come near, as they advanced one against the other, the son of Atreus missed, and his spear was turned aside; but Peisander thrust and smote the shield of glorious Menelaus, yet availed not to drive the bronze clean through, for the wide shield stayed it and the spear brake in the socket; yet had he joy at heart, and hope for victory.
τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν ἐρεβεννὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.Ἀτρεΐδην δʼ ἄχος εἷλε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·βῆ δʼ ἐπαπειλήσας Ἑλένῳ ἥρωϊ ἄνακτιὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων· ὃ δὲ τόξου πῆχυν ἄνελκε.τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ὁμαρτήδην ὃ μὲν ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντιἵετʼ ἀκοντίσσαι, ὃ δʼ ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστῷ.Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷθώρηκος γύαλον, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀπὸ πλατέος πτυόφιν μεγάλην κατʼ ἀλωὴνθρῴσκωσιν κύαμοι μελανόχροες ἢ ἐρέβινθοιπνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ καὶ λικμητῆρος ἐρωῇ,ὣς ἀπὸ θώρηκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιοπολλὸν ἀποπλαγχθεὶς ἑκὰς ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἄρα χεῖρα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαοςτὴν βάλεν ᾗ ῥʼ ἔχε τόξον ἐΰξοον· ἐν δʼ ἄρα τόξῳἀντικρὺ διὰ χειρὸς ἐλήλατο χάλκεον ἔγχος.ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνωνχεῖρα παρακρεμάσας· τὸ δʼ ἐφέλκετο μείλινον ἔγχος.καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐκ χειρὸς ἔρυσεν μεγάθυμος Ἀγήνωρ,αὐτὴν δὲ ξυνέδησεν ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἰὸς ἀώτῳσφενδόνῃ, ἣν ἄρα οἱ θεράπων ἔχε ποιμένι λαῶν.Πείσανδρος δʼ ἰθὺς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιοἤϊε· τὸν δʼ ἄγε μοῖρα κακὴ θανάτοιο τέλος δὲσοὶ Μενέλαε δαμῆναι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντεςἈτρεΐδης μὲν ἅμαρτε, παραὶ δέ οἱ ἐτράπετʼ ἔγχος,Πείσανδρος δὲ σάκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιοοὔτασεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαι·ἔσχεθε γὰρ σάκος εὐρύ, κατεκλάσθη δʼ ἐνὶ καυλῷἔγχος· ὃ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσι χάρη καὶ ἐέλπετο νίκην.
But the son of Atreus drew his silver-studded sword, and leapt upon Peisander; and he from beneath his shield grasped a goodly axe of fine bronze, set on a haft of olive-wood, long and well-polished; and at the one moment they set each upon the other. Peisander verily smote Menelaus upon the horn of his helmet with crest of horse-hair —on the topmost part beneath the very plume; but Menelaus smote him as he came against him, on the forehead above the base of the nose; and the bones crashed loudly, and the two eyeballs, all bloody, fell before his feet in the dust, and he bowed and fell; and Menelaus set his foot upon his breast, and despoiled him of his arms, and exulted, saying:
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλονἆλτʼ ἐπὶ Πεισάνδρῳ· ὃ δʼ ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος εἵλετο καλὴνἀξίνην εὔχαλκον ἐλαΐνῳ ἀμφὶ πελέκκῳμακρῷ ἐϋξέστῳ· ἅμα δʼ ἀλλήλων ἐφίκοντο.ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κόρυθος φάλον ἤλασεν ἱπποδασείηςἄκρον ὑπὸ λόφον αὐτόν, ὃ δὲ προσιόντα μέτωπονῥινὸς ὕπερ πυμάτης· λάκε δʼ ὀστέα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσεπὰρ ποσὶν αἱματόεντα χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν,ἰδνώθη δὲ πεσών· ὃ δὲ λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βαίνωντεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
ln such wise of a surety shall ye leave the ships of the Danaans, drivers of swift horses, ye overweening Trojans, insatiate of the dread din of battle. Aye, and of other despite and shame lack ye naught, wherewith ye have done despite unto me, ye evil dogs, and had no fear at heart of the grievous wrath of Zeus, that thundereth aloud, the god of hospitality, who shall some day destroy your high city. For ye bare forth wantonly over sea my wedded wife and therewithal much treasure, when it was with her that ye had found entertainment; and now again ye are full fain to fling consuming fire on the sea-faring ships, and to slay the Achaean warriors.
λείψετέ θην οὕτω γε νέας Δαναῶν ταχυπώλωνΤρῶες ὑπερφίαλοι δεινῆς ἀκόρητοι ἀϋτῆς,ἄλλης μὲν λώβης τε καὶ αἴσχεος οὐκ ἐπιδευεῖςἣν ἐμὲ λωβήσασθε κακαὶ κύνες, οὐδέ τι θυμῷΖηνὸς ἐριβρεμέτεω χαλεπὴν ἐδείσατε μῆνινξεινίου, ὅς τέ ποτʼ ὔμμι διαφθέρσει πόλιν αἰπήν·οἵ μευ κουριδίην ἄλοχον καὶ κτήματα πολλὰμὰψ οἴχεσθʼ ἀνάγοντες, ἐπεὶ φιλέεσθε παρʼ αὐτῇ·νῦν αὖτʼ ἐν νηυσὶν μενεαίνετε ποντοπόροισιπῦρ ὀλοὸν βαλέειν, κτεῖναι δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.
Nay, but ye shall be stayed from your fighting, how eager soever ye be! Father Zeus, in sooth men say that in wisdom thou art above all others, both men and gods, yet it is from thee that all these things come; in such wise now dost thou shew favour to men of wantonness, even the Trojans, whose might is always froward, nor can they ever have their fill of the din of evil war. Of all things is there satiety, of sleep, and love, and of sweet song, and the goodly dance; of these things verily a man would rather have his fill than of war; but the Trojans are insatiate of battle.
ἀλλά ποθι σχήσεσθε καὶ ἐσσύμενοί περ Ἄρηος.Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ τέ σέ φασι περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλωνἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν· σέο δʼ ἐκ τάδε πάντα πέλονται·οἷον δὴ ἄνδρεσσι χαρίζεαι ὑβριστῇσιΤρωσίν, τῶν μένος αἰὲν ἀτάσθαλον, οὐδὲ δύνανταιφυλόπιδος κορέσασθαι ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο.πάντων μὲν κόρος ἐστὶ καὶ ὕπνου καὶ φιλότητοςμολπῆς τε γλυκερῆς καὶ ἀμύμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο,τῶν πέρ τις καὶ μᾶλλον ἐέλδεται ἐξ ἔρον εἷναιἢ πολέμου· Τρῶες δὲ μάχης ἀκόρητοι ἔασιν.
With this peerless Menelaus stripped from the body the bloody armour and gave it to his comrades, and himself went back again, and mingled with the foremost fighters. Then there leapt forth against him the son of king Pylaemenes, even Harpalion, that followed his dear father to Troy unto the war, but came not back again to his dear native land. He then thrust with his spear full upon the shield of the son of Atreus, from nigh at hand, yet availed not to drive the bronze clean through, and back he shrank into the throng of his comrades, avoiding fate, glancing warily on every side, lest some man should wound his flesh with the bronze.
ὣς εἰπὼν τὰ μὲν ἔντεʼ ἀπὸ χροὸς αἱματόεντασυλήσας ἑτάροισι δίδου Μενέλαος ἀμύμων,αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξ αὖτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη.ἔνθά οἱ υἱὸς ἐπᾶλτο Πυλαιμένεος βασιλῆοςἉρπαλίων, ὅ ῥα πατρὶ φίλῳ ἕπετο πτολεμίξωνἐς τροίην, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἀφίκετο πατρίδα γαῖαν·ὅς ῥα τότʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρὶἐγγύθεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαιἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνωνπάντοσε παπταίνων μή τις χρόα χαλκῷ ἐπαύρῃ.
But as he drew back, Meriones let fly at him a bronze-tipped arrow, and smote him on the right buttock, and the arrow passed clean through even to the bladder beneath the bone. And sitting down where he was in the arms of his dear comrades he breathed forth his life, and lay stretched out like a worm on the earth; and the black blood flowed forth and wetted the ground. Him the great-hearted Paphlagonians tended, and setting him in a chariot they bare him to sacred Ilios, sorrowing the while, and with them went his father, shedding tears; but there was no blood-price gotten for his dead son.
Μηριόνης δʼ ἀπιόντος ἵει χαλκήρεʼ ὀϊστόν,καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε γλουτὸν κάτα δεξιόν· αὐτὰρ ὀϊστὸςἀντικρὺ κατὰ κύστιν ὑπʼ ὀστέον ἐξεπέρησεν.ἑζόμενος δὲ κατʼ αὖθι φίλων ἐν χερσὶν ἑταίρωνθυμὸν ἀποπνείων, ὥς τε σκώληξ ἐπὶ γαίῃκεῖτο ταθείς· ἐκ δʼ αἷμα μέλαν ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.τὸν μὲν Παφλαγόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνέσαντες ἄγον προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρὴνἀχνύμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι πατὴρ κίε δάκρυα λείβων,ποινὴ δʼ οὔ τις παιδὸς ἐγίγνετο τεθνηῶτος.
And for his slaying waxed Paris mightily wroth at heart, for among the many Paphlagonians Harpalion had been his host; and in wrath for his sake he let fly a bronze-tipped arrow. A certain Euchenor there was, son of Polyidus the seer, a rich man and a valiant, and his abode was in Corinth. He embarked upon his ship knowing full well the deadly fate to be, for often had his old sire, good Polyidus, told it him, to wit, that he must either perish of dire disease in his own halls, or amid the ships of the Achaeans be slain by the Trojans; wherefore he avoided at the same time the heavy fine of the Achaeans and the hateful disease, that he might not suffer woes at heart. Him Paris smote beneath the jaw, under the ear, and forthwith his spirit departed from his limbs, and hateful darkness gat hold of him. So fought they like unto blazing fire; but Hector, dear to Zeus, had not heard, nor wist at all that on the left of the ships his hosts were being slain by the Argives; and soon would the Achaeans have gotten them glory, of such might was the Enfolder and Shaker of Earth that urged on the Argives and withal aided them by his own strength. Nay, Hector pressed on where at the first he had leapt within the gate and the wall, and had burst the close ranks of the Danaan shield-men, even in the place where were the ships of Aias and Protesilaus, drawn up along the beach of the grey sea, and beyond them the wall was builded lowest; there, as in no place beside, the men and their horses waxed furious in fight.
τοῦ δὲ Πάρις μάλα θυμὸν ἀποκταμένοιο χολώθη·ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην πολέσιν μετὰ Παφλαγόνεσσι·τοῦ ὅ γε χωόμενος προΐει χαλκήρεʼ ὀϊστόν.ἦν δέ τις Εὐχήνωρ Πολυΐδου μάντιος υἱὸςἀφνειός τʼ ἀγαθός τε Κορινθόθι οἰκία ναίων,ὅς ῥʼ εὖ εἰδὼς κῆρʼ ὀλοὴν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινε·πολλάκι γάρ οἱ ἔειπε γέρων ἀγαθὸς Πολύϊδοςνούσῳ ὑπʼ ἀργαλέῃ φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν,ἢ μετʼ Ἀχαιῶν νηυσὶν ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι·τώ ῥʼ ἅμα τʼ ἀργαλέην θωὴν ἀλέεινεν Ἀχαιῶννοῦσόν τε στυγερήν, ἵνα μὴ πάθοι ἄλγεα θυμῷ.τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο. καὶ οὔατος· ὦκα δὲ θυμὸςᾤχετʼ ἀπὸ μελέων, στυγερὸς δʼ ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλεν.ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο·Ἕκτωρ δʼ οὐκ ἐπέπυστο Διῒ φίλος, οὐδέ τι ᾔδηὅττί ῥά οἱ νηῶν ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ δηϊόωντολαοὶ ὑπʼ Ἀργείων. τάχα δʼ ἂν καὶ κῦδος Ἀχαιῶνἔπλετο· τοῖος γὰρ γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιοςὄτρυνʼ Ἀργείους, πρὸς δὲ σθένει αὐτὸς ἄμυνεν·ἀλλʼ ἔχεν ᾗ τὰ πρῶτα πύλας καὶ τεῖχος ἐσᾶλτοῥηξάμενος Δαναῶν πυκινὰς στίχας ἀσπιστάων,ἔνθʼ ἔσαν Αἴαντός τε νέες καὶ Πρωτεσιλάουθῖνʼ ἔφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς εἰρυμέναι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθετεῖχος ἐδέδμητο χθαμαλώτατον, ἔνθα μάλισταζαχρηεῖς γίγνοντο μάχῃ αὐτοί τε καὶ ἵπποι.
There the Boeotians and the Ionians, of trailing tunics, and the Locrians, and Phthians, and glorious Epeians, had much ado to stay his onset upon the ships, and availed not to thrust back from themselves goodly Hector, that was like a flame of fire,—even they that were picked men of the Athenians; and among them Menestheus, son of Peteos, was leader, and there followed with him Pheidas and Stichius and valiant Bias, while the Epeians were led by Meges, son of Phyleus, and Araphion and Dracius, and in the forefront of the Phthians were Medon and Podarces, staunch in fight. The one, verily, even Medon, was a bastard son of godlike Oïleus and brother of Aias, but he dwelt in Phylace, far from his native land, for that he had slain a man of the kin of his stepmother Eriopis, that Oïleus had to wife; and the other, Podarces, was the son of Iphiclus, son of Phylacus. These, harnessed in their armour, in the forefront of the great-souled Phthians, were fighting in defence of the ships together with the Boeotians. And Aias, the swift son of Oïleus, would no more in any wise depart from the side of Aias, son of Telamon, no not for an instant; but even as in fallow land two wine-dark oxen with one accord strain at the jointed plough, and about the roots of their horns oozeth up the sweat in streams—the twain the polished yoke alone holdeth apart as they labour through the furrow, till the plough cutteth to the limit or the field; even in such wise did the two Aiantes take their stand and abide each hard by the other's side. After the son of Telamon verily there followed many valiant hosts of his comrades, who would ever take from him his shield, whenso weariness and sweat came upon his limbs. But the Locrians followed not with the great-hearted son of Oïleus, for their hearts abode not steadfast in close fight, seeing they had no brazen helms with thick plumes of horse-hair, neither round shields, nor spears of ash, but trusting in bows and well-twisted slings of sheep's wool had they followed with him to Ilios; with these thereafter they shot thick and fast, and sought to break the battalions of the Trojans. So the one part in front with their war-gear, richly dight, fought with the Trojans and with Hector in his harness of bronze, and the others behind kept shooting from their cover; and the Trojans bethought them no more of fight, for the arrows confounded them. Then in sorry wise would the Trojans have given ground from the ships and huts unto windy Ilios, had not Polydamas drawn nigh to bold Hector, and said:Hector, hard to deal with art thou, that thou shouldest hearken to words of persuasion. Forasmuch as god has given to thee as to none other works of war, therefore in counsel too art thou minded to have wisdom beyond all; but in no wise shalt thou be able of thine own self to compass all things.
ἔνθα δὲ Βοιωτοὶ καὶ Ἰάονες ἑλκεχίτωνεςΛοκροὶ καὶ Φθῖοι καὶ φαιδιμόεντες Ἐπειοὶσπουδῇ ἐπαΐσσοντα νεῶν ἔχον, οὐδὲ δύναντοὦσαι ἀπὸ σφείων φλογὶ εἴκελον Ἕκτορα δῖονοἳ μὲν Ἀθηναίων προλελεγμένοι· ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσινἦρχʼ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς, οἳ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντοΦείδας τε Στιχίος τε Βίας τʼ ἐΰς· αὐτὰρ ἘπειῶνΦυλεΐδης τε Μέγης Ἀμφίων τε Δρακίος τε,πρὸ Φθίων δὲ Μέδων τε μενεπτόλεμός τε Ποδάρκης.ἤτοι ὃ μὲν νόθος υἱὸς Ὀϊλῆος θείοιοἔσκε Μέδων Αἴαντος ἀδελφεός· αὐτὰρ ἔναιενἐν Φυλάκῃ γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος ἄνδρα κατακτὰςγνωτὸν μητρυιῆς Ἐριώπιδος, ἣν ἔχʼ Ὀϊλεύς·αὐτὰρ ὃ Ἰφίκλοιο πάϊς τοῦ Φυλακίδαο.οἳ μὲν πρὸ Φθίων μεγαθύμων θωρηχθέντεςναῦφιν ἀμυνόμενοι μετὰ Βοιωτῶν ἐμάχοντο·Αἴας δʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς υἱὸςἵστατʼ ἀπʼ Αἴαντος Τελαμωνίου οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν,ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ἐν νειῷ βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρονἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντε τιταίνετον· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρά σφιπρυμνοῖσιν κεράεσσι πολὺς ἀνακηκίει ἱδρώς·τὼ μέν τε ζυγὸν οἶον ἐΰξοον ἀμφὶς ἐέργειἱεμένω κατὰ ὦλκα· τέμει δέ τε τέλσον ἀρούρης·ὣς τὼ παρβεβαῶτε μάλʼ ἕστασαν ἀλλήλοιιν.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι Τελαμωνιάδῃ πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶλαοὶ ἕπονθʼ ἕταροι, οἵ οἱ σάκος ἐξεδέχοντοὁππότε μιν κάματός τε καὶ ἱδρὼς γούναθʼ ἵκοιτο.οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀϊλιάδῃ μεγαλήτορι Λοκροὶ ἕποντο·οὐ γάρ σφι σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ μίμνε φίλον κῆρ·οὐ γὰρ ἔχον κόρυθας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας,οὐδʼ ἔχον ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα,ἀλλʼ ἄρα τόξοισιν καὶ ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἶος ἀώτῳἼλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο πεποιθότες, οἷσιν ἔπειταταρφέα βάλλοντες Τρώων ῥήγνυντο φάλαγγας·δή ῥα τόθʼ οἳ μὲν πρόσθε σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισιμάρναντο Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ,οἳ δʼ ὄπιθεν βάλλοντες ἐλάνθανον· οὐδέ τι χάρμηςΤρῶες μιμνήσκοντο· συνεκλόνεον γὰρ ὀϊστοί.ἔνθά κε λευγαλέως νηῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάωνΤρῶες ἐχώρησαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,εἰ μὴ Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστάς·Ἕκτορ ἀμήχανός ἐσσι παραρρητοῖσι πιθέσθαι.οὕνεκά τοι περὶ δῶκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργατοὔνεκα καὶ βουλῇ ἐθέλεις περιίδμεναι ἄλλων·ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα δυνήσεαι αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.
To one man hath God given works of war, to another the dance, to another the lyre and song, and in the breast of another Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, putteth a mind of understanding, wherefrom many men get profit, and many he saveth; but he knoweth it best himself.
ἄλλῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα,ἄλλῳ δʼ ὀρχηστύν, ἑτέρῳ κίθαριν καὶ ἀοιδήν,ἄλλῳ δʼ ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖ νόον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺςἐσθλόν, τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἐπαυρίσκοντʼ ἄνθρωποι,καί τε πολέας ἐσάωσε, μάλιστα δὲ καὐτὸς ἀνέγνω.
So will I speak what seemeth to me to be best. Behold all about thee blazeth a circle of war, and the great-souled Trojans, now that they have passed over the wall, are some of them standing aloof with their arms, and others are fighting, fewer men against more, scattered among the ships.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα·πάντῃ γάρ σε περὶ στέφανος πολέμοιο δέδηε·Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ἐπεὶ κατὰ τεῖχος ἔβησανοἳ μὲν ἀφεστᾶσιν σὺν τεύχεσιν, οἳ δὲ μάχονταιπαυρότεροι πλεόνεσσι κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας.
Nay, fall thou back, and call hither all the bravest. Then shall we consider all manner of counsel, whether we shall fall upon the many-benched ships, if so be the god willeth to give us victory, or thereafter shall return unscathed back from the ships. Verily, for myself, I fear lest the Achaeans shall pay back the debt of yesterday, seeing there abideth by the ships a man insatiate of war, who no longer, methinks, will hold him utterly aloof from battle.So spake Polydamas, and his prudent counsel was well pleasing unto Hector, and forthwith he leapt in his armour from his chariot to the ground; and he spake and addressed him with winged words:Polydamas, do thou hold back here all the bravest, but I will go thither and confront the war, and quickly will I come again, when to the full I have laid on them my charge.So spake he, and set forth, in semblance like a snowy mountain, and with loud shouting sped he through the Trojans and allies. And they hasted one and all toward the kindly Polydamas, son of Panthous when they heard the voice of Hector. But he ranged through the foremost fighters, in quest of Deïphobus, and the valiant prince Helenus, and Adamas, son of Asius, and Asius, son of Hyrtacus, if haply he might find them. But he found them no more in any wise unscathed or free from bane, but some were lying at the sterns of the ships of the Achaeans, slain by the hands of the Argives, and some were within the wall, smitten by darts or wounded with spear-thrusts.
ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος κάλει ἐνθάδε πάντας ἀρίστους·ἔνθεν δʼ ἂν μάλα πᾶσαν ἐπιφρασσαίμεθα βουλὴνἤ κεν ἐνὶ νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πέσωμεναἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι θεὸς δόμεναι κράτος, ἦ κεν ἔπειταπὰρ νηῶν ἔλθωμεν ἀπήμονες. ἦ γὰρ ἔγωγεδείδω μὴ τὸ χθιζὸν ἀποστήσωνται Ἀχαιοὶχρεῖος, ἐπεὶ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀνὴρ ἆτος πολέμοιομίμνει, ὃν οὐκέτι πάγχυ μάχης σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω.ὣς φάτο Πουλυδάμας, ἅδε δʼ Ἕκτορι μῦθος ἀπήμων,αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζεκαί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·Πουλυδάμα σὺ μὲν αὐτοῦ ἐρύκακε πάντας ἀρίστους,αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κεῖσʼ εἶμι καὶ ἀντιόω πολέμοιο·αἶψα δʼ ἐλεύσομαι αὖτις ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπιτείλω.ἦ ῥα, καὶ ὁρμήθη ὄρεϊ νιφόεντι ἐοικὼςκεκλήγων, διὰ δὲ Τρώων πέτετʼ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων.οἳ δʼ ἐς Πανθοΐδην ἀγαπήνορα Πουλυδάμανταπάντες ἐπεσσεύοντʼ, ἐπεὶ Ἕκτορος ἔκλυον αὐδήν.αὐτὰρ ὃ Δηΐφοβόν τε βίην θʼ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτοςἈσιάδην τʼ Ἀδάμαντα καὶ Ἄσιον Ὑρτάκου υἱὸνφοίτα ἀνὰ προμάχους διζήμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροι.τοὺς δʼ εὗρʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἀπήμονας οὐδʼ ἀνολέθρους·ἀλλʼ οἳ μὲν δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσιν Ἀχαιῶνχερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων κέατο ψυχὰς ὀλέσαντες,οἳ δʼ ἐν τείχει ἔσαν βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.
But one he presently found on the left of the tearful battle, even goodly Alexander, the lord of fair-tressed Helen, heartening his comrades and urging them on to fight; and he drew near and spake to him with words of shame:Evil Paris, most fair to look upon, thou that art mad after women, thou beguiler, where, I pray thee, is Deïphobus, and the valiant prince Helenus, and Adamas, son of Asius, and Asius, son of Hyrtacus? Aye, and where, tell me, is Othryoneus? Now is steep Ilios wholly plunged into ruin; now, thou mayest see, is utter destruction sure.Then spake unto him again godlike Alexander:
τὸν δὲ τάχʼ εὗρε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ δακρυοέσσηςδῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Ἑλένης πόσιν ἠϋκόμοιοθαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος προσέφη αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσι·Δύσπαρι εἶδος ἄριστε γυναιμανὲς ἠπεροπευτὰποῦ τοι Δηΐφοβός τε βίη θʼ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτοςἈσιάδης τʼ Ἀδάμας ἠδʼ Ἄσιος Ὑρτάκου υἱός;ποῦ δέ τοι Ὀθρυονεύς; νῦν ὤλετο πᾶσα κατʼ ἄκρηςἼλιος αἰπεινή· νῦν τοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·
Hector, seeing it is thy mind to blame one in whom is no blame, at some other time have I haply withdrawn me from war rather than now, for my mother bare not even me wholly a weakling. For from the time thou didst rouse the battle of thy comrades beside the ships, even from that time we abide here and have dalliance with the Danaans ceaselessly; but our comrades are dead of whom thou makest question. Only Deïphobus and the valiant prince Helenus have departed, both of them smitten in the arm with long spears; yet the son of Cronos warded off death. But now lead thou on whithersoever thy heart and spirit bid thee, and as for us, we will follow with thee eagerly, nor, methinks, shall we be anywise wanting in valour, so far as we have strength; but beyond his strength may no man fight, how eager soever he be.So spake the warrior, and turned his brother's mind; and they set out to go where the battle and the din were fiercest, round about Cebriones and peerless Polydamas, and Phalces, and Orthaeus, and godlike Polyphetes, and Palmys, and Ascanius, and Morys, son of Hippotion, who had come from deep-soiled Ascania on the morn before to relieve their fellows, and now Zeus roused them to fight.
Ἕκτορ ἐπεί τοι θυμὸς ἀναίτιον αἰτιάασθαι,ἄλλοτε δή ποτε μᾶλλον ἐρωῆσαι πολέμοιομέλλω, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ πάμπαν ἀνάλκιδα γείνατο μήτηρ·ἐξ οὗ γὰρ παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχην ἤγειρας ἑταίρων,ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες ὁμιλέομεν Δαναοῖσινωλεμέως· ἕταροι δὲ κατέκταθεν οὓς σὺ μεταλλᾷς.οἴω Δηΐφοβός τε βίη θʼ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτοςοἴχεσθον, μακρῇσι τετυμμένω ἐγχείῃσινἀμφοτέρω κατὰ χεῖρα· φόνον δʼ ἤμυνε Κρονίων.νῦν δʼ ἄρχʼ ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει·ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐμμεμαῶτες ἅμʼ ἑψόμεθʼ, οὐδέ τί φημιἀλκῆς δευήσεσθαι, ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστι.πὰρ δύναμιν δʼ οὐκ ἔστι καὶ ἐσσύμενον πολεμίζειν.ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως·βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἔνθα μάλιστα μάχη καὶ φύλοπις ἦενἀμφί τε Κεβριόνην καὶ ἀμύμονα ΠουλυδάμανταΦάλκην Ὀρθαῖόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον ΠολυφήτηνΠάλμύν τʼ Ἀσκάνιόν τε Μόρυν θʼ υἷʼ Ἱπποτίωνος,οἵ ῥʼ ἐξ Ἀσκανίης ἐριβώλακος ἦλθον ἀμοιβοὶἠοῖ τῇ προτέρῃ· τότε δὲ Ζεὺς ὦρσε μάχεσθαι.
And they came on like the blast of direful winds that rusheth upon the earth beneath the thunder of father Zeus, and with wondrous din mingleth with the sea, and in its track are many surging waves of the loud-resounding sea, high-arched and white with foam, some in the van and after them others;
οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀτάλαντοι ἀέλλῃ,ἥ ῥά θʼ ὑπὸ βροντῆς πατρὸς Διὸς εἶσι πέδον δέ,θεσπεσίῳ δʼ ὁμάδῳ ἁλὶ μίσγεται, ἐν δέ τε πολλὰκύματα παφλάζοντα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσηςκυρτὰ φαληριόωντα, πρὸ μέν τʼ ἄλλʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ ἄλλα·
even so the Trojans, in close array, some in the van and after them others, flashing with bronze, followed with their leaders. And Hector, son of Priam, led them, the peer of Ares, the bane of mortals. Before him he held his shield that was well-balanced upon every side, his shield thick with hides, whereon abundant bronze had been welded, and about his temples waved the crest of his shining helm. And everywhere on this side and on that he strode forward and made trial of the battalions, if so be they would give way before him, as he advanced under cover of his shield; yet could he not confound the heart in the breast of the Achaeans. And Aias came on with long strides, and was first to challenge him:
ὣς Τρῶες πρὸ μὲν ἄλλοι ἀρηρότες, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ ἄλλοι,χαλκῷ μαρμαίροντες ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποντο.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἡγεῖτο βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος ἌρηϊΠριαμίδης· πρόσθεν δʼ ἔχεν ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσηνῥινοῖσιν πυκινήν, πολλὸς δʼ ἐπελήλατο χαλκός·ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κροτάφοισι φαεινὴ σείετο πήληξ.πάντῃ δʼ ἀμφὶ φάλαγγας ἐπειρᾶτο προποδίζων,εἴ πώς οἱ εἴξειαν ὑπασπίδια προβιβῶντι·ἀλλʼ οὐ σύγχει θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος προκαλέσσατο μακρὰ βιβάσθων·
Good sir, draw nigh; wherefore seekest thou thus vainly to affright the Argives? In no wise, I tell thee, are we ignorant of battle, but by the evil scourge of Zeus were we Achaeans subdued. Verily, thy heart hopeth, I ween, to despoil our ships, but be sure we too have hands to defend them.
δαιμόνιε σχεδὸν ἐλθέ· τί ἢ δειδίσσεαι αὔτωςἈργείους; οὔ τοί τι μάχης ἀδαήμονές εἰμεν,ἀλλὰ Διὸς μάστιγι κακῇ ἐδάμημεν Ἀχαιοί.ἦ θήν πού τοι θυμὸς ἐέλπεται ἐξαλαπάξειννῆας· ἄφαρ δέ τε χεῖρες ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἡμῖν.
In good sooth your well-peopled city is like, ere that, to be taken and laid waste beneath our hands. And for thine own self, I declare that the day is near when in flight thou shalt pray to father Zeus and the other immortals, that thy fair-maned horses may be swifter than falcons— they that shall bear thee citywards, coursing in dust over the plain.Even as he thus spake, there flew forth a bird upon the right hand, an eagle of lofty flight; and thereat the host of the Achaeans shouted aloud, heartened by the omen; but glorious Hector made answer:Aias, witless in speech, thou braggart, what a thing hast thou said.
ἦ κε πολὺ φθαίη εὖ ναιομένη πόλις ὑμὴχερσὶν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ φημὶ σχεδὸν ἔμμεναι ὁππότε φεύγωνἀρήσῃ Διὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιθάσσονας ἰρήκων ἔμεναι καλλίτριχας ἵππους,οἵ σε πόλιν δʼ οἴσουσι κονίοντες πεδίοιο.ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνιςαἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης· ἐπὶ δʼ ἴαχε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶνθάρσυνος οἰωνῷ· ὃ δʼ ἀμείβετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·Αἶαν ἁμαρτοεπὲς βουγάϊε ποῖον ἔειπες·
I would that I mine own self were all my days as surely the son of Zeus, that beareth the aegis, and my mother were the queenly Hera, and that I were honoured even as are Athene and Apollo, as verily this day beareth evil for the Argives, one and all; and among them shalt thou too be slain, if thou have the heart to abide my long spear, that shall rend thy lily-like skin; and thou shalt glut with thy fat and thy flesh the dogs and birds of the Trojans, when thou art fallen amid the ships of the Achaeans.So spake he, and led the way; and they followed after with a wondrous din, and the host shouted behind. And the Argives over against them shouted in answer, and forgat not their valour, but abode the oncoming of the best of the Trojans; and the clamour of the two hosts went up to the aether and the splendour of Zeus.
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν οὕτω γε Διὸς πάϊς αἰγιόχοιοεἴην ἤματα πάντα, τέκοι δέ με πότνια Ἥρη,τιοίμην δʼ ὡς τίετʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἀπόλλων,ὡς νῦν ἡμέρη ἥδε κακὸν φέρει Ἀργείοισιπᾶσι μάλʼ, ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσι πεφήσεαι, αἴ κε ταλάσσῃςμεῖναι ἐμὸν δόρυ μακρόν, ὅ τοι χρόα λειριόενταδάψει· ἀτὰρ Τρώων κορέεις κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνοὺςδημῷ καὶ σάρκεσσι πεσὼν ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο· τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντοἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἴαχε λαὸς ὄπισθεν.Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπίαχον, οὐδὲ λάθοντοἀλκῆς, ἀλλʼ ἔμενον Τρώων ἐπιόντας ἀρίστους.ἠχὴ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων ἵκετʼ αἰθέρα καὶ Διὸς αὐγάς.